Summer Reading 2014
Seventh Grade
Students are required to read one book from the list below over the summer.
On the first day of school, August 5, students will bring their books to class
and be prepared to complete various assignments related to their books of
choice. Be able to discuss genre, author, setting, characters, theme, plot, and
interesting quotes as they relate to your book of choice. Choose a book
from the list that you have not previously read.
Three Cups of Tea (Young Reader’s Edition) – by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver
Relin
Kisses from Katie – by Katie J. Davis
Good Call- Reflections on Faith, Family, and Fowl - by Jase Robertson (Duck Dynasty)
Same Kind of Different as Me - by Ron Hall
Through my Eyes – by Tim Tebow
Gifted Hands – by Ben Carson
Almost Astronauts: 13 Women Who Dared to Dream – by Tanya Lee Stone
Roll of Thunder, Hear my Cry – by Mildred D. Taylor
Island of the Blue Dolphins – by Scott O’Dell
The Story of my Life – by Helen Keller
The Call of the Wild – by Jack London
White Fang – by Jack London
Against the Grain – by Bill Courtney
Summer Reading 2014
Eighth Grade
Students are required to read one book from the list below over the summer.
On the first day of school, August 5, students will bring their books to class
and be prepared to complete various assignments related to their books of
choice. Be able to discuss genre, author, setting, characters, theme, plot, and
interesting quotes as they relate to your book of choice. Choose a book
from the list that you have not previously read.
The Robe – by Lloyd C. Davis
The Last Sin Eater - by Francine Rivers
The Giver - by Lois Lowry
The Closer - by Mariano Rivera
The Boys in the Boat: Nine Americans and Their Epic Quest for Gold at the 1936 Berlin
Olympics – by Daniel James Brown
Unbroken - by Laura Hillenbrand
The Shack – by William Paul Young
A Higher Call: An Incredible True Story of Combat and Chivalry in the War-Torn Skies
of World War II – by Adam Makos
Heidi – by Johanna Spyri
Little Women – by Louisa May Alcott
My Brother Sam is Dead – by James Lincoln Collier and Christopher Collier
The Hawk That Dare Not Hunt by Day – by Scott O’Dell
Against the Grain – by Bill Courtney
ENGLISH I – Freshman English (2014-2015)
Each student will select one book from the list below. Please
read the book thoroughly. Bring the book to school on the
first day of school, August 5.
OPTIONS:
Fever 1793 by Laurie Halse Anderson
Nothing but the Truth by Avi
Same Kind of Different as Me by Hall and Moore
Out of the Silent Planet by C.S. Lewis
That Hideous Strength by C.S. Lewis
Animal Farm by George Orwell
Fellowship of the Rings by J R R Tolki
The Invisible Man by H G Wells
The Coffin Quilt: The Feud between the Hatfields and the
McCoys by Anne Rinaldi
Pay close attention to the required elements of the book:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Setting – both physical setting and time period
Cultural beliefs and actions of the characters
Major and minor characters
Overall theme of the book
Conflicts occurring throughout the book
Primary quotes within the book
----Though no physical project is due on the first day of
class, it is beneficial to note information about the
required elements; this may be done in the book itself, in
journal form, on index cards, etc. This allows the student
to better prepare for assessments.
****Each student must bring the physical book to class
on the first day of school (August 5) paperback books are
fine.– NO Ebooks allowed for summer reads.
^^^^^On the first day of school (August 5), the student
must be prepared to share aloud an overall introduction of
the book including title, author, vocabulary usage, overall
theme of book, and review of the author’s writing style.
--Graded assignments will be given throughout the
week on elements 1-5.
NOTE: Please take the time to research any of the books you may
consider. Learn about the genre, writing style, and other elements that
may be important to you as a reader. Select the book that best fits your
personal taste.
(All pics are taken from Amazon; covers may vary).
English 2 (10th Grade)
Summer Reading Choices Persuasion by Jane Austen
Great Expectations by Charles Dickens
1984 by George Orwell
Till We Have Faces by C.S. Lewis
Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
The Once and Future King by T.H. White
Over the summer, the student will be expected to fully and thoroughly read one of the
books above. Special attention should be given to the book’s setting, its major and minor
characters, and its themes and symbols. Within the first week back at school, an oral test
will be given and a PREZI will be assigned. At that time students will receive a
presentation date and a rubric.
English 3 (11th Grade)
Summer Reading Choices The Scarlett Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne
White Fang by Jack London
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain
Over the summer, the student will be expected to fully and thoroughly read one of the
books above. Special attention should be given to the book’s setting, its major and minor
characters, and its themes and symbols. Within the first week back at school, an oral test
will be given and a PREZI will be assigned. At that time students will receive a
presentation date and a rubric.
Accelerated English Literature (11th Grade)
Summer Reading “Civil Disobedience” by Henry David Thoreau
Selected Short Stories of Edgar Allan Poe
 “The Murders in the Rue Morgue”
 “The Purloined Letter”
 “The Fall of the House of Usher”
 “The Pit and the Pendulum”
 “The Masque of the Red Death”
 “The Cask of Amontillado”
 “The Tell-Tale Heart”
 “Ligeia”
Christmas Reading Beowulf translated by Seamus Heaney
A test on the readings will be on the first week following our return to school.
Summer reading English IV
In an effort to enhance reading comprehension and increase vocabulary while enticing students
to read something they enjoy, TCPS is changing the format of the summer reading. While many
schools promote reading of the classics in literature, TCPS is choosing to have students read
these books during the school year in order to analyze the elements more in depth than a
surface summer reading will allow.
Students will be asked to choose an inspirational book. These can be found in the Christian
Living section of Barnes and Noble or the Christian Life section of Lifeway Christian Bookstore.
Suggested topics include but are not limited to the following:
Biographies/autobiographies---Any book dealing with overcoming any adversity (any
drug/addiction related subject will require parent approval)
Suggested authors and titles:
Tony Dungy--Quiet Strength
Tim Tebow—Through My Eyes
Mike Yorkey—Playing With Purpose
John Smoltz—Starting and Closing
Colt McCoy—Growing Up Colt
Jeremy Affeledt—To Stir a Movement
Eric Legrand—Believe
David Lyons—David’s Goliath
Kim deBlecourt—Until We All Come Home
Rebecca Nichols Alonzo—Devil in Pew # 7
Gabrielle Douglas—Grace, Gold, and Glory
Todd Storch—Taylor’s Gift
Maryan Rostanpour and Marziyeh Ameriadeh—Captive in Iran
Sharon Brown—Sensible Shoes
Katie Davis—Kisses From Katie
Fiction
Suggested authors:
Francine Rivers
James Rubart
Karen Kingsbury
Tim LaHaye (Left Behind series)
Lysa Terkeurst
John and Stasi Eldredge
Priscilla Shire
Cindy Woodsmall
Connie Mann
Non-fiction
Suggested authors/titles:
Todd Beamer—Let’s Roll
Neil White—In the Sanctuary of Outcasts
David Platt—Follow Me
Francis Chan—Crazy Love
Kyle Idleman—Not a Fan, Gods at War
Ted Decker—Showdown
Travis Thrasher—Home Run
Minimum reading length for book is 300 pages. You may choose two smaller books provided
that the combined length is at least 300 pages.
E-books will not be acceptable for the inspirational books; these may be allowed for in-class
readings during the year.
I must approve your book by Wednesday May 21st. You must get approval before you leave for
summer vacation, or you will not be allowed to read a summer book, and you will begin the year
with a significant grade deficit!!
For students that register after school is dismissed for the summer, please contact TCPS at 662844-8604 and leave a message for Mrs. Brenda Key. She will contact you for approval of a
selected book title. Please have a title in mind when contacting her.
On the first day back to school, you need to bring a copy of your book for a written and oral
exam on some of the following elements:
Author and title—know significance of title
Setting—time and place
Is the setting integral to the story? Why or why not?
Major characters---should discuss at least 2. Identify the name and his/her importance to the
story
Minor characters—should discuss at least 3. Identify name and his/her importance to the story
Theme of the book? What does the author want us to glean from this book?
Choose 5 quotes without which the book would lose significant meaning or inspiration
Identify speaker, spoken to and significance to story.
Impact on your life? Has this book encouraged you to examine your relationship to Jesus or
other important people in your life? In what way (s)?
Within the first week of school, you will complete a PREZI or power point with all of the above
elements as well as pictures, music or other elements that you can incorporate. You will be
given a rubric by which you will be graded as well as the date you will present your PREZI to the
class.
Your task over the summer is to take time to read the inspirational book---not simply on a
surface reading---but to glean meaningful insight as to what the author (s) tried to impart to you
that gives your life new meaning.
Dual-Credit English (12)
Summer Reading Hamlet; Much Ado About Nothing
Christmas Reading King Lear
A test on the readings will be on the first week following our return to school.