Spring Valley High School
Summer Reading 2015
Summer Reading Philosophy
Much of today’s research continues to insist that nothing will improve a student’s overall
academic achievement in school (and in life) better than reading. The simple act of reading,
regardless of the difficulty level, provides a means of enrichment that society cannot afford to
lose. We want students to develop a love for reading that will translate into a life-long habit of
reading. The Spring Valley English Department hopes for all students to experience the pleasure
of reading and the opportunity for enlightenment through our summer reading suggestions. The
suggestions at each grade level will enhance the experience of reading for English classes during
the school year.
The intent of the Summer Reading Suggestions is to encourage students to continue and extend
their reading experiences. This reading is not mandatory, but it is highly encouraged. The
titles have been selected by our English Department teachers to promote independent reading
and thinking and to offer students a chance to extend their literary foundation in preparation for
future courses.
Our biggest hope is that the summer reading program will stimulate continued appreciation for
the pure joy of reading at all grade levels while providing a meaningful extension of the learning
process. In addition to the summer reading titles, a suggested list of titles for AP course
preparation is included for eleventh and twelfth grades.
Students may acquire their summer reading text in a variety of ways. Students are not required
to purchase a text for summer reading. Students may elect to buy their text, borrow it from the
library, download it legally onto an electronic reader (Kindle, Nook, etc.), or read it online if it is
legally available. If you have any trouble locating or acquiring a copy of your summer reading
text choices, you may contact Mrs. Nancy Glenn for options and details (contact information
below).
The summer reading information is located on the Spring Valley High School webpage. For
any additional information regarding these suggested readings, please contact Ms. Kim Bouchey
at 699-3500 ext 69222 or kbouchey@richland2.org. *Note: Email is best during the summer
months.
College Preparatory Summer Reading
Students in College Preparatory courses are encouraged to read during the summer
for enjoyment and academic growth in reading comprehension. Our department
encourages students to read texts that they are interested in and offers the following
titles as suggestions.
Ninth Grade English I College Prep
Students enrolled in English I College Prep are encouraged to read one or more of the following
novels:
The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants by Ann Brashares
Nothing to Lose by Alex Flinn
The First Part Last by Angela Johnson
Club Dread (Hunted Book Two) by Walter Sorrell
Make Lemonade by Virginia Euwer Wolff
Tenth Grade English II College Prep
Students enrolled in English II College Prep are encouraged to read one or more of the following
novels:
Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou
The Hunger Games, Catching Fire, and Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins
Having Our Say by Sarah L. and Elizabeth Delany
145th Street Short Stories by Walter Dean Myers
The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien
Eleventh Grade English III College Prep
Students enrolled in English III College Prep are encouraged to read one or both of the following
novels:
Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card
The Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass by Frederick Douglass
The Memory Keeper’s Daughter by Kim Edwards
The Shining by Stephen King
The Color Purple by Alice Walker
Twelfth Grade English IV College Prep
Students enrolled in English IV College Prep are encouraged to read one or both of the following
novels:
Grendel by John Gardner
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time by Mark Haddon
The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini
The Road by Cormac McCarthy
Honors/ AP Summer Reading Texts and Assignments
Ninth Grade English I Honors
Students enrolled in English I Honors (T & G English) are encouraged to
complete the following assignment. Please follow the instructions carefully, and
remember to allot enough time in which to process the reading. Students are to
choose ONE of the following:
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte
Warriors Don’t Cry by Melba Pattillo Beals
The Red Badge of Courage by Stephen Crane
The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger
Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan
The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd
Parents are encouraged to review book choices with their student to ensure the
appropriateness of the content. All of the titles center on a “Coming of Age”
theme.
If students complete this reading assignment, they should complete a journal that
includes a summary of the relevant plot information for each chapter as well as any
relevant character information. Students should also include reactions to the
reading and significant quotes that are relevant to theme. The content of the journal
should be in depth enough to aid the student in writing an in-class essay. The
students will be allowed to use it on the day of the in-class essay.
*Students who do not choose to read one of the suggested titles will still complete
an in-class essay on a different topic.
Tenth Grade English 2 Honors
Students enrolled in English 2 Honors are encouraged to read one or more of the
following texts as they will connect to and enhance the understanding of texts read
during the course.
The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway
The Odyssey by Homer
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare
Much Ado About Nothing by William Shakespeare
Night by Elie Weisel
Eleventh Grade English 3 Honors and
AP English Language & Composition
Students enrolled in English 3 Honors or AP English Language and Composition
are encouraged to read one or more of the following texts as they will connect to
and enhance the understanding of texts read during the course.
Alias Grace by Margaret Atwood
The Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass by Frederick Douglass
A Light in August by William Faulkner
A Lesson Before Dying by Ernest Gaines
A Farewell to Arms by Ernest Hemingway
Wise Blood by Flannery O’Connor
A Member of the Wedding by Carson McCullers
Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller
The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath
The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan
The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton
Black Boy by Richard Wright
Reading Suggestions for Literary Enhancement
AP Language and Composition
The following titles/ authors will be useful upon entering the AP Language course.
They are often mentioned in class and will enhance the reading experiences during
the course. Most are texts that are read and studied in 9th or 10th grade literature
courses. Students are encouraged to read and/ or review these texts during the
summer.
Farenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury
The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros
Great Expectations by Charles Dickens
Lord of the Flies by William Golding
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
1984 by George Orwell
Hamlet, Julius Caesar, and Othello by William Shakespeare
Oedipus Rex and Antigone by Sophocles
Twelfth Grade English 4 Honors and
AP English Literature & Composition
Students enrolled in English 4 Honors or AP English Literature and Composition
are encouraged to read one or more of the following texts as they will connect to
and enhance the understanding of texts read during the course.
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte
Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad
Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe
Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier
The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson
Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson
The Tempest by William Shakespeare
King Lear by William Shakespeare
To the Lighthouse by Virginia Woolf
Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte
Reading Suggestions for Literary Enhancement
AP Literature and Composition
The following titles/ authors will be useful upon entering the AP Literature course.
They are often mentioned in class and will enhance the reading experiences during
the course. Most are texts that are read and studied in 11th grade/ American
Literature courses. Students are encouraged to read and/ or review these texts
during the summer. Students should also refer to the suggested titles for the AP
Language course in addition to these titles.
Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison
The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry
The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne
The Crucible by Arthur Miller
East of Eden by John Steinbeck
*AP Literature Students are encouraged to take notes on their reading that include relevant information on
plot, character, setting, writing style, symbols, theme, and conflict. Students should also look for
significant quotes that are relevant to theme. These notes will be useful on assignments during the course
in preparation for the AP exam.