Book choices:
Honors American Literature Summer Reading Assignment
Little Women (Louisa May Alcott) or The Adventures of Tom Sawyer (Mark Twain)
Delta Wedding (Eudora Welty) or The Grapes of Wrath (John Steinbeck)
Ellen Foster (Kaye Gibbons) or The Chosen (Chaim Potok)
Assignment Description:
Novel reviews should be completed for three of the works listed above (one from each pairing). Students should include their own analysis of the literature and should complete the assignment without the use of SparkNotes, CliffsNotes, Schmoop, or other study aids . Students will turn in their assignments on the second day of school. The grade that they receive for their efforts will count as their first major grade of the first quarter. There is a copy of the novel review sheet on the FTP site in Mrs. Goodling’s folder. Responses should be typed.
Novel Review - Use this as a template for your novel review. Please leave the bullet points, and write paragraphs below them. For the characters, you may list them with a description of each.

Briefly summarize the plot, including a description of the climax.

List three quotes and explain their significance.

Make a list of major characters that includes their names, role in the story, significance, and adjectives that describe them.

Describe the setting and explain its significance to the story as a whole.

Describe any symbols used in the story.

Explain the significance of the opening scene.

Explain the significance of the closing scene.

Describe two or three major themes.
If you have any questions about this assignment, please contact Mrs. Goodling at bgoodling@covenantday.org
.