Stockbridge High School
Summer Preparation for Learning 2014
English I- 9th Grade
Welcome to English I. Every summer at Stockbridge High School, you will be given the opportunity to
complete a summer reading assignment. It is optional for regular and MANDATORY for HONORS classes.
This year, you will read THREE books and complete each of the following enumerated items below.
Required Reading
Mythology by Edith Hamilton
Read the following sections of Edith Hamilton’s Mythology and complete the activities for each section.
These chapters will give you an introduction to the unit on Greek Mythology that we will begin within the
first weeks of school. Some of the Essential Questions we will aim to address in August are: What do
Greek Myths reveal about the values and customs of Ancient Grecians? How are female characters
portrayed in Greek Mythology, and how does this compare to the modern woman? Keep these
questions in mind as you read.
1. Read chapter 1 entitled “The Gods” and identify the twelve principal gods. Identify their Roman
names, spouses, powers, symbols, weapons, etc., and record three character traits about each
god/goddess.
2. Read chapter 3 entitled “How the World and Mankind Were Created”. Summarize each of the
three views of creation with a concise but meaningful paragraph for each story.
3. Read chapters 5, 6, and 8 (you do not have to read chapter 7). For each story of love and
adventure, list the key characters and five important events that occur within each of the
myths from this section.
4. List and define 25 new or challenging vocabulary terms within the book.
Choice Reading- Choose any TWO
Read any two of the following books. Write a one to two page book review describing the characters, plot
and major themes of the works.
Cold Sassy Tree by Olive Ann Burns
Brave New World by Aldous Huxley
Divergent by Veronica Roth
The Invisible Man by H.G. Wells
Monster by Walter Dean Myers
Life of Pi by Yann Martel
The Boy in the Striped Pajamas by John Boyne
The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan
1984 by George Orwell
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou (Parent permission required)
Your assignments are due on the first day of school.
Happy Reading!