Honors American Literature
Summer Reading 2015
AP/Banned Book List from Top 100 Banned/Challenged Books
Choose one of these books to read:
*I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings
*Angela’s Ashes
*The Color Purple
*Snow Falling on Cedars
*The Bluest Eye
*One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest
*Flowers for Algernon
The Kite Runner
Beloved
*The Things They Carried
*Ordinary People
East of Eden
*Slaughterhouse- Five
Check with me if you have another title in mind
*indicates these books are available for check out from Ms. Read/Ms.Golding
After you’ve read the novel write an informal 1-2 page letter to me that discusses these items (in any order you
choose):



As a reader, describe who you are. Think about early memories, favorite/least favorite books, specific
moments in your reading career, how often you read, your general feeling about reading, anything that
comes to mind when you think about reading.
How does the novel you chose to read fit into your reading experience? For example, was it one of the
top ten books you’ve ever read? One of the worst? Why? Not?
What top three events did you think were essential to the plot? Explain your choices thinking about why
these events must be in the novel. Don’t do any “if it didn’t happen this way, it would be an entirely
different book” (Hello, Captain Obvious). DO NOT get your list from sparknotes. I don’t care what
sparknotes (or any other similar website) thinks.


I want to know what you think.
Overall, what is your opinion of this book? Would you recommend it to anyone? Who? Why?
In general how was it for a summer reading assignment?
Write a 2-3 page letter to the author in which you converse about these topics:

This book has been challenged or banned by someone somewhere at some time. What sort of issues did
you come across in the novel that might cause some conflict or consternation for some audiences? Be
specific when you identify these situations/issues. Think (and write) about what purpose these parts of


the novel have in the telling of the story. How were you feeling while reading these passages? Why did
the author include them? They are NOT RANDOM. Make some inferences and discuss those with the
author. If you don’t trust your own hunches on banning and you do some research, you must name your
source in your letter (e.g. “ I couldn’t imagine why your amazing book would be challenged anywhere, so
I checked it out and found on the American Library Association website that in Sula, Montana…”)
Which character was most memorable to you and why? Include at least one quotation about/from the
character that shows why s/he is so unforgettable. If you could meet one character who would it be and
why? Explain to the author your interaction with these characters.
Ask the author one burning question you have regarding the book. Make some inferences regarding
how the author might answer and share those with him/her.
By AUGUST 1st you should email/share these letters to me at msread203@gmail.com (ms not mrs) OR snail
mail to me at 230 Montana Ave, Missoula, MT 59802. I will send you a response within a week if I get your
letter.
The last thing to do for this book is make a list of 20-30 of the most important words you associate with this
novel. It can be names, places, ideas, thematic topics, or whatever else comes to mind. Bring this list to the first
full class in the 2015-2016 school year.
But wait! There’s more . . . !
On the first full day of class for the 2015-16 school year, you will need to have read Catcher in the Rye
and have the following assignments completed.
~Charts:
Holden mentions his red hunting hat repeatedly throughout the story. To try and understand
his obsession with it, track when he mentions it and what he says.
PG #
Quote
What is happening when he says it- before and after?
Holden also mentions the ducks in Central Park repeatedly throughout the story. To try and understand his
obsession with them, track when he mentions them and what he says. Make a chart for each symbol that
follows the format below:
PG
#
Quote
What was happening prior to and directly after?
Make a third chart for clues that help you understand the deeper implications of the novel’s title.
PG
#
Quote
~Response:
What is happening that gives you clues? Make some
guesses about title’s meaning.
Responses are semi-formal pieces (typed, DS, MLA format) in which you express your opinion
regarding the prompt, using the text and your reading experience to support your ideas.
Write a 1-2 page response for ONE of the following questions (typed, DS, MLA format)
 Why do you think The Catcher in the Rye is an American Classic? Do you think it should be?
 What is Holden’s problem? Why is he struggling in his life?
 What issues does Holden have that are typical teenage issues, even today?
~ Important Passages: Using post-it notes, mark in the novel what you think are the 3-8 most pivotal passages
in the novel. On your post-it jot down, why each passage deserves this badge of distinction.
~ Vocabulary: Make vocab cards for each of these words from the novel. On one side have the word and a
picture; on the other side provide a definition, part of speech, and use each in a meaningful sentence about
Twizzlers or zombies or cat videos : qualm, compulsory, unscrupulous, incognito, nonchalant, bourgeois (hint:
it’s used as in insult in the novel), lavish, boisterous, harrowing, digress
Definition
part of speech
and meaningful sentence using the word
WORD
Simple picture to trigger your memory of what the word
means
And now we come to the big questions…
Why do I have to do summer reading?
Almost everyone else is! Seriously, more and more schools assign summer reading for everyone, not
just students in honors classes. And, we have so much to cover in your junior year to get you ready for
the AP test that it’s wise to get some of it started early. If you’ve all done the reading when you come
to class the first day, we can jump right in and get going without having to waste any time. It’s also
essential for your brain to read often. It just is, believe me. Besides the books you get to read are really
great stories, so it’s almost not like you are doing homework… almost.
What happens if I don’t get the summer reading done?
Well, you’ll miss out on some really great stories (am I being redundant?). But more than that, you’ll
have two options. Drop HAL or make up the assignments. If you choose the second option, the
assignments will only be accepted up to one week after the first class and they will only receive 50%
credit. In addition, you will also have to do the other work that will be assigned during that first week.
This work will rely heavily on the fact that you have already completed the summer reading…so just do
it!