Honors English II. Mrs. Sams
Summer Reading Assignment 2015
REQUIRED Fiction:
A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini (F)
CHOOSE ONE Non-Fiction
The Color of Water, James McBride OR
The Bookseller of Kabul, Asne Seierstad
Annotations/ Assignment: You will have the opportunity to read A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini
and either The Color of Water by James McBride OR The Bookseller of Kabul by Asne Seierstad. While you are
reading, follow these simple steps to maximize your experience with the text and, at the same time, make it easy to
review the novel. A final copy of these annotations should be completed after you read each book. The annotations
should be typed and double-spaced. Please email the first annotations to me by July 12th. I will collect the other
annotation on the first day of school. It does not matter which book you read first, however, two separate
annotations (1 per book) are required and both will be counted as a grade. DO NOT COPY & PASTE FROM THE
INTERNET (book summaries, characters, Sparknotes, etc… all annotations must be authentic and come straight
from you! Failure to create authentic annotations will result in a “0”).
1. Type the title of your book, the author’s name, and the date you started the book.
2. Make a list of the characters you encounter as you read. Add a short description of the character, so you can easily
recall him or her. * All characters should be included!
3. Organize the plot by writing a paragraph summary of each chapter.
4. Stick a tab in the book whenever you come to a place in the text where the characters, the writing, or the plot
elements reach a high level of engagement for you. Pull the direct quote and write a brief explanation of what
happens at this juncture and why it engaged you. At least three direct quotes cited in MLA in-text citation
format and explanations are required.
5. Take the time to record any unfamiliar words (at least 20) you find as you read. Define them.
6. Theme means the truth, the lesson, and/or the moral the author incorporates into his or her writing. Theme makes
the book relevant and significant to the reader; the novel entertains us, but if one looks beyond the lines of the text,
the novel can also teach us something important about life. List 3 themes you see in the novel and explain how this
theme can teach us something important about life.
Essay/Test: In addition, you will be tested on both of these texts. The test date will be announced on the first day of
school. (You should expect the test during the first full week of school)
Have a safe and restful summer break!
See you in August!
Mrs. Sams
kayce.samsbose@betheltate.org (email first annotation by July 12, 2015)