Mrs.

Harrington
English I A & B
Summer Contact:
harringtont@westottawa.net
** I check my e-mail about once/week
during the summer.

English I Summer
Reading Assignment
As a student participating in the high school English program for the coming year, you are required to
read two books (1 informational and 1 narrative) over the summer. Please purchase a composition
notebook that will be used to annotate both books as you read. (This will also be utilized as a writers
journal during the school year.) Include 3 full (back and front) pages of notes per book. These should
come to class with you on the second day of school. The format of the notes is up to you; however, these
notes will be used for the first literary project of the school year, which will begin the second day of
school. Please choose books from the list that are age appropriate and challenging. If you have an
alternate book request, please contact me to receive permission. Additionally, please note that late work
will receive a reduced grade.
Informational Text -Travel Essay (non-fiction): Do you want to see the world, but dont have the time
or money? Travel essays are a great way to explore a place from your own home. Perhaps you will be
traveling this summer. Check out the local bookstores in the area you visit for local authors stories and
insights of the area. Below are some suggestions to help you start. Please contact the teacher for
permission prior to choosing a book not on the list.
Remember: Books are written to reach a variety of audiences. Depending upon ones sensitivities or interests, a
reader and his or her guardian may want to review a selection before reading.

a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
f.
g.
h.
i.
j.
k.
l.
m.
n.
o.
p.
q.
r.

A Cooks Tour: Global Adventures in Extreme Cuisines by Anthony Bourdain (all over)
Im a Stranger Here Myself by Bill Bryson (U.S.A.)
In a Sunburned Country by Bill Bryson (Australia)
A Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson (U.S.A. Appalachian Trail)
Notes from a Small Island by Bill Bryson (England)
Mexican Days by Tony Cohan (Mexico)
Tales of a Female Nomad by Rita Golden Gelman (C.A., Southeast Asia)
Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert (Italy, Indonesia, India)
River Town by Peter Hessler (China)
Looking for Alaska by Peter Jenkins (Alaska)
A Walk Across America by Peter Jenkins (U.S.A.)
Under the Tuscan Sun by Frances Mayes (Italy)
A Year in Provence by Peter Mayle (France)
Holy Cow by Sarah Macdonald (India)
The Long Way Round by Ewan McGregor (Europe, Asia, N.A.)
Sahara by Michael Palin (Africa)
The Sex Lives of Cannibals by J. Maarten Troost (Southeast Asia)
Under the Overpass: A Journey of Faith on the Streets of America by Mike Yankoski
(Homelessness in the U.S.)
s. The Measure of a Mountain by Bruce Barcott (Mount Rainier, Washington)
t. Notes froma Small Island by Bill Bryson (England)
u. Within Reach by Mark Pfetzer and Jack Galvin (Mount Everest)

v. In the Land of White Death by Valerian Albanov (Siberian Arctic)

Narrative Text Book of Choice: English I students are encouraged to try something new and pursue a
different kind of reading than what has been tried in the past. Some titles are offered below; however, it is
really up to the student to find something that will challenge him or her. Please contact the teacher for
permission prior to choosing a book not on the list.
Remember: Books are written to reach a variety of audiences. Depending upon ones sensitivities or interests, a
reader and his or her guardian may want to review a selection before reading.

A Northern Light by Jennifer Donnelly

A Separate Peace by John Knowles
Animal Farm by George Orwell
Because I am Furniture by Thalia Chaltas
Bless Me Ultima by Rudolfo Anaya

Call of the Wild by Jack London

Call of the Wild by Jack London

Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger

Chocolate War by Robert Cormier
Durable Goods by Elizabeth Berg
Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury

Last Days of Summer by Steve Kluger

Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkein

Paddy Clarke Ha Ha Ha by Roddy Doyle

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen
Sold by Patricia McCormick

The Book Thief by Marcus Zusak

The Chosen by Chaim Potok
The Heart is a Lonely Hunter by Carson McCullers
The Help by Katherine Stockett

The His Dark Materials Trilogy by Phillip Pullman (Includes The Golden Compass, The Subtle Knife,
and The Amber Spyglass)
The Lord of the Flies by William Golding
The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky
The Wave by Morton Rhue
We Were Here by Matt de la Pena

Whaletalk by Chris Crutcher

Why I Fight by J. Adams Oaks

Zazoo by Richard Mosher

Things to keep in mind while reading your book: Youll find many ways to read a text. Keeping a journal to
record and reflect on your reading is one of the best ways of exploring a piece of writing. With this process you
integrate reading and writing and find that you can interact with the work more fully. Please avoid hasty analysis
because it can prevent you from understanding the meaning of the novel as a whole. Your journals will be graded
on the thoroughness and variety of content. Remember that thorough and quality writing does not need to be
lengthy. Also, lengthy writing is not always thorough. Be sure to effectively include at least 5 from the list below to
earn full points. Advanced readers usually include at least 8 to 12 of the items listed below. Please know that the
goal of the summer reading project is to help students start on the path toward becoming academic readers, while
still enjoying the text.

1. Begin each new novel without predetermined bias. If you decide in advance that you only like one type of
book, you close out the possibility of new experiences. You do not have to, nor should you, enjoy every
work of literature that you read, but you can appreciate and learn from every work of literature. However,
this does NOT mean that you should continue to read a book if you dont like it. You are not forced
to finish the choices you made simply select a different title. (For example, if you find the book
offensive, STOP READING IT and select another. This is meant to open you to different literature,
but it is also meant to be enjoyable!)

2. Read slowly. This suggestion cant be stressed enough. If you roller skate through an art museum, you
wont see the paintings.

3. Read with a pen in hand. If you can, mark in your book (otherwise use sticky notes or take notes on
paper), underline key phrases, speeches by major figures, or important statements by the narrator. Take
notes on ideas or questions while reading (dont trust your memory). Write in the margins.

4. Ask silent questions of the material as you read. Dont read passively, waiting to be told the meaning.
Most adult authors will seldom pronounce a moral.

5. Here are some noteworthy topics (please effectively include at least 5 from the list to earn full points):

Authors style of writing

Your reaction to the novel
Something you learned about yourself or the world around you
Something you learned about the craft of writing
Writing structure/organization (compare/contrast, chronological, cause & effect, definition)
Literary elements (setting, plot, foreshadowing, flashback, imagery, subplots, point of view, tone,
mood, etc.)
Summary
Perspective
Questions about the topic
Questions for the author
Word choice/unfamiliar terms that stumped or intrigued you
Text features (glossary, index, maps, family trees, graphs, charts, illustrations, forward, prologue,
epilogue, quotes, poetry, etc.)
Allusions
Character development
Topic development
Primary or secondary sources used

Dialogue and/or Quotes

Key ideas
Life changing events
Types of conflicts
Explanation of conflicts