DULANEY HIGH SCHOOL
GIFTED AND TALENTED ENGLISH 10
REQUIRED SUMMER READING 2016
Students enrolled in 10th Grade GT Englishfor the 2016-2017 school year are required to read ONE of the books below during the summer. We require that youhave the book and bring it with you for use during the first weeks of school.
Fiction novel:
The Kite Runner–KhaledHosseini
The Kite Runner follows the story of Amir, the privileged son of a wealthy businessman in Kabul, and Hassan, the son of Amir's father's servant. As children in the relatively stable Afghanistan of the early 1970s, the boys are inseparable. They spend idyllic days running kites and telling stories of mystical places and powerful warriors until an unspeakable event changes the nature of their relationship forever.
**While this is the preferred choice of most students, this novel contains mature content. Please discuss this choice and get it approved by a parent/guardian before reading. To see what current students had to say about the novel, visit the back of this page**
Non-fiction memoir:
The Book Who Harnessed the Wind: Creating Currents of Electricity and Hope– William Kamkwanba
(DO NOT buy the Young Reader’s edition)
William has read about windmills, and dreamed of building one that would bring to his small village a set of luxuries that only two percent of Malawians enjoy: electricity and running water. With a small pile of once-forgotten science textbooks; some scrap metal, tractor parts, and bicycle halves; and an armory of curiosity and determination, he embarked on a daring plan to forge an unlikely contraption and small miracle that would change the lives around him.
Here’s what current Dulaney students had to say about The Kite Runner:
“We firmly believe that The Kite Runner should be available to all who want to read this book. Although the book contains some graphic material, this book teaches a valuable lesson that kids should be aware of—that you can fix your past and that redemption takes time.” – J.C. Mamaril and Joshua Lim
“To teach a high school student to not depend on the reliability of the sole picture of Middle Eastern countries painted by the media, in it imperative that The Kite Runner be read by high school students.”- Onani Banda
“Certain scenes in the novel… have important, foundational meaning in the story. It led to a series of events that teach students lessons of friendship and honesty… From this tragedy, students learn that being honest and standing up for someone goes a long way.”
- Christy Reid
“Along with dealing with serious topics,The Kite Runneris also rich in culture and has deep themes concerning key virtues of human nature. In America, many students may not know about Afghan culture, and the struggles that are present in Middle Eastern culture.The Kite Runneralso uses the characters to portray virtues such as faithfulness, loyalty, and prudence.” –Josh Dubois and Brendan Mellinger
“It is because of the realities of the world this book has shown me [that] I myself now try to appreciate everyone and strive… to find my own identity. If this book is banned… students will not be able to experience what I have…or learn the heart-warming story of Amir and Hassan.”
–SepehrAkhtarkhavari
“The Kite Runnergives today’s youth valuable insights into the lives of those who were impacted by the Taliban in Afghanistan. It moves away from our society’s limited understanding of Muslims and their own struggles against the rise of the radical fundamentalism with which we seem to color their entire religion. Denying students of the opportunity to hear from a perspective not of the body counts on the news, but rather a humanized view of their real lives serves more benefit to our culture than it does harm.”-AbhinavKhushalaniand Patrick Lang