PARKERSBURG CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL
SUMMER READING
In its effort to foster an appreciation for reading and to help students improve their reading skills, the Parkersburg Catholic High School English Department is implementing a summer reading program. Summer reading will be assigned to all English students entering grades 9, 10, 11 and 12.
Students are responsible for getting copies of the books. They are encouraged to call or visit local libraries to locate the books they need. Because of the demand for the enrichment reading books, students should consider reserving their books as soon as possible. Many students find it easier to buy their own copies. Some students make arrangements to exchange copies with other students so that they do not have to buy all of the books.
All requirements for summer reading assignments are spelled out on the summer reading assignment sheet, last page attached. Students should read the assignments carefully, paying special attention to submitting reports to showbie.com. (go to showbie.com, access the Summer Reading class and use access code 28CZJ, then download the assignment) If they have any questions regarding their assignments, they should ask their English teachers to go over them before students leave for the summer.
(*My email is PLEASE email me with any questions or comments. I will be checking email over the summer!!)
The English Department’s summer reading assignment policy and the lists themselves are the results of suggestions gathered from students, local library and teachers. The members of the English Department believe that students should be encouraged to do more reading. Experience has shown that those students who read frequently usually do much better on the ACT and SAT and, in general, develop better writing and thinking skills. The English Department hopes that summer reading will afford students the opportunity to appreciate reading as an enjoyable, lifetime activity.
Happy Reading,
Mrs. Barton
PCHS, English Dept.
NHS Adviser
Class of 2015 Adviser
Grade 9 English
2014 SUMMER READING LIST for students entering GRADE 9
Students entering ninth grade English are required to readTo Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee.
All students entering 9th grade Honors English should also read one selection from the list below.
Grade Nine List
Sang SpellPhyllis Reynolds Naylor
If I Should Die Before I WakeHan Nolan
My Sister’s KeeperJodi Picoult
SpeakLaurie Halse Anderson
Life of Pi: a novelYann Martel
Reminders for all students entering Grade 9
- Students are reminded that they are required to obtain their own copies of summer reading books, including those books for which they write book reports. There will be a limited number of each book at the public library, but most high school students purchase summer reading books on their own.
“Reading is to the mind what exercise is to the body” – Sir Richard Steele
Grades10 English
2014 SUMMER READING LIST for students entering GRADE 10
“Reading is to the mind what exercise is to the body” – Sir Richard Steele
All students are required to read a minimum of two books; however, we strongly encourage students to read several books for fun and for mental exercise. At least one of the books must be from the four choices listed below. The second book can be from the second list below. Students should work on their note-taking skills to prepare for discussions and assessments.
All students entering 10th grade must read at least one of the following four books:
The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls
“The Glass Castle is an amazing story of a girl battling domestic abuse throughout her childhood. Through the memoir you can see the writer’s constant struggles as she grows up in less than ideal conditions with her odd, artistic mother who doesn’t seem to see the problems she is allowing to happen. It is a really amazing book and probably one of my favorites! Also, if you enjoy The Glass Castle, read Running with Scissors by Augusten Burroughs. Both are really great reads!”
Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom
“This memoir shows the importance of friendship and kindness towards others. The author learns of his old professor becoming ill and goes to spend his last months with him for one final lesson on life. When you start reading this book, you are shipped into a heartwarming story and get a front row seat in Morrie Schwartz’s final class.”
Paper Towns by John Green
“Quentin is a painfully average teenager trying to discover the inner workings of the mind of the school's walking enigma, Margo Roth Spiegelman. Margo capitalizes words in the middle of sentences, reads poetry, and always says what's on her mind. One ordinary night, she recruits Quentin for the time of his life: seeking out sweet revenge, breaking and entering, and contemplating the meaning of life itself. But when Margo disappears just before graduation, it is up to Quentin to decipher the mystery she left behind, finding more out about the girl he loves as well as himself in the process. This book is one of my absolute favorites. It has a great storyline, and a unique cast of characters that will keep you up reading late into the night.”
Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins
“Mockingjay is the third book in The Hunger Games trilogy by Suzanne Collins; Mockingjay is a thrilling, suspense-filled book about the rebellious character, known as Katniss Everdeen. In this book love is tested and the final decision is made. The setting of the book is in the capitol and the mysterious District 13, which is now an underground bunker hidden from the outside world and from the capitol. This book focuses on the struggle for Peeta, Katniss as the rebel leader, “Mockingjay,” and the war against the capitol and the games. Mockingjay is a true page turner with new secrets and adventures on each page.”
The following are other options for the second required book:
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon
“This book is a mystery, so if you like solving a murder, it is great. It contains many unexpected revelations.”
Enrique’s Journey by Sonia Nazario
“Enrique's Journey is a heart-pounding story that tells the journey of one boy's thrilling trip from poverty in Central America to the United States. The novel is a great read and keeps you hooked the whole way. Enrique shows the reader how far he will go following a dream, and it is a story you cannot miss.”
American-Born Chinese by Gene Luen Yang
“This book is a quick read that is fun and filled with symbolism. It tells the story of three very different characters whose only goal is to fit in. This book is enjoyable for anyone, especially those who like monkeys.” This is a quick and funny read. Dealing with identities is a major theme in this graphic novel. This story satirizes common Chinese stereotypes. A.B.C. is a great book about fitting in.
Staying Fat for Sarah Byrnes by Chris Crutcher
“Everyone has gone through an experience with bullying sometime in life, but for Sarah Byrnes, the bullying is every day due to the burns that cover the majority of her body. She is lucky enough to have a friend, a protective, loyal outcast himself, by her side who supports her in everything she does. Staying Fat for Sarah Byrnes is a touching yet brutally honest story of friends trying to make it through high school as social outcasts.”
The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
“If you like mystery, The Book Thief is a great book to read because it is entertaining and has an unusual narrator. Liesl, a young girl, has escaped death many times as she loses her family and friends, and Death wants to know what her secret is and what’s been keeping her alive.”
“This story is an adrenaline builder. You get into the minds of unique, complex characters and see how they transform when faced with danger. The dynamics of the story and the narration really make it exciting and hard to put down.”
Jerk, California by Jonathan Friesen
“Jerk, California is about a high schooler who is battling with Tourettes. He finds a girl and falls in love with her. He goes on a journey to find himself. I really would recommend this book because you won’t be able to put it down
Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell
“To say this is a love story would over-simplify it. To say it’s set in the 80s would give you the wrong impression. To say it’s a beautifully-written story that perfectly articulates the overwhelming experience of falling in love… Well, that’s a step in the right direction. One thing that makes Eleanor & Park such a great read is that everything is unexpected, from the events themselves to the way the author describes them. I found it totally engrossing and moving, and I sincerely couldn’t recommend it highly enough.”
The Lost City of Z by David Grann
“Before maps, GPS, and street signs, groups of men ventured into the most unwelcoming of climates to explore and chart the wilderness. Some returned with tales of amazing sites, and gained fame and fortune. Others never made it back home. British explorer Percy Fawcett dedicated his life to searching for a fabled civilization believed to reside deep in the Amazonian Jungle. Readers learn that few are immune to the dream of Z as the author sets out on his own mission to discover what happened to Percy Fawcett. Like Fawcett, this jungle might one day disappear.
The Monstrumologist by Rick Yancey
“Orphan Will Henry, apprentice to the renowned Monstrumologist Dr. Pellinore Warthrop, is accustomed to the frightening and bloody studies of his master. But when a grave digger delivers the body of a young woman to the doctor, the boy must push aside his horror and disgust in order to assist the monster hunter as he dissects the Anthropophagus (headless monster) who choked to death eating the dead girl. I've been watching horror movies and reading horror novels since I was about eight years old. Basically, it takes a lot to freak me out. Not only did this book give me a deep sense of unease, it grossed me out completely.
Grade Eleven
2014 SUMMER READING for students entering GRADE 11
“Reading is to the mind what exercise is to the body” – Sir Richard Steele
All students are required to read a minimum of two books; however, we strongly encourage students to read several books for fun and for mental exercise. At least one of the books must be from the three choices listed below. The second book can be from the second list below.
All students entering 11th grade must read at least one of the following three books:
The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie
Arnold Spirit, Jr. is a social outcast living on a reservation in Spokane, WA. After a frustrating outburst in school, Arnold soon leaves to attend an affluent school district twenty-two miles away; however, Arnold is the only Indian to attend this school. Arnold must navigate between his Indian world at home, a place that now sees him as a traitor, and his new white world at school, where he never can fully fit. Coupled with Ellen Forney’s cartoons, Sherman Alexie’s writing is engaging and witty.
The Maze Runner by James Dashner
“This is a great dystopian science fiction. The story follows Thomas who is brought to the Glade. Without his memory, he and the others in the Glade have to figure out how to escape. Searching through the mazes, Thomas is the Maze Runner.
Why We Broke Up by Daniel Handler
"This book starts out as the typical angsty teen romance novel, but that premise is turned on its head towards the end of the book. Themes of love and friendship and how the two intertwine are explored in this beautifully written novel.
The following are other options for the second required book:
An American Childhood by Annie Dillard “Annie Dillard lures the reader into her childhood world using a rich and descriptive landscape that transports the young or old into her journey of self-awareness and discovery. Push at your own “map’s edges” and read this book!
The Butterfly Clues by Kate Ellison
Written in a sparse style, this intriguing novel follows seventeen-year-old Penelope "Lo" Marin. Since her brother's untimely death, her collection of “beautiful things” has become an obsession. When she finds an antique butterfly necklace that belonged to a murdered girl at a flea market, she impulsively steals it and becomes fixated. As Lo delves deeper into the life of the victim, with whom she feels an otherworldly connection, she finds herself in the middle of a violent underworld of crime, drugs, and sex.
The Fault in Our Stars by John Green “This book is amazing. There is no other way to describe it. It contains the typical boy-girl relationship, but it is so much more than that. It has metaphors, sarcasm, and the word "okay." You have to read it. *Buy a box of tissues first.
A Secret Edge by Robin Reardon
Reardon’s third novel is a coming-of-age story about athletic and popular Jason Peele, a high school track star who begins to explore and confront his homosexuality. This is a compelling story about stereotypes, interracial relationships, love, betrayal, and friendship.
Zeitoun by Dave Eggers
New Orleans expected Hurricane Katrina to blow down some trees and knock out the power like countless storms before it. Zeitoun is the story of a family who survives the natural disaster and the man-made catastrophe that follows. Abdulrahman Zeitoun refuses to abandon his neighborhood in New Orleans. Instead, he stays behind to help and care for neighbors and pets. However, shortly after the storm the authorities arrest him and charge him with terrorist activity.
Grades12 English
2014 SUMMER READING LIST for students entering GRADE 12
“Reading is to the mind what exercise is to the body” – Sir Richard Steele
All students are required to read a minimum of two books; however, we strongly encourage students to read several books for fun and for mental exercise. Students should work on their note-taking skills to prepare for discussions and assessments.
Seniors Reading List
Students might not enrich their minds inside a classroom over summer break, but that doesn’t mean enrichment can’t be found in one of the original 24-7 tools for learning: books.
Be it on a Kindle, Nook, iPad, or the printed page, books keep students’ minds stimulated, encourage creativity and innovation, and allow for higher-order thinking.
The trick is to find books that not only provide educational value through themes such as self-discovery, culture, social mores, feminism, and political activism, but also to find books that inspire students to keep reading. I hope you find several from below that you really enjoy!! Happy Reading! Mrs. Barton
Author:Pat Schmatz
Why it’s important:Focuses on the importantance of literacy, as well as having teachers as mentors and taking an interest in learning, all while overcoming personal obstacles.
Summary:Travis is missing his old home in the country, and he’s missing his old hound, Rosco. Now there’s just the cramped place he shares with his well-meaning but alcoholic grandpa, a new school, and the dreaded routine of passing when he’s called on to read out loud. But that’s before Travis meets Mr. McQueen, who doesn’t take “pass” for an answer–a rare teacher whose savvy persistence has Travis slowly unlocking a book on the natural world. And it’s before Travis is noticed by Velveeta, a girl whose wry banter and colorful scarves belie some hard secrets of her own. Awards/Notes:2012 Notable Children’s Book
2.The Color Purple Author:Alice Walker
Why it’s important:Focuses on feminist issues, specifically black female life and rights in the 1930s in the southern U.S., and addresses numerous issues including the characters’ exceedingly low position in American social culture. The novel was also praised for its eloquent use of the black English vernacular.
Summary:The Color Purple is the story of two sisters—one a missionary to Africa and the other a child wife living in the South—who remain loyal to one another across time, distance, and silence.