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Magnificat
High School |
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Summer
Reading List 2008 |
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Magnificat
High School |
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Summer
Reading List 2008 |
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ENGLISH DEPARTMENT:
Directions: Read two of the following books during the summer. You will be tested on the books in English class when you begin school. To prepare yourself, take good notes on the books. Be sure to take notes on minor and major characters, the settings of the story, and plot events.
A father's touching story of his courageous teenage son who dies of a brain tumor at the age of seventeen. Johnny, throughout his illness, and dealing with his death, was being reborn each day.
- Farewell to Manzanar by Jeanne Wakatsuki Houston & John D. Houston
The author remembers her life as a young Japanese girl who is sent to an internment camp with her family during World War II.
A biographical novel full of suspense and intrigue about the author's attempts to save refugees from the Nazis during World War II.
Sixteen year old Hope runs a diner with her aunt and becomes involved in the mayoral race of the diner's owner, a leukemia victim.
Kino, impoverished Indian fisherman in a little village in Mexico, believes his fortune turns to gold when he finds a valuable pearl. This simple novella relays an important parable about moral values and integrity of soul.
This is the story of a 40-year-old man, Landon Carter, who looks back on his life at age 17 when he was roped into acting the lead in the town Christmas play.
A story about a girl who comes face to face with violence and must make the hardest choice of her life.
PHYSICAL EDUCATION
Every student is to read one book from the list below. Check the Cuyahoga County Library system or your local library for these books.
- Babe Didrikson Zaharias: The Making of a Champion by Russell Freedman
This is a biography of Babe Didrikson, who broke records in golf, track and field, and other sports, at a time when there were few opportunities for female athletes.
- Letters to a Young Gymnast by Nadia Comaneci
Comaneci, the Romanian teen gymnastics star of the 1976 Olympics, who later defected to the West, combines her memoir with advice to up-and-coming young athletes on discipline and training.
- Soul Surfer: A True Story of Faith, Family, and fighting to Get Back on the Board by Bethany Hamilton
Just a month after losing her arm in a horrific shark attack while surfing, fourteen-year-old Hamilton got back on her board. In this moving account of her young life, she credits her determination and spirit to a close-knit family and her overriding faith in God.
- Wilma Rudolph: A Biography by Maureen M. Smith
Stricken with polio as a young girl, Wilma's love of sports motivated her to overcome her physical disabilities and learn to walk and run again. She would go on to become the first American woman to win three gold medals in track and field at the 1960 Olympics.
- A Whole New Ball Game by Sue Macy
This is the story of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League, created in 1943 as an alternative to the war-depleted men's major leagues. Playing until 1954, the league was popularized in the film A League of Their Own.
- Women Olympic Champions by Nathan Aaseng
A collection of true stories, profiling the lives and struggles of seven female Olympic champions from the 1920's figure skater Sonja Henie to the 1980's and 1990's track and field star, Jackie Joyner-Kersee.
ENGLISH DEPARTMENT
Directions: Read one of the following books during the summer. You will be tested on the book in American Literature when you return to school. To prepare yourself, take good notes on the book. Be sure to take notes on minor and major characters, the setting of the story, and the plots.
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou
A well-known poet, actress and scholar tells poetically of her African-American childhood in Stamps, Arkansas, where searing bigotry tested but did not destroy her.
This sequel to The Chosen takes the reader into Danny's and Reuven's adulthoods.
Pudd'nhead Wilson by Mark Twain
Project Gutenberg eBookAt Dawson's Landing in times of slavery, two boys -- one black, one white -- are switched at birth. What happens as a result shows the author's firm conviction that "color is only skin deep."
In 1659, fourteen year old Mary Newbury keeps a journal of her voyage from England to the New World and her experiences living as a witch in a community of Puritans near Salem, Massachusetts.
SOCIAL STUDIES
World HistoryAll Quiet on the Western Front by Erich Maria Remarque
or
Hiroshima by John Hersey
Honors World History
Students are to required to read two books from two different regions of the world off the Summer Reading list. (The regions include: Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, the Middle East and South American). A typed book report for each book will be due on the First Day of School. Each report is to include the following paragraphs:
Paragraph one: an identification of the main characters and their importance to the story line Paragraph two: a summary of the book that includes the description of the geographic location and historical time period involved Paragraph three: an identification of the problem or situation presented in the book Paragraph four: a description of three new things you learned about the country's culture from the book Paragraph five: an explanation of how this book can be a learning tool for Honors World History
The Small Woman by Alan Burgess — about abandoned Chinese babies in the 1930s that were rescued by a European woman (Asia)
The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver — the tale of the life of a missionary family in Africa in the early 1900s (Africa)
Hiroshima by John Hersey —on the atomic bombing of August 6, 1945 (Asia)
Black Rain by Masuji Ibuse — on the atomic bombing in Nagasaki, Japan on August 9, 1945 (Asia)
Life and Death in Shanghai by Nien Cheng — Mao Zedong’s Cultural Revolution and his persecution of Intellectuals (Asia)
Follow the Rabbit Proof Fence by Doris Pilkington — Australia’s forced education of aboriginals and how three sisters tried to defy the system (Australia)
Not Without My Daughter by Betty Mahmoody — American woman’s experience during the 1979 Iranian Revolution (Middle East)
Totto-Chan: The Little Girl at the Window by Tetsuko Kuroyanagi— a story of a young girl in Japan (Asia)
Bridge to the Sun by Gwen Harold Terasaki — an Amerasian child’s experience during World War II (Asia)
Anne Frank Remembered: The Stay of the Woman Who Helped To Hide the Frank Family by Miep Gies—
This is Anne Frank’s story told through Mr. Frank’s secretary who tried to protect them in hiding (Europe)
Les Miserables by Victor Hugo — Victor Hugo’s story of French injustice in the late 1800s (Europe)
Daughter of Venice by Donna Jo Napoli — a young girl’s adventure of growing up during the Renaissance Period (Europe)
The Flame Trees of Thika by Elspeth Huxley — a young British girl’s experience growing up in Kenya, Africa (Africa)
The Haj by Leon Uris — Leon Uris’ tale of what happened to the Arabs after Israel became a nation in 1948 (Middle East)
Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson — setting up female schools in the Himalayan mountain area of Pakistan and Afghanistan by a former American mountain climber (Middle East)
The Bookseller of Kabul by Asne Seierstad — a description of what life was life for women in Afghanistan before and after the Taliban (Middle East)
My Early Life by Winston Churchill — the early life of Winston Churchill from 1874-1904 (Europe)
All Quiet on the Western Front by Erich Maria Remarque — a book on World War I from the perspective of a German soldier (Europe)
The Chinese Cinderella by Adeline Yen Mah — how a young female in China is treated by her family members because her mother died giving birth to her (Asia)
The Road from Coorain by Jill Ker Conway — he life of Jill Ker Conway, the first female president of Smith College in America, who grew up on a sheep farm in New South Wales, Australia (Australia)
Mary, Bloody Mary by Caroline Meyer — the life of Queen Mary I of England (Europe)Beware, Princess Elizabeth by Caroline Meyer — the life of Queen Elizabeth I of England (Europe)
The Devil’s Arithmetic by Jane Yolen — a story about the Jewish Holocaust (Europe)
Hana’s Suitcase by Karen Levine — a young woman’s suitcase from Germany arrives at the Holocaust Education Center in Japan. This is a true story of finding out who Hana was and what she endured. (Europe)
Last Train from Kummersdorf by Leslie Wilson — two young people flee Nazi Germany
and learn what it is like to be a refugee in other countries. (Europe)
Sisterland by Linda Newbery — a young Jewish girl sent to England to be away from Hitler’s Germany finds out the hidden stories of her family. (Europe)
The Book Thief by Markus Zusak — protecting books in Nazi Germany by young adults (Europe)
God Grew Tired Of Us by John Bul Dau — a memoir of a Lost Boy from Sudan to the United States (Africa)
Friedrich by Hans Richter— A story about two friends in Hitler’s Germany — one is a German boy and the other is a German Jewish boy. The story is unusual because it is narrated by the non-Jewish character. (Europe)
Forest of the Pygmies by Isabel Allende — set in the Amazon rainforest two boys on a river trip begin searching for clues about a new animal found in the region (South America)
House of Spirits by Isabel Allende — about a Chilean family, especially a young girl growing into womanhood who communicates with spirits (South America)
Virgin in the Ice by Ellis Peters — a murder mystery novel by Ellis Peters set in the Middle Ages. (Europe)
ENGLISH DEPARTMENT
Directions: Read the book listed below during the summer. You will be tested on the book in English class when you return to school. To prepare yourself, take good notes on the book. Be sure to take notes on minor and major characters, the settings of the story, and plot events.
British Literature
Honors British LiteratureDavid Copperfield by Charles Dickens
Project Gutenberg eBookFOREIGN LANGUAGE
AP Spanish
Don Quijote de La Mancha by Miguel de Cervantes
Must be purchased at the Magnificat Bookstore. Please see your Spanish teacher for the comprehension packet. Read chapters 1-6, and do the comprehension packet over the summer.
AP French
Le Petit Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupery
See Miss Sands before finals week for the novel and a study packet.
Spanish 4
La Casa en Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros
See Mrs. Chahda before finals week for the novel and a study packet.
SOCIAL STUDIES
Economics and AP MicroeconomicsGovernment
ENGLISH DEPARTMENT
Directions: See directives for the specific class re: book selections and number of books to be read. You will be tested in English class when you return to school. To prepare yourself, take notes on the book. Be sure to take notes on minor and major characters, the setting of the story and plot events.World Literature - Choose ONE book from the following list:
The Good Earth by Pearl S. Buck
The story of Wang Lung's growth from adolescence and poverty to old age and wealth in pre-Communist China.The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan
Fascinating vignettes about four Chinese-born women and their American-born daughters; magical tales of women living in two cultures.Madame Bovary by Gustave Flaubert
Project Gutenberg eBook
Famous French novel about Emma Bovary, who, dissatisfied with the lack of glamour in her middle class life, searches for romance and excitement and becomes entangled in a web of deceit.Nectar in a Sieve by Kamala Markandaya
A moving and realistic story of the unbelievable challenges of growing up as a girl/woman in a village of India.Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston
Wonderful story of a black woman's discovery of dignity and love in the prejudiced South of the 1930's.
Honors World Literature (Choose one book from the list above, and also read the following)Cry, The Beloved Country by Alan Paton
The compassionate story of Zulu pastor Steven Kumalo and his son Absalom.AP World Literature
Read the following novel and one other work, (not to include a book read for History). See separate list and directions distributed in Honors British Literature class.Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy
(Penguin edition only, translated by Pevear & Volokhonsky) Sensual, rebellious Anna renounces a respectable marriage for a passionate and destructive romantic involvement.FOREIGN LANGUAGE
AP Spanish
Don Quijote de La Mancha by Miguel de Cervantes
Must be purchased at the Magnificat Bookstore before you leave for the summer. Read chapters 1-6, and do the comprehension packet during the summer. Please see your Spanish teacher for the comprehension packet.
AP French
Le Petit Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupery
See Miss Sands before finals week for the novel and a study packet.
Spanish 4
La Casa en Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros
See Mrs. Chahda before finals week for the novel and a study packet.
SOCIAL STUDIES
AP United States History: Students are to read one of the books listed below and write a book review that includes the following: a one to two page summary of the book, information about the authors' qualifications as a writer and the student's opinion of the book. This review is due the first day of class.
Only Yesterday by Frederick Lewis Allen
The Frontier in American History by Frederick Jackson Turner
Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee by Dee Brown
The Souls of Black Folk by W. E. B. DuBois
Project Gutenberg eBook
The Life of Andrew Jackson by Robert Remini
The Strange Career of Jim Crow by C. Vann Woodward
Social Darwinism in America Thought by Richard Hofstadter
Theodore Rex by Edmund Morris
John Adams by David McCullough
Truman by David McCullough
Battle Cry of Freedom by James McPherson
Washington's Crossing by David Hackett Fischer
Benjamin Franklin: An American Life by Walter Isaacson
FDR by Jean Edward Smith
The Social Contract in America: From Revolution to Present Age by Mark Hulliung
The First Cold Warrior: Harry Truman, Containment and the Remaking of Liberal Internationalism by Elizabeth Edwards Spalding
Each review should include: an identification of the author's thesis, a summary of evidence used to support the thesis and information about the author's background that may have influenced the content of the book. These reviews are due the first day of class.United States History: Students are to read one of the books listed below and write a book review that includes the following: a one to two page summary of the book, information about the author's qualifications as a writer and the student's opinion of the book. This review is due the first day of class.
Life on the Mississippi by Mark Twain
Project Gutenberg eBook
Where the Buck Stops by Margaret Truman
Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee by Dee Brown
Thirteen Days in October by Robert Kennedy
Only Yesterday by Frederick Lewis Allen
To Purge this Land with Blood by Stephen Oates
Coming of Age in Mississippi by Anne Moody
Theodore Rex by Edmund Morris
John Adams by David McCullough
Truman by David McCullough
Band of Brothers by Stephen Ambrose
Battle Cry of Freedom by James McPherson
Washington's Crossing by David Hackett Fischer
Benjamin Franklin: An American Life by Walter Isaacson
FDR by Jean Edward Smith