AP Human Geography Summer Reading
AP Human Geography Literature assignment
Pick any of the books on the list provided below. Read the book and complete the two parts described below. This assignment must be typed. The assignment should help you gain a sense of understanding of locations and places and why these places are unique. This assignment is worth 100 points and will be collected on the first day of school.
Part 1- Country Research - 50 points
Research the county where your book (or the majority of your book) takes place. You will find the CIA World Factbook(CIA WFB) very helpful but you should also look for other sources to get a broad perspective on the country. (
Record our research showing understanding of the content. Just a list of facts copied directly from a website doesn’t show understanding. Write it up in a format that is logical and easy to access (reader-friendly). Your grade will be based on these two aspects: quality and understanding of your country research and organization of information. Use the following topics as a starting point. You can go beyond this is you like.
●Geographic region where country is located as well as bordering countries.
●“Geography” section of the CIA WFB: climate, terrain, natural resources, % of arable land, natural hazards, environmental-current issues, geography-note
●“People and Society” section of the CIA WFB: major ethnic groups, languages, religions, age structure (% of each: 0-14, 15-65, 65+), youth dependency ratio (% of population that depends on financial support), elderly dependency ratio (how fast the population is growing, 2+% is rapid growth), net migration rate (+ is more entering country, - is more leaving the country), % of urban population, life expectancy, total fertility rate (average # of children born per woman), contraceptive prevalence rate (% of women in country using birth control), children under the age of 5 underweight(%), Literacy rate (male vs. female), child labor (% of children that work instead of go to school)
●“Economy” section of the CIA WFB: Overview (especially any details that you can make a connection with your book), GDP per capita (this is the average yearly income per person), Agriculture-products, labor force-by occupation (this is the % of people employed in these job sectors: agriculture, industry, services -- countries that have a high percent of workers in agriculture are usually behind development), unemployment rate, population below poverty line, exports-commodities (products that are brought from other counties)
●“Transnational issues” section of the CIA WFB: any noteworthy information about international border issues (disputes between countries over their borders), refugees & internally displaced persons, illicit drug activities
●Historical background that focuses more on the cultural aspects of the country.
Part II - Connection to Place - 50 points
The concept sense of place describes the characteristics and vibe of a location and the emotions it evokes. This can include the physical and cultural aspects that give the place its unique identity and character, recognizable by visitors and deeply valued by residents.
For this part, choose five passages from the book you read that capture the sense of place in the story. These passages should be located throughout the book (beginning, middle and end). Copy each passage including its location in the book (page #s). Then in a separate paragraph, write about the connection between this particular passage and your country's what is or was really happening in the place this story is about? You will be evaluated on the depth of your connection. I expected each connection to be solid paragraph. There should be paragraphs that connect the book with the real world.
The following are the books you may choose from:
Crossing Over: A mexican Family on the Migrant Trail by Ruben Martinez
The Breadwinner by Deborah Ellis
The Red Scarf Girl by Ji-li Jiang
The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind: Creating Current of Electricity and Hope by William Kamkwamba and Bryan Mealer
God Grew Tired of Us by Jon BulDau and Michael Sweeney
Sold by Patricia McCormick
Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin
Where Am I Eating: An Adventure Through the Global Food Economy by Kelsey Timmerman
Where Am I Wearing: A Global Tour to the Countries, factories, and People that Make our Clothes by Kelsey Timmerman
Half the Sky by Nicholas Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn
Enrique’s Journey by Sonia Nazzario
La Linea by Ann Jaramillo
Between Shades of Gray by RutaSepetys
I am MalalaByMalalaYousafzia
Never Fall Down by Patricia McCormick
The Lemon Tree: An Arab, a Jew, and the Heart of the Middle East by Sandy Tolan
Factory Girls: From Village to City in a Changing China by Leslie T. Chang
Guns, Germs and Steel by Jared Diamond
Why Nations Fail: The Origins of Power, Prosperity, and Poverty by Daron Acemoglu