10th Grade Summer Reading List: 2015-2016
Novel Choices: Please choose ONE of the following novels to read.
The Joy Luck Club, by Amy Tan
Eight stories are interwoven in this novel of four Chinese mothers and their
Chinese-American daughters. It examines the conflicts that arise between
generations and between cultures. It is a sweet, funny, and sad exploration of
relationships, but especially mother-daughter relationships.
In the Time of the Butterflies, by Julia Alvarez
The lives of “The Butterflies,” four sisters who fight against a Dominican Republic dictator, are recounted. The novel spans their childhoods and teenage years before going into detail about their actions against the government. It is another story of survival, overcoming the odds, and the relationships that people make.
Cry, the Beloved Country, by Alan Paton
This novel takes a hard look at racial inequality in South Africa just before
apartheid became law. The novel traces the stories of two men, one a black,
small-town pastor, and the other a white, wealthy landowner. Their stories
converge when the son of one murders the son of the other.
All But My Life, by Gerda Weissman Klein
This is Klein’s memoir of her experiences in the Holocaust. It begins with Nazi
occupation and moves to life in the ghettoes before taking readers through
several concentration camps and a death march. It is a story of survival and
recovery.
The Book Thief, by Markus Zusak
In this novel, a young German girl’s adoptive family takes in a Jewish man and
hides him from the Nazis. It focuses on cultural survival and on relationships,
especially in times of conflict.
And the Mountains Echoed, by Khaled Hosseini
Hosseini’s novel, while fiction, plays against the very real backdrop of an
Afghanistan torn by conflict and corruption. It weaves together various stories
of individuals impacted by the events of several decades. It is a heartbreaking
tale of love, loss, and sacrifice.
Nineteen Minutes, by Jodi Picoult
This important and relevant novel addresses the aftermath of a shooting in an
American high school. It raises questions about social and individual guilt, and
it examines the impact of the novel’s events on victims, parents, and the shooter
himself.
Companions to Summer Reading
Instructive Guide to Terms/Concepts
· Theme: the subject of a talk, a piece of writing, a person's thoughts, or an exhibition; a topic. The message the author is trying to convey. A theme needs to be more that one word or idea (motif). It is a sentence that explains the author’s feelings or attitude about the motif. A theme is influenced by the resolutions of the main conflicts.
o Motif: Love
o Theme: Love cannot survive where there is no trust.
· Characterization: the process by which the writer reveals the personality traits of a character.
o Direct: tells the reader directly what the personality traits are of the character.
§ She was a tall and skinny woman that trusted no one.
o Indirect: shows things that reveal the personality traits of the character.
§ She towered above the other woman at the party, ensuring not to make eye contact with anyone.
· Conflict: is a literary element that involves a struggle between two opposing forces, usually a protagonist and an antagonist.
o Internal: man vs. man
o External: man vs. man, man vs. nature, man vs. society
· Setting/Role of culture: time, place, culture in which the story is set. Setting is often an influential factor in character development, conflict, and plot.
· Symbolism: is an object or reference used to provide meaning to the writing beyond what is essentially being described. Normally it is a concrete object that represents an abstract idea.
o American Flag: freedom, power, patriotism
o Stack of money: greed, wealth
Reading Guides/Graphic Organizers
The following pages are provided as a guide to your reading. The graphic organizers are not required for students to complete, but they are strongly recommended as a comprehension and study tool.
Identify the setting. Based on the setting, what cultural values, perceptions, societal roles, etc. are presented? Does the setting change at any point? If there is a change, what new cultural values, perceptions, societal roles, etc. are introduced?
Setting:Cultural values: / Change in setting?
New cultural values?
Characters: Who are the major characters? Describe their characteristics. Who are the minor characters? What is their impact on the novel? What are the relationships among the characters?
Major characters and their characteristics: / Minor characters and their role in the novel:Significant relationships/interactions among the characters:
Conflicts: Which characters experience conflicts? What types of conflicts do the characters have (internal: man vs. self or external: man vs. man, man vs. nature, man vs. society) How are the conflicts are resolved?
Conflicts and characters: / Type of conflict: / Resolution:Themes: Identify and explain significant themes, morals, or lessons that are developed in the novel.
Themes/morals/lessons / Explanation and Evidence