10^th-Grade College Prep English Summer Reading - 2008

The following are the 3 required novels for 10^th-grade English:

Black Boy by Richard Wright (Part One only)

Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck

A Separate Peace by John Knowles

Read each book carefully, taking notes if you think that it will help you to remember important elements. There is no journal requirement for these books, but since you will be tested on each of them on the first full day of school, you might find it helpful to keep notes for review.

Please do not cheat yourself or your classmates by resorting to Cliffs Notes, Spark Notes, or other “study guides.” These deprive you of the chance to respond to the literature independently and are never an adequate substitute for the book itself. Using them is a violation of the pledge.

The following suggestions are meant to help you get the most out of your reading:

Ø For the books by Wright and Knowles, pay attention to the growth process of the main character. What are the essential elements of his journey from childhood to adulthood? How does he relate to the larger society? What do you think of the ending?

Ø For the books by Wright and Steinbeck, pay attention to the way American society is depicted and the differing views of the options available to an individual in that society.

Ø For all the books, notice the way the author introduces and reveals characters, the way nature is presented, and the way the author uses point of view.

Have a great summer, and enjoy the books!

Uploaded: 4/21/2008