Revised 4/8/2010 Cypress-Fairbanks Independent School District Suggested Summer Reading List 2010 English IV (for students entering 12th grade) It is strongly suggested that each student choose and begin the independent reading of at least one selection from the list below to prepare for the assignment/assessment that will occur during the first six weeks of the 2010-2011 school year Choose from the following novels by Agatha Christie Death on the Nile OR Murder on the Orient Express Look for Hercule Poirot on any corner in these charming novels With settings that stretch from England to the Orient, Christie weaves her suspenseful and magnificently crafted plots of murder and deception Many of Christie’s works have been made into television series, movies, and long-running plays With Christie, the reader finds a short read that contains much interest All Quiet on the Western Front – Erich Maria Remarque At the start of this novel, Paul Baumer enlists with his classmates in the German army of World War I The youthful, enthusiastic soldiers, despite rigorous training, crack during the horror of battle Remarque makes a powerful statement about the way war pits young men who are of the same generation, but clad in uniforms of different nations, against each other Here is the classic story of the grotesque nature of trench and gas warfare Angela’s Ashes – Frank McCourt This is a beautifully written memoir, a Pulitzer Prize winner, full of Irish wit and pathos This narrative tells of the McCourt family’s struggles to survive in a 1930s New York/ Limerick, Ireland, setting McCourt’s mastery of language as he writes with the cadence of an Irish lilt adds charm to a sometimes grim, sometimes hilarious story of growing up Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress – Dai Sijie This enchanting novel captures the magic of reading and the wonder of romantic awakening An immediate international bestseller, it tells the story of two hapless city boys exiled to a remote mountain village for re-education during China’s infamous Cultural Revolution There, the two friends meet the daughter of the local tailor and discover a hidden stash of Western classics in Chinese translation As they flirt with the seamstress and secretly devour these banned works, the two friends find transit from their grim surroundings to worlds they never imagined Contains mature content Bel Canto – Ann Patchett The setting of this novel is somewhere in South America, at the home of the country’s vice president A lavish birthday party is being held in honor of Mr Hosokawa, a powerful Japanese businessman Roxanne Coss, opera’s most revered soprano, has mesmerized the international guests with her singing It is a perfect evening – until a band of gun-wielding terrorists breaks in and takes the entire party hostage What begins as a panicked, life-threatening scenario slowly evolves into something quite different; terrorists and hostages forge unexpected bonds, and people from different countries and continents become compatriots Friendship, compassion, and the chance for great love lead characters to forget the unstoppable danger that has been set in motion Contains mature content and strong language The Book Thief – Markus Zusak In this innovative novel, Death himself narrates the story of Liesel, a German girl left with foster parents during the rise of Nazi Germany Her foster mother is harsh, but caring; her foster father is compassionate and teaches her to read Despite the horrors of war and poverty, Liesel manages to find pleasure in many small things, including words and books She discovers the power of friendship with Rudy, her best friend and partner in crime Liesel’s family takes a tremendous risk by hiding a Jewish man in their basement And through it all, Death travels the Earth, taking more souls each day This selection contains strong language Daughter of Fortune – Isabel Allende This compelling work of fiction follows the adventures of Eliza Sommers, an independent and spirited girl who runs away from her aristocratic family in Chile She pursues her charismatic, rebellious lover, Joaquin Andieta, to California during the Gold Rush Crossing cultures and continents, this story features love, loss, and self-discovery This selection contains mature content and is recommended to experienced readers Emma – Jane Austen In this selection, Austen titillates the reader with character and narrative that differ from the typical early nineteenth century novel As Austen’s most substantial work, the story stars her most complete heroine, Emma, an inveterate meddler and matchmaker In the novel, Emma examines her foolish conduct and finds her destiny through George Knightley, a squire who has been her mentor and friend Delightful reading! The Fountainhead – Ayn Rand Rand’s enduring and popular novel has sold more than six million copies since its publication in 1943 The story follows the life of Howard Roark, an architect, and several people with whom he interacts The novel makes a statement about free will and individuality in a world of conformity Truly, Rand’s narrative has become a modern classic Girl with a Pearl Earring – Tracy Chevalier Using Jan Vermeer’s real-life painting as her inspiration, Tracy Chevalier creates a fictitious, fascinating story of life in the seventeenth century Told through the eyes of Griet, a sixteen-year-old servant girl in the household of the famous painter Jan Vermeer, the novel paints a wonderful picture of 1660’s Holland, of artistic vision, and of the awakening of a young girl This book has been enthusiastically recommended by former students Grendel – John Gardner The first and most terrifying monster in English literature is Grendel, featured as the antagonist of the great Anglo-Saxon hero Beowulf In Gardner’s version of the story, Grendel tells his side of the conflict With tongue-in-cheek humor, Gardner allows us to smile, yet pity the creature who is shunned by the boisterous crowd in the mead hall and tortured by Beowulf This book contains strong language The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy –Douglas Adams This science fiction/comedy novel is the first in a series adapted from a BBC radio broadcast The story traces the adventures of Arthur Dent, an average Englishman who travels the universe after aliens attack and destroy Earth Arthur is saved from an untimely demise by his friend Ford Prefect who reveals that he is an alien from a distant planet Along the way, Arthur learns to trust in The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, a handbook for surviving the universe He meets numerous improbable, bizarre characters and aliens and embarks upon a quest to discover The Question to the Ultimate Answer The book is written in a wonderfully matter-of-fact tone that makes for hilarious reading Jane and the Unpleasantness at Scaregrove Manor – Stephanie Barron This is the first installment in Stephanie Barron’s historical fiction mystery series in which Austen is the heroine and detective Jane puts her good sense and keen skills of observation to use, solving crimes in Victorian England When the squire of a country manor in Hertfordshire is found lifeless in his bed, foul play is suspected, and Jane is called upon to unravel the mystery Jane is a witty, intelligent, and a courageous character The Kite Runner – Khaled Hosseini This epic novel is set in Afghanistan, beginning in the days of the monarchy and reaching to the early 21st century Amir is the son of a wealthy man; his best friend is Hassan, the son of his father’s servant Growing up in Kabul, the two share an idyllic childhood until a traumatic event—and Amir’s act of cowardly betrayal—changes the nature of their friendship Amir, who ends up in America, is tortured by his betrayal of Hassan, and he finds himself compelled to return, years later, to a Talibandominated Afghanistan to make amends The author personalizes the conflicts in Afghanistan in this debut novel which has been hailed by critics for its poetic prose and vivid characters This book contains mature content and strong language The Life of Pi - Yann Martel A Booker Prize winner, this novel has had a mixed reception among its reading audience: some love the book; others find it trivial Many call the story “magical reading” about adventure, survival, and, ultimately, faith As a castaway after a harrowing shipwreck, sixteen-year-old Pi finds himself adrift in the Pacific Ocean on a lifeboat with a “wounded zebra, a spotted hyena, a seasick orangutan, and a 450-pound Bengal tiger named Richard Parker.” After much struggle and gore, Pi and Richard Parker remain the boat’s sole survivors This imaginative piece is for the reader who does not fear broaching a selection that breaks with tradition in many ways The Nanny Diaries – Emma McLaughlin and Nicola Kraus In this modern-day novel, two real-life nannies paint a wickedly funny portrait of their pampered charges—and the kids’ even more spoiled and demanding parents The heroine is a 20-ish New York University student named (what else?) Nanny, who has worked her way through college by taking care of rich people’s kids She always enjoys the kids; the parents are another story She meets her biggest challenge when she takes on the job of looking after Grayer X, the 4-year-old son of Mrs X (a vacant, Prada-wearing socialite whose most meaningful activity is that of turning condescension into an art form), and Mr X (a powerful investment banker who spends so little time with his son that he probably couldn’t pick him out of a crowded sandbox) Fun reading Contains mature content Old School – Tobias Wolff Set in a New England private boys’ prep school early in the 1960’s, this novel centers around a narrator whose greatest desire in life is to become a writer As a senior, he enters a series of literary competitions in which the prize is a meeting with the acclaimed author who is contest judge Determined to win and prove himself superior to his peers, the narrator takes the final competition too far Insecurity, dishonesty, and betrayal force him to confront his personal weaknesses, and he encounters moral issues that continue to confront teenagers today Wolff’s writing is simple, yet provocative This selection contains strong language The Pillars of the Earth – Ken Follett A new age dawns in England’s twelfth century in this novel, and the building of a mighty Gothic cathedral sets the stage for a story of intrigue and power, revenge and betrayal Set in 12 th-century England, the narrative concerns the building of a cathedral in the fictional town of Kingsbridge The ambitions of three men merge, conflict, and collide through 40 years of social and political upheaval as internal church politics affect the progress of the cathedral and the fortunes of the protagonists The Road Cormac McCarthy A father and son travel through a post-apocalyptic landscape on the road toward the coast Nothing moves except the ash on the wind They encounter remnants of the lost world, providing the reader with clues about its destruction Their journey seeking food, shelter, and solace is bleak and terrifying They have nothing but a pistol to defend themselves against lawless bands that stalk the road, the clothes they are wearing, a cart of scavenged food, and each other In a seemingly hopeless situation, the father’s loving efforts to shepherd his son to safety are heartbreaking and beautiful The story is one of extraordinary love and tenderness in the face of total devastation This novel may be disturbing to some as it contains dark scenes and content Slaughterhouse Five – Kurt Vonnegut Part slapstick comedy, part science fiction, this novel stands out as one of Kurt Vonnegut’s most popular selections Billy Pilgrim is a World War II veteran; although the war has been over for year, he can’t escape it He continues to be transported through time, inevitably winding up at the one event from the war that continues to haunt him, the fire-bombing of Dresden, Germany In addition, Billy is kidnapped by aliens to help them breed a new race of “super-humans.” This story verges on the ridiculous and keeps the reader on his toes This selection contains mature content and strong language Sophie’s World – Jostein Gaarder Here is a beginner’s guide to philosophy, written by a schoolteacher for teens and young adults, a fantasy novel, something like a modern-day version of Through the Looking Glass Sophie Amundsen, the heroine of this peculiar book, is an ordinary fourteen-year-old schoolgirl who lives with her mother in an ordinary Norwegian suburb One day Sophie gets an unsigned letter in the mail containing only a three-word question: “Who are you?” Soon she receives another anonymous message, asking, “Where did the world come from?” As Sophie ponders these questions, a three-page typewritten letter arrives, also unsigned By letter and then in person, a mysterious guru who calls himself Alberto Knox guides Sophie through the ideas of great thinkers, from the pre-Socratics to Jean-Paul Sartre “Philosophy’s quest for truth,” Knox tells his pupil, “resembles a detective story.” The Story of Edgar Sawtelle David Wroblewski Edgar Sawtelle leads an idyllic life with his parents on their remote farm in northern Wisconsin where they carry on the family business of breeding, raising, and training dogs Edgar, who is born mute, speaks only in sign and has developed a special relationship with Almondine, his lifelong, loyal canine friend and ally Edgar’s paternal uncle Claude, a mysterious mixture of charm and menace, returns to the family farm unexpectedly and brings turmoil to the once peaceful home Paralleling the story of Shakespeare’s Hamlet, Edgar’s father dies suddenly, and Claude insinuates himself into the life of the farm – and Edgar’s mother’s affections Grief-stricken and confused, Edgar tries to prove that Claude played a role in his father’s death Ultimately, Edgar finds himself running away, coming of age in the wilderness, and fighting for his survival and that of his three dogs who follow him Tara Road – Maeve Binchy This is the fictitious story of two women, one from Ireland, one from America, who switch lives, and in doing so learn much about each other, as well as much about themselves Ria lived on Tara Road in Dublin with her dashing husband and their two children She fully believed she was happily married, right up until the day her husband told her he was leaving her By a chance phone call, Ria meets Marilyn, a woman from New England unable to come to terms with her only son’s death and now separated from her husband The two women exchange houses for the summer with extraordinary consequences, each learning that the other has a deep secret that can never be revealed Timeline – Michael Crichton Michael Crichton’s fascinating novel combines adventure, science fiction, archaeology, and the Middle Ages A team of archaeologists makes a shocking discovery while at a dig in France This discovery causes them to join forces with a technology company that has been researching time travel Join this team of archaeologists as they travel to medieval France and become involved with the politics, warfare, and intrigue of the time period Highly recommended by former students, this narrative is an exciting story appropriate for all levels