SUMMER READING LIST FOR ENGLISH 9 STUDENTS AT SALEM HIGH SCHOOL

  

The Salem School District believes summer reading is a valuable experience for all students and an important extension of our educational programs.  Reading is one of the most important factors in academic success and a skill that is basic to all areas of the curriculum.  It is also a skill that improves with practice!  Summer reading is intended to be an enjoyable experience.  While helping to keep our students connected to learning during the summer vacation, it supports our objective that each student becomes a life long reader and learner. 

Additionally, we encourage parents and students to work together to select a book that best fits each student's ability and interest level. The novels on the reading list represent a wide variety of subject matter. We want to ensure that selected novels coincide with each student's and their parents' values and beliefs about propriety. Not all the selections on the list are necessarily suitable for all students. However, we want to provide all students with a wide variety from which they can choose. Brief descriptions, excerpts and reviews for each book are available on many websites (e.g. bn.com; amazon.com). Be sure to review these in your decision making process.

If you are taking regular English 9 . . .

You must read two books over the summer and complete an assignment for each book utilizing the enclosed form.  All work must be typed.  Students must also save a copy of their work electronically.   The summer reading assignment is due the first day of class.  If your English class is during the second semester, you should submit your assignments to the Humanities Director within the first week of school. Your freshmen English teacher will grade the summer reading assignments, and they will be incorporated in your average.  Some of the books listed below are available at SHS and may be signed out through the guidance office.  Most of the books listed will also be available at town libraries or at local bookstores.

If you are taking Honors English 9 . . .

            You can get your summer reading assignment from the Salem School District website http://www.salemschooldistrictnh.com/reading/grade9h.pdf.  If you would prefer to have a copy mailed to you, please contact Mrs. Lynn Sammartano, Guidance Secretary, at 893-7069 ext 315. 

                       

 

 

 

 

Book List

 

Title                                                    Author                         Title                                  Author               

American Tragedy                             Dreiser                         Main Street                            Lewis

The Autobiography of Malcolm X    Malcolm X                   Native Son                              Wright

On the Beach                                     Shute                            Once and Future King           White

Chosen                                                Potok                           Sea Wolf                                 London

Christy                                                Marshall                       To Be a Slave                         Lester

Drums                                                 Boyd                            Into Thin Air                          Krakauer

Rescue                                                Melzter                         The Beast                               Myers

Fiddler on the Roof                           Stein                             Ellen Foster                            Gibbons

Shabanu                                              Staples                         Chinese Cinderella                Mah

Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy    Adams                          The Hobbit                             Tolkein

Timeline                                              Crichton                       Fahrenheit 451                       Bradbury      

Book of Arthur                                  Pyle                              Joy Luck Club                        Tan

After the Bomb                                  Miklowitz                     On the Beach                         Shute

Foundation                                          Asimov                        You Remind Me of You      Corrigan

ONE of The Lord of the Rings series Tolkien                      The Clan of the Cave Bear   Auel

The House on Mango Street           Cisneros                       

One Flew Over the Cukoo’s Nest     Kessey

the MOST RECENT Harry Potter book                 Rawlings                 

Black Boy( American Hunger):  A Record of Childhood Youth     Wright

Friday Night Lights:  A town, a Team, and a Dream                       Bissinger

 

 

 

 

SUMMER READING ASSIGNMENT

Name________________________________    English  9         Date_________

Title of Book___________________________  Number of pages_____Author______________

(Please type (preferred) or write your responses neatly.  Attach all work to this sheet)

 

  1. Pick out 20 difficult words from the book you are reading.

Write the page where you found each word, the sentence it is in, and then write the definition that best fits into the sentence. 

example:

impunity  - page 87

“I must not only punish, but punish with impunity.”

Freedom from punishment, harm, or  bad consequences

 

  1. Write 5 journal entries from various places in your book.  These journal entries must be at least a half-page long (You only need 5 entries - not 25!).  Each entry should be told from the point of view of a different character.  Things that you may want to include are the following
    1. what that character is doing or has done
    2. what the main character is doing or has done
    3. important things that may have been said
    4. any changes that have taken place
    5. problems that the characters are experiencing

 

 

  1. Please answer the following questions about your selected book.
    1. Where is the setting for your story?  (Where and when do you think it takes place?)
    2. Describe one of the settings.
    3. Why is this setting important to the story?
    4. Briefly re-tell you favorite part of the story.  Please also indicate why it is your favorite.
    5. On a scale of 1 through 10, with 10 being the best, how high would you rate this book?  Why would you give it this number?

 

 

Note – This is the assignment for Regular English 9.  The Honors English 9 assignment can be found on the Salem School District Website at http://www.salemschooldistrictnh.com/reading/grade9h.pdf.

 

 

**  The rubric that follows will be used to grade your work.  Pay attention to the guidelines outlined within the rubric. 

 

 

 

 

 

English 9

Summer Reading Rubric

 

Student Name __________________         Selection Title ______________________

 

                      5                                 3                              1

20 vocabulary words are defined.  Page numbers are accurate.  Sentences are creative and compelling.

20 vocabulary words are included, but work lacks definition, sentence and/or page number.  Sentences are average.

Fewer than 20 vocabulary words are included.  Required elements are incomplete.  Sentences are inaccurate and/or erroneous.

Five entries meet or exceed length requirement.  Each entry effectively demonstrates different point of view.

Five entries approximate length requirement.  Point of view is ineffective and/or in error.

There are fewer than five entries and/or insufficient information is included about entries.  No discernable change in point of view.

Entries show insight and draw conclusions.  Entries clearly explain actions, thoughts and examples of what characters said and/or did.

Entries are limited, but show an understanding of the novel and its characters’ thoughts and actions. 

Basic or inadequate entries.  Entries are inaccurate, show no insight into the novel and its characters.

Setting is described thoroughly.  Entry shows understanding of the importance of setting.

Setting is described adequately.  Attempt to make connections is evident but limited.

Setting is not completely described or is inaccurate.  Description provides no insight into importance in the novel.

Creative, unique approach.  Presentation enhances efficacy.

Average overall analysis and presentation.  No discernable attempt to be unique in approach.

Basic presentation of information.  No attempt to enhance understanding through analysis and presentation.

 

 

Total:  ________
 
 

 

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