US Reading Guide

2010 Summer Reading Program

upper school

2010 Summer Reading Program Student achievement begins with confident reading. So this summer don’t forget to tuck a book into camp trunks, carry-on luggage and hiking knapsacks. Leave room in the beach bag for a book by your favorite author!

He that loves a book will never want a faithful friend, a wholesome counselor, a cheerful companion, an effectual comforter. By study, by reading, by thinking, one may innocently divert and pleasantly entertain himself, as in all weathers, as in all fortunes.

- Barrow Does not wisdom call and does not understanding raise her voice? - Proverbs 8:1 The failure to read good books both enfeebles the vision and strengthens our most fatal tendency -- the belief that the here and now is all there is. - Allan Bloom Children are made readers on the laps of their parents. - Emilie Buchwald But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach and it will be given to him. - James 1:5 Read, read, read. - William Faulkner Today a reader, tomorrow a leader. - W. Fusselman To read is to empower To empower is to write To write is to influence To influence is to change To change is to live.

- Jane Evershed The greatest gift is the passion for reading.

It is cheap, it consoles, it distracts, it excites, it gives you knowledge of the world and experience of a wide kind.

It is a moral illumination.

- Elizabeth Hardwick

Reading is to the mind what exercise is to the body.

- Joseph Addison

Why Read Throughout the Summer?

Researchers have confirmed what you may have observed as a parent - that children differ widely in how much they read. Some children are voracious readers who keep a flashlight by the bed while other children believe that reading is a painful experience devised by adults who just don’t understand all that life has to offer.

Researchers have shown that students who read consistently and widely develop fluency, a rich and useful vocabulary, expand their knowledge of God’s world, other people, historical events, and culture. Most significantly, reading is a fundamental skill that positively correlates with academic achievement.

Simple reading is not enough. Chall, Jacobs, and Baldwin (1990) emphasize that challenging but comprehensible reading materials need to be the primary portion of students’ reading diets. Reading easy, entertaining, enjoyable books or an “old favorite” is appropriate once in awhile but should be considered an occasional treat.

We encourage students, with parent help and direction, to choose books to read that appeal to their interests. Students are encouraged to read with purpose—to learn or for pleasure. We also advocate designating some reading time each day.

For middle students, the themes or concepts that students learn about through summer reading assignments will be integrated in the curriculum in August. Summer reading gives students the background information they need to participate in meaningful class discussions.

The quantity of thought-provoking supplementary books that are beneficial for students preparing themselves for college grows every year. Students can use the summer months to their advantage by reading a wide variety of books. Upper school students may be able to include their thoughts and reflections about books that have impressed them as part of college essays.

All choices for summer reading for lower school students are personal. We have listed favorite series, authors and award winning books. Again we encourage students to read within their reading zone. Middle and upper school students have both required and optional reading suggestions. Thank you in advance for supporting encouraging your children to read consistently throughout the summer.

Chall, J., B.Jacobs, and L. Baldwin. “The Reading Crisis.” Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 1990.

Upper School Instructions For upper school students, reading consistently throughout the summer months prepares them for the academic courses that they will take in the fall. The quantity of thought-provoking supplementary books that are beneficial to students preparing themselves for college grows every year. Students can use the summer months to their advantage by reading a wide variety of books. Reading prepares students to deal with new ideas and provides a basis for discussion and reflection on a common topic.

Every student in every grade in the upper school is required to read at least one book. The book assignments are generally made by grade level. Students in honors and/or Advanced Placement速 classes have additional reading assignments. There are also lists of optional books for those students who want to learn more in a particular area.

Teachers have specific units and activities planned that will deal with the content of the required books. Teachers may ask students to read paying attention to specific concepts, themes, ideas, characterization and so forth and will directly communicate their expectations to students.

Note: AP Foreign Language teachers will send a summer assignments packet to those students taking an AP Foreign Language class. This is required work for those students.

Charlotte Christian School faculty and staff have not read all of these books. We have, however, read reviews and have tried to recommend books that are wholesome and uplifting. There may be times when reviews may not reveal language or ideas that members of the Charlotte Christian community consider inappropriate; therefore, we recommend that families read together. Reading with family members benefits students in several ways. Reading as a family supports the concept (value) that reading often and reading on a variety of topics creates a well-read educated person.

Students retain information better when they have an opportunity to discuss (retell) what they have learned or experienced by reading. Students can ask questions about unfamiliar concepts or vocabulary. Explanations will foster additional learning that becomes new background knowledge.

This new background knowledge can be used for making connections to even more new learning in the future.

required reading for RISING GRADE 9:

• The Old Man and the Sea

by Ernest Hemingway

Upper School Required Reading Lists

In addition, students taking Honors English are required to read the following book.

• Peace Like a River

by Leif Enger

REQUIRED READING FOR RISING GRADE 10:

• Killer Angels

by Michael Shaara

In addition, students taking Honors English and/or AP U.S. History are required to read a second book.

Students taking AP U.S. History are also required to read this book.

• Albion’s Seed

by David Hackett Fischer Students taking Honors English but who are NOT taking AP U.S. History, please select ONE:

• The Jungle

by Upton Sinclair

• How Should We Then Live

by Francis Schaeffer

• Uncle Tom’s Cabin

by Harriet Beecher Stowe

• The Crucible

by Arthur Miller

• The Light and the Glory

by Peter Marshall

REQUIRED READING FOR RISING GRADE 11:

• Cry, the Beloved Country

by Alan Paton

Students in AP European History are required to read one of the following books.

• Those Terrible Middle Ages: Debunking the Myths

by Regine Pernoud

• Templars: The Knights of Christ

by Regine Pernoud

• The Crusades

by Hilaire Belloc

• Citadel of God: A Novel of St. Benedict

by Louis de Wohl

• Joan of Arc

by Mark Twain

• Ivanhoe

by Sir Walter Scott In addition, Honors English or AP Language and Composition and/or AP U.S. Government & Politics also must read ONE of the following books. The descriptions above each book or group of books are there to help students in Honors or AP Language and/or AP History make a decision about the next required book.

Students who are taking Honors English or AP Language and Composition may choose any of the following books:

• Barefoot Heart

by Elva Trevino Hart

• Ake: The Years of Childhood

by Wole Soyinka

• Siddharatha

by Herman Hesse

• The House of the Spirits

by Isabel Allende

• Pavilion of Women

by Pearl Buck

• The Autobiography of Malcolm X

These two books are options ONLY for those in AP Language and Composition and are not required reading for any student.

• Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance*

by Robert Pirsig

• I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings*

by Maya Angelo Students who are also interested in themes that will align with Junior Bible (Christian Theology and World Religions) might want to read the following book.

• Jesus Among Other Gods

by Ravi Zacharias Students who are taking AP U.S. Government & Politics might want to read one of the following books:

• What’s so Great About America

by Dinesh D. Souza

• Common Sense

by Thomas Paine Students who are taking the Civil War elective might want to read the following book:

• Gods and Generals

by Jeff Shaara

REQUIRED READING FOR RISING GRADE 12:

• The Stranger

by Albert Camus (French author) (Themes in this book align with both English and Bible.)

Students in AP Literature and Composition classes are also required to read the following book.

• Pride and Prejudice

by Jane Austen Students in AP European History are required to read one of the following books.

• Those Terrible Middle Ages: Debunking the Myths

by Regine Pernoud

• Templars: The Knights of Christ

by Regine Pernoud

• The Crusades

by Hilaire Belloc

• Citadel of God: A Novel of St. Benedict

by Louis de Wohl

• Joan of Arc

by Mark Twain

• Ivanhoe

by Sir Walter Scott Students taking AP Enviromental Science are required to read one of the following books & complete the assignment posted on the Web site:

• Desert Solitaire

by Edward Abbey

• A Walk in the Woods

by Bill Bryson These lists provide optional choices for students who want to read additional books.

US Optional But Recommended List Dr. Headley’s Recommendations: • Death Comes for the Archbishop • Hiroshima • My Antonia

• The Oregon Trail • Son of the Morning Star • Two Years Before the Mast

by Willa Cather

by John Hersey

by Willa Cather

by Francis Parkman

by Evan Connel

by Richard Henry Dana

Mrs. Crawford’s Recommendations (AP Art History):

• Mark of the Lion: A Voice in the Wind, An Echo in the

Darkness, As Sure the Dawn (Vol. 1-3)

by Francine Rivers Mr. Nielsen’s Recommendation:

• What’s So Great About America

by Dinesh D’Souza

US Theatre Optional But Recommended List • Antigone

• Taming of the Shrew

• Tartuffe • The Importance of Being Earnest • Hedda Gabler • The Seagull • Saint Joan

• Mother Courage • Our Town

by Sophocles

by William Shakespeare

by Moliere

by Oscar Wilde

by Henrik Ibsen

by Anton Chekhov

by George Bernard Shaw

by Bertolt Brecht

by Thorton Wilder

• Long Day’s Journey Into Night • The Glass Menagerie • The Little Foxes • Death of a Salesman • Lost in Yonkers • Respect for Acting

• A Raisin in the Sun • Fences • Miss Julie

by Eugene O’Neill

by Tennessee Williams

by Lillian Hellman

by Arthur Miller

by Neil Simon

by Uta Hagen

by Lorraine Hansberry

by August Wilson

by August Strindberg

Charlotte Christian School is a Christ-centered, college preparatory school, equipping and developing students to effectively integrate Biblical truth and learning into their daily lives and to impact the culture for Christ.

7301 Sardis Road • Charlotte, NC 28270 • (704) 366-5657 • www.charlottechristian.com