Summer Reading (freshman)

[newholidayx2]

DS is currently reading a book by RA Salvatore that wasnt school assigned.

He still has 4wks of school before they get out for summer. He'll be in honors English starting high school in the fall. (Actually he's been assigned to all honors classes)

 

[Cindy B]

The incoming 9th graders in the non AP/IB program have to read:

To Kill a Mockingbird
Catcher in the Rye
All of our Sons (40's play)
Lord of the Flies



The AP/IB program do read
Mockingbird
Lord of the Flies
Catcher in the Rye
Huckleberry Finn


Both 9th grade classes did do a mythology unit. They AP/IB kids read a mythology book whereas the non IB/AP kids only did worksheets and activities.

I did see a 9th grader with Divine Comedy as well. I'm not certain if that is the new unit or not.

My then 4th grader read Eragon books, Harry Potter and some Lord of the Flies. He's going into 6th now, and his summer reading hasn't been given out yet. Its an AP/IB magnet middle school, so I'm hoping it isn't anything he's already read.

 

[Ub_Iwerks]

If he likes sports, pick up some Chris Crutcher books. (They are in the young adult section) Stotan, Running Loose, and Whale Talk are all great reads. They are sports related, but also kind of funny and touching. "Holes" is another good one, but I can't remember the author's name.

I would also recommend anything by Tim O'Brien about the Vietnam War. These are very adult books. If he's a strong reader and can handle mature content, he should be fine.
Some of the classics mentioned here will probably be taught in his classes, but I'd still recommend Catcher in the Rye. It's not taught in schools as much as it used to be except at Cindy's school) . Has he read ALL the Harry Potter books? The last couple are really good, and they have lots of pages so it might be easier to meet the requirement that way.

 

[Cindy B]

If he likes sports, pick up some Chris Crutcher books. (They are in the young adult section) Stotan, Running Loose, and Whale Talk are all great reads. They are sports related, but also kind of funny and touching. "Holes" is another good one, but I can't remember the author's name.

I would also recommend anything by Tim O'Brien about the Vietnam War. These are very adult books. If he's a strong reader and can handle mature content, he should be fine.
Some of the classics mentioned here will probably be taught in his classes, but I'd still recommend Catcher in the Rye. It's not taught in schools as much as it used to be except at Cindy's school) . Has he read ALL the Harry Potter books? The last couple are really good, and they have lots of pages so it might be easier to meet the requirement that way.

Holes is on a 4th grade reading level. There is a sequel to Holes called Small Steps which is a slightly higher reading level, but its still only middle school.

 

[Karel]

I would check with the teacher and see if it has to be on grade level (it would seem to me that it should be for advanced English) Does he have to do a project too? Does the teacher have to pre - approve it?

There are a lot of great books here but most are a lower reading level than 9th grade. 125 pages is not a whole heck of a lot and can be easily done.

Do a web search and see what other incoming freshman are reading. Sadly, I can't remember what my freshman read last summer. Recently, he has read the The Pearl, Great Gasby and I think the Sphere by Michael Crichton. He really enjoyed The Sphere.

 

[Karel]

Holes is on a 4th grade reading level. There is a sequel to Holes called Small Steps which is a slightly higher reading level, but its still only middle school.

There's a sequel to Hole???? I have never seen it. I have to check that out!

 

[Ub_Iwerks]

Holes is on a 4th grade reading level. There is a sequel to Holes called Small Steps which is a slightly higher reading level, but its still only middle school.

I didn't know that there had been a sequel to Holes. Thanks for letting me know.

The original poster didn't say anything about reading level or requirements other than page amounts. I read Holes for a graduate level YOUNG ADULT Literature class. The last time I checked 13 or 14 year olds were still considered Young Adults. And how are you determining the reading level? Are you using the Fry Readibility Scale or another measure? The average newspaper is written at a 3rd grade reading level if that tells you anything. I thoroughly enjoyed the book Holes, and I still stand by my recommendation.

 

[Ub_Iwerks]

There are a lot of great books here but most are a lower reading level than 9th grade. 125 pages is not a whole heck of a lot and can be easily done.

They only have to read 125 pages total?? For some reason, I had it in my mind that they had to read 125 pages a week or each book had to be at least 125 pages. So much for MY reading comprehension. Around here, the honors/AP high school classes read 2 to 4 books in the summer.

If the OP's son is only going to read 1 book, I would definitely recommend reading a book written on an adult level or one of the Steinbeck/Salinger type of classic. But I still love that book Holes!

 

[lindalinda]

I just checked again and yes it does say 125 pages. That is not the only thing they have to do tho. That is their "book of their choice" I think the low page number is to correspond to some classics that are quite short (The Old man and the Sea, for instance). They also give you a list of books NOT to choose (the semester list). An in class essay will be required on the first day of school. Also a written assignment of a completed literary essay on an assigned novel (they havent told us that one yet.) Actually, looking on the list for other grades I see several others you all have mentioned (Frankenstein and Catch 22 for instance). The summer break here is only 6 weeks so they really dont pile in on too bad, we do let them have some fun time too!

 

[Pooh's Pixie]

Catcher in the Rye, A Separate Peace, The Once and Future King, Pillars of the Earth, any Steinbeck, A Farewell to Arms

 

[Apothecary]

I'm going to chime in with a couple of Canadian classics...he is unlikely to ever read them as part of any curriculum in the USA, but they are fantastic:

1. Who Has Seen the Wind - W.O. Mitchell - a coming of age story set in the Canadian praries (1930's I believe) where the main character, Brian O'Connol, a young boy learns the meaning of life and death. Brilliantly written, funny sad and heartwarming.

2. Sunshine Sketches of a Little Town - Stephen Leacock - to this day, still the funniest book I have ever read. A series of connected short stories about the fictional town of Mariposa. Written in 1912, the humor still resonates today. Satirical without being cynical (a lost art these days?).

Other titles I'd suggest:

Farenheit 451 - Ray Bradbury
Rendezvous with Rama - Arthur C. Clarke
Animal Farm - George Orwell