Skip to Main Content

Summer Reading 2021

Information about Summer Reading at Central Catholic High School

Summer Reading List 2020

All-School Summer Reading List 2021

ALL SCHOOL SUMMER READING CHOICES

ADDITIONAL HONORS/AP REQUIRED READING

Every single student, regardless of grade or track, chooses and reads one of these books.

Quick Look for Each book: Here  or click on a title below for individual book pages.

Honors/AP students ALSO read the book below that corresponds to their course. Honors/AP Students read a total of 2 books.

Dragon Hoops,  by Gene Luen Yang

 

Furia,  by Yamile Saied Mendez

 

Martin Marten,  by Brian Doyle

 

Redbone: The True Story of a Native American Rock Band,  by Christian Staebler, Sonia Paolini and Thibault Balahy

 

Sanctuary,  by Paola Mendoza and Abby Sher

 

The Voting Booth,  by Brandy Colbert

Honors I (9th):

Choose and read a second book from the all-school list.

 

Honors II (10th):

Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood,

or

It's Trevor Noah: Born a Crime (Adapted for Young Readers) , by Trevor Noah.

 

Honors III (11th):

The Age of Innocence , by Edith Wharton

 

AP (12th):

Handmaid's Tale , by Margaret Atwood

 

Hypothetical Examples:

  • Nina Ninthgrader is entering English I (9th grade),  she chooses to read: The Voting Booth from the list. Yay!
  • Norman Nines is entering Honors English I (9th grade), he chooses to read: Dragon Hoops  AND Furia.
  • Terry Twelvsies is entering English IV (12th grade), they choose to read: Redbone from the list.  Done.
  • Torquil Twelvingham is entering AP English (12th grade), he chooses to read: Martin Marten from the list, AND WILL ALSO READ Handmaid's Tale.
  • Eamonn Elevensie, and Tamika Tenners use pattern-recognition and knowledge of their schedules to choose books from the list, and also read required books as necessary if they are in Honors.

More information: About Summer Reading.

For each book on the list, we have prepared a short guide that includes background material, context as to why the book is relevant, resources to go deeper, and questions to think about to help guide your reading, as well as links to places to find a copy of the book.  You can find those links in the left-hand column of this page.

When we return to school in the fall, we will engage cross-grade-level discussions.

What Do You Plan to Read?

**Returning Students: What Do You Plan to Read? (Survey)**

You're not "locked in" with this choice, but we'd love to know what you think you might read. Please click on the survey link below (Thanks!!!)...

Guiding Questions

THEMATIC DISCUSSION QUESTIONS FOR ALL BOOKS

These are the kind of questions you should be prepared to answer and discuss in the fall, using evidence and quotations from the book you chose. 

All of the books on the reading list relate to these questions in some way, and you will be discussing these questions with people who have read other books.

There are also useful guiding questions on the pages for each individual book. Being able to answer those questions will help you participate in the conversation, and find supporting textual evidence.

Guiding Questions for All Books

Consider these questions as you are reading your book. Having answers to them, with quotations from the book (cite the  page number) as supporting evidence will be very helpful when it is time to discuss and assess your reading.

Fairness

We seek equity and inclusion for all people.

Identify at least two instances where a character demonstrates fairness.

  • In which situations does a character in the novel demonstrate fairness?

  • In what way does a character demonstrate fairness?

  • How would the story have changed if that character acted unfairly?

Consider also:

  • Are there instances in the story where a character acts unfairly?

  • Why did they make that choice?

  • What were the effects of that choice?

  • How could a demonstration of fairness have changed the story?

Forgiveness

We let go of resentment and anger.

Identify at least two instances where a character shows forgiveness. 

  • What is the situation where a character chooses to be forgiving?

  • How does the character demonstrate forgiveness?

Consider also:

  • Are there instances where a character chooses not to be forgiving?

  • What drove a character to be unforgiving?

  • What effect did this choice have?

  • How might the story have been different if a character had been forgiving at that moment?

Respect

We offer courtesy and civility to all people.

Identify at least two instances where a character is respectful.

  • How does a character act respectfully?

  • What is the result of their action?

Consider also:

  • How might the story have changed if a character was disrespectful?

  • What is an instance where a character act disrepectfully?

  • What is the result of this action?

  • In your opinion, why does the choice to be respectful matter to the overall story?

Generosity

We give of ourselves freely and joyfully.

Identify at least two instances where a character is generous. 

  • How does the character demonstrate generosity?

  • To what goal is the character striving as they demonstrate generosity?

Consider also:

  • Are there instances in the story where the character acts selfishly?

  • How did the character act selfishly?

  • How did this affect the story?

  • If the character had been more generous, how would the story have changed?