Below is a list of books we will be reading this school year.

9th grade

• The Giver, by Lois Lowry (novel)
• The Catcher in The Rye, by J.D. Salinger (novel)
• A Separate Peace, by John Knowles (novel)
• Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister, by Gregory Magorian
• Of Mice and Men, by John Steinbeck (novel)
• Hamlet, by William Shakespeare (play) along with selected sonnets (e.g. numbers 29, 17)
• Fahrenheit 451, by Ray Bradbury (novel)
• Self-selected independent reading (as explained above)
• A variety of short fiction
• A variety of essays and other short non-fiction
• Poetry

The theme this year is “The individual,” and we will move into “Man vs. Society” issues towards the end of the year with Fahrenheit 451 and Of Mice and Men. I look forward to meeting you all!

Warm Regards,
Nathan S. Jones
English Teacher Merit College Prep Academy

10th and 11th Grade Reading List

The following is a list of novels we will be reading during the 2010-2011 school year and is subject to modification. The list does not include the poetry, drama, short story, or expository prose that will also be included as part of the literature requirements for the courses.

General-level courses:

Though summer reading is not required, Merit English Department encourages students to become familiar with the novels in advance for reading pleasure, as well as for the benefit of a more thorough second read during the school year. All italicized books can be read for extra credit during the summer or throughout the year as they deal in similar thematic content.

Honors/AP-level courses:

Summer reading is required. Novels marked with an asterisk* must be read before the school year begins. You will be given in-class assignments pertaining to the novel as soon as the first day of school; this will count as part of your first quarter grade. Honors classes are meant to prepare students for the culminating AP classes. To do well in these classes, students must be familiar with a breadth of literature from drama to poetry to novel to short story to expository prose. Students are encouraged to read as much of the year’s listed literature over the summer as we will be working with other forms of literature during the year as well. All italicized books can be read for extra credit during the summer or throughout the year as they deal in similar thematic content.

Students entering 10th Grade

• *Fahrenheit 451
• Three Cups of Tea
• The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind
• 1984
• Brave New World
• Animal Farm
• Ender’s Game
• The Scarlett Pimpernell

Students entering 11th Grade

• *The Great Gatsby
• Frankenstein
• The Count of Monte Cristo
• The Fountainhead
• The Brothers Karamazov