Summer Vacation Reading List 2005

The Importance Of Reading

The ability to read widely, intelligently, and swiftly is an enormous asset of a high school and college student. His chance of acceptance at a university and his success there are considerably enhanced if he does more than the minimum amount of reading. His vocabulary, spelling, comprehension, general knowledge, and overall sensitivity are likely to improve; in short, he will probably become a more mature and more interesting human being.

Instructions To Students

Read three books from the following reading lists. To broaden the subject areas of a student's reading, each book should be from a different category. Please note that all titles in bold print are also available as movies. If you choose one of these works, your assignment will be to compare the film and print versions. Upon returning to school, students will deliver an oral report on one choice and a written report which compares the other two. Please note that only the reading is to be done during the summer vacation; more complete instructions as to the requirements of the oral and written reports will be supplied on the first class of term. Good reading!

Section A - Science Fiction

Isaac Asimov I, Robot
Ray Bradbury The Martian Chronicles
Arthur C. Clarke Rendezvous With Rama
Michael Crichton The Andromeda Strain; The Terminal Man
Robert A. Heinlein Starman Jones; Citizen of the Galaxy; The Day After Tomorrow
Gwyeth Jones White Queen
Jules Verne Journey to the Centre of the Earth
H.G. Wells The War of the Worlds
John Wyndham The Day of the Triffids; Midwich Cuckoos

Section B - Canadian Nature

Fred Bodsworth Last of the Curlews
George Clutesi Son of Raven, Son of Deer
Margaret Craven I Heard The Owl Call My Name
James Houston Confessions of an Igloo Dweller
Randy Stoltmann Written By The Wind

Section C - Historical Adventure

J. M. Ballantine Coral Island
J.G. Ballard Empire of the Sun
Bernard Cornwell Sharpe’s Eagle
Michael Crichton Eaters of the Dead
Alan Furst Red Gold
James Hilton Lost Horizon
Charles Nordhoff  Mutiny On The Bounty
Robert Louis Stevenson Kidnapped
Rosemary Sutcliff Eagle of the Ninth
Geoffrey Trease Cue for Treason
Paul Watkins The Promise of Light

Section D - Fantasy

Peter Beagle A Fine And Private Place
Robert Jordan The Wheel of Time
John Marsden Tomorrow When the War Began (or any other from the series)
Anne McCaffrey Dragon Song
J.R.R. Tolkien The Lord of the Rings (any one of the Trilogy)
P. O’Shea Hounds of the Morrigan
T. H. White The Once And Future King; (The Sword In The Stone)

 

Section E - Young Adult Fiction

Bete Greene Summer Of My German Soldier
James Houston Whiteout
Monica Hughes Blaine's Way
Elizabeth Laird Jake’s Tower
G. McCaughrean Plundering Paradise
O. R. Melling The Singing Stone

 

Section F - Social Issues

Pat Barker The Man Who Wasn’t There
Alexandre Dumas The Count of Monte Cristo
Sandra Cisneros The House On Mango Street
Robert Cormier I Am The Cheese
Amos Oz Panther in the Basement
Ayn Rand Anthem
Eli Weisel Night
Richard Wright Black Boy

Section F - History

P. Brickhill The Great Escape; Reach for the Sky
Brian Moore Black Robe