Dear students, parents and guardians,
We are excited to share the 2022 PVRHSD Summer Reading program details with you!
Based on survey data from our recent summer reading programs, which indicate that students value choice in their summer reading selections, we created a program that allows for curated choice at each grade level/course in keeping with a thematic focus related to each course’s curriculum. The details of each course, its corresponding title choices and thematic focus are all delineated on the document below. Students will choose ONE of the titles listed under their given English course as their mandatory summer read.
We have provided direct links to Amazon/Common Sense Media/Goodreads summaries of each title on the list so that students and parents can make fully informed decisions as to which book they will choose to read. Please note that the books vary in terms of maturity of content, use of ‘adult’ language and type of subject matter. The English team worked diligently to ensure that a variety of reading experiences would be available to engage as many students as possible with this program. We expect that students and families will use the summaries and reviews, and also the free preview of sample chapters/pages available on sites such as Amazon, to make reading decisions that best fit their needs, interests and abilities. Students should feel free to access an audio version of their chosen book if it is available in audio format.
All English teachers will all be administering a graded oral assessment related to the books upon students’ return to school, possibly in Socratic Seminar form or one-on-one conference with the teacher. Teachers may elect to use the summer reading books in more depth as anchor texts throughout the year or in their opening units. There is no written assignment that accompanies the summer reading other than reading the book in its entirety.
This information will be posted on the district English site for your reference. Of course, research shows that reading increases vocabulary, comprehension, verbal skills, preparation for assessments such as the SAT, and is a great way to recover attention span! Students (and parents) are encouraged to read as much as they can over the summer!
Feel free to reach out to me with any questions or concerns. Enjoy your summer and your summer reading!
Sincerely,
Valerie Mattessich
Supervisor of Instruction— English, Art & Media Centers
Grade 9--Theme: Books in Verse—> Genre Study
Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds
The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo
Bull by David Elliott
Grade 10--Theme: ”The Quest”—> Archetype Study
Every Last Word by Tamara Ireland Stone
In the Wild Light by Jeff Zentner
Dear Edward by Ann Napolitano
Grade 11 (this includes American Studies)—> Theme: What does it mean to be an American? What does America stand for?
The Boys in the Boat by Daniel James Brown
Dear Martin by Nic Stone
The 57 Bus by Dashka Slater
Funny in Farsi by Firoozeh Dumas
Grade 12--Theme: Memoir/Nonfiction—> Where have I been & where am I headed?
The Making of A Navy Seal by Brandon Webb
Maid by Stephanie Land
Born a Crime by Trevor Noah
Sports Literature Jr/Sr Elective
No Excuses by Kyle Maynard
Born to Run: A Hidden Tribe, Superathletes, and the Greatest Race the World Has Never Seen by Christopher McDougall
Good to Go by Christie Aschwanden
Language, Myth & Culture Jr/Sr Elective
Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller
The Red Tent by Anita Diamant
Origin by Dan Brown
Literature of the Holocaust Jr/Sr Elective
All But My Life by Gerda Klein
The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah
Mark it with a Stone by Joseph Horn
AP English Language/AP English Literature
Assessment:
Every teacher will administer at minimum a Speaking & Listening assessment based on the summer reading books. This can be in the form of a one-on-one conference with the teacher, a Socratic Seminar, or a presentation to the class. Teachers will also use the summer reading texts to launch into the curricular focus at grade level in other ways.