2011 Summer Reading List for Ninth Grade English
	REQUIRED SUMMER READING: Discussion and assessment on the following  novels will occur in class when students return to school.   Lord of the Flies - by William Golding (ISBN 978-0140283331) Innocence ends and savagery emerges when English schoolboys stranded on a desert attempt to set up a civilization of their own, with its own rules and leaders. They, and you, learn some harsh lessons about group dynamics and the desire for power. Lost Horizon – by James Hilton (ISBN 0-06-059452-7 - by Perennial Pub. in 2004 - $12.95) Or (ISBN 978-0671664275 = Pocket Books = early, early, edition) Considered a classic of utopian literature, Lost Horizon takes the reader to the secret Valley of the Blue Moon and Shangri-la, along with a group of stranded strangers trying to survive an airplane crash in the Himalaya Mountains. This novel was the first paperback book ever printed (in 1939). * * * * * * * * * * * * * Recommended but not required:  Alive  Nonfiction - by Piers Read In this recounting of an actual event the author describes the extraordinary hardships by the survivors of a horrific plane crash in the Andes.   Brave New World  Fiction - by Aldous Huxley In Huxley’s vision of the future, love is punishable, and drugs control emotions. The story centers on one individual’s struggle against this new world order.   Fahrenheit 451  Fiction - by Ray Bradbury In the future, books are the greatest evil, and it is the job of all firemen to burn them out of existence. But one day Montag, a young fireman, begins to question this world of censorship and ultimately to fight against it.   The Firebrand  Fiction - by Marion Zimmer Bradley Bradley’s novel blends facts from archeology and the fiction of the Greek myths to retell the struggle between the Greeks and Trojans through the eyes of Kassandra (Cassandra), sister of Paris.   Gaudy Night  Fiction - by Dorothy Sayers In the English countryside, an Oxford professor investigates a series of poison pen letters – and possible murders. If you like mystery and/or Christie, this is your cup of tea!   The Golden Compass (series)   Fiction - by Philip Pullman Lyra, a girl who has never quite fit into her surroundings, finds herself in possession of a strange, intriguing, and powerful tool. During the course of her adventures, she becomes an expert at using it and as a result finds herself in many incredible situations, meeting interesting people and fantastic creatures. This a great summer read -- difficult to put down. The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy  Fiction - by Douglas Adams Earth’s destruction is only twelve minutes away when Arthur Dent meets Ford Prefect in this funny and insightful tale of fantasy.   The Mosquito Coast  Fiction: by Paul Theroux Fourteen-year-old Charlie Fox narrates this chilling adventure story. His father, who may be a genius or a madman, decides to take the family away from modern ills to live off the land in the jungles of Central America.   A Night To Remember  Nonfiction - by Walter Lord A detailed account of the noble and less than noble aspects of human nature in the face of the tragic collision of the “unsinkable” Titanic with an iceberg. This novel brings to the fore the concept of social consciousness and the elemental human instinct for self-preservation.   The Once and Future King  Fiction - by T.H. White A young King Arthur pulls a sword from a stone and changes British history. From the glories and curses of Camelot to the quest for the Holy Grail, the Arthurian legends and history unfold.   One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest  Fiction - by Ken Kesey In this novel about individualism seeking to upset the establishment, psychiatric hospital patient Randle McMurphy revolts against the tyrannical Nurse Ratched. In the throes of their fierce battle of wills and power struggle, the patients – and the reader -- must examine and contemplate notions of sanity and normalcy.   A Raisin in the Sun  Fiction (drama) - by Lorraine Hansberry An African-American family has aspirations of upward mobility in the midst of subtle racism and the conflicting desires of family members.   Seabiscuit   Nonfiction - by Laura Hillenbrand An “underdog” horse becomes a champion against great odds, inspiring and uniting the fates of three men on the verge of losing hope in life. The book offers a close look at America at the time of the Depression, and shy Seabiscuit becomes the most famous athlete of his day.   Secret Life of Bees   Fiction - Sue Monk Kidd The book is all about one young girl’s discovery of the transcendence and power of love. Throughout the book, bee wisdom is measured out in doses like medicine for the soul. This novel reverberates for a long time after reading.   Touching the Void   Nonfiction - by Joe Simpson This is a true story of two mountain climbers and close friends. When one falls and is injured, the other has no choice but to cut the rope that connects them, leaving his friend for dead in a deep crevasse. How he escapes, with massive injuries, makes for an unbelievable but true story of human strength in the face of nature’s obstacles.   Treasure Island   Fiction - by Robert Louis Stevenson A classic tale of piracy and boyhood adventure. Embark with young Jim Hawkins on his treasure-hunting voyage to Treasure Island. Amidst brave and risky acts among villainous and murderous pirates, Jim discovers not only a pirate’s fortune, but also what it means to mature. Jim’s first-person account quickly involves readers in his seafaring quest and journey as person.   A Tree Grows in Brooklyn  Fiction - by Betty Smith Set in the slums of Brooklyn during the early 1900s, this is the story of an impoverished girl’s coming of age. Amidst her sufferings, Francie Nolan reads voraciously and contemplates the dynamics of human nature and relationships. Her strength of character and desire for truth and beauty drive Francie not only to confront the odds and survive, but also to flourish.   Tuesdays with Morrie   Nonfiction - Mitch Albom When Albom learns that his beloved professor from Brandeis University is dying, he returns to Massachusetts to spend as much time as he can learning from this wise and loving man.   A Walk in the Woods   Nonfiction - by Bill Bryson This delightful and illuminating account of an “almost-thru hike” on the AT (Appalachian Trail) is a laugh and cry-out-loud experience.