2014-2015 English 9 Summer Reading
To Students and parents:
The goal of this summer reading project is to help you develop lifelong literacy skills by guiding you to interesting,
thought provoking books you can read independently over the summer. You will read a piece of canonized literature
as well as a contemporary fiction novel. We hope that you will enjoy reading both books and make reading a part of
your daily life.
Summer reading guidelines:
Assignments are due to Mrs. Futhey on the first day of school and will not be taken late. You will be tested over the
required reading on the second day of school. Presentations of posters will begin on the third day of school but must
be brought on the first day of school. This assignment is not to be taken lightly. We understand that a lot of time
and commitment are given on your behalf and we want to give the appropriate grade for that time. Therefore, if you
do not do a summer reading project, your grade will suffer greatly. If you have questions over the summer, feel free
to email Mrs. Futhey at [email protected]. I will try to respond to your emails in a timely manner. You
may borrow from a public library or purchase your books. I recommend purchasing the required reading. This will
enable you to underline important quotes, make notes in the margin, or bookmark pages of importance. This will be
beneficial to you during class discussion. Digital copies of books are much cheaper. I encourage the use of ereaders in my class!
Part A Required Reading:
All students must read Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck and complete the assignment listed below. There will
be a test over this book on the first day of school.
Assignment:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Complete the packet included in this assignment.
You will need to use either a dictionary or an online dictionary
site such as dictionary.com.
You may use the internet to help you with the allusions,
historical references, and literary terms.
You should answer the book questions as you read.
Make sure in the paragraph that corresponds with each
chapter that you use textual support to bolster your answer.
Make sure you study the packet before the second day of
school.
Make sure you use your own words. Do
not copy and paste from the internet.
The tragic story of the complex
bond between two migrant
laborers in Central California.
They are George Milton and
Lennie Small, itinerant ranch
hands who dream of one day
owning a small farm. George acts
as a father figure to Lennie, who
is a very large, simpleminded
man, calming him and helping to
reign in his immense physical
strength.
Part B You Pick Reading:
What is it and what is its purpose?
Choose one book from the list below to read on your own. One of the best parts of reading a good book is sharing
with others what you’ve read. The poster project is designed to jump-start conversations about literature and
encourage one another to pick up books that members of our class have read
and enjoyed. Follow the assignment below; these are the elements your teacher will use to grade your work.
Assignment:
Create a visually appealing, poster (at least 18" x 24") that brings your choice book to life for the rest of us.
(Remember to put your name on the front of the poster.) You will explain your book poster when you return in the
fall. You will need to use both sides of the poster to complete the assignment.
Front of Poster:
1. Publication information:
• Book title (underlined, or italicized if you word process the title)
• Publisher & number of pages
• Genre (for example, historical fiction, fantasy, non-fiction, etc.)
• Author
2. Create a visual image of the four elements listed below. You may want to section your
poster in quadrants. Include one quote from your book to demonstrate understanding.
• Symbols/important images in the novel
• Predominant themes/meanings that resonate for you
• A central and/or memorable character
• A significant or especially striking setting
Back of Poster:
1. Author Background : Tell the setting of the book and any facts about the author that relate
him/her to this setting. Was there something going on in this setting at the time the book was
written that influenced the author to write this story. (one paragraph)
2. Characters : List at least five characters who appear in this work. Describe each and tell their
significance in the novel.
3. Reflective letter – Describe the ways you related to this book. What value was it to you as an
individual? This should not be used to express your opinion as to whether or not you liked the
book. Instead, it should be an analysis of how this book relates to your personal life. (one
paragraph)
Requirements:
In addition to the requirements outlined above, your poster should:
• Reflect thoughtful consideration of the book
• Contain no spelling or grammatical errors
• Show pride, quality work, and attention to detail
You Pick Titles:
Choose one book from the list below to complete Part B of your summer assignment OR email me to approve a
different title. (All synopsis taken from "Novel Synopsis." Barnes and Noble LLC. 2009. Barnes and Noble. 01
May 2009 <http://www.barnesandnoble.com/>.)
Whale Talk – Chris Crutcher
T. J. Jones is black, Japanese, and white; his given name is The Tao (honest!), and he's the son of a
woman who abandoned him when she got heavily into crack and crank. As a child he was full of rage,
but now as a senior in high school he's pretty much overcome all that. With the help of a good
therapist and his decent, loving, ex-hippie adoptive parents, he's not only fairly even-keeled, he has
turned out to be smart and funny. Injustice, however, still fills him with fury. So when big-deal
football star Mike Barbour bullies brain-damaged Chris Coughlin for wearing his dead brother's letter
jacket, T.J. hatches a scheme for revenge. He assembles a swim team (in a school with no pool) made
up of the most outrageous outsiders and misfits he can find and extracts a conditional promise of those sacred letter
jackets from the coach. After weeks of dedicated practice at the All Night Fitness pool, the seven mermen get good
enough not to embarrass themselves in competition. The really important thing, though, turns out to be the long bus
rides to meets, a safe place to share the hurts that have made them who they are. Meanwhile, T.J.'s father, who has
taken in a battered little girl to ease his lifelong guilt over his role in the accidental death of a baby, tangles with another
bully--her stepfather--and his growing murderous rage. (some language)
The Sledding Hill – Chris Crutcher
Billy Bartholomew has an audacious soul, and he knows it. Why? Because it's all he has left. He's
dead. Eddie Proffit has an equally audacious soul, but he doesn't know it. He's still alive.
These days, Billy and Eddie meet on the sledding hill, where they used to spend countless hours —
until Billy kicked a stack of Sheetrock over on himself, breaking his neck and effectively hitting tilt
on his Earthgame. The two were inseparable friends. They still are. And Billy is not about to let a
little thing like death stop him from hanging in there with Eddie in his epic struggle to get his life
back on track. (some language)
Staying Fat for Sarah Byrnes – Chris Crutcher
Sarah Byrnes and Eric have been friends for years. When they were children, his fat and her terrible
scars made them both outcasts. Later, although swimming slimmed Eric, she stayed his closest
friend. Now Sarah Byrnes — the smartest, toughest person Eric has ever known — sits silent in a
hospital. Eric must uncover the terrible secret she's hiding, before its dark currents pull them both
under. (some language)
****Any Chris Crutcher book will do. These are just a few of my favorites.
The Uglies – Scott Westerfield
Tally is about to turn sixteen, and she can't wait. Not for her license -- for turning pretty. In Tally's
world, your sixteenth birthday brings an operation that turns you from a repellent ugly into a
stunningly attractive pretty and catapults you into a high-tech paradise where your only job is to
have a really great time. In just a few weeks Tally will be there.
But Tally's new friend Shay isn't sure she wants to be pretty. She'd rather risk life on the outside.
When Shay runs away, Tally learns about a whole new side of the pretty world -- and it isn't very
pretty. The authorities offer Tally the worst choice she can imagine: find her friend and turn her in,
or never turn pretty at all. The choice Tally makes changes her world forever.
***If you have already read The Uglies, you may read the any book in this series.***
Speak – Laurie Haulse Anderson
Melinda Sordino busted an end-of-summer party by calling the cops. Now her old friends won't
talk to her, and people she doesn't even know hate her from a distance. The safest place to be is
alone, inside her own head. But even that's not safe. Because there's something she's trying not to
think about, something about the night of the party that, if she let it in, would blow her carefully
constructed disguise to smithereens. And then she would have to speak the truth. This extraordinary
first novel has captured the imaginations of teenagers and adults across the country. (Some
language. Sensitive materials.)
Twisted – Laurie Haulse Anderson
Another New York Times bestseller from Laurie Halse Anderson! High school senior Tyler
Miller used to be the kind of guy who faded into the background. But since he got busted for
doing graffiti on the school, and spent the summer doing outdoor work to pay for it, he stands out
like you wouldn't believe. His new physique attracts the attention of queen bee Bethany Milbury,
who just so happens to be his father's boss's daughter, the sister of his biggest enemy— and
Tyler's secret crush. And that sets off a string of events and changes that have Tyler questioning
his place in school, in his family, and in the world. (some language)
Tears of a Tiger—Sharon Draper
In one horrifying night, Andy's life changed forever...
Andy Jackson was driving the car that crashed one night after a game, killing Robert
Washington, his best friend and the captain of the Hazelwood High Tigers. It was late, and they'd
been drinking, and now, months later, Andy can't stop blaming himself. As he turns away from
family, friends, and even his girlfriend, he finds he's losing the most precious thing of all — his
ability to face the future. (TRILOGY)
Copper Sun – Sharon Draper
Amari's life was once perfect. Engaged to the handsomest man in her tribe, adored by her family,
and living in a beautiful village, she could not have imagined everything could be taken away
from her in an instant. But when slave traders invade her village and brutally murder her entire
family, Amari finds herself dragged away to a slave ship headed to the Carolinas, where she is
bought by a plantation owner and given to his son as a birthday present. Survival seems all that
Amari can hope for. But then an act of unimaginable cruelty provides her with an opportunity to
escape, and with an indentured servant named Polly she flees to Fort Mose, Florida, in search of
sanctuary at the Spanish colony. Can the illusive dream of freedom sustain Amari and Polly on
their arduous journey, fraught with hardship and danger?
Battle of Jericho – Sharon Draper
Sixteen-year-old Jericho is psyched when he and his cousin and best friend, Josh, are invited to pledge
for the Warriors of Distinction, the oldest and most exclusive club in school. Just being a pledge wins
him the attention of Arielle, one of the hottest girls in his class, whom he's been too shy even to talk to
before now. But as the secret initiation rites grow increasingly humiliating and force Jericho to make
painful choices, he starts to question whether membership in the Warriors of Distinction is worth it.
How far will he have to go to wear the cool black silk Warriors jacket? How high a price will he have to
pay to belong? The answers are devastating beyond Jericho's imagination. Sequel – November Blues
After the First Death – Robert Cormier
Events of the hijacking of a bus of children by terrorists seeking the return of their homeland are
described from the perspectives of a hostage, a terrorist, an Army general involved in the rescue
operation, and his son, chosen as the go-between.
The Chocolate War—Robert Cormier
Does Jerry Renault dare to disturb the universe? You wouldn't think that his refusal to sell
chocolates during his school's fundraiser would create such a stir, but it does; it's as if the whole
school comes apart at the seams. To some, Jerry is a hero, but to others, he becomes a
scapegoat--a target for their pent-up hatred. And Jerry? He's just trying to stand up for what he
believes, but perhaps there is no way for him to escape becoming a pawn in this game of
control; students are pitted against other students, fighting for honor--or are they fighting for
their lives?
Book Thief – Markus ZusakIt’s just a small story really, about among other things: a girl, some
words, an accordionist, some fanatical Germans, a Jewish fist-fighter, and quite a lot of thievery. . .
Set during World War II in Germany, Markus Zusak’s groundbreaking new novel is the story of
Liesel Meminger, a foster girl living outside of Munich. Liesel scratches out a meager existence for
herself by stealing when she encounters something she can’t resist–books. With the help of her
accordion-playing foster father, she learns to read and shares her stolen books with her neighbors
during bombing raids as well as with the Jewish man hidden in her basement before he is marched
to Dachau. This is an unforgettable story about the ability of books to feed the soul.
Swallowing Stones-- Joyce McDonald
It begins with a free and joyful act--but from then on, Michael finds it impossible even to
remember what it felt like to be free and joyful. When he fires his new rifle into the air on his
seventeenth birthday, he never imagines that the bullet will end up killing someone. But a mile
away, a man is killed by that bullet as he innocently repairs his roof. And Michael keeps
desperately silent while he watches his world crumble. Meanwhile Jenna, the dead man's
daughter, copes with desperation of her own. Through her grief, she tries to understand why she
no longer feels comfortable with her boyfriend and why a near stranger named Michael keeps
appearing in her dreams.
A Northern Light— Jennifer Donnelly
In 1906, sixteen-year-old Mattie, determined to attend college and be a writer against the wishes of
her father and fiancé, takes a job at a summer inn where she discovers the truth about the death of a
guest. Based on a true story.
Purple Heart – Patricia McCormick
When Private Matt Duffy wakes up in an army hospital in Iraq, he's honored with a Purple Heart.
But he doesn't feel like a hero. There's a memory that haunts him: an image of a young Iraqi boy
as a bullet hits his chest. Matt can't shake the feeling that he was somehow involved in his death.
But because of a head injury he sustained just moments after the boy was shot, Matt can't quite
put all the pieces together. Eventually Matt is sent back into combat with his squad—Justin,
Wolf, and Charlene—the soldiers who have become his family during his time in Iraq. He just
wants to go back to being the soldier he once was. But he sees potential threats everywhere and
lives in fear of not being able to pull the trigger when the time comes. In combat there is no
black-and-white, and Matt soon discovers that the notion of who is guilty is very complicated
indeed. National Book Award Finalist Patricia McCormick has written a visceral and compelling portrait of life in a
war zone, where loyalty is valued above all, and death is terrifyingly commonplace.
Shiver – Maggie Stiefvater
Grace, 17, loves the peace and tranquility of the woods behind her home. It is here during the cold
winter months that she gets to see her wolf—the one with the yellow eyes. Grace is sure that he
saved her from an attack by other wolves when she was nine. Over the ensuing years he has
returned each season, watching her with those haunting eyes as if longing for something to
happen. When a teen is killed by wolves, a hunting party decides to retaliate. Grace races through
the woods and discovers a wounded boy shivering on her back porch. One look at his yellow eyes
and she knows that this is her wolf in human form. Fate has finally brought Sam and Grace
together, and as their love grows and intensifies, so does the reality of what awaits them. It is only
a matter of time before the winter cold changes him back into a wolf, and this time he might stay
that way forever.
Teen, Inc. – Stephan Petrucha
Legally, a corporation is a person, so why shouldn’t they be able to adopt a child?
Fourteen year old Jaiden’s family is a corporation and his home is an office building. When his
parents are killed in an accident caused by a faulty piece of equipment manufactured by NECorp, the
company adopts him and raises him in its headquarters. Now as a teenager, Jaiden, is longing for a
normal life—attending high school, living in a house, having a girlfriend—and is starting to rebel in
search of it. With the help of his new friend, Jenny, he uncovers some disturbing and scandalous
information about NECorp and must make the tough decision to stay loyal to his “family” or to
follow his instincts.
Truce: The day the Soldiers Stopped Fighting – Jim Murphy
On July 29th 1914, the world’s peace was shattered as the artillery of the Austria-Hungary
Empire began shelling the troops of the country to its south. What followed was like a row of
falling dominoes as one European country after another rushed into war. Soon most of Europe
was fighting in this calamitous war that could have been avoided. This was, of course, the First
World War. But who could have guessed that on December 25 the troops would openly defy
their commanding officers by stopping the fighting and having a spontaneous celebration of
Christmas with their "enemies"? In what can only be described as a Christmas Miracle, this
beautiful and heartrending narrative will remind everyone how brotherhood and love for one
another reaches far beyond war and politics. “This book is heartbreaking. The first-person accounts from soldiers on
both sides are incredibly poignant, but also very inspiring.” --Georgia, Junior Literary Guild Editor
Insurgent (Sequel to Divergent)– Veronica Roth
One choice can transform you—or it can destroy you. But every choice has consequences, and as
unrest surges in the factions all around her, Tris Prior must continue trying to save those she loves—
and herself—while grappling with haunting questions of grief and forgiveness, identity and loyalty,
politics and love. Tris's initiation day should have been marked by celebration and victory with her
chosen faction; instead, the day ended with unspeakable horrors. War now looms as conflict between
the factions and their ideologies grows. And in times of war, sides must be chosen, secrets will
emerge, and choices will become even more irrevocable—and even more powerful. Transformed by
her own decisions but also by haunting grief and guilt, radical new discoveries, and shifting
relationships, Tris must fully embrace her Divergence, even if she does not know what she may lose
by doing so. Students may also read the third book in this series, Allegiant.
Unwind – Neil Schusterman
In America after the Second Civil War, the Pro-Choice and Pro-Life armies came to an
agreement: The Bill of Life states that human life may not be touched from the moment of
conception until a child reaches the age of thirteen. Between the ages of thirteen and eighteen,
however, a parent may choose to retroactively get rid of a child through a process called
"unwinding." Unwinding ensures that the child's life doesn’t “technically” end by
transplanting all the organs in the child's body to various recipients. Now a common and
accepted practice in society, troublesome or unwanted teens are able to easily be unwound. –
May read any book from this series.
Paper Towns – John Green
When Margo Roth Spiegelman beckons Quentin Jacobsen in the middle of the night—dressed like
a ninja and plotting an ingenious campaign of revenge—he follows her. Margo’s always planned
extravagantly, and, until now, she’s always planned solo. After a lifetime of loving Margo from
afar, things are finally looking up for Q . . . until day breaks and she has vanished. Always an
enigma, Margo has now become a mystery. But there are clues. And they’re for Q.
Students may also read others by John Green EXCEPT The Fault in Our Stars. Some of John
Green’s novels contain language and sensitive materials.
Why we Broke Up – Daniel Handler
I'm telling you why we broke up, Ed. I'm writing it in this letter, the whole truth of why it happened.
Min Green and Ed Slaterton are breaking up, so Min is writing Ed a letter and giving him a box.
Inside the box is why they broke up. Two bottle caps, a movie ticket, a folded note, a box of
matches, a protractor, books, a toy truck, a pair of ugly earrings, a comb from a motel room, and
every other item collected over the course of a giddy, intimate, heartbreaking relationship. Item after
item is illustrated and accounted for, and then the box, like a girlfriend, will be dumped.
The Future of Us – Jay Asher and Carolyn Mackler
What if you could see how your life would unfold—just by clicking a button?
It's 1996, and less than half of all American high school students have ever used the Internet. Emma just
got her first computer and an America Online CD-ROM. Josh is her best friend. They power up and log
on—and discover themselves on Facebook, fifteen years in the future. Everybody wonders what their
destiny will be. Josh and Emma are about to find out.
Starters – Lissa Price
You can’t get them out of your head. . . .
Callie lost her parents when the Spore Wars wiped out everyone between the ages of twenty and sixty.
She and her little brother, Tyler, go on the run, living as squatters with their friend Michael and fighting
off renegades who would kill them for a cookie.
Callie’s only hope is Prime Destinations, a disturbing place in Beverly Hills run by a mysterious figure
known as the Old Man. He hires teens to rent their bodies to Enders—seniors who want to be young
again. Callie, desperate for the money that will keep her, Tyler, and Michael alive, agrees to be a donor. But the
neurochip they place in Callie’s head malfunctions and she wakes up in the life of her renter.
Callie soon discovers that her renter intends to do more than party—and that Prime Destinations’ plans are more evil
than she could ever have imagined. . . .
Right Where I Belong – Krista McGee TEEN CHRISTIAN FICTION
Watching her father hop from one wife to another, Natalia knows that there's no such thing as true love.
But after his most recent divorce, she decides to follow the ex-stepmom she adores to Florida. Natalia
moves to the United States with Maureen, an American who married Natalia’s dad while working in
Madrid. Due to their closeness in age and shared faith, Maureen is more a friend than a stepmother. When
her dad announces his divorce to Maureen, Natalia accompanies her back to America. Her dad supports the
move because it will look good on her resume. Her parents want her to become a successful
businesswoman. Natalia leaves behind her culture, her country, her best friend, but not her new faith. As
she encounters challenges, Natalia is tempted to return to Spain. Maureen begins looking for a job while Natalia enrolls
in high school. Maureen’s pastor and his son Brian help them get settled. Maureen struggles in her faith while trying to
adjust to life as a divorced woman. Brian and Natalia become friends, even though wealthy Spencer tries to impress
Natalia.
There You’ll Find Me – Jenny Jones - TEEN CHRISTIAN FICTION
Finley Sinclair, hotel heiress, is on her way to Ireland for an exchange program where she hopes to find
the inspiration she needs to finish her audition piece for school. She is looking to walk in her deceased
brother's footsteps in order to find the peace she needs to finish her song and to move on. From the get-go
nothing seems to go right-starting with her being placed next to teen heartthrob Beckett Rush on the plane
over. Will Finley discover what she is looking for? She is convinced that God abandoned her the day that
her brother was murdered-will she learn to listen to Him again?
If We Survive – Andrew Klavan TEEN CHRISTIAN FICTION
They came on a mission of mercy, but now they’re in a fight for their lives.
High schooler Will Peterson and three friends journeyed to Central America to help rebuild a school. In
a poor, secluded mountain village, they won the hearts of the local people with their energy and
kindness. But in one sudden moment, everything went horribly wrong. A revolution swept the country.
Now, guns and terror are everywhere—and Americans are being targeted as the first to die.
Will and his friends have got to get out fast. But streets full of killers . . . hills patrolled by armies . . .
and a jungle rife with danger stand between them and the border. Their one hope of escape lies with a
veteran warrior who has lost his faith and may betray them at any moment. Their one dream is to reach freedom and
safety and home. If they can just survive.
Where the Heart Is – Billie Letts
A funny thing happens to Novalee Nation on her way to Bakersfield, California. Her ne'er-do-well
boyfriend, Willie Jack Pickens, abandons her in an Oklahoma Wal-Mart and takes off on his own,
leaving her with just 10 dollars and the clothes on her back. Not that hard luck is anything new to
Novalee, who is "seventeen, seven months pregnant, thirty-seven pounds overweight--and
superstitious about sevens.... Still, finding herself alone and penniless in Sequoyah, Oklahoma is
enough to make even someone as inured to ill fortune as Novalee want to give up and die.
Fortunately, the Wal-Mart parking lot is the Sequoyah equivalent of a town square, and within hours
Novalee has met three people who will change her life: Sister Thelma Husband, a kindly eccentric; Benny Goodluck, a
young Native American boy; and Moses Whitecotton, an elderly African American photographer. For the next two
months, Novalee surreptitiously makes her home in the Wal-Mart, sleeping there at night, exploring the town by day.
When she goes into labor and delivers her baby there, however, Novalee learns that sometimes it's not so bad to depend
on the kindness of strangers. (HONORS ONLY)
The Help – Kathryn Stockett
Aibileen is a black maid in 1962 Jackson, Mississippi, who's always taken orders quietly, but lately
she's unable to hold her bitterness back. Her friend Minny has never held her tongue but now must
somehow keep secrets about her employer that leave her speechless. White socialite Skeeter just
graduated college. She's full of ambition, but without a husband, she's considered a failure. Together,
these seemingly different women join together to write a tell-all book about work as a black maid in
the South, that could forever alter their destinies and the life of a small town... (HONORS ONLY)
Water for Elephants – Sara Gruen
Though he may not speak of them, the memories still dwell inside Jacob Jankowski's ninetysomething-year-old mind. Memories of himself as a young man, tossed by fate onto a rickety train
that was home to the Benzini Brothers Most Spectacular Show on Earth. Memories of a world filled
with freaks and clowns, with wonder and pain and anger and passion; a world with its own narrow,
irrational rules, its own way of life, and its own way of death. The world of the circus: to Jacob it was
both salvation and a living hell. Jacob was there because his luck had run out—orphaned and
penniless, he had no direction until he landed on this locomotive "ship of fools." It was the early part
of the Great Depression, and everyone in this third-rate circus was lucky to have any job at all.
Marlena, the star of the equestrian act, was there because she fell in love with the wrong man, a handsome circus boss
with a wide mean streak. And Rosie the elephant was there because she was the great gray hope, the new act that was
going to be the salvation of the circus. (HONORS ONLY)
The Poisonwood Bible -- Barbara Kingsolver
The Poisonwood Bible is a story told by the wife and four daughters of Nathan Price, a fierce,
evangelical Baptist who takes his family and mission to the Belgian Congo in 1959. They carry with
them everything they believe they will need from home, but soon find that all of it—from garden
seeds to Scripture—is calamitously transformed on African soil. What follows is a suspenseful epic
of one family's tragic undoing and remarkable reconstruction over the course of three decades in
postcolonial Africa. This beautifully crafted tale is told through the distinct voices of the daughters
and wife of Nathan Price. (HONORS ONLY)
Defending Jacob – William Landay
For the past twenty years, Andy Barber has been a happily married, respected assistant D.A. in a small
Massachusetts town. Within weeks, his professional situation and marriage crumble under the pressure
of a case involving the stabbing murder of a teenager. Barber's suspicions originally focus on a
neighborhood pedophile, but before long, damaging evidence mounts that incriminates Jacob, his own
14-year-old son. Caught between desperation, loyalty, and instinct, the tenacious prosecutor struggles to
make sense of disturbing revelations. Already a Dagger Award winner, William Landay's Defending
Jacobs brilliantly combines the best features of a gripping psychological thriller, a realistic courtroom
drama, and a moving portrait of a family in meltdown. (Language) (HONORS ONLY)
Name: _____________________________________________________________
Of Mice and Men: Chapter 1 Reading and Study Guide
I. VOCABULARY: Be able to define the following words and understand them when they appear in the novel.
bindle [slang] a bundle, as of bedding, carried by a hobo
jack [slang] money
morosely ____________________________________________________________________________
pantomime___________________________________________________________________________
droned______________________________________________________________________________
contemplated_____ ____________________________________________________________________
II. Allusions and historical references:
Soledad a coastal California city about 130 miles south of San Francisco.
Salinas River a river that flows through Soledad and into Monterey Bay
Weed a northern California mining town
watchin’ that blackboard employment agencies would post available jobs on a blackboard in front of their
offices. Prospective employees would watch the blackboard for any new jobs.
work cards a job assignment from an employment agency would be written on a work card to be presented
by the worker to the employer.
III. LITERARY TERMS: Be able to define each term and apply each term to the novel.
imply_______________________________________________________________________________
infer________________________________________________________________________________
exposition___________________________________________________________________________
setting______________________________________________________________________________
What is the setting of this novel? ________________________________________________________
point of view_________________________________________________________________________
From what point of view is the story told?__________________________________________________
IV. QUESTIONS: answer the following questions. Use complete sentences. Answer on a separate sheet of paper.
1. Where did the bus drop the two men off?
2. How is George described?
3. How is Lennie described?
4. What does Lennie do with the water that makes him proud of himself?
5. What does Lennie not have in his pocket?
6. Why does Lennie not have it in his pocket?
7. What does Lennie take out of his pocket that gets him yelled at by George?
8. What did Lennie want to do with this item?
9. Where are George and Lennie going?
10. From where are George and Lennie coming?
11. When they get to where they are going, what does George tell Lennie to do?
12. Why did George and Lennie leave the last place they were at?
13. When Lennie goes out to get wood for a fire, what does he bring back that George takes away?
14. Who used to give Lennie mice?
15. Why did she stop giving Lennie mice?
16. What does Lennie want with his dinner that they don’t have?
17. What does George imply happened in Weed with the girl?
18. What dream does George and Lennie share?
19. Where does George tell Lennie to go if he gets in trouble?
V. Paragraph: write a paragraph answer to the following question. Use quotes to support your answer.
20. Explain the relationship that exists between George and Lennie based on Chapter 1 of the book.
Of Mice and Men: Chapter 2 Reading and Study Guide
I. VOCABULARY: Be able to define the following words and understand them when they appear in the novel.
swamper handyman; someone who performs odd jobs—such as cleaning. Refers to the character Candy
tick mattress covering
stable buck a stable is a building where horses are kept. A buck, in this case, is a derogatory word for
a black man. A stable buck, then, would be a black man who works in a stable.
skinner a mule driver
cesspool____________________________________________________________________________
ominously___________________________________________________________________________
pugnacious__________________________________________________________________________
derogatory___________________________________________________________________________
mollified____________________________________________________________________________
II. LITERARY TERMS: Be able to define each term and apply each term to the novel.
dialect______________________________________________________________________________
novella______________________________________________________________________________
irony_______________________________________________________________________________
What is an example of something ironic from this chapter?______________________________
direct characterization__________________________________________________________________
indirect characterization________________________________________________________________
III. QUESTIONS: answer the following questions. Use complete sentences. Use separate paper.
1. According to the old man, why was the boss mad at George and Lennie?
2. What does George find in the box by his bed and what does he assume?
3. Describe the “stable buck.” What physical attributes does he have? What does the boss use him for?
4. Describe the fight between the “stable buck” and Smitty.
5. What is Lennie’s last name?
6. What does the boss suspect George of doing to Lennie? What makes him think this?
7. What reason does George give for taking care of Lennie?
8. What is George’s last name?
9. Who is Curley?
10. What does the swamper tell George about Curley’s left hand?
11. Describe Curley’s wife.
12. Why does she come into the bunkhouse?
13. Describe Slim. What is his job on the ranch? What are some of his character traits?
14. What did Slim do to four of his pups? Why?
15. What does Lennie want George to ask Slim?
IV. SHORT ESSAY: write a paragraph answer to the following questions. Use quotes from the book to support your
answer.
16. Describe the atmosphere of the ranch and bunkhouse. Be sure to include characteristics of different characters that
were formally or informally introduced to us in this chapter.
Of Mice and Men: Chapter 3 Reading and Study Guide
I. VOCABULARY: Be able to define the following words and understand them when they appear in the novel.
derision_____________________________________________________________________________
receptive____________________________________________________________________________
reprehensible_________________________________________________________________________
reverence____________________________________________________________________________
II. Allusions and historical references:
Luger (l
g r) German semiautomatic pistol
III. LITERARY TERMS: Be able to define each term and apply each term to the novel.
theme_______________________________________________________________________________
What is a theme of the novel so far?_________________________________________________
imagery_____________________________________________________________________________
onomatopoeia________________________________________________________________________
example: ______________________________________________________________________
foreshadow__________________________________________________________________________
conflict_____________________________________________________________________________
IV. QUESTIONS: answer the following questions. Use complete sentences.
1. What does Slim say he would have done to the dog if he hadn’t given it to Lennie?
2. What does Slim say he finds funny?
3. George says if he were really smart he would be doing what?
4. What is the story behind why Lennie and George travel together?
5. What can the reader infer about Lennie’s childhood and family life?
6. What did George do once that made him stop playing jokes on Lennie?
7. What card game does George play?
8. What does George tell Slim happened in Weed?
9. What sneaky thing does Lennie try to do?
10. What game has the other guys been playing while George and Slim talk?
11. What is Carlson’s problem and what does he tell Candy to do?
12. What reason’s does Carlson give for wanting Candy’s dog shot?
13. What does Whit show Slim?
14. What does Carlson say he has?
15. What does Slim tell Carlson to take with him when goes to shoot Candy’s dog? Why?
16. Whit says that George and Lennie must have come to work. What reason does he give?
17. What does Whit invite George to do “tomorrow” night?
18. Why don’t the guys visit Clara’s house instead of Susy’s?
19. Why does George say he will go and get a drink but that he isn’t going to pay for a flop?
20. What is Curley looking for?
21. What does Curley think Slim is doing?
22. What is Slim really doing in the barn?
23. Who has been listening to and finally interrupts George and Lennie’s conversation about the ranch?
24. For what reason would the people sell the ranch for only $600?
25. How did Candy get $250?
26. What is George afraid will happen to them if others find out they are going to buy a ranch?
27. What does Candy tell George he wishes he had done?
28. Why was Lennie smiling?
29. About what does Curley think Lennie smiling about?
30. What happens between Curley and Lennie?
V. Paragraph: write a paragraph answer to the following questions. Use quotes from the book to support your answer.
31. There are some similarities between Candy and his dog and George and Lennie. In a paragraph explain the
similarities.
Of Mice and Men: Chapter 4 Reading and Study Guide
I. VOCABULARY: Be able to define the following words and understand them when they appear in the novel.
aloof_______________________________________________________________________________
fawning_____________________________________________________________________________
apprehension________________________________________________________________________
indignation__________________________________________________________________________
crestfallen___________________________________________________________________________
II. LITERARY TERMS: Be able to define each term and apply each term to the novel.
verbal irony__________________________________________________________________________
example:______________________________________________________________________
symbolism___________________________________________________________________________
III. QUESTIONS: answer the following questions. Use complete sentences.
1. What are two books that Crooks owns?
2. How does Crooks react to Lennie when he comes to visit?
3. For what reason did Lennie come to the barn?
4. Where is George?
5. What do we learn about Crooks family?
6. What does Lennie tell Crooks, even though he probably shouldn’t have?
7. What is Crook’s opinion of George and Lennie desire to get land?
8. About what did Candy want to talk to Lennie?
9. Where is George’s money going, according to Crooks.
10. Who visits Crooks, Candy, and Lennie?
11. What do we learn about Curley’s wife?
12. Before Curley’s wife leaves, what does she notice about Lennie?
13. What does Curley’s wife say she could have done to Crooks?
14. What is the last thing Crooks says to Candy?
V. Paragraph: write a paragraph answer to the following questions. Use quotes from the book to support your answer.
15. How is the theme of loneliness developed in this chapter? Think about the characters Lennie, Crooks, Candy, and
Curley’s wife.
Of Mice and Men: Chapter 5 & 6 Reading and Study Guide
I. VOCABULARY: Be able to define the following words and understand them when they appear in the novel.
woe________________________________________________________________________________
writhed_____________________________________________________________________________
belligerently_________________________________________________________________________
monotonous__________________________________________________________________________
II. LITERARY TERMS: Be able to define each term and apply each term to the novel.
protagonist__________________________________________________________________________
Who is/are the protagonist(s)?_____________________________________________________
personification_______________________________________________________________________
Example______________________________________________________________________
III. QUESTIONS: answer the following questions. Use complete sentences. Answer on separate paper.
Chapter 5
1. What day and time is it at the beginning of chapter 5?
2. What is Lennie doing in the barn by himself?
3. Why does Lennie think that he might not get to tend the rabbits?
4. Who visits Lennie in the barn?
5. According to Curley’s wife, why isn’t anyone going to leave the horseshoe tournament?
6. According to Curley’s wife, how come she didn’t get into show business?
7. What can we infer is the reason Curley’s wife married Curley?
8. What plan does Lennie have to avoid getting in trouble?
9. What did Lennie lose that he wishes he had now?
10. For what does Curley’s wife yell at Lennie?
11. What did Lennie do to Curley’s wife?
12. Who finds Curley’s wife?
13. What does Candy hopefully ask George?
14. What favor does George ask of Candy?
15. What does Carlson think happened to his Luger?
Chapter 6
16. Where is Lennie hiding?
17. With whom does Lennie have his first imaginary conversation?
18. With whom/what does Lennie have his second imaginary conversation?
19. What story does George tell Lennie?
20. What does he do while telling him this story?
V. Paragraph: write a paragraph answer to the following questions. Use quotes from the book to support your answer.
21. Write whether or not George was justified in what he did to Lennie.