Academy of the Holy Names
Freshman Summer Reading List 2017-2018
English I – College Prep and Honors
The English Department curriculum requires each student to read specific books during summer vacation.
Upon returning to school in August, the freshman teacher WILL TEST students ON FACTUAL INFORMATION
ABOUT EACH BOOK. Then, books will be discussed in class, and students will receive writing instructions and
assignments. For this reason, we strongly urge students to utilize the attached reading logs and study guide
questions and have their novels available for reference when school resumes. Students may select paperback
or digital versions of the novels.
Required – College Prep
Animal Farm by George Orwell
Lord of the Flies by William Golding
Answer in complete sentences.
Please make separate copies for each novel and save electronically.
Neatly type your answers and bring a printed copy with you to the first day of class.
While reading the two novels, the following questions will help you identify the main points of the readings.
Enjoy the novels, and respond to the questions as well as you can. This work will be graded for completeness
and not “correctness;” these questions are intended to help you understand what you have read. Your
responses to the questions should be from your own thoughts, not from outside sources. This is to assist your
own understanding of the characters….not what Shmoop, SPARKNOTES, Cliff’s Notes, etc. has to say. We will
discuss the required novels as a group in August, and throughout the year, so you will have the opportunity to
share your reading experiences with your classmates. You will be tested on both books within the first or
second days of school.
1. When and where does the action of the novel take place? What evidence supports this? (Setting)
2. Name the main characters and give a brief description for each. (Characters)
3. Which character did you particularly like? Why?
4. What is the story that the novel tells? What happens in the novel? (Plot)
5. What did you like about the novel in general?
6. What, if anything, did you dislike about the novel?
7. Did you find the novel easy to read or was it a struggle?
8. Would you recommend this novel to your best friend? Why or why not?
9. What do you think the author’s purpose was in writing the novel?
10. What do you know about the author of the novel?
•
The below charts are optional exercises for the summer to help you remember the various events and characters in the
story and their connection to the resolution of the novel.
•
As you read, you may want to create a reading log for each of the below indicated characters and setting.
•
Please do not use other sources. This is to assist your own understanding of the characters….not what Shmoop,
SPARKNOTES, Cliff’s Notes, etc. has to say.
•
This will be part of a required homework assignment when you return to school within the first few weeks, but not required
on first day.
Animal Farm
Characters
Explain characteristics of each character (briefly – that means bullet points are okay), and how they
are important in the novel; i.e., what role do they play?
Mr. Jones
Old Major
Snowball
Napoleon
Squealer
Boxer
Molly
The Sheep
The Dogs
Mr. Pilkington/Mr.
Whymper/Mr.
Frederick
Setting
Manor Farm (aka
Animal Farm)
Explain geographical setting and details important to story – how do the conditions for the animals
change throughout the story?
Lord of the Flies
Characters
Explain characteristics of each character (briefly – that means bullet points are okay), and how they are
important in the novel; i.e., what role do they play?
Jack
Piggy
Ralph
Samneric
Simon
Roger
Setting
The Island
Explain geographical setting and details important to story – how does the island change the boys?