Summer Reading 2016
English II
Required Reading
Standard English II: Choose one book from the titles listed below. You may choose from either
nonfiction or fiction.
Honors English II: Choose two books, one from each category listed below. You must choose one
nonfiction and one fiction text.
Nonfiction
Kaffir Boy – Mark Mathabane
Reading Lolita in Tehran – Azar Nafisi
Persepolis – Marjane Satrapi
The Bookseller of Kabul – Asne Seierstad
Three Cups of Tea – Mortenson & Relin
Red Scarf Girl – Ji-li Jiang
The Diary of a Young Girl – Anne Frank
I Am Malala – Malala Yousafzai
A Long Way Gone – Ishmael Beah
The Distance Between Us – Reyna Grande
Fiction
Purple Hibiscus – Chimamanda Adichie
Cry, the Beloved Country – Alan Patton
Siddhartha – Herman Hesse
Nectar in a Sieve – Kamala Markandaya
The Joy Luck Club – Amy Tan
The Kite Runner – Khaled Hosseini
Chronicle of a Death Foretold – Gabriel Garcia Marquez
The Good Earth – Pearl Buck
The Death of Ivan Ilyich – Leo Tolstoy
The Stranger – Albert Camus
Assignment
A theme is the author’s message about life or human nature. It is not one word, but rather a statement
of what the author is trying to tell the reader about humankind.
As you read, decide on a theme for the text. Then, select 10 quotes that exemplify that particular theme.
Explain how each quote connects to the theme. (Your quotes should demonstrate that you’ve read the
entire novel, not just the beginning. See example below.)
Example: One of the themes of Romeo & Juliet is, “Tragedy brings people together.”
Quote:
Montague: But I can give thee more,
For I will raise her statue in pure gold,
That whiles Verona by that name is known,
There shall no figure at such rate be set
As that of true and faithful Juliet.
Capulet: As rich shall Romeo’s by his lady’s lie,
Poor sacrifices of our enmity.
Explanation: In this quote from Act V, scene III, Montague and Capulet are praising each other’s child
and saying that they regret their children dying as a result of their families’ feud.
Use the following links to submit your quotes:
Standard English II: https://goo.gl/qjazHK
Honors English II: https://goo.gl/p8ZVs0
Note to parents: Some of these books have mature material. It is strongly suggested that you read a
complete synopsis of a book if you have any concerns about its appropriateness for your child.