9th Grade Honors Literature Summer Reading 2012
Mrs. Reddy and Ms. Plonka
BOOK ONE: The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks
This book is available for purchase at your local bookstores.
NOTE: All assignments should be double spaced, typed in size 12, Times New Roman font with one inch margins.
Assignment: Read this entire work of non-fiction from cover to cover—from the prologue to the notes about the author
on the last page. From a literary perspective, this book charts one woman’s 10 year quest to satisfy her own curiosity
and to answer questions that no one had answered before. When we read the book, we found ourselves having to ask
ourselves, our friends, science teachers, history teachers, our parents, our grandparents, databases, the internet, and
encyclopedias questions. In short, this novel prompted us to want to know more. With that in mind, please complete
the following two assignments. Please type them, edit it them, and be prepared to turn in your polished work on the
first day of school. Side note: we encourage you to read this book with your friends in a reading group or to ask an older
sibling, parent or adult in your life to read the book, as well. This book sparks major conversation. You will want to talk
about it, so do!!
o While you read, compile of list of 10 topics (personal, historical, scientific, cultural, literary, geographical, etc.)
that you feel are interesting and that you would like to learn more about. For each one of those topics, you will
need to list 3 specific questions that you would like to have answered. Please follow the example below. Notice
how the questions require more than a yes or no or a simple answer.
1. Topic: Mitosis
1. What does mitosis have to do with cancer?
2. What did mitosis have to do with Henrietta Lacks’ cells?
3. What, if anything, do enzymes have to do with Henrietta’s Lacks’ cells and
mitosis?
o After you are done reading, please re-read the “Reading Group Guide” section in the back of the book. Please
choose 2 of the 15 topics for discussion. Discuss the topics with your friends, reading group, sibling, parent or
chosen adult, and type a 250-300 word personal response to each of the topics you choose. Tips: Try to avoid
being too personal in your writing. Very few of your sentences should begin with the word, “I”.
o In each of your written responses, we ask that you demonstrate your understanding of coordinating
conjunctions and independent clauses. Go online, and refresh your memory. You have been taught the seven
coordinating conjunctions (every year since 4th grade); you have been taught independent clauses (complete
sentences) every year since the first grade. Please include in each of your written responses at least one
example where you create a well-punctuated compound sentence using two independent clauses and one
coordinating conjunction. Underline them.
BOOK TWO: Vocabulary Workshop (Level E)
This book is available for purchase at Milton High School in the front office during summer office hours for $12.00.
ASSIGNMENT: Study vocabulary in units 1-3.
o Complete ALL written exercises in your book for units 1-3.
o Make flashcards to study for the multiple choice test. Flash cards will be due on the first day of class for
your first daily grade
o Be prepared for a 100 question multiple choice vocabulary test (including parts of speech, primary,
secondary and tertiary definitions of each word, and synonyms and antonyms for each word). You will be
given a vocabulary test on your first day of school. You have all summer to learn these words, their parts of
speech, definitions, synonyms and antonyms, so do not wait until the last minute.
BOOK THREE: Student Novel of Choice
Students in Honors Literature should love reading. Please come in on the first day of school prepared to share with
the class a novel that you have read over the summer. We encourage you to choose a novel that is listed on any
school’s 9th-12th reading list.
LAST NOTE: In your science classes, you will use APA style to document your research. In literature classes, we use MLA style. By the end of 9th
grade, you will know how to use both in your research. If you want to get a head start and take a look at the difference between the two, we
recommend you check out the Purdue University’s cite The OWL. It will also help you on your quest to master grammar (and coordinating
conjunctions). Here is a link to the main page. Check it out and see what a useful tool it can be for you: http://owl.english.purdue.edu/