Ninety Six High SchoolNinety Six High School

Summer Reading ChoicesSummer Reading Choices

Summer 2008Summer 2008

Why have a summer reading Why have a summer reading program?program?

Students who read during the summer Students who read during the summer are more successful in school than are more successful in school than students who do not read. We want students who do not read. We want all of our students to be successful so all of our students to be successful so we have a summer reading program.we have a summer reading program.

Who participates?Who participates?

All students who will be in 9All students who will be in 9thth-12-12thth grade at Ninety Six High School grade at Ninety Six High School during the 2008-2009 school year.during the 2008-2009 school year.

What do students do?What do students do?

1)1) Choose a book from the summer reading Choose a book from the summer reading list (Posted on school web page and in list (Posted on school web page and in this presentation)this presentation)

2)2) Turn in a book choice form by April 14, Turn in a book choice form by April 14, 20082008

3)3) Read the book by August 28, 2008Read the book by August 28, 20084)4) Attend large book groups and small book Attend large book groups and small book

groups on August 29, 2009groups on August 29, 20095)5) Complete an optional project about the Complete an optional project about the

book and turn it in on August 29 to earn book and turn it in on August 29 to earn a coupon worth 2 extra points (See last a coupon worth 2 extra points (See last page for details)page for details)

Evaluation of last summer’s Evaluation of last summer’s programprogram

75% of students report that they read the 75% of students report that they read the book they selectedbook they selected

60% reported that they read the book and 60% reported that they read the book and gave the program a positive evaluationgave the program a positive evaluation

14% report that they read more than one 14% report that they read more than one bookbook

68% report that they would recommend the 68% report that they would recommend the book they chose to a friendbook they chose to a friend

Things the students liked about the Things the students liked about the programprogram

The school got the books for usThe school got the books for usYou could choose which book to readYou could choose which book to readSpeakersSpeakersSmall discussion groupsSmall discussion groupsRead different books than normalRead different books than normalIncluded all students, not just honorsIncluded all students, not just honorsKeeps us in mental shapeKeeps us in mental shapeHad plenty of time to readHad plenty of time to read

Student suggestions to improveStudent suggestions to improve

More book choicesMore book choices

More variety and diversity in booksMore variety and diversity in books

Talk to actual writerTalk to actual writer

Give out two books to readGive out two books to read

One on one time with speakersOne on one time with speakers

SlamSlam by Walter Dean Myers by Walter Dean Myers

Greg Harris’s thing is Greg Harris’s thing is basketball. When he basketball. When he transfers from his Harlem transfers from his Harlem high school to a more high school to a more challenging magnet school challenging magnet school nearby, he struggles to fit in nearby, he struggles to fit in and to claim his place on the and to claim his place on the basketball team. New basketball team. New friends and old friends help friends and old friends help him and hurt him, but him and hurt him, but basketball keeps him sane basketball keeps him sane and hopefuland hopeful..

Easy (750 L) 266 pagesEasy (750 L) 266 pages

JudeJude by Kate Morgenroth by Kate Morgenroth Jude has been raised by a single Jude has been raised by a single

father who is a drug dealer. father who is a drug dealer. When Jude’s dad is murdered in a When Jude’s dad is murdered in a drug deal gone bad, he learns that drug deal gone bad, he learns that his birth mom is the district his birth mom is the district attorney and she’s running for attorney and she’s running for mayor on an anti-drug platform. mayor on an anti-drug platform. Life is complicated as Jude goes Life is complicated as Jude goes to live with his mom and tries to to live with his mom and tries to establish a relationship with her. establish a relationship with her. Things go from bad to worse as Things go from bad to worse as Jude tries to find his way through Jude tries to find his way through the maze of politics and emotions the maze of politics and emotions and shady people both from his and shady people both from his former life and from his mom’s former life and from his mom’s life.life.

Average (800 L) 394 pagesAverage (800 L) 394 pages

The First Part LastThe First Part Last by Angela Johnsonby Angela Johnson

Bobby, 16, has the responsibility Bobby, 16, has the responsibility for raising his daughter, Feather. for raising his daughter, Feather. His parents are supportive, but His parents are supportive, but insist he be responsible and take insist he be responsible and take care of Feather. He is care of Feather. He is overwhelmed with school and overwhelmed with school and child care. Life as he knew it is child care. Life as he knew it is gone forever. We learn through gone forever. We learn through flashbacks why the baby’s mom flashbacks why the baby’s mom is out of the picture.is out of the picture.

Easy (790 L ) 131 pagesEasy (790 L ) 131 pages

The Things They CarriedThe Things They Carried by Tim O’Brienby Tim O’Brien

This novel, about U. S. foot This novel, about U. S. foot soldiers in Vietnam, brings to life soldiers in Vietnam, brings to life the conditions and emotions of the conditions and emotions of their lives as they slough through their lives as they slough through paddies. They carry many things, paddies. They carry many things, 15 or more pounds of gear, 15 or more pounds of gear, helmets that weigh 5 pounds, helmets that weigh 5 pounds, letters, snacks, malaria tablets, letters, snacks, malaria tablets, tranquilizers, socks, dope, tranquilizers, socks, dope, condoms, illustrated New condoms, illustrated New Testaments, diaries and comic Testaments, diaries and comic books. They also carry things in books. They also carry things in their minds and hearts like hope, their minds and hearts like hope, dreams, and shame.dreams, and shame.

Challenging(880L) 273 pagesChallenging(880L) 273 pages

Swallowing StonesSwallowing Stones by Joyce McDonaldby Joyce McDonald

Michael,17, can’t resist firing his Michael,17, can’t resist firing his birthday gift, a rifle, into the birthday gift, a rifle, into the air. The next day he hears air. The next day he hears that a man working on a roof that a man working on a roof a mile away was killed by a a mile away was killed by a stray bullet. Jenna, also 17, stray bullet. Jenna, also 17, can’t believe her dad was can’t believe her dad was killed while working on the killed while working on the roof. She is obsessed with the roof. She is obsessed with the need to know who fired the need to know who fired the bullet. Both lives are in bullet. Both lives are in shambles, all because of an shambles, all because of an unthinking accident, or was it unthinking accident, or was it a crime?a crime?

Average (820L) 245 pagesAverage (820L) 245 pages

CloverClover by Dori Sanders by Dori Sanders

Ten year old Clover is being Ten year old Clover is being raised by her stepmother. raised by her stepmother. The catch is that Clover is The catch is that Clover is black and her stepmother black and her stepmother is white and her father was is white and her father was killed in a car accident on killed in a car accident on the day of the wedding. the day of the wedding. Clover’s stepmother moves Clover’s stepmother moves into the family home and into the family home and seems to have peculiar seems to have peculiar ideas about food and other ideas about food and other matters. Both struggle to matters. Both struggle to cope with grief and adjust cope with grief and adjust to their new life.to their new life.

Average (820L) 183 pagesAverage (820L) 183 pages

JohnsonJohnson The First Part LastThe First Part Last

Easy (790 LEasy (790 L ) )131 pages131 pages

Bobby, 16, has the responsibility for raising his daughter, Feather. His parents are Bobby, 16, has the responsibility for raising his daughter, Feather. His parents are supportive, but insist he be responsible and take care of Feather. He is supportive, but insist he be responsible and take care of Feather. He is overwhelmed with school and child care. Life as he knew it is gone forever. We overwhelmed with school and child care. Life as he knew it is gone forever. We learn through flashbacks why the baby’s mom is out of the picture.learn through flashbacks why the baby’s mom is out of the picture.

MorgenrothMorgenroth JudeJude

Average (800 L)Average (800 L)

394 pages394 pages

Jude has been raised by a single father who is a drug dealer. When Jude’s dad is Jude has been raised by a single father who is a drug dealer. When Jude’s dad is murdered in a drug deal gone bad, he learns that his birth mom is the district murdered in a drug deal gone bad, he learns that his birth mom is the district attorney and she’s running for mayor on an anti-drug platform. Life is attorney and she’s running for mayor on an anti-drug platform. Life is complicated as Jude goes to live with his mom and tries to establish a relationship complicated as Jude goes to live with his mom and tries to establish a relationship with her. Things go from bad to worse as Jude tries to find his way through the with her. Things go from bad to worse as Jude tries to find his way through the maze of politics and emotions and shady people both from his former life and from maze of politics and emotions and shady people both from his former life and from his mom’s life.his mom’s life.

MyersMyers SlamSlam

Easy (750 L)Easy (750 L)

266 pages266 pages

Greg Harris’s thing is basketball. When he transfers from his Harlem high school Greg Harris’s thing is basketball. When he transfers from his Harlem high school to a more challenging magnet school nearby, he struggles to fit in and to claim his to a more challenging magnet school nearby, he struggles to fit in and to claim his place on the basketball team. New friends and old friends help him and hurt him, place on the basketball team. New friends and old friends help him and hurt him, but basketball keeps him sane and hopeful.but basketball keeps him sane and hopeful.

MacDonaldMacDonald Swallowing StonesSwallowing Stones

Average (820L)Average (820L)

245 pages245 pages

Michael,17, can’t resist firing his birthday gift, a rifle, into the air. The next day he Michael,17, can’t resist firing his birthday gift, a rifle, into the air. The next day he hears that a man working on a roof a mile away was killed by a stray bullet. Jenna, hears that a man working on a roof a mile away was killed by a stray bullet. Jenna, also 17, can’t believe her dad was killed while working on the roof. She is also 17, can’t believe her dad was killed while working on the roof. She is obsessed with the need to know who fired the bullet. Both lives are in shambles, obsessed with the need to know who fired the bullet. Both lives are in shambles, all because of an unthinking accident, or was it a crime?all because of an unthinking accident, or was it a crime?

O’BrianO’Brian The Things They The Things They CarriedCarried

Challenging(880L)Challenging(880L)

273 pages273 pages

This novel, about U. S. foot soldiers in Vietnam, brings to life the conditions and This novel, about U. S. foot soldiers in Vietnam, brings to life the conditions and emotions of their lives as they slough through paddies. They carry many things, emotions of their lives as they slough through paddies. They carry many things, 15 or more pounds of gear, helmets that weigh 5 pounds, letters, snacks, malaria 15 or more pounds of gear, helmets that weigh 5 pounds, letters, snacks, malaria tablets, tranquilizers, socks, dope, condoms, illustrated New Testaments, diaries tablets, tranquilizers, socks, dope, condoms, illustrated New Testaments, diaries and comic books. They also carry things in their minds and hearts like hope, and comic books. They also carry things in their minds and hearts like hope, dreams, and shame.dreams, and shame.

SandersSanders CloverClover

Average (820L)Average (820L)

183 pages183 pages

Ten year old Clover is being raised by her stepmother. The catch is that Clover is Ten year old Clover is being raised by her stepmother. The catch is that Clover is black and her stepmother is white and Clover’s father was killed in a car accident black and her stepmother is white and Clover’s father was killed in a car accident on the day of the wedding. Clover’s stepmother moves into the family home and on the day of the wedding. Clover’s stepmother moves into the family home and seems to have peculiar ideas about food and other matters. Both struggle to cope seems to have peculiar ideas about food and other matters. Both struggle to cope with grief and adjust to their new life.with grief and adjust to their new life.

Projects for Extra CreditProjects for Extra CreditStudents may complete a project about their summer reading book Students may complete a project about their summer reading book

and turn it in to their small group leader on Fri., Aug. 29, 2008 to and turn it in to their small group leader on Fri., Aug. 29, 2008 to earn a coupon worth 2 grade points which may be applied to the earn a coupon worth 2 grade points which may be applied to the subject of choice at the end of the first nine weeks grading subject of choice at the end of the first nine weeks grading period. The project will be graded as pass or fail by the small period. The project will be graded as pass or fail by the small group leader. Projects must meet the guidelines below:group leader. Projects must meet the guidelines below:

DisplayDisplay ContentContent ParticipationParticipation EvidenceEvidence

The project is The project is attractive, organized attractive, organized and accurate.and accurate.

The project has five The project has five or more connections or more connections to book. The to book. The connections (ideas, connections (ideas, graphics, objects, graphics, objects, pictures, etc.) are pictures, etc.) are explained orally or explained orally or in writing in the in writing in the small group on Aug. small group on Aug. 29, 2008. It is 29, 2008. It is obvious from the obvious from the display/presentation display/presentation that the student has that the student has read the book. read the book.

The student The student contributed to the contributed to the small group small group discussion, showed discussion, showed enthusiasm, and enthusiasm, and demonstrated demonstrated understanding and understanding and knowledge of the knowledge of the book.book.

The student has The student has obviously put effort obviously put effort into organizing the into organizing the project.project.