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S. Smith Moderator
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School's almost out for the summer, but the kids will still have to do that dreaded summer reading. What do you think about the books that are required reading at NWHS? |
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smileyfaces Member
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I think reading is a valuable tool in education. I strongly encourage my children to read all the time. And they love it!! What's on the list? |
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Queue Member 
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What's on the list? I believe this is the list. Some may have changed, I'm not sure. Fahrenheit 451 * A Separate Peace To Kill a Mockingbird 0000000000 Siddhartha Nectar in a Sieve * Cyrano de Bergerac 0000000000 A Streetcar Named Desire Native Son * Huckleberry Finn 0000000000 Othello Brave New World A Tale of Two Cities * 0000000000 Sorted by grade, 9th through 12th, starred books are books to be read by students going into honors classes. |
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ff12 Member 
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not exactly beach reading. Always wondered what would happen if they did not do the reading? What if they have a summer job or go on an around the world trip? |
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S. Smith Moderator
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ff12 wrote: not exactly beach reading. Always wondered what would happen if they did not do the reading? What if they have a summer job or go on an around the world trip? Summer jobs or around the world trips are no excuse, ff12. And you're right -- this is definitely not light reading material. |
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FatPappy Member 
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Not on the list, but the new an' final Harry Potter is about a month away I think. Yeah, a lot o' them books on the list is hard readin', but it'll be good fer 'em, even if they don't understand some of it. I didn't see any Clive Cussler titles on that list, by the way, which I'm sure is an oversight. |
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Anna Diemer Member
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Pardon me while I momentarily re-celebrate my graduation from high school-- WOOOOO NO MORE SUMMER READING!!! Okay.  Summer reading is an institution created to a) torture the children that complete it, b) instruct students in the ways of Spark Notes, or c) begin/continue a trend of never reading for English. Upon returning to school, teachers usually give comprehension tests on the novels. Most could easily be taken after studying Spark Notes. Ergo, most students don't read. I read all of the novels assigned for summer reading, and actually enjoyed (or survived) most of them. Something that particularly bothers me is the censorship that has occurred since I was a freshman. The Color Purple was probably one of the best of the summer reading lot (and the musical was excellent, I must say), but due to parental grumblings, it's gone now. In my opinion, every student should have to suffer through The Good Earth by Pearl S. Buck. This summer, I'm glad I'm not forced to read anything that I don't want to. Harry Potter is at the top of my reading list, along with America's Constitution by Akhil Reed Amar, The People's History of the Supreme Court by Peter Irons, and the Narnia series. (Not that I'm a normal teenager or anything...) |
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Jim Flynt Member
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Anna Diemer wrote: America's Constitution by Akhil Reed Amar Excellent book. One which a great number of adults in the Northwest might also benefit from picking up, reading and understanding as well. Congratulations on your graduation Anna and how wonderful that you have developed a lifelong desire to read and learn. You'll go far wherever you go! |
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dmauser Member
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FYI- Northern High is approaching summer reading differently. All students have one book that must be read (Separate Peace for 9th graders) and then they can pick at least one from a list of ten to supplement. All have a common theme. For ninth graders it is 'coming of age'-- not sure what 10th is. Anna, the new Harry Potter book is on the list for 10th graders. Much better way to do it. Also the principal is encouraging the parents to read the same books and have a discussion around certain questions with their students. I have finished Separate Peace- definitly not light reading. |
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Anna Diemer Member
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What Northern is doing seems like more of a way to get kids to read. (Plus...if Harry Potter's on there, it's awesome!!! ) My mom read my summer reading with me--half out of boredom when we were at the beach--and it does always help to discuss the book with someone, even if it is just "Wow. That was awful." I like the concept of Northern's summer reading (with the common theme)--so let's just hope that there are good English teachers to follow up on that. This thinking about summer reading brings me back to one of the major problems that schools face. It's difficult for students to succeed when they have no motivation to do so. What teachers or parents must do is to create that drive, which is not an easy task. How do we make kids work? And thank you, Jim. I'm blessed to have the desire to learn that I do--it's opened a lot of doors for me. |
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Steve Adkins Member 
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Anna, congratulations on your graduation. I was reading your accomplishments in the NWO tonight, we are blessed to have a young person of your caliber joining us here in this forum. All the Best |
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