BAY RIDGE PREPARATORY SCHOOL BRIDGE PROGRAM 2008 SUMMER READING ASSIGNMENTS We ask that you review these books and assignments with your child as soon as possible. Some of the books may be difficult for students with reading difficulties. If this is the case for your child, we highly recommend guided reading with a parent, tutor, or with audio versions of the books (some may even be available for free through the NY Public Library). If you or your child feel that the book lists may too challenging for your child, please contact Dr. Chris Nuesell at cnuesell@bayridgeprep.org or leave a message for him at 718-833-5839, and we will try to arrange a modified/customized reading list for your child. For students entering Ninth Grade Bridge Program in September 2008: Ramses I - Christian Jacq The Red Pony John Steinbeck AND Read at least two of these books: The Five People You Meet in Heaven Mitch Albom Time Cat Lloyd Alexander Prince Caspian C. S. Lewis The Outsiders S. E. Hinton For students entering Tenth Grade Bridge Program in September 2008: Tuesdays with Morrie Mitch Albom Farewell to Manzanar James Houston & Jean Wakatsuki Houston AND Read at least one of these books: The Secret Life of Bees Sue Monk Kidd Within Reach: My Everest Story Mark Pfetzer, Jack Galvin Sir Gawain and the Green Knight Any translation The Once and Future King T.H. White
For students entering Eleventh Grade Bridge Program in September 2008: The Color Purple Alice Walker 1776 David McCullough AND Read at least one of these books: Ragtime E.L. Doctorow The March E.L. Doctorow Tom Sawyer Mark Twain The Chosen Chaim Potok A Prayer for Owen Meany John Irving Night Eli Weisel I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings Maya Angelou The Kitchen God s Wife Amy Tan A Painted House John Grisham For students entering Twelfth Grade Bridge Program in September 2008: Read the following book: Catch 22 Joseph Heller AND Read at least two of these books: The Color Purple Alice Walker All Quiet on the Western Front Erich Maria Remarque The Road Cormac McCarthy The Chosen Chaim Potok A Prayer for Owen Meany John Irving Farewell to Arms Ernest Hemingway Mutant Message Down Under Mario Morgan On Secret Service John Jakes Black Hawk Down Mark Bowden Thirteen Days Robert F. Kennedy Jia Hyejin Kim East of Eden John Steinbeck Memoirs of a Geisha Arthur Golden The Joy Luck Club Amy Tan Lord of the Flies William Golding The Spy Who Came in From the Cold John le Carre The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time Mark Haddon
Bridge Program Summer Reading Assignment Please use one of these sheets for EACH of the three books that you read this summer. Be prepared to bring your notes and your book with you to school in September, as you will have a written assignment based on your notes. SKIP LINES WHEN YOU WRITE YOUR NOTES, SO THAT YOUR TEACHER CAN HELP YOU EDIT YOUR WRITING WHEN YOU RETURN TO SCHOOL. Name of Book: Author: Copyright Date: # of Pages: # of Chapters: At the end of the first paragraph of the book, please answer these 4 questions: How many people are in the first scene? Who are they (use names, ages, relationships, or any other important features)? Where does the scene take place? What is going on? At the end of the 1 st Chapter: List three things that you learned about the story At the end of the 2 nd Chapter: Which character do you like the most so far? Why? Does that character remind you of anyone you know? Explain. At the end of the 3 rd Chapter: Is there a problem or conflict developing in the story? Describe it. At the end of the 4 th Chapter: Write a 5-sentence summary of the most important thing that has happened in the book so far. At the end of the 5 th Chapter: What do you think will happen next? How do you think the book will end? At the END of the book: How does the book end? How did the problem/conflict you mentioned earlier get resolved? What feeling did the book leave you with?
BAY RIDGE PREPARATORY SCHOOL HIGH SCHOOL SUMMER READING ASSIGNMENTS For students entering Ninth Grade in September 2008: 1. The Republic Plato 2. The Andromeda Strain - Michael Crichton 3. Mythology** Edith Hamilton 4. Tao of Pooh Benjamin Hoff **Mythology The reading for this book is as follows: read Part I in its entirety; Part IV, chapters 1 and 2; and a hero chapter of your choosing from Part III. For students entering Tenth Grade in September 2008: 1. A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur s Court - Mark Twain 2. Sir Gawain and the Green Knight (Any Translation) 3. The Physician - Noah Gordon 4. Pillars of the Earth Ken Follet **** **** Suggested reading ****The fourth book, Ken Follet s Pillars of the Earth, will be assigned for a future book report due at the end of the first marking period. This novel will also be critical to an integrative architectural project later in the year. If students wish to begin reading this over the summer, they will have an early start on the fall English and History curriculum. Within the first several weeks of the first marking period, there will be a summer reading exam. This will account for 20% of the first quarter English grade. Additionally, these works will be referenced throughout the year in a variety of contexts.
For students entering Eleventh Grade in September 2008: 1. On Secret Service John Jakes 2. Black Hawk Down Mark Bowden 3. Thirteen Days Robert Kennedy 4. The Pearl - John Steinbeck 5. One book of your own choosing For students entering Twelfth Grade in September 2008: 1. The Persian Boy Mary Renault 2. E=MC 2 : Biography of the Equation David Bowdanis 3. Emotional Intelligence Daniel Goleman 4. Tuesday s with Morrie - Mitch Albom 5. One book of your own choosing