English 2201 Independent

Novel Study 2016

On a seemingly ordinary Saturday in a California suburb, Julia and her family awake to discover, along with the rest of the world, that the rotation of the earth has suddenly begun to

slow. The days and nights grow longer and longer, gravity is affected, the environment is thrown into disarray. Yet as she struggles to navigate an ever-shifting landscape, Julia is also coping with the normal disasters of everyday life—the fissures in her parents’ marriage, the loss of old friends, the hopeful anguish of first love, the bizarre behavior of her grandfather who, convinced of a government conspiracy, spends his days obsessively cataloging his possessions. As Julia adjusts to the new normal, the slowing inexorably continues.

The Age of Miracles

An Astronaut’s Guide to Life on Earth

Colonel Chris Hadfield has spent decades training as an astronaut and

has logged nearly 4000 hours in space. During this time he has broken

into a Space Station with a Swiss army knife, disposed of a live snake

while piloting a plane, and been temporarily blinded while clinging to

the exterior of an orbiting spacecraft. The secret to Col. Hadfield's

success-and survival-is an unconventional philosophy he learned at

NASA: prepare for the worst-and enjoy every moment of it.

In An Astronaut's Guide to Life on Earth, Col. Hadfield takes readers

deep into his years of training and space exploration to show how to

make the impossible possible. Through eye-opening, entertaining

stories filled with the adrenaline of launch, the mesmerizing wonder

of spacewalks, and the measured, calm responses mandated by crises,

he explains how conventional wisdom can get in the way of

achievement-and happiness.

The Alchemist

Paulo Coelho’s masterpiece tells the magical story of

Santiago, an Andalusian shepherd boy who yearns to

travel in search of a worldly treasure as extravagant as

any ever found.

The story of the treasures Santiago finds along the way

teaches us, as only a few stories can, about the essential

wisdom of listening to our hearts, learning to read the

omens strewn along life’s path, and, above all, following

our dreams.

Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe

Aristotle is an angry teen with a brother in prison. Dante

is a know-it-all who has an unusual way of looking at the

world. When the two meet at the swimming pool, they

seem to have nothing in common. But as the loners start

spending time together, they discover that they share a

special friendship—the kind that changes lives and lasts

a lifetime. And it is through this friendship that Ari and

Dante will learn the most important truths about

themselves and the kind of people they want to be.

The Art of Racing in the Rain

Enzo knows he is different from other dogs: a philosopher with a nearly

human soul (and an obsession with opposable thumbs), he has educated

himself by watching television extensively, and by listening very closely

to the words of his master, Denny Swift, an up-and-coming race-car

driver. Through Denny, Enzo has gained tremendous insight into the

human condition, and he sees that life, like racing, isn't simply about

going fast. On the eve of his death, Enzo takes stock of his life, recalling

all that he and his family have been through.

A heart-wrenching but deeply funny and ultimately uplifting story of

family, love, loyalty, and hope, The Art of Racing in the Rain is a

beautifully crafted and captivating look at the wonders and absurdities

of human life...as only a dog could tell it.

Between Heaven and Earth

DJ is David McLean's eldest grandson, so it stands to reason that he be

the one to scatter his beloved grandfather's ashes. At least that's how DJ

sees it. He's always been the best at everything--sports, school, looking

after his fatherless family--so climbing Kilimanjaro is just another thing

he'll accomplish almost effortlessly. Or so he thinks, until he arrives in

Tanzania and everything starts to go wrong. He's detained at

immigration, he gets robbed, his climbing group includes an old lady and

he gets stuck with the first ever female porter. Forced to go polepole

(slowly), DJ finds out the hard way that youth, fitness level and drive

have nothing to do with success on the mountain--or in life.

Bomb: The Race to Build—and Steal

In December of 1938, a chemist in a German laboratory made a

shocking discovery: When placed next to radioactive material, a

Uranium atom split in two. That simple discovery launched a scientific

race that spanned 3 continents. In Great Britain and the United

States, Soviet spies worked their way into the scientific community;

in Norway, a commando force slipped behind enemy lines to attack

German heavy-water manufacturing; and deep in the desert, one

brilliant group of scientists was hidden away at a remote site at Los

Alamos. This is the story of the plotting, the risk-taking, the deceit,

and genius that created the world's most formidable weapon. This is

the story of the atomic bomb.

The Book Thief

It’s just a small story really, about among other things: a girl, some words,

an accordionist, some fanatical Germans, a Jewish fist-fighter, and quite a

lot of thievery. . . .

Set during World War II in Germany, Markus Zusak’s groundbreaking new

novel is the story of Liesel Meminger, a foster girl living outside of

Munich. Liesel scratches out a meager existence for herself by stealing

when she encounters something she can’t resist–books. With the help of

her accordion-playing foster father, she learns to read and shares her

stolen books with her neighbors during bombing raids as well as with the

Jewish man hidden in her basement before he is marched to Dachau.

Bruiser

"There’s a reason why Brewster can’t have friends – why he can’t care

about too many people. Because when he cares about you, things start

to happen. Impossible things that can’t be explained. I know, because

they're happening to me."

When Brontë starts dating Brewster “Bruiser” Rawlins – the guy

voted “Most Likely to Get the Death Penalty” her twin brother,

Tennyson, isn’t surprised. But then strange things begin to occur.

Tennyson and Brontë’s scrapes heal unnaturally fast, and cuts

disappear before their eyes. What at first seems like their good

fortune turns out to be more than they bargained for…much more.

Chanda’s Wars

It's been six months since Mama died, and Chanda is struggling to

raise her little brother and sister. Determined to end a family feud,

she takes them to her relatives' remote rural village. But across the

nearby border, a brutal civil war is spreading. Rebels led by the

ruthless General Mandiki attack at night, stealing children. All that

separates Chanda from the horror is a stretch of rugged bush and a

national park alive with predators. Soon, not even that. Before she

knows it, Chanda must face the unthinkable, with a troubled young

tracker as her unlikely ally. Chanda's Wars is the unforgettable

story of a teenager who risks everything to save her brother and

sister. Epic in its sweep, intimate in its humanity, here is a gripping

tale of family intrigue, love and courage, forgiveness and hope.

Crabbe

One night, just before final exams, 18-year-old Franklin

Crabbe - smart, rich, yet unhappy and semi-alcoholic -

packs his gear and drives away into the woods to

disappear completely. Totally unprepared for bush life,

Crabbe nearly perishes until he meets someone else who

has her reasons to hide.

The Dark Endeavor

Victor and Konrad are the twin brothers Frankenstein

and inseparable until Konrad falls gravely ill. In the

forbidden Dark Library, Victor finds an ancient

formula, and seeks an alchemist to recreate the Elixir

of Life. With friends Elizabeth and Henry, he scales

highest trees in the Strumwald, dives deepest lake

caves, and each sacrifices a body part.

Don’t Turn Around

The first in a trilogy, Don’t Turn Around’s intricate plot and heart-

pounding action will leave readers desperate for book two. Sixteen-

year-old Noa has been a victim of the system ever since her parents

died. Now living off the grid and trusting no one, she uses her hacking

skills to stay anonymous and alone. But when she wakes up on a table in

a warehouse with an IV in her arm and no memory of how she got there,

Noa starts to wish she had someone on her side. Enter Peter Gregory. A

rich kid and the leader of a hacker alliance, Peter needs people with

Noa’s talents on his team. Especially after a shady corporation threatens

his life in no uncertain terms. But what Noa and Peter don’t realize is

that Noa holds the key to a terrible secret, and there are those who’d

stop at nothing to silence her for good.

Every day

Every day a different body. Every day a different life. Every day in love with

the same girl.

There’s never any warning about where it will be or who it will be. A has

made peace with that, even established guidelines by which to live: Never

get too attached. Avoid being noticed. Do not interfere.

It’s all fine until the morning that A wakes up in the body of Justin and

meets Justin’s girlfriend, Rhiannon. From that moment, the rules by

which A has been living no longer apply. Because finally A has found

someone he wants to be with—day in, day out, day after day.

Frankenstein

Conceived as part of a literary game among friends in 1816, Mary

Shelley’s Frankenstein is today regarded as a classic piece of 19th

century literature. The story begins with the journey of an

adventurer, Robert Walton, who saves the life of a man at the North

Pole. That man, Victor Frankenstein, tells Walton about his

experiments with the creation of life and how he ended up at the

North Pole. Through this simple plot device, Shelley was able to deal

with serious real-world issues like acceptance, tolerance, and

understanding, as well as the universal human need for

companionship and love.

Girl in Translation

When Kimberly Chang and her mother emigrate from Hong Kong to

Brooklyn squalor, she quickly begins a secret double life: exceptional

schoolgirl during the day, Chinatown sweatshop worker in the evenings.

Disguising the more difficult truths of her life like the staggering degree

of her poverty, the weight of her family’s future resting on her

shoulders, or her secret love for a factory boy who shares none of her

talent or ambition. Kimberly learns to constantly translate not just her

language but herself back and forth between the worlds she straddles.

Through Kimberly’s story, author Jean Kwok, who also emigrated from

Hong Kong as a young girl, brings to the page the lives of countless

immigrants who are caught between the pressure to succeed in America,

their duty to their family, and their own personal desires, exposing a

world that we rarely hear about.

The Great Gatsby

F. Scott Fitzgerald’s third book, stands as the

supreme achievement of his career. This

exemplary novel of the Jazz Age has been

acclaimed by generations of readers. The story

of the fabulously wealthy Jay Gatsby and his

love for the beautiful Daisy Buchanan, of lavish

parties on Long Island at a time when The New

York Times noted “gin was the national drink and

sex the national obsession,” it is an exquisitely

crafted tale of America in the 1920s.

Haunted

Dee is feeding the chickens the morning that bones are discovered on

the mountain. Something doesn't feel right—and her feeling is

confirmed when local police show her a ring that they found with the

bones, a ring belonging to Mary Ann Simpson, who disappeared four

years earlier. Other girls, Dee learns, have disappeared too, unusual

for a small town nestled in the shadow of the Bruce Peninsula’s

rugged escarpment, the “mountain” that Dee loves. Like her Gran, Dee

has “the sight,” an ability not only to see spirits from the afterlife but

also to experience their deaths—a quality that becomes more

horrifying as the story takes darker turns. While trying to help with the

investigation, Dee is drawn into a deepening mystery that soon strikes

terrifyingly close to home.

Home Invasion

Josh is less than thrilled that he has a new stepfather, and finds his personal

habits--and his personality--irritating. When his mother leaves town, Josh is

left to spend a week alone with Clay. Resenting his new living arrangements

and his unorthodox home life, Josh finds himself drawn to the idea of a

"regular" family and, on a whim, sneaks into a neighbor's house to see how

others live. When another opportunity arises to be a fly on the wall, Josh

takes it and finds himself becoming bolder. Considering it a harmless

pastime, Josh continues entering people's houses, until he is witness to a

violent home invasion. Josh must use all his courage to save himself and

bring the home invader to justice.

How They Croaked

Over the course of history men and women have lived and died. In

fact, getting sick and dying can be a big, ugly mess-especially before

the modern medical care that we all enjoy today. How They Croaked

relays all the gory details of how nineteen world figures gave up the

ghost. For example: It is believed that Henry VIII's remains exploded

within his coffin while lying in state. Doctors "treated" George

Washington by draining almost 80 ounces of blood before he finally

kicked the bucket. Right before Beethoven wrote his last notes,

doctors drilled a hole in his stomach without any pain medication.

Readers will be interested well past the final curtain, and feel lucky to

live in a world with painkillers, X-rays, soap, and 911.

I Am Malala

On Tuesday, October 9, 2012, when she was fifteen, she almost paid

the ultimate price. She was shot in the head at point-blank range while

riding the bus home from school, and few expected her to survive.

Instead, Malala's miraculous recovery has taken her on an

extraordinary journey from a remote valley in northern Pakistan to the

halls of the United Nations in New York. At sixteen, she has become a

global symbol of peaceful protest and the youngest-ever Nobel Peace

Prize laureate. I Am Malala is the remarkable tale of a family uprooted

by global terrorism, of the fight for girls' education, of a father who,

himself a school owner, championed and encouraged his daughter to

write and attend school, and of brave parents who have a fierce love

for their daughter in a society that prizes sons.

Invisible

You could say that my railroad, the Madham Line, is almost the most

important thing in my life. Next to Andy Morrow, my best friend....I guess

you could say that I'm not only disturbed, I'm obsessed. Lots of people

think Doug Hanson is a freak -- he gets beat up after school and the girl of

his dreams calls him a worm. Doug's only refuge is building elaborate

model trains in his basement and hanging out with his best friend, Andy

Morrow. Andy is nothing like Doug: He's a popular football star who could

date any girl in school. Despite their differences, Doug and Andy talk about

everything -- except what happened at the Tuttle place a few years back.

As Doug retreats deeper and deeper into his own world, long-buried

secrets come to light -- and the more he tries to keep them invisible, the

looser his grip on reality becomes. In this fierce, disturbing novel, Pete

Hautman spins a poignant tale about inner demons, and how far one boy

will go to control them.

The Madness Underneath

After her near-fatal run-in with the Jack the Ripper copycat, Rory

Deveaux has been living in Bristol under the close watch of her parents.

So when her therapist suddenly suggests she return to Wexford, Rory

jumps at the chance to get back to her friends. But Rory's brush with the

Ripper touched her more than she thought possible: she's become a

human terminus, with the power to eliminate ghosts on contact. She

soon finds out that the Shades--the city's secret ghost-fighting police--

are responsible for her return. The Ripper may be gone, but now there is

a string of new inexplicable deaths threatening London. Rory has

evidence that the deaths are no coincidence. Something much more

sinister is going on, and now she must convince the squad to listen to

her before it's too late.

Outliers

In this stunning new book, Malcolm Gladwell takes us on an

intellectual journey through the world of "outliers"--the best and the

brightest, the most famous and the most successful. He asks the

question: what makes high-achievers different? His answer is that we

pay too much attention to what successful people are like, and too

little attention to where they are from: that is, their culture, their

family, their generation, and the idiosyncratic experiences of their

upbringing. Along the way he explains the secrets of software

billionaires, what it takes to be a great soccer player, why Asians are

good at math, and what made the Beatles the greatest rock band.

The Rifle

A treasured rifle passed down through generations is the

cause of a tragic accident in this timely tale. With subtle

mastery and precision, this tough, thought-provoking

novel challenges the idea that firearms don't become

instruments of destruction and murder until they are

placed in human hands.

Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead

Hamlet told from the worm's-eye view of two minor

characters, bewildered Rosencrantz and Guildenstern. Echoes

of Waiting for Godot resound, reality and illusion mix, and

where fate leads heroes to a tragic but inevitable end.

Shadows Cast by Stars

Two hundred years from now, blood has become the most valuable

commodity on the planet— especially the blood of aboriginal peoples, for

it contains antibodies that protect them from the Plague ravaging the rest

of the world. Sixteen-year-old Cassandra Mercredi might be immune to

Plague, but that doesn't mean she's safe— government forces are

searching for those of aboriginal heritage to harvest their blood. When a

search threatens Cassandra and her family, they flee to the Island: a

mysterious and idyllic territory protected by the Band, a group of guerrilla

warriors— and by an enigmatic energy barrier that keeps outsiders out

and the spirit world in. And though the village healer has taken her under

her wing, and the tribal leader's son into his heart, the creatures of the

spirit world are angry, and they have chosen Cassandra to be their voice

and instrument...

Son

They called her Water Claire. When she washed up on their shore, no one

knew that she came from a society where emotions and colors didn’t

exist. That she had become a Vessel at age thirteen. That she had carried

a Product at age fourteen. That it had been stolen from her body. Claire

had a son. But what became of him she never knew. What was his name?

Was he even alive? She was supposed to forget him, but that was

impossible. Now Claire will stop at nothing to find her child, even if it

means making an unimaginable sacrifice. Son thrusts readers once again

into the chilling world of the Newbery Medal winning book, The Giver, as

well as Gathering Blue and Messenger where a new hero emerges.

West Moon

West Moon is set in Newfoundland during the time of

resettlement in the mid-1960s. Though the play explores

some serious social, political, moral, and theological

themes, it does so with a unique blend of pathos and

humor. Though the characters are dead and subject to

different degrees of despair, they come vigorously alive as

we meet them, for a brief while, within the confines of their

mortality. This is this first authorized publication of this

work by one of Newfoundland's most highly regarded

writers.