smp summer reading - ascension episcopal school · rising 9th graders college-prep choose one of...
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SMP Summer Reading
Ascension Episcopal School2020 - 2021
SMP Summer ReadingWe are excited to share the new way that our SMP campus will be conducting Summer Reading. Beginning this summer, students are asked to participate in reading their English Class Books (assigned by our English teachers) and also to choose one book from our SMP Book Club choices (assigned by our SMP faculty and staff).
When we return to school in the fall, English teachers will test students on the English Class Books, and students will participate in book club discussions and will be assessed (graded) by the faculty/staff member who sponsors the SMP Book Club via a book project completed by each student.
All books required for your English class and your chosen book club should be completely read upon the day of your return to school in August.
EnglishClass
Summer Books
Questions about English Summer Books?
All 8th grade – Ms. Ladmirault ([email protected])All 9th grade – Ms. Carlson ([email protected])10th grade CP – Ms. Ladmirault ([email protected])10th grade Honors & AHonors – Ms. Robert ([email protected])11th grade CP & Honors – Ms. Ladmirault ([email protected])11th grade AP Lit & Comp – Ms. Sorrell ([email protected])12th grade CP – Ms. Carlson ([email protected])12th grade Dual Enroll English – Ms. Sorrell ([email protected])
CP = College PrepAH = Accelerated Honors
College-Prep & Honors Choose ONE of the following books (with your SMP Book Club choice = two books total for summer):
● Wonder by R. J. Palacio● The Westing Game by Ellen
Raskin● Lightning Thief by Rick
Riordan● Fifth of March by Ann Rinaldi
Accelerated Honors Choose TWO of the following books (with your SMP Book Club choice = three books total for summer):
● Wonder by R. J. Palacio● The Westing Game by Ellen
Raskin● Lightning Thief by Rick
Riordan● Fifth of March by Ann Rinaldi
Rising 8th Graders
Rising 9th GradersCollege-Prep Choose ONE of the following books (with your SMP Book Club choice = two books total for summer):
● Night by Elie Wiesel ● Magnus Chase and the Gods of
Asgard, Book I: The Sword of Summer by Rick Riordan
● The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupery
● Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury
Honors Choose ONE of the following books (with your SMP Book Club choice = two books total for summer):
● Night by Elie Wiesel ● Magnus Chase and the Gods of
Asgard, Book I: The Sword of Summer by Rick Riordan
● The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan
Rising 9th Graders
Accelerated Honors
Mandatory ~ Oedipus Rex (also called Oedipus the King) by Sophocles (any unabridged copy)
Also, choose ONE of the following books (with your SMP Book Club choice = three books total for summer):
● Night by Elie Wiesel ● Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard, Book I: The Sword of
Summer by Rick Riordan ● Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan
Rising 10th Graders
College-Prep Choose ONE of the following books (with your SMP Book Club choice = two books total for summer):
● A Lesson Before Dying by Ernest Gaines
● As I Lay Dying by William Faulkner
● Billy Budd by Herman Melville
Honors Choose ONE of the following books listed below (with your SMP Book Club choice = two books total for summer)
Accelerated Honors Choose TWO of the following books (with your SMP Book Club choice = three books total for summer):
● A Lesson Before Dying by Ernest Gaines● The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini● The Things They Carried by Tim O’Brien● Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom
[note: a student may not choose the Albom book above if he/she is in Ms. Hesterly’s SMP Book Club for this same title]
Rising 11th Graders
College-Prep & Honors Choose ONE of the following books (with your SMP Book Club choice = two books total for summer):
● 1984 by George Orwell● Persuasion by Jane
Austen● Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll
and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson
AP English Lit & Comp Mandatory ~ The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver
Also, choose ONE of the following books (with your SMP Book Club choice = three books total for summer):
● Purple Hibiscus by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie ● Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro ● Sing, Unburied, Sing by Jesmyn Ward ● The Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri
Rising 12th Graders
College-Prep Choose ONE of the following books (with your SMP Book Club choice = two books total for summer):
● Who Moved My Cheese? by Spencer Johnson, M.D. [note: a student may not choose the book above if he/she is in Ms. Carlson’s SMP Book Club for this same title]
● The Language of Food by Dan Jurafsky
● Creating Magic by Lee Cockerell
Dual Enrollment English Mandatory Educated by Tara Westover
(with your SMP Book Club choice = two books total for summer)
SMP BookClubs
Each Student Chooses and Reads
ONE Book
from the following Options
SMP Book Club SIGN-UP
ttsu.me/smpbookclubs
Please note the following:
● Each SMP 8th - 12th grade student is required to choose ONE book from the following faculty sponsored Book Clubs, in addition to your required English Class Books for summer reading
● You will meet three times at the start of first quarter with your faculty/staff member and your book club (with other students who chose the same book):○ First, to participate in a group discussion about the book○ Second, to discuss your ideas for your individual book project ○ Third, to present and receive a grade on your individual book project
● Pay close attention –– Some groups are restricted to certain grade levels or have other requirements
Book Project directions may be found at the END of this information packet.
8th Grade Choices
Rising Above: How 11 Athletes Overcame Challenges in Their Youth to Become Starsby Gregory Zuckerman
Open to 8th graders only
Rising Above is about 11 athletes who have faced adversity in the lives and went on to become stars in their respective sports. The athletes all had difficult challenges to face while growing up. Some of these athletes like LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Stephen Curry, became Hall of Famers. Also featured is Team USA goalkeeper, Tim Howard, who was diagnosed with Tourette Syndrome in 6th grade. He went on to become a national treasure after single-handedly keeping America competitive in the 2014 World Cup. Also read about Jim Abbott, who was born without his right hand, yet refused to be defined by what he lacked. He went on to pitch a no-hitter in the Major Leagues. We often see the great benefits of people’s hard work, but don't always know the story of where they come from. Rising Above does a great job giving the reader some insight into what it takes to achieve personal goals. I hope you guys will consider this book.
Coach Dardar
The Long Snapperby Jeffrey Marx
Open to 8th graders only
Brian Kinchen, a former LSU Tiger and NFL football player, finds himself teaching a 7th grade Bible class when he gets a second chance. The Long Snapper takes you through Brian's journey back into the NFL and on to success with the New England Patriots.
Coach Domengeaux
The Infinite Gameby Simon Sinek
Open to 8th graders only
There is no winning in infinite games. The objective is to continue playing the game. Examples of infinite games include business, politics, and life itself. Leaders who embrace an infinite mindset, says Sinek, will eventually build stronger, more innovative, and more inspiring organizations with the resilience to thrive in an ever-changing world.
Coach L. Landry
The Limitby Kristen Landon
Open to 8th graders only
Have you ever wished to have unlimited money? Oh the places you could go, the most fashionable wardrobe you’d own, and the best gadgets you’d have. But, what if the government suddenly put a limit on those funds, and your family is now over the limit? Well, 13-year-old Matt Dunston finds out what happens when his parents go over their spending limit in the novel The Limit by Kristen Landon. Join Matt and his sister as they journey through the workhouse to help pay down their family’s debt. Will they ever work enough to eliminate their parents’ debt?
Ms. S. Landry
Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland & Through the Looking-Glassby Lewis Carroll
Open to 8th graders only
White Rabbit. Mad Hatter. Cheshire Cat. King and Queen of Hearts. March Hare. Caterpillar. Tweedledee and Tweedledum. Red Queen and White Queen. Walrus and Carpenter. And, naturally, Alice...“in a Wonderland they lie, dreaming as the days go by.”
Sprinkled throughout with riddles, puzzles, poems and gorgeous illustrations, these two tales have delighted for over 150 years, and still show us just how confusingly difficult growing up can be.
Recommended Edition: https://amzn.to/2Khx1Fw or https://bit.ly/2ViQtrN
Ms. Lobello
Radiant: His Light, Your Life for Teen Girls and Young Womenby Priscilla Shirer
Open to 8th grade girls only
So, you’ve made a decision to follow Christ. What does that mean for a young woman these days? This book, in a fun way, deals with the issues young women face in this modern age and helps the reader to understand how to align herself with God’s will.
Ms. Nowicki
Unwindby Neal Shusterman
Open to 8th graders only
What have you done to prove yourself worthy or valuable to society? Are you a talented musician? Artist? Do you treat others with respect? If you answered yes, then you'd be allowed to continue living life as you know it, but if you answered no, all of your organs could be taken and given to people who need them. I would imagine that most of you going into 8th grade are 13 (if not now, you will be soon), the age at which you are to prove yourself worthy and valuable to society or you'll be unwound, just like in this near-future society that Neal Shusterman creates in his book Unwind. The first in a three-book series is a fast-paced, science fiction/dystopian story that might leave you horrified but wanting to know more.
Ms. Poynot
9th- 12th Grade Choices
Ms. Acevedo
Choose Your Own Adulthood: A Small Book About the Small Choices That Make the Biggest Differenceby Hal Runkel
Open to 11th - 12th graders only
Now that you have a hold of adolescence, let's start thinking about college and beyond...sounds scary? Well, it is! You are going to make many, many BIG decisions, and in between the big ones, you'll make a million other smaller, subtler choices that will span everything from your friendships to your bank account balance. These are the daily choices that will truly define you...so how will you choose?
Mr. Alvarez
The Hummingbird’s Daughterby Luis Alberto Urrea
Open to 11th - 12th graders only
Teresita is not an ordinary girl. Born of an illiterate, poor Indian mother, she knows little about her past or her future. She has no idea that her father is Don Tomas Urrea, the wild and rich owner of a vast ranch in the Mexican state of Sinaloa. She has no idea that Huila, the elderly healer who takes Teresita under her wing, knows secrets about her destiny. And she has no idea that soon all of Mexico will rise in revolution, crying out her name. When Teresita is but a teenager, learning from Huila the way plants can cure the sick and prayer can move the earth, she discovers an even greater gift: she has the power to heal. Her touch, like warm honey, melts pain and suffering. But such a gift can be a burden, too.
Mr. Anderson
A Certain Ambiguityby Gaurav Suri & Hartosh Singh Bal
Open to 9th - 12th graders only
Ravi Kapoor is an Indian high school student who manages to obtain a scholarship to a prestigious American University. Despite the cultural differences between him and his peers, Ravi makes new friends with a wide variety of interests and philosophies. One of these, a professor named Nico encourages Ravi and his friends to see the world in new ways. A second plot concerning Ravi's grandfather's mysterious incarceration many years ago in small town America draws the two stories together.
The Book Thiefby Markus Zusak
Open to 9th - 12th graders only
It's 1939 in Nazi Germany. Told from the perspective of Death during his busiest time. Death enjoys examining the many nuances of human nature. He is especially drawn to a girl named Liesel Meminger, a nine-year old foster girl who finds refuge in books. After being taught the power of the written word and how to read by her foster father, she cannot resist books and resorts to stealing. This tale of how books bring people together during such brutal times is one that is not easy to forget.
Ms. Angelle
The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtueby Mackenzi Lee
Open to 10th - 12th graders only
This novel is a hilarious ode to 18th century times and the expectations and restrictions put on people during that era. Monty, the main character, is bisexual -- you see that on page one. Felicity, Monty's sister, is feminist before feminism was a thing. Percy, Monty's best friend, is dark-skinned enough to be confused for Monty's manservant nearly everywhere they go. This story is fantastical and fun, and I actually laughed out loud (or groaned out loud) at a few parts. The love story is adorable, and the connection between the characters is hilarious and makes me think of my friends (the way they pick on each other and are sarcastic and silly). It was just such a good, light-hearted book.
Ms. Bourque
The Moment of Lift: How Empowering Women Changes the Worldby Melinda Gates
Open to 9th - 12th graders only
Have you ever read or watched something that made you say WOW over and over...this is one of those books! You want to change the world, you want to help others better themselves, or do you want to see how the dollars we give to non-profits actually make a difference? This book is for you! Impactful, powerful, encouraging and useful! This book changed my perception of the word feminist and brought my attention to the importance of women's rights worldwide. The message Melinda Gates gives is for anyone who has vision to help others, those who have barriers that make it difficult for them to succeed, and will change or broaden your global perspective. Gates is candid and personal in her writing approach, which draws you in. She weaves her personal stories with those of the women she is helping and it creates a depth and rawness to her book. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and highly recommend it!
Coach Braun
Who Moved My Cheese?by Spencer Johnson, M.D.
Open to 9th - 12th* graders only*12th graders may not choose this book club and this book for English Class choice
Four characters try to make it through a maze in order to get to the cheese. The story is a parable for getting what you want out of life. In the story, readers follow the characters and learn from their individual approaches to get "the cheese." The author of this books was a Leadership Fellow at the Harvard Business School and is currently Advisor to the Center For Public Leadership at Harvard’s John F. Kennedy School of Government. He does a great job giving insight into the struggle to get the things we want most in life.
Ms. Carlson
The Mystery of the Yellow Roomby Gaston Leroux
Open to 9th - 12th graders only
This short book (175 pages) may be one of the greatest mysteries ever written. The French novelist, Gaston Leroux, completed it in 1907, as the first of his series depicting the adventures of a young reporter, Joseph Rouletabille. Leroux became famous in 1910 with his novel The Phantom of the Opera. The Mystery of the Yellow Room is the most famous locked-room mystery. A young woman is attacked in her locked bedroom. How is it possible? Some sections are absolutely terrifying without being despicable. The whole intrigue is built in an incredibly clever way. The Mystery of the Yellow Room is an awesome thriller!Recommended Edition: https://amzn.to/3cqy81u
Ms. Cheramie
The Last Lectureby Randy Pausch
Open to 11th - 12th graders only
My parents always encouraged me to follow my dreams and could see my personal struggle after leaving a career in Engineering that I had enjoyed for 11 years. I was lost with "what I wanted to be when I grow up." My mom gave me this book during this time of my life, and it was one of the main factors that inspired me to become a teacher. The story of Randy Pausch is a story of courage, determination, and essentially is a "how to" book for anyone who is open to life lessons and wisdom derived by experience. Randy tells it like it is, from his persistent romance that won the heart of his wonderful wife, Jai, to his endeavors that include failures as well as many successes. He challenged himself to live life to the fullest and leave a wealth of life lessons for anyone interested in minimizing the pitfalls that typically beset most of us as we mature and develop our career paths. Randy shares the most important principles that he felt could serve as a guide to success in whatever field we might decide to go into. It's about humanism, determinism, and love. It is a great read and usually my go-to gift for students graduating from high school.
Ms. Collins
From Baghdad, With Loveby Lt. Col. Jay Kopelman, USMC (Ret.)
Open to 9th - 12th graders only
This is a true story about a group of United States Marines who discovered an abandoned puppy during a mission in Fallujah, Iraq. Against regulations, one marine decides to adopt "Lava" and do everything in his power to get him back to the United States. In addition to being a heart-touching book, it also shows what U.S. soldiers had to endure while in a war zone. It is an inspiring story of love, friendship, and perseverance.
Coach Credeur
The Story of the Human Body: Evolution, Health, and Diseaseby Daniel E. Lieberman
Open to 11th - 12th graders only
This book is about the various ways that the human body has adapted over millennia to give us the current anatomy and physiology knowledge we possess today. It also discusses how our stone-age bodies interact with modern society, leading to greater life-spans, but also an increase in chronic disease. The author uses evolutionary history to suggest beneficial environments and alternate lifestyles to realize a better quality of health and life.
Coach Daigle
Lone Survivor: The Eyewitness Account of Operation Redwing and the Lost Heroes of Seal Team 10by Marcus Luttrell
Open to 9th - 12th graders only
Lone Survivor is about Marcus Luttrell, a US Navy Seal who survived Operation Redwing, which ended up being the largest loss of life in Navy Seal History. Marcus Luttrell gives an insight into what it takes to become a Navy Seal and survive the rigorous training of BUD/S. He also tells the story of Seal Team 10 setting out on Operation Redwing only to come up against insurmountable odds in the mountains in Afghanistan. If you are interested in the military and military stories, this is a great read for you. It is filled with excitement, but it does have some graphic material in the book about war and things that happen in war.
Coach Desormeaux
Mosquitolandby David Arnold
Open to 9th - 10th graders only
After the sudden collapse of her family, Mim Malone is dragged from her home in northern Ohio to the “wastelands” of Mississippi, where she lives in a medicated milieu with her dad and new stepmom. Before the dust has a chance to settle, she learns her mother is sick back in Cleveland. So she ditches her new life and hops aboard a northbound Greyhound bus to her real home and her real mother, meeting a quirky cast of fellow travelers along the way. But when her thousand-mile journey takes a few turns she could never see coming, Mim must confront her own demons, redefining her notions of love, loyalty, and what it means to be sane.
Ms. Doga
The Screwtape Lettersby C.S. Lewis
Open to 9th - 12th graders only
This classic has entertained and enlightened readers the world over with its sly and ironic portrayal of human life and foibles from the unique vantage point of Screwtape, a highly placed assistant to "Our Father Below" (a.k.a. Satan). At once wildly comic, deadly serious, and strikingly original, C. S. Lewis gives us the correspondence of the worldly-wise devil to his nephew Wormwood, a novice demon in charge of securing the condemnation to hell of an ordinary young man. The Screwtape Letters is the most engaging account of temptation—and triumph over it—ever written.
Mr. Ducote
A Day No Pigs Would Dieby Robert Newton Peck
Open to 9th - 12th graders only
I read this book in high school and had an immediate connection with the book. It’s one of my favorite books because it not only paints a very vivid picture of farm life and all the hard decisions that come with it, but it also is a perfect depiction of real-life in all its glory. It reveals how life isn’t always so sunny and wonderful. It’s about a 13-year-old boy dealing with his own pride and determination to become the man his father expected him to become. It will make you laugh and cry through offering little surprises, adventures, and lessons in life, while all accented by and around animals.
Ms. Durke
Red Risingby Pierce Brown
Open to 9th - 12th graders only
Red Rising is the first book in the Red Rising Trilogy. In this first book, a young man by the name of Darrow is working in the mines below the surface of Mars. His wife ends up being put to death for singing a song that is in violation to their rules established by the government. In his rage, Darrow beings to uncover a secret that is only known to a few in his world. He is unaware of the vast changes that have occurred above the forbidden surface of Mars. This book discusses major scientific concepts and major political conflicts in this mythical world while adding an amazing and enrapturing story line.
Ms. Fauber
Making Facesby Amy Harmon
Open to 10th - 12th graders only
This isn’t just a love story.
It’s a story about high school wrestlers and wartime soldiers. About popular girls and shy wallflowers. It’s a story about coming of age and bucket lists and love letters. It’s a story about unlikely heroes. And real monsters. And the worst kind of ugliness. And all kinds of beauty.
Ms. Fournet
The Hot Zone: The Terrifying True Story of the Origins of the Ebola Virusby Richard Preston
Open to 11th - 12th graders only
A hot zone is defined as “any area that is considered to be dangerous. It generally requires special equipment to protect occupants, due to the high risk of infection.”
The Hot Zone is a true story about a group of scientists who must contain a deadly outbreak of the Ebola virus at a monkey house in Reston, Virginia. The author traces the origins of Ebola from its apparent beginnings in Central Africa, following the mode of transmission among and across species, to its appearance in Virginia and other parts of the world. If you have any interest in the spread of viruses and diseases, this is the book for you!
Disclaimer: Because of the deadly nature of the Ebola virus, there are several passages that are extremely graphic in describing the effects of the virus. This book also includes occasional usage of mild to moderate profanity.
Ms. Futch
Perfectly Unique: Love Yourself Completely, Just as You Areby Annie F. Downs
Open to 9th - 12th grade GIRLS only
If you attended Ascension's graduation on the football field, you may remember our guest speaker Annie Downs that year. She is wise, hysterical, loves Jesus, freely exposes her insecurities and is the author of this book. Perfectly Unique is an encouraging book based on truth that will defend against the lies we believe about our bodies. It will help you to stop comparing and criticizing yourself, and start celebrating and honoring yourself. This book demonstrates what it looks like to glorify God with every part of our bodies, from head to toe through biblical application and practice.
Ms. Guidry
The Old Man and the Seaby Ernest Hemingway
Open to 9th - 12th graders only
If you enjoy a man vs beast type of story, then this is the book for you. The Old Man and the Sea won author Ernest Hemingway the Pulitzer Prize in 1953. The story centers around a past-his-prime fisherman who has gone weeks since his last catch. With the odds stacked against him, the seasoned fisherman sets out on a journey into the gulf to prove he still has what it takes to reel in one more big catch.
Coach Hearen
Tuesdays with Morrieby Mitch Albom
Open to 9th - 12th graders only *10th graders may not choose this book club and this book for English Class choice
Tuesdays with Morrie is one of those books that I encourage everyone to read at some point in their life. It's about a sports writer, Mitch Albom, who reconnects with an old college professor, Morrie, when he finds out his college professor is dying. Mitch and Morrie decide to have these weekly meetings to chat, and catch up...and they discuss life, death, dying, relationships....Morrie's perspective on it all as he's nearing the end of his life. Mitch took all these conversations and recorded them to make this book in order to help pay for Morrie's medical bills after. These conversations make you think, reflect, and truly appreciate life and relationships. It makes you look at events with a whole new perspective. I read this book in college, and wish I would have read it sooner, and it's still, to this day, one of absolute favorites.
Ms. Hesterly
Brave New Worldby Aldous Huxley
Open to 11th - 12th graders only
Combine LSD, rising totalitarianism, and exponential technological advancement with one of the keenest minds of the 20th century, and you’re beginning to understand the origins of Aldous Huxley’s Brave New World. It is a brilliant and often terrifying dystopian novel that addresses enforced eugenics, authoritarianism, sexual “liberation,” social indoctrination, and the never-ending war between power and freedom. Think The Hunger Games for grown-ups. To my knowledge, there is no more relevant work of fiction for both the promise and overconfidence of the 21st century. Recommended Edition: https://amzn.to/34LPy6p
Rev. Kennedy
The Year of Lessby Cait Flanders
Open to 9th - 12th graders only
Finance blogger, Cait Flanders, realized in her late twenties that her life was out of control. She was spending too much money, drinking too much alcohol, and eating too much food. Her personal life was a wreck, and her family broke apart. She came up with the idea of a shopping ban to help her save money because she was thousands of dollars in debt on her credit cards. Cait realized the triggers that caused her to drink and eat too much and began working on those aspects of her life too. After several years of struggling, Cait saw what was needed to make her happy; she became less dependent on binge watching Netflix or cable as she pried herself away from consumerism. This is a self-help book for all of us who find our lives not exactly what we expected. Dreams hardly ever come true, and many people become depressed and unhappy with their lives. Cait Flanders shows us how to love ourselves for who we really are and not be so worried about how we believe our lives should be. Learning to live within our means can ease many of life's difficulties.
Ms. Ladmirault
Death of a Salesmanby Arthur Miller
Open to 9th - 12th graders only
Widely considered to be the father of modern theatre, this is one of Arthur Miller's most iconic pieces. While set in the 1940s, this play centers around themes which are both timeless and relevant—mainly, one's identity and ability to adapt and to accept changes in oneself and society. This play has lots of twists and turns and will keep you engaged. I highly suggest choosing this book club!
Mr. McClymont
Talent Is Overrated: What Really Separates World-Class Performers from Everybody Elseby Geoff Colvin
Open to 11th - 12th graders only
This book goes over the ways that people have been successful without having the greatest ability. The author not only talks about athletes, but talks about great success in the business world. The book breaks down how people with average talent can far exceed people with tremendous talent. It is a must read for people who do not think they have the ability to run a company or become a great athlete.
Coach McCullough
Toughness: Developing True Strength On and Off the Courtby Jay Bilas
Open to 9th - 12th graders only
Toughness is not just about how you play; it's about how you live. In the real world, tough people are willing to do what average people are not. They get there early and stay late to get ahead. Doing more than is required of you, in any field, shows toughness.
Coach Mouton
Insight: The Surprising Truth About How Others See Us, How We See Ourselves, and Why the Answers Matter More Than We Thinkby Tasha Eurich
Open to 10th - 12th graders only
Being prepared for college and the real world isn't just about academic coursework––it's also about personal development. This book will endow you with two of the most important skills you'll need for life after Ascension: developing self- awareness and receiving feedback about yourself. Reading this book will help you foster a growth mindset and a deeper understanding of yourself and your relationships with others.
Ms. Neal-Jones
The Kitchen Houseby Kathleen Grissom
Open to 10th - 12th graders only
When this book first came out, I read it with my book club. I loved it so much I decided to have my students read it in English class. I have never had such a positive response to a book. Everyone LOVED it. Kids were reading in the halls between classes, talking about the characters, making predictions about what was to come. It was amazing.
The Kitchen House tells the story of Lavinia, a white indentured servant, who is made to live in the kitchen house with the black slaves of the plantation to which she has been brought. The book is told through Lavinia’s point of view as well as through the eyes of her black “mama,” Belle. It’s unforgettable.
Disclaimer: This book does include scenes of violence and has some sexual scenes.
Ms. Robert
I, Mona Lisa: A Novelby Jeanne Kalogridis
Open to 11th - 12th graders only
A mix of art history, romance, and conspiracy, this novel spins an intriguing tale around Leonardo Da Vinci's Mona Lisa and the Medici family. If you like historical fiction and art, you will love this book. It was a page turner that I could not put down!
Ms. Robertson
The Eyes of the Dragonby Stephen King
Open to 10th - 12th graders only
Unlike most of Stephen King's horror novels, this one delves deeper into the world of fantasy. It involves kings, princes, magic, and murder. It tells the story of how a prince framed for the murder of his father goes about trying to save his kingdom. It also is a great introduction into the fantasy universe of Stephen King's Dark Tower series. The villain Randall Flagg, also in the Dark Tower and the main antagonist of The Stand, is a central character in this story. This book contains some brief passages containing mature themes; however, out of all of King's novels, this one tends to be the one recommended for younger readers.
Mr. Sanford
Photographic: The Life of Graciela Iturbideby Isabel Quintero & Zeke Peña
Open to 9th - 12th graders only
How have I made it through fifty-plus years of life and never discovered the mind-blowing photographic work of artist Graciela Iturbide? She is at least an equal to more well known photographers, such as Cartier-Bresson or Brassai, with whom she shares a seemingly supernatural ability to candidly capture the dream-like in the everyday and the ordinary. She is an equal to more widely celebrated Mexican artists like Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo in her ability to evoke the myth-poetic past and strength of her commitment to the art form, her nation, and her people.
Mr. Sierveld
Faith Unraveled: How a Girl Who Knew All the Answers Learned to Ask Questionsby Rachel Held Evans
Open to 11th - 12th graders only
Faith Unraveled is a spiritual memoir about the daughter of a Christian scholar who knows all about Christianity and fiercely loves God, but suddenly starts to question her beliefs. Rachel Held Evans does not abandon her faith, but she does begin to grapple with difficult questions about suffering, free will, and responding to culture. Rachel comes to realize that she serves a God who is big enough to handle her questions and begins to see her doubt not as a weakness, but as a sincere desire to understand the kingdom of God in light of a changing and sometimes confusing world. This book is for anyone who's wrestled with difficult questions about God and the Christian faith and has had trouble finding answers. It's for wonderers, skeptics, and believers alike. I personally found this book extremely helpful in my own spiritual life as I have experienced spiritual ups and downs myself.
Ms. K. Sorrell
Into the Wildby Jon Krakauer
Open to 11th - 12th graders only
Have you ever wanted to leave everything behind and just go to Alaska? This is the true story of Chris McCandless, a Washington D.C. native, who turned down a bright future after graduating college and hit the road, without telling his family, giving everything he had away, including $24,000. A sense of wanderlust and a desire to get away from the world and material possessions led him on a hitchhiking odyssey across the Western part of the U.S., eventually arriving in wilds of Alaska. It is a story full adventure, self-discovery, and heartbreak. This story does contain some profane language, violence, and drug use. Read and see what led McCandless “Into the Wild."
Mr. S. Sorrell
How to Have That Difficult Conversation: Gaining the Skills for Honest and Meaningful Communicationby Dr. Henry Cloud & Dr. John Townsend
Open to 11th - 12th graders only
Ever want to ask your parents to do something, but they say no immediately, and you've always wondered if you said it differently, maybe they would have let you go to that party??? Ever wonder why your parents said no, and you never understood their reasoning??? Due to social media being the main source of conversation these days, there are certain conversations that cannot be held over text. Facial expression, voice inflection, and sincerity are only a few things can be lost without face to face interaction. Let's discover ways to communicate with your parents––as well as friends, teachers and spouses––effectively.
Ms. Small-Stutes
The Dictionary of Body Language: A Field Guide to Human Behaviorby Joe Navarro
Open to 9th - 12th graders only
Ever wanted to know why some people can tell when someone is lying? Ever wonder how law enforcement and government agents know when someone does not fit the story they are telling? Joe Navarro spent 25 years as an FBI special agent and developed a system for mastering nonverbal communication. The techniques used in this book can be applied to help one have an advantage when communicating and give the individual insight for future achievement.
Coach Whittington
Book Club PRoject directions
This graphic shows examples of many different choices students may make when choosing the ONE type of book project that best matches his/her abilities and interests. Again, these are examples; students are able to invent their own book project, so long as the project directly relates to the chosen book and illustrates a connection to and knowledge of the book. Students are encouraged to communicate directly with the faculty book club leader to discuss book project options.
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Grading Criteria PDF
SMP Book Clubs will initially meet during the first week of school in August 2020 for each group to discuss the book.
During the second week of school, each group will meet to check-in and ensure each student has a solid idea for his/her book project.
During the third week of school, each group will meet for each student to share his/her book project with the group.