Summer Reading List


Welcome to Murray Hill Academy! 


To prepare for our curriculum next year, we ask that you read at least 2 of the following books. For each book, create a work product that addresses the following questions:


  1. What is the historical context of this book? When was it written, WHERE was it written, and perhaps most importantly, what were the major historical events or moments that were happening in the country or region in which this book was written? For this, you will have to complete some research using reliable sources.

  2. In what ways does the historical context connect to the events and writing of the book?

  3. Provide a brief summary of the book.

  4. How does the author use literary devices to develop the characters and the story? Be sure to use a quote from the book and explain how this is an example of a literary device. Common literary devices include: simile, metaphor, irony, personification, symbolism, imagery, and hyperbole. You can find a more comprehensive list here: Literary Device List

  5. What is a theme, or an author’s purpose, in writing this book? Use  a quote from the book to support your interpretation, or find a quote from the author themselves.

  6. Choose a character from the book. Evaluate one major decision that the character made. What made this a wise choice, or a poor choice.

  7. Evaluate one writing choice the author made. Was this a good choice as far as developing the story, or was their a better choice to be made?


Your work product can take the form of the following, as long as all of the above are addressed:

-Google Slides presentation

-Prezi

-Canva

-Audio recording

-Video recording (audio and video recordings should be 3-5 mins in length)

-An essay

-Artwork


Here are the book selections. You can find a rubric for this project on the back:


Fiction

The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton

The Perks of Being A Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky

Weetzie Bat by Francesca Lia Block

The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas

Fences by August Wilson (play)





Nonfiction

Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi (graphic novel)

We Are Displaced by Malala Yousafzai

The Diary of Anne Frank by Anne Frank

Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me by Mindy Kaling

Me Talk Pretty One Day by David Sedaris

 Most of the books you should be able to find at a local library. 


You can e-mail Mr. Burstein at jburstein@schools.nyc.gov with any questions.


Good luck, and have a great summer!

Mr. Burstein


Click here for the full assignment, including your scoring rubric.