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Summer Reading

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The Darien High School Summer Reading Program is designed to allow students to select and read books that are of interest to them. We realize that throughout the school year students have assigned texts and little opportunity to read for their own enjoyment. During the summer vacation, students should select books that they are interested in reading and read as much as possible. We hope to foster in students a love of reading for their own enjoyment that will last a lifetime.

Students are encouraged to select and read books that are of interest to them. However, for those students and parents who would like some guidance with book selection, the librarians have prepared a list of suggested book titles. The list of suggested book titles is available on the Darien High School website under Summer Reading. The DHS Library will have copies of many of the titles available for check out for the summer.

In order to assist students with their book selection process the faculty and librarians have prepared a list of suggested book titles. The books listed are only suggestions and students are encouraged to read anything they want. The list contains books that cover a variety interests, styles, genres, and reading levels, and is as diverse as our student body.

We are unable to provide a blanket guarantee that all the books are suitable for all students. Please use your own values, views, and sensibilities in order to determine the appropriateness of the reading material.

Students taking Honors and AP courses may have required reading.

For more information on the summer reading program, please contact Jackie Bennett, JaBennett@darienps.org

English AP/Honors Summer Reading Requirements

  • Eng 9 Accelerated: The Hobbit, by J.R.R. Tolkien
  • Eng 10 Honors: Life of Pi by Martel and The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls
  • Honors American Literature. All juniors enrolled in 400 American Literature for next year are required to read the following novels: Breakfast of Champions, Kurt Vonnegut and On The Road, Jack Kerouac. Students will take a major test on both novels within the first few days of class.
  • AP English: Brave New World by Huxley and Demian by Hesse
  • Postmodern Voices: AP Language and Composition. Students should read Invisible Man, by Ralph Ellison and be prepared for a comprehensive exam on the novel during the first days of class.
  • AP Literature and Composition: Brave New World by Aldous Huxley, Demian by Herman Hesse, Bel Canto by Ann Patchett

History and Social Studies Summer Reading Requirements

 

  • AP US History- Download your summer assignments as an Adobe PDF
  • AP European History - Summer Assignment Packets are due the first day of school
  • APLG 400- All Students enrolled in the AP Government class must read the book, Hardball (1999 edition) by Chris Matthews.  It is available through Amazon.com as well as most other bookstores. You will also be responsible to read the first 3 chapters of the textbook which you can begin to pick up during the fall semester.  In addition, students should read the NY Times Week in Review section (Sundays) October 2007 and continuously through the 1st semester. Students will be responsible to hand in an essay on the 2nd day of Spring Semester classes. The essay assignment will be posted on a webpage created by Mr. Balazs that can be accessed through the following website: , www.darienps.org/teachers/sbalazs .
    On the first day of class students will take a current events test which will include recognizing major political figures and entities in the news.  A listing of the positions and entities that you will have to become familiar with will be also on my webpage.
    If students have questions they should check my website, www.darienps.org/teachers/sbalazs  and if that doesn’t resolve the question, email me at stbalazs@darienps.org

AP Science Summer Reading Requirements

  • AP Biology: Students need to pick up a summer reading assignment for the AP Biology course from Mrs. Ruegger in C101 prior to the last day of school.  The assignment consists of reading chapters 52 -56 in Biology by Campbell and Reece, that make up the Unit on Ecology  In addition, students need to complete the reading guides for each chapter.  The answers to these will be collected the first day of classes; August 31, 2009.  There will be a test on this ecology unit a few days into the first quarter. If there are questions, students should contact Mr. Lewis at dlewis@darienps.org  or Mrs. Ruegger at sruegger@darienps.org .
  • APES (AP Environmental Science): Download your summer APES assignment. Use the DHS Library password to open it. Please follow the directions for accessing your textbook online BEFORE the end of this school year.  Check your school email for a message from your APES teacher.

 


Darien High School . 80 High School Lane . Darien, CT 06820
Phone: 203.655.3981   .   Fax: 203.656.3631

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Last Modified 06/18/09