Content advisory:

Dear Students and Parents,

Along with some well-deserved rest, we hope you’re also enjoying the summer reading novels. Chosen specifically to align with larger themes each grade level will discuss throughout the year, the books, like all good literature, open a window into perspectives and experiences with which we may not be immediately familiar. The characters and authors take us on a journey, and, ideally, we return at the end changed, more awake and aware, better for having traveled.

When reading thought-provoking literature, some books may contain images, themes, characters, and events that may evoke strong personal responses, and remind us of troubling, real-world issues and the emotions that come with them. The Williston English Department believes in the importance of confronting challenging material to gain a deeper understanding of, for example, a character’s motivation or a larger thematic point an author is attempting to make. However, we also understand and empathize with the uneasiness some students may feel. When you confront challenging passages which cause discomfort, please consider why the character – and by extension the author – brings up this material, and in what ways these scenes or images enhance our understanding of plot, character development, tension, and other literary elements. When encountering such passages, take breaks and return to the content when ready. If you are having difficulty returning to the text or managing your emotions, please seek support from a trusted adult. 

We look forward to having thoughtful conversations about the texts when you return in the Fall, and, as always, if there are any questions or concerns, please email either your teacher, or Matt Liebowitz, at mliebowitz@williston.com.

All students are assigned to read the two or three books listed for your grade level this summer (see the list below). For each of the books, please do the following:

1. As you read, look for at least one thoughtful example of each of the six items below. If you don’t recognize any of the terms in this list, please refer to this link that defines them.
   1. Important imagery
   2. Character development
   3. Symbols
   4. Favorite passage
   5. Interesting use of language
   6. Questions
2. As you find your examples, please annotatethem in the text AND copy your annotations into the annotation chart linked to here. You will have one annotation chart for each book. It is ok to hand-write a chart if you can’t print it out. In-text annotations are notes in the margins of the book that record your thoughts and ideas. You can underline, star, bracket, and/or highlight to mark the text that your annotation notes are connected to.

You will have a total of at six annotations for each book. Your teacher will check your annotations when you begin the school year. You should bring your annotation charts and annotated texts to English class on the first day of school. Be prepared to use the texts for the opening weeks of the course. They have been chosen specifically for their thematic and stylistic connections to the material of the course, so they will serve as important springboards to discussion and writing—experiences for which you should be fully prepared.

ELL-English Language Learners

International students’ level of English study will be determined according to a placement test administered during international student orientation in September. Based on the results of this test, students will be placed in an ELL or standard English section appropriate to their grade level. All ELL students will also be enrolled in a standard English class, pass/fail. Every student should read the required texts in English for his or her incoming grade level and attempt the summer reading assignment, regardless of whether she or he expects to be placed in an ELL class.

7th

All-School Summer Read

• Seedfolks by Paul Fleischman – ISBN 978-0-06-447207-4

Book Club Reads for 7th and 8th

• June – Everything Sad is Untrue by Daniel Nayeri
• July – Before the Ever After by Jacqueline Woodson
• August – Year of the Reaper by Makiia Lucier

8th

All-School Summer Read

• Seedfolks by Paul Fleischman – ISBN 978-0-06-447207-4

Book Club Reads for 7th and 8th

• June – Everything Sad is Untrue by Daniel Nayeri
• July – Before the Ever After by Jacqueline Woodson
• August – Year of the Reaper by Makiia Lucier

9th

• Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time – Haddon
• Choice Book

10th

• Flight – Alexie
• Choice Book

11th

• Everything I Never Told You – Ng
• Choice Book

11th AP

• Into the Wild – Krakauer
• Sing, Unburied Sing – Ward
• Choice Book

12th

• When Breath Becomes Air – Kalanithi
• Choice Book

12th AP

• Things they Carried – O’Brien
• Tale for the Time Being – Ozeki
• Choice Book