I’m quite fond of setting goals and making lists and formulating plans —even though I don’t follow through very well. So when I found Amanda’s Summer Reading Challenge, I joined up immediately. Here are my summer reading goals:
1. Read 10 Newbery Award or Newbery Honor books that I’ve not read before.
2. Re-read five books from my (college) Advanced Reading Survey course, and post about them here.
3. Read as many of the books that I bought at the used book sale as I can.
4. Read at least three of the books from the list I gave my AP US history students, three that I’ve not already read. Here’s the list I gave my students. They’re supposed to choose one to read over the summer.
Foster, Genevieve. The World of Columbus and Sons.
Bradford, William. The History of Plymouth Plantation.
Edwards, Jonathan. Personal Narrative.
Forbes, Esther. Paul Revere and the World He Lived In.
Marrin, Albert. The War for Independence.
Bowen, Carolyn Drinker. Miracle in Philadelphia
Ambrose, Stephen. Undaunted Courage.
Tocqueville, Alexis de. Democracy in America
Ambrose, Stephen. Nothing Like It In the World.
Douglass, Frederick. Life of an American Slave.
Blumberg, Rhoda. Commodore Perry in the Land of the Shogun.
McPherson, James. Battle Cry of Freedom.
Shaara, Michael. The Killer Angels.
Oates, Stephen B. With Malice Toward None.
Stone, Irving. Men To Match My Mountains.
Addams, Jane. Twenty Years at Hull House.
Riis, Jacob. How the Other Half Lives.
Strasser, Susan. Never Done.
Washington, Booker T. Up From Slavery.
Terkel. Studs. Hard Times.
Ambrose, Stephen, Band of Brothers.
Houston, Jeanne. Farewell to Manzanar
Williams, Juan. Eyes on the Prize.
Haley, Alex. The Autobiography of Malcom X.
Kennedy, John F. Profiles in Courage.
Lewis, Anthony. Gideon’s Trumpet.
Colson, Chuck. Born Again.
Bernstein, Carl and Robert Woodward. All the President’s Men.
I’ve already read the ones in bold print. Any suggestions for which US history books I should start with? Do you have any suggestions for which Newbery Award books I should not miss? I’ve actually read a lot of those.
If you’re having trouble setting your own reading goals for the summer, Amanda also has a few suggestions for you.
I’m hoping you’ll read and review three from your AP list that I haven’t read either: How the Other Half Lives; Commodore Perry in the Land of the Shogun; and Farewell to Manzanar.
The Newbery books are more difficult, since you’ve read most of them (but I don’t know which you *haven’t* read). I’ve read many, but looking over the list I see Shen of the Sea, which we have, but I haven’t read, and The Story of Mankind, which I started, but never finished. Of the newer ones I haven’t read Criss-Cross; Crispin: The Cross of Lead; Bud, Not Buddy; A Single Shard; A Year Down Yonder; and Holes. (Hmmm… perhaps I have a summer reading list for myself here.) Which Newbery winners have you not read?
Looks good, but as I have about ten Dickens books to read to meet my New Years goal, I better not be starting any more lists!
My 15 year old son is loving Band of Brothers, and dh and I loved the DVD series. (We finished #10 and put on #1 again!) I’ve heard the Genevieve Foster books are great–just bought that one and one other at a used book sale myself.
You should definitely try to get to “Up From Slavery.” We had the book in our American Government/Civics program earlier this year, and was one of my favourites.