District News

Summer reading suggestions for high school students

 

July, 2011

 

Just because it’s summer doesn’t mean it’s time to let your brain slow down. Canajoharie High School librarian Tammy Jones says summer reading helps keep your brain healthy and makes the transition to the school year easier.

“My favorite is ‘East of Eden’ by John Steinbeck. It’s very heavy on the Cain and Abel metaphor as it chronicles the rivalry between two generations of brothers,” she said. “It’s jam-packed with all those literary elements that teachers tell students to write essays about, but it has more betrayal and love triangles than any soap opera on today.”

If that doesn’t interest students, she suggests trying a selection off the school’s Ultimate Teen Reading List, available in the school library, which are books chosen by teenagers.

“I highly recommend ‘The Help’ by Kathryn Stockett before the movie comes out in August,” she said.

“Not only is it a great piece of historical fiction exploring the world of Mississippi as the Civil Rights Movement takes off, but it delves into how women support one another through struggles, and how they covertly attack one another while making it look good on the outside.”