Watch our website for information about upcoming meetings for book discussion clubs for the following novels:

Black by Ted Dekker – This discussion group will be led by Mr. Cloer. Group members will discuss the spiritual qualities of this fictional novel, and the way it portrays the Gospel using allegory. If interest warrants, the members may discuss subsequent books from this Circle Trilogy of novels.

At Home in Mitford by Jan Karon – This group will be led by Mrs. Morgan. Group members will discuss how the characters of this popular series of novels intertwine their faith with living in a small town. The truth of it all will lead you to tears.

Students who are eligible for Honors English next school term are required to read three books on grade level over the summer and take an Accelerated Reader test for each book. These AR tests will count as quiz grades, so they should all be taken by August 23^rd. In addition, students are required to choose one of the attached assignment options and complete it for each novel. Each assignment will count as a test grade, and is due on August 16^th. Students who fail to complete these assignments on time will forfeit English Honors eligibility for this school year.

Choose between preparing an Annotation or a Reading Critique of the book.

Due Date: First Day of School, August 16

Instructions:

1. Underline major points or forceful statements you think are important. (Be careful, though; you will be inclined to mark it all.) Then, write a quick note in the margin so that you can remember what happened there.

2. Write in the margins any question you might have. For example, write: “Why would he choose her for a date?” or “Will this be important later?”

3. Star, asterisk, or use some other marking in the margin (use sparingly, however) to emphasize something that you love. For example, write: “Now I know that God works in our lives even before we believe. He sets His plan in motion and fulfills it in His time.” (Francine River’s Echo in the Darkness.)

4. Write in page numbers where the author brings up a solution to the previously asked question, or where there is a foreshadowing and the author reveals it later, or irony, etc. (For example, on page 29, the character says, “I’d never do that!” and then on page 129, the character is caught up in exactly what he said he’d never do. So, on page 29 you make reference to page number 129 so you can see that the character ate his words, thus the irony!)

5. Circle and define any word you don’t know. Circle diction (word choice) that you like.

6. Circle the name of any character the first time you meet him or her. Write in the margin a little something about that character.

7. At the end of the chapter, in some blank space, write a quick paragraph (5-8 sentences) in summary of that chapter. What were the most important points of that chapter that you would want to remember? (Just as in a movie, you would want to tell your friends the parts of the movie

that were especially interesting. Similarly, think of your chapter as a movie.)

8. If you cannot or would rather not write in a book, do so in a personal notebook.

9. There should be, in addition to definitions of any unknown or interesting words, an average of four to five meaningful comments, such as questions, insights, or observations, per page.