What Walnut is reading: Summer reading review

Post date: Sep 11, 2017 5:56:10 PM

Published on 9/11/17

By Karrington Butler, '18

Parts of this article were published in CXII.1, though it could not be published in its entirety.

Eighth grade students read The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain. Twain's classic portrays the childhood travels of Tom and his friends around their rural town in the 19th century. Photo Courtesy Amazon

Heroes, Gods, and Monsters of the Greek Myths by Bernard Evslin

Rating: 4.5/5

7AA- “Good and Informational” are the words used by Lola David, ‘23, to describe Heroes, Gods, and Monsters of the Greek Myths by Bernard Evslin. Over the summer, incoming 7th graders had to read this book that explores Greek myths about gods, goddesses, demi-gods and deadly monsters such as the Minotaur and Medusa. If you’re interested in Greek mythology, this book is definitely for you.

The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain

Rating:4.5/5

8AA- When asked to describe the overall theme of The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, Morgan White, ‘22, answered, “to live life to the fullest.” Tom Sawyer most definitely lives his life to the fullest. From his many adventures to his hilarious remarks, Tom Sawyer is one mischievous boy. Mark Twain delivers a classic that gives insight to what life was like around the 19th century in his hometown. The Adventures of Tom Sawyer is a one of a kind novel, that should be read by everyone.

The Teen's Guide to World Domination: Advice on Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Awesomeness by Josh Shipp

Rating:4/5

9AA- Entering high school can be a tricky and scary journey, but The Teen's Guide to World Domination: Advice on Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Awesomeness by Josh Shipp gives great advice. From how to deal with your “villains” and how to “have a plan” this book covers topics many teens face today. This book serves as advice for the teens who want to have things figured out, but just don’t know how to go about it in a good manner. Through many metaphors and hilarious commentary, Shipp provides a book that can change your life.

Catcher in the Rye by J. D. Salinger

Rating:5/5

10AA- Catcher in the Rye by J. D. Salinger tells the story of Holden Caulfield a lazy, stubborn, and immature teenager. Caulfield may be all those things, but he is also lonely, intelligent and loving. Those things today perfectly describe teenagers. While not all of us may be lonely, or lazy, we all have our insecurities. We all have a little bit of Holden in us. Holden is a teenager scared of adulthood because it's a scary place, but he knows he'll have to face it one day. That's why Catcher in the Rye is so relatable in today's society. It explores topics of teenage angst in a unique way.

Kaffir Boy by Mark Mathabane

Rating:4.5/5

World Literature- This year the World Lit students were assigned to read Kaffir Boy. Kaffir Boy by Mark Mathabane is the autobiography of his life growing up in South Africa as a black boy during Apartheid, a period of racial segregation from 1948 to 1991. Not only does this book inform readers of the injustice at this time, but it inspires them by showing how a boy can go from struggling day-to-day to winning a scholarship at an American university.

The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood

Rating:3.5/5

AP Literature- AP Lit students this year read The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood. Told from Offred the main character's point of view, the reader dives into a cutting edge story about what the future of the United States could be. Atwood explores a fascinating concept about how quickly society can change and how people react to it. Even though the plot lags on for a bit and the ending is rather abrupt, it is still worth reading. The Handmaid’s Tale has also been turned into a critically-acclaimed T.V. series on Hulu. The novel parallels our present time and warns us that we should never get comfortable thinking that women's rights can be taken away.

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