HOTS

• 1. 1.Why is the story called "A Summer's Reading" even though George counted out 100 books to read in  the fall?

  2. 2.What sort of character does George have ?Give examples from the story.

  3. 3.Why do you think George feels better walking around in the neighborhood at night?

  4.        What does this tell you about George?

  5. 4.Why does George feel he needs to lie to Mr. Cattanzara about what he is doing over the summer?

  6. 5.Describe how the lie makes George feel at the beginning of the story and why this feeling changes.

  7. 6.Mr. Cattanzara has an unusual way of educating George. Why do you think he chose to reinforce the lie that George had told?

  8. 7.Why does George try and stay away from Mr. Cattanzara  even though he knows Mr. Cattanzara has not given away his secret?

Analysis and Interpretation- A Summer's Reading

George's goal is to attain the American dream. He wants a good job, a nice house and enough money to buy things. He also wants a girlfriend, so he won't be lonely, and the people to like and respect him. To reach his goals, George must first of all overcome his impulsiveness and lack of motivation. He quits school at the age of 16 on impulse, he cleans the flat when he feels like it and he tells Mr. Cattanzara a lie on the spur of the moment so that he will respect him. In order to improve his life, he has to get an education, but he does no have the motivation necessary to do so.

George must also break away from the environment. His family is poor and he lives in a poor neighborhood. The people in the neighborhood are simple and uneducated. This is the norm; therefore, he is under no social pressure to better himself.

Mr. Cattanzara'd job is to give change in the ticket booth of a subway station. He is a change maker because he literally gives people change for their tickets. On the symbolic level Mr. Cattanzara is a change maker in George's life. The name Cattanzara means chained and although he is chained to his life and cannot change it, he can bring about change in the lives of others. 

"George, don't do what I did"

By saying that Mr. Cattanzara means that George should learn from Mr. Cattanzara's mistakes and not waste his life like he did. He is motivated to say this because he likes George and realizes that he has potential. He wants him to get an education so that he can have a better life. Mr. Cattanzara probably starts the rumor because he understands that if George feels respected, he is more likely to complete his reading in order to deserve the respect he is getting. Mr. Cattanzara cares about George and he uses   positive psychology because he knows that by expecting the most from George, he will try to live up to those expectations. Mr. Cattanzara has the benefit of experience. He can see that he has wasted his potential and does not want George to make the same mistake.