Summer Reading List 2011

 The Stony Brook School is a community of men and women committed to daily stimulation of the mind through the reading of outstanding literature. Well-written books enable the escape from our own narrowly-bounded lives in order to share in the experiences of other peoples, cultures, and times. Some books have the power to raise us to heights of ecstasy, others to uncover deeper sorrows than we ever knew existed, and the best ones leave us as changed people.

Words of wisdom before you start reading:

  • Do not select a choice book that you have read before.
  • Do not watch the movie until after you have read the book.
  • Avoid using study aids such as Cliff's Notes, since they are pale shadows that cannot replicate the real thing.
  • Read for your own enjoyment, looking forward to the discussion with your peers and faculty.

Use the links provided to find and order your book from Amazon.com. 

Questions? Email the SBS librarian.

Middle School (Grades 7 - 8)

Required Books:

Seventh Grade: English
Be prepared for a test on both required books on the first day of school.

Eighth Grade: Regular English
Be prepared for a test on both required books on the first day of school.

Eighth Grade: Honors English
Be prepared for a test on both required books on the first day of school.  A paper on The Pearl is also due on the first day of school.  Write a two-page paper that explains how your favorite quote from the book relates to the main theme.

Choice Books:

Choose one book from the appropriate list below and be prepared to write an in-class essay during the first week of school.

Seventh Grade

Eighth Grade

Upper School (Grades 9 - 12)

Required Books:

All Upper School students should read The Screwtape Letters (also available to read online) by C.S. Lewis and be prepared to participate in a small group discussion and to take a brief quiz during the first week of school.

Other required reading is listed below by class:

Humanities 9 The Book of Genesis Chapters 1-15 (English Standard Version)
English 9 Lord of the Flies by William Golding (ISBN 0140283331)
Humanities 10 Tales from Ovid edited by Ted Hughes
English 10 Sir Gawain and the Green Knight (ISBN 0140440925)
European History The Prince by Niccolo Machiavelli (ISBN 0979415403)
AP European History The Prince by Niccolo Machiavelli (ISBN 0979415403)

AND

AP Achiever for European History (ISBN 978-0073256726)
(Skim pages 1-48 and study pages 48-82.)

AND

Memorize 15-17th century sections on the Important Events and their Dates in Modern European History sheet.

Students will be tested on all three items during the first week of class.
English 11 Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen (ISBN 0141439513)
Honors English 11 Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen (ISBN 0141439513)

AND

The Tempest by William Shakespeare:
Norton Critical Edition (ISBN 9780393978193)
U.S. History Founding Brothers by Joseph J. Ellis (ISBN 978-0375705243)
AP U.S. History Founding Brothers by Joseph J. Ellis (ISBN 978-0375705243)

AND

A Short Life of Jonathan Edwards by George M. Marsden (ISBN 978-0802802200)
English 12 Hamlet by William Shakespeare (ISBN 9780393929584)
AP English 12

Hamlet by William Shakespeare (ISBN 9780393929584)

AND

Fences by August Wilson (ISBN 9780452264014)

AND

The House of Mirth by Edith Wharton (ISBN 1593081537)
AP Studio Art Assignments (download here) from Mrs. Gunzburg
AP Biology Ecology Unit of the textbook, Behavior Chapter

AND

Workbook (Biology 8/e Unit VIII, Chapters 51, 52-56)
AP Chemistry Textbook Chapters 1-4

AND

Assignments on Moodle