The Kiski School recognizes the importance of reading for pleasure and personal interest and strives to create and promote a culture of readership across the school community. Kiski's Summer Reading program requires all students to read over the summer.
The All-School Book is read during the summer by the entire student body, faculty, staff and interested parents.
All-School titles in the past have included Old School by Tobias Wolf, Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card, Season of Life by Jeffrey Marx, and Warriors Don't Cry by Melba Beals.
The 2008 All-School Book is Miracle in the Andes: 72 Days on the Mountain and My Long Trek Home by Nando Parrado and Vince Rause.
One of the most dramatic survival stories of the last two centuries, Miracle in the Andes is a first-hand account of the plane crash and eventual rescue of a young team of Uruguyan Rugby players. Lost and presumed dead in the steep, high-altitude, glacial terrain of the Andes, the team resorted to extreme measures to survive for 72 days before being rescued. One of the survivors, who lost his sister and mother in the crash, Nando Parrado becomes an unlikely leader, driven by the love he has for his family and teammates. His account of the ordeal is staggeringly honesty and humble.
The book will be the focus of discussion in Advisory groups in the fall, and co-author Vince Rause is invited to the school for a special presentation and assembly on September 30th.
In addition to the All-school book, students will read one book of their choice from the Summer Reading Book Club list, linked to this page. Students must sign up for the group by emailing Head Librarian Leslie Poston at the John A. Pidgeon Library. All Book Club groups will meet informally for discussion and dessert in the group leader’s home on October 7th.
We hope that everyone discovers great books this summer!
English Literature texts to be read over the summer:
English I (Freshmen) – To Kill a Mockingbird / Harper Lee
English II (Sophomores) – Dracula / Bram Stoker
Honors English II – Frankenstein / Mary Shelley, and 1984 / George Orwell
English III (Juniors) – On Writing/ Stephen King
AP English III -- Things Fall Apart / Chinua Achebe, and In Cold Blood / Truman Capote
English IV (Seniors) -- Scarlet Letter / Nathaniel Hawthorne
AP English IV -- Scarlet Letter, Dr. Jekyl and Mr. Hyde / Robert Louis Stephenson, and Lord of the Flies / William Golding
Students are responsible for obtaining their Summer Reading books from the Kiski Bookstore or from their local bookstore. For more information about Summer Reading at Kiski and detailed descriptions of the books offered this year, visit the Kiski Wiki.We hope that everyone discovers great books this summer!
