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During the summer months you are required to read at least one of the following books. (This list supersedes the Fairfax County Summer Reading list.) There will be a graded assignment on this book in September.

Bronte, Charlotte. Jane Eyre. This is a Victorian novel at its best. The reader follows Jane from the time she is in a horrible orphanage, where children are abused physically and emotionally, to her release into the world of upper-class

England

where she becomes the governess for the child of a widower. Here Jane finds momentary happiness, and then a catastrophe occurs. Bronte juggles the many timeless characters she has created with complexity and depth, inviting the reader to become immersed in the lives of mid-19th-century

England

. F Bro

Cisneros, Sandra. Woman Hollering Creek: And Other Stories. In this collection of Mexican-American stories, Cisneros addresses the reader in a voice that is strong, funny, and sad. Together, these vignettes give a vivid, colorful picture of life where family ties are strong. Aunts, uncles, cousins, grandparents, and other various family members are all present. She writes with humor and love about people she knows intimately, drawing the reader fully into each story. F Cis

O’Brien, Tim. In the Lake of the Woods. Selected by The New York Times Book Review as one of the best books of 1994, Tim O'Brien writes a novel of love and mystery. It is a memorable story about a

Vietnam

veteran, and his marriage which is slowly becoming unraveled. (There are a few instances of raw language, but they are realistic to the situations.) F Obr

Shakespeare, William. The Taming of the Shrew. A humorous battle of the sexes in which a wealthy Italian marries off both his ill-tempered, and sweet-tempered, daughters. 822.33 Q3 Sha

Tolkien, J.R.R. The Hobbit. Tolkein uses his knowledge of British epic adventures in this classic novel. He brings, to what can be considered a children’s story, some adult themes such as the changes during industrialization, and how to collaborate despite diverse backgrounds in the face of overwhelming adversity. Fan Tol

Students unsure of what they would like to read are encouraged to borrow a library book first.

The WSHS Library is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 to 3:30 beginning July 30.
. (703) 913-3852 or stephanie.byrnes@fcps.edu

The loan period is 3 weeks, no renewals, with overdue fines of $1 per non-holiday weekday. All outstanding WSHS Library obligations must be cleared before checkout.