By Jenna Lee

Staff Writer

As we all know, every Westford Academy student is required to complete summer reading for English. The summer reading list, up to this year, had been constant and unchanged. For the summer of 2011, however, the program went through slight changes. For example, the required novel for freshmen A Separate Peace by John Knowles is now replaced by Touching Spirit Bear by Ben Mikaelsen. Future honors sophomores no longer have to read Great Expectations by Charles Dickens. Here is the full list for the year 2011-2012:

English 9 CP I & II           Touching Spirit Bear by Ben Mikaelsen

English 9 Honors                    Touching Spirit Bear by Ben Mikaelsen and The Chosen by Chaim Potok

English 10 CP I & II     The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd

English 10 Honors                  The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd and
The Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri

English 11 CP I & II     Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer

English 11 Honors                  Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer and The Awakening by Kate Chopin

English 12 CP I & II     Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury

Honors 12                  Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury and The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini

A.P. English                            Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte and Catch 22by Joseph Heller

There have been some mixed reviews about the program’s changes. Many sophomores who had to put up with the challenging, classic novel by Charles Dickens don’t think it’s fair that the novel is no longer required for future sophomores.

Lisa Li, a sophomore, says, “Great Expectations was the hardest and longest book I ever had to read for school. It kind of annoys me that I had to read it and freshmen don’t have to.”

Others, however, have a different opinion about the changes.

Adithi Iyengar, a junior, says, “I really liked One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest by Ken Kesey. It was one of my favorite novels I had to read for school. Although it’s not required anymore, I recommend it to anyone.”

Anita Goldberg, the Curriculum Coordinator for the English department, explains why the changes have been made.

“Every few years the English department reviews the summer reading lists. The teachers make recommendations and suggestions regarding the texts. The department then comes to a consensus as to what is most appropriate for each grade level. Our goal is to provide books of merit as well as of interest,” said Goldberg.

Whether you are content or anxious about the changes of the summer reading list, one thing is certain: you are required to read it. So buy the book or books, sit on a cozy chair, and read away!