12th Grade - Why These Books?

AP English

Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison

This is the story of an African-American youth’s struggle to find his identity in a society that constantly sends him mixed messages about who he is supposed to be.  As the setting shifts from the South to the North, a recurring sequence of experiences forces the narrator to rely on himself rather than on those whose advice and promises he cannot trust.

This novel has been a staple of AP English for many years because:

1. The protagonist is an adolescent male who emerges into adulthood.
2. The complexity of the characters and situations yields a variety of thematic interpretations.
3. The extensive nature of the novel (500+ pages) provides an excellent introduction to the in-depth literary analysis students will encounter in college.
4. The title is consistently referred to in the free response section of the AP English Exam.

Frankenstein by Mary Shelley

Out of an obsession to create a living creature, Victor Frankenstein gathers the ingredients he needs, combines them, and shocks the resulting being with electricity to bring it to life. This is the story of a scientist’s reckless pursuit of his goals and the repercussions that stem from his refusal to consider the effects of his actions.  Failure to act responsibly and to address mistakes leads to disaster.


This novel is included in the AP English curriculum because:
1.    It questions what it means to be human and what it means to be humane.  It encourages discussion of morality and responsibility.
2.    The range of themes (relationships, knowledge, purpose, truth, madness, etc.) provides many topics for class discussion.
3.    The novel has frequently appeared as a possibility for addressing the open prompt on the AP Exam.


Independent Novel of Student’s Choice

Students choose any novel written by an author recommended in the AP English Literature and Composition course description booklet in order to:

1. Broaden the range of authors and works beyond those already encountered (whether in course work or by personal choice).
2. Provide an opportunity to select something that is of personal interest.
3. Ensure that the independent reading will satisfy the AP English criterion of “acknowledged literary merit.”

World Literature and Composition

The Power and The Glory by Graham Greene

During an anti-clerical purge in one of the southern states of Mexico, a priest is on the run.  Too human for heroism, too humble for martyrdom, the priest is impelled toward his own Calvary as much by his compassion for humanity as by the efforts of his pursuers.

This novel has been included because:

1. It introduces students to a modern British author known for his thoughtful rendering of Catholic characters, placing them in situations that test their loyalties and consciences.
2. The setting of the novel lends itself to discussion of cultures beyond our borders and the plight of those displaced by political upheaval and war.
3. The complexity of the novel lends itself to extended class discussion and a variety of written assignments.

The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini

This is the story of a man reflecting on his past and its undeniable impact on his future.  In the course of recalling his childhood years in Afghanistan and his early adult years in California, the narrator realizes how indelible memories created in both times and places ultimately converge to both haunt and influence the pattern of his entire life.

This book has been included because:

1. It represents current popular writing with its placement on the New York Times Bestseller List.
2. The childhood through young adult timeframe of the story and many of the experiences parallel those of the students.
3. Its descriptive detail and personal point of view provide a perceptive view of Middle Eastern culture and its history of political unrest.