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One of the goals embedded in Whitefield’s Mission Statement is that students will become lifelong learners. With this thought in mind, the Bible, English, and History Departments
want to encourage reading not only during the school year but also as a constant pursuit, and thus we give you reading lists for the Summer. Reading holds abounding significance:
it helps us to understand the world in which we live, to define ourselves as individuals, to engage our imaginations, to challenge our presuppositions, to inform our minds, to
explore the unlearned, to hear different voices, and on and on and on. We can travel to different regions and countries, explore different times, and probe the spirits and minds
of others. In short, from reading we can grow emotionally, intellectually, physically, and spiritually. As readers we can grasp that which we might otherwise never touch and participate
in the literacy of our culture. Moreover, reading provides us with practical values: an improved vocabulary; an enhanced ability to understand our language; and a more sophisticated,
elegant style of writing and speaking. In Walden, Henry David Thoreau proclaims, “Books are the treasured wealth of the world and the fit inheritance of generations and nations.”
Wanting to impel students to confront and understand life in its fullness, we censored neither problematic language nor sensitive issues, though we endeavored to present books
appropriate for each grade. Those who would like to know more about the books should consult
www.amazon.com; this website offers
reviews and reactions to thousands and thousands of books.
