13.07.2023

Our reading recommendations for the July vacation

Vacations, in addition to being a time dedicated to leisure and spending time with friends and family, are also an excellent opportunity to expand cultural repertoire through reading.

Our students have received proper guidance in the classroom from their respective teachers, and we hope they can enjoy their readings during the holidays.

Wishing to share reading recommendations with the entire community, in order to assist students and families in finding a good book to discover and read during this period, we are listing below the suggestions made by the Portuguese Language department at Beacon School.

3rd grade (Y3) – “Quanto mais eu rezo, mais assombração me aparece” by Angelo Abu.

This exciting book combines mystery, suspense, and humor in four folklore tales. Suitable for children, it addresses fears in a fun way, with captivating characters and surprising twists. The stories encourage imagination, creativity, and teach valuable lessons. We recommend parents and children to engage in dialogue about fiction and share moments of family reading!

4th grade (Y4) – “Planeta Corpo” by Sílvia Zatz.

This holiday, Y4 students are invited to explore “Planeta Corpo”. They will accompany André on a journey full of discoveries and challenges. When they return to school, the story will be a valuable reference in the Unit of Inquiry “Life”. The vacation book has already been sent, so make the most of this unique opportunity to expand knowledge and have fun!

5th grade (Y5) – As an exercise in their reading preference, Y5 students were given the right to choose their reading from three selected books recommended by the curriculum. They are:

“Menino no Espelho” by Fernando Sabino.
“Colcha de Retalhos” by Moreira de Acopiara.
“O mistério do 5 Estrelas” by Marcos Rey.

6th grade (Y6) – “A bailarina fantasma” by Socorro Acioli.

Anabela lives with her father in Fortaleza and embarks on a unique adventure when he is tasked with restoring the Municipal Theater José de Alencar. However, the theater hides mysterious secrets, including the story of a ghostly young and beautiful ballerina seeking contact. With a tragic past and death, the ballerina finds in Anabela the only hope for liberation. Together, they unravel an engaging enigma of love and mystery.

7th grade (Y7) – “Um estudo em vermelho” (A Study in Scarlet) by Arthur Conan Doyle.

Students should only read Part I. Released in 1887, “A Study in Red” is the starting point of Sherlock Holmes’ cases, considered the “book of Genesis” of the famous detective. In this work, the first meeting between Holmes and Watson occurs, and as Watson seeks to get to know his new friend, he quickly finds himself involved in a dark plot of revenge and murder. With mystery and suspense, the book captivates readers, introducing the iconic duo that has conquered universal literature.

8th grade (Y8) – “O fazedor de velhos” by Rodrigo Lacerda.

We follow Pedro’s journey, an intelligent young man about to enter adulthood. Dealing with issues of youth such as choosing a profession, overcoming failed loves, and leaving friends behind, he finds help in Nabuco, an experienced professor. Dissatisfied with his History course, Pedro discovers in literature a possible solution. However, this discovery is not simple and requires him to take a difficult path. In this captivating narrative, we are invited to reflect on the choices that shape our journey towards maturity.

9th grade (Y9) – “Trinta e Poucos” by Antônio Prata.

In “Trinta e poucos”, Antônio Prata selects chronicles published in his column in Folha de São Paulo that extract meaning and lyricism from the apparent banality of daily life. Whether it’s a pair of socks, a tangerine seed, a poorly slept night, buying glasses, or attempting to do abdominal exercises, the author reveals the flavor and surprising depth that reside in the most trivial aspects of life.

10th grade (Y10) – Attending to families’ requests, our teachers have selected various readings in English for the Y10 holidays. Check them out:

• “Várias histórias” (Several Stories) by Machado de Assis.
• “A confissão da Leoa” (Confession of the Lioness) by Mia Couto.
• “Redemoinho em dia quente” (Whirlwind on a Hot Day) by Jarid Arraes.
• “Legião Estrangeira” (Foreign Legion) by Clarice Lispector.
• “Ensaio sobre a cegueira” (Blindness) by José Saramago.
• “Bestiário” by Julio Cortázar.
• “Poemas de amor” (Love Poems) by Emily Dickinson.
• “Dear Martin” by Nic Stone.
• “Poe: Stories and Poems: A Graphic Novel Adaptation” by Gareth Hinds.
• “Code Girls: The Untold Story of the American Women Code Breakers of World War II” by Liza Mundy.
• “Into the Wild” by Jon Krakauer.
• “Night” by Elie Wiesel.