2021 Summer Reading List
“The reading of all good books is like a conversation with the finest minds of past centuries.”
This summer, we will read classic adventure stories. The 12 Labors of Heracles, the Monkey King: Journey to the West, and The Call of the Wild. Though the books span two thousand years and three continents, each story has a powerful universal message about human nature.
Classics….with teeth
12 Labors of Heracles (Hercules)
Heracles is the greatest of all the Greek heroes. He must perform 12 tasks to atone for a terrible crime he commits in a moment of anger. Heracles must slay monsters, capture magical creatures, and even clean out the Universe’s filthiest horse stable. Combined, these are known as the 12 Labors of Heracles. The adversaries he faces appear in movies and stories to this day. The many headed Hydra, the three headed Cerberus, the Amazons - all these are familiar to any lover of modern superheroes. Beneath the thrilling adventures, lies a somber mediation on the nature of repentance. How do you atone for a deed that cannot be undone? How can you attain forgiveness when you cannot even forgive yourself?
Get it. We recommend D’Aulaires’ Book of Greek Myths. Ingrid and Edgar d’Aulaire’s retelling has inspired generations of writers since 1962.
Going Deeper. The 12 Labors of Heracles have historically been compared to 12 steps of repentance. Each monster or challenge represents an aspect of himself that Heracles must overcome to fully atone for what he did. The story really does not make sense otherwise. Part 1: Heracles commits an unspeakable crime. Part 2: Heracles slays some monsters and steals some treasure. Part 3: Heracles becomes the greatest hero the Greeks have ever known. Part 2 must contain a serious psychological transformation for Part 3 to make any sense.
What parents should know. Greek myths have teeth, and the legend of Heracles is no exception. The story begins when our hero murders his family. Though the d’Aulaires have softened some of the harsh edges of Greek myths (e.g. Zeus takes many “brides”), the blood, the violence, and the cannibalism is still there.
Monkey King: Journey to the West
Meet Sun Wukong, the Monkey King and one of the most memorable heroes of world literature. He is a trickster, a shapeshifter, a warrior, and a magician. Most importantly, Sun Wukong represents the spirit of independence inside every human being. Wu Cheng’en wrote his masterpiece in 16th century China. He weaves Chinese and Indian folktales into a non-stop adventure around a historical pilgrimage to fetch Buddhist scrolls from India. Older readers will appreciate the spiritual insight and biting satire on Chinese bureaucracy. Younger readers will love the adventures and the indomitable spirit of the Monkey King.
Get it. We recommend the Julia Lovell translation for its accessibility. Amazon has a free sample of chapter 1.
Going deeper. The Monkey King is a collection of folk tales. Every adventure or vignette contains a lesson. Pause when you come to the end of a chapter and think about what the purpose of this story is. What lesson did the Monkey King learn? Can you relate this to a situation in your real life? For example, in my favorite adventure, the Monkey King was assigned a very lowly job but with an important sounding title.
What parents should know. The Monkey King is an adventure with teeth. Wu Cheng’en does not shy away from describing terrible battles, tortures, and punishments. Besides his magical staff and super strength, Sun Wukong often defeats his enemies in true simian fashion: he urinates on them. This book is appropriate for older elementary students and up.
The Call of the Wild
Buck is kidnapped and must work as a sled dog in Yukon, Canada during the 1890’s Klondike Gold Rush. Life for a sled dog during the goldrush is brutal, and Buck must fight to survive. This is a story of courage, loyalty, love, and ferocity. Buck’s indomitable spirit overcome every danger but one….the call of the wild. Jack London asks what happens when you must repeatedly tap into your fiercest instincts just to survive.
Get it. We suggest the Penguin Classics version with White Fang and other stories.
Going deeper. Friedrich Nietzsche famously said: Whoever fights monsters should see to it that in the process he does not become a monster. And if you gaze long enough into an abyss, the abyss will gaze back into you. Buck’s incredible drive to survive makes many of his decisions seem inevitable. But they were not. A gentler dog, a dog more devoted to his ideals of kindness and fairness would have acted differently. A fiercer dog would have acted differently too. What choices does Buck make, and how inevitable was “the call of the wild” given his circumstances? What choices would you make?
Do not watch it. We do NOT recommend the Disney movie The Call of the Wild. The Disneyfied Buck stays civilized while the wild wolves remain a romantic mascot. The movie turns Jack London’s warning on its head, and shows strength without fierceness, fighting without brutality, and killing without psychological consequence.
What parents should know. The Call of the Wild introduces nature red in tooth and claw. Jack London describes many dog fights in detail. Men kill dogs and dogs kill men. This book is not appropriate for younger or sensitive children.