Summer Reading Books
(Note: Students acquire these books themselves. They are available from the public library and local bookstores.)
Entering 9th grade:
Required: A Separate Peace by John Knowles
The volatile world of male adolescence provides the backdrop for John Knowles' engrossing tale of love, hate, war, and peace. Sharing a room at Devon, an exclusive New England prep school, in the summer prior to World War II, Gene and Phineas form a complex bond of friendship that draws out both the best and worst characteristics of each boy and leads ultimately to violence, a confession, and the betrayal of trust. – Amazon.com
Choose one of the following:
A Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams
Join Douglas Adams's hapless hero Arthur Dent as he travels the galaxy with his intrepid pal Ford Prefect, getting into horrible messes and generally wreaking hilarious havoc. Dent is grabbed from Earth moments before a cosmic construction team obliterates the planet to build a freeway. You'll never read funnier science fiction; Adams is a master of intelligent satire, barbed wit, and comedic dialogue. The Hitchhiker's Guide is rich in comedic detail and thought-provoking situations and stands up to multiple reads.—Amazon.com
Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson
Before Johnny Depp stumbled off of the Black Pearl, Long John Silver and Jim Hawkins thrilled fans of high-seas adventure. Treasure Island features everything legendary in pirate lore: Pirates with fantastic names, like Captain Flint, Billy Bones, Black Dog, and the now-infamous Long John Silver, himself with a parrot on his shoulder; a single treasure map that has three red crosses (designating two piles of treasure, one pile of arms); a beautiful schooner; a 23 member crew most of whom become gentlemen of fortune; mutiny; double-crosses; the song "15 men on a Dead Man's chest/Yo ho ho and a bottle of rum"; the notorious Jolly Roger; spirits, superstition, and lore; and even a skeleton or two.—Amazon.com
Entering 10th grade:
Required: Kon-Tiki: Across the Pacific in a Raft by Thor Heyerdahl
Kon-Tiki is the record of an astonishing adventure -- a journey of 4,300 nautical miles across the Pacific Ocean by raft. Intrigued by Polynesian folklore, biologist Thor Heyerdahl suspected that the South Sea Islands had been settled by an ancient race from thousands of miles to the east, led by a mythical hero, Kon-Tiki. He decided to prove his theory by duplicating the legendary voyage. – Book Jacket
Choose one of the following:
It’s Not About the Bike: My Journey Back to Life by Lance Armstrong
People around the world have found inspiration in the story of Lance Armstrong--a world-class athlete nearly struck down by cancer, only to recover and win the Tour de France, the multi-day bicycle race famous for its grueling intensity. – Amazon.com
A Long Way From Chicago by Scott Peck
Although the narrator, Joey, and his younger sister, Mary Alice, live in the Windy city during the reign of Al Capone and Bugs Moran, most of their adventures occur "a long way from Chicago," during their annual down-state visits with Grandma Dowdel. A woman as "old as the hills," "tough as an old boot," and larger than life ("We could hardly see her town because of Grandma. She was so big, and the town was so small"), Grandma continually astounds her citified grandchildren by stretching the boundaries of truth. In eight hilarious episodes spanning the years 1929-1942, she plots outlandish schemes to even the score with various colorful members of her community, including a teenaged vandal, a drunken sheriff and a well-to-do banker. –Amazon.com
Entering 11th grade:
Required: Monster by Walter Dean Myers
"Monster" is what the prosecutor called 16-year-old Steve Harmon for his supposed role in the fatal shooting of a convenience-store owner. But was Steve really the lookout who gave the "all clear" to the murderer, or was he just in the wrong place at the wrong time? In this innovative novel by Walter Dean Myers, the reader becomes both juror and witness during the trial of Steve's life. To calm his nerves as he sits in the courtroom, aspiring filmmaker Steve chronicles the proceedings in movie script format. –Amazon.com
Choose one of the following:
Friday Night Lights: A Town, a Team, and a Dream by H.G. Bissinger
H.G. Bissinger, a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist, enters into the spirit of Odessa, Texas, a small town where the Permian High School Panthers have managed to compile the winningest record in state annals. This book chronicles a season in the life of Odessa and shows how single-minded devotion to the team shapes the community and inspires – and sometimes shatters—the teenagers who wear the Panthers’ uniforms. – Amazon.com
Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie
A classic by the most famous of all mystery writers, Murder on the Orient Express is the story of a mysterious death on a train. All the passengers are suspects and the renowned detective Hercule Poirot must find the murderer.
Entering 12th grade:
Required: The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon
Despite his overwhelming fear of interacting with people, Christopher, a mathematically-gifted, autistic fifteen-year-old boy, decides to investigate the murder of a neighbor's dog for which he is initially blamed. His investigation challenges his own limits and creates a suspenseful, humorous, and touching story. – Amazon.com
Choose one of the following:
Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card
Ender Wiggin is a very bright young boy with a powerful skill. One of a group of children bred to be military geniuses and save Earth from an inevitable attack by aliens, known here as "buggers," Ender becomes unbeatable in war games and seems poised to lead Earth to triumph over the buggers. Meanwhile, his brother and sister plot to wrest power from Ender. Twists, surprises and interesting characters elevate this novel into status as a bona fide page turner. – Amazon.com
Into Thin Air: A Personal Account of the Mt. Everest Disaster by Jon Krakauer
Into Thin Air is a riveting first-hand account of a catastrophic expedition up Mount Everest. In March 1996, Outside magazine sent veteran journalist and seasoned climber Jon Krakauer on an expedition led by celebrated Everest guide Rob Hall. Despite the expertise of Hall and the other leaders, by the end of summit day eight people were dead. Krakauer's book is at once the story of the ill-fated adventure and an analysis of the factors leading up to its tragic end.—Amazon.com