English 9
Students need to read one novel:
What does it mean to “Speak True” in an ever-changing world? Our English 9 summer reading choices all relate to this question. Choose one of the following texts and mark five places in the book where you think this question is answered.
Choose ONE from the list below:
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Title, Author, and Genre
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ISBN #
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Short Summary
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Darius the Great Is Not Okay by Adib Khorram (Realistic Fiction)
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978-0525552970
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Darius doesn’t feel like he fits in—at home in America or with his family in Iran—and dealing with depression only makes things harder. But everything begins to change when he visits Iran for the first time and meets Sohrab, a new friend who helps him feel seen and understood. This heartfelt story explores identity, mental health, and the power of connection across cultures.
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Clap When You Land by Elizabeth Acevedo (Verse Novel)
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978-0062882776
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When their father dies in a plane crash, Camino in the Dominican Republic and Yahaira in New York each face grief, secrets, and the shock of discovering they’re sisters. Told in verse, this powerful novel explores family, identity, and what it means to find your voice after loss.
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Scythe by Neal Shusterman (Fantasy/Dystopian Fiction)
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978-1442472433
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In a future where death has been eliminated, Scythes are the only ones allowed to take life to keep the population under control. Citra and Rowan are chosen to train as Scythe apprentices—though neither wants the job. As they’re forced to confront impossible choices, they learn that even in a perfect world, speaking the truth can come at a deadly cost.
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Animal Farm by George Orwell (Allegorical Satire) *
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978-0451526342
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When the animals on a farm overthrow their human owner, they dream of creating a society where everyone is equal. But as power shifts and the rules change, they begin to realize that not all voices are heard—and not all truths are told. This classic allegory explores how revolutions can be twisted by those in control, and what happens when truth is replaced by fear and manipulation.
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* = texts that may be challenging reads, either due to reading levels or content
Honors English 9
Students need to read two novels:
What does it mean to “Speak True” in an ever-changing world? Our Honors English 9 summer reading choices all relate to this question. Annotate your chosen texts, marking five places in each book where you think this question is answered.
Choose TWO from the list below:
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Title, Author, and Genre
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ISBN #
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Short Summary
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Elatsoe – Darcie Little Badger (Mystery/Fantasy)
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978-1646142767
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In a world where ancestral magic is real, Elatsoe—an Apache teen who can raise animal spirits—sets out to solve the mystery behind her cousin’s death. With help from her ghost dog, her best friend, and the wisdom of her ancestors, she uncovers dark secrets hidden beneath a seemingly quiet town. This genre-blending novel mixes mystery, fantasy, and Indigenous storytelling in a haunting and powerful journey of truth and courage.
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Almond – Sohn Won-Pyung (Psychological Realism)
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978-0062961389
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Yunjae has a condition that makes it nearly impossible to feel emotions like fear or anger, but his quiet life is upended by a sudden tragedy. Left on his own, he forms an unlikely friendship with a violent classmate—and begins to discover what it truly means to connect, care, and act. Almond is a quiet yet powerful coming-of-age story about empathy, healing, and finding your voice when you’ve always lived in silence.
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I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter - Erika J. Sanchez
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978-1524700485
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After the sudden death of her sister Olga, Julia grapples with grief, family expectations, and her own identity as a nontraditional daughter in a traditional Mexican-American household. But when she begins to uncover secrets about Olga’s life, Julia is forced to question everything she thought she knew—about her sister, her family, and herself. |
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Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe – Benjamin Alire Sáenz (Realistic Fiction)
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978-1442408937
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Aristotle is an angry teen with a brother in prison. Dante is a know-it-all who has an unusual way of looking at the world. When the two meet at the swimming pool, they seem to have nothing in common. But as the loners start spending time together, they discover that they share a special friendship—the kind that changes lives and lasts a lifetime. And it is through this friendship that Ari and Dante will learn the most important truths about themselves and the kind of people they want to be. This is a quiet, emotional story about identity, connection, and the truths that can only be found through real friendship.
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A Very Large Expanse of Sea - Tahereh Mafi
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978-0062866561
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In the wake of 9/11, sixteen-year-old Shirin, a Muslim American girl who wears the hijab, is no stranger to prejudice, cruelty, and isolation. But when she meets Ocean James—someone who genuinely wants to understand her—Shirin must decide if she’s willing to risk vulnerability and let someone past the emotional walls she’s built.
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A Separate Peace – John Knowles (Realistic Fiction) *
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978-0743253970
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At a boys’ boarding school during World War II, quiet, thoughtful Gene forms a complicated friendship with his charismatic roommate, Phineas. But beneath their carefree summer lies a growing tension that leads to a moment that will change them both forever. This classic novel explores friendship, jealousy, and the loss of innocence in a world shaped by conflict and silence.
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* = texts that may be challenging reads, either due to reading levels or content
English 10
English 10/Honors Eng 10 (choice read, student in English 10 select one text to read; students in Honors English 10 must read class assigned book plus a second choice read):
Essential Question: What can literature teach us about how and why humans are othered in societies?
Students are to annotate at least five moments in the text where they see this question being addressed, and how characters are impacted by othering.
ENGLISH 10 - students select one of the following books:
- Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury
- I am Malala
- The Archer by Coelho
- We Are Not Free by Traci Chee
HONORS ENGLISH 10 - students must read this memoir:
- Born a Crime by Noah Trevor ISBN-13 : 978-0399588198
And SELECT a second book from this list:
- The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas ISBN-13 : 978-0062498533
- We Are Not Free by Traci Chee ISBN-13 : 978-0358668107
- The Book Thief by Mark Zusak ISBN-13 : 978-0375842207
- The Girl Who Smiled Beads: A Story of War and What comes After by Clemantine Wamariya ISBN-13: 978-0451495334
English 11
Choice Read - students select one to read
Essential Question: What is America’s story, and who gets to tell it?
Students are required to annotate their texts and note at least five moments in the text where this question is being addressed
Kindred by Octavia Butler
● Beacon Press (Paperback edition) ISBN-13: 978-0807083697
There, There by Tommy Orange
● Knopf (Paperback edition) ISBN-13: 978-0525520375
The Beautiful Struggle by Ta Nehisi Coates
● One World (Paperback edition) ISBN-13: 978-0385527460
Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller
● Penguin Books (Paperback edition) ISBN-13: 978-0140481341
The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros
● Vintage (Paperback edition) ISBN-13: 978-0679734772
AP Language
Students need to read two memoirs:
Essential Question: How can authors create compelling voices to tell their stories?
On Writing: Memoir of the Craft by Stephen King
The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls
Contemporary Literature and Senior Electives
The Nickel Boys (African American Literature)
AP Literature
Students need to read two novels:
Essential Question: How can literature teach us to rescript dominant social narratives?
* Students should make 10 annotations in each text to track character development, setting and imagery, and consider the dominant social narratives the authors are addressing.
Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi
All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr
