Holyoke High School Summer Reading Lists – Summer of 2020

Overview & Purpose 

We, the English teachers of Holyoke High School, recognize the importance of students continuing to practice good reading habits over the summer break. This is critical both for their academic skills and personal well-being and growth. Because of the unique situation that is the Summer of 2020, we have decided that summer reading work will be optional. For students that complete one summer reading assignment and return it in the Fall of 2020, extra credit will be assigned. 

In this spirit, we have selected novels that we believe will be high interest for students. We encourage students to select a novel from the lists below, read it at their own pace, and complete a dialectical journal for an extra boost to their grade in the Fall.

NOTE: Students can pick up copies of any novels that are with a star* at the Holyoke High School North Campus.

Freshmen Reading Options

Assignment Options:

1. Complete a dialectical journal for the book you read (see the journal at the bottom of this list). Collect 5-10 quotes and, in your own words, explain how those quotes helped you understand plot, setting, character, conflict, or theme.
2. Listen to an interview with an author of a book you have read. In your own words, explain how the author was inspired or how they made decisions about the book and how you think that impacted your takeaways from the book as a reader. 
3. Select 2-3 current articles or other media forms and complete an explanatory writing piece that summarizes each of the articles/pieces you selected and also reflects on what the topics/events from each mean for or about modern society. 

(Some media suggestions: articles, photo galleries, artistic pieces, cartoons (political, 

satirical, etc.), news clip, trending social media topic, etc.) 

Mexican White Boy by Matt de la Pena 

Call Me Maria by Judith Ortiz Cofer

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs

Yaqui Delgado Wants to Kick Your Ass by Meg Medina

The Pact by Jodi Pioult

Romiette and Julio by Sharon M. Draper

The Crazy Man by Pamela Porter

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

The Time Machine by HG Wells

All American Boys by Jason Reynolds*

Sophomore Reading Options

Assignment Options:

1. Complete a dialectical journal for the book you read (see the journal at the bottom of this list). Collect 5-10 quotes and in your words, explain how those quotes helped you understand plot, setting, character, conflict, or theme.
2. Listen to an interview with one of the authors. In your own words explain how the author was inspired or how they made decisions about the book. 

The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky

The Revolution of Evelyn Serrano by Sonia Manzano

Beauty Queens by Libba Bray

Will Grayson Will Grayson by John Green & David Levithan

The Realm of Possibility by David Levithan

The Age of Miracles by Karen Thompson Walker

Parrot in the Oven by: Mi Vida by Victor Martinez

The Hobbit by JRR Tolkein

Little Women by Louisa May Alcott

With the Fire on High by Elizabeth Acevedo

On the Come Up by Angie Thomas*

Junior Reading Options

Assignment Options:

1. Complete a dialectical journal for the book you read (see the journal at the bottom of this list). Collect 5-10 quotes and in your words, explain how those quotes helped you understand plot, setting, character, conflict, or theme.
2. Listen to an interview with one of the authors. In your own words explain how the author was inspired or how they made decisions about the book. 

When I Was Puerto Rican by Esmeralda Santiago

Last of the Mohicans by James Fenimore Cooper

Divergent by Veronica Roth

Dreams of Trespass: Tales of a Harlem Girlhood by Fatima Mernissi and Ruth V. Ward

The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins

The Life of Pi by Yann Martel

No Country For Old Men by Cormac McCarthy

The Unnamed by Joshua Ferris

Breaking Through by Franciso Jimenez 

The Shining by Stephen King

The Illuminated Forest by Edwin Fontanez

Beloved by Toni Morrison

Brick Lane by Monica Ali

The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Diaz

Map of Bones by James Rollins

The Guardians by John Grisham*

Senior Reading Options

Assignment Options:

1. Complete a dialectical journal for the book you read (see the journal at the bottom of this list). Collect 5-10 quotes and in your words, explain how those quotes helped you understand plot, setting, character, conflict, or theme.

1. Listen to an interview with one of the authors. In your own words explain how the author was inspired or how they made decisions about the book. 

And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie 

Maisie Dobbs by Jacqueline Winspeare

Cujo by Stephen King

Dracula by Bram Stoker 

The Turn of the Screw by Henry James

The Tales of Edgar Allan Poe 

Before I Let Go by Marieke Nijkamp

Skyfaring: A Journey with a Pilot by Mark Vanhoenaker

Just Mercy (Adapted for Young Adults): A True Story of the Fight for Justice by Bryan Stevenson \

Because I Was a Girl: True Stories for Girls of All Ages by Melissa de la Cruz

Seven Habits of Highly Effective Teens by Sean Covey

The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg 

Little & Lion by Brandy Colbert 

Reservation Blues by Alexie Sherman 

Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson 

Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller

White Noise by Don Delillo

Emily Goldberg Learns to Salsa by Micol Ostow

The Power of One by Bryce Courtenay

The Reluctant Fundamentalist by Mohsin Hamid

Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison

Behold the Dreamers by Imbolo Mbue

Gulliver’s Travels by Jonathan Swift 

Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury

The Host by Stephanie Meyer 

Terrier by Tamora Pierce

Stardust by Neil Gaiman 

A Fierce and Subtle Poison by Samantha Mabry 

Children of Men by P.D. James 

Angela’s Ashes by Frank McCourt

The Glass Castle Jeannette Walls

Walk to Beautiful: The Power of Love and a Homeless Kid Who Found the Way by Mr. Jimmy Wayne

Educated: A Memoir  by Tara Westover

Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson*