High School Summer Reading List 2020
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:
- 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.
- 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.
- 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:
- 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.
- 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:
- 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.
- 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:
- 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.
- 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*
