HANOVER COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS
High School Summer Reading 2015
Lee-Davis High School
Students and Parents:
The Hanover County Public Schools English department believes that the purpose of summer reading is to
develop good reading practices in students, to inspire a love of reading, and to give students common ground
for learning at the outset of the school year. To foster a love of reading that will last into the school year and
beyond school walls, contemporary and dynamic texts that are accessible, varied in topic and student-focused,
have been selected. We value the power of reading to entertain, persuade, and inform and expect every
student to participate in summer reading. We strongly encourage students who wish to read beyond the
expectations of the summer reading program to read widely and voraciously.
Students should select a title (or titles) from the recommended summer reading list based on their course
requirements. Parents are encouraged to participate in the book selection. The suggested titles are appropriate
for adolescent readers, designed to capture their interest and motivate them to think about current issues and
themes. However, if students or parents have concerns about choosing one of the recommended titles, they
may select another book to read. When choosing a book of your own choice, students should avoid titles that
have been made into movies and select titles of appropriate rigor for their grade. Books can be found at county
libraries, school libraries, and through local book vendors.
All Standard students are to read at least one title and Advanced English students are to read at least two
titles and complete the attached Book Response that is due within the first 2 weeks of school and will count
as a graded assignment.
Pre-Baccalaureate, International Baccalaureate, Advanced Placement English, and College Composition (Dual
Enrollment) students should complete the specific reading assignments for their course, which vary by school.
These book lists are located near the end of this document.
Rising 9th Grade Reading Selections
Standard English: choose at least one title
Advanced English Students: choose at least two titles
If You Come Softly
Jacqueline
Woodson
The Alchemist:
The Secrets of the
Immortal Nicholas
Flamel
Michael Scott
Crackback
John Coy
*Tears of a Tiger
Sharon Draper
*How They Croaked:
the Awful Ends of the
Awfully Famous
Kevin O’Malley
After meeting at their private school in New York, fifteen-year-old Jeremiah, who is black
and whose parents are separated, and Ellie, who is white and whose mother has twice
abandoned her, fall in love and then try to cope with peoples’ reactions.
Best Books for Young Adults 1999 Top Ten; Virginia Young Readers Program Winner 2001
Set in modern day San Francisco, twin fifteen year-old siblings, Sophie and Josh Newman,
are actually powerful magicians mentioned in an old prophecy. If the twins cannot help
ancient alchemist Nicholas Flamel locate a stolen book, which happens to be the most
powerful book ever written, the world will be destroyed.
School Library Journal Starred (2007), Booklist, VOYA (2007)
When Miles Manning, a successful high school football player, discovers his teammates are
using steroids--and one of them is his best friend--he's faced with a tough decision: Is he
willing to do what it takes to win? Football is his life, and his family, especially his dad, is
pinning its hopes on him. It's a lot of pressure for a high school junior to bear.
School Library Journal 2005, Wilson’s Senior High School 2007, Booklist starred 2005
The death of high school basketball star Rob Washington in an automobile accident
adversely affects the lives of his close friend Andy, who was driving, as well as many others
in their school. Contains references to suicide.
Notable/Best Books (ALA), School Library Journal, Booklist
The graphic details of the gory deaths of nineteen famous people are revealed in a
conversational manner in this often humorous, disgustingly appealing book. Readers will be
equally engaged and grateful for modern medical remedies! Some slang language
references to bodily functions and body parts.
YALSA Nonfiction nominee 2012
* May contain objectionable material
Rising 10th Grade Reading Selections
Standard English: choose at least one title
Advanced English Students: choose at least two titles
Shelter
Harlan Coben
The Final Four
Paul Volponi
Everlost
Neal
Shusterman
Cinder
Marissa Mayer
*I am a Seal Team
Six Warrior (special
Young Adult edition)
Howard Wasdin,
Stephen
Templin
* May contain objectionable material
After Mickey witnesses his father's death and his mother's admission into rehab, he is sent
to live with his estranged uncle and changes high schools. When Mickey's new girlfriend,
Ashley, suddenly disappears Mickey refuses to let another person walk out of his life and
follows clues that reveal truths about both Ashley and Mickey's father. Agatha Award
Nominee for Best Childrens Young Adult (2011), Edgar Award Nominee for Best Young Adult
(2012)
Four players at the Final Four of the NCAA basketball tournament struggle with the
pressures of tournament play and the expectations of society at large.
School Library Journal starred (March 2012), Booklist starred (February 2012), Bulletin of the
Center for Children's Books starred (March 2012)
When Nick and Allie are killed in a car crash, they end up in Everlost, or limbo for lost souls,
where although Nick is satisfied, Allie will stop at nothing--even skinjacking--to break free.
2009 ALA Popular Paperback List, 2008 School Library Journal Best Books of the Year, 2008
International Reading Association Young Adult Choice List, 2007 PEN USA Literary Award –
Finalist, 2007 Children’s Literature Council of Southern California “Fantastic Work of Fiction”
Cinder, a gifted mechanic and a cyborg with a mysterious past, is blamed by her stepmother
for her stepsister's illness while a deadly plague decimates the population of New Beijing,
but when Cinder's life gets intertwined with Prince Kai's, she finds herself at the center of an
intergalactic struggle.
Publishers Weekly Starred Review
Howard Wasdin overcomes a tough childhood to live his dream and enter the exciting and
dangerous world of U.S. Navy SEALS and Special Forces snipers.
Rising 11th Grade Reading Selections
Standard English: choose at least one title
Advanced English Students: choose at least two titles
Bleachers
John Grisham
*Breathing
Underwater
Alex Flinn
Shift
Jennifer
Bradbury
Daughter of Smoke
and Bone
Laini Taylor
Lincoln’s Last Days:
the Shocking
Assassination That
Changed America
Forever
Bill O’Reilly,
Dwight Jon
Zimmerman
* May contain objectionable material
High school all-American Neely Crenshaw was probably the best quarterback ever to play for
the legendary Messina Spartans. Fifteen years have gone by since those glory days, and Neely
has come home to Messina to bury Coach Eddie Rake, the man who molded the Spartans into
an unbeatable football dynasty. His boys relive their high school days as they mourn their
coach’s death.
Booklist 2003, New York Times 2003, School Library Journal 2003
Sent to counseling for hitting his girlfriend, and ordered to keep a journal, sixteen year-old Nick
recounts his relationship with her, examines his controlling behavior and anger, and describes
living with his abusive father. Contains strong language, violence, and references to sexuality.
Notable Books (ALA), School Library Journal
Some friends fade away....Others disappear. Imagine you and your best friend head out West
on a cross-country bike trek. Imagine that the two of you get into a fight -- and stop riding
together. Imagine you reach Seattle, go back home, start college. Imagine you think your
former best friend does too. Imagine he doesn't. Imagine your world shifting.... Shift is a tour
de force -- a literary debut that'll knock the wind out of you as it explores the depths of loyalty,
the depths of friendship, and the unknowable depths of another person.
Booklist starred 2008, School Library Journal 2008, Virginia Reader’s choice selection, Kirkus
Reviews starred 2008, Voice of Youth Advocates (VOYA) 2008
Seventeen-year-old Karou, a lovely, enigmatic art student in a Prague boarding school, carries a
sketchbook of hideous, frightening monsters--the chimaerae who form the only family she has
ever known.
Starred reviews: Kirkus, Publishers Weekly, Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books
Adapted from Bill O’Reilly’s historical thriller, this gripping account of one of America’s most
dramatic nights—how one gunshot changed the country forever is accompanied by abundant
ilustrations, inlcuding period photographs, maps, and art.
Rising 12th Grade Reading Selections
Standard English: choose at least one title
Advanced English Students: choose at least two titles
*The Catalyst
Laurie Halse
Anderson
The Christopher Killer
Alane
Ferguson
We Were Liars
E. Lockhart
*Lockdown
Alexander
Gordon Smith
*Ghosts of War: The
True Story of a 19
Year-Old GI
Ryan
Smithson
Life couldn’t get any worse for eighteen year-old honor student Kate Malone when she doesn’t
get into her dream college. Then, because of a devastating fire, Kate’s high school classmate
and former bully is forced to move in with her. Contains mildly strong language.
Bulletin (Center for Children’s Books 2002), VOYA 2003
Camryn Mahoney, the eighteen year-old daughter of the town’s coroner, becomes an active
participant in the investigation into the murder of one of her close friends. She not only gets an
inside look into the world of forensic science, she learns valuable lessons about whom to trust.
Contains factual details about an autopsy.
Edgar Award 2007, Heartland Award for Excellence in children’s Literature 2007, Black-eyed
Susan Book Award 2008-09 Nominee (Maryland State Reading List)
Each summer the wealthy, seemingly perfect, members of the Sinclair family gather on their
private island. We Were Liars is the story of those annual reunions; in particular what
happened during a summer that protagonist Cadence is unable to remember. Prejudice, greed,
and shifting patriarchal favoritism among the three adult sisters contrasts with the
camaraderie and worldview of the teenage cousins and their dear friend Gat. Lazy days of
sticky lemonades on the roof and marathon Scrabble games give way to twisty suspense, true
love, and good intentions gone horribly wrong.
Goodreads Choice 2014 winner
Futuristic. Alex, a 14-year-old who has been involved in crime for several years, describes his
life in a notorious underground prison a mile below the surface of the earth where he and
other teen boys are incarcerated for life. Alex and his savvy cellmate devise an escape plan.
Themes: fear, brutallity and loyalty. Students looking for a fast-paced read that deal in the
consequences of bad decisions, prison life and survival will be drawn to this book. There
are graphic descriptions of the violence of the prison officials, guards and inmates,
though none of the scenes are gratuitous.
Award winning British author
Follows young man’s journey as he joins the reserves following 9-11, his thought process about
which service he chooses, and why he marries after boot camp. This mature young man tells
the story of deployment to Iraq. Contains mildly graphic descriptions and mildly strong
language.
Starred Review: School Library Journal
* May contain objectionable material
There are many excellent sources of additional titles to choose from if you don’t see something you like on
the list.
Virginia Readers’ Choice 2014-15 www.vsra.org/virginia‐readers‐choice/nominate‐vote/
Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) 2014 www.ala.org/yalsa/
Houston Area Independent Schools Library Network Recommended Reading Lists:
http://www.haisln.org/images/HAISLN_9th‐10th_grade_2015.PDF
http://www.haisln.org/images/HAISLN_11th‐12th_2015.PDF
Please note that links to these lists are provided as a convenience for students and parents. Hanover County Public Schools
has not read or specifically endorses these lists. It is possible that some titles may contain objectionable material. If
students decide not to read titles from the Hanover County recommended list, parents and students are encouraged to
review the book’s content prior to making a selection.
BOOK RESPONSE ASSIGNMENT FOR STANDARD/ADVANCED ENGLISH
DIRECTIONS: For each book read, write a well developed paragraph or paragraphs that answers one of the following
choices. Turn your responses and your reading log in to your new English teacher during the first two weeks of school in
the fall.
RESPONSE QUESTIONS
1. What most impressed you about this book? What least impressed you about this book? How would you change
what is weak?
2.
Which character is the most believable? Why? Which was the most memorable? Why? How do these characters
(or character) propel the plot and theme of the story?
3.
What facts did you learn from reading this nonfiction or biography? How does this nonfiction/biography compare
to others that you have read? Explain.
4.
What is the basic theme/message that the author is making? What will be the universal appeal? What conclusion
have you drawn about the social implications? Explain.
5.
Why did you choose a book that was not on the suggested list? What literary merit does your choice achieve?
Explain why you would recommend this book to others.
BOOKS READ (Title and Author)
1.
2.
3.
SUMMER READING PLEDGE
I acknowledge that my child has fulfilled the HCPS summer reading requirements by reading and completing the
assignment for the books listed above.
__________________________________
Parent Signature
___________________
Date
I acknowledge that I have completed the reading listed above.
_________________________________
Student Signature
___________________
Date
Required Reading for Pre-Baccalaureate, International Baccalaureate,
and Advanced Placement English Students
9 - 10 Pre-Baccalaureate and 11 - 12 International Baccalaureate: I Am Malala
11 Advanced Placement: Choose one title from the following list.
 The Other Wes Moore, by Wes Moore
 Nickel and Dimed: On Getting By in America, by Barbara Ehrenreich
 The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, by Rebecca Skloot
 Hiroshima, by John Hershey
 Into the Wild, by John Krakauer
12 Advanced Placement: How to Read Literature Like a Professor, by Thomas C. Foster, AND A Thousand Splendid Suns,
by Khaled Hosseini