Pelham High School English Department
2016-2017 Required Summer Reading Program
Students read books that have related themes and literary conventions. Their independent reading promotes critical
thinking, encourages creative written expression, and builds life-long reading skills. Students learn to appreciate
reading and literature when they can read independently at their own pace. They will have the opportunity to share
insightful responses to their reading in discussions and assessments during the first unit in their English classes.
Outside reading activities: read selected title(s), complete journal template(s)
Classroom activities: respond to a writing prompt, discuss book(s), practice MLA format and
style, write MLA essay on book(s)
Journal due date: within the first five days of school by Tuesday, 6 September 2016.
Students select books from the grade-appropriate PHS reading list:
 AP and American Literature Classics students read at least 3 books from the grade-appropriate list.
(*AP suggestions)
 Honors Option students read at least 3 books from the grade-appropriate list.
 L-1 students read at least 2 books from the grade-appropriate list.
 L-2 students read at least 1 book from the grade-appropriate list.
*Students in Level I, Honors, American Literature Classics or AP, who are required to read more than one title
from the MLA Summer Reading List, may petition to read one title from an AP suggested reading list that matches
the grade-appropriate theme. The student must inform the English Department of his or her title of choice by
presenting a note which names the title and author and includes parent/guardian signature granting the student
permission to read the chosen title from the AP suggested reading list. This note must be submitted to the English
Department Deans before Friday, 10 June 2016. Please note that permission to read titles which are currently
included in the PHS curriculum will not be granted.
Grade 12 (Justice/responsibility)
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child Parts I and II
(Rowling et al. – Available 7/31/2016)
Into Thin Air (Krakauer)
August Gale (Walsh)
They Poured Fire on Us from the Sky (Deng)
Snow Flower and the Secret Fan (See)
Girl with a Pearl Earring (Chevalier)
*Dracula (Stoker)
*A Thousand Splendid Suns (Hosseini)
Grade 11 (American dream)
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child Parts I and II
(Rowling, et al. – Available 7/31/16)
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn (Smith)
Flags of Our Fathers (Bradley)
Friday Night Lights (Bissinger)
Half Broke Horses (Walls)
Ashes of Roses (Auch)
*Black Boy (Wright)
*Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass
(Douglass)
Grade 10 (Journeys/self-discovery)
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child Parts I and II
(Rowling et al. – Available 7/31/2016)
Aleutian Sparrow (Hesse)
The House of the Scorpion (Farmer)
Life as We Knew It (Pfeiffer)
Elephant Run (Smith)
The Water Is Wide (Conroy)
*Robinson Crusoe (Defoe)
*The Hound of the Baskervilles (Conan Doyle)
Grade 9 (Friendship/love)
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child Parts I and II
(Rowling, et al. – Available 7/31/16)
The First Part Last (Johnson)
Peak (Smith)
Touching Spirit Bear (Mikaelsen)
Stargirl (Spinelli)
Big Papi (Ortiz)
*Great Expectations (Dickens)
*Jane Eyre (Bronte)
Note: ALL students must place completed Summer Reading Journal(s) in the English Department boxes in
the PHS main office within the first five days of school, due by Tuesday, 6 September 2016.
The Mission of Pelham High School is to educate our students as life-long learners to meet the challenges of
the 21st century so that they may pursue life goals, participate fully as active citizens, and be socially
responsible members of the global community.