Purpose:  This curriculum-based summer reading is based on the 9^th grade curriculum of a K-12 alternative school in Seattle Washington.  In English they study grammar and American Literature, reading Twain, Poe, To Kill a Mockingbird, and the Crucible among others.  History concentrates on the United States from pre-colonial times through the Civil War.  For most students, the remainder of the curriculum is an elective in communications (radio), the arts (drama or music), or practical skills (horticulture or auto mechanics) plus a foreign language, math, computer history and skills, and another run at health issues, which most kids find redundant if they have been attending Seattle public schools very long.  Science is not offered freshman year.

 

 

BOOKS TO ENJOY THIS SUMMER

(A List Prepared for Students Who Will Be Freshmen In the Fall)

 

     Many adults will tell you that to achieve a high level of success in high school and beyond, you must read well, and be able to think about, discuss, and write about what you read.  At this stage of your life you may wish to ignore adults as much as possible, but don’t let that particular piece of advice slip by.  What they don’t always tell you is that all that’s needed to achieve those skills, once you have the basics down, is practice, practice, practice.  If you are one who is still struggling with the basics, you are certainly not alone, but please call the Seattle Literacy Foundation (206-782-9435) or another agency and get some free one-on-one assistance now!

 

     Another thing the adults don’t always mention is that you can improve your reading skills reading anything you like.  This list might give you some ideas.  It is a collection of fiction titles that I think many of you will find entertaining.  An added benefit is that each touches on a person, event, idea, decision, or feeling that you may encounter in 9th grade studies or life experiences.  If you don’t see anything that appeals to you here, find something that does!  Some ideas for finding other books can be found at the end of this list.  Enjoy your summer, but among the things you do: 

                           

JUST READ!

 

 

Historical Fiction

 

Across Five Aprils, by Irene Hunt. Published by Berkeley Books in 1986, 190 pages.

     This is the story of a boy in Illinois who must cope with his added responsibilities when his brothers and his beloved teacher all go off to fight the civil war.  Anguish is part of Jethro’s experience as well since individuals he cares about are fighting on opposite sides.  Abraham Lincoln’s actions are a large part of the book, and Jethro even gets a letter from the great man.

 

Cast Two Shadows, by Ann Rinaldi.  Published by Harcourt in 1998, 291 pages.

     Caroline’s family is split by the Revolutionary War.  Her father is a patriot, her brother a loyalist, and her sister is being used by the British officer who has taken over their South Carolina mansion.  Rinaldi uses her female characters to comment on the cruelties of war, but always there is a personal story as well.  In this case, Caroline knows that she is the mixed race daughter of her father and one of the slaves.  He father won’t admit it of course, but she and her biological mother come to terms on a long wagon journey.

 

Fever, 1793, by Laurie Halse Anderson. Published by Simon and Schuster in 2000, 251 p.

     Mattie’s 16-year-old life revolves around the hard work of running a coffee house with her mother and a beloved maid.  Her grandfather is the light of her life.  She bemoans her fate only to have things get much, much worse.  The book is based on a real epidemic in which a tenth of Phildelphia’s population died in 3 months. As the city shuts down, Mattie is separated from the other member’s of her family.  She returns to the city and reopens the coffeehouse because it is the only thing she knows how to do.  Out of necessity she creates a new family for herself. This story moves along quickly and is full of historical detail.

 

Finishing Becca: a Story of Peggy Shippen and Benedict Arnold, by Ann Rinaldi. 

     Published by Harcourt in 1994, 362 pages.

Becca is a 14-year-old maid in the household of Benedict Arnold, and according to her telling, his party-loving wife Peggy Shippen is heavily to blame for his actions of betrayal.  If you are curious after reading this fiction account, check out Jean Fritz’s biography of Benedict Arnold.

 

The Glory Field, by Walter Dean Myers. Published by Scholastic in 1994, 375 pages.

     In 1753, an African boy is captured and placed in slavery.  This novel tells his story and that of his descendants, spanning 250 years.  Many members of the Lewis family show great tenacity in going after their freedom.  I include this as a book which shows current day ripples of past events.

 

Lyddie, by Katherine Paterson. Published by Puffin  in 1992, 182 pages.

     Lyddie is at first glad to gain a job at a textile mill in Massachusetts.  She needs the money to pay off the debts of her family farm.  Soon, however, the backbreaking and mind-numbing work threatens to dominate her spirit.  The year of this story is 1843.

 

Our Only May Amelia, by Jennifer L. Holm.  Published by Harper Collins in 1999, 251 pages.

     Based on a diary written by the great aunt of the author, this story is about the Finnish people who settled the southwest corner of our own State of Washington, forming a tight knit fishing, logging and farming community. May is the only girl in a family of seven brothers, and she desperately wants to do everything they do. Some of her most exciting times are spent in Astoria visiting an aunt and uncle.  Her father deplores her exploits, but she is well loved by all but her incredibly mean grandmother who comes to live on the farm. The sister she has always wished for is born, but illness is everywhere. The time period covered is the late 1800’s.

 

Sing Down the Moon, by Scott O’Dell.  Published by Cornerstone in 1989, 276 pages.

     Spanish slavers forced the migration of the Navajo to Fort Summer, New Mexico in 1864.  In this novel, Bright Morning narrates the story, including for her and a friend, determined efforts to escape the march. 

 

WaterLily, by Ella Cara Deloria.  Published by University of Nebraska Press in 1988, 244 pages.

     Actually written in 1947, this book chronicles the lives of the Dakota tribes during the time that white settlers first began to affect their culture.  It is written from a women’s point of view, and so focuses on the human interactions that bind the people together. Facts about their life on the plains is woven into the engaging story.  This book recommended by the Oyate Native American organization for its accurate portrayal of Native American history.  Review information is taken from their website, http://oyate.org/.

 

Winter People, by Joseph Bruchac. Published by Dial in 2002, 168 pages.

     This story revolves around an incident in 1759 during the period later called the French and Indian Wars.  British soldiers led by Major Robert Rogers attacked a village, burned it to the ground, killed several people, and took many more captive.  Fourteen-year-old Saxso goes after them with the intent of rescuing his mother and sisters, drawing on the knowledge he has been given by his tribe.  Bruchac interviewed survivors of the raid to authenticate his story.  The book is another one recommended by the Oyate Native American organization.

 

The Year of the Hangman, by Gary Blackwood.  Published by Dutton in 2002, 261 pages.

     Technically this is an alternative history rather than historical fiction.  The premise in this novel is that the British quickly put down the overt Patriot insurrection, and hanged many of them.  Creighton is an English teenager sent to live in America.  After adventures involving Benedict Arnold, he is sent to live with Benjamin Franklin.  He agrees to spy for the British at first, but later feels guilty because the patriots he knows have been so kind, and he can see some logic in their cause. Especially interesting if you are aware of historical details and how Blackwood has woven them into this alternative history.

 

Witch Hunts

 

Becoming Rosemary, by Frances M. Wood. Published by Bantam Doubleday Dell in 1997, 247 pages.

     This one may seem a little easy, but it is a gentler tale than other books about suspected witches in the 1790’s.  Rosemary, her sister, and her mother all have special abilities they must hide or risk being condemned as witches.  Even their practical knowledge of herbs and cures, so helpful to ailing neighbors, makes them suspect.  Because the family is careful, it is actually someone else in their small village that the whisperers first focus on. The new teacher, Mrs. DiAngeli, attracts unwelcome attention because she is Italian, and because she is an incredibly talented carver.  How can Rosemary help her new friend?

 

Witch of Blackbird Pond, by Elizabeth George Speare.  Published by Dell 1987, 249 pages.

     Circumstances force Kit to leave her Caribbean home and she is sent to live with her aunt and uncle in the Connecticut Colony.  She does many things that the other women in the colony wouldn’t dream of.  She swims, wears fancy dresses, and speaks her mind.  In short, she is different, and anyone different in the 17th century colonies is likely to be taken for witch. To make matters worse, she becomes friends with an old Quaker woman known as the Witch of Blackbird pond.  This is too much for the stern community, and she is soon defending her life.

Realistic and Historical Adventure

Jayhawker, by Patrcia Beatty.  Published by Morrow Junior Books in 1991, 214 pages.

     Thirteen-year-old Lije’s family heavily support John Brown in his determined and often violent raids to free slaves from Missouri owners.  Lije’s father is killed, their house is burned, and hoping to gain revenge he agrees to spy in the Bushwacker camp, participating enough in their activities to avoid suspicions, but valiantly trying not to cause harm to anyone he knows.  Famous people in this exciting tale based on real events are Frank and Jesse James and Wild Bill Hickok.

 

Sarah Bishop, by Scott O’Dell.  Published by Houghton Mifflin in 1980, 184 pages.

     Teenage Sarah’s family is despised for their Tory leanings.  Their house is burned to the ground and Sarah is forced to flee into the wilderness, where she must find a way to survive despite lack of the knowledge and skills needed to do so.

 

True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle, by Avi.  Published by Avon in 1990, 232 pages.

     Avi is a prolific writer who creates many different kinds of books.  This is the harrowing adventures of Charlotte who is following her family back to Philidelphia on a ship which is sailed by a crew intent of revenging a former crewmate’s loss of an arm at the hand of the sihp’s cruel master.  Freed from the very strict confines of a women’s role at the time by her experiences, Charlotte is unable to stomach a return to her former life.

Fictionalized Biography

The Fifth of March, by Ann Rinaldi.  Published by Harcouart in 1993, 335 pages.

     Rinaldi is a prolific writer of historical fiction.  In several she includes fictionalized stories of real historical figures.  In this book, Rachel is indentured to John and Abigail Adams during the time when the Boston Massacre ignites the Revolutionary War.

 

The Mark Twain Murders, by Laurence Yep. Published by Four Winds Press in 1982,

     152 pages.

Although this may seem too young for you, it would be a painless way to learn something about Mark Twain. It is actually a mystery in which a young boy meets Mark Twain as a San Francisco reporter in 1864 and agrees to help him solve a murder.

 

The Secret of Sarah Revere, by Ann Rinaldi.  Published by Gulliver Books in 1995, 336

     pages.

In this novel Rinaldi chronicles the life of Paul Revere through the eyes of his daughter Sarah.  When a man comes to interview her father, it is she who recalls the now historic events that have transpired, including her father’s famous rides and the Boston Massacre.  The personal parts of her story include the end of her own adolescence and her mistrust of her stepmother.  This book is a painless way to learn historical facts.

 

The Man Who Was Poe, by Avi. Reissued by Flare in 1991, 224 pages,

     This book is primarily a mystery, in the Sherlock Holmes style, but I have included it here because of the fictionalized famous writer.  Edmund’s sister has mysteriously disappeared, and Auguste Dupin, a thinly veiled Edgar Allen Poe, is the only one who can help him.  The setting is Rhode Island in the early 1800’s.

 

Wolf by the Ears, by Ann Rinaldi. Published by Scholastic in 1991, 252 pages.

     A third fictionalized biography by Rinaldi is this one about the life of Thomas Jefferson.  Harriet, Jefferson’s daughter by his slave, wishes to be acknowledged.

 

 

Fantasy and Science Fiction

 

Artemis Fowl, by Eoin Colfer. Published by Hyperion in 2001, 277 pages.

     Artemis is very rich 12-year-old boy who travels the world with his Butler/Bodyguard searching for adventures.  His latest scheme is to kidnap a fairy from the ones that he knows  exist, the armed and dangerous kind.  The point is to tap the LEPrecon’s ransom fund to restore his family fortune to its former glory.  But there are unexpected encounters.

 

Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Care. Published by Tor in 1991.  

     Another story where families are only allowed two children, Andrew “Ender” Wiggin is an exception because he is being nurtured to lead battles in the simulations that determine the fate of their society.  This is a powerful story about the molding capacity of circumstances.  Even those who don’t particularly like science fiction may enjoy this book.

 

The Ropemaker, by Peter Dickinson.  Published by Delacorte in 2001, 275 pages. 

     Tilja’s valley has been protected for 20 years by a magic spell in its forests.  The problem is, the spell is beginning to disappear.  Tilja, and her grandparents go on a quest for a legendary wizard who might be able to reestablish the spell.  Many hair-raising adventures ensue, and Tilja discovers powers that she did not know she had.

 

Sabriel, by Garth Nix. Published by Harper Collins in 1995, 292 pages.

     This dark novel will unexpectedly capture you and hold you rapt until the end.  Sabriel is being molded as a necromancer, an inherited obligation to guide the dead down the River Styx.  Her father is captured by dark spirits, and she seeks to rescue him, but she must also lend her vision at the border between life and death where everything good is under attack.

 

Shade’s Children by Garth Nix. Published in by Harper Collins in 1997, 310 pages.

     This is the sequel to Sabriel.  Though you may be disappointed after the mesmerizing quality of the first book, this one is also worth reading.  Sabriel is turning 16 and everyone of that age and older has vanished from earth.

 

 

Realistic Fiction -About High School<

 

Angus, Thongs, and Full-Frontal Snogging: Confessions of Georgia Nicolson, by Louise Rennison.

    Published by Harper Collins in 2000, 247 pages.

In this book we are introduced to Georgia who tells of her everyday misadventures with a lot of wit.  The story takes place in England, and there is a lot of British slang.  A glossary in the back of the book can be helpful.  Georgia is attracted to a particular boy even though she can see he is not exactly a prize.

The Perks of Being a Wallflower, by Stephen Chbosky. Published by Pocket Books in 1999, 213 pages.                                                                                                                                                 This is a funny, funny book.  Charlie writes letters to an unknown friend describing the trials of his freshman year in high school.

On the Bright Side, I’m Now the Girlfriend of a Sex God, by Louise Rennison.  Published in 2001, 243 pages.                    This is the sequel to Angus, Thongs, and Full-Frontal Snogging.  In this volume she continues to ironically describe her life, which never seems to work out the way she planned.  This is romance handled with a light touch, unlike the obsessive kind found in Wolff’s True Believer.

Slot Machine, by Chris Lynch. Published by Harper Collins in 1991, 241 pages.

     Elvin goes to a sports-oriented summer camp where the staff find the proper slot for each camper.  Unfortunately, overweight Elvin does not fit in any slot they know.  This is another novel where the pain of not fitting in is described with wry humor.  I think you’ll find it very funny.

 

Speak, by Laurie Halse Anderson. Published by Farrar Straus Giroux in 1999, 197 pages.

     Unlike Anderson’s Fever 1793, which is historical fiction, this novel is a contemporary one. Melinda is ostracized by everyone at her high school because during the summer she caused a party to be busted by the police.  No one, including the reader, knows exactly what happened until late in the novel, but it is clear that Mattie is traumatized, though her parents and her ex-friends are completely oblivious.  As her grades slide downhill, Melinda tries to express herself through her assigned artwork subject: a tree.  Though this book’s subject matter is dark, the narration is often very funny as Melinda describes the hypocrisies of high school, and the ending is full of hope.

                                                            

True Believer, by Virginia Euwer Wolff. Published by Atheneum in 2001, 264 pages.

     LaVaughn struggles with an obsessive attraction to a now gorgeous boy who has just moved back to her neighborhood.  Her two best friends have joined a questionable religious group and the fact that she wants nothing to do with it threatens their relationship.  Her Mom’s new boyfriend threatens established patterns, and with a goal of going to college, she struggles through advanced classes and an after school “Grammar Roundup.” Wolff’s free verse beautifully focuses on the connections that sustain us.

 

 

Realistic Fiction - Sports

 

Stotan! by Chris Crutcher. Published by Bantam Doubleday Dell in 1986, 183 pages.

     Walker, the boy who narrates this story is probably Crutcher’s alter ego since he wants to be a writer and tells this story extremely well.  He and his friends form a swim team of 4 members.  They put out maximum effort, although they can never take any team awards because they have too few members.  Their friend Elaine is a minor character in the story, but a strong and self-reliant one.  It is Crutcher’s habit to deal with a multitude of family and society issues within one story, and this is no exception.  The real strength lies in the characterization of the boys friendship.  I think you will recognize their back and forth bantering.

 

Tangerine, by Edward Bloor.  Published by Harcourt Brace in 1997, 294 pages.                                                

     Paul is new to Tangerine, a city where the most bizarre things seem to happen.  Despite his vision problems, he has considerable soccer abilities, and soon he is being fought over by opposing school districts.  Paul must decide what choice is right as opposed to what choice looks like it will benefit him the most.  This is another character narrated story that shines.

 

 

Other Realistic Fiction

 

Born Blue, by Han Nolen. Published by Harcourt in 2001, 277 pages.

     There are many negative things in the Janie’s life.  In fact it’s all negative except for “the ladies,” her tapes of Etta James, Odetta, and Aretha Franklin that she uses to learn how to sing, and sing she does.  She has dreams of becoming a famous singer, but the mountain of obstacles looks very high.  Don’t look for a feeling of completion at the end of this story.  The point is evidently to make you think.

 

Heart of a Chief, by Joseph Bruchac.  Published by Dell in 1998, 153 pages.

     Chris loves his grandmother and grandfather who are old and have some health problems, and his father who lives in another city trying to combat his alcoholism and put his life back together. Reluctant to expose himself to ridicule, Chris still feels he must take a stand about the inappropriate use of an “Indian” as a mascot at school, and the use of sacred tribal lands for a casino on the reservation. His focus is the people who love him and the land that he loves.  This book is in the Oyate catalog as one that accurately portrays Native American life.

 

Heaven, by Angela Johnson. Published by in 1998, 138 pages.

     The town of Heaven seems a great place to grow up until Marley finds out that her parents have been withholding some very important information from her regarding her Uncle Jack.  She struggles to forgive them and reaffirm her love.  Her brother watches anxiously, afraid the family

will disintegrate.  Angela’s best friend, an irreverent ex-beauty pageant contestant who loathes her all-too-perfect family, is an immensely engaging character.

The Outsiders, by S.E, Hinton. Published by in 1967, 180 pages.                                                                       This is a story about three parentless Hispanic brothers living in the unwelcoming Texas of the 1950’s.  They are hard pressed to stay together and ward off threats from a violent gang.  This book is often regarded as the beginning of modern young adult literature.  See if you don’t think the story has a timeless quality.  Try to avoid reading about the author until after you have finished the book. 

Rules of the Road, by Joan Bauer.  Published by Putnams in 1998, 201 pages.

     Jenna is seventeen and struggling to put her family relationships in order as her alcoholic father drifts in and out of their lives.  Industrious, she works in a shoe store and actually loves connecting people with just the right shoe.  The elderly head of the company, wanting to distance herself from her grasping son, hires Jenna to drive her to the annual shareholder’s meeting.  The plot focuses on whether the company will be swallowed by a conglomerate without integrity, but the driving force of this novel is Jenna’s engaging commentary on the adult world around her

The Skin I’m In, by Sharon Flake. Published by in 1998, 171 pages.                                                                       Though the main character is perhaps younger than you would like, this story is a powerful one about non-acceptance based on surface qualities.  Maleeka’s challenge is to accept herself as she is, even though no one else does.  It is a disfigured teacher that helps work through her difficulties at school and at home.

-----------------------------------------

OTHER IDEAS

So if there is nothing that interests you in the above list, use the following suggestions or your own devices to expand your search.  Remember, the primary goal is to practice reading, and that can be done with any words anywhere.

Browse the collection at your local branch library.  Did you know that you can find graphic novels there?  Check non-fiction and magazines too if they interest you.  You can ask a librarian for help if you like.  It helps if you can supply something that you enjoyed reading in the past.

You’ll find lists of award winners at the YALSA website. (Young Adult Library Services Association, which is part of the ALA – American Library Association) The URL is: http://www.ala.org/yalsa/booklists/index.html.  If non-fiction is your thing, you’ll find lots of that here too.

The Seattle Public Library website has multiple lists of young adult literature on their site at this page: http://www.spl.org/youngadult/booklists/booklists.htm.  Incidentally, if you don’t have a library card, get one, and if you don’t know how to reserve a book and have it delivered to your branch, ask a librarian (or perhaps a friend) to help you.

King County Library System also has young adult lists here: http://www.kcls.org/newya/goodrds.cfm. and of course you can actually access any library website on the World Wide Web for suggestions.

There are more lists than you can imagine at this site: www.seemore.mi.org/booklists.  You’ll find outspoken reviews at this fun site: http://www.grouchy.com/anst/reviews.html. Amazon.com is a good place to find reviews written by both adults and teens.  You can also use a search engine to find them as well. 

So there are a million and one ideas (at least!)  Be creative, and remember the goal is to                                                     JUST READ!

&

Have a Great Summer!

Readers'Advisory Services
Young Adult Services Home