Whether compiling a school booklist or addressing a parent’s request, teachers can be challenged to come up with numerous summer reading suggestions. eSchool News has suggested 10 books for high school students’ summer reading based on works “that not only provide educational value through themes such as self-discovery, culture, social mores, feminism, and political activism, but also . . .inspire students to keep reading.”
Compiled with the aid of school library lists and literary awards, here are the choices in alphabetical order:
1. Bluefish by Pat Schmatz (2012 Notable Children’s Book)
2. The Color Purple by Alice Walker (1983 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction; National Book Award for Fiction)
3. Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? By Philip K. Dick (1968 Nebula Award nominee; 1998 Locus Poll Award for All-Time Best SF Novel before 1990; inspired film Blade Runner)
4. Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card (Winner of 1986 Hugo Award and 1985 Nebula Award)
5. From the Barrio to the Board Room, or Mi Barrio by Robert Renteria (Endorsed by leaders since release; used in schools, universities, juvenile justice centers, battered women’s shelters, foster homes, etc.)
6. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins (Translated into 26 languages; production rights sold in 38 countries; positive major reviews; now major motion picture)
7. House Rules by Jodi Picoult (2012 Colorado Blue Spruce Young Adult Award nominee; German Reader’s Choice award “Leserpreis 2011” for Audiobook)
8. Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë, accompanied by Wide Sargasso Sea by Jean Rhys (First book inspired adaptations and scholarly study; latter: WH Smith Literary Award winner in 1967; among Time’s 100 best English-language novels since 1923; #94 on Modern Library’s list of 100 Best Novels; 1966 winner of Cheltenham Booker Prize)
9. Raising Stony Mayhall by Daryl Gregory (Author’s works have won or been nominated for many awards such as 2009 Crawford Award, World Fantasy and Philip K. Dick Awards; book received positive critics’ reviews)
10. Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe (Among Time’s 100 Best English-language Novels from 1923 to 2005; translated into 50+ languages)
What other books are on your must-read summer list?