Walpole High School Summer Reading
2018
The goal of the Walpole High School Summer Reading program is to encourage our students to read or listen to something they will enjoy. We want them to understand that learning goes beyond the walls of the high school, and it can be interesting and fun. Students should select a book or podcast from this list. The blue link will bring you to a page where you can read more about that selection. We have provided some guidance by grouping the books by genre; we also let you know the reading level, and we alert you if the book has mature themes (and we reserve those titles for incoming juniors and seniors). Check out what the WHS Library/Media Center has available for Summer check-out. All Summer Reading books will be due in September after the Summer Reading classes are completed. In September, students will meet in book groups to discuss their chosen book. Some groups will have a written assessment before a group discussion. Students will receive a Pass/Fail grade for their participation in the summer reading program. Their grade will be reported on their first term report card, and, if they Pass, they will earn .5 credit toward their graduation requirement. A Failing grade will preclude the student from making honor roll first term.
Use this Form (click to get to form to submit your selection).
If you change want to change your selection over the summer, send Ms. Culliton an email [email protected]. SELECTION IS DUE WEDNESDAY, JUNE 13TH
Fiction Classic Literature
Cover Title Author Reading Lvl Grades Teacher
American Pastoral (The American Trilogy #1)
Philip Roth Difficult reading
Open to grades 11 & 12 only (Mature themes)
Mr. Cashman
Norse Mythology
Neil Gaiman Moderate reading level
Open to all grades
Mr. Morgan
Goodbye, Mr. Chips: To You, Mr. Chips
James Hilton Easy to read Open to all grades
Mr. Gibson
Sci-Fi and Fantasy books
The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy
Douglas Adams
Easy to read
Open to all grades
Mr. Strick “easy and fun to read”
The Silmarillion
J.R.R. Tolkien
Difficult to read
Open to all grades
Mr. O’Farrell: “This is a collection of stories about the first and second ages of Middle Earth. It was edited by Tolkien's son Christopher after JRR Tolkien's death. If you really love The Lord Of The Rings, step up to the big league and read this book.”
Scarlet (The Lunar Chronicles Book #2)
Marissa Meyer
Easy to read
Open to all grades
Ms. Allison
Elantris Book #1
Brandon Sanderson
Moderate reading level
Open to grades 11 & 12 only (Mature themes)
Mr. Goldman “There is some violence in the book, and death is a significant and important theme throughout the story. It is the debut novel of my favorite author.”
All Our Wrong Todays
Elan Mastai
Moderate reading level
Open to grades 11 & 12 only (Mature themes)
Ms. Gould
The Name of the Wind (The Kingkiller Chronicle #1)
Patrick Rothfuss
Moderate reading level
Open to all grades
Mr. O’Connor “Awesome fantasy novel!”
Historical Fiction
The Pillars of the Earth (Kingsbridge #1)
Ken Follett Easy to read (but long)
Open to grades 11 & 12 only (Mature themes)
Mr. Mullaney “If you enjoy character driven stories, you might enjoy this book”
Salt to the Sea Ruta Sepetys
Easy to read
Open to all grades
Mrs. Sullivan Author of Between Shades of Gray
Contemporary Fiction
The Sinner Christopher Graves
Moderate reading level
Open to grades 11 & 12 only (Mature themes)
Mr. O’Malley
Little Fires Everywhere
Celeste Ng Moderate reading level
Open to grades 11 & 12 only (Mature themes)
Ms. Linden “Race, class, and privilege explored through the story of two families.”
Everything I Never Told You
Celeste Ng Moderate reading level
Open to grades 11 & 12 only (Mature themes)
Ms. Kay “It revolves around the death of a teenage girl, but it is about family and identity”
The Art of Racing in the Rain
Garth Stein Easy to read Open to all grades
Rachel Sprague
The Power Naomi Alderman
Moderate reading level
Open to grades 11 & 12 only (Mature themes)
Mrs. O’Leary
The Men of Brewster Place
Gloria Naylor
Moderate reading level
Open to grades 11 & 12 only (Mature themes)
Mrs. Gair
Americanah Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
Easy to read
Open to grades 11 & 12 only (Mature themes)
Mrs. Kerr “It’s great!”
Mystery, Thriller, Suspense
The Hit David Baldacci Moderate reading level
Open to grades 11 & 12 only (Mature themes)
Mr. Murphy
All Dressed in White
Mary Higgins Clark and Alafair Burke
Easy to read
Open to all grades
Ms. Fontaine
Into the Drowning Deep and Rolling in the Deep
Mira Grant Easy to read
Open to all grades
Mrs. Giblin “About 550 pages total.”
The President is Missing
Bill Clinton with James Patterson
Easy to read
Open to all grades
Mrs. K Milne
YA - Young Adult Fiction
The Hate U Give
Angie Thomas
Easy to read Open to grades 11 & 12 only (Mature themes)
Mrs. Doyle “inspired by Black Lives Matter”
One of Us is Lying
Karen M McManus
Easy to read Open to all grades
Mrs. Morrier
The Abyss Surrounds Us
Emily Skrutskie
Moderate reading level
Open to all grades
Ms. Reichheld LGBT Themes / Fantasy “I have not read this
book yet, but who
wouldn’t want to read
about a character who
trains sea monsters!”
Jurassic Park Michael Crichton
Easy to read Open to all grades
Mr. Fiske
The Devil's Pass
Sigmund Brouwer
Easy to read Open to all grades
Mrs. King
Non-Fiction Biography & Memoir
Make Your Bed
William H. McRaven
Easy to read Open to all grades
Ms. Fallon
Stronger Jeff Bauman
Open to all grades
Easy to read Mr. Sturges
The Last Lecture
Randy Pausch
Open to all grades
Easy to read Mrs. Frattasio
Notorious RBG: The Life and Times of Ruth Bader Ginsburg
Irin Carmon & Shana Knizhnik
Moderate reading level
Open to grades 11 & 12 only (Mature themes)
Ms. Hugueley
Mud, Sweat, and Tears
Bear Grylls Easy to read Open to all grades
Ms. Wick
All-American Murder: The Rise and Fall of Aaron Hernandez, the Superstar Whose Life Ended on Murders' Row
James Paterson & Alex Abramramovich
Easy to read Open to grades 11 & 12 only (Mature themes)
Mrs. Bacon & Mrs. Osborne
A Hope in the Unseen: An American Odyssey from the Inner City to the Ivy League
Ron Suskind
Easy to read
Open to all grades
Mrs. Vigneau
Storm of Steel Ernst Jünger
Moderate reading level
Open to all grades (n.b., describes trench warfare)
Mr. Bakale “A must-read for anyone who’s interested in the history of World War I. I recommend that you use the most recent translation by Michael Hofmann (2003).”
Hillbilly Elegy J.D. Vance Easy to read Open to all grades
Mrs. Hogan
Squirting Milk at Chameleons: An Accidental African
Simon Fenton
Easy to read
Open to grades 11 & 12 only (Mature themes)
Mr. Kowalski “A fun and quick read that will introduce you to cultures of modern West Africa.”
No Better Friend, No Worse Enemy: The Life of General James Mattis
Jim Proser Moderate reading level
Open to all grades. Releases August, 2018
Mr. Whittenhall
Fearless: The Undaunted Courage and Ultimate Sacrifice of Navy SEAL Team SIX Operator Adam Brown
Eric Blehm Moderate reading level
Open to grades 11 & 12 only (Mature themes)
TBD
Endurance: Shackleton's Incredible Voyage
Alfred Lansing
Moderate reading level
Open to all grades
Mr. Kamper
Educated: A Memoir
Tara Westover
Easy to read Open to all grades
Ms. Pace “Warning: this book does include accounts of abuse.”
Fall River Dreams: A Team's Quest For Glory, A Town's Search For Its Soul
Bill Reynolds
Moderate reading level
Open to all grades
Mr. Salmans
The Sun Does Shine: How I Found Life and Freedom on Death Row
Anthony Ray Hinton
Easy to read Open to all grades
Mrs. Schwartz
Sciences (Political Science, Psychology)
Silent Spring Rachel Carson
Difficult reading level
Open to all grades
Ms. Wick
The Soul of an Octopus
Sy Montgomery
Easy to read Open to all grades
Mrs. L. Milne
The Radium Girls: The Dark Story of America's Shining Women
Kate Moore Easy to read
Open to all grades
Mrs. Murray
Why We Sleep Matthew Walker
Difficult reading level
Open to all grades
Mr. Gitkind
The Champion's Mind: How Great Athletes Think, Train, and Thrive
Jim Afremow
Moderate reading level
Open to all grades
Mr. Ostaszewski
I Can’t Breathe Matt Taibbi Moderate reading level
Open to grades 11 & 12 only (Mature themes)
Mr. Balkus
The Soul of America: The Battle for Our Better Angels
Jon Meacham
Difficult reading level
Open to all grades
Mrs. Swain
The Science of Business
When: The Scientific Secrets of Perfect Timing
Daniel H Pink Moderate reading level
Open to all grades
Mr. Braccini
Science and History
The Wizard and the Prophet
Charles C Mann Difficult reading
Open to all grades
Mr. Donohue
Art History
Vincent Barbara Stok Easily Read Open to all grades
Mr. Kim Graphic (told through images)
Other Non-Fiction
Drama High: The Incredible True Story of a Brilliant Teacher, a Struggling Town, and the Magic of Theater
Michael Sokolove
Easy to read
Open to all grades
Ms. Baumgartner “The TV show Rise is based on this book”
Brazen: Rebel Ladies Who Rocked the World
Penelope Bagieu
Easily Read
Open to all grades
Mrs. JordanGraphic (told through images)
Tell Me How It Ends: An Essay in Forty Questions
Valeria Luiselli
Moderate reading level
Open to all grades
Mrs. McKee
Podcasts
Serial: Season One
hosted by Sarah Koenig
12 Episodes plus 3 Updates
Open to grades 11 & 12 only (Mature themes)
Mrs. Jackson
S-Town hosted by Brian Reed
7 Episodes Open to grades 11 & 12 only (Mature themes)
Mr. Alan, Mr. Passeggio, & Mr. St Martin
Caliphate hosted by Rukmini Callimachi
8 Episodes (and counting)
Open to grades 11 & 12 only (Mature themes)
Mrs. Tighe “It’s fascinating”
Up and Vanished
hosted by Payne Lindsey
24 Episodes Open to grades 11 & 12 only (Mature themes)
Ms. Walleston “The true crime cold case story of a missing high school teacher in Georgia...students should take notes on the case as they listen”
SELECTION IS DUE WEDNESDAY, JUNE 13TH