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 lculliton@walpole.k12.ma.us. 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