When school is out, kids want to relax and enjoy the summer. An easy way to enjoy the summer and get prepared for the upcoming school year is through reading. Reading provides new adventures with each book that you pick up. It’s fun and doesn’t feel like work.
The suggested reading lists for high school students still include mostly classic novels. These books have stood the test of time. Also, the lists have been updated to include books written in the last twenty years that have had an impact on society.
For a rising ninth grader, reading comprehension is a valuable skill. Being able to explain what you have been reading is where most students are deficient. This is evident on standardized tests given at the end of the school year. Getting your teenager to read over the summer and ask questions about the subject matter goes a long way to combating this problem.
Some suggested books: The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens by Sean Covey, A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens, The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Lord of the Flies by Sir William Golding, The Time Machine by H. G. Wells, Call of the Wild by Jack London, and The Prince and the Pauper by Mark Twain.
Tenth graders have had a year of high school and are acquainted with the classic novels. They know which authors they like. They are also open to new genres and more involved adventures.
Some suggested books: Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury, Outbreak by Robin Cook, The Hunchback of Notre Dame by Victor Hugo, The Hobbit by J. R. R. Tolkein, Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie, and Night by Elie Weisel.
By the eleventh grade, teenagers will want something more challenging. Non-fiction books that tell an interesting story about life help young people see their own life through different eyes. Their focus becomes introspective.
Some suggested books: A Lesson before Dying by Ernest Gaines, Angela’s Ashes by Frank McCourt, The Water is Wide by Pat Conroy, and Profiles in Courage by John F. Kennedy.
Twelfth grade seniors are preparing to head into their last year of high school before college. They will need to be well read to compete in college. Choosing from a bit of everything will help.
Some suggested books: Having our Say: The Delaney Sisters First 100 Years by Sarah and Elizabeth Delaney, Slaughterhouse Five by Kurt Vonnegut, The Color Purple by Alice Walker, and The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown.
Through reading, teenagers will spend the summer learning without even knowing it. Join them and read something that you haven’t read or revisit a few old friends.
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