To make your selection, click Select Your Book.
Remember, you need to keep a journal as you read your book and bring it to the discussion. The journal can be any format, as long as it helps you remember key details so that you are ready to discuss the book in September. Check out the Summer Reading Instructions and Journal Ideas tabs above for more information.
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams
Description from Goodreads: "Seconds before the Earth is demolished to make way for a galactic freeway, Arthur Dent is plucked off the planet by his friend Ford Prefect, a researcher for the revised edition of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy who, for the last fifteen years, has been posing as an out-of-work actor. Together this dynamic pair begin a journey through space aided by quotes from The Hitchhiker's Guide and a galaxy-full of fellow travelers: Zaphod Beeblebrox—the two-headed, three-armed ex-hippie and totally out-to-lunch president of the galaxy; Trillian, Zaphod's girlfriend, whom Arthur tried to pick up at a cocktail party once upon a time zone; and Marvin, a paranoid, brilliant, and chronically depressed robot."
This book was recommended for summer reading by UHS students.
Check out the trailer for the film based on the book.
Check out the trailer for the film based on the book.
High Percentage Fishing: A Statistical Approach to Increasing Catch Rates by Josh Alwine
Description from Goodreads: "High Percentage Fishing offers a practical approach to put more fish in your boat. It freely mixes big bass wisdom from some of the world's greatest fishermen, with statistical findings from a vast database of catch information. Part science, part strategy, this book boils down critical concepts into fundamental truths that will help you catch more fish. Learn about big bass habits and locations, the impact of weather on catch rates, the effect of lunar cycles on fishing, and the best and worst times to fish. Engineer and statistician Josh Alwine slices through the data and demonstrates that some of fishing's oldest and most conventional thinking is little more than myth."
Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson
Description from Goodreads: "Speak up for yourself—we want to know what you have to say. From the first moment of her freshman year at Merryweather High, Melinda knows this is a big fat lie, part of the nonsense of high school. She is friendless, outcast, because she busted an end-of-summer party by calling the cops, so now nobody will talk to her, let alone listen to her. As time passes, she becomes increasingly isolated and practically stops talking altogether. Only her art class offers any solace, and it is through her work on an art project that she is finally able to face what really happened at that terrible party: she was raped by an upperclassman, a guy who still attends Merryweather and is still a threat to her."
Honor Book - 2000 Printz Award for Excellence in Young Adult Literature
Finalist - 1999 National Book Award for Young People’s Literature
Check out the trailer for the 2004 film based on the book.
Check out the trailer for the 2004 film based on the book.
Your Song Changed My Life: From Jimmy Page to St. Vincent, Smokey Robinson to Hozier, Thirty-five Beloved Artists on Their Journey and the Music that Inspired It by Bob Boilen
Description from Goodreads: "Is there an unforgettable song that changed your life? For Wilco’s Jeff Tweedy, it was discovering his sister’s 45 of The Byrds’ “Turn, Turn, Turn.” A young St. Vincent’s life changed the day a box of CDs literally fell off a delivery truck in front of her house. Cat Stevens was transformed when he heard John Lennon cover “Twist and Shout.” These are the momentous yet unmarked events that have shaped these and many other musical talents, and ultimately the sound of modern music. A diverse collection of personal experiences, both ordinary and extraordinary, Your Song Changed My Life illustrates the ways in which music is revived, restored, and revolutionized. It is also a testament to the power of music in our lives, and an inspiration for future artists and music lovers."
Check out this post from Bob Boilen about the book.
If You Find This Letter: My Journey to Find Purpose Through Hundreds of Letters to Strangers by Hannah Brencher
Description from Goodreads: "Fresh out of college, Hannah Brencher moved to New York and found a city full of people who didn’t have time for a girl still trying to figure it all out. Lonely and depressed, she noticed a woman who looked like she felt the same way and did something strange—she wrote the woman a letter. She folded it, scribbled If you find this letter, it’s for you… on the front and left it behind. When she realized that it made her feel better, she started writing and leaving love notes all over the city—in doctor’s offices, in coat pockets, in library books, in bathroom stalls. If You Find This Letter chronicles Hannah’s attempts to bring more love into the world—and shows how she rediscovered her faith through the movement she started."
Check out the website for Hannah Brencher's The World Needs More Love Letters campaign.
The Boys in the Boat: Nine Americans and Their Epic Quest for Gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics by Daniel James Brown
Description from Goodreads: "The University of Washington’s 1936 eight-oar crew team transformed the sport and grabbed the attention of millions of Americans. The sons of loggers, shipyard workers, and farmers, the boys defeated elite rivals and finally the German crew rowing for Adolf Hitler in the Olympic games in Berlin, 1936. They remind the country of what can be done when everyone quite literally pulls together—a perfect melding of commitment, determination, and optimism. Drawing on the boys’ own diaries and journals, their photos and memories of a once-in-a-lifetime shared dream, The Boys in the Boat is an irresistible story about beating the odds and finding hope—the improbable story of nine working-class boys who showed the world what true grit really meant."
Check out the trailer for the book.
Bushcraft 101: A Field Guide to the Art of Wilderness Survival by Dave Canterbury
Description from Goodreads: "The ultimate resource for experiencing the backcountry! Based on the 5Cs of Survivability—cutting tools, covering, combustion devices, containers, and cordages—this valuable guide offers only the most important survival skills to help you craft resources from your surroundings and truly experience the beauty and thrill of the wilderness. Inside, you'll also discover detailed information on choosing the right items for your kit, manufacturing needed tools and supplies, collecting and cooking food, and protecting yourself from the elements. With Canterbury's guidance, you'll not only prepare yourself for any climate and situation, you'll also learn how to use the art of bushcraft to reconnect with nature in ways you've never imagined."
Ready Player One by Ernest Cline
Description from Goodreads: "In the year 2044, reality is an ugly place. The only time teenage Wade Watts really feels alive is when he's jacked into the virtual utopia known as the OASIS. Wade's devoted his life to studying the puzzles hidden within this world's digital confines, puzzles that are based on their creator's obsession with the pop culture of decades past and that promise massive power and fortune to whoever can unlock them. When Wade stumbles upon the first clue, he finds himself beset by players willing to kill to take this ultimate prize. The race is on, and if Wade's going to survive, he'll have to win—and confront the real world he's always been so desperate to escape."
Check out the book trailer.
The Hound of the Baskervilles by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
Description from Goodreads: "Holmes and Watson are faced with their most terrifying case yet. The legend of the devil-beast that haunts the moors around the Baskerville family's home warns the descendants of that ancient clan never to venture out in those dark hours when the power of evil is exalted. Now, the most recent Baskerville, Sir Charles, is dead and the footprints of a giant hound have been found near his body. Will the new heir meet the same fate?"
Saint Anything by Sarah Dessen
Description from Goodreads: "Peyton, Sydney's charismatic older brother, has always been the star of the family, receiving the lion's share of their parents' attention and—lately—concern. When Peyton's reckless behavior culminates in an accident, a drunk driving conviction, and a jail sentence, Sydney is cast adrift, searching for her place in the family and the world. When everyone else is so worried about Peyton, is she the only one concerned about the victim of the accident? Enter the Chathams, a warm, chaotic family who run a pizza parlor, play bluegrass on weekends, and pitch in to care for their mother, who has multiple sclerosis. Here Sydney experiences unquestioning acceptance. And here she meets Mac, gentle, watchful, and protective, who makes Sydney feel seen, really seen, for the first time."
YALSA’s Best Books for Young Adults 2016
This book was recommended for summer reading by UHS students.
Check out Sarah Dessen's website for more info.
Check out Sarah Dessen's website for more info.
Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear by Elizabeth Gilbert
Description from Goodreads: "Readers of all ages and walks of life have drawn inspiration from Elizabeth Gilbert’s books for years. Now this beloved author digs into her own generative process to share her unique perspective about creativity. She asks us to embrace our curiosity and let go of needless suffering. She shows us how to tackle what we most love, and how to face down what we most fear. She discusses the attitudes, approaches, and habits we need in order to live our most creative lives. Balancing between soulful spirituality and cheerful pragmatism, Gilbert encourages us to uncover the “strange jewels” that are hidden within each of us. Whether we are looking to write a book, make art, find new ways to address challenges in our work, embark on a dream long deferred, or simply infuse our everyday lives with more mindfulness and passion, Big Magic cracks open a world of wonder and joy."
Check out Elizabeth Gilbert's website for more info.
An Abundance of Katherines by John Green
Description from Goodreads: "When it comes to relationships, Colin Singleton's type happens to be girls named Katherine. And when it comes to girls named Katherine, Colin is always getting dumped. Nineteen times, to be exact. On a road trip miles from home, this anagram-happy, washed-up child prodigy has ten thousand dollars in his pocket, a bloodthirsty feral hog on his trail, and an overweight, Judge Judy-loving best friend riding shotgun—but no Katherines. Colin is on a mission to prove The Theorem of Underlying Katherine Predictability, which he hopes will predict the future of any relationship, avenge dumpees everywhere, and finally win him the girl."
Honor Book - 2007 Printz Award for Excellence in Young Adult Literature
This author was recommended for summer reading by UHS students.
Check out John Green's website for more info about the book.
Check out John Green's website for more info about the book.
Will Grayson, Will Grayson by John Green and David Levithan
Description from Goodreads: "One cold night, in a most unlikely corner of Chicago, two strangers are about to cross paths. From that moment on, their world will collide and lives intertwine. It's not that far from Evanston to Naperville, but Chicago suburbanites Will Grayson and Will Grayson might as well live on different planets. When fate delivers them both to the same crossroads, the Will Graysons find their lives overlapping and hurtling in new and unexpected directions. With a push from friends new and old—including the massive, and massively fabulous, Tiny Cooper, offensive lineman and musical theater auteur extraordinaire—Will and Will begin building toward respective romantic turns-of-heart and the epic production of history's most awesome high school musical."
These authors were recommended for summer reading by UHS students.
Check out info about the book from John Green's and David Levithan's websites.
Check out info about the book from John Green's and David Levithan's websites.
Joyland by Stephen King
Description from Goodreads: "College student Devin Jones took the summer job at Joyland hoping to forget the girl who broke his heart. But he wound up facing something far more terrible: the legacy of a vicious murder, the fate of a dying child, and dark truths about life—and what comes after—that would change his world forever.A riveting story about love and loss, about growing up and growing old—and about those who don't get to do either because death comes for them before their time—Joyland is at once a mystery, a horror story, and a bittersweet coming-of-age novel, one that will leave even the most hard-boiled reader profoundly moved."
This book was recommended for summer reading by UHS students.
Check out Stephen King's website for more about the book.
Check out Stephen King's website for more about the book.
The Blind Side: Evolution of a Game by Michael Lewis
Description from Goodreads: "When we first meet Michael Oher, he is one of thirteen children by a mother addicted to crack; he does not know his real name, his father, his birthday, or any of the things a child might learn in school such as, say, how to read or write. Nor has he ever touched a football. What changes? He takes up football, and school, after a rich, Evangelical, Republican family plucks him from the mean streets. Their love is the first great force that alters the world's perception of the boy, whom they adopt. The second force is the evolution of professional football itself into a game where the quarterback must be protected at any cost. Our protagonist turns out to be the priceless combination of size, speed, and agility necessary to guard the quarterback's greatest vulnerability: his blind side."
This book was recommended for summer reading by UHS students.
Check out the trailer for the film based on the book.
Check out the trailer for the film based on the book.
All the Bright Places by Jennifer Niven
Description from Goodreads: "Finch is fascinated by death, and he constantly thinks of ways he might kill himself. But each time, something good stops him. Violet lives for the future, counting the days until graduation, when she can escape Indiana and her grief in the wake of her sister’s recent death. When Finch and Violet meet on the ledge of the bell tower at school, it’s unclear who saves whom. When they pair up to discover the “natural wonders” of their state, both Finch and Violet make more important discoveries: It’s only with Violet that Finch can be himself—a weird, funny, live-out-loud guy who’s not such a freak after all. And it’s only with Finch that Violet can forget to count away the days and start living them."
YALSA’s Best Books for Young Adults 2016
This book was recommended for summer reading by UHS students.
Check out the book trailer and Jennifer Niven's website for more info.
Check out the book trailer and Jennifer Niven's website for more info.
Shadowshaper by Daniel José Older
Description from Goodreads: "Sierra Santiago was looking forward to a fun summer of making art, hanging out with her friends, and skating around Brooklyn. But then a weird zombie guy crashes the first party of the season. Sierra's near-comatose abuelo begins to say "No importa" over and over. When graffiti murals start to weep, Sierra soon discovers a supernatural order called the Shadowshapers, who connect with spirits via paintings, music, and stories. Her grandfather once shared the order's secrets with an anthropologist, Dr. Jonathan Wick, who turned the Caribbean magic to his own foul ends. With the help of her friends and graffiti artist Robbie, Sierra must dodge Wick's supernatural creations, harness her own Shadowshaping abilities, and save her family's past, present, and future."
Check out this interview with Daniel José Older about the book.
Zoo by James Patterson and Michael Ledwidge
Description from Goodreads: "All over the world, brutal attacks are crippling entire cities. Jackson Oz, a young biologist, watches the escalating events with an increasing sense of dread. When he witnesses a coordinated lion ambush in Africa, the enormity of the impending violence becomes terrifyingly clear. With the help of ecologist Chloe Tousignant, Oz races to warn world leaders before it's too late. The attacks are growing in ferocity, cunning, and planning, and soon there will be no place left for humans to hide."
This book was recommended for summer reading by UHS students.
Check out the trailer for the TV series based on the book.
Check out the trailer for the TV series based on the book.
Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand
Description from Goodreads: "This is the story of a man who said that he would stop the motor of the world—and did. Was he a destroyer or the greatest of liberators? Why did he have to fight his battle, not against his enemies, but against those who needed him most, and his hardest battle against the woman he loved? What is the world's motor—and the motive power of every man? You will know the answer to these questions when you discover the reason behind the baffling events that play havoc with the lives of the characters in this story. This is a mystery story, not about the murder of a man's body, but about the murder—and rebirth—of man's spirit."
Bone Gap by Laura Ruby
Description from Goodreads: "Everyone knows Bone Gap is full of gaps—gaps to trip you up, gaps to slide through so you can disappear forever. When young, beautiful Roza went missing, people weren’t surprised, and it wasn’t the first time that someone had slipped away and left Finn and Sean O’Sullivan on their own. Finn knows that’s not what happened with Roza. He knows she was kidnapped by a dangerous man whose face he cannot remember. But the searches turn up nothing, and no one believes him anymore. The stories of Finn, Roza, and the people of Bone Gap—their melancholy pasts, their terrifying presents, their uncertain futures—tell a heartbreaking tale of love, loss, magic, mystery, regret, and forgiveness—a story about how the face the world sees is never the sum of who we are."
Winner - 2016 Printz Award for Excellence in Young Adult Literature
Finalist - 2015 National Book Award for Young People’s LiteratureCheck out Laura Ruby's website for more info about the book.
A Darker Shade of Magic by V. E. Schwab
Description from Goodreads: "Kell is one of the last Antari, a rare magician who can travel between parallel worlds: hopping from Grey London, to Red London, to White London, and back, but never Black London. Officially, Kell is the personal ambassador and adopted Prince of Red London, carrying the monthly correspondences between the royals of each London. Unofficially, Kell smuggles for those willing to pay for even a glimpse of a world they’ll never see, and it is this dangerous hobby that sets him up for accidental treason. Fleeing into Grey London, Kell runs afoul of Lila Bard, a cut-purse with lofty aspirations. She robs him, saves him from a dangerous enemy, then forces him to take her with him for her proper adventure. But perilous magic is afoot, and treachery lurks at every turn. To save both his London and the others, Kell and Lila will first need to stay alive—a feat trickier than they hoped."
Check out this video of V. E. Schwab talking about her inspiration for this book.
The Shipkiller by Justin Scott
Description from Goodreads: "It was the largest moving object on the face of the earth, but for Carolyn and Peter Hardin it was a towering wall of steel bursting out of a squall at full speed, bearing down on their ketch Siren. In a few dramatic moments, Siren was shattered by the indifferent juggernaut. Struggling for his life, Peter Hardin felt the hand of his wife being torn from his grip as the huge white letters on the supertanker's stern—Leviathan—steamed away. Thus begins an odyssey of revenge that embraces the distant waters of the world, from the titanic storms of the South Atlantic to the oil-slicked reaches of the Persian Gulf. The Shipkiller is the story of one man determined to win at sea the justice he has been denied on land."
Check out this interview with Justin Scott in Sail magazine about his inspiration and research for the book.
Bomb: The Race to Build--and Steal--the World's Most Dangerous Weapon by Steve Sheinkin
Description from Goodreads: "In December of 1938, a chemist in a German laboratory made a shocking discovery: When placed next to radioactive material, a uranium atom split in two. That simple discovery, dealing with the tiniest of particles, launched a cut-throat race that would span three continents The plays were the greatest scientists, the most expert spies, hardened military commandos, and some of the most ruthless dictators who ever lived. The prize: military dominance over the entire world. This is the story of the plotting, the risk-taking, the deceit, and genius that created the world's most formidable weapon. This is the story of the atomic bomb."
Winner - 2013 YALSA Award for Excellence in Nonfiction
Finalist - 2012 National Book Award for Young People’s Literature
Check out the publisher's website for more info and images of key events in the book.
Check out the publisher's website for more info and images of key events in the book.
The Light Between Oceans by M. L. Stedman
Description from Goodreads: "After four harrowing years on the Western Front, Tom returns to Australia and takes a job as the lighthouse keeper on Janus Rock. To this isolated island, where the supply boat comes once a season and shore leaves are granted every other year at best, Tom brings a young, bold, and loving wife, Isabel. Years later, after two miscarriages and one stillbirth, the grieving Isabel hears a baby’s cries on the wind. A boat has washed up onshore carrying a dead man and a living baby. Against Tom’s judgment, they claim her as their own and name her Lucy. When she is two, Tom and Isabel return to the mainland and are reminded that there are other people in the world. Their choice has devastated one of them, and we are swept into a story about extraordinarily compelling characters seeking to find their North Star in a world where there is no right answer, where justice for one person is another’s tragic loss."
Check out the trailer for the upcoming film based on the book.
Rose Under Fire by Elizabeth Wein
Description from Goodreads: "Rose Justice is a young American ATA pilot, delivering planes and taxiing pilots for the RAF in the UK during the summer of 1944. A budding poet who feels most alive while flying, she discovers that not all battles are fought in the air. An unforgettable journey from innocence to experience, from the exhilaration of being the youngest pilot in the British air transport auxiliary, to the aftermath of surviving the notorious Ravensbruck women's concentration camp, Rose's story is one of courage in the face of adversity."
(Companion novel to 2014 summer reading option Code Name Verity. This novel can be read on its own.)
Check out Elizabeth Wein's website for tons of background on the Ravensbruck camp and the women held there.
Everything, Everything by Nicola Yoon
Description from Goodreads: "Madeline Whittier is allergic to the outside world. So allergic, in fact, that she has never left the house in all of her seventeen years. But when Olly moves in next door, and wants to talk to Maddie, tiny holes start to appear in the protective bubble her mother has built around her. Olly writes his IM address on a piece of paper, shows it at her window, and suddenly, a door opens. But does Maddie dare to step outside her comfort zone? Everything, Everything is about the thrill and heartbreak that happens when we break out of our shell to do crazy, sometimes death-defying things for love."
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