HIGH SCHOOL SUMMER READING PROGRAM for Regents students entering grades 9, 10, and 11 "The impulse to dream...surged up again and I hungered for books, new ways of looking and seeing. It was not a matter of believing or disbelieving what I read, but of feeling something new, of being affected by something that made the look of the world different." From "The Power of Books" by Richard Wright

Reading is a pursuit that deserves to become a habit. We hope that all of our students will develop a love of literature that sustains them throughout their lives, but such a goal cannot be realized without constant practice. Research indicates that students risk losing as much as twenty-five percent of their reading ability over the summer months. In order to avoid that consequence, the high school English department has designed a summer reading program that will help you to maintain your skills. All students are to read and prepare one book over the summer. You are to select this book from the suggested summer reading list on the Penfield School District website. When you return to school in the fall, you will be asked to demonstrate your familiarity with the book by responding in writing to questions posed by your English teacher. Though this will not be an open book assessment, you may use any journal responses that you wrote over the summer while reading the text. To that end, we strongly recommend that you keep a reader response journal by using some of the strategies identified on the back of this page. Teachers are primarily interested in your ability to reflect on how the themes and ideas of your book provided an enjoyable and stimulating summer reading experience. We will be delighted, of course, if you choose to read more than one book. Consult the displays at local book stores, and don't neglect to visit the library. Most of all, be prepared to acquire "new ways of looking and seeing." Enjoy!

Penfield English Department

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LITERATURE JOURNAL STRATEGIES Purpose: This is your opportunity to respond honestly, thoughtfully, creatively, and personally to reading selections without the fear of being "wrong." Your goal is to make meaning out of what you have read in order to improve your comprehension and appreciation. Rather than relying on the teacher's expertise or outside critical authorities, you will become your own reading expert. Ideally, a dialogue will occur between you and the author. Not only will you become a better reader as you write in response to what you have read, but your teacher will have a much better understanding of who you are as a reader and thinker. Below are several reader response strategies. Although literature journals are not required, it is recommended that you feel free to "mix and match" the strategies, and do not merely summarize. Instead muse, take risks, and enjoy the freedom of writing in your own voice.  Freewriting − Write whatever comes to mind without stopping! Do not censor your thoughts or edit, and don't lift the pen!  React / Identify − React to or identify with a character's choice. What would you have done differently? When has something similar happened to you? Register those strong feelings! Recall similar moments in films, other books, or your actual life.  Reflect −Muse on what you've read and imagine alternatives. Consider what the author is attempting to show you. Identify significant moments in the book and suggest how these moments matter.  Questions, questions, questions − While reading, note in the margins (or on a post-it note) where you have questions of "genuine doubt." After your reading session, write out these questions of interpretation and reflect on how they might be answered. You should find that the best questions will generate many interesting responses.  Anticipate − Make and remake hypotheses about your reading. Imagine how the characters will act, how the narrative might unfold, how the author might resolve the conflict.  Prioritize − Learn to isolate those words or images that recur. (Good writers do not repeat themselves unintentionally.) Copy passages that strike you as important, and consider thematic implications. Trust your instincts! Listed on the following pages are the suggested summer reading lists for all students enrolled in English during the next academic year.

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You will select and read one book from the appropriate list. What To Expect When you get back to school you will discuss the books with your teacher. To do well, you will need to know the major events of the book, the characters, the setting, and other literary terms. You will also need to be able to discuss the themes and symbols of the book and be able to state and substantiate an opinion of the book. The assignment will be up to the discretion of your teacher.

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Summer Reading  Before Entering Ninth Grade Adams, Douglas

The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy c1980 humor, science fiction After narrowly escaping Earth's destruction, Arthur Dent travels the galaxy with the help of tour guide Ford Prefect, on a quest to save the universe.

Anderson, Laurie Halse

Speak c1999 emotional problems, fiction Melinda begins high school as a social outcast after a traumatic experience in the summer.

Baker, Russell

Growing Up c1992 nonfiction Critical review of work by a journalist about his life, family, the great depression, hardship, and hope.

Basich, Tina

Pretty Good for a Girl: The Autobiography of a Snowboarding Pioneer c2003 non fiction Champion snowboarder Tina Basich tells her life story, explaining how she got into the sport, how she and her fellow female boarders helped it grow, how she has juggled with the pressures of life, love, competition, and how she has used her talents to help causes such as breast cancer research.

Beah, Ishmael

A Long Way Gone c2008 memoir A gripping story of a child's journey through hell and back. There may be as many as 300,000 child soldiers, hopped-up on drugs and wielding AK-47s, in more than fifty conflicts around the world. Ishmael Beah used to be one of them. He is one of the first to tell his story in his own words.

Blackwood, Gary

The Year of the Hangman c2002 fiction In 1777, 15-year-old Creighton is kidnapped from England and taken to the American colonies, where he becomes involved in the political unrest that can change the course of history.

Carchidi, Sam

Standing Tall: The Kevin Everett Story c2008 nonfiction In a matter of a few seconds a strong, promising young Buffalo Bills player lay paralyzed after a violent collision on the field. This is the story of Kevin's strength and determination to regain his life.

Cashore, Kristin

Graceling c2008 science fiction/fantasy Katsa has an extraordinary talent. A scary talent. She can kill people with skill and ease. This is her Grace. Her uncle, the king, uses her gift to his advantage, making her do all his dirty work. Seven kingdoms hang in the balance and the key to holding them together or destroying them all rests with her. 3

Dessen, Sarah

The Truth about Forever c2004 fiction The summer after her father dies holds unexpected changes that help Marcy face her grief.

Dickens, Charles

Oliver Twist c1867 classic; fiction An orphan in Victorian England finds his true identity through his misadventures.

Dumas, Alexandre

The Count of Monte Cristo c1846 historical fiction, classic This classic adventure novel involves a daring prison escape, a risky search for buried treasure and a quest for revenge.

Evans, Richard Paul

Michael Vey: The Prisoner of Cell 25 c2011 science fiction Ninth grade can be brutal, especially if you are an undersized boy dealing with Tourette's Syndrome. Add bullies, disingenuous authority figures, a geeky best friend, a loving but financially strapped parent, and you have a relatable protagonist who just happens to have an amazing superpower. Michael Vey can zap people with electricity. With his mother's help, he has been able to keep his "mutation" a secret until the eventful day when popular cheerleader, Taylor, witnesses him defending himself against three tormentors.

Farmer, Nancy

The House of the Scorpion c2002 science fiction In the future, clones are looked down upon by humans. However, Matt, a clone of a powerful leader, experiences special privileges.

Foreman, Gayle

If I Stay c2009 fiction In a single moment, everything changes. Seventeen-year-old Mia has no memory of the accident; she can only recall riding along the snow-wet Oregon road with her family. Then, in a blink, she finds herself watching as her own damaged body is taken from the wreck. A sophisticated, layered, and heartachingly beautiful story about the power of family and friends, the choices we all make - and the ultimate choice Mia commands.

Halberstam, David

Firehouse c2002 nonfiction, biography The story of one man's survival during the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

Krakauer, Jon

Into Thin Air: A Personal Account of the Mount Everest Disaster c1998 nonfiction/survival In March 1996, a group of people joined an expedition to climb Mount Everest. This group included journalist Jon Krakauer and lead climber Rob Hall. Despite the expertise of the climbers, the expedition met with disaster. Krakauer analyzes why.

Lord, Walter

A Night to Remember c1955 nonfiction, history The story of the sinking of the Titanic is told in a "you were there" approach. 4

Medley, Linda

Castle Waiting c2006 graphic novel This graphic novel takes place in a world of fairy tales and mythology. It brings together characters from many classic tales.

Murdock, Catherine

Dairy Queen c2006 fiction With humor, sports action, romance and wit, this book could appeal to both male and female. The interesting and empathetic characters in nonconventional roles provide "food for thought" and provide insight into situations not usually covered in young adult fiction.

Murray, Jaye

Bottled Up c2003 drug abuse, fiction Pip must face his high school principal, his drug addiction, his alcoholic father and a younger brother who looks up to him.

Myers, Walter Dean

Bad Boy: A Memoir c2002 memoir Bad Boy is the story of Walter Dean Myers' life in the streets of Harlem and the challenges he faced from drugs, gangs and the feeling of having no hope to ever succeed. Walter Dean Myers paints a vivid picture of the challenges a young kid in Harlem had to deal with in hopes of finding himself.

Myers, Walter Dean

Monster c1984 fiction This is the story of 16-year-old Steve Harmon, a black boy who is caught up in a series of accused murder and robbery. He battles to prove his innocence and battles the prosecution.

Nolan, Han

Dancing on the Edge c2007 fiction Miracle McCloy feels like a misfit in a dysfunctional family. Her mother died when she was born and her distant, brooding father disappears suddenly. Raised by her psychic grandmother, Gigi, Miracle searches for her identity and dancing becomes the only thing that makes Miracle feel like a whole person. After being committed to the psychiatric ward of a hospital, Miracle must face the truth about her past.

Pierson, D.C.

The Boy Who Couldn't Sleep and Never Had To c2010 science fiction Like any right-thinking teenager who has grown up on Star Wars and comic books, Darren knows that if there's anything unique about you, men in suits and dark glasses will show up and take you away. This knowledge takes on a new immediacy when Darren discovers that his new best bud, Eric, has a strange, well, superpower: he literally never sleeps and never has to!

Runyon, Brent

The Burn Journals c2005 memoir This is the true story of a 14-year old who set himself on fire in his household bathroom. He suffered third-degree burns over 85% of his body and spent the next year recovering in hospitals and rehab facilities. During that year of physical recovery, Runyon began to question what he'd done, undertaking the complicated journey from near-death back to high school, and from suicide back to the emotional mainstream of life. 5

Strasser, Todd

Give a Boy a Gun c2000 fiction High school students Gary Searle and Brendan Lawlor enter a Friday night school dance heavily armed with automatic weapons. They intend a carefully planned payback against their school mates.

Tharp, Tim

Knights of the Hill Country c2006 fiction Hampton Green is a star linebacker of the Kennisaw Knights, and he feels the weight of carrying on his team's fifth undefeated season. Things are heavy at home, too, where he often finds his single mother with a new guy. This is a sensitive portrait of small-town life and a young athlete's growing awareness that he is more than just the sport he plays so well.

Uchida, Yosiko

Desert Exile: The Uprooting of a Japanese-American Family c1982 nonfiction, survival After the attack on Pearl Harbor, like many other Japanese-American families, Yoshiko's family is assigned to an internment camp in Utah.

Woodson, Jacqueline

Behind You c2004 African American fiction After fifteen-year-old Jeremiah is mistakenly shot by the police, his loved ones struggle to cope with his loss, unaware that he is watching over them.

 Before Entering Tenth Grade

Alexie, Sherman

Flight c2007 Native American fiction A teenager in a new foster home wrestles with the anger and injustice of his own situation and contemplates violence before taking a jolting time travel journey to examine the conquest of Native Americans and the consequences of hatred from various viewpoints.

Anderson, M. T.

Feed c2002 science fiction, war People in this futuristic society constantly receive information and commercials from computers implanted in their brains at birth. The story criticizes our consumer-driven society.

Asher, Jay

Thirteen Reasons Why c2007 fiction Clay Jensen returns home from school to find a mysterious box with his name on it lying on his porch. Inside he discovers several cassette tapes recorded by Hannah Baker - his classmate and crush - who committed suicide two weeks earlier.

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Bascomb, Neal

The New Cool c2011 nonfiction The New Cool introduces the reader to the D'Penquineers, a group of 32 high school seniors who attend the engineering academy at Dos Pueblos High School in Goleta, California. The book follows these students as, led by physics teacher Amir Abe-Shaeer, they work to create a robot for FIRST, a worldwide competition.

Bissinger, Harry Gerard

Friday Night Lights: A Town, a Team and a Dream c2000 nonfiction, sports The story of a high school football team in Texas and their struggle to win the championship in 1988.

Cary, Kate

Bloodline: A Novel c2005 vampire, historical fiction A British soldier in World War I finds out that his regiment commander is a descendant of Count Dracula.

Doctorow, Cory

Little Brother c2008 science fiction Marcus Yallow is a tech-savvy teen who is engaged in the latest trendy game, one that combines computers and reality. While playing this game in the streets of San Francisco, terrorists attack the Bay Bridge and Marcus and his friends are quickly caught up in the net of a neartotalitarian Department of Homeland Security.

Green, Tim

Ruffians c1993 fiction Clay Blackwell is the first-round draft pick of the Birmingham Ruffians, an NFL expansion team owned by an unprincipled businessman. Blackwell soon finds himself under pressure to go along with the head coach's program, which includes violent practice sessions, psychological manipulation, and black-market steroids.

Grisham, John

Bleachers c2003 fiction Neely Crenshaw returns to his home town awaiting the death of his critically ill high school football coach in a town where football is everything. Former players gather on the bleachers to reflect on past games and the coach they all loved and hated.

Hall, Meredith

Without a Map: A Memoir c2007 memoir Meredith Hall grew up in a small, close-knit town with a mother who loved her unconditionally until she became pregnant at age 16. Expelled from school and thrown out of her house, Hall lived with her father and step-mother until she had the baby and put him up for adoption. Banned from her step-father's house forever, she spent more than a decade trying to put her life back together and wondering about her son.

Korman, Gordon

Son of the Mob c2002 humorous fiction Most kids have to worry about acne, studying, and trying to find a way to get a car -- high school isn't an easy time for anybody! But what do you do if you've not only got to worry about high school, but a father who is a mobster, as well? 7

Haddon, Mark

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time c2003 fiction Christopher, a mathematically-gifted but socially challenged autistic teen, uncovers secrets about his own family while investigating the murder of a neighbor's dog.

Hoffman, Beth

Saving CeeCee Honeycutt: A Novel c2010 fiction Twelve-year-old CeeCee is in trouble. For years she's been the caretaker of her psychotic mother, Camille − the crown-wearing, lipstick-smeared laughingstock of an entire town. Though it's 1967 and they live in Ohio, Camille believes it's 1951 and she's just been crowned the Vidalia Onion queen of Georgia.

Jackson, Livia Bitter

I Have Lived a Thousand Years c1999 nonfiction The memoir of Elli Friedman, who recounts what it was like to be one of the few teenage inmates of Auschwitz.

Jeter, Derek

The Life You Imagine: Life Lessons for Achieving Your Dreams c2000 nonfiction, sports An account of the inspirational life of baseball player Derek Jeter.

Naidoo, Beverly

Out of Bounds: Seven Stories of Conflict and Hope c2001 South African fiction Set in the South Africa of the Apartheid period, the stories tell of the experiences of young people from different races as they cope with the society's many restrictions.

Oher, Michael

I Beat the Odds c2011 memoir Michael Oher, the NFL football player and the inspiration behind "The Blind Side," tells his story of triumph in this revealing memoir. I Beat the Odds is a thoughtful and heartfelt book about a young man coming to grips with an amazing journey.

Picoult, Jodi

The Story Teller c2013 fiction Sage Singer is a baker. She works through the night, preparing the day's bread and pastries, trying to escape a reality of loneliness, bad memories, and the shadow of her mother's death. When Josef Weber, an elderly man in Sage's grief support group, begins stopping by the bakery, they strike up an unlikely friendship. Despite their differences, they see in each other the hidden scars that others can't. Jodi Picoult gracefully explores the lengths to which we will go in order to keep the past from dictating the future

Riggs, Ransom

Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children c2011 fiction/fantasy A horrific family tragedy sets sixteen-year-old Jacob journeying to a remote island off the coast of Wales, where he discovers the crumbling ruins of Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children. As Jacob explores its abandoned bedrooms and hallways, it becomes clear that the children were more than just peculiar. They may have been dangerous. They may have been quarantined on a deserted island for good reason. And somehow-impossible though it seems-they may still be alive. 8

Satrapi, Marjane

Persepolis: The Story of a Childhood c2003 nonfiction, biography, graphic novel Graphic novel depicting how the author lived in Tehran, Iran until the country came under the control of the Islamic regime.

Shepard, Adam

Scratch Beginnings: Me, $25, and the Search for the American Dream c2010 nonfiction Adam Shepard graduated from college in the summer of 2006 feeling disillusioned by the apathy he saw around him. Carrying only a sleeping bag, the clothes on his back, and $25 in cash, and restricted from using previous contacts or relying on his college education, he set out for a randomly selected city with one objective: work his way out of homelessness and into a life that would give him the opportunity for success.

Sielski, Mike

Fading Echoes: A True Story of Rivalry and Brotherhood from the Football Fields to the Fields of Honor c2009 nonfiction Sielski tells the tale of two football players on rival high school teams. Both were star athletes who after graduation chased dreams of playing college ball. But in the wake of the 9/11 attacks, the two heard the call to serve their country. Both were sent to the Middle East in 2006, but only one came home, and the loss left the locals shaken.

Sittenfeld, Curtis

Prep: A Novel c2005 coming of age fiction At the age of fourteen, Lee Fiora leaves her middle-class and close-knit Indiana family behind to embark on a new life in an elite co-ed boarding school in Massachusetts.

Smith, Betty

A Tree Grows in Brooklyn c1943 fiction A coming of age story of Francie Nolan, who grows up with a sweet, tragic father, a realistic mother, an aunt who gives her love too freely, and a brother who will always be the favored child.

Spiegelman, Art

Maus: A Survivor's Tale I and II c1972 historical fiction, graphic novel A memoir about Vladek Spiegelman, a Jewish survivor of Auschwitz and about his son, a cartoonist, who tries to come to terms with his father, his story and history itself.

Stiefvater, Maggie

Shiver c2009 fiction Told through the two main characters, Sam and Gracie, Shiver is an unusual love story. Sam is a werewolf who must fight to stay human.

Stork, Francisco

Marcelo in the Real World c2009 fiction Marcelo is a high functioning autistic boy who hears music in his head and has an amazing memory for the Bible. 9

Volponi, Paul

Black and White c2005 interracial friendship, fiction Two friends experience the justice system differently after committing a crime and getting caught.

Zusak, Marcus

The Book Thief c2006 historical fiction This is a story told by Death: Set in Germany during WWII, it is the story of a young girl, who in spite of having a terrible life, manages to have glimpses of pleasure through stealing books.

 Before Entering Eleventh Grade

Bradley, James

Flags of Our Fathers c2000 nonfiction The son of one of the six men who raised the flag at Iwo Jima tells the story of these men who came together in a moment that will live forever.

Brooks, Martha

True Confessions of a Heartless Girl c2003 fiction A confused seventeen-year-old girl, a single mother and her young son, two elderly women and a lonely man come together to form a community in a small Manitoba town.

Brown, Dan

Angels and Demons c2000 fiction World-renowned Harvard symbologist Robert Langdon is summoned to a Swiss research facility to analyze a mysterious symbol seared into the chest of a murdered physicist. He discovers the resurgence of an ancient secret brotherhood, the Illuminati, that has surfaced to carry out the final phase of its vendetta against the Catholic Church.

Bruno, Dave

The 100 Thing Challenge: How I Got Rid of Almost Everything, Remade My Life and Regained My Soul c2010 memoir Dave Bruno relates how he remade his life by getting rid of almost everything. More than just the story of how one man started a movement to unhook himself from consumerism, it's also an inspiring guide to how we all can begin to live simpler, more meaningful lives.

Crichton, Michael

Prey c2002 science fiction A cloud of intelligent self-sustaining, self-reproducing robots has escaped from a laboratory. Programmed as a predator, it cannot be destroyed and grows more dangerous as time passes.

Fey, Tina

Bossypants c2011 nonfiction From her youthful days as a vicious nerd to her tour of duty on Saturday Night Live; from her passionately halfhearted pursuit of physical beauty to her life as a mother eating things off the floor; from her one-sided college romance to her nearly fatal honeymoon, comedian Tina Fey reveals all, and proves that you're no one until someone calls you bossy. 10

Gantos, Jack

A Hole in My Life c2002 biography For 10,000 dollars, Jack Gantos agreed to help smuggle a ton of hashish into New York, but he was caught by federal agents and was sentenced to 6 years in jail.

Gladwell, Malcolm

Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference c2000 nonfiction, social issues Gladwell notes how small changes in human behavior can start a fad or change the world.

Harrison, Kathy

Another Place at the Table 2004 memoir The startling and ultimately uplifting narrative of one woman's thirteenyear experience as a foster parent. For more than a decade, Kathy Harrison has sheltered a shifting cast of troubled youngsters-the offspring of prostitutes and addicts; the sons and daughters of abusers; and teenage parents who aren't equipped for parenthood. All this, in addition to raising her three biological sons and two adopted daughters. What would motivate someone to give herself over to constant, largely uncompensated chaos? For Harrison, the answer is easy. Another Place at the Table is the story of life at our social services' front lines, centered on three children who, when they come together in Harrison's home, nearly destroy it. It is the frank first-person story of a woman whose compassionate best intentions for a child are sometimes all that stand between violence and redemption.

Hersey, John

Hiroshima c1985 nonfiction, WWII An emotionally wrenching account of 6 survivors of the Hiroshima bombing. They vividly recount the horrors of the first few days and explain how their lives have been forever changed. The descriptions of what happened to the victims and the death that occurred are nightmarish yet all too real.

Hicks, Robert

The Widow of the South c2005 historical fiction Carnton Plantation, 1894: Carrie McGavock is an old woman who tends the graves of the almost 1,500 soldiers buried there. As she walks among the dead, an elderly man appears--the same soldier she met that fateful day long ago. Today, he asks if the cemetery has room for one more. Based on an extraordinary true story, this novel flashes back to 1864 and the afternoon of the Civil War. When a wounded soldier named Zachariah Cashwell arrives at her house, he awakens feelings she had thought long dead--and inspires a passion as powerful and unforgettable as the war that consumes a nation.

Hoffman, Alice

The Story Sisters c2009 fiction Elv, Meg and Clair Story share a secret imaginary world and a private language that they speak to each other. The oldest, Elv, engages in 11

dangerously reckless behavior, including taking drugs. Elv's mother decides to send her oldest to rehab. After she comes home, Elv is responsible for a death that estranges her from her family. Hopkins, Ellen

Crank c2004 fiction The story of a young girl's downhill slide into drug abuse. Kristina Snow is the perfect daughter until she begins a wild ride that will change her life.

Irving, John

A Prayer for Owen Meany c1989 fiction Social outcast Owen Meany hits a foul ball that kills his best friend Johnny Wheelwright's mother. Johnny claims "Owen gave me more than he ever took from me..." Owen believes he's God's instrument and journeys on a path of love, disclosure, and sacrifice.

Jenks, Andrew

My Adventures As a Young Filmmaker Meet the filmmaker who is the voice of his generation! Behind the camera, Andrew Jenks has captured the attention of young adults everywhere with his innovative MTV documentary series, World of Jenks. When asked about his inspiration for the show, Jenks said, "I want to tell the stories of my generation. I want to be a filmmaker that is able to capture what my generation thinks, how they act, and what they ultimately stand for. "Now fans of all ages will be able to discover everything they’ve ever wanted to know about Jenks, from growing up to becoming a renowned documentary filmmaker in this comprehensive photo-biography. How did he do it? By following his own rules for success-always be flexible, fake it till you make it, and never accept no.

Larson, Erik

The Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic and Madness at the Fair that Changed America c2003 nonfiction, history Erik Larson tells the parallel stories of Daniel Burnham, the main architect of the 1893 Chicago World's Fair, and serial killer Henry H. Homes, who used the fair to lure victims to their deaths.

Luttrell, Marcus

Lone Survivor: The Eyewitness Account of Operation Redwing and the Last Heroes of SEAL Team 10 c2007 nonfiction On a clear night in late June 2005, four U.S. Navy SEALs left their base in northern Afghanistan for the mountainous Pakistani border. Their mission was to capture or kill a notorious al Qaeda leader known to be ensconced in a Taliban stronghold surrounded by a small but heavily armed force. Less than twenty-four hours later, only one of those Navy SEALs remained alive. This is the story of fire team leader Marcus Luttrell, the sole survivor of Operation Redwing, and the desperate battle in the mountains that led, ultimately, to the largest loss of life in Navy SEAL history.

McCourt, Frank

Angela's Ashes c1996 memoir McCourt, son of recent Irish immigrants, was born in Depression-era Brooklyn and raised in the slums of Limerick, Ireland. His mother, Angela, has no money to feed the children since his father, Malachy, 12

rarely works and when he does, drinks his wages.

Murray, Liz

Breaking Night: A Memoir of forgiveness, survival, and my journey from homeless to Harvard c2010 memoir Liz Murray is the daughter of drug addicts who died of AIDS. By the age of six she was accustomed to watching her parents shoot up. By 15 she left home, rode subways at night to stay warm, slept in stairwells or at friends' houses, and became involved with a teenage coke dealer. Murray returned to high school at age 17 with a goal of graduating and won a New York Times scholarship that earned her a place at Harvard.

Owen, Mark

No Easy Day – the Firsthand Account of the Mission that Killed Osama Bin Laden 2012 memoir For the first time anywhere, the first-person account of the planning and execution of the Bin Laden raid from a Navy Seal who confronted the terrorist mastermind and witnessed his final moments. From the streets of Iraq to the rescue of Captain Richard Phillips in the Indian Ocean, and from the mountaintops of Afghanistan to the third floor of Osama Bin Laden’s compound, operator Mark Owen of the U.S. Naval Special Warfare Development Group--commonly known as SEAL Team Six-- has been a part of some of the most memorable special operations in history, as well as countless missions that never made headlines. No Easy Day puts readers alongside Owen and the other handpicked members of the twenty-four-man team as they train for the biggest mission of their lives. The blow-by-blow narrative of the assault, beginning with the helicopter crash that could have ended Owen’s life straight through to the radio call confirming Bin Laden’s death, is an essential piece of modern history.

Picoult, Jodi

House Rules c2010 fiction Jacob Hunt, a teenage boy with Asperger's Syndrome, has a special focus on one subject - forensic analysis. He always shows up at crime scenes, thanks to the police scanner he keeps in his room, and tells the cops what do to, and he's usually right. One day his tutor is found dead, and the police come to question him.

Paolini, Christopher

Eragon, Book I of the Inheritance Cycle c2005 fantasy Eragon, a young farm boy, finds a marvelous blue stone in a mystical mountain place. Before he can trade it for food to get his family through the hard winter, it hatches a beautiful sapphire-blue dragon, a race thought to be extinct. Eragon bonds with the dragon, and when his family is killed by the marauding Ra'zac, he discovers that he is the last of the Dragon Riders, fated to play a decisive part in the coming war.

Preston, Richard

Hot Zone c1994 nonfiction, science, nature The story of an outbreak of the Ebola virus among monkeys in a Virginia laboratory in 1989. 13

See, Lisa

Snow Flower and the Secret Fan c2005 historical fiction, China This elegantly written novel takes place in 19th century China when girls suffered from foot binding. It tells the story of "nu shu," a secret language between Chinese women. The story is suspenseful and poignant and provides insight into a non-western culture.

Sheinkin, Steve

The Notorious Benedict Arnold: A True Story of Adventure, Heroism, & Treachery Treating history as mystery, Sheinkin takes readers through means, motive, and opportunity as he outlines Arnold’s path towards treason. This well researched (with liberal use of primary sources) cradle to grave biography emphasizes the political, social, and military issues within the Colonial army and how Arnold ambitiously maneuvered his own career through grit and determination.“In this illuminating biography, Sheinkin proves that spoilers don’t matter—it’s not whether or not Arnold betrayed his country, but why,” said YALSA Nonfiction Award Chair Jennifer Hubert.

Smithson, Ryan

Ghosts of War: The True Story of a 19-Year-Old GI c2009 memoir Ryan Smithson joined the Army Reserves when he was seventeen as a reaction to the September 11 attacks. Two years later, he was deployed to Iraq as an Army engineer for a one-year deployment. After his return home he faced difficulty in adjusting to life again.

Strassen, J. P.

Deogratis: A Tale of Rwanda c2006 graphic novel Deogratis follows the grim fate of a boy trapped in the midst of the Rwandan genocide. Deogratis is the name of a 14-year-old Hutu who is forced to witness and became involved in brutal acts of violence.

Thompson, Neal

A Curious Man: The Strange and Brilliant Life of Robert "Believe It or Not!" Ripley c2013 nonfiction Like some old uncle you run into at family gatherings, LeRoy Robert Ripley was both charming and odd. He was obsessed with the weird, the gross, and the silly pun (a favorite town in Iceland was pronounced "Hell," ergo lots of "Go to Hell" jokes). Born sometime in the 1890s (the record is unclear), he grew into a wildly talented cartoonist and radio personality who became rich in the Depression, eventually turning his fascinations into the Believe It or Not brand that survives to this day. With wit and passion, Neal Thompson, an Amazon senior editor, has chronicled this interesting weirdo's life--just his amorous adventures could fill a book--and in the process come up with a portrait of early 20th-century America different from any you’ve read before. Trust us, which is 21st-century speak for: believe it or not! --Sara Nelson

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LH/BK/tl Summer Reading List Revised 2013

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