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Freshman (9th Grade)

All incoming students will choose one book from each list below.  A brief summary and content considerations are listed below for each book.

List 1: Identity and Self-Discovery

  • Monster by Walter Dean Myers*
    • Summary: Steve Harmon, a 16-year-old aspiring filmmaker, is on trial for his alleged involvement in a robbery-turned-murder. To cope with the stress of the trial and his time in jail, Steve documents his experiences in the form of a screenplay interspersed with journal entries, exploring themes of identity and societal perception.
    • Content Considerations: The novel contains references to assault, prison violence, and mentions of sexual assault and rape. 

  • Piecing Me Together by Renée Watson*
    • Summary: Jade, an African American teen, strives for success while navigating the challenges of race, gender, and socio-economic status. She participates in a mentorship program, learning to find and express her voice.
    • Content Considerations: The book addresses issues of racism, microaggressions, and socio-economic disparities.

  • Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson*
    • Summary: Melinda, a high school freshman, becomes selectively mute after a traumatic event. Through art, she gradually confronts and processes her experience, finding her voice again.
    • Content Considerations: The novel deals with sexual assault, depression, and bullying.

  • All American Boys by Jason Reynolds
    • Summary: Rashad, an African American teen, is mistakenly accused of theft and violently arrested, leading to a national outcry. The story alternates between Rashad and Quinn, a white classmate who witnesses the incident, exploring themes of racism and police brutality.
    • Content Considerations: The book includes depictions of violence, racial profiling, and systemic racism.

  • I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter by Erika L. Sánchez
    • Summary: After the death of her sister Olga, Julia struggles with her family's expectations and her own aspirations, delving into family secrets and her cultural identity.
    • Content Considerations: The novel addresses topics such as mental health, suicide, and familial pressure.

List 2: The Struggle Between Good and Evil

  • The Giver by Lois Lowry
    • Summary: In a society devoid of pain and strife, 12-year-old Jonas is selected to inherit the position of Receiver of Memory. He uncovers the dark secrets behind his community's facade of perfection.
    • Content Considerations: The book includes themes of euthanasia, emotional suppression, and controlled society. 

  • Game Changer by Tommy Greenwald
    • Summary: Teddy Youngblood, a high school football player, lies in a coma after a training incident. As his family and community grapple with the aftermath, secrets about the team's culture emerge.
    • Content Considerations: The novel addresses hazing, sports injuries, and peer pressure.

  • Borderline by Allan Stratton
    • Summary: Sami Sabiri, a Muslim teenager, faces bullying at school and turmoil at home when his father is accused of terrorism, challenging his understanding of truth and loyalty.
    • Content Considerations: The book includes themes of racial profiling, discrimination, and family conflict.

  • The Young Elites by Marie Lu*
    • Summary: Adelina Amouteru, a survivor of a deadly illness, gains mysterious powers and joins a group of similarly gifted youths. She grapples with her abilities and the darkness within her.
    • Content Considerations: The novel contains violence, death, and moral ambiguity.

  • Daughter of Smoke & Bone by Laini Taylor
    • Summary: Karou, an art student in Prague, is drawn into a war between angels and chimera, uncovering secrets about her past and true identity.
    • Content Considerations: The book includes violence, war themes, and complex romantic relationships.

Freshman Summer Reading Activities

List 1: Students will write an in-class essay about the main character in the novel.  To prepare for this essay, students should take notes as they read about major milestones in the character’s journey.

List 2: Students will present a 2-3 minute book talk the first week of school.  This will include a brief summary and evaluation of the novel.  It will also give students a chance to introduce themselves.  As part of the book talk, students should prepare slides to present using Google Slides or Canva.  You can copy a slide template here.
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