In celebration of America’s 250th anniversary, this year’s theme, “The Soundtrack of a Nation Starts with a Story,” invites all students entering grades 9–12 to embark on their own literary journey by selecting one book that speaks to their interests and completing a brief assignment. While participation in summer reading is a requirement for all students entering grades 9-12, we've designed it to be an engaging and accessible experience that allows each student to choose reading material that genuinely interests them. This universal participation helps create a shared literary experience that enriches our school community and sparks meaningful discussions that extend throughout the school year.

1. All MHRD students will choose a school and age-appropriate book to read that fits into one of the tracks below: 

   • The Roots & Turning Points Track: Books that capture important moments in American history—past or present—and show how events shaped the nation. This includes classic works and stories about pivotal times such as 9/11 or the Civil Rights Movement.

     • 👉 Focus on: What was happening in America?

   • The Contemporary America Track:  Recent works that reflect what it means to live in America today, including diverse perspectives, current issues, and evolving identities.

     • 👉 Focus on: What is America like today—and who is shaping it?

   • The Regional & Cultural Identity Track:  Stories rooted in a specific place, culture, or community, exploring identity, heritage, and belonging.

     • 👉 Focus on: How does place and culture shape who we are?

   • The Adaptation Track:  Books that have been adapted into American film or television, exploring how stories change across mediums.

     • 👉 Focus on: How does a story translate from page to screen?

   • The Artist Track:  Non-traditional texts—such as graphic novels, poetry, and verse novels—that tell powerful stories through creative and visual forms.

     • 👉 Focus on: How can stories be told beyond traditional text?

   • The Bonus Track: Any book of your choice by an American author that doesn’t fit neatly into another category but still connects to the theme.

     • 👉  Focus on: How does this story contribute to the soundtrack of a nation?

2. All students will complete the Google form by June 5th, 2026, to indicate summer read book choices.

3. All students will actively read their books over the summer.

4. All students will complete an assignment to count towards their MHRD Soundtrack Pass. Check out the Soundtrack Pass Q&A page for more information about how that works.  

Need Help? - Check Out Our Book Suggestions! 

Click on a TRACK to explore book suggestions! You are not required to choose from this list—these are simply ideas to help you find a book that interests you.

Questions?  

Email (Dr. Toriello) jtoriello@mhrd.org