Summer 2025
Students in Honors Freshmen English, Honors Sophomore English, AP Literature, and AP Language and Composition are required to read the following for summer reading (2023). Although we highly recommend that all students read a book this summer, summer reading is only required for those four classes.
Honors Freshmen English:
The Magic Strings of Frankie Presto: A Novel (Mitch Albom): A Spanish war orphan born in a burning church and raised by a blind guitar teacher, Frankie Presto was gifted with extraordinary musical abilities that shape not only his life but the lives of those around him. At nine years old, Frankie meets the love of his life, Aurora; that same day, civil war tears apart his home and he is sent to America, smuggled in the bottom of a boat with only a guitar and six strings imbued with the power to change lives.
Honors Sophomore English:
Life of Pi (Yann Martel): The son of a zookeeper, Pi Patel has an encyclopedic knowledge of animal behavior and a genuine love of stories. When the ship carrying Pi’s family from India to North America sinks, Pi finds himself in a battle for survival.
AP Literature: Read ONE of the following.
Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt: After Tova Sullivan's husband died, she began working the night shift at the Sowell Bay Aquarium, mopping floors and tidying up. Keeping busy has always helped her cope, which she's been doing since her eighteen-year-old son, Erik, mysteriously vanished on a boat in Puget Sound over thirty years ago. Tova becomes acquainted with curmudgeonly Marcellus, a giant Pacific octopus living at the aquarium. Marcellus knows more than anyone can imagine but wouldn't dream of lifting one of his eight arms for his human captors--until he forms a remarkable friendship with Tova. Ever the detective, Marcellus deduces what happened the night Tova's son disappeared. And now Marcellus must use every trick his old invertebrate body can muster to unearth the truth for her before it's too late.
The God of the Woods by Liz Moore: Early morning, August 1975: a camp counselor discovers an empty bunk. Its occupant, Barbara Van Laar, has gone missing. Barbara isn’t just any thirteen-year-old: she’s the daughter of the family that owns the summer camp and employs most of the region’s residents. And this isn’t the first time a Van Laar child has disappeared. Barbara’s older brother similarly vanished fourteen years ago, never to be found. As a panicked search begins, a thrilling drama unfolds. Chasing down the layered secrets of the Van Laar family and the blue-collar community working in its shadow, Moore’s multi-threaded story invites readers into a rich and gripping dynasty of secrets and second chances. It is Liz Moore’s most ambitious and wide-reaching novel yet.
AP Language and Composition
The AP summer reading assignment is in the AP Language and Composition Google classroom. If you add AP Lang to your schedule this summer, please email Mrs. Huffer ( cheryl.huffer@nolmsted.org) so she can add you to the classroom.
Although it is not required that all students read a book for summer reading, your English teachers highly recommend it. Check out our list of books that might pique your interest!
Resources:
Cuyahoga County Public Library: They know the books we have on our list and have many of them ready to borrow.
Cuyahoga County Library Card: Get a free library card here.
North Olmsted High School Library: Summer reading books are available in our library.
Audio and Ebooks from Cuyahoga County Public Library: Listen or download a book for free.