Summer Reading Assignment 2018
Summer Reading Suggestions 2018
To promote summer reading and prepare for the start of the 2018-2019 school year, English teachers would like students to read at least two books over the summer.
Students may choose their own books, but some links are provided in the Book Lists section of the GHS Library page and Teens' Top Ten nominees are listed below.
When you return to Grant in August, during the first week of classes, students and teachers will do an activity about books read during vacation. To assist in the activity, consider the following as you read:
* Did you like the books? Why or why not?
* Were there characters you identified with? Or perhaps some who reminded you of friends, family, etc.?
* Did you agree with the decisions the characters made? What would you have done differently?
* How did you like the endings of the books? What would have made them better?
* If your books were films, who do you imagine in which roles?
* What other books (or films) are similar to the books you read?
* Would you recommend these books to your friends? Why or why not?
While no grade is associated with your summer reading, this is a way to connect with your classmates and teachers at the start of the school year.
Happy reading, and don't forget to turn in your completed Multnomah County Library game board for a prize and to have your name entered into our GRAND PRIZE DRAWING!
Students are encouraged to read the 25 nominees before the national Teens' Top Ten vote, which starts August 15th and goes through Teen Read Week, from October 7 -13. The 10 nominees that receive the most votes will be named the official Teens' Top Ten.
And the nominees are . . . .
All Rights Reserved - Gregory Scott Katsoulis
In a future America where most words and gestures are copyrighted and cost money to use, Speth is confronted with a choice: accept the rules of her society or live in defiance through complete silence. Her decision sets off great upheaval in her world.
The Black Witch - Laurie Forest
Elloren Gardner is the granddaughter of the last Black Witch, Carnissa. While Carnissa was a hero, Ellen, the spitting image of her grandmother, is devoid of power. She is finally granted an opportunity to embrace her own future and dreams as an apothecary at Verpax University, but Verpax has secrets that could destroy Elloren. Elloren finds that behind the things she has been told were good, is an ugly truth.
Book of Lies - Teri Terry
Piper and Quinn met for the first time at their mother's funeral. These twins look identical, but their childhoods could not have been more different. As they get to know each other, they learn that they have the power to destroy their worlds, but only one can harness it.
Caraval - Stephanie Garber
Everyone has heard rumors of the legendary game of Caraval, and no one wants to experience it's magic more than Scarlett Dragna. When Scarlett finally gets an invitation, she begins to realize that Caraval isn't all that she thought. She must be careful to not get swept away in the illusion or risk losing her sister forever.
Defy the Stars - Claudia Gray
Noemi is a 17-year-old soldier defending her planet, Genesis, against Earth. Abel is a robot programmed to fight Genesis for Earth and protect his creator. They are sworn enemies who end up trying to survive together—and, perhaps, to find a way to end the war.
The Disappearances - Emily Bain Murphy
Aila Quinn has her life changed when her mother dies and father gets drafted for the war. There have been Disappearances of ordinary things every seven years in her mother’s home town. As Aila and her friends begin to uncover the origins of the Disappearances, they discover the role Aila's family has had it in.
How to Make a Wish - Ashley Herring Blake
Grace lives with her unpredictable, irresponsible mother, and she's all but given up on wishes. That is, until she meets Eva who quickly takes to sneaking into her window at night. Realizing they both like girls, maybe they've both found exactly what they needed, someone to anchor themselves to.
I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter - Erika L. Sánchez
Julia is an outcast in her close-knit Mexican American family, where she dreams of going away to college. When her older sister suddenly dies, Julia begins to piece together her sister’s secret life. As she grieves, Julia embarks on a mission to discover herself, unearthing her family’s past in the process.
The Inexplicable Logic of My Life - Benjamin Alire Sáenz
High-school senior Sal has a lot on his plate as he deals with his dying grandmother, tries to control his growing anger with the prejudice of others, and ponders his relationship with his adopted father and what it takes to become a man.
Invictus - Ryan Graudin
Farway has trained to be a time-traveling history recorder but fails his final exam. Disappointed, he takes a position captaining the Invictus as part of a black-market operation stealing artifacts from the past. Soon Far and his crew are in a race to stop time itself from unraveling.
The Last Magician - Lisa Maxwell
Esta travels back in time to 1902 New York City to find a mysterious book that could save her future. But in order to do so, she may have to betray everyone in the past.
Long Way Down - Jason Reynolds
Will's brother Shawn has been murdered. In this free-verse novel, fifteen-year-old Will steps into an elevator with a gun in the back waistband of his jeans, ready to avenge his brother's death, as he’s been taught to do. At each stop on the elevator down, someone connected to his brother gets on, giving Will a piece to a bigger story than the one he thinks he knows.
Mask of Shadows - Linsey Miller
Sal, a gender fluid thief, wants to be more than a thief. When a chance to become one of the Queen's prized assassin arises, Sal takes it. Only one problem – the 'audition' is a killing game and the only way out? Survive and kill without being discovered.
Moxie - Jennifer Mathieu
Inspired by her mom’s Riot Grrrl past and infuriated by sexism at her school, Vivian creates Moxie, a feminist zine, and distributes it anonymously in the girls’ bathroom. While Moxie grows in popularity, school administration lashes out against Moxie girls. Will they continue to fight back against sexism and discrimination?
Once and For All - Sarah Dessen
Working with her mom on a wedding planning business, Louna has more than her share on weddings and the behind-the-scene disasters. Ever since the abrupt ending of her first love, she has been more cynical about weddings and especially, love. But maybe that will change when Ambrose comes along.
One of Us Is Lying -Karen M. McManus
After Simon, the creator of Bayview High's notorious gossip app, dies during detention, the four other students in the room are all framed for murder. But the twist is, the next day, they were all going to be on Simon's app for secrets that would ruin their lives for good. So when Bronwyn, the Yale-Bound student who never breaks a rule, Addy, the homecoming queen, Nate, the drug dealer, and Cooper the all-star baseball pitcher all come together to find out what really happened, the rest of the story unfolds.
Paper Hearts - Ali Novak
Felicity's sister has been missing for years, and Felicity and her mother have been trying to overcome the loss ever since. Felicity thought finding her was impossible until her new friend, Alec, gives her the opportunity she needs to reconnect with her lost sibling.
Remember Me Always - Renee Collins
Shelby goes through a therapy treatment to remove all her memories of a terrible accident. When she comes home, she meets a boy and pieces of her memory come back. That is when things begin to get complicated.
Rosemarked - Livia Blackburne
Zivah, a healer who has been infected by the rose plague can no longer do what she loves. A soldier, Dineas, wants revenge against the Amparan Empire from which he has just escaped. Both of their lives are so different, yet they will need to join forces to save the people that they love.
Strange the Dreamer - Laini Taylor
Lazlo Strange is an orphan raised by monks, and has dedicated his life to learning. His favorite story is of Weep, the lost fairytale city that was literally removed from memory. This is the story of his search for the magical city.
Turtles All the Way Down - John Green
High-school junior Aza, who struggles with anxiety and obsessive-compulsive disorder, reconnects with childhood friend Davis after his billionaire father disappears, on the run from the police. But can Aza and her friends help Davis cope with being parentless when she’s having trouble managing her own downward-spiraling thoughts?
Warcross - Marie Lu
When bounty hunter and hacker Emika Chen finds herself unexpectedly entered into the exclusive Warcross championship, she is determined to get to the bottom of a dastardly plot while trying to pull off a win in the worldwide virtual reality game.
Waste of Space - Gina Damico
Ten teenagers are conned into boarding a (fake) spaceship, completely unaware of the fact that the entire production is staged. Once the teenagers start to find out about this secret, things go from bad to worse inside the spaceship.
Wonder Woman: Warbringer - Leigh Bardugo
Diana has always been an outcast to the Amazons. She never truly had the chance to prove herself worthy of being an Amazon until she saves a mysterious girl from a shipwreck. The girl turns out to be a descendant of Helen of Troy. The girl will either bring an age of peace or a deadly war.
Words in Deep Blue - Cath Crowley
Rachel and Henry were best friends until Rachel moved away. After her brother’s death, Rachel’s world is in shambles. She returns to their hometown to work in Henry's family bookshop, where Henry faces his own struggles.
*Annotations provided by the Teens’ Top Ten book groups.
