SPM’s Summer Reading 2016

SUMMERREADINGFORALL

Pleaseperusethewonderfulbooksbelow.EachstudentmustchooseONEofthesebookstoenjoyoverthesummerbreak.Youmaynotreadabookthatyoureadlastsummer.Eachtitlehasalimitednumberofavailableslots,soyoumaywanttochooseafewjustincase.WhenschoolresumesinAuguststudentsandteacherswillmeetinsmallgroupstodiscussthebooksandparticipateinreflectiveactivitiesontheirreading.

AwrittencomponentmustbecompletedbythefirstdayofschoolinAugustandwillbeturnedinduringhomeroom.Thewrittenassignmentcanbefoundinthelinkbelowatleft.APstudentsmayhaveadditionalbookprovidedtoyoubyyourteacher.

Checkoutalloftheamazingtitlesandgetlostinyourreadingadventures.Onceyouhavedecidedthebook(s)youwouldlikechooseclickonthelinkbelowandsubmityourselection.Oncetheslotsforthatbookhavereachedthelimititwillbetakenoffthelist,soifyoudonotseeittherethatiswhy.IfyoudonotselectabookbythedeadlineofApril25,youwillbeassignedabookandthatselectionwillbeemailedormailedtoyou.Enjoy!

**AllbookdescriptionsarefromAmazon.com

ALongWayGonebyIshmaelBeah

MynewfriendshavebeguntosuspectIhaven'ttoldthemthefullstoryofmylife."WhydidyouleaveSierraLeone?""Becausethereisawar.""Youmean,yousawpeoplerunningaroundwithgunsandshootingeachother?"

"Yes,allthetime.""Cool."

Ismilealittle."Youshouldtellusaboutitsometime.""Yes,sometime."Thisishowwarsarefoughtnow:bychildren,hopped-upondrugsandwieldingAK-47s.Childrenhavebecomesoldiersofchoice.Inthemorethanfiftyconflictsgoingonworldwide,itisestimatedthattherearesome300,000childsoldiers.IshmaelBeahusedtobeoneofthem.

Whatiswarlikethroughtheeyesofachildsoldier?Howdoesonebecomeakiller?Howdoesonestop?Childsoldiershavebeenprofiledbyjournalists,andnovelistshavestruggledtoimaginetheirlives.Butuntilnow,therehasnotbeenafirst-personaccountfromsomeonewhocamethroughthishellandsurvived.

InALongWayGone,Beah,nowtwenty-fiveyearsold,tellsarivetingstory:howattheageoftwelve,hefledattackingrebelsandwanderedalandrenderedunrecognizablebyviolence.Bythirteen,he'dbeenpickedupbythegovernmentarmy,andBeah,atheartagentleboy,foundthathewascapableoftrulyterribleacts.

Thisisarareandmesmerizingaccount,toldwithrealliteraryforceandheartbreakinghonesty.Grades10-12

ASwiftlyTiltingPlanetbyMadeleineL'Engle

InASwiftlyTiltingPlanetbyMadeleineL'Engle,acompaniontotheNewberyAwardwinnerAWrinkleinTimeandAWindintheDoor,fifteen-year-oldCharlesWallaceandtheunicornGaudiorundertakeaperilousjourneythroughtimeinadesperateattempttostopthedestructionoftheworldbythemaddictatorMadogBranzillo.Theyarenotaloneintheirquest.CharlesWallace'ssister,Meg--grownandexpectingherfirstchild,butstillabletoenterherbrother'sthoughtsand

emotionsby"kything"--goeswithhiminspirit.CharlesWallacemustfacetheultimatetestofhisfaithandhiswillasheissentwithinfourpeoplefromanothertime,theretosearchforawaytoavertthetragedythreateningthemall.Grades7-8

ATreeGrowsinBrooklynbyBettySmith

FrancieNolan,avidreader,penny-candyconnoisseur,andadroitobserverofhumannature,hasmuchtoponderincolorful,turn-of-the-centuryBrooklyn.Shegrowsupwithasweet,tragicfather,aseverelyrealisticmother,andanauntwhogivesherlovetoofreely--tomen,andtoabrotherwhowillalwaysbethefavoredchild.Francielearnsearlythemeaningofhungerandthevalueofapenny.Sheisherfather'schild--romanticandhungryforbeauty.

Butsheishermother'schild,too--deeplypracticalandinconstantneedoftruth.LiketheTreeofHeaventhatgrowsoutofcementorthroughcellargratings,resourcefulFranciestrugglesagainstalloddstosurviveandthrive.BettySmith'spoignant,honestnovelcreatedabigstir

whenitwasfirstpublishedover50yearsago.Herfrankwritingaboutlife'ssqualorwasalarmingtosomeofthemoregenteelsociety,butthebook'shumorandpathosensureditsplaceintherealmofclassics--andintheheartsofreaders,youngandold.Grades7-12

BeBeautifulBeYoubyLizzieVelasquez

""Afterspendingyearswantingtolooklikeeveryoneelse,IrealizedIneededtoloveandacceptmyselfjustasIam.WhenIstoppedlisteningtootherpeopleandstartedmakingalifeformyself,Idiscoveredmypurposeinlife,mypassion.Issomeoneorsomethinghurtingyou?Areyoufeelingaloneorlonely?Afraid?Misunderstood?Doyouwishevenjustonepersonwouldlistentoyou?Doyouhaveadecisiontomakeandneedhelpchoosingapath?

Iwanttogiveyouthetoolstofigureoutwhattodoabouteachofthoseproblems.""—LizzieVelasquez,BeBeautiful,BeYouWhenanInternetvideocallingher“TheWorld’sUgliestWoman”wentviral,LizzieVelasquezsetouttodiscoverwhattrulymakesusbeautiful.Nowsheshareswhatshelearnedonthatfaith-filledjourney.InBeBeautiful,BeYou,Lizzieusesanecdotesandexercisestoteachreaderstorecognizetheirownuniquegiftsandblessings,talktoGodintheirownwords,dealwithdisappointment,makeandmaintainhealthyfriendships,andsetrealisticgoals.Inaworldfilledwithairbrushedcelebrityphotosandplasticsurgery,LizzieVelasquezisarefreshingforceofnaturewhosestorywillinspireanyonewhohaseverfeltsingledout,misunderstood,orafraid—andwhohasn’t?LizzieVelasquezisacommunicationsmajoratTexasStateUniversityinSanMarcos.Sheisoneofonlythreeknownpeopleintheworldwithamedicalsyndromethatdoesn’tallowhertogainweightorcreatemuscle.Lizziehasappearedasamotivationalspeakeratmorethan200workshops.Herstoryhasbeenfeaturedinbothnationalandinternationalmedia,includingTheTodayShow,InsideEdition,Australia’sSundayNight,Germany’sExplosiv,andDr.Drew.Thisishersecondbook."Grades7-12

BraveNewWorldbyAldousHuxley

AldousHuxley'stourdeforce,BraveNewWorldisadarklysatiricvisionofa"utopian"future—wherehumansaregeneticallybredandpharmaceuticallyanesthetizedtopassivelyservearulingorder.Apowerfulworkofspeculativefictionthathasenthralledandterrifiedreadersforgenerations,itremainsremarkablyrelevanttothisdayasbothawarningtobeheededasweheadintotomorrowandasthought-provoking,satisfyingentertainment.Grades9-12

CinderbyMarissaMeyer

The#1NewYorkTimesBestsellingSeries!

HumansandandroidscrowdtheraucousstreetsofNewBeijing.Adeadlyplagueravagesthepopulation.Fromspace,aruthlesslunarpeoplewatch,waitingtomaketheirmove.NooneknowsthatEarth'sfatehingesononegirl.

Cinder,agiftedmechanic,isacyborg.She'sasecond-classcitizenwithamysteriouspast,reviledbyherstepmotherandblamedforherstepsister'sillness.ButwhenherlifebecomesintertwinedwiththehandsomePrinceKai's,shesuddenlyfindsherselfatthecenterofanintergalacticstruggle,andaforbiddenattraction.Caughtbetweendutyandfreedom,loyaltyandbetrayal,shemustuncoversecretsaboutherpastinordertoprotectherworld'sfuture.Grades9-12

DavidandGoliath:Underdogs,MisfitsandtheArtofBattlingGiantsbyMalcolmGladwell

MalcolmGladwell'sprovocativenew#1bestseller--nowinpaperback.ThreethousandyearsagoonabattlefieldinancientPalestine,ashepherdboyfelledamightywarriorwithnothingmorethanapebbleandasling-andeversince,thenamesofDavidandGoliathhavestoodforbattlesbetweenunderdogsandgiants.David'svictorywasimprobableandmiraculous.Heshouldn'thavewon.Orshouldhe?

InDAVIDANDGOLIATH,MalcolmGladwellchallengeshowwethinkaboutobstaclesanddisadvantages,offeringanewinterpretationofwhatitmeanstobediscriminatedagainst,sufferfromadisability,loseaparent,attendamediocreschool,orendureanynumberofotherapparentsetbacks.InthetraditionofGladwell'spreviousbestsellers-TheTippingPoint,Blink,OutliersandWhattheDogSaw-DAVIDANDGOLIATHdrawsuponhistory,psychologyandpowerfulstory-tellingtoreshapethewaywethinkoftheworldaroundus.Grades9-12

Ender’sShadowbyOrsonScottCard

OrsonScottCardbringsusbacktotheverybeginningofhisbrilliantEnderQuartet,withthenovelthatbeginsTheShadowSeriesandallowsustoreenterEnder'sworldanew.Withallthepowerofhisoriginalcreation,Ender'sShadowisCard'sparallelvolumetoEnder'sGame,abookthatexpandsandcomplementsthefirst,enhancingitspower,illuminatingitseventsanditspowerfulconclusion.

ThehumanraceisatWarwiththe"Buggers",aninsect-likealienrace.Thefirstbattleswentbadly,andnowasEarthpreparestodefenditselfagainsttheimminentthreatoftotaldestructionatthehandsofaninscrutablealienenemy,allfocusisonthedevelopmentandtrainingofmilitarygeniuseswhocanfightsuchawar,andwin.

ThelongdistancesofinterstellarspacehavegivenhopetothedefendersofEarth--theyhavetimetotrainthesefuturecommandersupfromchildhood,forgingthenintoanirresistibleforceinthehighorbitalfacilitycalledtheBattleSchool.Andrew"Ender"WigginwasnottheonlychildintheBattleSchool;hewasjustthebestofthebest.Inthisnewbook,cardtellsthestoryofanotherofthoseprecociousgenerals,theonetheycalledBean--theonewhobecameEnder'srighthand,partofhisteam,inthefinalbattleagainsttheBuggers.Bean'spastwasabattlejusttosurvive.HefirstappearedonthestreetsofRotterdam,atinychildwithamindleaguesbeyondanyoneelse's.Heknewhecouldnotsurvivethroughstrength;heusedhistacticalgeniustogainacceptanceintoachildren'sgang,andthentohelpmakethatgangatemplateforsuccessforalltheothers.Hecivilizedthem,andlivedtogrowolder.Bean'sdesperatestruggletolive,andhissuccess,broughthimtotheattentionoftheBattleSchool'srecruiters,thosepeoplescouringtheplanetforleaders,tacticians,andgeneralstosaveEarthfromthethreatofalieninvasion.Beanwassentintoorbit,totheBattleSchool.AndtherehemetEnder....Grades9-12

EsperanzaRisingbyPamMuñozRyan

Esperanzathoughtshe'dalwayslivewithherfamilyontheirranchinMexico--she'dalwayshavefancydresses,abeautifulhome,andservants.ButasuddentragedyforcesEsperanzaandMamatofleetoCaliforniaduringtheGreatDepression,andtosettleinacampforMexicanfarmworkers.Esperanzaisn'treadyforthehardlabor,financialstruggles,orlackofacceptanceshenowfaces.Whentheirnewlifeisthreatened,Esperanzamustfindawaytoriseaboveherdifficultcircumstances--Mama'slife,and

herown,dependonit.Grades7-12

HaveALittleFaithbyMitchAlbom

Whatifourbeliefswerenotwhatdividedus,butwhatpulledustogetherInHaveaLittleFaith,MitchAlbomoffersabeautifullywrittenstoryofaremarkableeight-yearjourneybetweentwoworlds--twomen,twofaiths,twocommunities--thatwillinspirereaderseverywhere.Albom'sfirstnonfictionbooksinceTuesdayswithMorrie,HaveaLittleFaithbeginswithanunusualrequest:aneighty-two-year-oldrabbifromAlbom'soldhometownaskshimtodeliverhiseulogy.Feelingunworthy,Albominsistsonunderstandingthemanbetter,whichthrowshim

backintoaworldoffaithhe'dleftyearsago.Meanwhile,closertohiscurrenthome,AlbombecomesinvolvedwithaDetroitpastor--areformeddrugdealerandconvict--whopreachestothepoorandhomelessinadecayingchurchwithaholeinitsroof.Movingbetweentheirworlds,ChristianandJewish,African-Americanandwhite,impoverishedandwell-to-do,Albomobserveshowtheseverydifferentmenemployfaithsimilarlyinfightingforsurvival:theolder,suburbanrabbiembracingitasdeathapproaches;theyounger,inner-citypastorrelyingonittokeephimselfandhischurchafloat.AsAmericastruggleswithhardtimesandpeopleturnmore

totheirbeliefs,AlbomandthetwomenofGodexploreissuesthatperplexmodernman:howtoendurewhendifficultthingshappen;whatheavenis;intermarriage;forgiveness;doubtingGod;andtheimportanceoffaithintryingtimes.Althoughthetexts,prayers,andhistoriesaredifferent,Albombeginstorecognizeastrikingunitybetweenthetwoworlds--andindeed,betweenbeliefseverywhere.Intheend,astherabbinearsdeathandaharshwinterthreatensthepastor'swobblychurch,Albomsadlyfulfillstherabbi'slastrequestandwritestheeulogy.Andhefinallyunderstandswhatbothmenhadbeenteachingallalong:theprofoundcomfortofbelievinginsomethingbiggerthanyourself.HaveaLittleFaithisabookaboutalife'spurpose;aboutlosingbeliefandfindingitagain;aboutthedivinesparkinsideusall.Itisoneman'sjourney,butitiseveryone'sstory.Grades9-12

HousekeepingbyMarilynneRobinson

Amodernclassic,HousekeepingisthestoryofRuthandheryoungersister,Lucille,whogrowuphaphazardly,firstunderthecareoftheircompetentgrandmother,thenoftwocomicallybumblinggreat-aunts,andfinallyofSylvie,theeccentricandremotesisteroftheirdeadmother.ThefamilyhouseisinthesmalltownofFingerboneonaglaciallakeintheFarWest,thesamelakewheretheirgrandfatherdiedinaspectaculartrainwreckandtheirmotherdroveoffaclifftoherdeath.Itisatown"chastenedbyanoutsized

landscapeandextravagantweather,andchastenedagainbyanawarenessthatthewholeofhumanhistoryhadoccurredelsewhere."RuthandLucille'sstruggletowardadulthoodbeautifullyilluminatesthepriceoflossandsurvival,andthedangerousanddeepundertowoftranscience.Grades7-12

IllustratedHistoryofEdgarAllanPoebyPaulJ.Macek

Thebookpresentsitselfwithagreatdealofvisualappeal--thegraphicsarestunning--notabookthatcaneasilybeputdown.Oncethebookisinthehandsofthereaderthereisanirresistibleurgetoturnthepage.GraphicsbyGustaveDoré,HarryClarke,AubreyBeardsley,andotherscapturequicklytheinterestofthereader.Butthebookgoesfarbeyondthepictoriallevelofreading.Thebookalsocontains204epigramsorfamoussayingswhichlinkwithPoe'swritingsorpersonallife.Thislevelofreadingfallswithintherealmofmarginalnotes-perhapsthemostdifficultandsatisfyinglevelofreading.

Lastly,thefigurecaptionandtheexpositionoftextleadthereaderfromonepartofPoe'slifetothenext:fromBostontoRichmondtoPhiladelphiatoNewYorkwithtwotimelinesclearlyoutliningthestructureofthebookEdgarAllanPoeinfluencednotonlyAmericanbutalsoworldculture,especiallyintheareaofliterature,fromCharlesBaudelaireinFrancetoFyodorDostoyevskyinRussia.Poeinventedsciencefictionwithhisstories"MSFoundinaBottle,""TheUnparalleledAdventureofOneHansPfaall,"and"ADescentintotheMaleström,"whichprovidedtheinspirationforJulesVerneandH.G.Wells.Asthefatherofmysteryfiction,PoecreatedthefirstdetectivestoriesandhorrorstoriesinAmericanliterature.BookisavailableinC/WMarsConnectingLibrariesinCentralMassachusetts.

Quickestwaytopurchaseisthewebpage:webpages.charter.net/pmacekOtherOptions:Facebook,Annie'sBookStopinWorcester,Booklover'sGourmetinWebster,orAmazon.com.Grades9-12

JimtheBoybyTonyEarley

Bothdelightfulandwise,JimtheBoybrilliantlycapturesthepleasuresandfearsofyouthatatimewhenAmericaitselfwasyoungandstrugglingtocomeintoitsown.

TonyEarleymadehisdebutwithHereWeAreinParadise,asuperblyunderstatedcollectionof(mostly)small-townvignettes.Hereturnstothesameterraininhis

firstnovel,JimtheBoy,settingthiscoming-of-agestoryinaremoteNorthCarolinahamlet.Theyearis1934,andliketherestofthecountry,AlicevilleisfeelingthepinchoftheGreatDepression.YetneitherJimnorhismothernorhisthreeuncles--whohavesplitthepaternalroleneatlyamongthemselvessincethedeathofJim'sfatheradecadeearlier--arefeelingmuchinthewayofeconomicpain.Indeed,ifyoustuckasatellitedishonthefrontlawn,thestorymightbetakingplaceintheNewSouthratherthantheolder,bucolicone.

Thisisn'ttosuggestthatEarleyisdeaftosocialdetail.Indeed,thereareallsortsofwonderfultouches,likethedécorinJim'sclassroom,withits"large,colorfulmapsoftheUnitedStates,theConfederacy,andtheHolyLandduringthetimeofJesus."ButJimtheBoyisverymuchthetaleofa10-year-old'sexpandingconsciousness,whichatfirstbarelyextendsbeyondthefamilyproperty.Earleyhasarealgiftforconveyingchildhoodepiphanies,likeJim'ssuddenapprehensionofthewiderworldduringatripinUncleAl'struck:

TwothoughtscametoJimatonce,joinedbyathreadofamazement:hethought,Peoplelivehere,andhethought,Theydon'tknowwhoIam.AtthatmomenttheworldopeneduparoundJimlikehandsthat,untilthatmoment,hadbeencuppedaroundhim;hefeltverysmall,almostinvisible,intheopenairoftheircenter,butknewthatthehandswouldnotlethimgo.Itwasalmostlikeflying.

Thesimplelyricismandanti-ironicsweetnessworkmostlytothebook'sadvantage.Therearetimes,it'strue,whenEarleysandshisprosedowntoanunnaturalsmoothness,andweseemtobeedgingtowardthesentimentalprecinctsofayoung-adultnovel.Butonthewhole,JimtheBoyisalovely,meticulouswork--asongofinnocenceand(eventually)experience,deliveredwithjustahintofaNorthCarolinaaccent.--JamesMarcusGrades7-12

JustMercy:AStoryofJusticeandRedemptionbyBryanStevenson

Apowerfultruestoryaboutthepotentialformercytoredeemus,andaclarioncalltofixourbrokensystemofjustice—fromoneofthemostbrilliantandinfluentiallawyersofourtime

BryanStevensonwasayounglawyerwhenhefoundedtheEqualJusticeInitiative,alegalpracticededicatedtodefendingthosemostdesperateandinneed:thepoor,thewronglycondemned,andwomenandchildrentrappedinthefarthestreachesofourcriminaljusticesystem.OneofhisfirstcaseswasthatofWalterMcMillian,ayoungmanwhowassentencedtodieforanotoriousmurderheinsistedhedidn’tcommit.ThecasedrewBryanintoatangleofconspiracy,politicalmachination,andlegalbrinksmanship—andtransformedhisunderstandingofmercyandjusticeforever.JustMercyisatonceanunforgettableaccountofanidealistic,giftedyounglawyer’scomingofage,amovingwindowintothelivesofthosehehasdefended,andaninspiringargumentforcompassioninthepursuitoftruejustice.Grades9-12

LookingforAlaskabyJohnGreen

WinneroftheMichaelL.PrintzAwardAnALABestBookforYoungAdultsAnALAQuickPickALosAngelesTimes2005BookPrizeFinalistANewYorkPublicLibraryBookfortheTeenAgeA2005BooklistEditor’sChoiceA2005SchoolLibraryJournalBestBookoftheYearBefore.Miles“Pudge”Halterisdonewithhissafelifeathome.Hiswholelifehasbeenonebignon-event,andhisobsessionwithfamouslastwordshasonlymadehimcrave“theGreatPerhaps”evenmore(FrancoisRabelais,poet).He

headsofftothesometimescrazyandanything-but-boringworldofCulverCreekBoardingSchool,andhislifebecomestheoppositeofsafe.BecausedownthehallisAlaskaYoung.Thegorgeous,clever,funny,sexy,self-destructive,screwedup,andutterlyfascinatingAlaskaYoung.Sheisaneventuntoherself.ShepullsPudgeintoherworld,launcheshimintotheGreatPerhaps,andstealshisheart.Then....After.Nothingiseverthesame.Grades7-12.

MissingMom:ATrueCrime,TrueFamilyStorybyDanielLMurphyThisisanoddandtwistingtruestoryaboutkidnapping,robbery,andmurder;andyetitisstrangelyuplifting.ThistruestorybeginsonasunnyJulymorningin2003,justoutsideofFlintMichigan,whenaneightyyearoldgrandmotherhasmysteriouslydisappearedfromthefaceoftheearth.Dayslaterthecharredremainsofhercarwereidentified,afterbeingcompletelydestroyedbyanintentionalfire;butshewasnowheretobefound.Wehadtofindher.

Shewasmymom…Grades9-12

MySister’sKeeperbyJodiPicoult

JodiPicoulttellsthestoryofagirlwhodecidestosueherparentsfortherightstoherownbodyinthisNewYorkTimesbestsellerthattacklesacontroversialsubjectwithgraceandexploreswhatitmeanstobeagoodperson.NewYorkTimesbestsellingauthorJodiPicoultiswidelyacclaimedforherkeeninsightsintotheheartsandmindsofrealpeople.Nowshetellsthe

emotionallyrivetingstoryofafamilytornapartbyconflictingneedsandapassionatelovethattriumphsoverhumanweakness.Annaisnotsick,butshemightaswellbe.Byagethirteen,shehasundergonecountlesssurgeries,transfusions,andshotssothatheroldersister,Kate,cansomehowfighttheleukemiathathasplaguedhersincechildhood.Theproductofpreimplantationgeneticdiagnosis,AnnawasconceivedasabonemarrowmatchforKate—alifeandarolethatshehasneverchallenged...untilnow.Likemostteenagers,Annaisbeginningtoquestionwhoshetrulyis.Butunlikemostteenagers,shehasalwaysbeendefinedintermsofhersister—andsoAnnamakesadecisionthatformostwouldbeunthinkable,adecisionthatwilltearherfamilyapartandhaveperhapsfatalconsequencesforthesistersheloves.MySister’sKeeperexamineswhatitmeanstobeagoodparent,agoodsister,agoodperson.Isitmorallycorrecttodowhateverittakestosaveachild’slife,evenifthatmeansinfringingupontherightsofanother?Isitworthtryingtodiscoverwhoyoureallyare,ifthatquestmakesyoulikeyourselfless?Shouldyoufollowyourownheart,orletothersleadyou?Onceagain,inMySister’sKeeper,JodiPicoulttacklesacontroversialreal-lifesubjectwithgrace,wisdom,andsensitivity.Grades9-12

NeverFallDownbyPatriciaMcCormick

ThisNationalBookAwardnomineefromtwo-timefinalistPatriciaMcCormickistheunforgettablestoryofArnChorn-Pond,whodefiedtheoddstosurvivetheCambodiangenocideof1975-1979andthelaborcampsoftheKhmerRouge.

BasedonthetruestoryofCambodianadvocateArnChorn-Pond,andauthenticallytoldfromhispointofviewasayoungboy,thisisanachingly

rawandpowerfulhistoricalnovelaboutachildofwarwhobecomesamanofpeace.Itincludesanauthor'snoteandacknowledgmentsfromArnChorn-Pondhimself.

Whensoldiersarriveinhishometown,Arnisjustanormallittleboy.Butafterthesoldiersmarchtheentirepopulationintothecountryside,hislifeischangedforever.

Arnisseparatedfromhisfamilyandassignedtoalaborcamp:workinginthericepaddiesunderablazingsun,heseestheotherchildrendyingbeforehiseyes.Oneday,thesoldiersaskifanyofthekidscanplayaninstrument.Arn'sneverplayedanoteinhislife,buthevolunteers.

Thisdecisionwillsavehislife,butitwillpullhimintotheverycenterofwhatweknowtodayastheKillingFields.Andjustasthecountryisabouttobeliberated,Arnishandedagunandforcedtobecomeasoldier.Grades9-12

OddThomasbyDeanKoontz

“Thedeaddon’ttalk.Idon’tknowwhy.”Buttheydotrytocommunicate,withashort-ordercookinasmalldeserttownservingastheirreluctantconfidant.MeetOddThomas,theunassumingyoungheroofDeanKoontz’sdazzlingNewYorkTimesbestseller,agallantsentinelatthecrossroadsoflifeanddeathwhooffersuphisheartinthesepagesandwillforevercaptureyours.

SometimesthesilentsoulswhoseekoutOddwantjustice.Occasionallytheirotherworldlytipshelphimpreventacrime.Butthistimeit’sdifferent.AstrangercomestoPicoMundo,accompaniedbyahordeofhyena-likeshadeswhoheraldanimminentcatastrophe.Aidedbyhissoulmate,StormyLlewellyn,andanunlikelycommunityofalliesthatincludestheKingofRock’n’Roll,Oddwillraceagainsttimetothwartthegatheringevil.Hisaccountoftheseshatteringhours,inwhichpastandpresent,fateanddestiny,converge,isatestamentbywhichtolive—anunforgettablefableforourtimedestinedtorankamongDeanKoontz’smostenduringworks.Grades9-12

RememberwhyYouPlay:Faith,Football,andaSeasontoBelievebyDavidThomas

IfyouenjoyedFridayNightLights,thisbookisamust-read.RememberWhyYouPlaydocumentsthelives,struggles,andtriumphsoftheplayersandcoachesofFaithChristianSchoolinGrapevine,Texas.SportscolumnistandauthorDavidThomasfollowedtheteamforafullseason,recordingastorythatwillinspirereaderstounderstandthatrelationshipsaremoreimportantthanwinning.OneofthekeyeventswasagamethatFaithChristianplayedagainstthe

GainesvilleStateTornadoes,aschoolforconvictedjuvenileoffenders.Thestoryofthisspectaculargameisbeingmadeintoamovie,titledOneHeart,withananticipatedreleaseinNovember2010.ReminiscentofHoosiersandRemembertheTitans,thistruestorymakesastrongstatementabouttheimpactofcompassionandsportsmanship.Grades9-12

TakeMeWithYoubyCatherineRyanHyde

AugustShroeder,aburned-outteacher,hasbeensobersincehisnineteen-year-oldsondied.Everyyearhe’sspentthesummerontheroad,butmakingittoYellowstonethisyearmeanseverything.Theplanhadbeentotraveltherewithhisson,butnowAugustismakingthetripwithPhilip’sashesinstead.AnunexpectedtwistoffatelandsAugustwithtwoextrapassengersforhisjourney,twohalf-

orphanswithnowhereelsetogo.

Whatnoneofthemcouldhaveknownwashowtransformativeboththetrip—andthebondsthatdevelopbetweenthem—wouldprove,drivingeachtocreateanewdestinytogether.Grade7-12

TheBoysofWinterbyWayneCoffey.

Onceuponatime,theytaughtustobelieve.Theywerethe1980U.S.Olympichockeyteam,ablue-collarbunchledbyanunconventionalcoach,andtheyengineeredperhapsthegreatestsportsmomentofthetwentiethcentury.Their“MiracleonIce”hasbecomeanationalfairytale,buttherealCinderellastoryisevenmoreremarkable.Itisalegacyofhope,hardwork,andhomegrowntriumph.Itisachronicleofeverydayheroeswhojustwantedtoplayhockeyhappilyeverafter.Itisstillunbelievable.

TheBoysofWinterisanevocativeaccountoftheimprobableAmericanadventureinLakePlacid,NewYork.Drawingonhundredsofhoursofinterviews,WayneCoffeyexplorestheuntoldstoriesoftheU.S.upstarts,theirSovietopponents,andtheforcesthatbroughtthemtogether.PlaguedbytheIranhostagecrisis,persistenteconomicwoes,andtheongoingColdWar,theUnitedStatesbattledapervasivesenseofgloomin1980.AndthencametheOlympics.TraditionallyaplaygroundfortheRussianhockeyjuggernautanditsever-growingcollectionofgoldmedals,anOlympicicerinkseemedanunlikelysettingforaColdWarupset.TheRussianswereexperiencedprofessionalchampions,state-rearedandstate-supported.TheAmericansweremostlycollegekidswhohadtheirmajorsandtheirstipendsandtheirdreams,asquadthatcoachHerbBrookshadmoldedintoateaminsixmonths.Itwasmenvs.boys,championsvs.amateurs,communismvs.capitalism.CoffeycastsafresheyeonthisseminalsportseventinTheBoysofWinter,craftinganintimatelookattheteamandgivingreadersanice-levelviewoftheboyswhocaptivatedacountry.HedetailstheunusualchemistryoftheAmericans—formulatedbyafiercelydeterminedBrooks—andheseamlesslyweavesportraitsoftheplayerswiththefluid,fast-pacedactionofthe1980gameitself.Coffeyalsotracesthepathsoftheplayersandcoachessincethattime,examininghowtheeventsinLakePlacidaffectedanddirectedtheirlivesandinvestigatingwhathappensafteroneconquerstheworld.ButCoffeynotonlyrevealstheanatomyofanunderdog,heprobestheshockeddisbeliefoftheunlikelylosersandhowitfelttobetakendownbysuchanoverlookedopponent.Afterall,thegreatestAmericansportsmomentofthecenturywasaRussiancalamity,perhapsevenmoreunimaginableinMoscowthaninMinnesotaorMassachusetts.CoffeydeftlybalancesthejoyousAmericansagawiththeperspectiveoftheastonishedsilvermedalists.Toldwithwarmthandanuncannyeyefordetail,TheBoysofWinterisanintimate,perceptiveportrayalofoneFridaynightinLakePlacidandtheenduringpoweroftheextraordinary.Grades7-12

TheGlassCastlebyJeannetteWells

Jeannette Walls grew up with parents whose ideals and stubborn nonconformity were both their curse and their salvation. Rex and Rose Mary Walls had four children. In the beginning, they lived like nomads, moving among Southwest desert towns, camping in the mountains. Rex was a charismatic, brilliant man who, when sober, captured his children's imagination, teaching them physics,

geology, and above all, how to embrace life fearlessly. Rose Mary, who painted and wrote and couldn't stand the responsibility of providing for her family, called herself an "excitement addict." Cooking a meal that would be consumed in fifteen minutes had no appeal when she could make a painting that might last forever. Later, when the money ran out, or the romance of the wandering life faded, the Walls retreated to the dismal West Virginia mining town -- and the family -- Rex Walls had done everything he could to escape. He drank. He stole the grocery money and disappeared for days. As the dysfunction of the family escalated, Jeannette and her brother and sisters had to fend for themselves, supporting one another as they weathered their parents' betrayals and, finally, found the resources and will to leave home. What is so astonishing about Jeannette Walls is not just that she had the guts and tenacity and intelligence to get out, but that she describes her parents with such deep affection and generosity. Hers is a story of triumph against all odds, but also a tender, moving tale of unconditional love in a family that despite its profound flaws gave her the fiery determination to carve out a successful life on her own terms. For two decades, Jeannette Walls hid her roots. Now she tells her own story. A regular contributor to MSNBC.com, she lives in New York and Long Island and is married to the writer John Taylor. Grades 9-12

TheHouseonMangoStreetbySandraCisneros

Here is Sandra Cisnero's greatly admired and best-selling novel of a young girl growing up in the Latino section of Chicago. Acclaimed by critics, beloved by children and their parents and grandparents, taught everywhere from inner-city grade schools to universities across the country, and translated all over the world, "The House on Mango Street" has entered the canon of coming-of-age classics even as it depicts a new American landscape. Sometimes heartbreaking, sometimes deeply joyous, "The House

on Mango Street" tells the story of Esperanza Cordero, whose neighborhood is one of harsh realities and harsh beauty. Esperanza doesn't want to belong - not to her run-down neighborhood, and not to the low expectations the world has for her. Esperanza's story is that of a young girl coming into her power, and inventing for herself what she will become. "The San Francisco Chronicle" has called "The House on Mango Street" "marvelous... spare yet luminous. The subtle power of Cisnero's storytelling is evident. She communicates all the rapture and rage of growing up in a modern world." It is an extraordinary achievement that will live on for years to come. Grades 7-12.

TheInventionofWingsbySueMonkKidd

Writingattheheightofhernarrativeandimaginativegifts,SueMonkKiddpresentsamasterpieceofhope,daring,thequestforfreedom,andthedesiretohaveavoiceintheworld—anditisnowthenewestOprah’sBookClub2.0selection.Hetty“Handful”Grimke,anurbanslaveinearlynineteenthcenturyCharleston,yearnsforlifebeyondthesuffocatingwallsthatencloseherwithinthewealthyGrimkehousehold.TheGrimke’sdaughter,Sarah,hasknownfromanearlyagesheismeanttodosomethinglargeintheworld,butsheishemmedinbythelimitsimposedonwomen.Kidd’ssweepingnovelissetinmotiononSarah’seleventhbirthday,whensheisgivenownershipoftenyearoldHandful,whoistobeherhandmaid.Wefollowtheirremarkablejourneysoverthenextthirtyfiveyears,asbothstriveforalifeoftheirown,dramaticallyshapingeachother’sdestiniesandformingacomplexrelationshipmarkedbyguilt,defiance,estrangementandtheuneasywaysoflove.Asthestoriesbuildtoarivetingclimax,Handfulwillendurelossandsorrow,findingcourageandasenseofselfintheprocess.Sarahwillexperiencecrushedhopes,betrayal,unrequitedlove,andostracismbeforeleavingCharlestontofindherplacealongsideherfearlessyoungersister,Angelina,asoneoftheearlypioneersintheabolitionandwomen’srightsmovements.InspiredbythehistoricalfigureofSarahGrimke,Kiddgoesbeyondtherecordtofleshouttherichinteriorlivesofallofhercharacters,bothrealandinvented,includingHandful’scunningmother,Charlotte,whocourtsdangerinhersearchforsomethingbetter.ThisexquisitelywrittennovelisatriumphofstorytellingthatlookswithunswervingeyesatadevastatingwoundinAmericanhistory,throughwomenwhosestrugglesforliberation,empowerment,andexpressionwillleavenoreaderunmoved.Grades9-12

TheLastSeason:AFather,aSonandaLifetimeofCollegeFootballbyStuartStevens

Fathers,sons,andsportsareenduringthemesofAmericanliterature.Here,inthisfreshandmovingaccount,asonreturnstohisnativeSouthtospendaspecialautumnwithhisninety-five-year-olddad,sharingtheuniquejoys,disappointments,andlifelessonsofSaturdayswiththeirbelovedOleMissRebels.

AftergrowingupinJackson,StuartStevensbuiltasuccessfulcareerasawriterandpoliticalconsultant.Butinthefallof2012,notlongafterheturnedsixty,thepresidentialcampaignhe’dworkedonsufferedapainfuldefeat.Grapplingwithaprofoundsenseoflossandmortality,hebeganaskinghimselfsometoughquestions,notleastabouthisrelationshipwithhisfather.Thetwoofthemhadspentlittletimetogetherfordecades.Hemadearesolution:toinvitehisfathertoattendaseasonofOleMissfootballgamestogether,asthey’ddonewhencollegefootballprovidedawayforhisfathertoguidehimthroughchildhood—andtomakesenseof

thetroubledSouthofthe1960s.Now,drivingtoandfromthegames,andcheeringfromthestands,theytakestockoftheirlivesasfatherandson,andasindividuals,remindingthemselvesoftheirunique,complicated,preciousbond.Poignantandfullofheart,butalsoirreverentandoftenhilarious,TheLastSeasonisapowerfulstoryofparentsandchildrenandoftheimportanceoftakingabackwardglancetogetherwhileyoustillcan.Grades10-12

The Magic Strings of Frankie Presto: A Novel by Mitch Albom

MitchAlbomcreateshismostunforgettablefictionalcharacter—FrankiePresto,thegreatestguitaristtoeverwalktheearth—inthismagicalnovelaboutthebandswejoininlifeandthepoweroftalenttochangeourlives.

Inhismoststunningnovelyet,thevoiceofMusicnarratesthetaleofitsmostbeloveddisciple,youngFrankiePresto,awarorphanraisedbyablindmusicteacherinasmallSpanishtown.Atnineyearsold,FrankieissenttoAmericainthebottomofaboat.Hisonlypossessionisanoldguitarandsixpreciousstrings.

ButFrankie’stalentistouchedbythegods,andhisamazingjourneyweaveshimthroughthemusicallandscapeofthe20thcentury,fromclassicaltojazztorockandroll,withhisstunningtalentaffectingnumerousstarsalongtheway,includingHankWilliams,ElvisPresley,CaroleKing,WyntonMarsalisandevenKISS.

Frankiebecomesapopstarhimself.Hemakesrecords.Heisadored.Buthisgiftisalsohisburden,asherealizes,throughhismusic,hecanactuallyaffectpeople’sfutures—withonestringturningbluewheneveralifeisaltered.

Attheheightofhispopularity,FrankiePrestovanishes.Hislegendgrows.Onlydecadeslater,doeshereappear—justbeforehisspectaculardeath—tochangeonelastlife.

WithitsForestGump-likerompthroughthemusicworld,TheMagicStringsofFrankiePrestoisaclassicinthemaking.Alifelongmusicianhimself,MitchAlbomdeliversaremarkablenovel,infusedwiththemessagethat“everyonejoinsabandinthislife”andthoseconnectionschangeusall.Grades9-12

TheManWhoQuitMoneybyMarkSundeen.

In2000,DanielSuelolefthislifesavings-allthirtydollarsofit-inaphonebooth.Hehaslivedwithoutmoney-andwithanewfoundsenseoffreedomandsecurity-eversince.TheManWhoQuitMoneyisanaccountofhowonemanlearnedtolive,sanelyandhappily,withoutearning,receiving,orspendingasinglecent.Suelodoesn'tpaytaxes,oracceptfoodstampsorwelfare.HelivesincavesintheUtahcanyonlands,forageswildfoodsandgourmetdiscards.HenolongerevencarriesanI.D.Yethemanagestoamplyfulfillnotonlythebasichumanneeds-for

shelter,food,andwarmth-but,toanenviabledegree,theuniversaldesiresforcompanionship,purpose,andspiritualengagement.InretracingthesurprisingpathandguidingphilosophythatledSuelointothiswayoflife,Sundeenraisesprovocativeandrivetingquestionsaboutthedecisionsweallmake,bydefaultor

bydesign,abouthowwelive-andhowwemightlivebetter.Grades9-12

TheSkinI’mInbySharonG.Flake

Maleekasufferseverydayfromthetauntsoftheotherkidsinherclass.Ifthey'renotgettingatheraboutherhomemadeclothesorhergoodgrades,it'saboutherdark,blackskin.Whenanewteacher,whosefaceisblotchedwithastartlingwhitepatch,startsattheirschool,Maleekacanseethereisboundtobetroubleforhertoo.Butthenewteacher'sattitudesurprisesMaleeka.MissSaunderslovestheskinshe'sin.CanMaleekalearntodothesame?Grades7-12

TheTimeMachinebyH.G.Wells

TheTimeTraveller,adreamerobsessedwithtravelingthroughtime,buildshimselfatimemachineand,muchtohissurprise,travelsover800,000yearsintothefuture.Helandsintheyear802701:theworldhasbeentransformedbyasocietylivinginapparentharmonyandbliss,butastheTravelerstaysinthefuturehediscoversahiddenbarbaricanddepravedsubterraneanclass.Wells'stransparentcommentaryonthecapitalistsocietywasaninstant

bestsellerandlaunchedthetime-travelgenre.TheTimeMachineinspiredtheinternationalbestsellerTheMapofTimebyFélixJ.Palma.Asagifttoourreaders,weareincludingthefirstthreechaptersofTheMapofTimeinthisebookedition.Grades9-12

TimelinebyMichaelCrichton

InanArizonadesertamanwandersinadaze,speakingwordsthatmakenosense.Withintwenty-fourhoursheisdead,hisbodyswiftlycrematedbyhisonlyknownassociates.Halfwayaroundtheworldarchaeologistsmakeashockingdiscoveryatamedievalsite.Suddenlytheyaresweptofftotheheadquartersofasecretivemultinationalcorporationthathasdevelopedanastoundingtechnology.Nowthisgroupisabouttogetachancenottostudythepastbuttoenterit.And

withhistoryopenedtothepresent,thedeadawakenedtotheliving,thesemenandwomenwillsoonfindthemselvesfightingfortheirverysurvival–sixhundredyearsago....Grades9-12

TuesdayswithMorrie:AnOldMan,AYoungMan,andLife’sGreatestLessonbyMitchAlbom

Maybeitwasagrandparent,orateacher,oracolleague.Someoneolder,patientandwise,whounderstoodyouwhenyouwereyoungandsearching,helpedyouseetheworldasamoreprofoundplace,gaveyousoundadvicetohelpyoumakeyourwaythroughit.ForMitchAlbom,thatpersonwasMorrieSchwartz,hiscollegeprofessorfrom

nearlytwentyyearsago.Maybe,likeMitch,youlosttrackofthismentorasyoumadeyourway,andtheinsightsfaded,andtheworldseemedcolder.Wouldn'tyouliketoseethatpersonagain,askthebiggerquestionsthatstillhauntyou,receivewisdomforyourbusylifetodaythewayyouoncedidwhenyouwereyounger?MitchAlbomhadthatsecondchance.HerediscoveredMorrieinthelastmonthsoftheolderman'slife.Knowinghewasdying,MorrievisitedwithMitchinhisstudyeveryTuesday,justastheyusedtobackincollege.Theirrekindledrelationshipturnedintoonefinal“class”:lessonsinhowtolive.TuesdayswithMorrieisamagicalchronicleoftheirtimetogether,throughwhichMitchsharesMorrie'slastinggiftwiththeworld.It’sbeentenyearssinceMitchAlbomfirstsharedthewisdomofMorrieSchwartzwiththeworld.Now–twelvemillioncopieslater–inanewafterword,MitchAlbomreflectsagainonthemeaningofMorrie’slifelessonsandthegentle,irrevocableimpactoftheirTuesdaysessionsallthoseyearsago...Grades9-12

UgliesbyScottWesterfield

Everybodygetstobesupermodelgorgeous.Whatcouldbewrongwiththat?Tallyisabouttoturnsixteen,andshecan'twait.Notforherlicense--forturningpretty.InTally'sworld,yoursixteenthbirthdaybringsanoperationthatturnsyoufromarepellentuglyintoastunninglyattractiveprettyand

catapultsyouintoahigh-techparadisewhereyouronlyjobistohaveareallygreattime.InjustafewweeksTallywillbethere.ButTally'snewfriendShayisn'tsureshewantstobepretty.She'dratherrisklifeontheoutside.WhenShayrunsaway,Tallylearnsaboutawholenewsideoftheprettyworld--anditisn'tverypretty.TheauthoritiesofferTallytheworstchoiceshecanimagine:findherfriendandturnherin,orneverturnprettyatall.ThechoiceTallymakeschangesherworldforever.Grades9-12

VanGogh,InspirationSketchbook,VanGoghMuseum,RockPointPub.Co.

"Forthegreatdoesn'thappenthroughimpulsealone,andisasuccessionoflittlethingsthatarebroughttogether."-VincentvanGogh,TheHague,Sunday,October22,1882,toTheovanGogh

ArtisticinspirationaboundsintheVanGoghMuseumSketchbookfeaturingspotartbyoneoftheworld'sgreatartists,VincentVanGogh.Placeyourowndrawingsandartalongsidethesketchesofoneofthemostinnovativeand

famousartistsofalltime.EnjoyanintroductionbytheoneofthecuratorsattheVanGoghMuseum.Throughoutthepages,learnaboutVanGoghandseehisrarelypublishedsketches.

FollowVanGogh'sownthemes,cities,countryside,andpeoplewithmeaningfulquotesfromhisletters.

"Ideasforworkarecomingtomeinabundance,I'mgoinglikeapainting-locomotive."-VincentvanGogh,Arles,onoraboutSeptember11,1888,toTheovanGoghGrades9-12

WhentheLegendsDiebyHalBorland

AyoungNativeAmericanwalksbetweenthelonesomeforestwherehewasraisedandthecomplicatedmodernworldhemustnavigatetosurviveThomasBlackBull’sparentsforsookthelifeofamodernreservationandtooktoancientpathsinthewoods,teachingtheiryoungsonthestoriesandcustomsofhisancestors.ButTom’slifechangesforeverwhenheloseshisfatherinatragicaccidentandhismotherdiesshortlyafterward.WhenTomis

discoveredaloneintheforestwithonlyabearcubasacompanion,lifebecomesdifficult.Soon,well-meaningteachersendeavortoreformhim,arodeoattemptstoturnhimintoanact,andnearlyeveryonehemeetstriestotakecontrolofhislife.Powerfulandtimeless,WhentheLegendsDieisacaptivatingstoryofoneboylearningtoliveinharmonywithbothcivilizationandwilderness.Grades7-12

YouWereMadetoMakeaDifferencebyMaxLucado

Wanttochangetheworld?DidyouknowYouWereMadetoMakeaDifference?

ThisadaptationofOutliveYourLifeforteensofferspracticaltipsyouthcantakeoutintotheircommunitytomakeadifference,plusreal-lifestoriesaboutthosewhohavedonejustthat.TeenslearnthatGodcanusethemtomakeadifferencerightnow.Hewantstousethemtoday,withoutwaiting

forthemtobeolder,stronger,richer,orevenmore“together.”Godcanusetheirminds,theirspirits,andtheirhandsandfeettomakepermanentchangeforHiskingdom.

Alsoincludedarevaluableresources,interestingfactsabouttheneedyintheworldandhowlittleittakestomakeabigdifference,andotherinteractiveelementssuchasjournalingopportunitiesforwritingpersonalideasandservicegoals.

Teenswilllearnthattheirroleinlifeisbiggerthanthemselves,andthatthey’renottooyoungtomakeadifferenceforGod.Grades7-12