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English Department Summer Reading Assignments

Glen Ridge High School 

Summer 2025

The English Department of Glen Ridge High School believes that summer reading is the best way for a student to continue the learning process, make transitions to new classes, and enjoy great books.


Below is a chart of summer reading assignments for each English course offered at GRHS. Students are expected to read the assigned book(s) before the start of school, and they should expect to be assessed on their reading at the beginning of the school year. Only the AP classes are responsible for writing assignments over the summer. 


As you plan your own summer experiences, don’t forget to utilize and explore the resources at the Glen Ridge Public Library. Your local library includes a wealth of resources, including access to physical books listed in this catalog, as well as ebooks, audiobooks, and magazines available digitally through the Libby app.  


Following this required reading list, we have provided additional reading suggestions. We encourage  students to read more as they look forward to the luxury of time that summer will provide.


2025-2026 Grade and Course

Required Summer Reading Books

English 7

The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton

Audible Link: The Outsiders

English 8

I Am Malala: How One Girl Stood Up for Education & Changed the World: Young Readers Edition by Malala Yousafzai with Patricia McCormick

English 8 Resource

I Am Malala: How One Girl Stood Up for Education & Changed the World: Young Readers Edition by Malala Yousafzai with Patricia McCormick

 Audible Link: I am Malala Young Readers Edition

English 9 CP

Choose one:

English 9 Resource

Unbroken: An Olympian’s Journey from Airman to Castaway to Captive by Lauren Hillenbrand (The Young Adult Adaptation)

 Audible Link: Unbroken (The Young Adult Adaptation)

English 9 Honors

Choose one from each category:

FICTION

NONFICTION

English 10 CP

The Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri

 Audible Link

English 10 Resource

Choose One: 

Assignment 

English 10 Honors

Read both:

English 11 CP

All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr

 Audible Link

English 11 Resource

The Martian by Andy Weir

Audible Link

The assignment will be introduced /posted on Move-up day in Google Classroom.

English 11 Honors

Read both:

English 12 CP

Born a Crime: Stories From a South African Childhood by Trevor Noah

Audible Link: Born a Crime

AP Language and Composition

Read Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson 


Students are also required to do the following:

  • Respond to NYT guest essays

  • Watch and respond to a documentary

The full summer AP Language reading assignment can be found here.

AP Literature and Composition

Link to full assignment

All students are required to read Klara and the Sun by Kazuo Ishiguro


In addition, all students must select a novel from the following list to read over the summer. 



Students must create a single page (front and back) set of notes for each of the two required readings (follow the link for instructions)


Furthermore, students are required to view a film and compose a one-page response according to the instructions on the summer reading document (follow the link for instructions).


The full assignment, including instructions for the required notes and the film essay can be found here and on my school webpage.





Summer Reading Suggestions

We encourage you to read as much as possible this summer! Here are a few links to inspire you. A good place to start is right here in Glen Ridge, at the public library.  Follow this link to the GRPL Summer Reading Challenge.  Also, follow this link for suggestions from the GRHS staff with some of our own recommendations for your summer reading.  


Middle School 


High School


To take advantage of free ebooks and audiobooks available through our school library, visit our FolletShelf Virtual Library collection. (User name: glen / Password: ridge)


Please email kbalaschak@glenridge.org if you have any difficulty obtaining a required summer reading book. Thanks, and happy reading!