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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 |
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) |
English 9 Honors | Choose one from each category: FICTION
NONFICTION
|
English 10 CP | The Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri |
English 10 Resource | Choose One:
|
English 10 Honors | Read both:
|
English 11 CP | All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr |
English 11 Resource | The Martian by Andy Weir 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 |
AP Language and Composition | Read Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson Students are also required to do the following:
The full summer AP Language reading assignment can be found here. |
AP Literature and Composition | 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
For MS Books recommended by the American Library Association, try “Summer Reading List Grades 6-8”.
Do you enjoy YA books? Check out Scholastic’s suggested list of best books for young adult readers: "Books for Teens Ages 13 & Up"
Fans of graphic novels, find some recommendations here: “ALA’s 20 Great Graphic Novels for Teens”.
High School
New York City Public Library staff picks for teen readers for spring 2025: "Spring 2025 Picks for Teens"
New York Times Learning Network Annual Summer Reading contest, with plenty of tips and suggestions: “Our 16th Annual Summer Reading Contest”
If you like contemporary novels, consider these books: "The 20 Best Novels of the Decade"
Find Wired Magazine’s list of favorites here: “Best Books of 2023”
Are you a fan of being scared? Then try one of these: “Best horror books: the 32 scariest books of all time”.
Looking for books to broaden your horizons or deepen your understanding of the world? Choose something from “ALA’s list of Outstanding Books for the College Bound”.
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!