Summer Reading
7-8th Grade Categories |
High School List |
This reading list has been compiled for students of both middle and high school. You can either browse the list on this page, or download the entire reading list with the link below.
Summer Reading List (PDF, requires Adobe Acrobat Reader)
We have attempted to offer a wide range of titles which would appeal to students’ interests and reading levels. Although all titles included are appropriate for middle to high school students, some books are more mature and offer a greater level of reading difficulty. This is a wonderful opportunity for students to make appropriate independent reading choices.
We have arranged the list according to category or genre, alphabetically by author within each category. We have also included a short annotation for most titles.
Please note this is a suggested reading list, neither a comprehensive nor compulsory one. Other titles by the various authors listed, as well as other titles not on the list, may certainly be selected for students’ reading pleasure!
We hope that this list of recommended books encourages everyone to read during the summer vacation. Students are strongly encouraged to read at least three books. Students who write a short review of each book will be entered into a raffle to win some interesting donated prizes. We hope parents will support and encourage this program. Some of the authors and titles on this list may be familiar to you, while others may open new worlds and ideas.
Compass School students recommend these books:
(in no particular order) (also see grade-level extensive lists following this list)
Harry Potter series: 7th and final novel comes out on July 21st)
The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown
Digital Fortress by Dan Brown
A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess
Fight Club by Chuck Palahniuk
Forrest Gump by Winston Groom
The Game of Sunken Places by M.T. Anderson
Lucky T by Kate Brian
Abarat by Clive Barker
Monkey by Jeff Stone (recommended for 7/8th )
Warblade by Steve Seagle (recommended for 7/8th )
The Steps by Rachel Cohn (coming of age, female protagonist)
Thou Shall not Dump the Skater Dude by Rosemary Graham
Surviving the Apple Whites by Stephanie S. Tolan (recommended for 7/8th )
Carrie or The Stand by Stephen King (not for faint of heart or stomach)
Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes
Tangerine, by Edward Bloor and Danny DiVito (recommended for 7/8th )
Walk Two Moons by Sharon Creech (recommended for 7/8th )
Just Ella by Margaret Peterson Haddix (recommended for 7/8th )
Sweet Grass Basket by Marlene Carvell
Define “Normal” by Julie Anne Peters
The Year of Secret Assignments by Jaclyn Moriarty
The Usual Rules by Joyce Maynard
Just Listen or The Truth about Forever by Sarah Dessen (young-adult books enjoyed by girls)
Vietnam-Perkasie by W. D. Ehrhart
Pride and Prejudice or Emma, by Jane Austen (19th century classics)
The Book Thief by Markus Zusak (Book Sense Book of the Year Award, takes place in WW II era in Germany)
Freaky Green Eyes by Joyce Carol Oates (deals with domestic abuse; award-winning writer)
Freshman by Michael Gerber
Across the Nightengale Floor by Lian Hearn
Blood Red Horse by K. M. Grant
Fallen Angels, by Walter Dean Myers (deals w/ Vietnam War; sometimes required in 9/10th grade Humanities)
Monster or Shooter (or anything written) by Walter Dean Myers
Staying Fat for Sarah Byrnes by Chris Crutcher
The Golden Compass (from His Dark Materials Trilogy) by Phillip Pullman
Shade’s Children by Garth Nix
The Outsiders or anything by S.E. Hinton (9th/ 10th grade Humanities book)
Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card (science fiction/fantasy)
Clan of the Cave Bear by Jean M. Auel
Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin
The Good Good Pig by Sy Montgomery
The Breakable Vow by Kathryn Ann Clarke
The Window by Jeanette Ingold
Heroes of the Holocaust by Allan Zullo and Mara Bousun
My Sister’s Keeper J. Picoult
The Secret life of Bees, by Sue Monk Kidd ( 9/10th grade Humanities book)
Nine Days A Queen by Ann Rinaldi
Sisterhood of Traveling Pants series, by Ann Brasheres
Peaches by Jodi Lynn Anderson (if you like Sisterhood series, this is recommended)
1984, by George Orwell (classic)
A Mango-Shaped Space, by Wendy Mass (coming of age novel that deals with condition called, synesthesia)
Fever 1793, by Laurie Halse Anderson (historical fiction by author of Speak)
2001 Space Odyssey, by Arthur Clarke (science fiction)
Memory Keeper’s Daughter, by Kim Edwards
Pretties or Uglies, by Scott Westerfield
Memoir of the Geisha, by Arthur Golden
Ego and Hubris (graphic novel), by Pekar
The Supernaturalist, or Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer (YA science fiction)
Jurrasic Park or The Lost World, by Michael Crichton
Gregor (or any from Overlander Chronicles), by Suzanne Collins
Breaking Point, by Alex Flinn (teen harassment leads to violence)
Shakespeare Scribe Series, by Gary Blackwood (adventures of an acting troupe in Elizabethan England)
7-8th Grade Categories
Contemporary/Real Life
Bunting, Eve Blackwater
When a boy and girl are drowned in the Blackwater River, 13 -year-old Brodie must decide whether to confess that he may have caused the accident.
Christopher, Matt Spike it
Unhappy at having to share space and family with her new stepsister Michaela, 13- year-old Jamie is further dismayed when Michaela joins her volleyball team and becomes a star player.
Creech, Sharon Bloomability
When her aunt and uncle take her from New Mexico to Lugano, Switzerland to attend an international school, 13-year-old Dinnie discovers an expanding world and her place in it. You may also enjoy Creech’s new book The Wanderer.
DiCamillo, Kate Because of Winn-Dixie
A story of the friendship between Opal and her dog Winn-Dixie.
Hahn, Mary Downing December Stillness
Fourteen year-old Kelly tries to befriend Mr. Weems, a disturbed homeless Vietnam War veteran who spends his days in her suburban library, though the man makes it clear he wants to be left alone.
Hesser, Terry Spencer Kissing Doorknobs
Fourteen-year-old Tara describes how her increasingly strange compulsions begin to take over her life and affect her relationships with her family and friends.
Konigsburg, E.L. T-backs, T-shirts, Coat and Suit
Spending the summer in Florida with her stepfather’s sister, 12- year-old Chloe and her aunt become involved in a controversy surrounding the wearing of t-back bathing suits.
Lipsyte, Robert The Contender
A Harlem high school dropout escapes from a gang into a boxing ring where he learns that being a contender is hard and often discouraging work, but that you don’t know anything until you try.
Lynch, Chris Slot Machine
When overweight 13- year-old Elvin Bishop is sent to camp at St. Paul’s Seminary Retreat Center, he and his two best friends are forced to try out various sports in order to find out where they belong.
Myers, Walter Dean Monster
While on trial as an accomplice to a murder, 16-year-old Steve Harmon records his experiences in prison and in the courtroom, in the form of a film script, as he tries to come to terms with the course his life has taken.
Naylor, Phyllis Reynolds Walker’s Crossing
While living on his family’s ranch in Wyoming where he hopes to someday be a cowboy, Ryan faces conflicts with his older brother who becomes involved in a militia movement.
Paulsen, Gary The Monument
Thirteen year-old Rocky, self-conscious about the braces on her leg, has her life changed by the remarkable artist who comes to her small Kansas town to design a war memorial.
Peck, Richard Remembering the Good Times
Trav, Kate, and Buck make up a trio during their freshman year in high school, however, their special friendship may not be enough to save Trav as he pressures himself relentlessly to succeed, in his own eyes as well as in the eyes of his parents and the world.
Spinelli, Jerry Wringer
As Palmer comes of age, he must either accept being a wringer at the annual Pigeon day or find the courage to oppose it.
Voigt, Cynthia It's Not Easy Being Bad
Mickey and Margalo try to increase their popularity by breaking into a seventh grade clique.
CLASSICS
Alcott, Louisa May Little Women
This appealing story is about the lives and adventures of the March family. Little Men continues the fun.
Bagnold, Enid National Velvet
A 14-year-old girl with a passion for horses wins a horse in a raffle, trains it to jump, disguises herself as a jockey, and rides it in the Grand National Steeplechase.
Barrie, J.M. Peter Pan
A fantasy in which Peter Pan escorts a trio of London siblings through the sky to Never Never Land. Adventures are had with Captain Hook, Tiger Lily and jealous Tinker Bell.
Baum, Frank The Wizard of Oz
Dorothy and her dog are blown from Kansas into the fantasyland of Oz where they form fast friendships with the Cowardly Lion, the Scarecrow, and the Tin Woodsman.
Burnett, Frances Hodgson The Secret Garden
Mary, a spoiled, sickly orphan sent to her uncle in England, is transformed by her labors in a long-neglected garden and by her unrelenting efforts to make Colin, her invalid cousin, get out of bed and be social.
Defoe, Daniel Robinson Crusoe
This ultimate survival story recounts Crusoe’s lonely existence on a small island for 15 years. Things change when he finds footprints in the sand, saves a native from execution, and befriends him.
Doyle, Sir Arthur Conan Hound of the Baskervilles
After a ghostly hound is seen lurking on the moors, Detective Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson scientifically solve a mystery with supernatural overtones.
London, Jack The Call of the Wild
Buck, a domesticated dog, is beaten and forced to work as a sled dog. In this spellbinding survival story, Buck leaves his human connections and joins a pack of wolves.
Montgomery, L.M. Anne of Green Gables
When an elderly couple on Prince Edward Island decides to adopt a boy, they are unprepared for the spirited, vivacious, redheaded girl who arrives bringing laughter and happiness with her. Check out the other titles in this appealing series.
Pyle, Howard The Story of King Arthur and His Knights
According to Merlin’s prophecy, Arthur extracts the sword from the stone, becomes king of Britain and, along with his knights, moves from court to combat with much intrigue and adventure.
Rawlings, Marjorie Kinnan The Yearling
Living a hardscrabble farming life in Florida, Jody finds an orphaned fawn, and it becomes the focus of his life. When the deer damages the family’s crops, he painfully comes to terms with what must be done.
Shelley, Mary Frankenstein
This is the classic story of the scientist bringing his monster to life.
Twain, Mark A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court
Hilarious adventures and social satire center on a 19th century mechanic who finds himself in King Arthur’s court after suffering a blow to the head.
Wells, H. G. The Time Machine
A scientist in turn-of -the-entury London invents a time machine and travels to the future, but it is not the future he expects. What does he find? Can he save himself and humanity?
Fantasy
Adams, Richard Watership Down
Led by Fiver, a rabbit who has a feeling something bad might happen, a band of rabbits sets out to look for a new home.
Alexander, Lloyd The Book of Three
The first story in a series of five books that chronicle the adventures of Taran, assistant pig keeper and hero in the mythical kingdom of Prydain. Mysterious, affecting, and exciting, these are splendid fantasy and adventure stories.
Avi Midnight Magic
After the Tarot cards forecast death, conniving Count Scarazoni summons Fabrizio and his magician Master to "spirit away" the ghost that haunts the Princess.
Barron, T. A. The Wings of Merlin
In this masterful conclusion to the Lost Years of Merlin series, the teenaged Merlin has less than two weeks to unite the mythical creatures of Fincayra to fight against Rhita Gawr before evil forever changes the island that lies between his world and the next. Titles in the series include The Lost Years of Merlin, The Seven Songs of Merlin, The Fires of Merlin and The Mirror of Merlin.
Carrol, Lewis Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass
After falling down a rabbit hole, Alice makes the acquaintance of some extraordinary characters. This leads to hilarious adventures of fantasy, fun, and lunacy combined with logic.
Cooper, Susan The Dark is Rising Series
Set in modern day England and Wales, this series draws on the legends of King Arthur and other mythology of Great Britain. The novels evolve into a struggle between good and evil after the Drew children find a treasure map and begin a search for an ancient treasure. Titles in the series are Over Sea, Under Stone, The Dark is Rising, Greenwitch, The Grey King, and Silver on the Tree.
Cooper, Susan King of Shadows
Nat is chosen to be an actor in a troop that is to perform at the reconstructed Globe Theatre. Just before the performance, he becomes ill and awakens in London where he is to play the role of Puck in A Midsummer Night’s Dream under the great William Shakespeare himself. Adventure, action, time travel and mystery combine to make this an appealing read.
Coville, Bruce Magic Shop Books
When you enter the Magic Shop, you never know what will happen. These stories are about three different kids who each purchase a magical item from the shop: a dragon’s egg, a talking toad, and a skull with unusual powers. Titles in the series are Jeremy Thatcher, Dragon Hatcher, Jennifer Murdley’s Toad, and The Skull of Truth.
Duane, Diane The Wizardry Series
Nina and Kit learn the ancient art of wizardry and go on many adventures. Titles in this series are So You Want To Be A Wizard, Deep Wizardry, High Wizardry, and A Wizard Abroad.
Hanley, Victoria The Seer and the Sword
Princess Torina and her exiled friend Landen work to restore peace to their kingdoms. A romantic, royal tale.
Ibbotson, Eva The Secret of Platform 13
At Platform 13, a hidden door opens once every nine years to reveal a tunnel to a magical kingdom. The baby prince of this magical world is kidnapped, and an unusual rescue party comes to London nine years later in search of the boy.
Jacques, Brian Lord Brocktree (The latest novel in the Redwall series)
On his way to free Salamandastron from the invading evil wildcat Ungatt Trunn and his Blue Horde, the badger Lord Brocktree collects a group of supporters, including the haremaid Dotti.
Jones, Diana Wynne Year of the Griffin
When Elda, the griffin daughter of the great Wizard Derek, arrives for schooling at the Wizards' University, she encounters new friends, pirates, assassins, worry, sabotage, bloodshed, and magic unused.
LeGuin, Ursula K. The Earthsea Trilogy and Tehanu
In a compelling, developed fantasy world, Ged, the wizard hero, fights and overcomes the evil he turns loose. Titles about Earthsea include A Wizard of Earthsea, The Farthest Shore, The Tombs of Atuan, and Tehanu.
McKinley, Robin Blue Sword
King Corlath brings Homelander Harry Crewe to the kingdom of Damar to help his people in their war against the Northerners. Harry assumes a position among the special Riders and becomes a noble hero in this fantasy.
Pierce, Tamora Street Magic
Fourteen-year-old Briar Moss must deal with his past as a "street rat" when he meets Evvy, a young girl with a gift for stone magic, in this richly detailed and highly imaginative follow-up to Briar's Book. You may also enjoy other titles by Tamora Pierce, including the Circle of Magic series and Protector of the Small series.
Pullman, Philip Amber Spyglass
The complex and sophisticated conclusion to Pullman's His Dark Materials trilogy leaves readers stunned as Lyra, Will, and the other characters re-enact the story of the Temptation, Fall, and Redemption of humankind. Other titles in the series include The Golden Compass and The Subtle Knife.
Rowling, J. K. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
Fourteen-year-old Harry faces his most difficult contest as the Goblet of Fire draws him into the Triwizard Challenge, where he faces evil Lord Voldemort in person and loses a cherished Hogwarts companion before he finally triumphs. Other titles in the series include Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, and Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban.
Sutcliff, Rosemary The Light Beyond The Forest
A retelling of the adventures of King Arthur’s Knights as they search for the Holy Grail.
Tolkien, J. R. R. The Lord of the Rings Trilogy
A spellbinding fantasy, full of heart, soul, and imagination that takes Bilbo Baggins, the hobbit, and his nephew into a world of dwarfs, elves, dragons, and wizards to save Middle Earth from the evil of the Dark Lord.
Wrede, Patricia The Enchanted Forest Chronicles
Princess Cimorene runs away from traditional (and boring) palace life looking for adventure. She lives with dragons in the Enchanted Forest and becomes involved in fighting against some evil wizards who want to steal the dragons’ kingdom. This is a fun series with an independent and feisty heroine. Titles in this series are Dealing with Dragons, Searching for Dragons, Calling on Dragons, and Talking to Dragons.
Yolen, Jane Wizard’s Hall
Henry is the 113th student at the school for wizards, but it doesn’t look like he has much magic. Will he be able to save Wizard’s Hall from an evil wizard and his monster? You may also enjoy The Pit Dragon Trilogy by this author.
Historical Fiction
Carbone, Elisa Stealing Freedom
A young slave girl from Maryland endures all kinds of mistreatment and cruelty but eventually escapes to freedom in Canada. This novel is based on the events in the life of Anne-Marie Weems.
Cooney, Caroline The Ransom of Mercy Carter
In 1704 Deerfield, Massachusetts, eleven-year-old Mercy and her family are captured by Mohawk Indians and forced to march through the bitter cold winter to Canada, where some adapt to new lives and some still hope to be ransomed.
Cormier, Robert Heroes
After joining the army at fifteen, and having his face blown away by a grenade in a battle in France, Francis returns tome to Frenchtown hoping to find -- and kill -- the former childhood hero he feels betrayed him. This is a mature, thought-provoking novel about veterans and World War II.
Curtis, Christopher Paul Bud, Not Buddy
In this Newbery winner set in Depression Era Michigan, motherless Bud shares his amusing "rules of life" as he hits the road to find the jazz musician he believes is his father.
Cushman, Karen Matilda Bone
Fourteen-year-old Matilda is sent to serve as an apprentice bonesetter and practitioner of medicine in an English village. Another wise and humorous look at medieval life by the author of Catherine, Called Birdy.
Fox, Paula Slave Dancer
Thirteen-year-old Jessie Bollier is kidnapped from New Orleans and taken aboard a slave ship. Terrorized by the ship’s captain, Jessie is forced to play for the slaves on board the ship. After a hurricane destroys the ship, Jessie and Ras, a young slave, learn to survive.
Haddix, Margaret Just Ella
A twist to the usual Cinderella story occurs when Ella finds life in the royal palace shallow and restrictive. Ella yearns to escape and learns that life is not always easy.
Hausman, Gerald Tom Cringle: battle on the high seas
During the War of 1812, a thirteen-year-old officer in the British navy records in his logbook his capture by pirates off the coast of Jamaica.
Hobbs, Will Jason’s Gold
Teenager Jason joins the prospectors who are racing North, following the cry "Klondike or bust" to make their fortune in the Alaskan gold rush. This great adventure tale keeps moving as Jason encounters dangerous bears, meets Jack London, chases his older brothers and survives only to discover that finding gold isn’t always a sure thing.
Holm, Jennifer Our Only May Amelia
May Amelia Jackson is the only girl ever born on the Nasel River, so everyone calls her a "Real Miracle." Most of the time May forgets she’s a girl "Miracle," especially when she goes fishing with her seven brothers. Sometimes, though, it’s good to be treated like a "Miracle" and have a whole family looking after their only May Amelia. This is a spirited family story by Ms. Holm.
Holt, Kimberly Willis When Zachary Beaver Came to Town
A humdrum Texas summer is transformed when Toby and Cal befriend a sideshow star, Zachary Beaver, abandoned in town. Events happen and everyone must learn to forgive, deal with loss, and keep a sense of humor.
Lasky, Kathryn Beyond the Burning Time
In the winter of 1691, accusations of witchcraft surface in a small New England village and 12-year-old Mary Chase must fight to save her mother from execution.
Lasky, Kathryn Marie Antoinette, Princess of Versailles (Royal Diariesseries)
This latest title in the Royal Dairiesseries vividly describes Marie Antoinette and life in France before the French Revolution. Readers will also enjoy the Dear Americaseries which gives a riveting look at various historical times and events.
Lester, Julius Pharaoh’s Daughter
This title is an imaginative telling of Moses’s life in the mysterious ancient Egyptian palace.
Levine, Gail Carson Dave at Night
By day Dave endures cruel treatment as an orphan at the Hebrew Home for boys; at night he mingles with the movers and shakers of the Harlem Renaissance. His hardships and comic escapades create a tale of New York in the 1920s.
Mazer, Norma Fox Good Night, Maman
Ten-year-old Karen Levi’s life is torn apart after the Nazi occupation of Paris in 1940. Karen, her brother Marc and mother hide for a time in an attic to elude the Nazis, but are forced to leave Paris. Mama is too ill to travel and orders Karen and Marc to leave and find a way to survive.
McCaughrean, Geraldine The Pirate’s Son
When Nathan and Maud Gull escape from life at a dull, English boarding school, they are wild with joy and anticipate swashbuckling adventure. They learn fast that pirate life is often unromantic, cruel, and unjust.
Meyer, Carolyn Mary, Bloody Mary
This interesting, fictional biography vividly narrates the life of Mary Tudor, daughter of King Henry VIII, from age 10 to age 20. We learn that Mary falls from pampered princess to lowly servant in her stepmother’s house, changing diapers and emptying slopbuckets. Readers will identify with Mary and the many problems she faces.
O’Dell, Scott The Serpent Never Sleeps
Serena sails to the inhospitable colony of Jamestown and learns to survive in the grim, dangerous Jamestown wilderness with some help from her new friend Pocahontas.
Paterson, Katherine Preacher’s Boy
In turn-of-the-century Vermont, a young rascal named Robbie decides religion is just too hard; so, he wants to "get in" as much living as possible. As he rebels against his father’s ideas, he involves himself in one scheme or mishap after another. This book is a fine Tom Sawyer-like adventure.
Paulsen, Gary Soldier’s Heart
Eager to enlist, fifteen-year-old Charley has a change of heart after experiencing both the physical horrors and mental anguish of Civil War fighting.
Rinaldi, Ann Time Enough for Drums
A story of romance and survival as one family struggles to overcome the hardships of the Revolutionary War.
Wolff, Virginia Bat 6
During a 6th grade softball game in 1949, a girl whose father was killed at Pearl Harbor, attacks a Japanese-American girl whose family was at an internment camp. A riveting novel about baseball with the issues of war and race simmering under the surface.
Zindel, Paul The Gadget
in 1945, having joined his father at Los Alamos, where he and other scientists are working on a secret project to end World War II, thirteen-year-old Stephen becomes caught in a web of secrecy and intrigue.
Non-Fiction
Block, Francesca Lia Zine scene
The do-it-yourself guide to zines.
Canfield, Jack Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul
This winning title from the popular Chicken Soup for the Soulseries explores numerous subjects near to the heart of teens today.
Deem, James Bodies from the Bog
Fascinating look about the discovery of prehistoric bog bodies in northern Europe.
Goodall, Lian Maradona
A very interesting look at the Argentinian soccer legend.
Hickam, Homer H. Jr. Rocket Boys: A Memoir (mass market paperback title October Sky)
When the Russians launched Sputnik in 1957, the Rocket Boys of Coalwood, West Virginia began their off beat schemes. Homer Sonny Hickam and his teenaged friends began to build and fly rockets in their small town that valued football and mining above all other things. With the help of Sonny’s mom and a local teacher, the Rocket Boys’ hair-raising experiments often frightened or amused the town’s residents in this interesting look at how a local boy became a NASA engineer due to his interest in space.
Lobel, Anita No Pretty Pictures: a child of war
One woman describes how she and her brother survived in Nazi-occupied Poland in this mature description of the Holocaust.
Mah, Adeline Yen Chinese Cinderella: The True Story of an Unwanted Daughter
This is a haunting tale of cruelty and injustice
Miller, Maria All-American Girls: the U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team
Follow these soccer champs from their earliest days in soccer to their record-breaking careers.
Maurer, Richard The Wild Colorado: The True Adventures of Fred Dellenbaugh, Age 17, on the Second Powell Expedition into the Grand Canyon
Seventeen-year-old Fred Dellenbaugh’s drawing ability, experience rowing, and love of adventure led him to join Powell’s second expedition down the Colorado. The diary and pictures of his adventure enable us to relive the danger and beauty of this remarkable trip.
Nye, Naomi Shihab (comp.) What Have You Lost?
Nye compiles the work of 140 poets, to include poems that explore losses both serious and playful. Topics include everything from the separation of death to weight loss to the loss of innocence. What teenager hasn’t had the conviction of being a lost child, a changeling? "One day you see it so clearly./You could not really be their child./ Your parents would know it." This title shows contemporary poetry at its best.
Opdyke, Irene Gut In My Hands: Memories of a Holocaust Rescuer
A young Polish girl shows courage and conviction as she works to save Jews during the Holocaust.
Paulsen, Gary Guts: the true stories behind Hatchet and the Brian books
Adventurer Gary Paulsen reveals the fascinating actual events that inspired him to write his popular survival stories.
Pfetzer, Jack Within Reach: My Everest Story
Join teenage mountain climber Jack Pfetzer on his two expeditions up Mount Everest.
Shandler, Sara Ophelia Speaks: Adolescent girls write about their search for self
Essays, poems, and commentary give life to the issues and concerns of teen girls.
Sharkey, J. Mia Hamm
The life and career of a soccer champ.
Welden, Amelie Girls who Rocked the World: heroines from Sacagawea to Sheryl Swoopes
Tells the stories of thirty-five girls who were younger than twenty years old when they changed history through amazing accomplishments
Humor
Adams, Douglas The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
Follow the hilarious misadventures of Arthur Dent as he travels the galaxy with his friend Ford Perfect in this first book of the five part series. You may also enjoy the other books in the series: The Restaurant at the End of the Universe; Life, the Universe and Everything; So Long, and Thanks for the Fish; and Mostly Harmless.
Bauer, Joan Squashed
Ellie battles pumpkin thieves to save her beloved Big Max.
Conford, Ellen I Love, I Hate You, Get Lost
A collection of seven humorous stories reflecting the ups and downs of teenage love and life.
Danzinger, Paula Snail Mail No More
Sequel to P.S. Longer Letter Later. Thirteen-year-old long distance friends, Tara Starr and Elizabeth, exchange daily e-mail after their families get computers. We continue to laugh as the girls ‘talk" to each other about friends, school, problems, and boys.
Gilbreth, Frank, Jr. and Ernestine Gilbreth Carey Cheaper by the Dozen
This heartwarming, classic story tells about the humorous adventures and misadventures of the twelve children in the Gilberth family.
Godfrey, Martyn. Please Remove Your Elbow From My Ear
No one quite believes it when the DT Dregs form a hockey team; it even surprises the team members.
Hayes, Daniel No Effect
Going out for wrestling will be a great way to get girls, or so Tyler and Lymie hope.
Howe, James The New Nick Kramer, or My Life as a Babysitter
Nick hopes the way to a girl’s heart is through sharing a class in childcare. If he fails, it means dancing in a tutu at halftime.
Howe, Norma The Adventures of the Blue Avenger
When sixteen-year-old David Schumacher changes his name to Blue Avenger, astonishing things start to happen. You may also enjoy the sequel Blue Avenger cracks the Code.
James, Mary Frankenlouse
Fourteen-year-old Nick finds life dreary at the military academy run by his strict father and dreams of becoming a cartoonist.
Keller, Beverly The Amazon Papers
While her mother is off on a cruise, Iris stumbles from one near disaster to another trying to baby-sit two young cousins and snag a boyfriend.
Koertge, Ron The Harmony Arms
Gabriel learns to appreciate his father’s eccentricity when he comes to know the residents of the Harmony Arms.
Paulsen, Gary The Schernoff Discoveries
Slapstick humor abounds as two boys try to use scientific formulas to attract girls, leading to hilarious results.
Peck, Richard A Year Down Yonder
In this Newbery Award winner, overbearing, feisty Grandma Dowdel scares just about everybody in her small town, but her heart of gold is very much appreciated by Mary Alice, her fifteen-year-old granddaughter. This sequel to Peck's Long Way from Chicago is a funny, gentle and outrageous story.
Spinelli, Jerry The Library Card
Four amusing stories about how a library card can change lives.
Wyss, Thelma Hatch Here at the Scenic-Vu Motel
Study hard and have fun are the only rules for seven small town students boarded at a motel during the school week.
Mysteries/Suspense/Horror
Almond, David Skellig
Michael’s new neighborhood is full of surprises, including the dusty, fly-specked resident of his crumbling garage. Despite the heartbreak of a seriously ill baby sister, Michael tries to help this eccentric being. A story of increasing mystery and mysticism. Also try the author’s new book Kit’s Wilderness, a mysterious, scary and enormously satisfying story.
Anderson, M.T. Thirsty
From the moment he knows that he is destined to be a vampire, Chris thirsts for the blood of people around him while also struggling to remain human.
Bellairs, John The Mummy, the Will and the Crypt
Twelve-year-old Johnny Dixon and his friend Professor Childermass look for the hidden will left by an eccentric cereal tycoon who wished to make life difficult for his heirs.
Blackwood, Gary The Shakespeare Stealer
Widge is a fourteen-year-old orphan who is ordered by his master to infiltrate Shakespeare's acting troupe and steal the script of Hamlet. Instead, he finds the meaning of friendship and loyalty in this mystery with cliff hanger chapter endings.
Clark, Mary Higgins Loves Music, Loves to Dance
Using the personal ads, a killer lures his victims and becomes known as the "dancing shoe murderer".
Cooney, Caroline The Face on the Milk Carton
A photograph of a missing girl on a milk carton leads Janie on a search for her real identity. Sequels include Whatever Happened to Janie ?, Voice on the Radio, and What Janie Found.
Cornwell Patricia From Potter’s Field
Dr. Kay Scarpetta, Chief Medical Examiner for the State of Virginia, is next on the list of a serial killer. She must confront the killer before it is too late.
Duncan, Lois Don’t Look Behind You
Seventeen-year-old April finds her comfortable life changed forever when death threats to her father, a witness in a federal case, force her family to go into hiding under assumed names and flee the pursuit of a hired killer.
Glenn, Mel Who killed Mr. Chippendale?
Free verse poems describe the reactions of students, colleagues, and others, when a high school teacher is shot to death as the school day begins.
Grisham, John The Firm
A young attorney is drawn to a successful law firm in Memphis where the perks are good, but the secrets are deadly.
Kerr, M.E. Fell Down
Seventeen -year-old Fell’s determination to investigate his best friend’s death in a car crash leads him to a ventriloquists’ convention and an unsolved disappearance from almost twenty years ago.
Konigsburg, E.L. Silent to the Bone
Did the British nanny do it? This compelling mystery is also a story of family and friendship. After reading the novel, you want to reread it to think about the clues.
Naylor, Phyllis Reynolds Jade Green: a ghost story
As the hand of Jade Green roams the house where she committed suicide, orphan Judith Sparrow, who is forced to move in with her Uncle Geoffrey, must solve the riddle of Jade's death before disaster descends upon her guardian's house.
Nixon, Joan Lowery A Candidate for Murder
Cary finds her life in danger when she uncovers a plot to sabotage her father’s political campaign for Governor of Texas.
Roberts, Willo Davis Twisted Summer
Fourteen- year-old Cici hopes for a romantic summer at the beach, but instead finds herself trying to solve a murder which had occurred there the previous year.
Strickland, Brad The Beast under the Wizard's Bridge
Evil magicians, unspeakable monsters, and a plot to destroy the world comprise this fast-paced mystery adventure with Lewis.
Vande Velde, Vivian Magic Can Be Murder
A little magic can't hurt, can it? It can, if you and your mother are witches! You may also enjoy other titles by the same author.
Van Draanen, Wendelin van Sammy Keyes and the Curse of Mustache Mary
This fifth novel in the series takes Sammy on a trip to visit her friend in the country. When Sammy arrives, she meets Lucinda who tells the story of her grandmother, Moustache Mary, and the family feud. When Mary's cabin burns down, Sammy is on the case and the adventure begins.
Westall, Robert Yaxley’s Cat
After Yaxley disappears, the inhabitants of an English village fear that his ugly old cat will uncover the truth about the secret they are hiding.
Wright, Betty Ren Christina’s Ghost
Christina’s summer in a spooky, isolated Victorian house with her grumpy uncle turns into a ghostly adventure. Wright’s latest mystery is titled The Moonlight Man.
Science Fiction
Anderson, Kevin J. Crisis at Crystal Reef (Star Wars Young Jedi Knights, No.14)
Another fast paced adventure finds the young Jedi Knights, Jacen and Jaina, traveling to beautiful, but dangerous, Crystal Reef where a sinister plan is hatching.
Asimov, Isaac The Foundation Series
These books relate the fall of the Galactic Empire and the story of the psycohistorian, Hari Seldon, as he attempts to predict the future and make the coming dark ages shorter. Titles in the series are Prelude to Foundation, Forward the Foundation, Foundation, Foundation and Empire, Second Foundation, Foundation’s Edge, and Foundation and Earth.
Asimov, Janet and Isaac Asimov Norby and the Court Jester
Go to the Planet Izz with Jeff Wells and his time-traveling robot Norby to rescue their friend Pera.
Bradbury, Ray Fahrenheit 451
A frightening look at the future where the government controls all the media and uses firemen to burn books.
Card, Orson Scott The Shadow of the Hegemon
In this sequel to Ender's Shadow, the war is now over, so Ender has left Earth. The Battle School is disbanded and all the children have returned to their homes, but Earth is still in turmoil. One by one, the Battle School children are kidnapped and it is up to Bean to rescue them and decide the future of Earth. You may also enjoy Ender’s Game, Speaker for the Dead, Xenocide and Children of the Mind.
Cart, Michael (comp.) Tomorrowland: Stories About The Future
These 10 thought provoking stories from Jon Scieszka to Lois Lowry address the question: "Can the future be a frightening place...or can it hold love and laughter?"
Clarke, Arthur 2001 : Space Odyssey
Begins the series that tells about first contact with an alien species. Other books in this series are 2010, 2061, and 3001.
Clement, Hal The Essential Hal Clement: Trio for Slide Rule and Typewriter
A collection of three short novels: Needle, Iceworld, and Close to Critical which all deal with a form of alien life.
Crichton, Michael Timeline
When you step into a time machine, fax yourself through a "quantum foam wormhole" and step out in France 1357, be very afraid. If you aren’t strapped back in 37 hours after your visit begins, you’ll miss the quantum bus back to 1999. You’ll be in a civil war, caught between crafty abbots, mad lords, and peasant bandits. A blend of high tech theory and 14th century adventure.
Farmer, Nancy The Ear, the Eye and the Arm
In the year 2194, Tendai and his siblings leave their world, are kidnapped and chased by aliens. Will they survive?
Friedman, Michael All Good Things : A Novel (Star Trek The Next Generation)
Cpt. Picard time shifts to answer the puzzle that Q leaves him about life on our planet. Will he save life on Earth?
Haddix, Margaret Peterson Turnabout
Melly and Ann Beth, two old women in a nursing home, decide to become part of an experiment to reverse aging. Something goes horribly wrong, the doctor's can't stop the reverse aging, and everyone is getting younger and younger, losing their memories. What is going to happen to them?
Heinlein, Robert Have Space Suit Will Travel
The most famous of Heinlein’s books for young adults, this title tells the story of Kip Russell who is kidnapped by a space pirate. Will he and the others escape, or will they suffer a "fate worse than death?"
Keyes, Daniel Flowers for Algernon
This is the story of Charlie Gordon, a mentally handicapped man who takes part in a science experiment to improve his intelligence. Will the experiment work? What will happen to Charlie if everything doesn’t go as planned?
Levitin, Sonia The Cure In this grim, controlled world, Gem 16884 longs to break out of the bland life the elders of the community have decided is best. Instead, he wants to enjoy music and dance, not to be the same as everyone else. To cure him of being different, the elders send him back to the 14th century where the Black Death is killing all of Europe. Will Gem survive?
Lowry, Lois Gathering Blue
Lame and suddenly orphaned, Kira is mysteriously removed from her squalid village to live in the palatial council Edifice, where she is expected to use her gifts as a weaver to do the bidding of the all-powerful Guardians.
Marsden, John Tomorrow, When the War Began
Everyone was ready for a break. School was out and Ellie and her friends decide to go camping. Everything is fine until they return home to find all their family and friends gone. Where is everyone? Who are the soldiers they see? Should they surrender or should they try to find their families? How long can they survive on their own? Read this first title in an exciting series to find out.
Philbrick, Rodman The Last Book in the Universe
After a worldwide earthquake, the world is divided into gangs, and Spaz is kicked out to live alone. He teams up with another outsider named Ryder who helps lead Spaz past the other gangs to find his sister. Together they try to change the world
Verne, Jules Journey to the Center of the Earth A young man and his uncle begin an adventure to the center of the Earth. Will they survive the world they find? Is there an escape that can bring them home?
Survival/Adventure
Alexander, Caroline. The Endurance
This is an exciting account of Shackleton’s legendary Antarctic expedition.
Burks, Brian Walks Alone
A surprise attack leaves 15-year-old Walks Alone, an Apache girl, wounded and struggling to survive.
Calabro, Marian The Perilous Journey of the Donner Party
Survivors of the Donner Party journey tell their horrific tale.
Carter, Alden Between a Rock and a Hard Place
A canoe trip through Minnesota’s lake country becomes a fight for survival for Mark and his diabetic cousin.
Cooney, Caroline The Terrorist
Sixteen-year-old Laura searches for the person responsible for the death of her younger brother Billy.
Duey, Kathleen Earthquake
Two young strangers struggle to survive the terror of the 1906 San Francisco earthquake.
George, Jean Craighead Julie’s Wolf Pack
Continues the Arctic story of Julie of the Wolves and Julie.
Garland, Sherry A Line in the Sand : the Alamo Diary of Lucinda Lawrence (Dear America series)
Lucinda and her family face hardships when their Texas town fights for their freedom against the Mexicans.
Hobbs, Will The Maze
Alone and on the run, Rick Walker faces danger and adventure in the surreal landscape of Canyonlands National Park.
Lawrence, Iain The Wreckers
Shipwrecked after a vicious storm, John attempts to save his father and himself.
Paterson, Katherine Jip: his story
A dramatic tale of abandonment and hope told with Paterson's humor, wit, and grace.
Paulsen, Gary Brian’s Return
No longer at home in the city, Brian feels he must return to the wilderness. Other titles in this spellbinding series are Hatchet, The River, and Brian’s Winter.
Peck, Robert Newman Nine Man Tree
A spellbinding adventure and vivid coming-of-age novel from the author of The Day No Pigs Would Die.
Smith, Roland Sasquatch
An attempt to protect the Sasquatch from ruthless hunters brings Dylan close to an erupting volcano.
Zindel, Paul Raptor
Zack and his Indian friend find themselves trapped in a cave with a living dinosaur.
High School Summer Reading Lists
Grade 9
Asimov, Isaac. Foundation
Foundation is considered the cornerstone of science fiction and is the first novel in the Foundation Trilogy. Foundation’s claim to fame is its excellent well-developed plot. Psycho historians Dornick and Seldon are co-workers who are tried for treason because Seldon is predicting the downfall of the Empire
Card, Orson Scott. Ender’s Game
Ender’s Game won two awards for being excellent science fiction. This is the story of Andrew “Ender” Wiggins, who is selected at the age of six to train at the brutal Battle School. Computer games teach him leadership and military tactics for his battle against the “bugger” race.
Cheripko, Jan. Imitate the Tiger
Chris Serbo, a high school football star, jeopardizes his future when he follows a destructive path in Imitate the Tiger. When certain circumstances in his life take a turn for the worse, Chris relies on alcohol and lying as an outlet for his anger and loneliness.
Coles, William E., Jr. Another Kind of Monday
Mark picks up a copy of Great Expectations at the school library never suspecting he will find three one hundred dollar bills within the pages, accompanied by an invitation to solve riddles for an even greater reward.
Crutcher, Chris. Staying Fat for Sarah Byrnes
Staying Fat for Sarah Byrnes is a story of loyalty, courage, and love. Two of the ugliest human beings are inseparable friends. Eric “Moby” (The Whale) Calhoune helps burn victim Sarah Byrnes discover the secrets of her painful past.
Deuker, Carl. Painting the Black
Painting the Black is an excellent sports story, with a lot more to it than just the game of baseball. Because Josh Daniels, Ryan Ward’s new neighbor, wants to make Crown Hill High’s baseball team, he asks Ryan to be his catcher.
Farmer, Nancy. Girl Named Disaster
With great courage, an African girl embarks on a life-altering journey to escape a forced marriage and find a different life. Along the way she draws strength not only for herself, but also from spirits, ancestors, and people she encounters along the way.
Homer. The Iliad (Penguin unabridged prose translation recommended)
In prose, the translator recreates the events that occurred during the final year of the Trojan War. The theme and plot of this epic center not only on Achilles’ rage, but also on the war itself – its cause, its course, and its disastrous consequences.
Hunt, Irene. No Promises in the Wind
No Promises in the Wind follows the odyssey of fifteen-year-old Josh who has to learn how to survive during the Depression of the 1930’s. The reader follows Josh, a gifted musician, and his ten-year-old brother, Joey, as they travel through Middle America fighting to stay alive while learning the meaning of love and loyalty.
Martinez, Victor. Parrot in the Oven
The author vividly describes the coming of age of a Mexican-American teenager. Narrated in the first person, the main character relates not only the everyday challenges faced by teenagers everywhere, but also those that are unique to him, such as gangs, an abusive father, and poverty
Yen Mah, Adeline. Falling Leaves
Falling Leaves, a memoir of an unwanted Chinese daughter, is about a courageous young girl who survives physical and emotional abuse from a cruel stepmother. Her quest for family acceptance, love, and understanding follows her throughout the stages of her life.
Grade 10
Adams, Douglas. The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy
The day the Earth is demolished by space aliens, Arthur Dent is fortunately saved by a friendly stranger, a towel, some experimental mice, and a copy of The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy. Follow Dent’s zany trek through the universe and his quest for the Ultimate Question.
Christie, Agatha. The Murder of Roger Ackroyd
Dr. Sheppard narrates the story of the murder of a prominent resident of King’s Abbott, a small English village. In true Christie style, the plot takes many twists and turns as circumstances surrounding Ackroyd’s murder are revealed.
Clark, Walter Van Tilburg. The Ox-Bow Incident
Three innocent men are lynched by an angry mob. Although the setting is the Old West, the events could happen any time men take the law into their own hands.
Crutcher, Chris. Athletic Shorts
These six short stories are about athletes, yet they are not sports stories. They are tales of love and death, bigotry and heroism, of real people doing their best, of humor and honesty.
Green, Hannah (Greenberg, Hannah). I Never Promised You a Rose Garden
Deborah Blau, a schizophrenic, has lost touch with reality. As a result, she lives in the Kingdom of Yr, a place she has created in order to cope with her life. Through the help of an extraordinary doctor, she fights successfully to overcome her illness.
Hillerman, Tony. A Thief of Time
A noted anthropologist vanishes at an Indian ruin where “thieves of time” ravage sacred ground for profit. Navajo tribal policemen Lt. Joe Leaphorn and Officer Jim Chee plunge into the past to unearth the astonishing truth behind a series of murders.
Irving, John. A Prayer For Owen Meany
Owen Meany believes he is God’s instrument. It turns out he is. Intertwining humor, political commentary, and tragedy, Irving tracks the friendship between two boys as they discover and come to terms with their destinies.
Mathabane, Mark. Kaffir Boy
This is the autobiography of a black youth in apartheid South Africa. Through the courage of his family, a hard-won education, and a love of tennis, Mathabane wins a scholarship to an American university
Miklowitz, Gloria. The War Between the Classes
A group of teenagers enrolled in a social studies class challenge their ideas of friendship, society, loyalty, and acceptance. What begins as a game escalates into a confrontation that changes the characters forever.
Myers, Walter Dean. Fallen Angels
Richard Perry encounters much anguish, self-doubt, and death in battles in Vietnam. With gritty realism, Richie writes of his innermost thoughts during his tour of duty. The novel has been referred to as a testament to the thousands of young adults who fought and died in the Vietnam War.
Paulson, Gary. Winterdance
Challenging the forces of nature, Paulson decides to enter the Iditarod dog sled race in Alaska. His true adventure is funny, terrifying, and life altering.
Stewart, Mary. The Crystal Cave
The story of Merlin, the magician, is told in this fantasy set in fifth century Britain. The novel chronicles Merlin’s humble origins, family and political hardships, and his role in the begetting of King Arthur
Grade 11
Alexie, Sherman. Indian Killer
A serial murderer is terrorizing Seattle, hunting and scalping white men; and the crimes of the so-called Indian Killer have triggered a wave of violence and racial hatred. Seattle’s Native Americans are shaken and confused, none more so than John Smith
Alvarez, Julia. In the Time of the Butterflies
Five sisters grow up during the tyrannic regime of Trujillo. Four will die under suspicious circumstances but all will tell their story in Alvarez's In the Time of the Butterflies. This intricately woven historical fiction has everything - ambition, romance, suspense, betrayal, political intrigue and murder
Butler, Robert Olen. A Good Scent from a Strange Mountain
Winner of the Pulitzer Prize, this is a series of eloquent stories by Robert Olen Butler who captures the clash of Vietnamese and American cultures as a result of the Vietnam war. These stories reveal the profound and lasting effects that the war had on the entire Vietnamese culture.
Kingsolver, Barbara. Animal Dreams
Blending flashbacks, dreams, and Native American legends, the book is a suspenseful love story and moving exploration of life’s largest commitments.
Krakauer, Jon. Into the Wild
This work of non-fiction tells the story of Christopher Johnson McCandless who walked alone into the wilderness north of Mt. McKinley. Four months later, his decomposed body was found. Krakauer "was haunted by particulars of the boy's stravation and by the vague, unsettling parallels between events in his life and those in my own".
McBride, James. The Color of Water
A moving tribute to his mother, The Color of Water examines both McBride’s experiences growing up and his mother’s experiences. Racism, victimization, family life, and love are all woven together to create this moving testament. Here strength of character can overcome seemingly impossible circumstances.
Parker, Robert B. Mortal Stakes
"In Boston the Red Sox are sacred. The team is suspicious that its star pitcher may be tossing games so Spenser is hired to investigate. Digging into the past of a ballplayer's wife, Spenser soon finds himself plunged into a deadly game of blackmail and murder.”
Santiago, Esmeralda. When I Was Puerto Rican
"Santiago shares with the reader her memories of her Puerto Rican childhood and her bewildering years of transition in New York City. Always her view of her past is affectionate, spirited and unromantic".
Spiegelman, Art. Maus I and Maus II: A Survivor’s Tale: My Father Bleeds History and Here My Troubles Began
In a comic book format the artist tells the tragic story of his family, the Holocaust, and its devastating effects. The second book is a continuation of Spiegelman’s story of his father’s life as a camp survivor. Awarded a Pulitzer Prize, the book balances flashbacks of his father’s harrowing Holocaust experience with scenes of the present. Top 
Grade 12
Allende, Isabel. The Stories of Eva Luna
Like Scheherazade, Eva Luna tells stories she has never told before, stories about “peasants and patricians, revolutionaries and tyrants, seductresses and fortune tellers.”
Dangarembga, Tsitsi, Nervous Conditions
This novel is set in the British colony of Rhodesia in the 1960's and leads the reader through the narrator's coming of age as she finds herself caught between traditional, conservative views and her desire for independence and respect.
Eliot, T.S. The Wasteland
This famous poem serves as a paradigm for the Modernist Era. Saturated with allusions, it challenges even the most scholarly reader. Of course, students are not expected to master each allusion, but attention should be paid to the copious footnotes.
Hamill, Pete. Snow in August
The year is l947; a young Irish-American boy meets a Jewish rabbi, a survivor of war. They form an unusual alliance.
Hesse, Hermann. Siddhartha
Hesse recreates the life and travails of a buddha.
Huxley, Aldous. Brave New World
This classic science fiction novel shows a frightening yet humorous picture of a world which destroys individual freedom.
Kingsolver, Barbara. The Poisonwood Bible
This artful novel reaches new perspectives from the world of imperialistic Africa. It is told from five different American female perspectives. Each recounts her impressions in a world blighted with hatred and injustice.
Kingston, Maxine Hong. Woman Warrior
Woman Warrior is a revealing account of growing up female and Chinese-American in California. Kingston explores the painful schisms that exist between first generation children and their parents.
Markandaya, Kamala. Nectar in a Sieve
This moving tale of family life in India, told as a first-person narrative, offers insights into the difficult conditions of village life for a farmer’s family
Pirsig, Robert. Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance
This is a classic tale of a man’s search for truth and peace, detailing his journey with his son through America, and through his own buried emotions.
Rodriguez, Luis. Always Running
This autobiography of gang life in Los Angeles depicts the harsh realities of the barrio. It is Rodriguez’ coming of age story. He candidly portrays his days as a gang member and his rising above violence.
Vonnegut, Kurt. Slaughterhouse Five
During World War II the allies firebombed the city of Dresden in Germany, and the city was left in ruins. Vonnegut survived the bombing as he was being held prisoner in the basement of a slaughterhouse. This is a fictional account of his experiences.
Additionally, the following list is included. It is “The 100 Best Novels of the 20th Century” as decided by The Board of the Modern Library, a division of Random House, published its selection in July 1998. Any selection from this list would be an excellent choice.
1.Ulysses, James Joyce (1922)
2.The Great Gatsby, F. Scott Fitzgerald (1925)
3.A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man, James Joyce (1916)
4.Lolita, Vladimir Nabokov (1958)
5.Brave New World, Aldous Huxley (1932)
6.The Sound and the Fury, William Faulkner (1929)
7.Catch-22, Joseph Heller (1961)
8.Darkness at Noon, Arthur Koestler (1941)
9.Sons and Lovers, D. H. Lawrence (1913)
10.The Grapes of Wrath, John Steinbeck (1939)
11.Under the Volcano, Malcolm Lowry (1947)
12.The Way of All Flesh, Samuel Butler (1903)
13.1984, George Orwell (1949)
14.I, Claudius, Robert Graves (1934)
15.To the Lighthouse, Virginia Woolf (1927)
16.An American Tragedy, Theodore Dreiser (1925)
17.The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter, Carson McCullers (1940)
18.Slaughterhouse-Five, Kurt Vonnegut (1969)
19.Invisible Man, Ralph Ellison (1952)
20.Native Son, Richard Wright (1940)
21.Henderson the Rain King, Saul Bellow (1959)
22.Appointment in Samarra, John O'Hara (1934)
23.U.S.A. (trilogy), John Dos Passos (1937—trilogy completed)
24.Winesburg, Ohio, Sherwood Anderson (1919)
25.A Passage to India, E. M. Forster (1924)
26.The Wings of the Dove, Henry James (1902)
27.The Ambassadors, Henry James (1903)
28.Tender Is the Night, F. Scott Fitzgerald (1934)
29.The Studs Lonigan Trilogy, James T. Farrell (1935)
30.The Good Soldier, Ford Madox Ford (1915)
31.Animal Farm, George Orwell (1946)
32.The Golden Bowl, Henry James (1904)
33.Sister Carrie, Theodore Dreiser (1900)
34.A Handful of Dust, Evelyn Waugh (1934)
35.As I Lay Dying, William Faulkner (1930)
36.All the King's Men, Robert Penn Warren (1946)
37.The Bridge of San Luis Rey, Thornton Wilder (1927)
38.Howards End, E. M. Forster (1910)
39.Go Tell It on the Mountain, James Baldwin (1953)
40.The Heart of the Matter, Graham Greene (1948)
41.Lord of the Flies, William Golding (1954)
42.Deliverance, James Dickey (1969)
43.A Dance to the Music of Time (series), Anthony Powell (1975—series completed)
44.Point Counter Point, Aldous Huxley (1928)
45.The Sun Also Rises, Ernest Hemingway (1926)
46.The Secret Agent, Joseph Conrad (1907)
47.Nostromo, Joseph Conrad (1904)
48.The Rainbow, D. H. Lawrence (1915)
49.Women in Love, D. H. Lawrence (1921)
50.Tropic of Cancer, Henry Miller (1934)
51.The Naked and the Dead, Norman Mailer (1948)
52.Portnoy's Complaint, Philip Roth (1969)
53.Pale Fire, Vladimir Nabokov (1962)
54.Light in August, William Faulkner (1932)
55.On the Road, Jack Kerouac (1957)
56.The Maltese Falcon, Dashiell Hammett (1930)
57.Parade's End, Ford Madox Ford (1950)
58.The Age of Innocence, Edith Wharton (1920)
59.Zuleika Dobson, Max Beerbohm (1911)
60.The Moviegoer, Walker Percy (1961)
61.Death Comes for the Archbishop, Willa Cather (1927)
62.From Here to Eternity, James Jones (1951)
63.The Wapshot Chronicles, John Cheever (1957)
64.The Catcher in the Rye, J. D. Salinger (1951)
65.A Clockwork Orange, Anthony Burgess (1962)
66.Of Human Bondage, W. Somerset Maugham (1915)
67.Heart of Darkness, Joseph Conrad (1902)
68.Main Street, Sinclair Lewis (1920)
69.The House of Mirth, Edith Wharton (1905)
70.The Alexandria Quartet, Lawrence Durrell (1960—series completed)
71.A High Wind in Jamaica, Richard Hughes (1929)
72.A House for Mr. Biswas, V. S. Naipaul (1961)
73.The Day of the Locust, Nathanael West (1939)
74.A Farewell to Arms, Ernest Hemingway (1929)
75.Scoop, Evelyn Waugh (1938)
76.The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie, Muriel Spark (1961)
77.Finnegans Wake, James Joyce (1939)
78.Kim, Rudyard Kipling (1901)
79.A Room with a View, E. M. Forster (1908)
80.Brideshead Revisited, Evelyn Waugh (1945)
81.The Adventures of Augie March, Saul Bellow (1953)
82.Angle of Repose, Wallace Stegner (1971)
83.A Bend in the River, V. S. Naipaul (1979)
84.The Death of the Heart, Elizabeth Bowen (1938)
85.Lord Jim, Joseph Conrad (1900)
86.Ragtime, E. L. Doctorow (1975)
87.The Old Wives' Tale, Arnold Bennett (1908)
88.The Call of the Wild, Jack London (1903)
89.Loving, Henry Green (1945)
90.Midnight's Children, Salman Rushdie (1981)
91.Tobacco Road, Erskine Caldwell (1933)
92.Ironweed, William Kennedy (1983)
93.The Magus, John Fowles (1966)
94.Wide Sargasso Sea, Jean Rhys (1966)
95.Under the Net, Iris Murdoch (1954)
96.Sophie's Choice, William Styron (1979)
97.The Sheltering Sky, Paul Bowles (1949)
98.The Postman Always Rings Twice, James M. Cain (1934)
99.The Ginger Man, J. P. Donleavy (1955)
100.The Magnificent Ambersons, Booth Tarkington (1918)