Thank your for participating in the ASL Summer Reading Challenge. For reading recommendations for high school students and adults, visit the ASL Mellon Library summer resource site. Pick up a print copy of the summer reading challenges from an ASL library.
English classes: Please read a complete overview of the summer reading expectations and instructions for students in grades 9 through 12 for English coursework to aid in planning your book choices and prepare for class activities in the fall.
Our Summer Reading Program exists to promote the joy of reading, foster community, and extend the high school curriculum (which includes many classic and contemporary texts). Please find English grade-level specific information below.
Grade 9: Welcome to high school! This year, we encourage you to “get in the boat” and prepare for the adventure that awaits you. We hope that you’ll feel excited and inspired by our community of readers, writers, and thinkers – both in your class and outside. To get you ready for your journey, you’ll read TWO books this summer:
- At the beginning of Grade 9, you’ll dive into The Odyssey—an epic poem about a hero named Odysseus trying to get home after the Trojan War. Along the way, he battles monsters, faces the gods, and has to rely on his courage and clever thinking. Read a book that connects to this story, either to build background knowledge about the gods and goddesses, or to explore the big ideas like adventure, identity, or overcoming challenges. Here’s a list of suggested books.
- The other book should be of your choice. Choose a book you’re excited about, but also one that might help you grow as a reader. There are loads of suggestions from our high school community found on the Mellon Library Summer Reading site.
When selecting books to read, be sure to choose fiction or narrative nonfiction. Since you’ll be encountering nonfiction texts in your other classes, we want you to dive into literature and find value in the stories of others. We hope you can take advantage of this opportunity to use literature as a window into the world and a mirror to yourself.
Please read a complete overview of the summer reading expectations and instructions to plan your book choices and prepare for the class activities in the fall.
Grade 10: Over the summer, you'll select and read TWO books.
- This summer, all rising 10th graders will read Nine Stories by J.D. Salinger (titled For Esmé with Love and Squalor in the U.K. edition). These stories are quietly powerful, often focusing on young people navigating moments of confusion, change, and emotional depth. We’ll return to them early in the year, so read with curiosity and pay attention to what lingers after you close the book.
- In addition, you'll also choose a second book: one you're genuinely excited to read and one that stretches you a little. That might mean trying a new genre, reading a book with a more complex structure or voice, or stepping into the perspective of someone whose world is very different from yours. For example, if you've mostly read contemporary fiction, try something speculative or historical; if you love fast-paced plots, try a book that lingers on character and language. Please consult a list of suggested titles and faculty and student recommendations, compiled by ASL's Mellon Library and found on the Mellon summer reading site.
Come back ready to share what moved, challenged, or surprised you—and what stayed with you.
Grades 11 and 12: We encourage all students to read extensively throughout the summer. We hope you will enjoy a few of the suggested titles on the ASL Mellon Library’s list of books recommended by faculty and students. Or, come up with selections of your own.
