Summer reading is required for many high school students and your school may ask that you recommend novels for your students to read this year. Samantha from Samantha in Secondary is bringing you a list that will help you update your arsenal. Instead of recommending novels that have been done time and time again, refresh your selections with one of these great reads. All of these novels have rich literary themes and are perfect for readers from grades 9-12. Your students will be sure to not only actually do the reading, but also enjoy it!
#1: Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds
Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds is a fast paced novel in verse about 15-year-old Will Holloman and his struggle to decide if revenge is ever really worth it. What the novel lacks in length it makes up for in depth. Your students will be talking about this one all year. Find Samantha’s list of activity ideas to accompany this novel here.
#2: We Were Liars by E. Lockhart
We Were Liars by E. Lockhart is a breathtaking mystery set against the backdrop of a private island off the coast of Massachusetts. (Perfect for summer reading.) This novel will keep your students guessing until the incredibly unforgettable end. The Sinclair family will stick with you long after you’re done reading. (As an extension bonus, E. Lockhart released a prequel to this novel Family of Liars, so you might get more reading out of your students than you originally asked!)
#3: Far from the Tree by Robin Benway
Far From the Tree tracks three different teenagers – Grace, Maya, and Joaquin – as they explore the meaning of family. This novel addresses many important topics such as adoption, teen pregnancy, and the foster system. This contemporary YA offering is perfect for teens who want a dose of reality in their summer reading.
#4: The Grace Year by Kim Liggett
The Grace Year is a dystopian YA thriller for fans of books like The Hunger Games. This novel follows 16-year-old Tierney James as she embarks on what’s known as a grace year, a time when girls are banished to release their magic into the wild to return purified for marriage. This complex and twisted story examines feminism from multiple angles. Haunting and very timely.
#5: In the Wild Light by Jeff Zentner
This stunning YA contemporary coming-of-age novel is absolute perfection. Set against the backdrop of an elite prep school, Cash grapples with being an outsider in a world that has been too difficult for someone his age. This novel examines big themes like grief, friendship, love, and loss. Perfect for budding wordsmiths.
#6: I Must Betray You by Ruta Sepetys
For fans of history, I Must Betray You is an intriguing offer from Sepetys detailing Romania in 1989. This lesser-known time period is expertly displayed as Cristian, a Romanian teen, is blackmailed into becoming an informer for the Communist regime in which he lives. This heart-pounding, gut-wrenching story will surely engage any of your historically-minded readers.
#7: What I Carry by Jennifer Longo
What I Carry by Jennifer Longo is a poignant novel about a young girl navigating the foster care system. Muir packs light as she moves from home to home until she meets Francine and everything changes. This novel is an inside look into a system that isn’t always kind or fair to young people. It also includes an overview of what it’s like to age out of foster care- something that should be discussed more. Your students will fall in love with Muir and root for her throughout the novel.
#8: We Are Not Free by Traci Chee
Another historical fiction offering, We Are Not Free is a must-read. This novel follows 14 teens who have grown up together in Japantown, San Francisco and their collective relocation during World War II. This novel can sometimes be a little confusing due to the number of narrators, but it is both important and beautiful. (Recommend the audiobook to students who might be having trouble, it’s fantastic!) This novel explores the lesser-discussed topic of Japanese Internment, a topic that is sure to engage your students.
#9: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins
For students who loved The Hunger Games, recommend the prequel, The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes. Collins really shines as a storyteller in this expertly crafted tale of 18-year-old Coriolanus Snow as a mentor in the 10th annual Hunger Games. (Yes, that President Snow.) Seeing him in this light brings a complex layer to a beloved story. And Lucy Gray is absolute perfection. This novel is soon to be a motion picture, so you have that added hook when you’re recommending it.
#10: Clap When You Land by Elizabeth Acevedo
A stunning novel in verse by slam poet Elizabeth Acevedo, Clap When You Land follows two sisters who had absolutely no idea the other existed until their father died. This book is impossible to put down and your students will be recommending it for years to come.
Need some creative ideas for assessing the reading when your students get back? Click here to check out 7 creative post-reading assessments that work with any novel.
Does your school require summer reading? What novels do you like to recommend to students? Sound off in the comments below or follow us on Instagram @ELAMattersBlog to join in the discussion. You can also follow Samantha @SamanthainSecondary for more YA recommendations.
