Independent Literature Assignment
Rationale
In order to broaden your exposure to literature, you will be independently reading
novels of your own choosing. Through reading on your own, you will improve your
ability to read, comprehend, and analyze complex texts- skills you will utilize throughout
your academic career.
Guidelines
Browse the short summaries of the approved books on the attached list and select a
title that appeals to you. All of these novels are pre-approved, and you MUST select
only one of these titles for your Independent Literature Assignment. All of the reading
must be done on your own, outside of class time, and it is recommended that you keep
notes for yourself as you read to assist with the final assessment. On the due date, you
will complete a written test to assess your comprehension, consisting of multiple choice
and essay questions based on the plot, characters, and other literary elements of the
novel.
Requirements
 Select your novel and have a copy of the novel to check in on ___________ You
must physically bring your novel to class on this day, along with the completed
Book Agreement form. (Kindles and tablets are acceptable)

Take the final assessment (written test) in class on ____________________
(Keep the information above! Only return the Book Agreement Form below to your
teacher.)
__ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __
Independent Literature Assignment
Book Agreement Form
Title_________________________________________________________________________________
Author______________________________________________________________________________
Student Name_______________________________________________________________
Student Signature____________________________________________________________
Parent Signature_____________________________________________________________
Date __________________________________
Teacher Initials_______________
Approved Book List
**(M) Signifies mature themes or content within the novel.**
1. Fat Kid Rules the World- K.L. Going (M)
Troy Billings is seventeen, 296 pounds, friendless and miserable until Curt Macrea recruits
him to be his new punk rock drummer.
2. Of Mice and Men- John Steinbeck
A classic piece of literature, set during the Great Depression, this story is about the
lengths a person will go to for friendship.
3. A Tree Grows in Brooklyn- Betty Smith
Also considered a classic, this historical fiction follows Francie Nolan as she grows up in
early 20th century Brooklyn.
4. The Rag and Bone Shop- Robert Cormier
A 7-year-old girl has been murdered, and local police are desperate to arrest the
murderer. The girl’s friend, 12-year-old Jason, is questioned by a professional
interrogator with intense and ironic consequences.
5. Watership Down- Richard Adams
A story of survival and courage, this adventure about finding the perfect home is told
entirely from the perspective of rabbits.
6. The Glass Castle: A Memoir- Jeannette Walls (M, Non-fiction)
A non-fiction memoir about a dysfunctional yet brilliantly artistic family that somehow
survives insanity, alcoholism and homelessness.
7. Walk Two Moons- Sharon Creech
Salamanca Tree Hiddle’s mother has disappeared, and she and her father have
relocated to Ohio. Sal tries tracing her mother’s steps on a trip across the country in the
hopes of bringing her home, and draws strength from her Native American heritage.
8. The Uglies- Scott Westerfeld
A science fiction story about a world where everyone is made beautiful – whether they
want to be or not.
9. The Pretties- Scott Westerfeld
An exciting sequel to the Uglies, this book follows Tally as she infiltrates the world of the
Pretties.
10. The Specials- Scott Westerfeld
The third book in the “Uglies” series, this tale finds Tally a member of the elite class of
enforcers known “Special Circumstances.”
11. Staying Fat for Sarah Byrnes – Chris Crutcher
When Eric and Sarah Byrnes were children, his fat and her horrifying scars bonded them
as friends and outcasts. As teenagers they are tied together by a terrible secret -- one
that threatens to destroy them both.
12. Speak- Laurie Halse Anderson
The story of Melinda, a 9th grade girl who almost never talks to anyone. Her friends and
family don’t know what to do to help her, because she won’t tell them what has
happened that caused her to hide behind her own walls.
13. Theodore Boone, Kid Lawyer -John Grisham
A perfect murder, a faceless witness and the courtroom champ who knows the whole
truth… but he’s only thirteen years old.
14. Theodore Boone, The Abduction -John Grisham
Theodore Boone is back in a new adventure, and the stakes are higher than ever.
When his best friend, April, disappears from her bedroom in the middle of the night, no
one, not even Theo Boone--who knows April better than anyone--has answers.
15. The Painted House – John Grisham (M)
A historical fiction set in 1950’s Arkansas, this novel tells of one families’ hardship and
hope. From puppy love to murder, this tale depicts the life of a family of cotton farmers
through the eyes of a seven-year old.
16. Tangerine- Edward Bloor
A mystery set in the state of Florida, centered around two brothers, Paul and Erik Fisher.
After moving to a new town, legally blind Paul begins to unravel the truth about his
football-star brother.
17. Go Ask Alice- Anonymous (M, Non-fiction)
A diary written by a 15-year-old girl in the 1960’s whose experiences with drugs destroy
her life.
18. Killing Mr. Griffin- Lois Duncan (M)
A thriller about a group of students who hate their English teacher so much that they
are willing to do anything to be rid of him.
19. Ransom- Lois Duncan (M)
From the bestselling author of “I Know What You Did Last Summer” and “Killing Mr.
Griffin, this thriller is about two brothers, a cheerleader, a loner and a an army brat who
are kidnapped on their way home from school.
20. Nothing But the Truth- Avi
Phillip Malloy is a ninth-grader who has a long-standing grudge against his English
teacher. When he gets suspended from school, a chain of events is set into motion that
even he cannot control.
21. The Witch of Blackbird Pond- Elizabeth George Speare
A historical fiction story about Kit, a 16-year-old girl from Barbados who moves to
colonial Connecticut in 1627. Her free spirited ways and friendship with the town
outcast cause Kit to be suspected of witchcraft by her Puritan neighbors.
22. Small Steps- Louis Sachar
A sequel to the popular book and movie “Holes”, this story follows popular characters
like X-Ray and Armpit as they unsuccessfully try to stay out of trouble.
23. A Separate Peace- John Knowles
In the summer of 1942, two prep-school roommates form a competitive friendship that
leads to a serious accident. The boys try to believe the best about each other, but
have to face the consequences that their competition has caused.
24. The Chocolate War- Robert Cormier (M)
Freshman Jerry Renault is trying to fit in at Trinity High, a boys’ school run by two tyrants,
Brother Leon the headmaster, and Archie Costello, the leader of a secret society called
the Vigils. Does Jerry dare to disturb the fragile balance in place at Trinity?
25. Schooled- Gordon Korman
Capricorn Anderson has been stuck in the 60’s all of his 13 years – too bad it’s 2007! Can
a peace loving hippie ever survive the cruel world of middle school?
26. Monster- Walter Dean Myers (M)
“Monster” is what the prosecutor calls 16-year-old Steve Harmon for his supposed role in
the fatal shooting of a convenience-store owner. The prosecutor claims that Steve was
the lookout who gave the “all clear” to the murderer, but Steve says he was just in the
wrong place at the wrong time.
27. The Life of Pi- Yann Martel
Pi Patel lives in Pondicherry, India, where his father is a zookeeper. When the family
decides to move to Canada, they board a freighter which is soon shipwrecked, leaving
Pi adrift in the ocean with a zebra, hyena, an orangutan, and a Bengal tiger.
28. Pretty Little Liars- Sara Shepard (M)
High school juniors Spencer, Hanna, Aria, and Emily have been keeping secrets ever
since their best friend Ali disappeared after 7th grade. But suddenly, their secrets are
coming back to haunt them, and it seems that Ali might be back too…
29. Flawless- Sara Shepard (M)
The second novel in the Pretty Little Liars series continues to follow main characters
Spencer, Aria, Emily, and Hanna. Flawless picks up right where the first novel left off,
and allows the reader to learn more about all of the characters, while they continue to
search for answers to the mystery following their friend’s death.
30. The Hoopster- Alan Lawrence (M)
Andre Anderson spends his summer playing basketball with his pals and working at a
magazine where he is assigned to write an article dealing with race. Since he’s African
American, Andre is reluctant to write about the topic, but he eventually does write an
explosive piece that starts a chain of events that will change his life.
31. Rumblefish- S.E. Hinton (M)
Rusty-James knows he is a tough teen, but he wants to be even tougher, just like his
older brother, the Motorcycle Boy. He wants to stay calm and laugh when things get
dangerous, to be the strongest streetfighter and the most respected guy this side of the
river.
32. The Princess Bride- William Goldman
Goldman tells the “good parts” of a fairy tale book his father read to him as a child. He
claims that his version of the story (even though the original story is an invented one)
has everything: “Fencing. Fighting. Torture. Poison. True love. Hate. Revenge. Giants.
Hunters. Bad men. Good men. Beautifullest ladies. Snakes. Spiders. Beasts of all natures
and descriptions. Pain. Death. Brave men. Coward men. Strongest men. Chases.
Escapes. Lies. Truths. Passion. Miracles.”
33. Catching Fire- Suzanne Collins
Second book in the Hunger Games series. Against all odds, Katniss Everdeen has won
the annual Hunger Games with fellow district tribute Peeta Mellark. But there are rumors
of rebellion among the subjects, and Katniss and Peeta, to their horror, are the faces of
that rebellion. The Capitol is angry. The Capitol wants revenge.
34. Mockingjay- Suzanne Collins
Third book in the Hunger Games series. Powerful and haunting, this thrilling final
installment of Suzanne Collins's groundbreaking The Hunger Games trilogy promises to
be one of the most talked about books of the year.
35. Everlost- Neal Schusterman
Nick and Allie don’t survive the car accident, but their souls don’t exactly get where
they’re supposed to go either. Instead, they’re caught halfway between life and
death, in a sort of limbo known as Everlost: a shadow of the living world, filled with all
the things and places that no longer exist. It’s a magical, yet dangerous place where
bands of lost kids run wild and anyone who stands in the same place too long sinks to
the center of the Earth.
36. Bad Girls Don’t Die- Katie Alender
When Alexis’s little sister Kasey becomes obsessed with an antique doll, Alexis thinks she
is just being her usual weird self. Things get weirder, though, when their house starts
changing. Doors open and close by themselves; water boils on the unlit stove; and an
unplugged air conditioner blasts cold air. How can Alexis stop the changes in her sister
and ward off the danger that is coming?