2011 Pelham High School Summer Reading Books Ads
The lists below are for advanced and regular English classes. Advanced students are required to read two
books and regular English students are required to read one book. Students in Honors English should see
their specific teacher for a separate reading list. All students are required to read from the appropriate list
and will take an Accelerated Reader quiz within the first two weeks of school. Students should read their
chosen books carefully because AR tests are very detailed. Descriptions of the books are listed below.
Parents: Please be aware of your student’s choice of books. Not all books are appropriate for all
students!
9th grade—Advanced 9 reads 2 books. English 9 reads only 1 book.
1. The Glass Castle by Jeanette Walls—This true story reveals the struggles that a young girl and her
siblings overcome as they are being raised by addicted and irresponsible parents. Will these kids
manage to become successful and fulfill their dreams?
2. How Reading Changed My Life by Anna Quindlen—an award-winning New York Times columnist
writes about her life-long love affair with books. She includes her own admittedly "arbitrary and
capricious" reading lists such as "The 10 books I would save in a fire," "10 modern novels that
made me proud to be a writer," "10 books that will help a teenager feel more human," and various
other categories.
3. All Creatures Great and Small by James Herriot—Delve into the magical, unforgettable world of James
Herriot, the world's most beloved veterinarian, and his menagerie of heartwarming, funny, and
tragic animal patients.
4. Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury—Set in a grim setting ruled by a tyrannical government in which
firemen as we understand them no longer exist: Here, firemen don't douse fires, they ignite them.
And they do this specifically in homes that house the most evil of evils: books.
5. Little Women by Louisa May Alcott—Little Women is about a family of four girls Meg, Jo, Beth, and
Amy and their various adventures with family, marriage, and children. This book has romance and
family conflicts that everyone can relate to.
6. Red Moon at Sharpsburg by Rosemary Wells-The horrors of the US Civil War are seen through the eyes
of 12 year-old India Moody who lives in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia. Family lost and love
found; dreams dashed and hope returned, a “can’t put down” read.
7. Notes from the Midnight Driver by Jordan Sonnenblick
8. The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams—Join Arthur and Ford as they hitchhike
across the galaxy in this adventurous comedy. It’s a quick, easy read and a bundle of laughs.
9. A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith—a poignant tale of growing up and rising above obstacles.
10. For One More Day by Mitch Albom-For One More Day is the story of a mother and a son, and a
relationship that covers a lifetime and beyond. It explores the question: What would you do if you
could spend one more day with a lost loved one?
11. Fake ID by Walter Sorrells—After a lifetime of moving and new identities, sixteen-year-old Chass
begins to piece together her and her mother's past, which involves a mysterious tape, a deceased
singer, and the secrets of several people in a small Alabama town
12. The Wednesday Wars by Gary Schmidt-There are many strands in this story: the Vietnam War, air raid
drills, missing soldiers, a classmate who is a Vietnamese refugee, a rescue, extreme humiliation,
chalk-covered cream puffs, yellow tights with feathers in all the wrong places and a bully. In fact,
so much happens I wondered whether all the seeds Schmidt planted could flower by the end. To
his great credit, they do.
13. Alabama Moon by Watt Key-After the death of his father, ten-year-old Moon leaves their forest
shelter home and is sent to an Alabama institution, becoming entangled in the outside world he has
never known and making good friends, a relentless enemy, and a new life.
14. Hank Aaron and the Homerun that Changed America by Tom Stanton—Chasing the home run record
of Babe Ruth also meant chasing the legend of the “Sultan of Swat.” As Hank Aaron came close
to that achievement in 1973, not everyone in America was willing to accept that an AfricanAmerican could overtake Babe Ruth’s homerun performance. How did Aaron succeed?
15. The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon by Stephen King—Nine-year-old Trisha who gets helplessly lost in
the woods with little chance of survival. The only thing that keeps her going is her portable radio
that is broadcasting the Red Sox game, in which her hero, Tom Gordon, is pitching. Will Trisha
be saved from the woods, or will ear and the unknown defeat her?
Check out Barnesandnoble.com for more book descriptions. Remember to get your book order and
check turned in to RMS teacher Mrs. Crawford, HMS teacher Mrs. Roberts, or PHS teacher Mrs.
Nolen by April 30th in order to have your summer reading books delivered to PHS for you to pick up
on May 10th. Look on back of this sheet for a summer reading book order form. Email Mrs. Nolen
at cnolen@shelbyed.k12.al.us with any questions.
2011 Pelham High School Summer Reading Books Ads
The lists below are for advanced and regular English classes. Advanced students are required to read two books and
regular English students are required to read one book. Students in Honors English should see their specific teacher for
a separate reading list. All students are required to read from the appropriate list and will take an Accelerated Reader
quiz within the first two weeks of school. Students should read their chosen books carefully because AR tests are very
detailed. Descriptions of the books are listed below. Parents: Please be aware of your student’s choice of
books. Not all books are appropriate for all students!
10th —Advanced 10 reads 2 books. English 10 reads only 1 book.
1. Cold Sassy Tree by Olive Ann Burns
In the old, southern, town of Cold Sassy something that has never happened before is going to stir up the
town. However, one day everything changes when Mrs. Mattie Lou dies, and Mr, Blackslee decides to get
remarried to a young, aspiring designer. This news gets the townspeople gossiping and it becomes a
comical mess.
2. Black Like Me by John Howard Griffin
A wealthy, white man decides to leave his luxurious life behind and experience the dangerous life on the
streets as a black man. Read this life-changing adventure, and learn about racial issues first hand.
3. All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten by Robert Fulghum
If you are looking for a humorous, short read, this is the book for you! All I Really Needed to Know I
Learned in Kindergarten is an intriguing array of 27 short essays that are imaginative and fun.
4. Friday Night Lights by H.G. Bissinger
Any football lover will enjoy this action-packed story about one team’s struggle to win the championship in
their last year of high school.
5. Walden by Thoreau
Walden, what is it? Is it a book on nature, a book on ecology, a book on human nature, a description of the
struggle between modern civilization and the land that nurtured it, or a critique of mankind? Nature lovers
should read this book to decide for themselves what it’s all about.
6. The Haunted Mesa by Louis L’Amour
7. A Gathering of Old Men by Earnest Gaines
8. Lost Horizon by James Hilton
9. The Pearl by John Steinbeck
Looking for an action-filled and dynamic book about honor, family, and adventure? This book is about a
young pearl diver named Kino. His son Coyotito is stung by a scorpion, but Kino cannot pay the doctor so
he will not treat the boy—until he finds a very large pearl. Will Coyotito be saved?
10. A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry
A classic American drama by an African-American playwright, the play was a radically new representation
of black life. "A play that changed American theater forever."—The New York Times.
11. Where the Heart Is by Billie Letts
A wonderful story about a girl named Novalee, who is "seventeen, seven months pregnant, thirty-seven
pounds overweight--and superstitious about sevens.... For most people, sevens were lucky. But not for her."
Novalee’s boyfriend abandons her, leaving her at a Wal-mart in an unfamiliar town. How will Novalee
manage in a town where she doesn’t know a soul?
12. Silas Marner by George Eliot
13. The Crystal Caveby Mary Stewart
14. The Awakening by Kate Chopin
15. Daisy Miller by Henry James
Henry James is a literary genius and this novella expresses love, innocence, society, and inner turmoil
within eighty pages that are saturated with real feeling.
Check out Barnesandnoble.com for more book descriptions. Remember to get your book order and
check turned in to your English teacher by April 30th in order to have your summer reading books
delivered to PHS for you to pick up on May 10th. Look on back of this sheet for a summer reading
book order form. Email Mrs. Nolen at cnolen@shelbyed.k12.al.us with any questions.
ESL students may substitute La Linea by Ann Jaramillo if they see Ms. Sandoval first.
2011 Pelham High School Summer Reading Books Ads
The lists below are for advanced and regular English classes. Advanced students are required to read two books and
regular English students are required to read one book. Students in Honors English should see their specific teacher for
a separate reading list. All students are required to read from the appropriate list and will take an Accelerated Reader
quiz within the first two weeks of school. Students should read their chosen books carefully because AR tests are very
detailed. Descriptions of the books are listed below. Parents: Please be aware of your student’s choice of
books. Not all books are appropriate for all students!
11th—Advanced 11 reads 2 books. English 11 reads only 1 book.
1. As I Lay Dying by William Faulkner
When Addie Bundren dies, her husband and five children load her coffin on their wagon and embark on a
long journey to bury her in the town of Jefferson. As her body rots and the trip takes longer than expected,
the dark secrets of this rural Mississippi family unravel. Read this tragic but grotesquely humorous novel
about a decaying corpse and the twisted values of the family that takes too long to bury her.
2. A Walk Across America by Peter Jenkins
This true story is the adventurous tale of one man’s journey as he crosses the country on foot
3. The Five People You meet in Heaven by Mitch Albom
Dying in order to save another life, Eddie goes to heaven where he meets five people who show him that
his deeds may seem small, but he accomplished many goals in his life. He begins to understand the real
meaning behind God’s work in our lives. Read that thought provoking, modern day parable written by the
author of Tuesday’s with Morrie.
4. Bleachers by John Grisham
This is a great story for anyone who loves high school football.
5. The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath
This is a dark novel about the nervous breakdown of a college student.
6. The Color Purple by Alice Walker
Set almost a century ago, The Color Purple follows Celie’s life from her abused childhood through her
arranged marriage and difficult self-discoveries. Will Celie ever achieve her lifelong goal of finding her
brilliant younger sister, Nettie, from whom she was separated at sixteen?
7. The Heart of a Woman by Maya Angelou
This book is one in a series of autobiographies by the amazing Maya Angelou.
8. How the Garcia Girls Lost Their Accents by Alvarez
This books tells the story of a family who immigrates to America from the Dominican Republic.
9. The Things They Carried by Tim O’Brien
This book tells stories of the Vietnam War.
10. The Jungle by Upton Sinclair
A graphic novel about the plight of immigrant workers enduring terrible working conditions in the meat
packing plants of Chicago in the early 1900s.
11. The House on Mango Street by Cisneros (Both book and AR test are available in Spanish)
12. Saint Maybe by Anne Tyler
This novel tells the story of Ian, a typical teenage boy. After Ian speaks harshly without thinking to his
brother, his life is forever changed. Will Ian ever find forgiveness?
13. Yo! by Julia Alvarez (Both book and AR test are available in Spanish)
14. The Optimist’s Daughter by Eudora Welty
15. Tender is the Night by F. Scott Fitzgerald
16. Who Killed My Daughter? By Lois Duncan
Lois Duncan’s daughter was really murdered. In this nonfiction work, Duncan investigates and reports on
the bizarre murder of her own daughter.
Check out Barnesandnoble.com for more book descriptions. Remember to get your book order and
check turned in to your English teacher by April 24th in order to have your summer reading books
delivered to PHS for you to pick up on May 11th. Look on back of this sheet for a summer reading
book order form. Email Mrs. Nolen at cnolen@shelbyed.k12.al.us with any questions.
ESL students may substitute Tae's Sonata by Haemi Balgassi they see Ms. Sandoval first.
2011 Pelham High School Summer Reading Books Ads
The lists below are for advanced and regular English classes. Advanced students are required to read two books and
regular English students are required to read one book. Students in Honors English should see their specific teacher for
a separate reading list. All students are required to read from the appropriate list and will take an Accelerated Reader
quiz within the first two weeks of school. Students should read their chosen books carefully because AR tests are very
detailed. Descriptions of the books are listed below. Parents: Please be aware of your student’s choice of
books. Not all books are appropriate for all students!
12th—Advanced 12 reads 2 books. English 12 reads only 1 book.
1. 1984 by George Orwell
This futuristic novel by George Orwell is an intriguing story about a man who risks his life to find
happiness and freedom in a world that is controlled in every aspect. Monitored by telescreens and always
watched by the “thought police,” the world in which we live is completely changed. Can this man save
himself and the rest of humanity?
2. Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy
3. Christy by Catherine Marshall
Marshall writes about her mother’s real life experiences teaching in the Smoky Mountains at a
missionary school with a fictional twist. Christy is the nineteen-year-old teacher who discovers how
different the mountain people really are as she learns that God can use her if she is willing to let Him.
Marshall also wrote Julie and A Man Called Peter, along with other inspirational works.
4. The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas
The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas is an intriguing tale of one man determined to get his
revenge in 19th century Elba. With every turn of the page comes a new, compelling twist to the story that
will have you reaching for this book every spare second that you have.
5. Cry, The Beloved Country by Alan Paton
6. Dracula by Bram Stoker
7. The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand
8. Ivanhoe by Sir Walter Scott
9. Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte
10. Les Miserables by Victor Hugo
11. The Hound of the Baskervilles by Sir Arthur Doyle
12. The Once and Future King by T.H. White
13. The Power and the Glory by Graham Greene
14. The Mayor of Casterbridge by Thomas Hardy
15. Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe
16. The Three Musketeers by Alexandre Dumas
The Three Musketeers and their newfound ally d’Artagnan defend the honor of the king against the
traitorous Cardinal’s forces in this suspenseful novel of adventure, romance, and friendship.
17. The Fellowship of the Rings by J.R.R.Tolkien
18. A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens
19. All Creatures Great and Small by James Herriott
20. It Was On Fire When I Lay Down On It by Robert Fulghum
More humorous essays by the author of All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten.
21. The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis
Check out Barnesandnoble.com for more book descriptions. Remember to get your book order and
check turned in to your English teacher by April 30th in order to have your summer reading books
delivered to PHS for you to pick up on May 10th. Look on back of this sheet for a summer reading
book order form. Email Mrs. Nolen at cnolen@shelbyed.k12.al.us with any questions.
Senior ESL students may substitute Knights of the Round Table if they see Ms. Sandoval first.