Science Fiction

Mystery

Memoir

Realism Romance

Sports

Classic AP Lit (Required)

AP Lan: GAW (Required)

Historical

Niles West High School 2016 Summer Reading List

Fantasy

Fantasy A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas (Fantasy) When nineteen-year-old huntress Feyre kills a wolf in the woods, a fierce fey shows up at her doorstep seeking retribution. Dragged to a treacherous magical land, Feyre discovers her captor is one of the lethal, immortal faeries who once ruled their world.

Hellraisers by Alexander Gordon Smith (Horror, Fantasy) Marlow is always in trouble for vandalism and acting out. One day he stumbles into the middle of a battle with a demon and learns about The Devil's engine--an ancient machine that grants your wishes in exchange for your soul.

Nimona by Noelle Stevenson (Fantasy, Graphic Novel, Humor) Lord Blackheart, a villain with a vendetta, and his sidekick, Nimona, an impulsive young shapeshifter, must prove to the kingdom that Sir Goldenloin and the Institution of Law Enforcement and Heroics aren't the heroes everyone thinks they are.

Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard (Fantasy, Dystopian) When her latent supernatural powers manifest in front of a noble court, Mare, a thief in a world divided between commoners and superhumans, is forced to assume the role of lost princess before risking everything to help a growing rebellion.

Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo (Fantasy) Six dangerous outcasts. One impossible heist. Kaz's crew is the only thing that might stand between the world and destruction--if they don't kill each other first.

Science Fiction Illuminae by Amie Kaufman (Science Fiction) The planet Kerenza is attacked, and Kady and Ezra find themselves on a space fleet fleeing the enemy, while their ship's artificial intelligence system and a deadly plague may be the end of them all.

The Scorpion Rules by Erin Bown (Science Fiction, Dystopian) In order to keep the peace, an artificial intelligence called Talis takes the children of world leaders hostage. If any leader starts a war their child will be killed. New hostage Elian doesn't accept the system and when he shakes things up, crown princess Greta learns the truth about the world they live in.

Steelheart by Brandon Sanderson (Science Fiction, Superhero) Ten years ago, Calamity came, a burst in the sky that gave ordinary people powers. The awed public started calling them Epics, but Epics are evil. David saw his father killed by an Epic and joins the Reckoners, who fight the Epics to end their tyranny.

Realism All American Boys by Jason Reynolds (Realism, African American) When Rashad is mistakenly accused of stealing, classmate Quinn witnesses his brutal beating by a police officer who has been a father-figure. Soon the video is all over the news and simmering tensions threaten to explode as Rashad and Quinn face decisions and consequences they had never considered before.

All the Bright Places by Jennifer Niven (Realism) When Finch and Violet meet on the ledge of the bell tower at school--six stories above ground-- it's unclear who saves whom. Soon it's only with Violet that Finch can be himself. And it's only with Finch that Violet can forget to count away the days and start living them. But as Violet's world grows, Finch's begins to shrink.

The Boy in the Black Suit by Jason Reynolds (Realism, African American) Matt wears a black suit every day. Not because his mom died, although she did, and it sucks. But he wears the suit for his gig at the local funeral home. While Dad's snagging bottles of whiskey, Matt's snagging $15 an hour. Not bad. But everything else? Not good. Then Matt meets Lovey.

Challenger Deep by Neal Shusterman (Realism, Psychological) Caden lives in two worlds. One is real life with his family, his friends, and high school. There he is paranoid and thinks people are trying to kill him. In his other world he's part of the ship’s crew on a voyage to the ocean's deepest trench. Caden's fantasy and paranoia begin to take over until his parents have only one choice left.

The Good Braider by Terry Farish (Realism, Novel-in-Verse, Immigrants) Viola survives brutality in war-torn Sudan and makes a perilous journey to Maine, where her quest for freedom and security is hampered by memories of past horrors and the traditions her mother and other Sudanese adults hold dear.

Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli (Realism, GLBTQ) Not-so-openly-gay Simon is blackmailed into playing wingman for his classmate or else his sexual identity--and that of his pen pal--will be revealed. Funny and poignant, this is a coming-of-age, coming out story, wrapped in a geek romance.

Romance Anne & Henry by Dawn Ius (Romance) On a rigid path to become valedictorian, attend Harvard Law School, have a stunning political career like his father's, and date the right girl, Henry Tudor feels trapped until he meets the wild, brash Anne Boleyn, and they embark on a dangerous romance.

Galgorithm by Aaron Karo (Romance, Humor) After the girl of his dreams breaks his heart, Shane devises a mysterious formula called the Galgorithm and establishes himself as the resident dating guru at Kingsview High School. But his attempts to master the art of romance go outrageously awry.

Hello, Goodbye, and Everything in Between by Jennifer Smith (Romance) On the night before they leave for college, Clare and Aidan only have one thing left to do: figure out whether they should stay together or break up. Over the course of twelve hours they retrace the steps of their relationship, trying to find something in their past that might help them decide what their future should be.

Tell Me Again How a Crush Should Feel by Sara Farizan (Romance, GLBTQ, Iranian American) Leila's Persian heritage already makes her different from her classmates, and if word got out that she liked girls life would be twice as hard, but when new girl Saskia shows up, Leila starts to take risks she never thought she would, especially when it looks as if the attraction between them is mutual. She struggles to sort out her growing feelings

Mystery The Body in the Woods by April Henry (Mystery, Detectives) While helping the Portland County Sheriff's Search and Rescue to seek a missing autistic man, teens Alexis, Nick, and Ruby instead find a body and join forces to find the girl's murderer, forming an unlikely friendship as well.

The Morgue and Me by John Ford (Mystery, Detectives) Christopher just needed a summer job after graduation. He didn't expect to stumble across a murder cover-up when he was hired as a janitor at the morgue. With the sheriff as his prime suspect, he teams up with Tina, a gorgeous newspaper reporter. They find themselves in a full-blown investigation involving bribery, kidnappings, more murders...and his best friend.

I Am Princess X by Cherie Priest (Mystery) Years ago, two best friends created a heroine, Princess X. Libby drew the pictures, May wrote the tales. When Libby died in a car accident, Princess X died with her. Now 16, May is shocked to see stickers, patches and graffiti of Princess X all over town. She finds a Princess X webcomic and discovers disturbing similarities with Libby's story. Only person could have done this.

Scarlett Undercover by Jennifer Latham (Mystery, Detectives, Muslim American)

Scarlett, a sixteen-year-old private detective, finds herself at the center of a murder case involving ancient curses, priceless artifacts, and cults, and discovers that her own family secrets may have something to do with the situation.

Historical The Boys in the Boat (YA or AD) by Gregory Mone (Historical, Nonfiction, Sports) The true story of nine working-class boys from the American West who at the 1936 Olympics showed the world what true grit really meant. With rowers who were the sons of loggers, shipyard workers, and farmers, the University of Washington's eight-oar crew was never expected to defeat the elite East Coast teams, yet they did, going on to shock the world by challenging the German boat rowing for Adolf Hitler.

The Hired Girl by Laura Amy Schlitz (Historical) Joan, like the heroines in her beloved novels, yearns for real life and true love. But what hope is there for adventure, beauty, or art on a farm in Pennsylvania where the work never ends? Over the summer of 1911, Joan pours her heart out into her diary when she leaves her family's farm in Pennsylvania to work as a hired girl in Baltimore.

Port Chicago 50 by Steve Sheinkin (Nonfiction, Historical, World War II, African American)

In 1944, a massive explosion rocked the segregated Navy base in California, killing more than 300 sailors. 244 men refused to go back to work until unsafe and unfair conditions at the docks were addressed. When the dust settled, 50 were charged with mutiny, facing decades in jail and even execution. This is a fascinating story of the prejudice that black American soldiers endured during World War II.

Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys (Historical, World War II) World War II is drawing to a close and thousands of refugees are on a desperate trek toward freedom, many with something to hide. Among them are Joana, Emilia, and Florian, whose paths converge on route to a refugee ship, the Wilhelm Gustloff. Just when it seems freedom is within their grasp, tragedy strikes. Their story is based on the real-life sinking of the Wilhelm Gustloff-- the greatest maritime disaster in history.

Terrorist by Henrik Rehr (Historical, Graphic Novel, WWI) In 1914, a young Serbian named Gavrilo Princip assassinated the Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria, a violent act that sparked World War I. This riveting graphic novel imagines the events that led Princep to become history's worst terrorist.

Memoir Hope: A Memoir of Survival in Cleveland by Amanda Berry/Gina DeJesus (Memoir, True Crime) Two victims of an infamous Cleveland kidnapper share the story of their abductions, their decade in captivity and their dramatic escape.

Laughing at My Nightmare by Shane Burcaw (Memoir, Humor) With acerbic wit and a hilarious voice, the author describes the challenges he faces as a twenty-one-year-old with spinal muscular atrophy. From awkward handshakes to having a girlfriend and everything in between, Shane handles his situation with humor and a "you-only-live-once" perspective on life.

Sports All Star by Jesse Lonergan (Sports, Graphic Novel) Senior Carl Carter is leading his baseball team to the state championship. With a full scholarship waiting and everyone telling him he could go pro, Carl feels like he can do anything he wants, until one arrogant mistake jeopardizes everything.

Grandmaster by David Klass (Realism, Sports) Freshman Daniel gets a chance to prove himself when the chess team invites him and his father to a parent-child tournament. Daniel thought his father was a novice, but he finds that his father had been a promising young player who quit because of the pressure. Now his father will have to face his former rival and all his old demons.

Hit Count by Chris Lynch (Sports) Arlo loves being at the heart of the action on the football field, and while his dad cheers him on, his mother quotes head injury statistics and refuses to watch. Arlo's winning plays, cheering crowds, and adrenaline rushes are enough to convince him that everything is OK, in spite of the pain, pounding, dizziness, and confusion.

Hope: A School, A Team, A Dream by Bill Reynolds (Sports, Nonfiction, African American) The inspirational story of inner-city Providence, Rhode Island's Hope High School basketball team, detailing the formidable obstacles faced by coach Nyblom and a ragtag group of at-risk youths who overcame gang violence, drug problems and family disputes to reclaim their champion status.

This Way Home by Wes Moore (Sports, African American, Urban) Elijah, seventeen, has always been sure of just one thing--basketball--and believes it will be his way out of West Baltimore, but when gang violence knocks him down, helping a veteran repair his rickety home helps Elijah see what really matters.