Summer Reading

“To introduce children to literature is to install them in a very rich and glorious kingdom, to bring a continual holiday to their doors, to lay before them a feast exquisitely served. But they must learn to know literature by being familiar with it from the very first. A child’s learning must always be with good books, the best that we can find” ~ Charlotte Mason

We hope that you will be spending this summer enjoying the outdoors with your children and also reading to them. Below is a list of possible books to put on your list!

• A New Coat for Anna by Harriet Ziefert

• Aesop’s Fables (any)

• Annie and the Wild Animals by Jan Brett

• Big Red Barn by Margaret Wise Brown

• Bread and Jam for Frances by Russell Hoban

• Dandelion by Don Freeman

• The Story of Ferdinand by Munro Leaf

• Good Night, Moon by Margaret Wise Brown

• Harold and the Purple Crayon by Crockett Johnson

• Harry the Dirty Dog by Gene Zion

• Hattie and the Fox by Mem Fox

• How to Get a Gorilla out of Your Bathtub by John Hall

• If You Give a Mouse a Cookie by Laura Joffe Numeroff

• Jesse Bear, What Will You Wear? by Nancy White Carlstrom

• Katie and the Sunflowers by James Mayhew

• Katy No-Pocket by Emmy Payne

• Leo the Late Bloomer by Robert Kraus

• Little Bear by Else Holmelund Minarik

• Little Fur Family by Margaret Wise Brown

• Make Way for Ducklings by Robert McCloskey

• Miss Rumphius by Barbara Cooney

• Moon: A Peek-Through Picture Book by Britta Teckentrup

• Nighty-Night, Cooper by Laura Numeroff

• Norman the Doorman by Don Freeman

• One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish by Dr. Seuss

• Over and Under the Pond by Kate Messner

• Owl Babies by Martin Waddell

• Roly Poly by Mem Fox

• Sheep in a Jeep by Nancy E. Shaw

• The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats

• Stone Soup by Marcia Brown

• Swimmy by Leo Lionni

• The Carrot Seed by Robert Kraus

• The Cock, the Mouse, and the Little Red Hen by Lorinda Bryan Cauley

• The Little Engine That Could by Watty Piper

• The Poky Little Puppy by Janette Sebring Lowrey

• The Runaway Bunny by Margaret Wise Brown

• The Story about Ping by Marjorie Flack

• Time for Bed by Mem Fox

• Tops and Bottoms by Janet Stevens

• Where Does the Butterfly Go When It Rains? by May Garelick

Download K4 & Kindergarten 2026 Summer Reading List

Reading is a foundational skill for education. During a child’s first grade year at The Geneva School, he/she will be exposed to many genres of quality literature. Throughout the summer leading up to this year, we recommend that parents spend time reading aloud to their child. We would like to offer the following recommendations to assist you in developing the love of reading in your child.

• The Complete Brambly Hedge by Jill

• BarklemLittle Pilgrim’s Progress by Helen Taylor

• The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame

• James Herriot’s Treasury for Children by James Herriot

• Anne of Green Gables by Lucy Maud Montgomery

• Matilda by Roald Dahl

• Smoky the Cowhorse by Will James

• Pipi Longstocking by Astrid Lindgren

• The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett

• The Railway Children by Edith Nesbit

• The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain

• A Bear Called Paddington by Michael Bond

• Summer of the Monkeys by Wilson Rawls

• Little House on the Prairie by Laura Ingalls Wilder

• Caddie Woodlawn by Carol Ryrie Brink

• Peter and the Wolf (with music) by Sergei Prokofiev

• The Napping House by Audrey Wood

• A New Coat for Anna by Harriet Ziefert

• Stellaluna by Janell Cannon

• City Dog, Country Frog by Mo Willems

• The Three Little Wolves and the Big Bad Pig by Eugene Trivizas

• The True Story of the Three Little Pigs by Jon Sciezka

• Classic Fairy Tales illustrated by Scott Gustafson

• Classic Bedtime Stories illustrated by Scott Gustafson

• Aesop’s Fables, The Classic Edition illustrated by Charles Santore

• Books by Virginia Lee Burton, Leo Lionni, Jan Brett, Dr. Seuss, and Eric Carle

Lots of classics that Disney recreated are wonderful in their original form, including:

• Peter Pan by J. M. Barrie

• Mary Poppins by P.L. Travers

• 101 Dalmatians by Dodie Smith

• The Rescuers by Margery Sharp

• The Jungle Book by Rudyard Kipling

• Chitty Chitty Bang Bang by Ian Fleming

• The Story of Doctor Dolittle by Hugh Lofting

For reading practice:

• The Boxcar Children series by Gertrude Chandler Warner

• Henry and Mudge series by Cynthia Rylant

• Little Bear series by Else Holmelund

• Mr. Putter and Tabby series by Cynthia Rylant

• Curious George series by H. A. Rey

Download First Grade 2026 Summer Reading List

We hope you encourage your children to immerse themselves in good books over the summer! We present this list to you as a guide, but please feel free to offer your children other books appropriate to their reading level. Children entering second grade are at different reading levels, and you may find the books on the rising first grade list to be suitable for your children. The books marked with an asterisk (*) are of an easier reading level.

• Birthday for Frances (or others in series) by Lillian Hoban *

• Owl Moon by Jane Yolen *

• Roxaboxen by Alice McLerran and illustrated by Barbara Cooney *

• The Biggest Bear by Lynd Kendall Ward

• Blaze and the Lost Quarry (or others in series) by C. W. Anderson *

• A Chair for My Mother by Vera B. Williams *

• Doctor De Soto by William Steig *

• Thunder Cake by Patricia Polacco *

• When We Were Very Young by A. A. Milne

• Now We Are Six by A. A. Milne

• Child’s Garden of Verses by Robert Louis Stevenson

• The Ugly Duckling by Hans Christian Andersen

• My Father’s Dragon by Ruth Stiles Gannet

• Will You Sign Here, John Hancock? by Jean Fritz

• The Selfish Giant by Oscar Wilde

• Paddington Bear Treasury by Michael Bond

• One Morning in Maine Robert McCloskey

• Henry and Mudge by Cynthia Rylant *

• Haggis and Tank by Jessica Young *

• George and Martha series by James Marshall *

• The Mouse and the Motorcycle and other books by Beverly Cleary

• The Boxcar Children series by Gertrude Chandler Warner

• The Cam Jansen Mystery series by David A. Adler

• A–Z Mysteries series by Rob Roy

• Nate the Great series by Marjorie Sharmat

• The Betsy-Tacy series by Maud Lovelace

• Cobble Street Cousins series by Cynthia Rylant

• Mary Pope Osborne series

• Usborne Time Traveler series

• Dorling Kindersley Eyewitness Readers Levels 2 and 3

• Encyclopedia Brown series by Donald J Sobol

• Dead Sea Squirrel series by Mike Nawrocki

• Animal Ark series by Lucy Daniels

• The Secret of the Hidden Scroll series by MJ Thomas

• Owl Diaries series by Rebecca Elliott

Download Second Grade 2026 Summer Reading List

Please encourage your children to immerse themselves in good books over the summer. We present this list to you as a guide, but please feel free to offer your children other books appropriate to their reading level. We realize that children entering third grade are at different reading levels. For this reason, some of the books on the rising second grade list might also be appropriate to offer your children. Those books marked here with an asterisk (*) are of an easier reading level.

• The Adventures of Laura and Jack by Laura Ingalls Wilder

• The Schoolmouse; Charlie Muffin's Miracle Mouse; Funny Frank all by Dick King-Smith
  Hannah; Silver; The Indian School; Next Spring an Oriole all by Gloria Whelan

• Punished! by David Lubar

• Friska, My Friend by Patricia St. John

• The Other Kitten by Patricia St. John

• Fantastic Mr. Fox by Roald Dahl

• Shoeshine Girl by Clyde Robert Bulla

• Danny, the Champion of the World by Roald Dahl

• Stuart Little by E. B. White

• The Trumpet of the Swan by E. B. White

• Sea Star—Orphan of Chincoteague by Marguerite Henry

• Homer Price by Robert McCloskey

• The Moffats by Eleanor Estes

• Ralph S. Mouse by Beverly Cleary

• Henry Huggins by Beverly Cleary

• Just So Stories by Rudyard Kipling

• Mandie and the Secret Tunnel by Lois Gladys Leppard

• The Wonder Clock by Howard Pyle

• The King of the Golden River by John Ruskin

• The Hundred Dresses by Eleanor Estes

• Jigsaw Jones series by James Preller

• Katie Kazoo, Switcheroo series by Nancy Krulik

• The Little House series by Laura Ingalls Wilder

Download Third Grade 2026 Summer Reading List

The following titles are age-appropriate books from a variety of genres that are considered to be excellent literature. These stories are recommended by our teachers to feed children’s imaginations, fuel their excitement in learning, and nourish their souls during summer vacation. The reading is not required but highly encouraged for young and old alike.

* Advanced Reading Level
+ Pertain to topics that will be studied in history during the upcoming year

Suggested Fiction and Historical Fiction

• Huguenot Garden by Douglas M. Jones III +

• Adam of the Road by Elizabeth Janet Gray +

• The Magna Charta by James Daugherty +

• The Beggar’s Bible (John Wycliffe) by Louise A. Vernon +

• The Bible Smuggler (William Tyndale) by Louise A. Vernon +

• The Man Who Laid the Egg (Erasmus) by Louise A. Vernon +

• Ink on His Fingers (Gutenberg) by Louise A. Vernon +

• Son of Charlemagne by Barbara Willard and Emil Weiss +

• Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH by Robert C. O’Brien

• The Trumpet of the Swan by E. B. White

• My Father’s Dragon by Ruth Stiles Gannett

• The Borrowers by Mary Norton

• Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson

• Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine

• Aladdin and Other Tales from the Arabian Nights by N. J. Dawood

• Esperanza Rising by Pam Munoz Ryan

• Shiloh by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor

• The Beatryce Prophecy by Kate DiCamillo

• Faerie Gold: Treasures from the Lands of Enchantment edited by Kathryn Lindskoog and Ranelda Mack Hunsicker

• The Shakespeare Stealer series by Gary Blackwood

• The Jungle Book by Rudyard Kipling *

Suggested Biographies

• Augustine the Farmer's Boy of Tagaste by P. De Zeeuw +

• The River of Grace (John Calvin) by Joyce McPherson +

• Who Was Marco Polo? by Joan Holub +

• Saint Patrick: Pioneer Missionary to Ireland by Michael J. McHugh

• Some Writer!: The Story of E. B. White by Melissa Sweet

• Along Came Galileo by Jeanne Bendick

• A Piece of the Mountain (Pascal) by Joyce McPherson *

Download Fourth Grade 2026 Summer Reading List

The following titles are age-appropriate books from a variety of genres that are considered to be excellent literature. These stories are recommended by our teachers to feed children’s imaginations, fuel their excitement in learning, and nourish their souls during summer vacation. The reading is not required but highly encouraged for young and old alike.

* Advanced reading level

+ Pertain to topics that will be studied in history during the upcoming year

Suggested Fiction and Historical Fiction

• Summer of the Monkeys by Wilson Rawls

• Where the Mountain Meets the Moon by Grace Lin

• Gone-Away Lake by Elizabeth Enright

• The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate

• A Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett

• Early Thunder by Jean Fritz

• Caddie Woodlawn by Carol Ryrie Brink

• Guns for General Washington: A Story of the American Revolution by Seymour Reit +

• Mr. Revere and I by Robert Lawson +

• Ben and Me: An Astonishing Life of Benjamin Franklin by His Good Mouse Amos by Robert Lawson +

• The Book of Three by Lloyd Alexander

• The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster

• City of Ember by Jeanne Duprau

• Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine

• The Children’s Homer: The Adventures of Odysseus and the Fall of Troy by Padraic Colum

• The Swiss Family Robinson by Johann David Wyss

• The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame

• Pinocchio by Carlo Collodi *

• At the Back of the North Wind by George MacDonald

Suggested Biographies

• Abe Lincoln: Log Cabin to White House by Sterling North +

• Ben Franklin of Old Philadelphia by Margaret Cousins +

• The Great Little Madison by Jean Fritz

• Pocahontas and the Strangers by Robert Clyde Bulla

• John Paul Jones by Sperry Armstrong

• Why Not, Lafayette? by Jean Fritz +

• Traitor: the Case of Benedict Arnold by Jean Fritz +

• Around the World in a Hundred Years by Jean Fritz +

• Pocahontas by Ingri and Edgar Parin d’Aulaire

• Columbus by Ingri and Edgar Parin d’Aulaire +

• Leif the Lucky by Ingri and Edgar Parin d’Aulaire

• Benjamin Franklin by Ingri and Edgar Parin d’Aulaire +

• Stonewall by Jean Fritz +

• Daniel Boone: His Own Story by Daniel Boone +

• Magellan: Ferdinand Magellan and the First Trip around the World (Exploring the World) by Michael Burgan +

• John Wesley: The World His Parish by Geoff and Janet Benge +

Download Fifth Grade 2026 Summer Reading List

The following titles are age-appropriate books from a variety of genres that are considered to be excellent literature. These stories are recommended by our teachers to feed children’s imaginations, fuel their excitement in learning, and nourish their souls during summer vacation. The reading is not required but highly encouraged for young and old alike.

* Advanced reading level
+ Pertain to topics that will be studied in history during the upcoming year

Suggested Fiction and Historical Fiction

• The Yearling by Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings

• The Cay by Theodore Taylor

• Number the Stars by Lois Lowry +

• The Boy in the Alamo by Margaret Cousins

• Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry by Mildred D. Taylor

• Pollyanna by Eleanor H. Porter

• Sounder by William H. Armstrong

• Hitty, Her First Hundred Years by Rachel Field

• Anne of Green Gables by L. M. Montgomery

• Hatchet by Gary Paulsen

• The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett

• The Dragon King Trilogy (In the Hall of the Dragon King; The Warlords of Nin; The Sword and the Flame) by Stephen R. Lawhead
  y Side of the Mountain by Jean Craighead George

• Night by Elie Wiesel +

• From the Earth to the Moon by Jules Verne

• Snow Treasure by Marie McSwigan +

• Wonder by R. J. Palacio

• Maniac Magee by Jerry Spinelli

• Kensuke’s Kingdom by Michael Morpurgo

• Watership Down by Richard Adams

• Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson

• Mary Poppins by P. L. Travers

• Call It Courage by Armstrong Sperry

• On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness by Andrew Peterson

• Outlaws of Time by N. D. Wilson

• The Watson’s Go to Birmingham—1963 by Christopher Paul Curtis +

• A Long Way from Chicago by Richard Peck
  Tintin books by Hergé

Suggested Biographies

• Basher Five-Two (US Pilot in Bosnia) by Captain Scott O’Grady

• Bruchko (Missionary to South American Indians) by Bruce Olson

• Carry a Big Stick: The Uncommon Heroism of Theodore Roosevelt by George Grant +

• Children of the Storm (Christian family in the former Soviet Union) by Natasha Vins

• The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank +
  If I Perish (Christian in Japan during WWII) by Esther Ahn Kim +

• Raoul Wallenberg: The Man Who Stopped Death by Sharon Linnea *

• The Wright Brothers by Quentin Reynolds +
  George Washington Carver: From Slave to Scientist by Geoff and Janet Benge +

• Stonewall by Jean Fritz +

• Rosa Parks: My Story by Rosa Parks +

• The Story of Thomas Alva Edison by Margaret Cousins

Download Sixth Grade 2026 Summer Reading List

The seventh grade class is about to embark on a great adventure through ancient literature. These required readings will equip them well for the challenges and glories ahead!

Required Reading

D'Aulaires' Book of Greek Myths by Ingri and Edgar D'Aulaire. This book is one of the best introductions to the Greek world. Its beautiful illustrations and narrative stories paint a picture of the origin of the Western tradition in which we now live. Knowing these stories will help students embark on their journey into Greek mythology and appreciate the culture we have inherited.

Farmer Giles of Ham by J. R. R. Tolkien. Like The Hobbit and Roverandom, Farmer Giles of Ham was invented by J. R. R. Tolkien at first to entertain his children, then grew and became more elaborate. Its final version is for readers of all ages who enjoy a good story told with imagination and wit.

Additional Suggested Reading

These suggested titles include both surveys of Greek myths as well as inspirational tales of missionaries and others led by God to overcome incredible obstacles. The seventh grade year will begin with a unit on Greek mythology and will go on to explore several epic novels of heroes who faced great adversity.

Tales of the Greek Heroes by Roger Lancelyn Green.Tales of the Greek Heroes is an incredible retelling of the marvelous myths of ancient Greece.

The Slave Dancer by Paula Fox. This Newbery Award book is a fascinating tale of a young boy who finds himself caught up in the slave trade. This book reveals the depravity of man and the need for Christ as our Savior.

Amy Carmichael: Let the Little Children Come by Lois Hoadley Dick. The tale of a missionary in India who rescued children from an awful “marriage to the gods.”

George Muller: Man of Faith and Miracles by Basil Miller. The story of a man who was a vagabond and thief brought to faith in Christ. He started an orphanage ministry and proved that despite poverty, God could provide for the thousands of orphans in his care.

The Ruins of Gorlan (Ranger's Apprentice, Book 1) by John Flanagan. By combining the intensity of a young King Arthur with the epic fantasy of The Lord of the Rings, John Flanagan artfully tells the tale of an unlikely hero. This tale reflects the theme of "courage found in unlikely places" and will help to set the stage for the heroic tales that students will read this year in seventh grade.

Eric Liddell: Something Greater than Gold by Janet Benge and Geoff Benge OR Eric Liddell by Catherine Swift. Eric Liddell was the hero of the film Chariots of Fire, and he risked becoming a national disgrace at the 1924 Paris Olympics when he refused to run on Sunday. This story of “God’s athlete” makes inspiring reading.

Bulfinch's Greek and Roman Mythology: The Age of Fable by Thomas Bulfinch.The Age of Fable is a classic collection of ancient Greek and Roman mythology, plays, and epic poems. Chapters 1 and 2 introduce Greek myths and the creation of the world, providing a comprehensive understanding of the Greek world. If you are interested in adding a beautiful copy to your library, consider this leather-bound book that includes all three of Bulfinch’s original titles: The Age of Fable, The Age of Chivalry, and The Legends of Charlemagne (ISBN: 1626861692). However, to complete this summer’s reading, this paperback is more than sufficient (ISBN: 0486411079, Dover Thrift Edition).

Download Seventh Grade 2026 Summer Reading List

This fall the eighth grade class will continue their great adventure through ancient literature. These required and recommended readings will equip students well for the challenges and glories ahead!

Required Reading

Mythology by Edith Hamilton. Please read the following sections:
Part Three: The Great Heroes before the Trojan War
Part Four: The Heroes of the Trojan War

Students began Hamilton’s Mythology in seventh grade and will continue reading it to prepare for a main focus of eighth grade: the Trojan War. Using classical poets as her sources, Hamilton narrates the collective beliefs and values of the Greeks. The adventurous student can continue reading Parts Six and Seven for additional myths, including the Norse deities. If you were in the seventh grade at Geneva, you have this book.

Choose one book from the following list, along with the required Hamilton book:

• Call of the Wild by Jack London

• Kidnapped by Robert Louis Stevenson

• Little Women by Louisa May Alcott

• Anne of Green Gables by L. M. Montgomery

Additional Suggested Reading

Tales of the Greek Heroes by Roger Lancelyn Green. This is an incredible retelling of the marvelous myths of ancient Greece. This book serves as a great review and supplement to what was studied in seventh grade.

The Voyage of the Dawn Treader by C. S. Lewis. In the fifth book in The Chronicles of Narnia series, the story follows King Caspian's journey through the Eastern Seas to find the seven missing lords of Narnia and seek out Aslan's country. Like the other Narnia chronicles, The Voyage of the Dawn Treader combines Christian symbolism with elements of fantasy stories, but this particular book also introduces motifs from great travel literature and adventure stories.

Peace Child by Don Richardson. This is an adventure bristling with cannibals, jungles, and heart-chilling events. It is a true story of missionaries sent to minister among cannibals in New Guinea who venerate treachery. How can the truth of the gospel penetrate such hardened hearts? Read how God provides Don Richardson with an incredible opportunity to speak to the souls of these savages, and how the “peace child” is used to bring salvation to a large number of people.

Joni: An Unforgettable Story by Joni Eareckson Tada and Billy Graham. The amazing story of how one young woman overcame her disability through courage and faith.

Amazing Grace: William Wilberforce and the Heroic Campaign to End Slavery by Eric Metaxas. This story displays how one man fundamentally changed humanity’s attitude toward human suffering.

Through Gates of Splendor by Elisabeth Elliot OR Jim Elliot: One Great Purpose by Janet and Geoff Benge. These books tell the true story of five missionaries who were killed when bringing the gospel to the Waorani people, and their wives who follow in their footsteps as messengers of hope.

D'Aulaires' Book of Greek Myths by Ingri and Edgar D'Aulaire. This book is one of the best introductions to the Greek world. Its beautiful illustrations and narrative stories paint a picture of the origin of the Western tradition in which we now live. Knowing these stories will help students embark on their journey into the Greek and Roman world of mythology and appreciate the culture we have inherited.

Bulfinch's Greek and Roman Mythology: The Age of Fable by Thomas Bulfinch. The Age of Fable is a classic collection of ancient Greek and Roman mythology, plays, and epic poems. Chapters 1 and 2 introduce the Greek myths and the creation of the world, providing a comprehensive understanding of the Greek world. Chapters 27 and 28 narrate the Trojan War, which will be read in more detail during the school year. If you are interested in adding a beautiful copy to your library, consider this leather-bound book that includes all three of Bulfinch’s original titles: The Age of Fable, The Age of Chivalry, and The Legends of Charlemagne (ISBN: 1626861692). However, to complete this summer’s reading, this paperback is more than sufficient (ISBN: 0486411079, Dover Thrift Edition).

Download Eighth Grade 2026 Summer Reading List

Required Reading

Norse Mythology: Great Stories from the Eddas by Hamilton Wright Mabie. As an introduction to Northern Europe and its legendary past, students are to read this engaging retelling of the Norse myths. These are the stories that inspired farmers and fishermen to acts of valor when they were told long ago, and inspired great writers like C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien to create tales of heroism and sacrifice in our own day.

Because this book is out of copyright, there are numerous (rather horrible) versions available. Students should buy the Dover Publications edition (ISBN: 0486420825) to be sure they are getting the correct, complete, and readable book that is assigned.

Students should use the margins of the book to make note of three things in particular as they read:

1. What do the Norse people who told these stories value? What virtues or characteristics do they celebrate?

2. What similarities to Christianity or biblical principles do we see in the stories? Differences will be obvious, but there are some things these tales have in common with the Christian faith—make note of them.

3. How are the Norse gods different from the Greek and Roman gods? Mark those places where the actions of the Norse gods are unexpected or unusual if compared to the tales of Greek and Roman mythology.

For help on annotating a work, download this document.

Additional Required Reading—Student Choice

Students must also choose one book from the following list in addition to Norse Mythology. The reading of both books will be assessed as a part of the first quarter of school work, so students should be prepared to discuss, be quizzed on, and write about what they read during the summer.

The Lantern Bearers by Rosemary Sutcliff. This is the third book in Sutcliff’s trilogy about Roman Britain. The Lantern Bearers is set in the middle of the fifth century as the last Roman legions leave Britain after four hundred years of rule. The novel follows the journey of Aquila, a Roman soldier assigned to the British Isles, who must learn to find hope again after devastating loss.

Odd and the Frost Giants by Neil Gaiman. A whimsical and well-written story set squarely in the cold, northern world of the Norse gods and giants, this short, illustrated tale will give students a taste of the chilly climes and fantastic adventures that await in medieval literature.

Crispin: The Cross of Lead by Avi by Kevin Crossley-Holland. This un-put-down-able book (it’s okay—English teachers are allowed to make up words) will thrust readers right into the midst of everyday life in the Middle Ages as Crispin tries to evade capture for a crime he did not commit.

King Arthur and His Knights of the Round Table by Roger Lancelyn Green. Green narrates the great king’s tales from his growing up to the adventures of the knights of the Round Table, from the quest for the Holy Grail to the passing of the king. Here are Arthur, Gawain, Galahad, Lancelot, Merlin, Guinevere and all the rest in an enjoyable and accessible retelling of Thomas Malory’s Le Morte d’Arthur.

Download Ninth Grade 2026 Summer Reading List

This summer I am changing the required reading from what we have done in the past. We will still read Frankenstein, but it will come later in the year. The books you will read this summer are more accessible, so I am asking you to READ them, as opposed to listening to them. There are several reasons for this, but for now, I want you to enjoy the story, take it with you on vacation, and read when you are not distracted. My goal is for you to become immersed in the story rather than the assignment. There are movie versions of these stories, but I am asking you not to watch those either as there are many things that are altered in the story. These are mysteries, so have fun with them.

Required Reading

Read and annotate And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie (ISBN: 0062073486). This mystery hardly feels new anymore since its concept has been used in so many other mediums. You likely will feel you have read this before. Ten people are invited to an island by a mysterious person whom they all remember as a distant acquaintance. One by one, as people reveal their inner thoughts of past sins, they are found murdered.

The British mystery genre is one that has grown to be loved across the world across many generations. We will discuss this type of writing along with some of the truths and big questions in this novel.

Read and annotate A Study in Scarlet by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (ISBN: 0198856040). This book marks the very first appearance of Sherlock Holmes and Dr. John Watson. Set in late Victorian London, the novel introduces Holmes as a brilliant but eccentric consulting detective and Watson as his loyal companion and narrator. Their fateful meeting in Baker Street sparks one of literature’s most enduring partnerships.

This book brings out the themes of love, jealousy, and vengeance, which we will discuss and contrast in comparison to the Agatha Christie novel.

Annotations. Both books follow a mystery that is a puzzle you are trying to solve. Both authors have written a work that they hope keeps you guessing and on the edge of your seat. I would like you to follow the logic of the “game.”

Take a look at the “How to Read a Book” document. *Mark characters, take margin notes, highlight quotes that seem significant, keep track of the logical mystery unfolding. Answer these questions throughout your book:

• Who are the players? (mark every new character)

• What character flaws show up in their stories?

• What logical conclusions do you come to throughout the book?

• Try to solve the mystery at different points of the novels, and then look back on your accuracy. What conclusion was the author leading you to that made you think that at the time?

• What are the reactions of the characters to their “sins”?

• Do they show remorse or guilt?

• As in all books we will read this year, we are asking the question: “What does it mean to be human?”

• What makes us human and what turns us into monsters taking us away from humanity?

Assignment

• Purchase copies of your books, and annotate them. Annotations will be due to Mrs. Ryden on the first day of school.

• Keep track of your predictions throughout the novels on a separate sheet of paper. Follow the example of the template given in the PDF link below. It can be a Word doc, Google doc, Google sheet ... whatever works for you.

Additional Suggested Works

• Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë

• Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë

• Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

• Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad

• Animal Farm by George Orwell

• The Tempest by William Shakespeare

• The Odyssey by Homer, translated by Emily Wilson (worthy of a second read—it is captivating)

• The Road by Cormac McCarthy

• Between Heaven and Hell by Peter Kreeft

Download Tenth Grade 2026 Summer Reading List

Required Reading for Honors and AP Students

Read and annotate True Grit by Charles Portis. It's the old west, a time when the population was spread over large pieces of land with too few lawmen to keep life civilized. That's when Mattie's father is murdered. She can't believe it when people turn a blind eye. She knows it is her duty to act, and she sets out on a quest to avenge her father.

As we discuss this novel by Charles Portis, we'll wade into some of the themes we'll be talking about all year in eleventh-grade English. What does it mean to be an American? Does it just mean that you were born in this country? Is being American associated with any specific traits, values, or dreams? Mattie and the characters we'll read about this year will help us as we discuss those questions, and we will consider how different characters, authors, and works of literature reflect our history, our national identity, and who we hope to become.

Additional Resources

• Donna Tartt is a novelist who won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 2019. Read her essay about True Grit.

• Close Reads Podcast: This podcast, affiliated with the CiRCE Institute (Center for Independent Research on Classical Education), discusses many great works of literature. They have a series of podcasts discussing the novel True Grit. Here is the first episode.

Additional Required Reading for Honors Students

In addition to reading True Grit, honors students should choose ONE of the following short works:

• The Turn of the Screw by Henry James. This gothic novella was influenced by Jane Eyre and tells the story of a governess caring for two children in a remote country house. **Note: This novel is in the public domain, so there are a lot of badly printed editions on Amazon. Choose one from a more reliable publisher such as the Norton Critical Edition.

• The Crucible by Arthur Miller. This play by Arthur Miller is set during the Salem Witch Trials but serves as an allegory of the Red Scare during the 1950’s.

Assignment: Students should purchase a copy of their choice novel/play and annotate as they read. Mrs. Turnbull will collect annotations on the first day of school. Annotations should be thorough enough to demonstrate interaction with the work, including margin notes and tracking of themes. For help on annotating a work, download this document.

Additional Required Reading for AP Students

In addition to reading True Grit, AP students should read at least ONE of the following novels of their choice. Both will be useful on the AP Literature exam.

• Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte

• The Road by Cormac McCarthy

Assignment: Students should purchase a copy of their choice novel and annotate as they read. Mrs. Turnbull will collect annotations on the first day of school. Annotations should be thorough enough to demonstrate interaction with the work, including margin notes and tracking of themes. For help on annotating a work, download this document.

Additional Suggested Works

• Moby Dick by Herman Melville

• The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne

• The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver

• The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway

• To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

• O Pioneers! by Willa Cather

Download Eleventh Grade 2026 Summer Reading List

Required Books

Students will need to purchase their own copies of the books below and are expected to read closely and annotate. Any edition of these oft-reprinted books will do and can be readily found on Amazon or in any new- or used-book bookstore.

Till We Have Faces: A Myth Retold by C. S. Lewis. Lewis’s last novel is a recasting of the myth of Cupid and Psyche as a fascinating tale of love, loss, skepticism, and faith, a thoughtful inquiry into the human soul. Taste and see!

Mythology: Timeless Tales of Gods and Heroes, by Edith Hamilton. By way of review (or introduction), students should read at least the following:

• Part 1, sections I, II, and III (pp. 21–94)

• Part 2, sections I & II: Pyramus & Thisbe, Orpheus & Eurydice, Pygmalion & Galatea (pp. 135–142, 145–150)

• Part 5, section II: The Royal House of Thebes (pp. 372–391)

This classic collection reviews the stories, personalities, gods, and heroes of ancient Greece (and Rome) that animate not only those ancient cultures, but all of Western civilization.

All AP and honors students must also select and read at least one of the following that they have not previously read:

• Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

• Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky

• The Aeneid trans. by Robert Fagles (If you read this in 8th grade at Geneva, you may still read it now. It can seem quite different the second time around!)

• Moby Dick by Herman Melville

• The Faerie Queene, Book I, ed. Carol V Kaske (ISBN-13: 978-0872208070. Please buy and read this particular edition, as the poem is often 'translated' or retold in other versions. This is the actual poem, helpfully edited.)

There will be assignments given in the first quarter drawing on the reading of these books, so come prepared to discuss, analyze, compare, and further your insight into what you’ve read.

Thesis Topic Book

Students should have already selected the specific book (in conjunction with a faculty member and approved by the rhetoric class teachers) that they are reading over the summer. Students will be asked to complete a writing assignment on their chosen book at the beginning of the school year. If students have questions about their selection or want to change books during the summer, they should contact Nathan Raley.

Download Twelfth Grade 2026 Summer Reading List