Summer Reading Assignment
our history assignment for the summer is to choose one of the books from the list below, you need to choose one from the grade you will be going into in the fall. Each book is also marked as a college level book or an honors/college level book you must choose the book according to the level of history class you signed up for. College level you may read any of the books on the list for your grade level. Honors classes you must choose a book that is specifically labeled honors/college level.
Assignment:
For each grade you will read your book and take notes on it. When you return to school in the first week you will complete a quiz based on your book. Your teacher will also assign you a project to complete based on your book upon your return. Remember Worcester Public schools policy is summer reading will count as 10% of your 1st quarter grade.
A.P. Students:
You should see your history teacher for your specific assignment which should be assigned before leaving school for the summer
U.S. History I (9th grade)
- The Last of the Mohicans
- –James Fenimore Cooper, Free online, Honors/College
- A People’s History of the United States
- –Howard Zinn, Chapters 1 -11 only, Honors/College
- 1776
- –David McCullough, Library/Amazon, Honors/College
- In the Shadows of Liberty
- –Kenneth C. Davis, Library/Amazon, Honors/College
- I survived the American Revolution
- –Laren Tashis, Library/Amazon, College
- My Brother Sam is Dead
- –James Lincoln Collier, Library/Amazon, College
- Revolutionary Summer
- –Joseph Ellis, Library/Amazon, Honors/College
- Founding Brothers
- –Joseph Ellis, Library/Amazon, Honors/College
U.S. History II (10th grade)
- Up from Slavery
- –Booker T. Washington, Free online, College
- How the Other Half Lives
- –Jacob Riis, Free online, Honors/College
- The Jungle
- –Upton Sinclair, Free online, Honors/College
- A People’s History of the United States
- –Howard Zinn, Chapters 12 – 24 only, Honors/College
- Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee
- –Dee Brown, Free online, Honors/College
11th grade
No History class no assignment
World History (12th Grade)
- Frankenstein
- –Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley, Free online, College
- Imperial Woman: Last Empress of China
- –Pearl S. Buck, Library/Amazon, Honors/College
- Red Scarf Girl: Cultural Revolution
- –Ji-li Jiang, Library/Amazon Honors/College
- Animal Farm
- –George Orwell, Free online, College
- The Poisonwood Bible
- –Barbara Kingsolver, Free online, Honors/College
- The Kite Runner
- –Khaled Hosseini, Library/Amazon, Honors/College
- The Underdogs
- –Mariano Azuela, Free online, Honors/College
- Things Fall Apart
- –Chinua Achebe, Library/Amazon, Honors/College
Do you enjoy reading on your tablet or phone? Download the Kindle app and the overdrive app to your electronic device. When you open the overdrive app you will be asked to create an account using your current library card (if you don’t have a library card call or visit your local library). Once you have an account you will have access to thousands of books and magazines to borrow for free. You can read them directly from the app or if you prefer you can read them from the kindle app that has more tools (kindle also has thousands of free books or if you prefer you can purchase books through Amazon and read on the kindle app. Many of the book on the list can be found on the apps and borrowed for free. If you do not have internet access at home you can visit your local library for a copy of any of these books.