Summer Reading
Welcome Chipmunks!
The summer reading program at Archbishop Chapelle High School is designed to cultivate student choice, faculty mentoring, and small group discussions as well as promote a culture of reading among students, faculty, and staff. After reading their books over the summer, students will participate in "book club" style meetings with other students and faculty members who read the same book.
Expectations for Students
Students who will be in 9th-12th grades next school year will choose a book from the provided list, read it over the summer, and then engage in a small group discussion facilitated by a faculty or staff member at the start of the school year. We expect all students to be active contributors to these discussions. Also, each student is required to have a print/paper copy of the chosen book with her at the book discussion in August, and a student may not select a book she has read in a previous year.
Expectations for Parents
Parents should be a part of the book selection process so that all family members are comfortable and excited about the chosen title.
Review Book Options
Scroll below to view all summer reading book descriptions by genre.
Sign Up for Book
Beginning April 28 at 4 PM, sign up for the summer reading book of your choice.
Purchase Book
After your selection is complete, purchase your book on Amazon and begin your reading journey!
Fantasy &
Science Fiction
This genre includes stories filled with magical creatures, futuristic technology, and imaginary worlds that spark the imagination and explore unique possibilities.
The Adoration of Jenna Fox
Purchase BookThe Adoration of Jenna Fox by Holly Jackson
Who is Jenna Fox? Seventeen-year-old Jenna has been told that is her name. She has just awoken from a coma, they tell her, and she is still recovering from a terrible accident in which she was involved a year ago. But what happened before that? Jenna doesn't remember her life. Or does she? And are the memories really hers?
Anthem
Purchase BookAnthem by Ayn Rand
Anthem by Ayn Rand is a gripping dystopian novella that challenges the idea of conformity and celebrates individuality. Set in a dark future where people have lost their names and identities, the story follows Equality 7-2521, a young man who dares to think differently in a world that forbids independent thought. As he discovers the power of knowledge and self-expression, he risks everything to break free from a society that demands blind obedience.
Fast-paced and thought-provoking, Anthem is perfect for readers who enjoy self-discovery, rebellion, and individualism. If you liked The Giver or 1984, this book will make you think about what it truly means to be yourself.
Ender's Game
Purchase BookPLEASE NOTE: For 10th - 12th Grade Only
Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card
Set in a future Earth threatened by an alien species known as the “Buggers,” the story follows Ender Wiggin, a young and exceptionally gifted boy recruited into a military training program. Ender undergoes rigorous training, honing his strategic and tactical skills in a series of war simulations. The novel delves into themes of leadership, morality, and the psychological toll of war, offering a thought-provoking exploration of the human condition.
The First Phone Call from Heaven
Purchase BookThe First Phone Call from Heaven by Mitch Albom
A page-turning mystery and a meditation on the power of human connection.
One morning in the small town of Coldwater, Michigan, the phones start ringing. The voices say they are calling from heaven. Is it the greatest miracle ever? Or some cruel hoax? As news of these strange calls spreads, outsiders flock to Coldwater to be a part of it.
At the same time, a disgraced pilot named Sully Harding returns to Coldwater from prison to discover his hometown gripped by “miracle fever.” Even his young son carries a toy phone, hoping to hear from his mother in heaven.
As the calls increase, and proof of an afterlife begins to surface, the town—and the world—transform. Only Sully, convinced there is nothing beyond this sad life, digs into the phenomenon, determined to disprove it for his child and his own broken heart.
Moving seamlessly between the invention of the telephone in 1876 and a world obsessed with the next level of communication, Mitch Albom takes readers on a breathtaking ride of frenzied hope.
The Graveyard Book
Purchase BookThe Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman
Nobody Owens, known as Bod, is a normal boy. He would be completely normal if he didn’t live in a graveyard, being raised by ghosts, with a guardian who belongs to neither the world of the living nor the dead. There are adventures in the graveyard for a boy—an ancient Indigo Man, a gateway to the abandoned city of ghouls, the strange and terrible Sleer. But if Bod leaves the graveyard, he will be in danger from the man Jack—who has already killed Bod’s family.
The Graveyard Book, a modern classic, is the only work ever to win both the Newbery (US) and Carnegie (UK) medals.
Project Hail Mary
Purchase BookPLEASE NOTE: For 10th - 12th Grade Only
Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir
Set in the near future, it centers on school-teacher-turned-astronaut Ryland Grace, who wakes up from a coma afflicted with amnesia. He gradually remembers that he was sent to the Tau Ceti system, 12 light-years from Earth, to find a means of reversing a solar dimming event that could cause the extinction of humanity.
Red Queen
Purchase BookRed Queen by Victoria Aveyard
This is a world divided by blood—red or silver. The Reds are commoners, ruled by a Silver elite in possession of god-like superpowers. And to Mare Barrow, a seventeen-year-old Red girl from the poverty-stricken Stilts, it seems like nothing will ever change. That is until she finds herself working in the Silver Palace. Here, surrounded by the people she hates the most, Mare discovers that, despite her red blood, she possesses a deadly power of her own. One that threatens to destroy the balance of power. Fearful of Mare's potential, the Silvers hide her in plain view, declaring her a long-lost Silver princess, now engaged to a Silver prince. Despite knowing that one misstep would mean her death, Mare works silently to help the Red Guard, a militant resistance group, and bring down the Silver regime. But this is a world of betrayal and lies, and Mare has entered a dangerous dance—Reds against Silvers, prince against prince, and Mare against her own heart.
Sunrise on the Reaping
Purchase BookSunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins
As the day dawns on the fiftieth annual Hunger Games, fear grips the districts of Panem. This year, in honor of the Quarter Quell, twice as many tributes will be taken from their homes.
Back in District 12, Haymitch Abernathy is trying not to think too hard about his chances. All he cares about is making it through the day and being with the girl he loves.
When Haymitch’s name is called, he can feel all his dreams break. He’s torn from his family and his love, shuttled to the Capitol with the three other District 12 tributes: a young friend who’s nearly a sister to him, a compulsive oddsmaker, and the most stuck-up girl in town. As the Games begin, Haymitch understands he’s been set up to fail. But there’s something in him that wants to fight . . . and have that fight reverberate far beyond the deadly arena.
Watership Down
Purchase BookWatership Down by Richard Adams
Watership Down is a timeless classic, and one of the most beloved novels of all time. Set in the Hampshire Downs in Southern England, an idyllic rural landscape, this stirring tale of “suspense, hot pursuit, and derring-do” (Chicago Tribune) follows a band of rabbits in flight from the incursion of man and the destruction of their home. Led by a stouthearted pair of brothers, they travel forth from their native Sandleford warren through harrowing trials to a mysterious promised land and a more perfect society. “A marvelous story of rebellion, exile, and survival” (Sunday Telegraph) this is an unforgettable literary classic for all ages.
Historical Fiction
This genre weaves fictional characters and plots into real historical settings, events, and time periods.
All The Light We Cannot See
Purchase BookPLEASE NOTE: For 11th & 12th Grade Only
All The Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr
Marie-Laure lives with her father in Paris near the Museum of Natural History where he works as the master of its thousands of locks. When she is six, Marie-Laure goes blind and her father builds a perfect miniature of their neighborhood so she can memorize it by touch and navigate her way home. When she is twelve, the Nazis occupy Paris, and father and daughter flee to the walled citadel of Saint-Malo, where Marie-Laure’s reclusive great uncle lives in a tall house by the sea. With them they carry what might be the museum’s most valuable and dangerous jewel.
The Book Thief
Purchase BookThe Book Thief by Markus Zusak
Set in 1939 Nazi Germany, this book focuses on the lives of children during WWII. By her brother's graveside, Liesel Meminger's life is changed when she picks up a single object partially hidden in the snow. It is The Gravedigger's Handbook, left there by accident, and it is her first act of book thievery. So begins a love affair with books and words, as Liesel, with the help of her accordian-playing foster father, learns to read. Soon she is stealing books from Nazi book-burnings, the mayor's wife's library, wherever there are books to be found. But these are dangerous times. When Liesel's foster family hides a Jew in their basement, Liesel's world is both opened up and closed down. This is truly a beautiful, eye-opening story of a part of the Holocaust not everyone knows about.
Our Town
Purchase BookOur Town by Thorton Wilder
Written by Thorton Wilder, Our Town is a play that explores the lives of people living in a small, quintessentially American town. It follows two neighbors, Emily and George, who fall in love and experience the ups and downs of life. It was first produced in 1938 and received the Pulitzer Prize for Drama. The play is divided into three aspects of the human experience: Act One: Daily Life, Act Two: Love / Marriage, and Act Three: Death / Loss. The play is uniquely set up and provides a realistic look into, and wonderful lessons that can be learned from, the average day-to-day of the human experience.
Memoirs & Non-Fiction
This genre features real-life stories and informative texts that provide insight into people’s experiences, historical events, or topics of interest.
Chinese Cinderella
Purchase BookChinese Cinderella: The True Story of an Unwanted Daughter by Adeline Yen Mah
A Chinese proverb says, "Falling leaves return to their roots." In her own courageous voice, Adeline Yen Mah returns to her roots to tell the story of her painful childhood and her ultimate triumph in the face of despair. Adeline's affluent, powerful family considers her bad luck after her mother dies giving birth to her, and life does not get any easier when her father remarries. Adeline and her siblings are subjected to the disdain of her stepmother, while her stepbrother and stepsister are spoiled with gifts and attention. Although Adeline wins prizes at school, they are not enough to compensate for what she really yearns for -- the love and understanding of her family. Like the classic Cinderella story, this powerful memoir is a moving story of resilience and hope.
Left To Tell
Purchase BookLeft to Tell: Discovering God Amidst the Rwandan Holocaust by Immaculee Ilibagiza
Immaculee Ilibagiza grew up in a country she loved, surrounded by a family she cherished. But in 1994, her idyllic world was ripped apart as Rwanda descended into a bloody genocide. Immaculee’s family was brutally murdered during a killing spree that lasted three months and claimed the lives of nearly a million Rwandans.
Incredibly, Immaculee survived the slaughter. For 91 days, she and seven other women huddled silently together in the cramped bathroom of a local pastor while hundreds of machete-wielding killers hunted for them.
It was during those endless hours of unspeakable terror that Immaculee discovered the power of prayer, eventually shedding her fear of death and forging a profound and lasting relationship with God. She emerged from her bathroom hideout having discovered the meaning of truly unconditional love—a love so strong she was able seek out and forgive her family’s killers.
The triumphant story of this remarkable young woman’s journey through the darkness of genocide will inspire anyone whose life has been touched by fear, suffering, and loss.
The Red Bandanna
Purchase BookThe Red Bandanna: A Life. A Choice. A Legacy. by BTom Rinaldi
What would you do in the last hour of your life?
The story of Welles Crowther, whose actions on 9/11 offer a lasting lesson on character, calling and courage. The Red Bandanna is about a fearless choice, about a crucible of terror and the indomitable spirit to answer it. Examining one decision in the gravest situation, it celebrates the difference one life can make.
The Six
Purchase BookThe Six: The Untold Story of America's First Women Astronauts by Loren Grush
When NASA sent astronauts to the moon in the 1960s and 1970s the agency excluded women from the corps, arguing that only military test pilots - a group then made up exclusively of men - had the right stuff. It was an era in which women were steered away from jobs in science and deemed unqualified for space flight. Eventually, though, NASA recognized its blunder and opened the application process to a wider array of hopefuls, regardless of race or gender. From a candidate pool of 8000, six elite women were selected in 1978 - Sally Ride, Judy Resnik, Anna Fisher, Kathy Sullivan, Shannon Lucid, and Rhea Seddon.
Soul Surfer
Purchase BookSoul Surfer by Bethany Hamilton
In this moving personal account of faith and fortitude, internationally ranked surfer Bethany Hamilton tells how she survived a shark attack that cost her arm--but not her spirit.
They say Bethany Hamilton has saltwater in her veins. How else could one explain the passion that drives her to surf? How else could one explain that nothing—not even the loss of her arm—could come between her and the waves? That Halloween morning in Kauai, Hawaii, Bethany responded to the shark’s stealth attack with the calm of a girl with God on her side. Pushing pain and panic aside, she began to paddle with one arm, focusing on a single thought: “Get to the beach....” And when the first thing Bethany wanted to know after surgery was “When can I surf again?” it became clear that her spirit and determination were part of a greater story—a tale of courage and faith that this soft-spoken girl would come to share with the world.
Soul Surfer is a moving account of Bethany’s life as a young surfer, her recovery after the attack, the adjustments she’s made to her unique surfing style, her unprecedented bid for a top showing in the World Surfing Championships, and, most fundamentally, her belief in God. It is a story of girl power and spiritual grit that shows the body is no more essential to surfing—perhaps even less so—than the soul.
Tattoos on the Heart
Purchase BookPLEASE NOTE: For 11th & 12th Grade Only
Tattoos on the Heart by Gregory Boyle
For twenty years, Gregory Boyle has run Homeboy Industries, a gang-intervention program located in the Boyle Heights neighborhood of Los Angeles, the gang capital of the world. In Tattoos on the Heart, he distills his experience working in the ghetto into a breathtaking series of parables inspired by faith. Arranged by theme and filled with sparkling humor and glowing generosity, these essays offer a stirring look at how full our lives could be if we could find the joy in loving others and in being loved unconditionally. From giant, tattooed Cesar, shopping at JCPenney fresh out of prison, we learn how to feel worthy of God's love. From ten-year-old Lula, we learn the importance of being known and acknowledged. From Pedro, we understand the kind of patience necessary to rescue someone from the darkness. In each chapter, we benefit from Boyle’s gentle, hard-earned wisdom. These essays about universal kinship and redemption are moving examples of the power of unconditional love and the importance of fighting despair. Gorgeous and uplifting, Tattoos on the Heart reminds us that no life is less valuable than another.
Tuesdays with Morrie
Purchase BookTuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom
Tuesdays with Morrie, originally titled to have this followed by, "An Old Man, A Young Man and Life's Greatest Lesson," is a 1997 memoir by American author Mitch Albom about a series of visits Albom made to his former sociology professor, Morrie Schwartz, as Schwartz was dying from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).
Motivational
This genre features empowering books that inspire readers to take action, overcome obstacles, and achieve personal or professional growth through mindset shifts and practical guidance.
Success is in the Details
Purchase BookSuccess is in the Details by Pat Williams
For nearly 20 years, John Wooden ran scores of summer youth basketball camps, imparting wisdom and teaching skills to thousands of boys and girls between the ages of eight and fifteen. Most would not grow up to play professional or even college ball, but all of them found their lives changed by their interaction with the greatest coach who ever lived. In those camps, Coach Wooden also impacted hundreds of camp counselors and assistant coaches. This one-of-a-kind book shares their inspiring stories, highlighting six fundamental lessons from Coach Wooden for a life of success and unforgettable impact on others.
The Energy Bus
Purchase BookThe Energy Bus by Jon Gordon
The Energy Bus, an international best seller by Jon Gordon, takes readers on an enlightening and inspiring ride that reveals 10 secrets for approaching life and work with the kind of positive, forward thinking that leads to true accomplishment at work and at home. Jon infuses this engaging story with keen insights as he provides a powerful roadmap to overcome adversity and bring out the best in yourself and your team. When you get on The Energy Bus you’ll enjoy the ride of your life.
Mystery & Adventure
This genre features thrilling stories full of suspense and exciting situations as characters work to solve mysteries and embark on daring journeys.
All Thirteen
Purchase BookAll Thirteen: The Incredible Rescue of the Thai Boys Soccer Team by Christina Soontornvat
On June 23, 2018, twelve young players of the Wild Boars soccer team and their coach enter a cave in northern Thailand seeking an afternoon’s adventure. But when they turn to leave, rising floodwaters block their path out. The boys are trapped! Before long, news of the missing team spreads, launching a seventeen-day rescue operation involving thousands of rescuers from around the globe. As the world sits vigil, people begin to wonder: how long can a group of ordinary kids survive in complete darkness, with no food or clean water? Luckily, the Wild Boars are a very extraordinary "ordinary" group. Combining firsthand interviews of rescue workers with in-depth science and details of the region's culture and religion, author Christina Soontornvat—who was visiting family in Northern Thailand when the Wild Boars went missing—masterfully shows how both the complex engineering operation above ground and the mental struggles of the thirteen young people below proved critical in the life-or-death mission. Meticulously researched and generously illustrated with photographs, this page-turner includes an author’s note describing her experience meeting the team, detailed source notes, and a bibliography to fully immerse readers in the most ambitious cave rescue in history.
The Count of Monte Cristo
Purchase BookThe Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas
Have you ever worked hard for your dreams? Have you had to learn to navigate life amid a difficult political climate? Ever been betrayed by a friend? Want to live a life of luxury in France or some Mediterranean island? Have you ever felt trapped in a situation not of your own making? Have you ever acted like someone you aren't? Would you like to be fawned over or treated like royalty? Have jealousy, greed, or desire for a better position ever changed the way a friend treats you? Have you ever wanted revenge? Ever noticed how fake some people can be? Have you ever wanted justice or needed redemption? Since you have answered 'yes' to all of these questions, read this book! The Count of Monte Cristo is an easy-to-read piece of classic literature touching on virtually every emotion and social construct of anyone’s life.
The Inheritance Games
Purchase BookThe Inheritance Games by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
Avery Grambs has a plan for a better future: survive high school, win a scholarship, and get out. But her fortunes change in an instant when billionaire Tobias Hawthorne dies and leaves Avery virtually his entire fortune. The catch? Avery has no idea why—or even who Tobias Hawthorne is.
To receive her inheritance, Avery must move into sprawling, secret passage-filled Hawthorne House, where every room bears the old man's touch—and his love of puzzles, riddles, and codes. Unfortunately for Avery, Hawthorne House is also occupied by the family that Tobias Hawthorne just dispossessed. This includes the four Hawthorne grandsons: dangerous, magnetic, brilliant boys who grew up with every expectation that one day, they would inherit billions.
Ruined
Purchase BookRuined by Paula Morris
A gripping supernatural mystery and romance set in post-Katrina New Orleans. Rebecca couldn't feel more out of place in New Orleans. She's staying in a creepy house with her aunt, who reads tarot cards. And at the snooty prep school, a pack of filthy-rich girls treat Rebecca like she's invisible. Only gorgeous, unavailable Anton Grey gives Rebecca the time of day, but she wonders if he's got a hidden agenda. Then one night, among the oak trees in Lafayette Cemetery, Rebecca makes a friend. Sweet, mysterious Lisette is eager to show Rebecca the nooks and crannies of New Orleans. There's just one catch: Lisette is a ghost.
She is Not Invisible
Purchase BookShe is Not Invisible by Marcus Sedwick
Laureth Peak's father has taught her to look for recurring events, patterns, and numbers--a skill at which she's remarkably talented. Her secret: She is blind. But when her father goes missing, Laureth and her 7-year-old brother Benjamin are thrust into a mystery that takes them to New York City where surviving will take all her skill at spotting the amazing, shocking, and sometimes dangerous connections in a world full of darkness. Marcus Sedgwick's She Is Not Invisible is an intricate puzzle of a novel that sheds a light on the delicate ties that bind people to each other.
Romance
This genre typically involves stories about characters navigating love, friendship, and personal growth.
The Afterlife of Holly Chase
Purchase BookThe Afterlife of Holly Chase by Cynthia Hand
On Christmas Eve five years ago, seventeen-year-old Holly Chase was visited by three Ghosts who showed her how selfish and spoiled she’d become. They tried to convince her to mend her ways. She didn’t. And then she died.
Now she’s stuck working for the top-secret company Project Scrooge—as their latest Ghost of Christmas Past. So far, Holly’s afterlife has been miserable. But this year’s Scrooge is different. This year’s Scrooge might change everything…
Emma
Purchase BookEmma by Jane Austen
Emma is a captivating tale that revolves around the spirited and independent young woman, Emma Woodhouse. Living in the charming village of Highbury, Emma fancies herself a matchmaker and takes it upon herself to navigate the intricate world of love and relationships among her friends. As she plays Cupid, Emma discovers that her well-intentioned meddling often leads to unexpected and humorous consequences. Packed with wit, humor, and a timeless exploration of human nature, Emma promises a delightful journey into the complexities of friendship, romance, and self-discovery.
Fake Famous
Purchase BookFake Famous by Dana L. Davis
In this breezy novel from the author of Somebody That I Used to Know , one Iowa farm girl—a dead ringer for a global pop star—gets an unlikely shot at stardom. Will she choose fame…or the family farm? Red Morgan is fresh out of high school. With signature red curls and a remarkable singing voice, the bubbly teenager is a devoted daughter and big sister. The world should be her oyster. But Red already knows exactly where her future the family farm in Orange City, Iowa. Zay-Zay Waters is at the top of her game. The Brooklyn-born singer has it all—talent, fame, even a smokin’ hot boyfriend. But life in the limelight isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. And when a video of Red singing in the mud—looking and sounding exactly like Zay-Zay herself—goes viral, the pop star begins to hatch a plan. Red is the key to Zay-Zay’s scheme. With much-needed money on the line, Red agrees to step into Zay-Zay’s famous shoes for one week. But when planned appearances start to go off script, Red may be in over her head. Can she really pull it off?
Love & Gelato
Purchase BookLove & Gelato by Jenna Evans Welch
Lina is spending the summer in Tuscany, but she isn’t in the mood for Italy’s famous sunshine and fairy-tale landscape. She’s only there because it was her mother’s dying wish that she get to know her father. But what kind of father isn’t around for sixteen years? All Lina wants to do is get back home. But then Lina is given a journal that her mom had kept when she lived in Italy. Suddenly Lina’s uncovering a magical world of secret romances, art, and hidden bakeries. A world that inspires Lina, along with the ever-so-charming Ren, to follow in her mother’s footsteps and unearth a secret that has been kept for far too long. It’s a secret that will change everything Lina knew about her mother, her father—and even herself.
Love & Olives
Purchase BookLove & Olives by Jenna Evans Welch
Liv Varanakis doesn’t like to think about her father much, which makes sense—he fled to Greece when she was only eight, leaving her with just a few painful memories of their shared love for the lost city of Atlantis. So when teenage Liv suddenly receives a postcard from her father, who explains that National Geographic is supporting a documentary about his theories on Atlantis—and asks if she will fly out to Greece and help—Liv is less than thrilled.
When she arrives in gorgeous Santorini, things are just as awkward as she'd imagined. There are so many questions, so many emotions that flood to the surface after seeing her father for the first time in years. Liv doesn’t want to get sucked back into her father's world. She also definitely doesn’t want Theo, her father’s charismatic so-called protégé, to witness her struggle.
Even so, she can't help but be charmed by everything Santorini has to offer—the beautiful sunsets, the turquoise water, the sun-drenched villages, and the delicious cuisine. But not everything on the Greek island is as perfect as it seems. Because as Liv slowly begins to discover, her father may not have invited her to Greece for Atlantis, but for something much more important.
Not If I Save You First
Purchase BookNot If I Save You First by Ally Carter
Maddie thought she and Logan would be friends forever. But when your dad is a Secret Service agent and your best friend is the president's son, sometimes life has other plans. Before she knows it, Maddie's dad is dragging her to a cabin in the middle of the Alaskan wilderness. No phone. No Internet. And not a single word from Logan. Maddie tells herself it's okay. After all, she's the most popular girl for twenty miles in any direction. (She's also the only girl for twenty miles in any direction.) She has wood to cut and weapons to bedazzle. Her life is full. Until Logan shows up six years later . . .And Maddie wants to kill him. But before that can happen, an assailant appears out of nowhere, knocking Maddie off a cliff and dragging Logan to some unknown fate. Maddie knows she could turn back and get help. But the weather is turning and the terrain will only get more treacherous, the animals more deadly. Maddie still really wants to kill Logan. But she has to save him first.
The Summer I Turned Pretty
Purchase BookThe Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han
The Summer I Turned Pretty is a coming-of-age story about love, friendship, and growing up. Belly is a relatable character who is struggling to figure out who she is and what she wants. She is also dealing with the complicated relationships she has with Conrad and Jeremiah. Conrad is the older brother, and he is more brooding and mysterious. Jeremiah is the younger brother, and he is more outgoing and carefree. Belly is drawn to both brothers for different reasons, and she must decide who she wants to be with.
Satire
This genre uses humor, irony, and exaggeration to criticize and expose the flaws of individuals, society, or institutions, often provoking thought through wit and sarcasm.
Animal Farm
Purchase BookAnimal Farm by George Orwell
A dystopian society where a farm is taken over by its overworked, mistreated animals. With flaming idealism and stirring slogans, they set out to create a paradise of progress, justice, and equality. Thus the stage is set for one of the most telling satiric fables ever penned –a razor-edged fairy tale for grown-ups that records the evolution from revolution against tyranny to a totalitarianism just as terrible.
Ella Minnow Pea
Purchase BookElla Minnow Pea: A Novel in Letters by Mark Dunn
Ella Minnow Pea is a girl living happily on the fictional island of Nollop off the coast of South Carolina. Nollop was named after Nevin Nollop, author of the immortal pangram,* “The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog.” Now Ella finds herself acting to save her friends, family, and fellow citizens from the encroaching totalitarianism of the island’s Council, which has banned the use of certain letters of the alphabet as they fall from a memorial statue of Nevin Nollop. As the letters progressively drop from the statue they also disappear from the novel. The result is both a hilarious and moving story of one girl’s fight for freedom of expression, as well as a linguistic tour de force sure to delight word lovers everywhere. *pangram: a sentence or phrase that includes all the letters of the alphabet…
Spiritual
& Religious
This genre consists of stories that explore faith, beliefs, and the search for meaning in the world.
The Five People You Meet in Heaven
Purchase BookThe Five People You Meet in Heaven by Mitch Albom
Eddie is a wounded war veteran, an old man who has lived, in his mind, an uninspired life. His job is fixing rides at a seaside amusement park. On his 83rd birthday, a tragic accident kills him, as he tries to save a little girl from a falling cart. He awakes in the afterlife, where he learns that heaven is not a destination. It's a place where your life is explained to you by five people, some of whom you knew, others who may have been strangers. One by one, from childhood to soldier to old age, Eddie's five people revisit their connections to him on earth, illuminating the mysteries of his "meaningless" life, and revealing the haunting secret behind the eternal question: "Why was I here?"
Hinds' Feet on High Places
Purchase BookHinds' Feet on High Places by Hannah Hurnard
A timeless allegory dramatizing the yearning of God’s children to be led to new heights of love, joy, and victory. In this moving tale, follow Much-Afraid on her spiritual journey as she overcomes many dangers and mounts at last to the High Places. There she gains a new name and is transformed by her union with the loving Shepherd.
The Great Divorce
Purchase BookPLEASE NOTE: For 11th & 12th Grade Only
The Great Divorce by C.S. Lewis
C.S. Lewis’ The Great Divorce is a classic Christian allegorical tale about a bus ride from hell to heaven. An extraordinary meditation upon good and evil, grace and judgment, the book follows conversations of those in heaven trying, in a last resort, to convince those who have chosen hell, to stay in heaven forever. Lewis’s revolutionary idea in the The Great Divorce is that the gates of Hell are locked from the inside. Using his extraordinary descriptive powers, Lewis’ The Great Divorce will change the way we think about good and evil.
The Magician's Nephew
Purchase BookThe Magician's Nephew by C.S. Lewis
On a daring quest to save a life, two friends are hurled into another world, where an evil sorceress seeks to enslave them. But then the lion Aslan's song weaves itself into the fabric of a new land, a land that will be known as Narnia. And in Narnia, all things are possible.
The Return of the Prodigal Son
Purchase BookThe Return of the Prodigal Son by Henri J.M. Nouwen
The themes of homecoming, affirmation, and reconciliation will be newly discovered by all who have known loneliness, dejection, jealousy, or anger. The challenge to love as God loves, and to be loved as God’s beloved, will be seen as the ultimate revelation of the parable known to Christians throughout time, and is here represented with a vigor and power fresh for our times.
Young Adult
This genre features stories that follow the lives of teenagers dealing with friendships, relationships, and personal growth in a variety of settings and situations.
Anne of Green Gables
Purchase BookAnne of Green Gables by Lucy Maud Montgomery
Anne Shirley, an eleven-year-old orphan, has arrived in this verdant corner of Prince Edward Island only to discover that the Cuthberts—elderly Matthew and his stern sister, Marilla—want to adopt a boy, not a feisty redheaded girl. But before they can send her back, Anne—who simply must have more scope for her imagination and a real home—wins them over completely. A much-loved classic that explores all the vulnerability, expectations, and dreams of a child growing up, Anne of Green Gables is also a wonderful portrait of a time, a place, a family… and, most of all, love.
The Blessing Effect
Purchase BookThe Blessing Effect by Robert K. Pozil
The Blessing Effect is an action-packed youth-fiction novel that inspires us to reach out to those in need of love, care and inclusion. This fast-paced story motivates young and old alike to embrace the supernatural power of prayer and kindness to bring about the change that our world needs today! Let's accept the challenge to be a blessing to others... and change the world one soul at a time!
Dry
Purchase BookDry by Robert K. Pozil
When the California drought escalates to catastophic proportions, one teen is forced to make life and death decisions for her family in this harrowing story of survival. Alyssa’s quiet suburban street spirals into a warzone of desperation; neighbors and families turned against each other on the hunt for water. And when her parents don’t return and her life - and the life of her brother - is threatened, Alyssa has to make impossible choices if she’s going to survive.
I Hope This Doesn't Find You
Purchase BookI Hope This Doesn't Find You by Ann Liang
Sadie Wen is perfect on paper: school captain, valedictorian, and a "pleasure to have in class." It’s not easy, but she has a trick to keep her model-student smile plastered on her face at all times: she channels all her frustrations into her email drafts. She'd never send them of course -- she'd rather die than hurt anyone's feelings -- but it's a relief to let loose on her power-hungry English teacher or a freeloading classmate taking credit for Sadie's work.
All her most vehemently worded emails are directed at her infuriating cocaptain, Julius Gong, whose arrogance and competitive streak have irked Sadie since they were kids. "You're attention starved and self-obsessed and unbearably vain . . . I really hope your comb breaks and you run out of whatever expensive hair products you've been using to make your hair appear deceptively soft . . .
Spice Road
Purchase BookSpice Road by Maiya Ibrahim
In the hidden desert city of Qalia, magic awakens in those who drink the misra tea. Seventeen-year-old Imani wields a dagger like no other warrior, battling the dangerous djinn, ghouls, and other monsters that lurk in the sands beyond city limits. Her reputation has been overshadowed, however, by the disappearance of her brother after it was discovered he had been secretly stealing from the city's supply of the coveted misra spice. Everyone believes he has surely died beyond the Forbidden Wastes, but when Imani uncovers evidence that her brother may be alive and spreading their nation's magic beyond the desert, she is determined to find him and bring him back to Qalia before he can reveal the city's location to the outside world no one believed still existed. Accompanied by Qayn, a roguish but handsome djinni, and Taha, a powerful beastseer whose magical talents are matched only by his arrogance, they set out on their mission.
Imani will soon discover there are many secrets that lie beyond the Forbidden Wastes - and in her own heart - but will she find her brother before his betrayals endanger the fate of all of Qalia? Imai must navigate the treacherous road between protecting the ones you love and staying loyal to the place you call home.
There You'll Find Me
Purchase BookThere You'll Fid Me by Jenny B. Jones
Finley Sinclair is not your typical eighteen-year-old. She's witty, tough, and driven. With an upcoming interview at the Manhattan music conservatory, Finley needs to compose her audition piece. But her creativity disappeared with the death of her older brother, Will. She decides to study abroad in Ireland so she can follow Will's travel journal. It's the place he felt closest to God, and she's hopeful being there will help her make peace over losing him. So she agrees to an exchange program and boards the plane. Beckett Rush, teen heartthrob and Hollywood bad boy, is flying to Ireland to finish filming his latest vampire movie. On the flight, he meets Finley. She's the one girl who seems immune to his charm. Undeterred, Beckett convinces her to be his assistant in exchange for his help as a tour guide. Once in Ireland, Finley starts to break down. The loss of her brother and the pressure of school, her audition, and whatever it is that is happening between her and Beckett, leads her to a new and dangerous vice. When is God going to show up for her in this emerald paradise? Then she experiences something that radically changes her perspective on life. Could it be God convincing her that everything she's been looking for has been with her all along?
For Incoming
8th Graders
All students attending Chip Start are required to have the book with them at the start of summer enrichment since they will be given time to read.
The Summer I Saved the World
Purchase BookPLEASE NOTE: For Incoming 8th Grade Only
The Summer I Saved the World . . . in 65 Days by Michele Weber Hurwitz
It's summertime, and thirteen-year-old Nina Ross is feeling kind of lost. Her beloved grandma died last year; her parents work all the time; her brother's busy; and her best friend is into clothes, makeup, and boys. While Nina doesn't know what "her thing" is yet, it's definitely not shopping and makeup. And it's not boys, either. Though . . . has Eli, the boy next door, always been so cute?This summer, Nina decides to change things. She hatches a plan. There are sixty-five days of summer. Every day, she'll anonymously do one small but remarkable good thing for someone in her neighborhood, and find out: does doing good actually make a difference? Along the way, she discovers that her neighborhood, and her family, are full of surprises and secrets. In this bighearted, sweetly romantic novel, things may not turn out exactly as Nina expects. They might be better.
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