Suggested Reading for High School Students
S - Z
Satchmo: My life in New Orleans (Louis Armstrong)
-- NON-FICTION --
What shines through this recollection of Louis Armstrong's youth in New Orleans is the essential positive outlook this man seems to have been born with despite the hardship of his early years. This "life-force' for lack of a better term is what drove his musicianship to such heights that he is the most revered American musician of the 20th century.
-- NON-FICTION --
What shines through this recollection of Louis Armstrong's youth in New Orleans is the essential positive outlook this man seems to have been born with despite the hardship of his early years. This "life-force' for lack of a better term is what drove his musicianship to such heights that he is the most revered American musician of the 20th century.
The Scarlet Letter (Nathaniel Hawthorn)
-- FICTION --
Set in a small religious Puritan community, Hester Prynne endures the consequences of her sin of adultery by being condemned to wear a scarlet ‘A’ on her clothing for life as punishment.
-- FICTION --
Set in a small religious Puritan community, Hester Prynne endures the consequences of her sin of adultery by being condemned to wear a scarlet ‘A’ on her clothing for life as punishment.
Scars of Sweet Paradis: The life and Times of Janis Joplin (Alice Echols)
-- NON-FICTION --
The biography of the legendary Janis Joplin. She fought to create her own music and made a mark forever in rock history.
-- NON-FICTION --
The biography of the legendary Janis Joplin. She fought to create her own music and made a mark forever in rock history.
Seven Years in Tibet (Heinrich Harrer)
-- NON-FICTION --
This adventure of Heinrich Harrer mountaineering in the Himalayas after escaping from a British internment camp in India, he lands in Tibet where he is warmly welcomed. He eventually became tutor to the Dalai Lama, teenaged god-king of the theocratic nation.
-- NON-FICTION --
This adventure of Heinrich Harrer mountaineering in the Himalayas after escaping from a British internment camp in India, he lands in Tibet where he is warmly welcomed. He eventually became tutor to the Dalai Lama, teenaged god-king of the theocratic nation.
Shame of Man (Piers Anthony)
-- FANTASY --
This novel tells the story of a single family reborn again and again throughout history. Beginning millions of years ago in Africa, the story follows two lovers as they struggle to preserve their family and way of life during some of the most turbulent periods of the past, including King David in Israel, the Renaissance and modern day.
-- FANTASY --
This novel tells the story of a single family reborn again and again throughout history. Beginning millions of years ago in Africa, the story follows two lovers as they struggle to preserve their family and way of life during some of the most turbulent periods of the past, including King David in Israel, the Renaissance and modern day.
She’s Come Undone (Wally Lamb)
-- FICTION --
Dolores Price is a young girl who was traumatized by family problems and rape as a young girl and she explores her life as she learns to turn her life around.
-- FICTION --
Dolores Price is a young girl who was traumatized by family problems and rape as a young girl and she explores her life as she learns to turn her life around.
Shooting the Rat (Mark Pawlak)
-- NON-FICTION --
A conglomeration of short stories and poems written by high school students.
-- NON-FICTION --
A conglomeration of short stories and poems written by high school students.
A Short History of Nearly Everything (Bill Bryson)
-- NON-FICTION --
As he states at the outset, this is a book about life, the universe and everything, from the Big Bang to the ascendancy of Homo sapiens. "This is a book about how it happened," the author writes. "In particular how we went from there being nothing at all to there being something, and then how a little of that something turned into us, and also what happened in between and since." What follows is a brick of a volume summarizing moments both great and curious in the history of science, covering already well-trod territory in the fields of cosmology, astronomy, paleontology, geology, chemistry, physics and so on.
-- NON-FICTION --
As he states at the outset, this is a book about life, the universe and everything, from the Big Bang to the ascendancy of Homo sapiens. "This is a book about how it happened," the author writes. "In particular how we went from there being nothing at all to there being something, and then how a little of that something turned into us, and also what happened in between and since." What follows is a brick of a volume summarizing moments both great and curious in the history of science, covering already well-trod territory in the fields of cosmology, astronomy, paleontology, geology, chemistry, physics and so on.
Siddhartha (Herman Hess)
-- RELIGION --
Siddhartha’s solo journey to reach spiritual enlightenment by means of following his own path.
-- RELIGION --
Siddhartha’s solo journey to reach spiritual enlightenment by means of following his own path.
So You Wanna be a Rock and Roll Star (Jacob Slichter)
-- NON-FICTION --
True stories and insight into the life of a rock band’s drummer
-- NON-FICTION --
True stories and insight into the life of a rock band’s drummer
State of Fear (Michael Crichton)
-- FICTION/TECHNO-THRILLER --
A suspenseful tale that takes the reader from one exotic locale to another as it examines the controversial issue of global warming.
-- FICTION/TECHNO-THRILLER --
A suspenseful tale that takes the reader from one exotic locale to another as it examines the controversial issue of global warming.
Strike Sparks: Selected Poems 1980-2002 (Sharon Olds)
-- POETRY --
The collected works of a celebrated American poet: real, down-to earth, accessible but thought-provoking.
-- POETRY --
The collected works of a celebrated American poet: real, down-to earth, accessible but thought-provoking.
Sula (Toni Morrison)
-- FICTION --
The shattering story of two African-American women who grew up together and went on to live radically different lives.
-- FICTION --
The shattering story of two African-American women who grew up together and went on to live radically different lives.
Swallowing Stones (Joyce McDonald)
-- FICTION --
When 17-year-old Michael discovers that he has accidentally killed the father of a schoolmate, he wrestles with his own guilt until he can no longer keep his terrible secret. A compassionate story focusing on both the killer and the family left to grieve the loss of a father and husband.
-- FICTION --
When 17-year-old Michael discovers that he has accidentally killed the father of a schoolmate, he wrestles with his own guilt until he can no longer keep his terrible secret. A compassionate story focusing on both the killer and the family left to grieve the loss of a father and husband.
Sweep 1 (Cate Tiernan)
-- FICTION --
A tale of Witchcraft and Voo Doo.
-- FICTION --
A tale of Witchcraft and Voo Doo.
A Tale of Two Cities (Charles Dickens)
-- FICTION --
The heart-rending story of the intertwined fates of a memorable assortment of characters during the French Revolution.
-- FICTION --
The heart-rending story of the intertwined fates of a memorable assortment of characters during the French Revolution.
The Things They Carried (Tim O’Brien)
-- FICTION --
A series of stories about soldiers’ experiences in the Vietnam War
-- FICTION --
A series of stories about soldiers’ experiences in the Vietnam War
Too Much of a Good Thing (Daniel J. Kindlon)
-- NON-FICTION --
A documentary on the correlation between money and raising children.
-- NON-FICTION --
A documentary on the correlation between money and raising children.
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn (Betty Smith)
-- FICTION --
A girl from a poor family comes of age in Brooklyn in the early 20th century.
-- FICTION --
A girl from a poor family comes of age in Brooklyn in the early 20th century.
Tuesdays With Morrie (Mitch Albom)
-- NON-FICTION --
A story about the love between a spiritual mentor and his pupil has soared to the bestseller list for many reasons.
-- NON-FICTION --
A story about the love between a spiritual mentor and his pupil has soared to the bestseller list for many reasons.
Uncle Tom’s Cabin (Harriet Beecher Stowe)
-- FICTION --
Told through the eyes of a black slave who refuses to obey his master, this novel is a living, relevant story, passionate in its vivid depiction of the cruelest forms of injustice and inhumanity—and the courage it takes to fight against them.
-- FICTION --
Told through the eyes of a black slave who refuses to obey his master, this novel is a living, relevant story, passionate in its vivid depiction of the cruelest forms of injustice and inhumanity—and the courage it takes to fight against them.
The Watsons Go to Birmingham, 1963 (Christopher Paul Curtis)
-- FICTION --
A black family moves to Alabama from Michigan at the height of the struggle for civil rights.
-- FICTION --
A black family moves to Alabama from Michigan at the height of the struggle for civil rights.
The Whale Rider (Witi Ihimaera)
-- FICTION --
An ancient whale ridden by a mystical man rises from the sea, the rider throwing spears that blossom like seeds into gifts of nature. One last spear "-flew across a thousand years. When it hit the earth, it did not change but waited for another hundred and fifty years to pass until it was needed."
-- FICTION --
An ancient whale ridden by a mystical man rises from the sea, the rider throwing spears that blossom like seeds into gifts of nature. One last spear "-flew across a thousand years. When it hit the earth, it did not change but waited for another hundred and fifty years to pass until it was needed."
Wicked (Gregory Maguire)
-- FANTASY --
The story of The Wizard of Oz written from the perspective of the green wicked witch of the west.
-- FANTASY --
The story of The Wizard of Oz written from the perspective of the green wicked witch of the west.
The Wind in the Willows (Kenneth Grahame)
-- FANTASY --
The classic adventures of Toad, Mole, Ratty and Badger along a river bank in England. [The Simon & Schuster paperback edition is recommended – it has good illustrations.]
-- FANTASY --
The classic adventures of Toad, Mole, Ratty and Badger along a river bank in England. [The Simon & Schuster paperback edition is recommended – it has good illustrations.]
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (L. Frank Baum)
-- FANTASY --
You’ve seen the film; now read the book! Travel along with Dorothy and her friends in a magical place.
-- FANTASY --
You’ve seen the film; now read the book! Travel along with Dorothy and her friends in a magical place.
The Witches (Roald Dahl)
-- FANTASY --
This Roald Dahl classic tells the scary, funny and imaginative tale of a seven-year-old boy who has a run-in with some real-life witches, who dress behave and live as normal human beings!
-- FANTASY --
This Roald Dahl classic tells the scary, funny and imaginative tale of a seven-year-old boy who has a run-in with some real-life witches, who dress behave and live as normal human beings!
Witness (Karen Hess)
-- NON-FICTION --
11 individuals tell their stories as the Ku Klux Klan enters small town Vermont and terrorizes the people.
-- NON-FICTION --
11 individuals tell their stories as the Ku Klux Klan enters small town Vermont and terrorizes the people.
A Wrinkle in Time (Madeleine L’Engle)
-- FANTASY --
Spurred on by these rumors of their family being dullwitted and dumb and an unearthly stranger, the tesseract-touting Mrs Whatsit, Meg and Charles Wallace and their new friend Calvin O'Keefe embark on a perilous quest through space to find their father.
-- FANTASY --
Spurred on by these rumors of their family being dullwitted and dumb and an unearthly stranger, the tesseract-touting Mrs Whatsit, Meg and Charles Wallace and their new friend Calvin O'Keefe embark on a perilous quest through space to find their father.
Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance (Robert M. Pirsig)
-- MEMOIR/PHILOSOPHY -- \\A father-and-son motorcycle trip becomes a shattering odyssey of self-discovery. This book will change the way you think about your life.
-- MEMOIR/PHILOSOPHY -- \\A father-and-son motorcycle trip becomes a shattering odyssey of self-discovery. This book will change the way you think about your life.