A Random List of YA and Adult Books

for Your Summer Reading Pleasure May 2004

See your student's 2004 Summer Reading List for more

Adult Books Related to the Curriculum

Bradbury, Ray Any book

Eighth graders read his works - Martian Chronicles, Fahrenheit 451

Chaucer, Geoffrey The Canterbury Tales

The classic tellling of a journey of English Pilgrims from London to Canterbury. Each pilgrim relates a tale as they travel.

Seventh graders read this.

Cisneros, Sandra Caramelo

Caramelo is a romantic tale of homelands, sometimes real, sometimes imagined. Vivid, funny, intimate, historical, it is a brilliant

work destined to become a classic. A major new novel by the celebrated author of The House on Mango Street, which is read

by 8th graders.

Ellis, Joseph Founding Brothers

This book recounts the interesting and often unusual lives of our Founding Fathers

McCullough, David John Adams

This is history on a grand scale--a book about politics, war, and social issues, but also about human nature, love, religious faith,

virtue, ambition, friendship and betrayal. Above all, John Adams is an enthralling, often surprising, story of one of our most

important and fascinating Americans.

Power, Eileen Medieval People

A classic book that examines the lives of eight medieval people--from a peasant to a merchant. The newest edition includes a

new chapter, "The Precursors," which makes the argument that medieval times began much earlier than commonly believed and

notes an interesting parallel to our own times.

Shaara, Michael or Jeff

Fiction that brings the Civil War to life.

Local Authors

Billheimer, John Drybone Hollow: An Owen Allison Mystery

This is the latest Owen Allison investigative tale. These mysteries are set in West Virginia, where the author grew up. Want to

start with the first book? Its title is Contrary Blues.

Farmer, Nancy House of the Scorpion

In a future where humans despise clones, Matt enjoys special status as the young clone of El Patron, the 142-year-old leader of a

corrupt drug empire nestled between Mexico and the U.S. (2003 National Book Award winner)

Houston, James Snow Mountain Passage

Retelling of the Donner Party saga.

Houston, Jeanne The Legend of the Fire Horse Woman

A three-generation story of women living at Manzanar. The main focus of the story is the interesting local history Japanese

immigrants in the early 1900's.

Jiminez, Francisco The Circuit

The Circuit was the choice for the Silicon Valley Reads. It is the story of the author's childhood in the world of immigrant

farmworkers. Eighth graders read this as part of a multicultural unit. (Its sequel, Breaking Through.)

Roberts, Lori Murder in a Nice Neighborhood

One of a series of mysteries set in Palo Alto.

Williams, Tad Sea of Silver Light

The final volume in the Otherland series. Otherland, a private, multi-dimensional universe built over two generations by the

greatest minds of the 21st century, had been one of the world's best kept secrets, created and controlled by an organization

made up of the world's most powerful and ruthless individuals. Tad is not only a local author, he is a Jordan alumni!

YA Books You May Enjoy

Baker, Clive Abarat

Candy Quackenbush, of Chickentown, Minnesota, journeys to the Abarat, and has a curious revelation. She has been here

before and she must save this mysterious place from the evil forces that threaten it. The illustrations are amazing!!

Cormier, Robert Frenchtown Summer

One of the last books Robert Cormier wrote. Instead of an "on the edge" tale that this author usually gives us, this is a pleasant

read, a memoir of his childhood.

Creech, Sharon Granny Torrelli Makes Soup

Dickinson, Peter Eva

Nicholson, William Winds of Fire (Trilogy)

The Wind Singer, first in the trilogy, tells the story of Kestrel Hath who rebels against the stifling rules of Amaranth society and

is force to flee. She, along with her twin brother and a classmate, follow an ancient map in quest of the lengendary silver voice of

the wind singer.

Paolini, Christopher Eragon

Peters, Julie Anne Define "Normal":A Novel

Soto, Gary After Life

Wolff, Virginia E. Make Lemonade

Also by this author--True Believer

updated 5-26-2004