9th Grade Reading Project 2013-2014

Annie’s Ghosts by Steve Luxenberg

• Memoir

This author is coming to SJHS in April for an author talk!

“Steve Luxenberg shares the shocking secrets he uncovered about his mother's past after learning that she was not an only child, as she had always claimed, but instead had a mentally handicapped sister who was sent to an institution when the girls were in their twenties. He discusses how his discoveries impacted his relationship with his mother.”

--provided by the publisher

The 5th Waveby Rick Yancey

• Science Fiction• Dystopian

“Cassie Sullivan, the survivor of an alien invasion, must rescue her young brother from the enemy with help from a boy who may be one of them.”

--Provided by publisher

The Lovely Bonesby Alice Sebold

• Psychological Fiction

Fourteen-year-old Susie Salmon reports from the afterlife on the changes her family members undergo as a result of her murder.

The Hunger Gamesby Suzanne Collins

• Science Fiction• Dystopian

“Sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen accidentally becomes a contender in the annual Hunger Games, a grave competition hosted by the Capitol where young boys and girls are pitted against one another in a televised fight to the death.”

--provided by the publisher

To Kill a Mockingbirdby Harper Lee

• Fiction

“Lawyer Atticus Finch defends the real mockingbird of Harper Lee's classic, Puliter Prize-winning novel—a black man charged with the rape of a white woman. Through the eyes of Atticus's children, Scout and Jem Finch, Harper Lee explores with rich humor and unanswering honesty the irrationality of adult attitudes toward race and class in the Deep South of the 1930s.”

--provided by Barnes and Noble

Jake Reinventedby Gordon Korman

• Realistic Fiction• Modern Retelling of The

Great Gatsby

When Jake Garrett arrives at F. Scott Fitzgerald High, the students immediately take a liking to him and he becomes one of the most popular boys in school, but when a dark secret is revealed, the same students begin to fear him.

What My Mother Doesn’t Knowby Sonya Sones

• Contemporary Fiction• Novel in Verse

Sophie describes, in diary entries, the events of her life, her relationships with various boys, as she searches for “Mr. Right.”

Drowning Anna by Sue Mayfield

• Realistic Fiction

Brainy, shy new girl Anna Goldsmith is thrilled to be befriended by Hayley Parkin, the most popular girl in school. But it becomes evident that Hayley's motives are not at all kind.

Killing Mr. Griffin by Lois Duncan

• Mystery Fiction

A teenager casually suggests playing a cruel trick on the English teacher, but did he intend it to end with murder?

The Christopher Killerby Aline Ferguson

• Forensic Mystery FictionSeventeen-year-old Cameryn Mahoney uses her knowledge of forensic medicine to catch the killer of a friend while putting herself in terrible danger.

Swallowing Stonesby Joyce MacDonald

• Mystery Fiction

Two voices reveal what really happened after seventeen-year-old Michael MacKenzie discharged an antique Winchester rifle during hisbirthday celebration.

Sunrise Over Fallujahby Walter Dean Myers

• Realistic FictionIn a series of letters to his uncle, a Vietnam vet, Robin Perry reveals how his experiences in Afghanistan are changing his feelings about war and his sudden decision to join the military.

The Fault In Our Starsby John Green

• Realistic Fiction

He's in remission from the cancer that took one of his legs. She's fighting the fluid in her lungs caused by tumors. Both know that their time is limited. But after meeting in a support group, they determine to live life to the fullest!

The Scorpio Racesby Maggie Stiefvater

• Fantasy Fiction

The Hunger Games on horseback. Sean Kendrick competes against Puck Connolly, the first girl ever to ride in the annual Scorpio Races. Both try to keep hold of their dangerous water horses long enough to make it to the finish line. BBYA, 2012

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-timeby Mark Haddon

• Realistic Fiction

Despite his overwhelming fear of interacting with people, Christopher, a mathematically-gifted, autistic fifteen-year-old boy, decides to investigate the murder of a neighbor's dog and uncovers secret information about his mother.

The Ghost and the Gothby Stacey Kade

• Fantasy Fiction

Homecoming queen Alona Dare is killed by a bus and realizes the only person who can see her ghost is Will Killian, an outcast who does not like her.

Ghosts of War: the True Story of a 19-Year-Old GIby Ryan Smithson

• Non Fiction• Memoir

Ryan Smithson recounts the experiences he had serving his first tour of duty as an Army engineer in Iraq when he was only nineteen.

Into the Wildby Jon Krakauer

• Non-Fiction• Adventure

Chris McCandless, poorly prepared for the challenge, walked into the Alaskan wilderness on a journey of self discovery with disastrous results.

The Energy Busby Jon Gordon

• Non-Fiction

Reveals 10 secrets for approaching life and work with positive thinking that leads to true accomplishment and brings out the best in yourself and your team. Get on The Energy Bus and enjoy the ride of your life!

Beastlyby Alex Flinn

• Fairy TaleA modern retelling of "Beauty and the Beast" from the point of view of the Beast, a vain private school student who is turned into a monster and must find true love before he can return to his human form.

Tears of a Tigerby Sharon Draper

• Realistic Fiction

The death of high school basketball star Rob Washington in an automobile accident affects the lives of his close friend Andy, who was driving the car, and many others in the school.

Thirteen Reasons Whyby Jay Asher

• Realistic FictionHannah, a suicide victim, leaves a bewildering set of 13 tapes explaining what led to her death. Clay spends a night listening to the tapes and trying to understand why.

The Chocolate Warby Robert Cormier

• Realistic Fiction

A lonely high school freshman refuses to join in the school's annual fund raising campaign, causing him to become the target of the school bullies and a sinister teacher.

The Body of Christopher Creedby Carol Plum-Ucci

• Mystery Fiction

Just who was Christopher Creed? And is he really dead? Torey Adams struggles with doubts and questions surrounding the mysterious disappearance of the class outcast.

Nineteen Minutesby Jodi Picoult

• Realistic Fiction

Sterling, New Hampshire, is forever changed after a shooting at the high school leaves ten people dead. The judge presiding over the trial tries to remain unbiased, even though her daughter witnessed the events and was friends with the shooter.

Speakby Laurie Halse Anderson

• Realistic Fiction

What really happened to Melinda at the end-of-summer party? Something so awful that she cannot even speak of it.

Blood and Chocolateby Annette Curtis Klaus

• Fantasy Fiction

Having fallen for a human boy, a beautiful teenage werewolf must battle both her packmates and the townspeople to decide where she belongs and with whom.

The Perks of Being a Wallflowerby Stephen Chbosky

• Realistic Fiction• Diary Format

Charlie, a freshman in high school, explores his difficulties in growing up through a collection of letters he sends to an unknown receiver.

No Limitby Pete Hautman

• Realistic Fiction

Sixteen-year-old Denn finds himself alienating both friends and family when he becomes obsessed with playing high-stakes poker with adult gamblers. Is he in way over his head?

Soldier Boysby Dean Hughes

• Realistic Fiction• War FictionTwo boys, one German and one American, are eager to join their respective armies during World War II, and their paths cross at the Battle of the Bulge.

Promby Laurie Halse Anderson

• Realistic FictionRebel child Ash wants nothing to do with senior prom. Then,disaster strikes and Nat needs her help to get it back on track.One of the best heroines you will find – ever!!

Rock Star Superstarby Blake Nelson

• Realistic Fiction

Pete, a talented bass player, moves from playing in the high school jazz band to playing in a popular rock group, and finds the experience exhilarating. But will his new fame jeopardize his relationship with girlfriend Margaret?

The Kite Runnerby Khaled Hosseini

• Realistic Fiction

In this tale of modern day Afghanistan, Amir attempts to redeem himself after his brutal betrayal of Hassan, his childhood friend.

Prom and Prejudiceby Elizabeth Eulberg

• Realistic Fiction• Modern Retelling of Pride

and Prejudice

Lizzie Bennett, a music scholarship student at exclusive Longbourn Academy finds prom preparations ridiculous. But why is she suddenly attracted to the pompous Will Darcy, best friend of her roommate's boyfriend?

Stealing Buddha’s Dinnerby Bich Minh Nguyen

• Non-Fiction• Memoir

Bich Nguyen reveals her difficult coming of age in Grand Rapids, Michigan, where she struggled to fit in as one of the few Vietnamese girls in her school, trying to adapt to the traditional American ideal of "normal."

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-time Indianby Sherman Alexie

• Realistic Fiction

Budding cartoonist Junior leaves his troubled school on the Spokane Indian Reservation to attend an all-white farm town school where the only other Native American is the school mascot.