From 2017 - 2022, Central Catholic High School adopted an All-School Summer Reading List. Rather than dictating a specific book to each grade-level, each year a list of title choices was created, sometimes on a theme, and students were free to choose from that list. We did so for two main reasons. We hoped that giving readers a degree of choice in what they read would the summer reading process more enjoyable., and we hoped that the links between the books will foster discussion between all members of our community.
In 2023 we have opted to take that degree of choice one step further, by allowing students to choose their own title to read as their summer reading, recognizing that we have many students who read on their own in the summer anyway, and realizing that even with a list of choices could be limiting for students to find a book they would truly enjoy, rather than to just check a box or meet a requirement. This is a new experiment, and one that is based on the kind of character virtues that we hope to find or instill in our students: responsibility, honesty, integrity, self-discipline, etc.
Aside from the 9th Grade Common Reading choice, Almost American Girl, by Robin Ha, which any CCHS student is welcomed to choose as their summer reading, we are not endorsing any specific list of books. Students are free to choose their own book, provided they are making a good faith effort to find something that they will actually enjoy, that fits who they are as a person, that they feel comfortable sharing, and that they haven't read before. This website has links to lists of books from reputable third party organizations, but these are intended for discovery purposes to help readers make their own choices, and do not represent any official endorsement.
“You don’t have to burn books to destroy a culture. Just get people to stop reading them.”
—Ray Bradbury, The Seattle Times