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All grade levels have a summer reading assignment. Some HIgh School AP classes have additional reading. For 6th grade, see your book options and assignment below. For 7th-12th grades, please see the annotation assingment instructions HERE and then scroll to your grade level or class to see more information.
summer reading grade menu
6TH GRADE SUMMER READING
To prepare for the 6th grade English class, please read one of the books listed below. Incoming sixth graders are to use the note catcher assignment at the link below.
Assignment: Read 1 book below and complete the note catcher assignment HERE.
Due Date: You will turn in your notes to your English teacher during the first week of school. They will also be used for an in-class writing activity during your second week of class.
Update: These books and assignment instructions are for Summer 2025
Overview: The sixth grade curriculum focuses on the theme of change. We review the elements of storytelling before exploring many stories about characters that experience major life challenges and how they grow through them. For your summer reading assignment:
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Choose one of the four reading options below;
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Read the novel; and
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Take notes using the provided graphic organizer link HERE. Although there is no maximum number of notes/annotations, you should have a minimum of 10. Download the graphic organizer in the link and print as many copies as you need. The first page has questions and things to think about as you read the story; the second page is the graphic organizer.
Book Options: Choose one of the following four reading options below. The first three options are novels in which the protagonist (main character) experiences a major life change. If these books are not of interest to you, or you have another option in mind that you feel is a great example of a character experiencing a major life change, you may choose the fourth option.
Esperanza Rising
by Pam Munoz Ryan
I Am Malala
by Malala Yousafzai
Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry
by Mildred D. Taylor
Choose Your Own Book
Theme of "Change"
6 summer
7th-12th Grade annotation assignment
Annotation
For grades 7th-12th grades, scroll to your grade level to find your book choices and then you will be completing the annotation assignment below. Some high school AP classes may have different assignments so read those sections carefully.
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Over the summer, annotate the book you read using the following annotation guidelines. You can either use Post-It notes or highlight the book directly. To print the instructions as a bookmark, click HERE.
7 Summer
7th Grade Summer Reading
Rising 7th graders, choose ONE book in the Rick Riordan’s mythology series based on the culture (Greek, Roman, Egyptian, Norse) that interests you most. Then read the FIRST novel in the series (bolded). Other novels are listed in the rest of the series if you are interested in reading past the required book. If these books are not of interest to you, or you have another option in mind that you feel is a great example of a character experiencing major life "choices," you may choose the fifth option. Then, complete the annotation assignment.
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Assignment: Read 1 book below and complete the Annotation Assignment HERE.
Due Date: First week of English classes. The book and annotations will be also be used for an in-class writing assignment.
Update: These books and assignment instructions are for Summer 2025.
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Percy Jackson and the Olympians - The Lightning Thief (Greek)
by Rick Riordan
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The Lightning Thief (2005)
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The Sea of Monsters (2006)
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The Titan’s Curse (2007)
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The Battle of the Labyrinth (2008)
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The Last Olympian (2008)
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Percy Jackson and the Singer of Apollo (2017)
The Heroes of Olympus - The Lost Hero (Greek & Roman)
by Rick Riordan
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The Lost Hero (2010)
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The Son of Neptune (2011)
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The Mark of Athena (2012)
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The House of Hades (2013)
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The Blood of Olympus (2014)
The Kane Chronicles - The Red Pyramid (Egyptian)
by Rick Riordan
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The Red Pyramid (2010)
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The Throne of Fire (2011)
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The Serpent’s Shadow (2012)
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Brooklyn House Magician’s Manual (2018)
Magnus Chase - The Sword of Summer (Norse)
by Rick Riordan
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The Sword of Summer (2015)
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The Hammer of Thor (2016)
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The Ship of the Dead (2017)
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Hotel Valhalla Guide to the Norse Worlds (2016)
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9 From the Nine Worlds (2018)
Choose Your Own Book
with the theme of CHOICES.​
8 Summer
8th Grade Summer Reading
Rising 8th graders, choose ONE book below and complete the annotation assignment. If these books are not of interest to you, or you have another option in mind that you feel is a great example of a character experiencing major life "challenges," you may choose the fourth option.
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Assignment: Read 1 book below and complete the Annotation Assignment HERE.
Due Date: First week of English classes. The book and annotations will be also be used for an in-class writing assignment.
Update: These books and assignment instructions are for Summer 2025.
Alice's Adventures in Wonderland & Through the Looking-Glass
by Lewis Carroll
The Giver
by Lois Lowry
The Odyssey
by Homer
Choose Your Own Book
Theme of "Challenges"
9th Grade Summer Reading
9 Summer
Rising 9th graders, choose ONE book below and complete the annotation assignment. If these books are not of interest to you, or you have another option in mind that you feel is a great example of a character experiencing a major life "coming of age" story, you may choose the fourth option.
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Assignment: Read 1 book below and complete the Annotation Assignment HERE.
Due Date: First week of English classes. The book and annotations will be also be used for an in-class writing assignment.
Update: These books and assignment instructions are for Summer 2025.
The Distance Between Us (Young Readers Edition)
by Reyna Grande
To Kill A Mockingbird
by Harper Lee
Speak
by Laurie Halse Anderson
Choose Your Own Book
Theme of "Coming of Age"
9TH GRADE AP BIOLOGY
AP BIO
If you have registered for AP Biology, the information in this summer assignment is intended to remind you of information that you have learned in middle school science as well as what you would have learned if you had taken high school Biology. As a reminder, AP Biology is designed for students that have already taken high school Biology, so this summer assignment should help support you in your AP Bio journey.
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Questions: kathleen.clark@lausd.net
Update: This assignment updated for Summer 2025
10th Grade Summer Reading
10 Summer
Rising 10th graders, choose ONE book below and complete the annotation assignment. If these books are not of interest to you, or you have another option in mind that you feel is a great example of a character experiencing a major life "CULTURE" story, you may choose the fourth option.
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Assignment: Read 1 book below and complete the Annotation Assignment HERE.
Due Date: First week of English classes. The book and annotations will be also be used for an in-class writing assignment.
Update:These books and assignment instructions are for Summer 2025.
Americanah
by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
Black Boy
by Richard Wright
Like Water for Chocolate
by Laura Esquirel
Choose Your Own Book
Theme of "CULTURE"
11 Summer
11th Grade Summer Reading
11TH GRADE ON-LEVEL ENGLISH (NOT AP LANG)
Rising 11th graders in on-level English, choose ONE book below and complete the annotation assignment. If these books are not of interest to you, or you have another option in mind that you feel is a great example of a story involving "AMERICAN IDENTITY," you may choose the fourth option.
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Assignment: Read 1 book below and complete the Annotation Assignment HERE.
Due Date: First week of English classes. The book and annotations will be also be used for an in-class writing assignment.
Update: These books and assignment instructions are for Summer 2025.
The Catcher in the Rye
by J.D. Salinger
The Color Purple
by Alice Walker
The Joy Luck Club
by Amy Tan
Choose Your Own Book
Theme of "American Identity"
11TH GRADE AP LANG
AP Lang
11TH GRADE AP LANG (NOT ON-LEVEL 11TH GRADE ENGLISH)
If you are taking AP Lang, please read both books below during the summer and complete the assignment. Reading both books and completing the assignment are required for this class.
Assignment: Click on the instructions below.
Due Date: First week of English Class
Update: These books and assignment instructions are for Summer 2025.
The Anthropocene Reviewed
by John Green
Parable of the Sower
by Octavia E. Butler
11th grade ap seminar
AP SEMINAR
If you are taking 11th Grade AP Seminar, please read both books below during summer and complete the assingment below. Reading both books and completeing the assignment are required for this class.
Assignment: Click on the instructions below.
Due Date: First week of AP Seminar
Update: These books and assignment instructions are for Summer 2025.
Outliers: The Story of Success
by Malcolm Gladwell
Everything is Tuberculosis
by John Green
12 Summer
12th Grade Summer Reading
12TH GRADE ON-LEVEL ENGLISH (NOT AP LITERATURE)
Rising 12th graders in on-level English, choose ONE book below and complete the annotation assignment. If these books are not of interest to you, or you have another option in mind that you feel is a great example of a story involving the theme, "MEDIA," you may choose the fourth option.
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Assignment: Read 1 book below and complete the Annotation Assignment HERE.
Due Date: First week of English classes. The book and annotations will be also be used for an in-class writing assignment.
Update: These books and assignment instructions are for Summer 2025.
An Absolutely Remarkable Thing
by Hank Green
Brave New World
by Aldous Huxley
Feed
by M.T. Anderson
Choose Your Own Book
Theme of "MEDIA"
12th grade ap literature
AP LIterature
12TH GRADE AP LITERATURE (NOT 12TH GRADE ON-LEVEL ENGLISH)
Assignment: Your summer reading assignment is to choose a fiction book or play with one of the following 3 prompts in mind. At the beginning of the school year, you will write an essay IN CLASS. You MAY NOT use an abridged version or adaptation from a graphic novel or fan-fiction.
Due Date: First week of English Classes
Update: This assignment updated for Summer 2025.
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Prompt Choice #1 - Read a fiction book or play with prompt #1 in mind. At the beginning of the school year, you will write an essay in class.
Prompt Choice #2 - Read a fiction book or play with prompt #2 in mind. At the beginning of the school year, you will write an essay in class.
Prompt Choice #3 - Read a fiction book or play with prompt #3 in mind. At the beginning of the school year, you will write an essay in class.
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