These lists and link are provided as part of a broad Redwood High School reading initiative. Redwood is committed to promoting reading for its humanistic values as well as an activity vital to the academic growth of students. This year there are no required reading books for summer, but students are encouraged to read books of particular interest to them personally. Links are provided to special lists for science, other nonfiction, and "beach reading."
This file lists all approved books for all English classes taught in the District. There are three sheets. One is alphabetical by title; one is alpha by author; and one is alpha by course name.
Click on "Search Recommended Literature" and choose "Grade Level" 9-12
to generate a list of high school titles. The list can also be searched
by Author, Title, Keyword, Language, Culture, Genre, Classification,
Curriculum
Connections, and Awards. To find a list of books from this database
which
are owned by the Bessie Chin Library click here
(pdf). To find the most up-to-date lists search the catalog for the
subject,
"Recommended literature,"
or category, "CA
recommend.
lit. E/LA."
A very comprehensive list divided into Poetry, Drama, Short Stories,
Essays,
and Novels. Some links to online versions of the texts are provided.
(Bartlett
High School Library, Bartlett, Ill.)
This is a very interesting list of booklists chosen by patrons and staff of the Pittsburgh (PA) public library. Includes fiction lists by genre (E.g. 'Books Can Be Murder' and 'Holden Caulfields for the New Age') and nonfiction lists by subject (E.g. 'How the World Works' and 'Survival').
An annotated list compiled by Arrowhead Library System librarians in
Janesville,
Wisconsin, this is an extensive reading list for those headed for
college.
The American Library Association has published a list with recommendations from its Young Adult Library Services Association and the Association of College and Research Libraries. Previous lists from 2004 and 1999 are also available on the site.
This group, a part of the American Library Association, publishes
several
booklists of recommended literature for teenage readers. These include
"the Alex Awards, which are announced annually in conjunction with
National
Library Week, honor the top 10 adults books for teenagers published
during
a calendar year."
Subtitled "Out of the Ordinary Teen Booklists," this page includes
links
to such lists on such topics as: Weight & Eating Disorders; Books
for
Boys; Gay Fiction; Classics; Books about being in a band; Vampire
Fiction;
Sci-Fi/Fantasy for the Non-Sci-Fi/Fantasy Reader; Teen fiction that
deals
with spiritual issues; Graphic novels; "Country" Fiction; Unusual
Biographies;
Non-fiction about teens; Riot Grrrrl Reads; Teen Short Story
Collections;
Reads for Older Teens: Druggie Fiction; and Jen's Top Ten Books of All
Time. (Maintained by YA librarian Jennifer Hubert)
This website provides links to the Texas Library Association's anual
booklists
for young adults. According to TLA criteria books are selected that
have
potential for teen pleasure reading, reflect strong literary standards,
recognize the ethnic diversity of young readers in Texas, seek balance
with regard to gender, include both fiction and nonfiction, offer a
range
of genres, recognize values expresses in The Library Bill of Rights,
and
consider various reading abilities.
Another public library Web site which has links to booklists on all
sorts
of topics including: (Fiction) African American Authors; African
American
Mystery Writers; Fairy Tales for Adults; Gay and Lesbian Authors;
Historical
Mysteries Series; Horror Fiction; Mother / Daughter Relationships;
Romance
Novels; Science Fiction and Fantasy; Staff Recommends; and Twins;
(Young
Adults) Young and Impressionable, a Young Adult Booklist; Not the Only
One - Gay and Lesbian; Teen Spirit - Religion; (Non-Fiction) Genealogy;
African American Topics; Martin Luther King, Jr. and the Civil Rights
Movement;
and (Best Books of the 20th Century) Food/Cooking; Mystery/Horror;
Maryland;
Fine Arts; Travel; Summer Reads; Gardening; Poetry; Wars of this
Century;
Novels; and Biographies. (Enoch Pratt Free Library, Baltimore, MD)
Modern
Library - http://www.randomhouse.com/modernlibrary/
During 1998 and 1999 the Modern Library, a publisher of classic books,
polled its editors and the general public on what they considered the
best
books of the century first published in English. The results are
presented
in the form of two lists: 100
best nonfiction and 100
best novels. Results were somewhat controversial
but here they are! In a related project 100 Radcliffe publishing
students
were assigned the task of creating their own list of the 20th century's
top
100 novels written in English. Check the pamphlet
file under
Censorship
for an article published in American
Libraries about the censorship of books from the ML 100 best novels
list.
Like the previous link this page is maintained by Arrowhead Library
System
in Janesville, Wisconsin. It is a great gateway to all sorts of online
booksellers, reviews, and lists compiled by the library system
personnel.
"About 600 people scribbled,
typed or
e- mailed their opinions on the literature of the West. Each author
needed
several votes just to make the list, and the top vote-getter had nearly
100 partisans." Published in the November 21, 1999 issue of the
Chronicle's
Book
Review.
"The Chronicle Western 100 lets
20th
century English-language nonfiction off the leash. It was devised on
the
nervy assumption that an unscientific, self-selected sampling of
interested
Western readers could pick just as viable a list as the editorial board
of a venerable Manhattan publisher. That faith has since been amply
repaid,
with Chronicle readers coming out of the woodwork to write, e-mail and
buttonhole us with their smart, opinionated nominations. " Published in
the November 21, 1999 issue of the Chronicle's Book Review.
At this site you can find out
all about
the famous journalism and literature awards, given out since 1917 for
public
service in journalism, reporting, editorial writing, editorial
cartooning,
drama, poetry, fiction, history, and biography or autobiography. Use this
page to find the prizes by year, by category, author, etc., and
full-text
verions of many of the award winners from the most recent years.
Terrific information, including photos and biographical information
about
authors, synopses and critical articles of their books, and the number
of pages is also included. (EducETH)
This bookseller maintains a page with links to many of the internation
book award in English including the Booker Prize, Caldecott Medal,
National
Book Awards, National Book Critics Circle Award, Newbery Medal, Nobel
Prize,
PEN/Faulkner Award, and, the Pulitzer Prizes.
"The Whitbread Book Awards [established in 1971] aim to celebrate and
promote
the best of contemporary British writing. As a leading UK leisure
company,
Whitbread sees itself in the business of providing enjoyment to
millions
of customers - and enjoyment is at the heart of the philosophy of the
Whitbread
Book Awards."
"‘The Booker’, awarded annually to the best novel of the
year written by
a British or Commonwealth author, has become a byword for the very best
of contemporary fiction." Renamed the Man Booker Prize in 2001 for a
new
sponsor, ManGroup plc.
"Everyone in the world with an email address was eligible to vote for
up
to 100 titles during the year 1997. Duplicate votes were cancelled by
the
database. The Recommend a Book section is still open. Click to see the
Top 100 books of 1997 and be sure to click More Books and Even More to
see the rest of the list. Some interesting titles are on these pages.
It’s
worth the wait for it to come in."
"All About Censorship" might be the title of this very comprehensive
Web
site. The site "list[s] Internet and print resources to help you learn
more about censorship in its many guises." Included are links to:
General
Censorship resources; Book Censorship; Censorship in Other Media; Free
Expression & U.S. Law; Organizations; Free Expression Outside the
United
States; and Selected Print Resources.
Just for fun! "Once a relatively rare disorder, Literature Abuse (or
"readaholism")
has risen to crisis levels due to the accessibility of higher education
and increased college enrollment since the end of the Second World War.
The number of literature abusers is currently at record levels." This
site
has information on how to recognize Literature Abuse and what to do
about
it if you detect it in yourself or others.
"Pinkbooks is a specialist site for books and resources about gay and lesbian teenagers and young people. Gay books and lesbian books can be hard for gay teens to find- by providing links and information, Pinkbooks aims to make it easier for gay and lesbian youth to see their lives reflected in the literature they read."
Yahoo's links to book reviews arranged by genre (type). Genres (and
other
categories) include: Children's Books; Computer Books; Magazines;
Newspaper
Book Reviews; Nonfiction; Recommendations; Science Fiction, Fantasy and
Horror; Web Directories; Web Published Fiction; and Young Adult.
"With a national circulation of over 125,000, The New York Review of Books has established itself, in Esquire's words, as 'the premier literary-intellectual magazine in the English language.'" Reviews theatre and movies as well as books. Some articles from the current issue are available online. Archived articles are available for a fee.
"A series of annual pamphlets first started in 1998," featuring "some
of
the most important and interesting books published abroad that an
American
public may have overlooked." Includes fiction and nonfiction. Also
browsable
by country. From the Library of Congress. (LII)
"Ever craved a good book and just not been
inspired
by anything you see? Or felt annoyed that you bought a book that was
merely
so-so? Or closed a book and just wanted to talk about it? We
know
what this feels like. The Book Report Network aims to solve these
reader
dilemmas, with thoughtful book reviews, compelling features, in-depth
author
profiles and interviews, excerpts of the hottest new releases, literary
games and contests, and more every week." Part of the Book Report
Network
is:
Teenreads.com
- http://www.teenreads.com/
"We at Teenreads.com bring teens info and
features
about their favorite authors, books, series and characters....
Teenreads.com
is the place online for teens to talk about their fave books
---
and find the hippest new titles!" Subscribe to a monthly newsletter,
ponder
the question of the month, participate in the monthly poll, use the
book
club reading guides, and read book
reviews and author interviews.