The 2022 Summer Reading List
By Brianna B.
May 27, 2022
If you’re not sure which books to reach for before you drag beach chairs out to sun-drenched beaches, board sleeper trains to Munich, and pack your gear for volleyball camp, check out this list of reading suggestions from some of your favorite upper school staff and faculty.
The 57 Bus by Dashka Slater
(Kate, History Specialist)
What is this book about? What do you like about it? What might other readers enjoy about it?
This book is a narrative non-fiction account of both Sasha (a white, agender private school teenager) and Richard (an African-American public school student who had lost numerous loved ones to murder) rode the 57 bus in Oakland to school every day. One day, Richard is pressured by his friends to hurt Sasha, and he is charged as an adult for committing a hate crime. The narrative is told in a bunch of different forms, like poems, letters, text messages, and lists, which keeps the story moving quickly (I read it in one sitting!). This Stonewall award winning book shows the complex ways different identities interact in our society and how they impact young people. (Recommended for ages 12+, check trigger warnings on a site like Storygraph)
Where should this book be read? By the pool, ginger ale in hand? Beneath the desk at an impressive internship? Between rehearsals at theater camp?
Read this book on your way to a protest, before you call your representative, or for inspiration on your social justice oriented Capstone project!
#narrativenonfiction #lgbtqia #truecrime #bayarea
Fiona and Jane by Jean Chen Ho
(Brianna, English)
What is this book about? What do you like about it? What might other readers enjoy about it?
This collection of short stories is told in alternating voices, forming a dialogue between two best friends (the eponymous Fiona and Jane) as we follow them from the mistakes of adolescence to the regrets and wisdom of adulthood. Fiona and Jane take turns dealing with family secrets; confessing love; traveling to LA, New York, and Taiwan; exploring their identities and sexualities; and enacting small betrayals. I loved this book because it captures all the intricacies of female friendship over two decades, showing how two people can hurt, care for, and ultimately heal one another.
Where should this book be read? By the pool, ginger ale in hand? Beneath the desk at an impressive internship? Between rehearsals at theater camp?
Read it while getting boba with your best friend; on rides in beat-up cars down lonely freeways; and while wondering what it means to be young, a little lost, and very much alive.
#bestfriends4life #butalsofriendshipiscomplicated #drivingonfreeways #sometimeswesaveeachother
A Wild Sheep Chase by Haruki Murakami
(David, Director of Admissions)
What is this book about? What do you like about it? What might other readers enjoy about it?
Murakami is a fan of hard-boiled LA detective novelist Raymond Chandler (also recommended!), but this book takes place in Japan, adding fantasy and philosophy. The writing is funny, lyrical with both modern and mythical implications.
Where should this book be read? By the pool, ginger ale in hand? Beneath the desk at an impressive internship? Between rehearsals at theater camp?
Flying business class to Tokyo
#worldliterature #mystery
The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake by Aimee Bender
(Cara, Middle School Math)
What is this book about? What do you like about it? What might other readers enjoy about it?
This book is about mother/daughter bonds, and feeling emotions through food. I found this book to be a quick and engaging read. Usually, I lose interest in books and never finish them. This book kept me coming back and excited to read more.
Where should this book be read? By the pool, ginger ale in hand? Beneath the desk at an impressive internship? Between rehearsals at theater camp?
At night as you're winding down before bed :-)
#fiction #food
Cat’s Cradle by Kurt Vonnegut
(Derek, History Specialist)
What is this book about? What do you like about it? What might other readers enjoy about it?
A *darkly* funny book and super quick read. Vonnegut wrote the book in 1963, during the Cold War and threats of nuclear armageddon (most recently the Cuban missile crsis), and it shows. Cat's Cradle is a biting satire of religion (some of you might become devotees of The Books of Bokonon), science and technology, American imperialism, and the insanity of the arms race. Absurdist and deeply ironic, it may be my favorite Vonnegut book.
Where should this book be read? By the pool, ginger ale in hand? Beneath the desk at an impressive internship? Between rehearsals at theater camp?
On a beach with an extremely well-sealed thermos next to you.
#satire #sciencefiction #soitgoes
Carter Beats the Devil by Glen David Gold
(Jacob, Music)
What is this book about? What do you like about it? What might other readers enjoy about it?
SF Bay Area location 100 yrs ago and wonderful historical origins of television replacing stage as entertainment as backdrop for a houdini-style magician caper story.
Where should this book be read? By the pool, ginger ale in hand? Beneath the desk at an impressive internship? Between rehearsals at theater camp?
yes
#historicalfiction #summerread #pageturner
Six Degrees of Separation by John Guare
(Lejoi, Art Specialist)
What is this book about? What do you like about it? What might other readers enjoy about it?
In a Fifth Avenue apartment high above Central Park, a wealthy art dealer and his wife are trying to interest a moneyed friend in a $2 million investment when an unexpected young guest arrives - and changes their lives forever.
Where should this book be read? By the pool, ginger ale in hand? Beneath the desk at an impressive internship? Between rehearsals at theater camp?
Between rehearsals at theater camp.
#wittytheater #smallworld
Raybearer by Jordan Ifueko
(Kate, History Specialist)
What is this book about? What do you like about it? What might other readers enjoy about it?
Nothing is more important than loyalty. But what if you've sworn to protect the one you were born to destroy? Tarisai has always longed for the warmth of a family. She was raised in isolation by a mysterious, often absent mother known only as The Lady. The Lady sends her to the capital of the global empire of Aritsar to compete with other children to be chosen as one of the Crown Prince's Council of 11. If she’s picked, she'll be joined with the other Council members through the Ray, a bond deeper than blood. That closeness is irresistible to Tarisai, who has always wanted to belong somewhere. But The Lady has other ideas, including a magical wish that Tarisai is compelled to obey: Kill the Crown Prince once she gains his trust. Tarisai won't stand by and become someone’s pawn—but is she strong enough to choose a different path for herself? If you loved Children of Blood and Bone, you will LOVE Raybearer. I love fantasy books where the character is discovering the rules of the world while you are too, and seeing Tarisai discover her world left me always wondering what was going to happen next!
Where should this book be read? By the pool, ginger ale in hand? Beneath the desk at an impressive internship? Between rehearsals at theater camp?
On your way to explore a new place or under the covers at summer camp.
#whoruntheworld? #girls #theonlyshipweneedisafriendship #yafantasy
Piranesi by Susanna Clarke
(Brianna, English)
What is this book about? What do you like about it? What might other readers enjoy about it?
Piranesi lives in a labyrinth, albeit a beautiful one made up of endless rooms filled with countless intricate statues. He must navigate his way through dangerous tides that flood the rooms of the House while aiding The Other, the only other inhabitant of this treacherous place, in his pursuit of A Great and Secret Knowledge. I found this book bewitching as Piranesi draws you into his obsessively recorded world, and we realize that there is much more than at first appears about this magical place.
Where should this book be read? By the pool, ginger ale in hand? Beneath the desk at an impressive internship? Between rehearsals at theater camp?
Read this book while bird watching and listening to crashing waves on a seaside cliff.
#knowthetides #alwayskeepajournal #respecttheHouse #fantasy
The America Play by Suzan-Lori Parks
(Jason, Spanish)
What is this book about? What do you like about it? What might other readers enjoy about it?
This is a play that examines the mythic figures of American history in relation to African-American culture. An African-American man plays the role of Abraham Lincoln in a carnival game where the participants are asked to shoot Lincoln. It is a philosophical examination of race, American national identity, and perhaps most topically to this moment, America's obsession with guns.
Where should this book be read? By the pool, ginger ale in hand? Beneath the desk at an impressive internship? Between rehearsals at theater camp?
I like the idea of between rehearsals at theater camp. Also when going to an amusement park. Or just on a lazy afternoon.
#coolplay, #America?
Siddhartha by Hermann Hesse
(David, Director of Admissions)
What is this book about? What do you like about it? What might other readers enjoy about it?
Published in 1951 and influential during the 1960s, Hesse tells the story of a young man's spiritual journey through the foothills of the Himalayas during the period that the historical Gautama Buddha would have been alive.
Where should this book be read? By the pool, ginger ale in hand? Beneath the desk at an impressive internship? Between rehearsals at theater camp?
Next to the window during a long car journey
#spirituality #classic
Felix Ever After by Kacen Callender
(Kate, History Specialist)
What is this book about? What do you like about it? What might other readers enjoy about it?
Felix Love has never been in love—and, yes, he’s painfully aware of the irony. What’s worse is that, even though he is proud of his identity, Felix also secretly fears that he’s one marginalization too many—Black, queer, and transgender—to ever get his own happily-ever-after. When an anonymous student begins sending him transphobic messages—after publicly posting Felix’s deadname alongside images of him before he transitioned—Felix comes up with a plan for revenge. What he didn’t count on: his catfish scenario landing him in a quasi–love triangle.... This Stonewall Award winning coming of age love story had me grinning ear to ear while reading! I read this in one sitting on an airplane and immediately texted ALL my friends to read it. Reading about Felix finding his place in his world was so cute, and added lots of depth to a book that could have been just a basic romcom. (Recommended ages 13+, check content warnings on a site like Storygraph)
Where should this book be read? By the pool, ginger ale in hand? Beneath the desk at an impressive internship? Between rehearsals at theater camp?
This book should be read on your way to a Pride parade, a craft and chat session with your friends, or when you feel like everyone just might be having fun without you.
#lightacademia #lgbtqia #bigcityvibes #comingofage
Crying in H-Mart: A Memoir by Michelle Zauner
(Malia, History Lover)
What is this book about? What do you like about it? What might other readers enjoy about it?
Michelle Zauner is best known as the lead singer for the music group Japanese Breakfast. In the first scene of her memoir, Crying in H Mart, Zauner recalls breaking down in a Korean supermarket upon realizing - shortly after the death of her mother- that she no longer had anyone to call to ask which brand of grocery items to buy. Her work then takes us back in time telling readers about her mother Chongmi's journey from South Korea to the United States and Zauner's own story of growing up an indie rock loving kid in the Pacific Northwest, all the while diving into universal themes centered around family, food, culture, love.
Where should this book be read? By the pool, ginger ale in hand? Beneath the desk at an impressive internship? Between rehearsals at theater camp?
Read it anywhere. Then share what your biggest takeaways are with your own loved ones.
#memoir #cooking #culture #family
Nightingale by Kristin Hannah
(Michelle, English)
What is this book about? What do you like about it? What might other readers enjoy about it?
With courage, grace and powerful insight, bestselling author Kristin Hannah captures the epic panorama of World War II and illuminates an intimate part of history seldom seen: the women’s war. The Nightingale tells the stories of two sisters, separated by years and experience, by ideals, passion and circumstance, each embarking on her own dangerous path toward survival, love, and freedom in German-occupied, war-torn France—a heartbreakingly beautiful novel that celebrates the resilience of the human spirit and the durability of women. It is a novel for everyone, a novel for a lifetime. I love this story because it captures the resiliency and bravery of women during war, which is often forgotten about in history.
Where should this book be read? By the pool, ginger ale in hand? Beneath the desk at an impressive internship? Between rehearsals at theater camp?
Read it on the weekend to take a journey of two sisters who experience love, friendship and war.
#girlpower #bravery #historicalfiction
Cien Años de Soledad (100 Years of Solitude) by Gabriel Garcia Marquez
(Jason, Spanish)
What is this book about? What do you like about it? What might other readers enjoy about it?
It is a whimsical look at the family history of the Buendia family in Colombia, and probably the prototypical example of magical realism. The book symbolically traces the history of Colombia and really ties to themes that resonate with the entire history of Latin America as a whole. The book is originally in Spanish and is readily available in English translation.
Where should this book be read? By the pool, ginger ale in hand? Beneath the desk at an impressive internship? Between rehearsals at theater camp?
by yourself under a tree
#magicalrealism, #solitude
Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? by Philip K. Dick
(David, Director of Admissions)
What is this book about? What do you like about it? What might other readers enjoy about it?
Published in 1968 and set in post-global-nuclear-war San Francisco, follows the story of a bounty hunter tasked with "retiring" escaped androids
Where should this book be read? By the pool, ginger ale in hand? Beneath the desk at an impressive internship? Between rehearsals at theater camp?
While taking a break from staring at the (a) screen
#sciencefiction #classic
The Truth As Told by Mason Buttle by Leslie Connor
(Kate, History Specialist)
What is this book about? What do you like about it? What might other readers enjoy about it?
Mason Buttle is the biggest, sweatiest kid in his grade, and everyone knows he can barely read or write. Mason’s learning disabilities are compounded by grief. Fifteen months ago, Mason’s best friend, Benny Kilmartin, turned up dead in the Buttle family’s orchard. An investigation drags on, and Mason, honest as the day is long, can’t understand why Lieutenant Baird won’t believe the story Mason has told about that day. Both Mason and his new friend, tiny Calvin Chumsky, are relentlessly bullied by the other boys in their neighborhood, so they create an underground club space for themselves. When Calvin goes missing, Mason finds himself in trouble again. He’s desperate to figure out what happened to Calvin, and eventually, Benny. Mason's story truly broke my heart and put it back together. Mason has such sweet friendships and family relationships that support him through all of his challenges. I loved the representation of a book narrator with a learning disability, and it gave me a different perspective, as a teacher. (Recommended for middle grades, ages 9+)
Where should this book be read? By the pool, ginger ale in hand? Beneath the desk at an impressive internship? Between rehearsals at theater camp?
This book should be read on your way to hang out in nature with your friends, or after a day where you feel like your the only one who understands your feelings.
#mystery #kindnessmatters #neurodiversity
Possession by A.S. Byatt
(David, Director of Admissions)
What is this book about? What do you like about it? What might other readers enjoy about it?
Taking place both in the present day and the Victorian era, the book uses a variety of textual narratives to tell a love story. Both a detective story and an extravagant dive into language, this book was awarded The Booker Prize in 1990.
Where should this book be read? By the pool, ginger ale in hand? Beneath the desk at an impressive internship? Between rehearsals at theater camp?
Sitting on the 'Tube' going to the British Museum
#Historiographicmetafiction
The Yiddish Policemen’s Union by Michael Chabon
(Jacob, Music)
What is this book about? What do you like about it? What might other readers enjoy about it?
Alt Reality where Israel was replaced by Alaska.
#jewish #humor #mystical
Love and Other Curses by Michael Thomas Ford
(Kate, History Specialist)
What is this book about? What do you like about it? What might other readers enjoy about it?
The Weyward family has been haunted by a curse for generations—if a Weyward falls in love before their seventeenth birthday, the person they love dies. Sam doesn’t plan to fall for anyone in the weeks before his birthday. He’ll spend his time working at the Eezy-Freeze with his dad; cooking up some midsummer magic with his grandmother, great-grandmother, and great-great-grandmother (the Grands); and experimenting with drag with the help of the queens at the Shangri-La, the local gay club. But when a new guy comes to town, Sam finds himself in trouble when they strike up a friendship that might be way more than that. I loved the whimsy in this book, and I enjoy books that have supernatural elements but are set in our "real world." To me, this book felt like the reading equivalent of watching a Wes Anderson movie. Plus, it takes place in a cute summer vacation town, the perfect setting for a summer read! (Age Recommendation 14+, check a site like Storygraph for content warnings)
Where should this book be read? By the pool, ginger ale in hand? Beneath the desk at an impressive internship? Between rehearsals at theater camp?
Read this book on break at your summer job, while you enjoy some delicious soft-serve, or when you need some advice about how to break any of your family curses.
#magicalrealism #lgbtqia
The Arab of the Future by Riad Sattouf
(Claudia, Frisbee Coach)
What is this book about? What do you like about it? What might other readers enjoy about it?
It's a graphic memoir about the author's life - detailing his life growing up in Syria, France, and Libya during a politically tumultuous time. The author writes from the perspective of the child and while it deals with serious topics - it can be quite humorous.
#cartoon #memoir
Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas
(Kate, History Specialist)
What is this book about? What do you like about it? What might other readers enjoy about it?
Yadriel has summoned a ghost, and now he can't get rid of him. When his traditional Latinx family has problems accepting his true gender, Yadriel becomes determined to prove himself a real brujo. With the help of his cousin and best friend Maritza, he performs the ritual himself, and then sets out to find the ghost of his murdered cousin and set it free. However, the ghost he summons is actually Julian Diaz, the school's resident bad boy, and Julian is not about to go quietly into death. He's determined to find out what happened and tie off some loose ends before he leaves. Left with no choice, Yadriel agrees to help Julian, so that they can both get what they want. But the longer Yadriel spends with Julian, the less he wants to let him leave. Another book I read in one sitting while grinning from ear to ear! I love fantasy books set in "real-life," and I loved trying to predict how Yadriel and his friends were going to solve the mystery. (Recommended 13+, check content warnings on a site like Storygraph)
Where should this book be read? By the pool, ginger ale in hand? Beneath the desk at an impressive internship? Between rehearsals at theater camp?
This book should be read before your ghost hunting trip, or to help develop a strategy for avoiding invasive questions at your family cookout.
#mystery #magicalrealism #lgbtqia #spookyseason
Why Zebras Don't Get Ulcers by Robert M. Sapolsky
(Jacob, Music)
What is this book about? What do you like about it? What might other readers enjoy about it?
Stress (bio anthropology and funny!)
#science #funny
Where You Go Is Not Who You'll Be: An Antidote to the College Admissions Mania by Frank Bruni
(Brennan, Director of College Counseling)
What is this book about? What do you like about it? What might other readers enjoy about it?
This book provides great context to college and admission. I like that Bruni gives great data to support his argument and that it helps bring perspective to an experience that can be fraught with anxiety and hysteria.
Where should this book be read? By the pool, ginger ale in hand? Beneath the desk at an impressive internship? Between rehearsals at theater camp?
It should be read as you do something meaningful to you this summer
#CollegeAdmission #WhatMatters #SuccessIsUpToYou
El Amor en Tiempos de Colera (Love in the Times of Cholera) by Gabriel Garcia Marquez
(Jason, Spanish)
What is this book about? What do you like about it? What might other readers enjoy about it?
A story of doomed love during the time of a cholera epidemic. Another great example of magical realism from the master of the genre.
Where should this book be read? By the pool, ginger ale in hand? Beneath the desk at an impressive internship? Between rehearsals at theater camp?
At a family outing to a lake or the beach
#magicalrealism, #pandemicfeelings
Ghost Wall by Sarah Moss
(Brianna, English)
What is this book about? What do you like about it? What might other readers enjoy about it?
Seventeen-year-old Silvie and her family are in the north of England taking part in an archeological re-enactment of the Iron Age. For Silvie’s father, this is the fulfillment of a life-long obsession with ancient Britons. For Silvie, what begins as an unpleasant family trip becomes a journey into discovering other opportunities for her future, one that includes a college education far from home and romantic relationships. This short, unnerving read uncovers the secrets that lie hidden, questioning how far we’ve really come. I first read this book because it was recommended to me by my dissertation advisor––it has been a work I have returned to many times since.
Where should this book be read? By the pool, ginger ale in hand? Beneath the desk at an impressive internship? Between rehearsals at theater camp?
Read it at dusk, when day and night blur together.
#whenpastbecomespresent #bogpeople #reenactment #IronAge
Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson
(Michelle, English)
What is this book about? What do you like about it? What might other readers enjoy about it?
Raised in South Carolina and New York, Woodson always felt halfway home in each place. In vivid poems, she shares what it was like to grow up as an African American in the 1960s and 1970s, living with the remnants of Jim Crow and her growing awareness of the Civil Rights movement. Touching and powerful, each poem is both accessible and emotionally charged, each line a glimpse into a child’s soul as she searches for her place in the world. Woodson’s eloquent poetry also reflects the joy of finding her voice through writing stories, despite the fact that she struggled with reading as a child. Her love of stories inspired her and stayed with her, creating the first sparks of the gifted writer she was to become. I love this book because Woodson shares her experience growing up between the Northeast and the Southeast of the United States during the 60’s and 70’s through beautifully written verse. (This is appropriate for rising 8th graders +)
Where should this book be read? By the pool, ginger ale in hand? Beneath the desk at an impressive internship? Between rehearsals at theater camp?
Perfect read for just before bed because while this is a powerful story, Woodson’s poetry is quite soothing.
#memoir #uniquestorytelling
Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi
(Claudia, Frisbee Coach)
What is this book about? What do you like about it? What might other readers enjoy about it?
It's about a family - each chapter follows a different descendant of an Asante woman. One lineage is trafficked to the Americas and enslaved the other remains in Africa.
#fiction #pageturner
Gospel by Wilton Barnhardt
(Jacob, Music)
What is this book about? What do you like about it? What might other readers enjoy about it?
Parallel stories 2k yr apart about the Catholic church. Also art. Also adventure Indiana Jones story. Also wild history facts.
#historicalfiction #arthistory #religiousstudies