The Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) High School Suggested Summer Reading is a genre-based assignment in which students at each grade level may choose their own selections within a framework based on the English Program of Studies.

Recent reports from the National Council of Teachers of English describe guided student choice as a key component in successful summer reading.  Greater freedom to choose their own titles will increase students' interest in summer reading, leading to greater reading achievement overall.

At the high school level, most schools and courses have summer reading assignments that fulfill the FCPS requirement.  Parents and students should check the individual school website and inquire at the time of registration.

Grades 9-12

Finding a Book:
Suggested Sources
Available to High School Students

Grade 9
Grade 10
Grade 11
Grade 12


Grade 6
Grades 7-8

Note: A rising student is one that will be starting that grade in the new school year. 

For example: a rising tenth grader is one who completed the ninth grade in school year 2008-2009 and will be a tenth grader in the 2009-2010 school year.

Grade 9: Rising Ninth Graders
Read a book from one of the following genres:

Mystery
Science fiction
Fantasy
Western/Adventure
Historical Fiction

Finding a Book: Suggested Sources Available to Students

Grade 10: Rising Tenth Graders
Read a nonfiction book.

nonfiction may include autobiography, biography, history, humor or an informational book on a topic that interests you.

Finding a Book: Suggested Sources Available to Students

Grade 11: Rising Eleventh Graders
Read a book by an American author.

Finding a Book: Suggested Sources Available to Students

Grade 12: Rising Twelfth Graders
Read a novel or memoir by an author from a country other than the United States of America.

Finding a Book: Suggested Sources Available to Students

There are two databases owned by all FCPS schools. 
NoveList (Fiction only)

Literature Resource Center-
What Do I Read Next? (Fiction & Nonfiction)

Their purpose is to link readers to books.  Book reviews, plot summaries, discussion guides, and awards are included for each title.  Students can describe the kind of book they want to read (i.e. mystery, takes place in New York, main character a teenage girl) and these databases will give suggestions. Students can also browse by genre and topic. Finally, users can list a book that they have read and liked; the database will then provide suggestions for similar titles.

Students in FCPS can access these two databases from their high school library web sites. Please contact your media specialist for information on passwords.

Fairfax County Public Library: Good Reading
http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/library/goodreading.htm
This public library web site includes links to book lists divided by age-group and genre.

Bartleby.com: Great Books Online
http://www.bartleby.com
This web site includes free online versions of many classics texts including fiction, nonfiction and reference.

BookBrowse
http://www.bookbrowse.com/
Although intended for adults, this web site covers books as they are published. Older students may find good suggestions here.

Booklist Center
http://home.comcast.net/~dwtaylor1/
This web site features a wide selection of booklists sorted by genre and topic. The range of lists includes fiction and nonfiction as well as all major book awards.

BookSpot
http://www.bookspot.com/
BookSpot is a comprehensive web site of book-related resources, including links to lists of books by age-group, genre, author, cultural background, and many other categories.

The Children's Literature Web Guide
http://www.acs.ucalgary.ca/%7edkbrown/index.html
This comprehensive resource for readers, teachers and parents includes links to both children's and young adult book lists.

The Great Books Foundation
http://www.greatbooks.org
The Great Books Foundation promotes the discussion of great books as an important part of education. They publish lists of recommended books and resources for students through the Junior Great Books program.

Outstanding Books for the College Bound
http://www.ala.org/ala/yalsa/booklistsawards/
outstandingbooks/outstandingbooks.htm
This web site for college-bound students presents a selection of books from five academic disciplines: history, humanities, literature and language arts, science and technology, and social sciences. The list, chosen by the Young Adult Library Services Association , includes fiction, nonfiction, poetry, biography and drama.

Teenreads.com
http://www.teenreads.com/index.asp
This is the teen section of bookreporter.com, a web site that shares book reviews and new releases.