Rising sophomore students will be required to read one of the following five books.

Alas, Babylon, by Pat Frank. 
At the height of the Cold War between the United States and the Soviet Union, a small rural community in an isolated town in Florida survives a nuclear attack, only to find its struggles just beginning. (D Fra)

Bless Me, Ultima by Rudolfo A. Anaya
Antonio has questions about evil, forgiveness, and finding the truth. He learns from each character around him about dreams, family, tolerance, and tradition. Anaya emphasizes the importance of thinking independently and reconciling conflicting cultural traditions. Antonio, with guidance from Ultima, discovers the importance of finding his own identity and his own answers. (F Ana)

Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card
In the future, people will have only one child--unless there is reason to believe that the child might be special: a gifted warrior, able to fight an alien menace. Ender Wiggin might be such a child. Find out whether a picked-on "third" is born to lead humanity in Ender's Game.(Fan Car)

The Hot Zone: A Terrifying True Story by Richard Preston
This non-fiction account tells the story of a laboratory outbreak of the Ebola virus in Reston, Virginia, while also discussing past epidemics of similar diseases. Publisher's Weekly compares this book to the work of thriller writer MIchael Crichton. Note: it does contain graphic descriptions of the disease. (614.57 Pre)

The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd.
The novel's cover tells us that it is "set in South Carolina in 1964" and "tells the story of  Lily Owens, whose life has been shaped around the blurred memory of the afternoon her mother was killed." Accompanied by Rosaleen, the  Afrifcan-American woman who raised her, Lily journeys to unlock the mustery of her mother's death.


Students will complete graded assignments on the book they read during the first weeks of school. Graded assignments might include, but are not limited to, quizzes, essays, projects, and group discussions. Students are strongly encouraged to purchase the book, to take notes while reading, and to pay close attention to the development of character, setting, and theme.