The 2015 Summer Reading Program - TAPPAN ZEE HIGH SCHOOL June 2015
Dear Parents and High School Students:
The purpose of the summer reading program is to encourage reading. Studies have shown that the best way to improve academic performance in school is to read! Read magazines, read the back of the cereal box, read your favorite blog – but READ!!! Of course there’s nothing better on a summer day than relaxing on the beach or in your yard with a good book. You might be reading it on your Kindle, Nook, iPad or even on your phone, but the satisfaction you’ll receive will still be the same! If you’re going on a long car ride, you might even want to try free audiobooks that you can download as an MP3! Or listen while exercising. As in previous years, we are providing links to a wide variety of reading lists that address specific reading interests or needs, or that we think are just great lists. Students can choose to read any two books. These lists are just suggestions. For students enrolled in honors and AP English classes there will be required reading assignments, which you will find here.
New THIS year – Are you interested in current events? Do you like to read the newspaper? Enter the New York Times 6th Annual Summer Reading Contest!
Students in 10H created book trailers for their independent reading project during the school year and these were added right to our OPALS catalog. Top books here were A Fault in our Stars by John Green, The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky, The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins, The Virgin Suicides by Jeffrey Eugenides, Ashfall by Mike Mullen, and The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini. Search the Anywhere tab for “book trailers” and then click on the book and then the link on the right to watch the trailer. You can also read reviews posted in our catalog by both students and teachers that includes a 5 star rating system.
e-books & audiobooks
If you want to read one of our 168 e-books, just search the Follett Shelf on the library webpage. You can download the FREE FOLLETT BRYTEWAVE APP and use wbb00512 as the follett shelf URL to read e-books or listen to audiobooks on your iphone or android. For other devices use< https://wbb00512.follettshelf.com> The guest username is tzhs, and the password is student if you just want to browse. You can check out the books to yourself (no library OR librarian needed). Just logoff as guest and login again to the Follett Shelf using the same credentials you use to access our network. When the book is due, it will automatically “return”. (We also have access to nearly 400 other e-books in the Rockland County School Library System shared ebook collection. (The guest username is rsls and password is guest). You can browse or read the books online but for added features, you will need to officially “check it out”. Contact Ms. Parker-Hennion or email with questions to check out books from that system.
What does the faculty read? We asked our teachers to recommend a book they love and would recommend to students. Check out our faculty favorites,
These lists and the lists below provide suggestions and students may select any two books to read over the summer. Incoming ninth grade students can also consult the SOMS list (available at socsd.org) for other age-appropriate summer reading suggestions. For additional advice, check with your school librarian, Ms. Parker-Hennion or Ms. Landgraff (for incoming 9th graders) your public librarian, or bookseller. Other suggestions may be found on the web, through the links listed below. Remember, you can read fiction, non-fiction, biography, science fiction – whatever YOU like to read!
The public librarians are also a great resource for advice on what to read. Visit your local library and participate in the programming they offer to young adults and their families over the summer!
In the fall, an in-class writing assignment will be required of all students about the two books they read over the summer. Students should remember to write down at least the author and title for a minimum of two books.
The Michael L. Printz Award is an award for a book that exemplifies literary excellence in young adult literature. It is named for a Topeka, Kansas school librarian who was a long-time active member of the Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA). The award is sponsored by Booklist, a publication of the American Library Association.
Top Ten Best Fiction for Young Adults – This list from YALS A (Young Adult Library Services Association of the American Library Association is a compilation of the best fiction books for young adults. And this is just the top ten!
Top Ten Best Non-Fiction for Young Adults - This list from YALS A (Young Adult Library Services Association of the American Library Association is a compilation of the best non-fiction books for young adults. And this is just the top ten!
Alex Awards -The Alex Awards are given to ten books written for adults that have special appeal to young adults, ages 12 through 18. The winning titles are selected from the previous year's publishing. The Alex Awards were first given annually beginning in 1998 and became an official ALA award in 2002. Here is a great opportunity for you and your teen to read the same book!
Planning to go to college? Many colleges and universities have reading lists for their students. Google the school and get ahead by reading what they suggest! Or check out the American Library Association's Outstanding Books for the College Bound (updated every 5 years)
Reluctant Readers- You say you hate to read, but check out these high interest quick reads. You may be pleasantly surprised!
If you like graphic novels, check out this list.
Teenreads. – New books galore for teens and adult books with teen appeal, this site also includes author interviews, media tie-ins, and online book discussion guides
Are you an NPR fan? Check out NPR’s list of 100 best ever teen novels
And… here’s another great resource from the New York City Public libraries for summer reading.
You do not need to sign in to access their lists.
NoveList Plus is a fiction and non-fiction database that can be accessed from the Tappan Zee High School Library Web Page. Click on the Novelist Plus tab on the left. To use this database from home, the username is tzhs and the password is student. This database provides subject heading access, reviews, and annotations for over 135,000 fiction titles. For some novels, the first chapter is available to read online, or you can click on the author's website link. Book discussion guides are provided for many novels. With Novelist, simply describe a plot and Novelist will find the perfect book that fits the keywords or subject headings entered.
Audiobooks - You can listen to books on tape, CD, or MP3's. There are a number of sites that provide audiobooks in MP3 format.
Rockland Catskill Public Library System - http://www.rcls.org
Free Classic Audio Books - http://freeclassicaudiobooks.com
HONORS AND AP STUDENTS: The assignments and required books for English Honors and AP courses are attached here and posted on the SOCSD website and on the English Department website in addition to being posted as a separate link on the library website. When school begins again in September, students will have an opportunity to ask questions about the assignments to receive clarification before anything is collected or graded.
The information in this letter will be shared with all of the local public libraries and bookstores and will be posted along with the lists from our other South Orangetown schools at http://www.socsd.org/. Remember, high school students can check out books in June from the high school library. There is no limit! The books will be due back the first week of school in September!
Happy Reading!
Ms. Lois Parker-Hennion
Library Media Specialist
Tappan Zee High School
Dear Parents and High School Students:
The purpose of the summer reading program is to encourage reading. Studies have shown that the best way to improve academic performance in school is to read! Read magazines, read the back of the cereal box, read your favorite blog – but READ!!! Of course there’s nothing better on a summer day than relaxing on the beach or in your yard with a good book. You might be reading it on your Kindle, Nook, iPad or even on your phone, but the satisfaction you’ll receive will still be the same! If you’re going on a long car ride, you might even want to try free audiobooks that you can download as an MP3! Or listen while exercising. As in previous years, we are providing links to a wide variety of reading lists that address specific reading interests or needs, or that we think are just great lists. Students can choose to read any two books. These lists are just suggestions. For students enrolled in honors and AP English classes there will be required reading assignments, which you will find here.
New THIS year – Are you interested in current events? Do you like to read the newspaper? Enter the New York Times 6th Annual Summer Reading Contest!
Students in 10H created book trailers for their independent reading project during the school year and these were added right to our OPALS catalog. Top books here were A Fault in our Stars by John Green, The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky, The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins, The Virgin Suicides by Jeffrey Eugenides, Ashfall by Mike Mullen, and The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini. Search the Anywhere tab for “book trailers” and then click on the book and then the link on the right to watch the trailer. You can also read reviews posted in our catalog by both students and teachers that includes a 5 star rating system.
e-books & audiobooks
If you want to read one of our 168 e-books, just search the Follett Shelf on the library webpage. You can download the FREE FOLLETT BRYTEWAVE APP and use wbb00512 as the follett shelf URL to read e-books or listen to audiobooks on your iphone or android. For other devices use< https://wbb00512.follettshelf.com> The guest username is tzhs, and the password is student if you just want to browse. You can check out the books to yourself (no library OR librarian needed). Just logoff as guest and login again to the Follett Shelf using the same credentials you use to access our network. When the book is due, it will automatically “return”. (We also have access to nearly 400 other e-books in the Rockland County School Library System shared ebook collection. (The guest username is rsls and password is guest). You can browse or read the books online but for added features, you will need to officially “check it out”. Contact Ms. Parker-Hennion or email with questions to check out books from that system.
What does the faculty read? We asked our teachers to recommend a book they love and would recommend to students. Check out our faculty favorites,
These lists and the lists below provide suggestions and students may select any two books to read over the summer. Incoming ninth grade students can also consult the SOMS list (available at socsd.org) for other age-appropriate summer reading suggestions. For additional advice, check with your school librarian, Ms. Parker-Hennion or Ms. Landgraff (for incoming 9th graders) your public librarian, or bookseller. Other suggestions may be found on the web, through the links listed below. Remember, you can read fiction, non-fiction, biography, science fiction – whatever YOU like to read!
The public librarians are also a great resource for advice on what to read. Visit your local library and participate in the programming they offer to young adults and their families over the summer!
In the fall, an in-class writing assignment will be required of all students about the two books they read over the summer. Students should remember to write down at least the author and title for a minimum of two books.
The Michael L. Printz Award is an award for a book that exemplifies literary excellence in young adult literature. It is named for a Topeka, Kansas school librarian who was a long-time active member of the Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA). The award is sponsored by Booklist, a publication of the American Library Association.
Top Ten Best Fiction for Young Adults – This list from YALS A (Young Adult Library Services Association of the American Library Association is a compilation of the best fiction books for young adults. And this is just the top ten!
Top Ten Best Non-Fiction for Young Adults - This list from YALS A (Young Adult Library Services Association of the American Library Association is a compilation of the best non-fiction books for young adults. And this is just the top ten!
Alex Awards -The Alex Awards are given to ten books written for adults that have special appeal to young adults, ages 12 through 18. The winning titles are selected from the previous year's publishing. The Alex Awards were first given annually beginning in 1998 and became an official ALA award in 2002. Here is a great opportunity for you and your teen to read the same book!
Planning to go to college? Many colleges and universities have reading lists for their students. Google the school and get ahead by reading what they suggest! Or check out the American Library Association's Outstanding Books for the College Bound (updated every 5 years)
Reluctant Readers- You say you hate to read, but check out these high interest quick reads. You may be pleasantly surprised!
If you like graphic novels, check out this list.
Teenreads. – New books galore for teens and adult books with teen appeal, this site also includes author interviews, media tie-ins, and online book discussion guides
Are you an NPR fan? Check out NPR’s list of 100 best ever teen novels
And… here’s another great resource from the New York City Public libraries for summer reading.
You do not need to sign in to access their lists.
NoveList Plus is a fiction and non-fiction database that can be accessed from the Tappan Zee High School Library Web Page. Click on the Novelist Plus tab on the left. To use this database from home, the username is tzhs and the password is student. This database provides subject heading access, reviews, and annotations for over 135,000 fiction titles. For some novels, the first chapter is available to read online, or you can click on the author's website link. Book discussion guides are provided for many novels. With Novelist, simply describe a plot and Novelist will find the perfect book that fits the keywords or subject headings entered.
Audiobooks - You can listen to books on tape, CD, or MP3's. There are a number of sites that provide audiobooks in MP3 format.
Rockland Catskill Public Library System - http://www.rcls.org
Free Classic Audio Books - http://freeclassicaudiobooks.com
HONORS AND AP STUDENTS: The assignments and required books for English Honors and AP courses are attached here and posted on the SOCSD website and on the English Department website in addition to being posted as a separate link on the library website. When school begins again in September, students will have an opportunity to ask questions about the assignments to receive clarification before anything is collected or graded.
The information in this letter will be shared with all of the local public libraries and bookstores and will be posted along with the lists from our other South Orangetown schools at http://www.socsd.org/. Remember, high school students can check out books in June from the high school library. There is no limit! The books will be due back the first week of school in September!
Happy Reading!
Ms. Lois Parker-Hennion
Library Media Specialist
Tappan Zee High School