Need A Summer Read? Check Out The Danvers Summer Reading List

DANVERS, MA -- Summer reading lists are the bane of a lot of high school students. But for adults who like to read and find themselves with more time to do it in the summer, they can be a source of suggestions that may have been overlooked when they first came out. Danvers Public Schools posted reading lists for elementary, middle and high school students before classes were dismissed in June, and multiple copies of the books on the lists were ordered for both the school library and the Peabody Institute Library.

While some school systems require students to participate in summer reading programs, the Danvers program encourages students to choose the books that interest them most. High school students annotate one of the more than 30 books on the list for credit when they return to school in the fall.

"In allowing students the opportunity to choose their book and to work with essential skills of annotating, identifying a theme and connecting it their own life experiences; students will afford themselves the opportunity of new, personalized learning into the summer months," the district said on its Website.

The nonfiction list includes autobiographies by Olympic gymnast Ali Raisman and former New York Yankee closer Mariano Rivera. The nonfiction list includes a wide range of novels but tends to stay away from the authors who routinely pop up on the New York Times best sellers list.

All the books on our list have been recommended by educators in the school system, but not every book is appropriate for every reader. "Parents should research the content of each book, as some material may be considered more mature by particular individuals. Families should consider their values and the child’s maturity when approving the selections," the school system said.

Check out the complete list, which is broken down by grade level.

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Image by Danvers Public Schools.

Dave Copeland can be reached at dave.copeland@patch.com or by calling 617-433-7851. Follow him on Twitter (@CopeWrites) and Facebook (/copewrites).