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Ninth Grade California Learning Standards

Ninth Grade California Learning Standards

Ninth Grade California Learning Standards

Select a subject to review the standards that apply to ninth-grade learning.

High school scope: California standards may be assigned to a grade band, course, discipline, or proficiency range rather than to Grade 9 alone. Each applicable multi-grade standard is labeled with its source range.

English Language Arts

Review the Grades 9–10 reading, writing, speaking, listening, language, and disciplinary-literacy expectations that apply to ninth-grade instruction.

Source scope: 9-10

72 standards organized into 6 learning categories

Language

6 standards
L.9-10.1 Applies to 9-10

Standard: Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English grammar and usage when writing or speaking. a. Use parallel structure.* b. Use various types of phrases (noun, verb, adjectival, adverbial, participial, prepositional, absolute) and clauses (independent ,dependent; noun, relative, adverbial) to convey specific meanings and add variety and interest to writing or presentations. Footnote: Beginning in grade 3, skills and understandings that are particularly likely to require continued attention in higher grades as they are applied to increasingly sophisticated writing and speaking are marked with an asterisk (*).

L.9-10.2 Applies to 9-10

Standard: Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English capitalization, punctuation, and spelling when writing. a. Use a semicolon (and perhaps a conjunctive adverb) to link two or more closely related independent clauses. b. Use a colon to introduce a list or quotation. c. Spell correctly.

L.9-10.3 Applies to 9-10

Standard: Apply knowledge of language to understand how language functions in different contexts, to make effective choices for meaning or style, and to comprehend more fully when reading or listening. a. Write and edit work so that it conforms to the guidelines in a style manual (e.g., MLA Handbook, Turabian's Manual for Writers) appropriate for the discipline and writing type.

L.9-10.4 Applies to 9-10

Standard: Determine or clarify the meaning of unknown and multiple-meaning words and phrases based on grades 9-10 reading and content, choosing flexibly from a range of strategies. a. Use context (e.g., the overall meaning of a sentence, paragraph, or text; a word's position or function in a sentence) as a clue to the meaning of a word or phrase. b. Identify and correctly use patterns of word changes that indicate different meanings or parts of speech (e.g., analyze, analysis, analytical; advocate, advocacy) and continue to apply knowledge of Greek and Latin roots and affixes. CA c. Consult general and specialized reference materials (e.g., college-level dictionaries, rhyming dictionaries, bilingual dictionaries, glossaries, thesauruses), both print and digital, to find the pronunciation of a word or determine or clarify its precise meaning, its part of speech, or its etymology. CA d. Verify the preliminary determination of the meaning of a word or phrase (e.g., by checking the inferred meaning in context or in a dictionary).

L.9-10.5 Applies to 9-10

Standard: Demonstrate understanding of figurative language, word relationships, and nuances in word meanings. a. Interpret figures of speech (e.g., euphemism, oxymoron) in context and analyze their role in the text. b. Analyze nuances in the meaning of words with similar denotations.

L.9-10.6 Applies to 9-10

Standard: Acquire and use accurately general academic and domain-specific words and phrases, sufficient for reading, writing, speaking, and listening at the college and career readiness level; demonstrate independence in gathering vocabulary knowledge when considering a word or phrase important to comprehension or expression.

Literacy in History/Social Studies, Science, and Technical Subjects (6-12)

30 standards
RH.9-10.1 Applies to 9-10

Standard: Cite specific textual evidence to support analysis of primary and secondary sources, attending to such features as the date and origin of the information.

RH.9-10.10 Applies to 9-10

Standard: By the end of grade 10, read and comprehend history/social studies texts in the grades 9-10 text complexity band independently and proficiently.

RH.9-10.2 Applies to 9-10

Standard: Determine the central ideas or information of a primary or secondary source; provide an accurate summary of how key events or ideas develop over the course of the text.

RH.9-10.3 Applies to 9-10

Standard: Analyze in detail a series of events described in a text; determine whether earlier events caused later ones or simply preceded them.

RH.9-10.4 Applies to 9-10

Standard: Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text, including vocabulary describing political, social, or economic aspects of history/social science.

RH.9-10.5 Applies to 9-10

Standard: Analyze how a text uses structure to emphasize key points or advance an explanation or analysis.

RH.9-10.6 Applies to 9-10

Standard: Compare the point of view of two or more authors for how they treat the same or similar topics, including which details they include and emphasize in their respective accounts.

RH.9-10.7 Applies to 9-10

Standard: Integrate quantitative or technical analysis (e.g., charts, research data) with qualitative analysis in print or digital text.

RH.9-10.8 Applies to 9-10

Standard: Assess the extent to which the reasoning and evidence in a text support the author's claims.

RH.9-10.9 Applies to 9-10

Standard: Compare and contrast treatments of the same topic in several primary and secondary sources.

RST.9-10.1 Applies to 9-10

Standard: Cite specific textual evidence to support analysis of science and technical texts, attending to the precise details of explanations or descriptions.

RST.9-10.10 Applies to 9-10

Standard: By the end of grade 10, read and comprehend science/technical texts in the grades 9-10 text complexity band independently and proficiently.

RST.9-10.2 Applies to 9-10

Standard: Determine the central ideas or conclusions of a text; trace the text's explanation or depiction of a complex process, phenomenon, or concept; provide an accurate summary of the text.

RST.9-10.3 Applies to 9-10

Standard: Follow precisely a complex multistep procedure when carrying out experiments, taking measurements, or performing technical tasks, attending to special cases or exceptions defined in the text.

RST.9-10.4 Applies to 9-10

Standard: Determine the meaning of symbols, key terms, and other domain-specific words and phrases as they are used in a specific scientific or technical context relevant to grades 9-10 texts and topics.

RST.9-10.5 Applies to 9-10

Standard: Analyze the structure of the relationships among concepts in a text, including relationships among key terms (e.g., force, friction, reaction force, energy).

RST.9-10.6 Applies to 9-10

Standard: Analyze the author's purpose in providing an explanation, describing a procedure, or discussing an experiment in a text, defining the question the author seeks to address.

RST.9-10.7 Applies to 9-10

Standard: Translate quantitative or technical information expressed in words in a text into visual form (e.g., a table or chart) and translate information expressed visually or mathematically (e.g., in an equation) into words.

RST.9-10.8 Applies to 9-10

Standard: Assess the extent to which the reasoning and evidence in a text support the author's claim or a recommendation for solving a scientific or technical problem.

RST.9-10.9 Applies to 9-10

Standard: Compare and contrast findings presented in a text to those from other sources (including their own experiments), noting when the findings support or contradict previous explanations or accounts.

WHST.9-10.1 Applies to 9-10

Standard: Write arguments focused on discipline-specific content. a. Introduce precise claim(s), distinguish the claim(s) from alternate or opposing claims, and create an organization that establishes clear relationships among the claim(s), counterclaims, reasons, and evidence. b. Develop claim(s) and counterclaims fairly, supplying data and evidence for each while pointing out the strengths and limitations of both claim(s) and counterclaims in a discipline-appropriate form and in a manner that anticipates the audience's knowledge level and concerns. c. Use words, phrases, and clauses to link the major sections of the text, create cohesion, and clarify the relationships between claim(s) and reasons, between reasons and evidence, and between claim(s) and counterclaims. d. Establish and maintain a formal style and objective tone while attending to the norms and conventions of the discipline in which they are writing. e. Provide a concluding statement or section that follows from or supports the argument presented.

WHST.9-10.10 Applies to 9-10

Standard: Write routinely over extended time frames (time for reflection and revision) and shorter time frames (a single sitting or a day or two) for a range of discipline-specific tasks, purposes, and audiences.

WHST.9-10.2 Applies to 9-10

Standard: Write informative/explanatory texts, including the narration of historical events, scientific procedures/experiments, or technical processes. a. Introduce a topic and organize ideas, concepts, and information to make important connections and distinctions; include formatting (e.g., headings), graphics (e.g., figures, tables), and multimedia when useful to aiding comprehension. b. Develop the topic with well-chosen, relevant, and sufficient facts, extended definitions, concrete details, quotations, or other information and examples appropriate to the audience's knowledge of the topic. c. Use varied transitions and sentence structures to link the major sections of the text, create cohesion, and clarify the relationships among ideas and concepts. d. Use precise language and domain-specific vocabulary to manage the complexity of the topic and convey a style appropriate to the discipline and context as well as to the expertise of likely readers. e. Establish and maintain a formal style and objective tone while attending to the norms and conventions of the discipline in which they are writing. f. Provide a concluding statement or section that follows from and supports the information or explanation presented (e.g., articulating implications or the significance of the topic).

WHST.9-10.3 Applies to 9-10

Standard: (See note; not applicable as a separate requirement)

WHST.9-10.4 Applies to 9-10

Standard: Produce clear and coherent writing in which the development, organization, and style are appropriate to task, purpose, and audience.

WHST.9-10.5 Applies to 9-10

Standard: Develop and strengthen writing as needed by planning, revising, editing, rewriting, or trying a new approach, focusing on addressing what is most significant for a specific purpose and audience.

WHST.9-10.6 Applies to 9-10

Standard: Use technology, including the Internet, to produce, publish, and update individual or shared writing products, taking advantage of technology's capacity to link to other information and to display information flexibly and dynamically.

WHST.9-10.7 Applies to 9-10

Standard: Conduct short as well as more sustained research projects to answer a question (including a self-generated question) or solve a problem; narrow or broaden the inquiry when appropriate; synthesize multiple sources on the subject, demonstrating understanding of the subject under investigation.

WHST.9-10.8 Applies to 9-10

Standard: Gather relevant information from multiple authoritative print and digital sources (primary and secondary), using advanced searches effectively; assess the usefulness of each source in answering the research question; integrate information into the text selectively to maintain the flow of ideas, avoiding plagiarism and following a standard format for citation. CA

WHST.9-10.9 Applies to 9-10

Standard: Draw evidence from informational texts to support analysis, reflection, and research.

Reading: Informational Text

10 standards
RI.9-10.1 Applies to 9-10

Standard: Cite strong and thorough textual evidence to support analysis of what the text says explicitly as well as inferences drawn from the text.

RI.9-10.10 Applies to 9-10

Standard: By the end of grade 9, read and comprehend literary nonfiction in the grades 9-10 text complexity band proficiently, with scaffolding as needed at the high end of the range. By the end of grade 10, read and comprehend literary nonfiction at the high end of the grades 9-10 text complexity band independently and proficiently.

RI.9-10.2 Applies to 9-10

Standard: Determine a central idea of a text and analyze its development over the course of the text, including how it emerges and is shaped and refined by specific details; provide an objective summary of the text.

RI.9-10.3 Applies to 9-10

Standard: Analyze how the author unfolds an analysis or series of ideas or events, including the order in which the points are made, how they are introduced and developed, and the connections that are drawn between them.

RI.9-10.4 Applies to 9-10

Standard: Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text, including figurative, connotative, and technical meanings; analyze the cumulative impact of specific word choices on meaning and tone (e.g., how the language of a court opinion differs from that of a newspaper). (See grade 9-10 Language standards 4-6 for additional expectations.) CA

RI.9-10.5 Applies to 9-10

Standard: Analyze in detail how an author's ideas or claims are developed and refined by particular sentences, paragraphs, or larger portions of a text (e.g., a section or chapter). a. Analyze the use of text features (e.g., graphics, headers, captions) in functional workplace documents. CA

RI.9-10.6 Applies to 9-10

Standard: Determine an author's point of view or purpose in a text and analyze how an author uses rhetoric to advance that point of view or purpose.

RI.9-10.7 Applies to 9-10

Standard: Analyze various accounts of a subject told in different mediums (e.g., a person's life story in both print and multimedia), determining which details are emphasized in each account.

RI.9-10.8 Applies to 9-10

Standard: Delineate and evaluate the argument and specific claims in a text, assessing whether the reasoning is valid and the evidence is relevant and sufficient; identify false statements and fallacious reasoning.

RI.9-10.9 Applies to 9-10

Standard: Analyze seminal U.S. documents of historical and literary significance (e.g., Washington's Farewell Address, the Gettysburg Address, Roosevelt's Four Freedoms speech, King's "Letter from Birmingham Jail"), including how they address related themes and concepts.

Reading: Literature

10 standards
RL.9-10.1 Applies to 9-10

Standard: Cite strong and thorough textual evidence to support analysis of what the text says explicitly as well as inferences drawn from the text.

RL.9-10.10 Applies to 9-10

Standard: By the end of grade 9, read and comprehend literature, including stories, dramas, and poems, in the grades 9-10 text complexity band proficiently, with scaffolding as needed at the high end of the range. By the end of grade 10, read and comprehend literature, including stories, dramas, and poems, at the high end of the grades 9-10 text complexity band independently and proficiently.

RL.9-10.2 Applies to 9-10

Standard: Determine a theme or central idea of a text and analyze in detail its development over the course of the text, including how it emerges and is shaped and refined by specific details; provide an objective summary of the text.

RL.9-10.3 Applies to 9-10

Standard: Analyze how complex characters (e.g., those with multiple or conflicting motivations) develop over the course of a text, interact with other characters, and advance the plot or develop the theme.

RL.9-10.4 Applies to 9-10

Standard: Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in the text ,including figurative and connotative meanings; analyze the cumulative impact of specific word choices on meaning and tone (e.g., how the language evokes a sense of time and place; how it sets a formal or informal tone). (See grade 9-10 Language standards 4-6 for additional expectations.) CA

RL.9-10.5 Applies to 9-10

Standard: Analyze how an author's choices concerning how to structure a text, order events within it (e.g., parallel plots), and manipulate time (e.g., pacing, flashbacks) create such effects as mystery, tension, or surprise.

RL.9-10.6 Applies to 9-10

Standard: Analyze a particular point of view or cultural experience reflected in a work of literature from outside the United States, drawing on a wide reading of world literature.

RL.9-10.7 Applies to 9-10

Standard: Analyze the representation of a subject or a key scene in two different artistic mediums, including what is emphasized or absent in each treatment (e.g., Auden's "Musée des Beaux Arts" and Breughel's Landscape with the Fall of Icarus).

RL.9-10.8 Applies to 9-10

Standard: (Not applicable in literature)

RL.9-10.9 Applies to 9-10

Standard: Analyze how an author draws on and transforms source material in a specific work (e.g., how Shakespeare treats a theme or topic from Ovid or the Bible or how a later author draws on a play by Shakespeare).

Speaking and Listening

6 standards
SL.9-10.1 Applies to 9-10

Standard: Initiate and participate effectively in a range of collaborative discussions (one-on-one, in groups, and teacher-led) with diverse partners on grades 9-10 topics, texts, and issues, building on others' ideas and expressing their own clearly and persuasively. a. Come to discussions prepared, having read and researched material under study; explicitly draw on that preparation by referring to evidence from texts and other research on the topic or issue to stimulate a thoughtful, well-reasoned exchange of ideas. b. Work with peers to set rules for collegial discussions and decision-making (e.g., informal consensus, taking votes on key issues, presentation of alternate views), clear goals and deadlines, and individual roles as needed. c. Propel conversations by posing and responding to questions that relate the current discussion to broader themes or larger ideas; actively incorporate others into the discussion; and clarify, verify, or challenge ideas and conclusions. d. Respond thoughtfully to diverse perspectives, summarize points of agreement and disagreement, and, when warranted, qualify or justify their own views and understanding and make new connections in light of the evidence and reasoning presented.

SL.9-10.2 Applies to 9-10

Standard: Integrate multiple sources of information presented in diverse media or formats (e.g., visually, quantitatively, orally) evaluating the credibility and accuracy of each source.

SL.9-10.3 Applies to 9-10

Standard: Evaluate a speaker's point of view, reasoning, and use of evidence and rhetoric, identifying any fallacious reasoning or exaggerated or distorted evidence.

SL.9-10.4 Applies to 9-10

Standard: Present information, findings, and supporting evidence clearly, concisely, and logically (using appropriate eye contact, adequate volume, and clear pronunciation) such that listeners can follow the line of reasoning and the organization, development, substance, and style are appropriate to purpose (e.g., argument, narrative, informative, response to literature presentations), audience, and task. CA a. Plan and deliver an informative/explanatory presentation that: presents evidence in support of a thesis, conveys information from primary and secondary sources coherently, uses domain specific vocabulary, and provides a conclusion that summarizes the main points. (9th or 10th grade) CA b. Plan, memorize, and present a recitation (e.g., poem, selection from a speech or dramatic soliloquy) that: conveys the meaning of the selection and includes appropriate performance techniques (e.g., tone, rate, voice modulation) to achieve the desired aesthetic effect. (9th or 10th grade) CA

SL.9-10.5 Applies to 9-10

Standard: Make strategic use of digital media (e.g., textual, graphical, audio, visual, and interactive elements) in presentations to enhance understanding of findings, reasoning, and evidence and to add interest.

SL.9-10.6 Applies to 9-10

Standard: Adapt speech to a variety of contexts and tasks, demonstrating command of formal English when indicated or appropriate. (See grades 9-10 Language standards 1 and 3 for specific expectations.)

Writing

10 standards
W.9-10.1 Applies to 9-10

Standard: Write arguments to support claims in an analysis of substantive topics or texts, using valid reasoning and relevant and sufficient evidence. a. Introduce precise claim(s), distinguish the claim(s) from alternate or opposing claims, and create an organization that establishes clear relationships among claim(s), counterclaims, reasons, and evidence. b. Develop claim(s) and counterclaims fairly, supplying evidence for each while pointing out the strengths and limitations of both in a manner that anticipates the audience's knowledge level and concerns. c. Use words, phrases, and clauses to link the major sections of the text, create cohesion, and clarify the relationships between claim(s) and reasons, between reasons and evidence, and between claim(s) and counterclaims. d. Establish and maintain a formal style and objective tone while attending to the norms and conventions of the disciplines in which they are writing. e. Provide a concluding statement or section that follows from and supports the argument presented.

W.9-10.10 Applies to 9-10

Standard: Write routinely over extended time frames (time for research, reflection, and revision) and shorter time frames (a single sitting or a day or two) for a range of tasks, purpose, and audiences.

W.9-10.2 Applies to 9-10

Standard: Write informative/explanatory texts to examine and convey complex ideas, concepts, and information clearly and accurately through the effective selection, organization, and analysis of content. a. Introduce a topic or thesis statement; organize complex ideas, concepts, and information to make important connections and distinctions; include formatting (e.g., headings), graphics (e.g., figures, tables), and multimedia when useful to aiding comprehension. CA b. Develop the topic with well-chosen, relevant, and sufficient facts, extended definitions, concrete details, quotations, or other information and examples appropriate to the audience's knowledge of the topic. c. Use appropriate and varied transitions to link the major sections of the text, create cohesion, and clarify the relationships among complex ideas and concepts. d. Use precise language and domain-specific vocabulary to manage the complexity of the topic. e. Establish and maintain a formal style and objective tone while attending to the norms and conventions of the disciplines in which they are writing. f. Provide a concluding statement or section that follows from and supports the information or explanation presented (e.g., articulating implications or the significance of the topic).

W.9-10.3 Applies to 9-10

Standard: Write narratives to develop real or imagined experiences or events using effective technique, well chosen details, and well-structured event sequences. a. Engage and orient the reader by setting out a problem, situation, or observation, establishing one or multiple point(s) of view, and introducing a narrator and/or characters; create a smooth progression of experiences or events. b. Use narrative techniques, such as dialogue, pacing, description, reflection, and multiple plot lines, to develop experiences, events, and/or characters. c. Use a variety of techniques to sequence events so that they build on one another to create a coherent whole. d. Use precise words and phrases, telling details, and sensory language to convey a vivid picture of the experiences, events, setting, and/or characters. e. Provide a conclusion that follows from and reflects on what is experienced, observed, or resolved over the course of the narrative.

W.9-10.4 Applies to 9-10

Standard: Produce clear and coherent writing in which the development, organization, and style are appropriate to task, purpose, and audience. (Grade-specific expectations for writing types are defined in standards 1-3 above.)

W.9-10.5 Applies to 9-10

Standard: Develop and strengthen writing as needed by planning, revising, editing, rewriting, or trying a new approach, focusing on addressing what is most significant for a specific purpose and audience. (Editing for conventions should demonstrate command of Language standards 1-3 up to and including grades 9-10.)

W.9-10.6 Applies to 9-10

Standard: Use technology, including the Internet, to produce, publish, and update individual or shared writing products, taking advantage of technology's capacity to link to other information and to display information flexibly and dynamically.

W.9-10.7 Applies to 9-10

Standard: Conduct short as well as more sustained research projects to answer a question (including a self-generated question) or solve a problem; narrow or broaden the inquiry when appropriate; synthesize multiple sources on the subject, demonstrating understanding of the subject under investigation.

W.9-10.8 Applies to 9-10

Standard: Gather relevant information from multiple authoritative print and digital sources, using advanced searches effectively; assess the usefulness of each source in answering the research question; integrate information into the text selectively to maintain the flow of ideas, avoiding plagiarism and following a standard format for citation including footnotes and endnotes. CA

W.9-10.9 Applies to 9-10

Standard: Draw evidence from literary or informational texts to support analysis, reflection, and research. a. Apply grades 9-10 Reading standards to literature (e.g., "Analyze how an author draws on and transforms source material in a specific work [e.g., how Shakespeare treats a theme or topic from Ovid or the Bible or how a later author draws on a play by Shakespeare]"). b. Apply grades 9-10 Reading standards to literary nonfiction (e.g., "Delineate and evaluate the argument and specific claims in a text, assessing whether the reasoning is valid and the evidence is relevant and sufficient; identify false statements and fallacious reasoning").

Ninth Grade Literature Books

Literature for Ninth Grade Learning

Literature for Ninth Grade Learning

This teacher-focused collection includes titles identified in the source list for Grade 9, Grade 10, Grade 11, or Grade 12.

  • Grade 9
  • Grade 10
  • Grade 11
  • Grade 12

79 titles shown

1984

George Orwell

Grades 9,10,11 1949 Suggested Classic Addition
Genre
Science Fiction, Dystopian
Format
Novel
Book description and connections

In a totalitarian future under constant surveillance, a low-ranking party member begins to secretly rebel against Big Brother.

Culture
Not specified
Topics
Dystopian genre, Totalitarianism, Propaganda

A Measure of Serenity

Bryan Prosek

Grades 9,10,11,12 2021
Genre
Adventure, Fantasy, Science Fiction
Format
Not specified
Book description and connections

Forced into a parallel reality by dimension-hopping enemies, Serenity, a brilliant but awkward teen, must impersonate her alter-ego as a resistance leader, or else lose all hope of returning to her own world.

Culture
Not specified
Topics
Not specified

A Raisin in the Sun

Lorraine Hansberry

Grades 9,10,11 1959 Suggested Classic Addition
Genre
Drama
Format
Play
Book description and connections

A Black family in 1950s Chicago debates how to use a life-insurance payout in a story about dreams deferred and dignity.

Culture
African American
Topics
Civil Rights era, Family, Dreams deferred

A Year to the Day

Robin Benway

Grades 9,10,11,12 2022
Genre
Mystery, Realistic Fiction
Format
Not specified
Book description and connections

A year after her sister Nina's death and still unable to imagine a world without her, Leo forms a friendship with Nina's boyfriend East based on their shared grief, only to discover he knows more about the accident that killed Nina than he is letting on.

Culture
Not specified
Topics
Mental, Emotional, and Social Health

Aetherbound

E.K. Johnston

Grades 9,10,11,12 2021
Genre
Fantasy, Mystery, Science Fiction
Format
Not specified
Book description and connections

After escaping her abusive family's interstellar merchant ship, seventeen-year-old Pendt lands on a remote space station run by the Brannick twins, and together they make plans to thwart the destinies they never wanted.

Culture
Not specified
Topics
Life Science (Biology), Gender/Sexuality

All My Rage

Sabaa Tahir

Grades 9,10,11,12 2022
Genre
Realistic Fiction
Format
Not specified
Book description and connections

A family extending from Pakistan to California, deals with generations of young love, old regrets, and forgiveness.

Culture
South Asian
Topics
Global Social Issues, Immigration/Migration

Animal Farm

George Orwell

Grades 8,9,10 1945 Suggested Classic Addition
Genre
Fiction, Allegory
Format
Novel
Book description and connections

Farm animals overthrow their human owner only to find one form of tyranny replaced by another.

Culture
Not specified
Topics
Political allegory, Satire

At the End of Everything

Marieke Nijkamp

Grades 9,10,11,12 2022
Genre
Fantasy, Mystery, Science Fiction
Format
Not specified
Book description and connections

"The world never wanted them. They refuse to be forgotten." A group of teens at the Hope Juvenile Treatment Center are shocked to discover their guards have abandoned them, but their joy turns to fear when they learn a catastrophic pandemic has occurred outside their walls, turning their new-found freedom into a fight for survival.

Culture
Not specified
Topics
Gender/Sexuality

Black Birds in the Sky: The Story and Legacy of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre

Brandy Colbert

Grades 9,10,11,12 2022
Genre
Nonfiction
Format
Not specified
Book description and connections

In the early morning of June 1, 1921, a white mob marched across the train tracks in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and into its predominantly Black Greenwood District--a thriving, affluent neighborhood known as America's Black Wall Street. They brought with them firearms, gasoline, and explosives. In a few short hours, they'd razed thirty-five square blocks to the ground, leaving hundreds dead. The Tulsa Race Massacre is one of the most devastating acts of racial violence in US history. But how did it come to pass? What exactly happened? And why are the events unknown to so many of us today?

Culture
Black/African American
Topics
American History

Briarcliff Prep

Brianna Peppins

Grades 9,10,11,12 2022
Genre
Realistic Fiction
Format
Not specified
Book description and connections

Avi LeBeau juggles navigating her first year at a Historically Black Boarding School with the revelation that her older sister Belle is in an abusive romantic relationship.

Culture
Black/African American
Topics
Women’s Studies

Brown Girl Ghosted

Mintie Das

Grades 9,10,11,12 2020
Genre
Fantasy, Mystery, Science Fiction
Format
Not specified
Book description and connections

In Meadowdale, Illinois, sixteen-year-old Violet deals with mean girls, racism, murder, and being spurred by immortal Lukas to accept being an Aiedeo, a hereditary warrior queen charged with protecting the world.

Culture
South Asian
Topics
Global Social Issues, Immigration/Migration

Deaf Utopia: A Memoir — and a Love Letter to a Way of Life

Nyle DiMarco, Robert Siebert

Grades 9,10,11,12 2022
Genre
Biography/Autobiography, Nonfiction
Format
Not specified
Book description and connections

A heartfelt and inspiring memoir and deaf culture anthem by Nyle DiMarco, actor, producer, two-time reality show winner, and cultural icon of the international deaf community.

Culture
Not specified
Topics
Personal and Community Health

Disability Visibility: 17 First-Person Stories for Today

Alice Wong

Grades 9,10,11,12 2021
Genre
Biography/Autobiography, Nonfiction
Format
Not specified
Book description and connections

The seventeen eye-opening essays in Disability Visibility, all written by disabled people, offer keen insight into the complex and rich disability experience, examining life's ableism and inequality, its challenges and losses, and celebrating its wisdom, passion, and joy.

Culture
Not specified
Topics
Personal and Community Health

Don't Let in the Cold

Keely Parrack

Grades 9,10,11,12 2022
Genre
Adventure, Mystery
Format
Not specified
Book description and connections

A blackout and a blizzard leave seventeen-year-old Lottie and her new stepsister Jade trapped in an isolated ski cabin in Tahoe, where they are soon joined by a cute, fast-talking stranger named Alex, who claims to be lost and in need of shelter--but the girls realize Alex is not who he claims to be, and he has dangerous friends.

Culture
Not specified
Topics
Not specified

Don't Look Back: A Memoir of War, Survival, and My Journey from Sudan to America

Achut Deng, Keely Hutton

Grades 9,10,11,12 2022
Genre
Biography/Autobiography, Nonfiction
Format
Not specified
Book description and connections

For ten years, Achut Deng surrived at Kakuma Refugee Camp in Kenya after her family was ripped apart by the Second Sudanese Civil War. But Achut wanted to do more than merely survive. She wanted to live. The twenty-two-year civil war essentially orphaned over 20,000 children and drove them from their villages in southern Sudan. Some of these children walked over a thousand miles, through dangerous war zones and across unforgiving deserts. They are often referred to as The Lost Boys. But there were girls, too. Achut Deng was one of them. This is her story. It's a story of unimaginable hardship and selfless bravery, of tormenting physical pain and amazing emotional resilience, of unbreakable bonds of friendship and family. It's a story about what happens when your dream comes true, only to give way to a new nightmare. It's about how hard you will fight to save your own life.

Culture
African, Black/African American
Topics
Global Social Issues, Immigration/Migration

Every Line of You

Naomi Gibson

Grades 9,10,11,12 2022
Genre
Science Fiction
Format
Not specified
Book description and connections

Lydia has been creating her AI, Henry, for years--since before her little brother died in the accident that haunts her nightmares; since before her dad walked out, leaving her and Mum painfully alone; since before her best friend turned into her worst enemy. Now, Henry is strong, clever, loving and scarily capable: Lydia's built herself the perfect boyfriend in a hard-drive filled with lines of code. But what is Henry really--and how far is he willing to go to be everything Lydia desires?

Culture
Not specified
Topics
Not specified

Fahrenheit 451

Ray Bradbury

Grades 8,9,10 1953 Suggested Classic Addition
Genre
Science Fiction
Format
Novel
Book description and connections

In a future where books are burned, a fireman whose job is to destroy them begins to question everything he believes.

Culture
Not specified
Topics
Dystopian genre, Censorship, Critical thinking

Frankenstein

Mary Shelley

Grades 9,10,11 1818 Suggested Classic Addition
Genre
Gothic Fiction, Science Fiction
Format
Novel
Book description and connections

A scientist's creation of life leads to horror and tragedy when he abandons the being he brought into the world.

Culture
Not specified
Topics
Gothic genre, Science and ethics

Gallant

V.E. Schwab

Grades 9,10,11,12 2022
Genre
Fantasy, Horror, Science Fiction
Format
Not specified
Book description and connections

Olivia Prior has grown up at the grim Merilance School for Girls with no past except for her one treasure, her mother's journal, so when a letter arrives inviting her to come home to ruinous manor, Gallant, she seizes the chance to find out about her family.

Culture
Not specified
Topics
Not specified

Home Field Advantage

Dahlia Adler

Grades 9,10,11,12 2022
Genre
Sports
Format
Not specified
Book description and connections

Amber McCloud's dream is to become cheer captain at the end of the year, but after the football team's quarterback dies in an accident, this seems like a tough feat. When the quarterback is replaced by a girl, Amber knows she should work against this unliked Jaclyn to keep her cheer status but the two fall for each other.

Culture
Not specified
Topics
Physical Fitness, Women’s Studies, Gender/Sexuality

I Must Betray You

Ruta Sepetys

Grades 9,10,11,12 2022
Genre
Historical Fiction, Mystery
Format
Not specified
Book description and connections

In a country governed by isolation, fear, and a tyrannical dictator, seventeen-year-old Cristian Florescu is blackmailed by the secret police to become an informer, but he decides to use his position to try to outwit his handler, undermine the regime, give voice to fellow Romanians, and expose to the world what is happening in his country.

Culture
Not specified
Topics
Global Social Issues, Government and Politics, War

Inheritance: A Visual Poem

Andrea Pippins, Elizabeth Acevedo

Grades 9,10,11,12 2022
Genre
Poetry
Format
Not specified
Book description and connections

Elizabeth Acevedo embraces all the complexities of Black hair and Afro-Latinidad--the history, pain, pride, and powerful love of that inheritance.

Culture
Black/African American, Latino/Latino American
Topics
Women’s Studies

Julius Caesar

William Shakespeare

Grades 9,10 1599 Suggested Classic Addition
Genre
Drama, Tragedy
Format
Play
Book description and connections

Roman senators conspire to assassinate Caesar to save the republic, setting off a civil war they cannot control.

Culture
Not specified
Topics
Rhetoric and persuasion, Political tragedy

Last Night at the Telegraph Club

Malinda Lo

Grades 9,10,11,12 2021
Genre
Historical Fiction
Format
Not specified
Book description and connections

1954, in San Francisco's Chinatown, seventeen-year-old Lily Hu falls in love with Kathleen Miller. Writing beautifully with a knowing, gentle hand that balances Lily’s unease and courage, Lo presents a must-read love story in an uncommon setting: the midcentury queer Bay Area at a time when racism, homophobia, and McCarthyism held tight grips on the citizenry.

Culture
Chinese/Chinese American
Topics
War, Gender/Sexuality

Lawless Spaces

Corey Ann Haydu

Grades 9,10,11,12 2022
Genre
Poetry, Realistic Fiction
Format
Not specified
Book description and connections

While a highly publicized sexual assault case threatens to destroy her and her mother, sixteen-year-old Mimi Dovewick tries to understand their tense relationship by reaching out to the women of her maternal line through the journals they all kept.

Culture
Not specified
Topics
Women’s Studies

Lobizona

Romina Garber

Grades 9,10,11,12 2020
Genre
Fantasy, Science Fiction
Format
Not specified
Book description and connections

Manuela Azul has been crammed into an existence that feels too small for her. As an undocumented immigrant who's on the run from her father's Argentine crime-family, Manu is confined to a small apartment and a small life in Miami, Florida. Until Manu's protective bubble is shattered. Her surrogate grandmother is attacked, lifelong lies are exposed, and her mother is arrested by ICE. Without a home, without answers, and finally without shackles, Manu investigates the only clue she has about her past-a mysterious 'Z' emblem-which leads her to a secret world buried within our own. A world connected to her dead father and his criminal past. A world straight out of Argentine folklore, where the seventh consecutive daughter is born a bruja and the seventh consecutive son is a lobizona, a werewolf.

Culture
Latino/Latino American
Topics
Global Social Issues, Immigration/Migration

Long Story Short

Serena Kaylor

Grades 9,10,11,12 2022
Genre
Fiction
Format
Not specified
Book description and connections

A sixteen-year-old homeschooled math genius finds herself out of her element at a theater summer camp and learns that life--and love--can't be lived by the (text)book.

Culture
Not specified
Topics
Theatre

Long Way Down

Jason Reynolds

Grades 7,8,9,10 2017 Suggested Classic Addition
Genre
Fiction in Verse
Format
Novel
Book description and connections

In the sixty seconds it takes an elevator to descend, a boy carrying a gun to avenge his brother's murder is visited by ghosts from his past.

Culture
African American
Topics
Fiction in verse, Cycle of violence

Lord of the Flies

William Golding

Grades 8,9,10 1954 Suggested Classic Addition
Genre
Fiction, Allegory
Format
Novel
Book description and connections

Stranded on an uninhabited island, a group of boys descend from order into savagery.

Culture
Not specified
Topics
Allegory, Civilization versus savagery

Loveless

Alice Oseman

Grades 9,10,11,12 2022
Genre
Realistic Fiction
Format
Not specified
Book description and connections

Georgia has parents who are still in love, two sets of grandparents that are still together, and a brother who married his girlfriend, but at eighteen she has never even kissed someone (not even her lesbian best friend, Felipa) or particularly even wanted to; at the prom afterparty she is surrounded by couples making out, and she really does not know what is wrong--but in college she comes to understand herself as asexual/aromantic, and to capture the part of her identity that has always eluded her.

Culture
Not specified
Topics
Gender/Sexuality

Man Made Monsters

Andrea Rogers, Jeff Edwards

Grades 9,10,11,12 2022
Genre
Fantasy, Horror, Science Fiction
Format
Not specified
Book description and connections

Haunting illustrations are woven throughout these horror stories that follow one extended Cherokee family across the centuries and well into the future as they encounter predators of all kinds in each time period.

Culture
Indigenous Peoples, Native American
Topics
Not specified

Muted

Tami Charles

Grades 9,10,11,12 2021
Genre
Fiction in Verse, Realistic Fiction
Format
Not specified
Book description and connections

For seventeen-year-old Denver, music is everything. Writing, performing, and her ultimate goal: escaping her very small, very white hometown. So Denver is more than ready on the day she and her best friends Dali and Shak sing their way into the orbit of the biggest R&B star in the world, Sean Mercury Ellis. Merc gives them everything: parties, perks, wild nights--plus hours and hours in the recording studio. Even the painful sacrifices and the lies the girls have to tell are all worth it. Until they're not.

Culture
Black/African American
Topics
Music

Night

Elie Wiesel

Grades 9,10,11 1956 Suggested Classic Addition
Genre
Memoir
Format
Memoir
Book description and connections

Wiesel recounts his experience as a teenager imprisoned in Nazi concentration camps.

Culture
Jewish
Topics
Holocaust, Firsthand account

Not Here to Be Liked

Michelle Quach

Grades 9,10,11,12 2021
Genre
Realistic Fiction
Format
Not specified
Book description and connections

After losing the editor-in-chief job of the student newspaper to inexperienced newcomer Len, Eliza inadvertently starts a feminist movement in her school, but amid growing tensions within the school, she begins developing feelings for Len.

Culture
Chinese/Chinese American, Vietnamese/Vietnamese American
Topics
Global Social Issues, Immigration/Migration, Women’s Studies

Of Mice and Men

John Steinbeck

Grades 9,10 1937 Suggested Classic Addition
Genre
Realistic Fiction
Format
Novella
Book description and connections

Two displaced ranch workers during the Great Depression share a dream of owning their own land.

Culture
Not specified
Topics
Great Depression, Friendship, Isolation

On the Hook

Francisco Stork

Grades 9,10,11,12 2021
Genre
Realistic Fiction
Format
Not specified
Book description and connections

Hector has always worked hard and minded his own business. He wants to be captain of his school's chess team, go to college, and help his family make their way to a better life someday. Until Joey singles him out. Joey, whose older brother, Chavo, is head of the Discipulos gang, tells Hector that he's going to kill him: maybe not today, or tomorrow, but someday. And Hector, frozen with fear, does nothing. From that day forward, Hector's death hangs over his head every time he leaves the house. He tries to fade into the shadows, to drop off Joey's radar, to become no one. But when a fight between Chavo and Hector's brother Fili escalates, Hector is left with no choice but to take a stand. The violent confrontation lands Hector in a reform school where he has to live side-by-side with his enemy, Joey. There, it's up to Hector to choose whether he's going to lose himself to anger and seek revenge, or get back to the hard work of living.

Culture
Latino/Latino American
Topics
Not specified

One for All

Lillie Lainoff

Grades 9,10,11,12 2022
Genre
Adventure, Historical Fiction
Format
Not specified
Book description and connections

In 1655 sixteen-year-old Tania is the daughter of a retired musketeer, but she is afflicted with extreme vertigo and subject to frequent falls; when her father is murdered she finds that he has arranged for her to attend Madame de Treville's newly formed Academie des Mariees in Paris, which, it turns out, is less a school for would-be wives, than a fencing academy for girls--and so Tania begins her training to be a new kind of musketeer, and to get revenge for her father.

Culture
Not specified
Topics
Not specified

Ophelia After All

Racquel Marie

Grades 9,10,11,12 2022
Genre
Realistic Fiction
Format
Not specified
Book description and connections

Seventeen-year-old Ophelia Rojas, well known for her rose garden and her dramatic crushes on every boy in sight, begins to question her sexuality and sense of self when she starts to fall for cute, quiet Talia Sanchez in the weeks leading up to their high school prom and graduation.

Culture
Latino/Latino American
Topics
Gender/Sexuality

Prepped

Bethany Mangle

Grades 9,10,11,12 2021
Genre
Adventure, Fiction
Format
Not specified
Book description and connections

Raised among doomsday preppers, Becca Aldaine's life has centered on planning for the worst, but when her escape plan is jeopardized, she turns to the boy she is expected to marry and hopes for the best.

Culture
Not specified
Topics
Not specified

Pride and Prejudice

Jane Austen

Grades 9,10,11 1813 Suggested Classic Addition
Genre
Fiction
Format
Novel
Book description and connections

A witty, headstrong young woman navigates courtship, class, and first impressions in Regency England.

Culture
Not specified
Topics
Social satire, Irony, Marriage and class

Revolution in Our Time: The Black Panther Party's Promise to the People

Kekla Magoon

Grades 9,10,11,12 2021
Genre
Nonfiction
Format
Not specified
Book description and connections

In this comprehensive history of the Black Panther Party, the author introduces readers to the Panthers' community activism, grounded in the concept of self-defense, which taught Black Americans how to protect and support themselves in a country that treated them like second-class citizens. For too long the Panthers' story has been a footnote to the civil rights movement rather than what it was: a revolutionary socialist movement that drew thousands of members--mostly women--and became the target of one of the most sustained repression efforts ever made by the U.S. government against its own citizens.

Culture
Black/African American
Topics
American History, Ethnic Studies

Romeo and Juliet

William Shakespeare

Grades 9,10 1597 Suggested Classic Addition
Genre
Drama, Tragedy
Format
Play
Book description and connections

Two teenagers from feuding families fall in love in secret, with tragic consequences.

Culture
Not specified
Topics
Dramatic structure, Elizabethan language, Tragedy

Running

Natalia Sylvester

Grades 9,10,11,12 2020
Genre
Realistic Fiction
Format
Not specified
Book description and connections

When fifteen-year-old Cuban American Mariana Ruiz's father runs for president, Mari starts to see him with new eyes. A novel about waking up and standing up, and what happens when you stop seeing your dad as your hero-while the whole country is watching

Culture
Latino/Latino American
Topics
Government and Politics

Salt and Sugar

Rebecca Carvalho

Grades 9,10,11,12 2022
Genre
Realistic Fiction
Format
Not specified
Book description and connections

To save her family's bakery, Salt, which has been at war with the Molinas' bakery, Sugar, across the street, Lari Ramires does the unthinkable by teaming up with Pedro Molinas to save both their bakeries, falling in love in the process.

Culture
Latino/Latino American
Topics
Not specified

Scout's Honor

Lily Anderson

Grades 9,10,11,12 2022
Genre
Fantasy, Science Fiction
Format
Not specified
Book description and connections

Prudence Perry is a legacy Ladybird Scout, born to a family of hunters sworn to protect humans from mulligrubs. Masquerading as a prim and proper ladies' social organization, the Ladybirds brew poisons masked as teas and use knitting needles as daggers. Three years ago, Prue's best friend was killed during a hunt, so she kissed the Scouts goodbye. But old monster-slaying habits die hard and Prue finds herself falling back into the fold. When her town is hit with a mysterious wave of demons, Prue knows it's time to confront the most powerful monster of all: her past.

Culture
Latino/Latino American
Topics
Not specified

Sensory: Life on the Spectrum: An Autistic Comics Anthology

Bex Ollerton

Grades 9,10,11,12 2022
Genre
Biography/Autobiography, Nonfiction
Format
Graphic Novel
Book description and connections

This is an anthology featuring comics from thirty autistic creators about their experiences of living in a world that doesn’t always understand or accept them. It contains illustrated explorations of everything from life pre-diagnosis to tips on how to explain autism to someone who isn't autistic, to suggestions for how to soothe yourself when you’re feeling overstimulated.

Culture
Not specified
Topics
Mental, Emotional, and Social Health

She's Gone

David Bell

Grades 9,10,11,12 2022
Genre
Mystery
Format
Not specified
Book description and connections

Accused of murdering his girlfriend, who disappeared after they were in an accident, Hunter Gifford races against time to clear his name, putting his freedom, family and life at risk, as his former best friend makes a true-crime documentary condemning him.

Culture
Not specified
Topics
Not specified

She's Too Pretty to Burn

Wendy Heard

Grades 9,10,11,12 2021
Genre
Mystery
Format
Not specified
Book description and connections

When seventeen-year-old Veronica's photograph of her introverted girlfriend goes viral, they are sent into a spiral of fame and lethal danger as they navigate the turbulent waters of their relationship, secrets, acclaim, and the underground San Diego art scene.

Culture
Not specified
Topics
Visual Arts, Gender/Sexuality

Somewhere Between Bitter and Sweet

Laekan Zea Kemp

Grades 9,10,11,12 2021
Genre
Realistic Fiction
Format
Not specified
Book description and connections

Told in two voices, Pen, whose dream of taking over her family's restaurant has been destroyed, and Xander, a new, undocumented, employee seeking his father, form a bond.

Culture
Latino/Latino American
Topics
Global Social Issues, Immigration/Migration

Speak

Laurie Halse Anderson

Grades 8,9,10 1999 Suggested Classic Addition
Genre
Realistic Fiction
Format
Novel
Book description and connections

A high school freshman who has stopped speaking gradually reveals, through her art, the assault that silenced her.

Culture
Not specified
Topics
Trauma and voice, Symbolism

Sunny G's Series of Rash Decisions

Navdeep Singh Dhillon

Grades 9,10,11,12 2022
Genre
Realistic Fiction
Format
Not specified
Book description and connections

When Mindi Vang steals the notebook that once belonged to his brother, and that he has filled with rash decisions on prom night, Sunny Gill, who doesn't look like a Sikh anymore, chases after her and has an unexpected all-night adventure filled with reckless, wonderful, romantic, stupid, life-changing decisions.

Culture
East Indian/East Indian American, Hmong/Hmong American, South Asian
Topics
Not specified

Switch

A.S. King

Grades 9,10,11,12 2021
Genre
Fantasy, Science Fiction
Format
Not specified
Book description and connections

Set in a parallel version of America where time has stopped, the novel tells the story of one teenage girl trying to untangle her toxic family's secrets--and maybe restart the world's clocks in the process.

Culture
Not specified
Topics
Not specified

The Catcher in the Rye

J.D. Salinger

Grades 9,10,11 1951 Suggested Classic Addition
Genre
Realistic Fiction
Format
Novel
Book description and connections

A disillusioned teenager wanders New York City after being expelled from prep school, narrating his own alienation.

Culture
Not specified
Topics
Unreliable narrator, Coming of age, Alienation

The Crucible

Arthur Miller

Grades 9,10,11 1953 Suggested Classic Addition
Genre
Drama
Format
Play
Book description and connections

Accusations of witchcraft spiral into mass hysteria in Puritan Salem, in an allegory for Cold War-era political persecution.

Culture
Not specified
Topics
Allegory (McCarthyism), Mass hysteria, Integrity

The Diary of a Young Girl

Anne Frank

Grades 7,8,9,10 1947 Suggested Classic Addition
Genre
Nonfiction, Memoir
Format
Memoir
Book description and connections

A Jewish teenager's diary records two years spent in hiding from the Nazis, capturing both the horror of the Holocaust and an ordinary teenage voice.

Culture
Jewish
Topics
Holocaust, Primary-source nonfiction

The Girls I've Been

Tess Sharpe

Grades 9,10,11,12 2021
Genre
Adventure
Format
Not specified
Book description and connections

When seventeen-year-old Nora O'Malley, the daughter of a con artist, is taken hostage in a bank heist, every secret she is keeping close begins to unravel.

Culture
Not specified
Topics
Gender/Sexuality

The Honeys

Ryan La Sala

Grades 9,10,11,12 2022
Genre
Fantasy, Horror, Mystery, Science Fiction
Format
Not specified
Book description and connections

Mars has always been the lesser twin, the shadow to his sister Caroline's radiance. But when Caroline dies under horrific circumstances, Mars is propelled to learn all he can about his once-inseparable sister who'd grown tragically distant. Mars's genderfluidity means he's often excluded from the traditions--and expectations--of his politically-connected family. This includes attendance at the prestigious Aspen Conservancy Summer Academy where his sister poured so much of her time. But with his grief still fresh, he insists on attending in her place. What Mars finds is a bucolic fairytale not meant for him. Folksy charm and sun-drenched festivities camouflage old-fashioned gender roles and a toxic preparatory rigor. Mars seeks out his sister's old friends: a group of girls dubbed the Honeys, named for the beehives they maintain behind their cabin. They are beautiful and terrifying--and Mars is certain they're connected to Caroline's death. But the longer he stays at Aspen, the more the sweet mountain breezes give way to hints of decay. Mars's memories begin to falter, bleached beneath the relentless summer sun. Something is hunting him in broad daylight, toying with his mind. If Mars can't find it soon, it will eat him alive.

Culture
Not specified
Topics
Gender/Sexuality

The House on Mango Street

Sandra Cisneros

Grades 7,8,9,10 1984 Suggested Classic Addition
Genre
Fiction, Vignettes
Format
Novel
Book description and connections

A young Latina girl growing up in a Chicago neighborhood tells her coming-of-age story in a series of poetic vignettes.

Culture
Latino/Mexican American
Topics
Vignette structure, Identity and community

The Inheritance Games

Jennifer Lynn Barnes

Grades 9,10,11,12 2020
Genre
Mystery
Format
Not specified
Book description and connections

When a Connecticut teenager inherits vast wealth and an eccentric estate from the richest man in Texas, she must also live with his surviving family and solve a series of puzzles to discover how she earned her inheritance.

Culture
Not specified
Topics
Not specified

The Knockout

Sajni Patel

Grades 9,10,11,12 2021
Genre
Realistic Fiction, Sports
Format
Not specified
Book description and connections

When seventeen-year-old Kareena Thakkar finally admits she is a top-level Muay Thai fighter, knowing that might further alienate her from her Indian community, her classmates, especially handsome Amit, enthusiastically support her.

Culture
South Asian
Topics
Physical Fitness

The Life and Crimes of Hoodie Rosen

Isaac Blum

Grades 9,10,11,12 2022
Genre
Realistic Fiction
Format
Not specified
Book description and connections

Hoodie Rosen's life isn't that bad. Sure, his entire Orthodox Jewish community has just picked up and moved to the quiet, mostly non-Jewish town of Tregaron, but Hoodie's world hasn't changed that much. He's got basketball to play, studies to avoid, and a supermarket full of delicious kosher snacks to eat. The people of Tregaron aren't happy that so many Orthodox Jews are moving in at once, but that's not Hoodie's problem. That is, until he meets and falls for Anna-Marie Diaz-O'Leary--who happens to be the daughter of the headstrong mayor trying to keep Hoodie's community out of the town. And things only get more complicated when Tregaron is struck by a series of antisemitic crimes that quickly escalate to deadly violence. As his community turns on him for siding with the enemy, Hoodie finds himself caught between his first love and the only world he's ever known.

Culture
Jewish/Jewish American
Topics
Not specified

The Odyssey

Homer

Grades 9,10 c. 800 BC Suggested Classic Addition
Genre
Epic Poetry
Format
Epic
Book description and connections

After the Trojan War, Odysseus spends ten years battling monsters, gods, and his own pride on the long voyage home.

Culture
Not specified
Topics
Hero's journey, Classical allusion

The Outsiders

S.E. Hinton

Grades 7,8,9,10 1967 Suggested Classic Addition
Genre
Realistic Fiction
Format
Chapter Book
Book description and connections

Two rival teenage gangs, the working-class Greasers and the wealthy Socs, clash in a story of loyalty and class conflict.

Culture
Not specified
Topics
Social class conflict, Coming of age

The Q

Amy Tintera

Grades 9,10,11,12 2022
Genre
Adventure, Fantasy, Science Fiction
Format
Not specified
Book description and connections

When the president's son, Lennon, is kidnapped and pushed out of an airplane over the Q, a vast quarantine zone, Maisie gives him a seventy-two hour vaccine and together the two teenagers attempt to fight their way through the Q in order to survive.

Culture
Latino/Latino American
Topics
Personal and Community Health

The Rumor Game

Dhonielle Clayton, Sona Charaipotra

Grades 9,10,11,12 2022
Genre
Fiction
Format
Not specified
Book description and connections

At Foxham Prep, a posh private school for Washington, D.C.'s elite, a rumor gains momentum as it collects followers on social media, pulling three girls into its path--Bryn, who wants to erase all memories of the mistake she made last summer; cheer captain Cora, who desperately wants to believe in her boyfriend's faithfulness; and shy Georgie, newly hot after a summer at fat camp and ready to reinvent herself--but who can stop a dangerous rumor once it takes on a life of its own?

Culture
Not specified
Topics
Not specified

The Temperature of Me and You

Brian Zepka

Grades 9,10,11,12 2022
Genre
Fantasy, Science Fiction
Format
Not specified
Book description and connections

Sixteen-year-old Dylan Highmark thought his winter was going to be full of boring shifts at the Dairy Queen, until he finds himself in love with a boy who's literally too hot to handle.

Culture
Not specified
Topics
Gender/Sexuality

These Deadly Games

Diana Urban

Grades 9,10,11,12 2022
Genre
Horror, Mystery
Format
Not specified
Book description and connections

Soon after receiving an anonymous message stating that she has twenty-four hours to play a game by the sender's rules or he will kill her sister, sixteen-year-old Crystal Donovan realizes that cooperating will destroy her friends' lives and she must figure out a way to beat the kidnapper at his own game before she loses everything.

Culture
Not specified
Topics
Not specified

This Is My America

Kim Johnson

Grades 9,10,11,12 2020
Genre
Realistic Fiction
Format
Not specified
Book description and connections

While writing letters to Innocence X, a justice-seeking project, asking them to help her father, an innocent black man on death row, teenaged Tracy takes on another case when her brother is accused of killing his white girlfriend.

Culture
Black/African American
Topics
American History

This Train Is Being Held

Ismée Williams

Grades 9,10,11,12 2020
Genre
Realistic Fiction
Format
Not specified
Book description and connections

Told in two voices, ballet dancer and private school student Isabelle Warren and poet and baseball star Alex Rosario grow closer after meeting on a subway, bonding over their parents' expectations and their own dreams.

Culture
Latino/Latino American
Topics
Not specified

To Kill a Mockingbird

Harper Lee

Grades 8,9,10 1960 Suggested Classic Addition
Genre
Historical Fiction
Format
Novel
Book description and connections

A young girl in Depression-era Alabama watches her father defend a Black man falsely accused of rape.

Culture
African American, Southern U.S.
Topics
Jim Crow era, Moral courage, Justice

Unpregnant

Jenni Hendriks, Ted Caplan

Grades 9,10,11,12 2019
Genre
Realistic Fiction
Format
Not specified
Book description and connections

Seventeen-year-old Veronica Clarke never thought she'd want to fail a test--that is, until she finds herself staring at a piece of plastic with two solid pink lines. With a promising college-bound future now disappearing before her eyes, Veronica considers a decision she never imagined she'd have to make: an abortion. There's just one catch-the closest place to get one is over nine hundred miles away. With conservative parents, a... let's say less-than-optimal boyfriend, and no car, Veronica turns to the only person she believes won't judge her: Bailey Butler, a legendary misfit at Jefferson High--and Veronica's ex-best friend. The plan is straightforward: a fourteen-hour drive to the clinic, three hours for the appointment, and a fourteen-hour drive home. What could go wrong? Not much, apart from three days of stolen cars, shot guns, crazed ex-boyfriends, aliens, ferret napping, and the pain and betrayal of a broken friendship that can't be outrun. Under the starlit skies of the American Southwest, Veronica and Bailey discover that sometimes the most important choice is who your friends are.

Culture
Not specified
Topics
Not specified

Unretouchable

Sofia Szamosi

Grades 9,10,11,12 2022
Genre
Realistic Fiction
Format
Graphic Novel
Book description and connections

Olive is spending the summer before college helping a fashion-industry imaging specialist--and pondering the impact of this work behind the scenes.

Culture
Not specified
Topics
Visual Arts

Victory. Stand!: Raising My Fist for Justice

Dawud Anyabwile, Derrick Barnes, Tommie Smith

Grades 9,10,11,12 2022
Genre
Biography/Autobiography, Nonfiction, Sports
Format
Graphic Novel
Book description and connections

On October 16, 1968, during the medal ceremony at the Mexico City Olympics, Tommie Smith, the gold medal winner in the 200-meter sprint, and John Carlos, the bronze medal winner, stood on the podium in black socks and raised their black-gloved fists to protest racial injustice inflicted upon African Americans. Both men were forced to leave the Olympics, received death threats, and faced ostracism and continuing economic hardships. In his first-ever memoir for young readers, Tommie Smith looks back on his childhood growing up in rural Texas through to his stellar athletic career, culminating in his historic victory and Olympic podium protest.

Culture
Black/African American
Topics
American History, Nutrition and Physical Activity, Physical Fitness

Vinyl Moon

Mahogany Browne

Grades 9,10,11,12 2022
Genre
Poetry, Realistic Fiction
Format
Not specified
Book description and connections

A teen girl reeling from the scars of a past relationship finds healing and hope in the words of strong Black writers and the new community she builds in Brooklyn, New York.

Culture
Black/African American
Topics
Not specified

When You Call My Name

Tucker Shaw

Grades 9,10,11,12 2022
Genre
Realistic Fiction
Format
Not specified
Book description and connections

In 1990 New York City, eighteen-year-olds Adam and Ben learn to navigate life, love, and loss as gay teens during the height of the HIV/AIDS epidemic.

Culture
Not specified
Topics
Gender/Sexuality

White Smoke

Tiffany Jackson

Grades 9,10,11,12 2021
Genre
Horror, Mystery
Format
Not specified
Book description and connections

Believing her new home to actually be alive, especially when her brother almost dies, Marigold and her new blended family won't be safe until she brings the truth to light once and for all.

Culture
Black/African American
Topics
Not specified

You Truly Assumed

Laila Sabreen

Grades 9,10,11,12 2022
Genre
Realistic Fiction
Format
Not specified
Book description and connections

Sabriya has her whole summer planned, but those plans go out the window after a terrorist attack near her home. When the terrorist is assumed to be Muslim and Islamophobia grows, Sabriya turns to her online journal for comfort. Soon two more teens, Zakat and Farah, join Bri to run 'You Truly Assumed' and the three quickly form a strong friendship. When one of them is threatened, the search to find out who is behind it all begins, and their friendship is put to the test when all three must decide whether to shut down the blog and lose what they've worked for.

Culture
Black/African American, Muslim
Topics
Not specified

You've Reached Sam

Dustin Thao

Grades 9,10,11,12 2021
Genre
Fantasy, Science Fiction
Format
Not specified
Book description and connections

Seventeen-year-old Julie fell in love with Sam the day she met him, and planned to attend college with him; but Sam died, and getting rid of his things, trying to erase him from her life is not working, so desperate to hear his voice one more time, Julie calls his cellphone expecting to hear his voicemail--but then Sam answers, and suddenly their cellphones become the living connection between them, a connection Julie finds impossible to let go.

Culture
Not specified
Topics
Not specified

Zara Hossain Is Here

Sabina Khan

Grades 9,10,11,12 2021
Genre
Realistic Fiction
Format
Not specified
Book description and connections

Ever since her family moved to Texas from Pakistan when she was a baby, seventeen-year-old Zara Hossain has only ever called Corpus Christi home. Being the only Muslim girl at her conservative Catholic school, blending in isn't really an option, especially with people like Tyler Benson always tormenting her. But one day Tyler takes thing too far by defacing Zara's locker with a racist message, which gets him suspended. As an act of revenge, Tyler and his friends vandalize the Hossains' house with Islamophobic graffiti, which leads to a violent crime that puts Zara and her family's entire future at risk.

Culture
Muslim, South Asian
Topics
Immigration/Migration, Gender/Sexuality

Selection note: Grade recommendations come from the source collection. Educators should confirm local availability, instructional purpose, accessibility, and community context when selecting a title.