Eclectic Academy of Learning
Summer Reading List for
American I
Summer Reading is optional, but highly recommended.
Please note that all students who read at least 2 of the books listed (reading more than 2 is highly recommended, but 2 reports of 2 books are required for the party) and complete a report on EACH book using one of the approved forms (sent at a later time) will be able to participate in a pizza or ice cream sundae party on the 2nd day of class at the beginning of the year. Forms will be sent to all registered EAL students.
All of these books will greatly benefit the students in literary and historical understanding of our study of American literature and history for the upcoming year. These books will also be a great addition to your home library. However, many can be found at your local library.
EXPLORERS Grades K-3:
Katie’s Trunk by Turner
Thy Friend, Obadiah by Turkle
Obadiah, the Bold by Turkle
Rachel and Obadiah by Turkle
The Thanksgiving Story by Alice Dalgliesh
The Fourth of July Story by Alice Dalgliesh
Step Into Reading Books (2nd and 3rd graders may be able to read these themselves):
Ben Franklin and the Magic Squares
The First Thanksgiving
George Washington and the General’s Dog
Christopher Columbus
Thomas Jefferson’s Feast
A Picture Book of (by Adler):
George Washington
Thomas Jefferson
Ben Franklin
Betsy Ross by Wallner
Three Young Pilgrims by Harness
Middle Grades 4th-8th:
Phoebe the Spy by Griffin
Can’t You Make them Behave, King George? By Fritz
Where was Patrick Henry on the 29th of May? By Fritz
George Washington’s Breakfast by Fritz
Shh! We’re Writing the Constitution by Fritz
The Declaration of Independence by Fink
The Boston Tea Party by Freedman
They Called Her Molly Pitcher by Rockwell
What are Presidents Made Of? By Piven
D’Aulaire’s books:
Washington
Franklin
John, Paul, George, and Ben by Smith
The Hatmaker’s Sign Retold by Fleming
Yankee Doodle America by Minor
For Liberty by Decker
We the People by Cheney
We the People by Spier
Fever 1793
The Light in the Forest by Richter (suggested for 8th graders)
The Year of the Hangman by Blackwood (suggested for 8th graders)
Blood on the River-Jamestown by Carbone (7th and 8th graders)
Poison in the Colony-Jamestown by Carbone (7th and 8th graders)
HIGH SCHOOL Grades 9-12: (High schoolers are required to read 2 books this year since they are not that long.)
Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave (This is in the Norton Anthology the students will be reading this year. I highly recommend reading it over the summer to get a head start and because it is SO good! We read it the last 3 weeks of school and those weeks are usually very rushed, so it would be great to read it now.)
The Legend of Sleepy Hollow by Washington Irving
Moby Dick by Melville (You may read the condensed version.)
Any of the works of Jonathan Edwards (except “Sinners in the Hands of An Angry God”)
Billy Budd by Herman Melville
The Light in the Forest by Richter
The Year of the Hangman by Blackwood (a novel about the Revolutionary War)
The Seeds of America Trilogy: Chains; Forge; Ashes by Laurie Anderson (written from the slaves’ point of view)
Boston Jane: An Adventure by Holm (a trilogy)
SUGGESTED RESOURCE BOOKS FOR ALL GRADE LEVELS: (These books will also count for summer reading if a report is done.)
The Buck Stops Here-The Presidents of the United States by Provensen (highly recommended to learn all the Presidents with rhyme and beautiful art.)
The Picture History of Great Inventors by Clements (highly recommended for your library and for those interested in inventions and inventors.)