All Souls by Michael Patrick MacDonald
All Souls offers a first hand account of the events of a young boy’s life while growing up in “Southie”, a neighborhood in Boston. This autobiography tells the story of MacDonald’s childhood: living with  nine siblings, as well as facing the drugs, violence and hardships that existed all around him. Student Sarah Finnegan, who chose this book for her summer reading assignment, remarks that this story was “great” and “opened my eyes to a whole other lifestyle.” Finnegan said the most important things she took away from the book as a reader was to “never take advantage of others and always help those who are in need.”

Hellhound on His Trail  by Hampton Sides
Hellhound on His Trail is a nonfiction account about the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. and the hunt for his assassin, James Earl Ray. Told from several points of view, the account offers an in-depth look at all parties involved in this historic event. Both thrilling and informative, Hellhound on His Trail is unlike any other book about American history. Junior Lizzy Doherty, who chose Hellhound for her summer reading, said that the book started off slow but got more and more interesting because “it was such a unique way to tell nonfiction.” Doherty claims that by reading the account she “learned more about MLK than I ever knew before.”

The Help by Kathryn Stockett
The Help is a novel about a young woman who writes a story from the point of view of the “Help”, or the black women working for whites, in 1960’s Alabama. Told from the points of view of three different women, The Help offers perspectives  on an unique time period in America. Junior Zoe Ryan,  chose to read The Help for her summer reading assignment said that she “loved it, ” and “flew through the pages.” Ryan said that the stories of all the great characters make The Help a very fast paced read and open the eyes of readers to the extreme racism that was present so recently in America. Ryan said “it really makes you wonder how much better America has actually gotten.”