Summer reading lists available
Visit usn.org/reading to view the lists of suggested books for rising grades 5-12 and AP courses.
By Freya Sachs '00, HS English Teacher & Department Chair
Back
You can imagine, each spring, the English Department gathered, starting our conversation about summer reading, and the many books we are excited about, that we think our students might also enjoy. Each year, we come up with ideas based on our own reading lives; ask students for input of their favorite, recent reads; get great suggestions from our librarians. We work to come up with wide ranging lists of texts, hoping each student can find books they will enjoy. There are so many books we love, or that our students might love, that can’t fit in the confines of the academic calendar — so, here they are, just waiting for you this summer. Research shows, after all, that the best way to grow as learners is to grow as active, engaged, consistent readers.
So, why do we ask students to do this summer reading thing at all? The response, of its necessity and importance, was evident. We believe that reading is the key to growth — as humans, learners, citizens. Our department has worked, and will continue to work, to create reading lists that allow each student to not only see characters like themselves, but also to find moments and texts that enable them to read with empathy and discover experiences of others; we strive to have a range of texts in terms of subject, challenge, and interest; we want summer reading to be enjoyable, interesting, fun.
This year students have been at the center of our summer reading process, in a new way: last summer, Oscar Fox ’21, Student Council President at the time, came to me with an idea for an all school read. Since, he and his peers have led a robust process from the why to the what to the how, and High School summer reading now includes this student lead endeavor. Additionally, the English department, when putting out a call for ideas for the General Lists for High School students, asked for students to share their ideas and suggestions, and we are so glad to have the opportunity to include many of their ideas.
So, consider this an invitation to take a break from our moment and enter another, to find experiences that help us understand our own, that deepen our understanding of the world we inhabit — or of another, imagined, world entirely. If you need help finding books you might enjoy, ask your teacher, our librarians, friends — and look for opportunities to share what we are reading, what inspires us, on the horizon.
Happy reading!
More USN News
List of 3 news stories.
-
Divisions come together in exciting printmaking lesson
During a fun cross-division collaboration, students in Third Grade Teacher Cala Millis' class visited HS Art Teacher Chris Cheney's class to learn about printmaking and the inner workings of a USN art studio.Read More -
Grab Music Night tickets February 27
Rodney Crowell, legendary artist and grandfather to USN student Iris ‘26, will perform on Saturday, April 11, for Music Night, our annual adult-only concert in Durnan Auditorium. Tickets will be available soon for this fundraiser, which supports the arts and athletics at USN.Read More -
USN captures Ethics Bowl Championship
For the third year in a row, USN has won the Tennessee Regional Ethics Bowl Championship. Congratulations to Coco Shepard ’27, Alice Littlehale ’26, Alice Cramer ’28, Caroline Stinner ’27, Z Aulino ’26, and Kostas Rokas ’29 for this accomplishment.Read More
Contact
Edgehill Campus
2000 Edgehill Ave.
Nashville, TN 37212
Phone: 615-321-8000
Fax: 615-321-0889
Email: info@usn.org
River Campus
1200 County Hospital Road
Nashville, TN 37218
2000 Edgehill Ave.
Nashville, TN 37212
Phone: 615-321-8000
Fax: 615-321-0889
Email: info@usn.org
River Campus
1200 County Hospital Road
Nashville, TN 37218
USN Mission:
University School of Nashville models the best educational practices. In an environment that represents the cultural and ethnic composition of Metropolitan Nashville, USN fosters each student’s intellectual, artistic, and athletic potential, valuing and inspiring integrity, creative expression, a love of learning, and the pursuit of excellence.
University School of Nashville models the best educational practices. In an environment that represents the cultural and ethnic composition of Metropolitan Nashville, USN fosters each student’s intellectual, artistic, and athletic potential, valuing and inspiring integrity, creative expression, a love of learning, and the pursuit of excellence.