Hi there!
This is the 2021 Westinghouse Campus Library Reading Guide. Please use the tabs at the top to navigate, but keep in mind, the grade bands are just a suggestion; reading "level" is about the same, but mature content does change with age. You should feel free to browse and read books from any list! (You can also check out the 2019 list here and the 2020 list here; there are no repeats from previous years, so they are definitely great for more options.) This year ALL books selected will be available on the Sora e-reading app and clicking the image link will take you to the book on Sora if you are signed in. All links will be for e-books unless otherwise noted. In many cases, audiobooks are also available, and are noted at the bottom of the description on Sora. See the READ ON SORA tab for more details. As always, I'll post a few of my favorite books below.
I'd love to hear what you're reading! Find me on Instagram, Twitter, Goodreads, or email me and please say hi!
Happy reading,
RC
And because I could not have said it better if I tried, a quote from Kylene Beers on a young person's choice (summer) reading:
"I hope your students will enjoy summer reading. I hope they will have the experience of losing themselves in a book and at the same time, I hope they will find themselves in a book. I hope they finish a book they loved with more understanding of themselves, the people around them, and their world. I hope they discover that in opening up a book, they are opening themselves up to more: more experiences, more knowledge, more empathy, more what ifs and more could be’s."
I read a lot of books, but mostly, I read a lot of reviews! Here are some of my favorite places to look:
*indicates publication with age range suggestions
This year's theme for summer reading at Brooklyn Public Library is READ WHAT YOU LOVE, LOVE WHAT YOUR READ. More information, including booklists and events for summer reading from the Brooklyn Public Library can be found HERE.
More info to come!
A big THANK YOU to the following librarians who helped with the 2021 list: Marie Southwell and Migdalia Caraballo
Reading books should NOT cost money! While this LibGuide serves as a BEST OF book recommendation guide, we also want to make sure that these books are easily accessible for all of our readers. Please use the resources on this page to help you find the books you want. And as always, please don't hesitate to reach out to your librarian.
Sora is the NYCDOE-approved student reading app that provides access to our school collection, our district collection, and the public library collections (currently, you can add Queens Public Library without a library card, but Brooklyn Public Library and NYPL require a card number). In addition to browsing all of the collections, Sora is also an e-reader app. Read & listen to all your books in one place! More info about Sora is available at discoversora.com/nyc!
Tips & Tricks:
Add the public library collections to your Sora account! The NYCDOE Sora collection is over 100,000 ebooks and audiobooks, but adding your public library card gets you access to even more books! Did you know that as a NYC resident, you can apply for all three NYC library branches? Apply for a library card online (if yours is expired or lost, contact the library, or apply for a new card). There are NO FINES or fees associated with e-content from the public library systems.
Sign in with our library credentials to access the Comics PLUS database of comics and graphic novels. Available through August, 2021. Here is a great set of instructions and TOP TEN books from the librarian at MS51.
Get two free downloads each week from AudiobookSYNC! Once you download them, you can listen whenever you wish - they are yours, pretty much forever! Register online here, then download the SORA app to read.
**Full instructions for using AudiobookSYNC can be found here.**
These are new and recent suggestions for 6th grade reading based on my own reading as well as research and reviews. Please note: Grade levels are just suggestive; all books should be chosen according to student interest. These books are appropriate for all students grades 5+. For more options, check out the 2019 list and the 2020 list.
**CLICK on the cover image to be linked to the book on the Sora reading app (login with NYCDOE username & password) & see the book description**
All links are for e-books; however, in many cases the audiobook will also be available and is noted at the bottom of the description on Sora.
These are new and recent suggestions for 7th grade reading based on my own reading as well as research and reviews. Please note: Grade levels are just suggestive; all books should be chosen according to student interest. These books are appropriate for all students grades 6+. For more options, check out the 2019 list and the 2020 list.
**CLICK on the cover image to be linked to the book on the Sora reading app (login with NYCDOE username & password) & see the book description**
All links are for e-books; however, in many cases the audiobook will also be available and is noted at the bottom of the description on Sora.
These are new and recent suggestions for 8th grade reading based on my own reading as well as research and reviews. Please note: Grade levels are just suggestive; all books should be chosen according to student interest. Books on this reading list may contain more mature topics than those on the younger reading lists. For more options, check out the 2019 list and the 2020 list.
**CLICK on the cover image to be linked to the book on the Sora reading app (login with NYCDOE username & password) & see the book description**
All links are for e-books; however, in many cases the audiobook will also be available and is noted at the bottom of the description on Sora.
These are new and recent suggestions for 9th and 10th grade reading based on my own reading as well as research and reviews. Please note: Grade levels are just suggestive; all books should be chosen according to student interest. Books on this reading list may contain more mature topics than those on the younger reading lists. For more options, check out the 2019 list and the 2020 list.
**CLICK on the cover image to be linked to the book on the Sora reading app (login with NYCDOE username & password) & see the book description**
All links are for e-books; however, in many cases the audiobook will also be available and is noted at the bottom of the description on Sora.
These are new and recent suggestions for 11th and 12th grade reading based on my own reading as well as research and reviews. Please note: Grade levels are just suggestive; all books should be chosen according to student interest. Books on this reading list may contain more mature topics than those on the younger reading lists. For more options, check out the 2019 list and the 2020 list.
**CLICK on the cover image to be linked to the book on the Sora reading app (login with NYCDOE username & password) & see the book description**
All links are for e-books; however, in many cases the audiobook will also be available and is noted at the bottom of the description on Sora.
Adults love to read, too! These are my top picks for adults as well as suggestions for reading to prepare students for college and/or AP courses. For more options, check out the 2020 list.
**CLICK on the cover image to be linked to the book on the Sora reading app (login with NYCDOE username & password) -- not available for all adult suggestions, but they should are available from the public library**
Hi! I'm here to help!