Summer Reading
Welcome to the Minuteman Reads Summer Reading Program!
Minuteman High School actively supports the growth of reading skills that allow students to succeed academically and vocationally, as well as recognize the lifelong value of reading as a source of information, communication, and entertainment.
All incoming and enrolled Minuteman students are expected to participate in the "Minuteman Reads" Summer Reading Program.
Summer Reading Testing Days (optional)
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9th Grade Summer Reading
Requirements for incoming freshmen
Requirements for incoming freshmen are fairly simple: Read the assigned title; complete the three (3) assigned reading guides; use the assigned reading guides to take a computer- based test. The tests will be given in all English classes during the first week of school. Students wishing to take the test earlier may do so on one of two optional summer reading testing days (see calendar above). Students taking tests in the summer may retake tests in the fall for a higher grade if so desired. It is strongly recommended that students complete the three assigned reading guides before taking the summer reading tests, as they may be used during testing. Tests will be administered in the fall for those not taking tests in the summer.
Grading
Summer reading tests count as 15% of each student's Term 1 English grade. The three assigned reading guides will count as homework grades, while also aiding with teacher pre-assessments. We realize that questions on standardized testing can sometimes be tricky. With that in mind, in the "Minuteman Reads" program, students scoring a 70% or better on the computer-based tests will earn a 100% for their summer reading grades - that's right, 100%. Students scoring below 70% will earn the actual test grade for their summer reading grade. In addition, the book will be used to start the year as there will be companion reading pieces and a writing assignment centered around the title.
Required of All Freshman
- Read Buddha Boy, by Kathe Koja. Incoming freshmen received a loaner copy of this book at the Freshman Orientation. Please make arrangements to come to the main office if you did not receive yours.
- Click on the links below to download reading guides. Complete/print all three reading guides for submission to your English teacher on the first day of school.
- Take the Buddha Boy test on the summer Reading Counts test dates above or in your English class during the first week of school. Also, related writing assignments will be completed in your English class in September.
9th Grade Summer Reading Reference Handout
10th-12th Grade Summer Reading
At the heart of the "Minuteman Reads" program is an investment in the value of student choice. Students may choose from a 50+ page list of high interest titles representing a variety of genres and Lexile levels, or any non-movie choice book that has a Renaissance Accelerated Reader test. Some titles may be borrowed from the English Dept., from the school library, and/or local libraries. Students enrolled in Honors and/or Dual Enrollment classes have additional reading requirements.
Renaissance Accelerated Reader Book Finder
When using the Renaissance Accelerated Reader Book Finder to choose a book for summer reading, please keep all of the following in mind:
- The book must NOT have been made into a movie – a quick check of the title on IMDB.com will let you know.
- The book must have one of the following three codes for interest level (IL):
- MG+, or UG – students should feel free to choose any book with these codes, however, upperclassmen are strongly encouraged to read books with the code UG, which stands for Upper Grade.
- Students may NOT read any books with the code LG or MG which stands for Lower Grade or Middle Grade.
- The book must have the following quiz type code: RP
Grading
Sophomores, Juniors, and Seniors will take computer-based tests on their selected summer reading books. Summer reading assessments will count as 15% of each student's Term 1 English grade. We realize that questions on standardized testing can sometimes be tricky. With that in mind, in the "Minuteman Reads" program, students scoring a 70% or better on the computer-based tests will earn a 100% for their summer reading grades - that's right, 100%. Students scoring below 70% will earn the actual test grade for their summer reading grade.
Tests will be administered in English classes the first week of school. In addition, two optional summer reading testing days have been set aside for those wishing to take tests earlier: Thursday, July 18th & Thursday August 1st (8 a.m. till noon). Students taking tests in the summer may retake tests in the fall for a higher grade. We strongly recommend that students complete the Fiction and/or Non-Fiction Notes Sheets, as these may be used during the testing.
Reminder: Tests will be administered in the fall for those not taking tests in the summer.
Minuteman Reads Book List
Renaissance Accelerated Reader Bookfinder
Minuteman Reads Summer Reading List
One link below takes you to the 50+ page "Minuteman Reads" Summer Reading List. The list is broken down by books that can be borrowed from the English Dept., along with recent MASSACHUSETTS TEEN CHOICE BOOK AWARD NOMINEES and by genre, including titles, author names, Lexile, and a synopsis from Amazon.com.
Can’t find a book you want to read on the list? Find a title you want to read and check to see if there’s a test on Renaissance’s Accelerated Reader Book Finder (see link below) – make sure to avoid books made into movies, as movie titles are not eligible for summer reading and will not be available on test days. When searching with the Book Finder, look for the following:
- “AR Quiz Types: RP.” The code “RP” means the book has the appropriate test for summer reading. In addition, students are only allowed to read books with the following designations: “UG” for Upper Grade and “MG+” for Middle Grade Plus.
- It’s important for students to understand that they may NOT read books below these reading levels: “MG” or “LG” books will NOT count for summer reading.
Grade 10
Reading Requirements for all Sophomores
Read ANY book on the Minuteman Reads Summer Reading List 2024 or any book with a test on Renaissance Accelerated Reader Book Finder – see instructions/restrictions.
More books may be read off the list for extra credit.
Minuteman Reads Book List
Reading Requirements for Honors English Comp. 10
10th-12th Grade Summer Reading Reference Handout
Grade 11
Reading Requirements for all Juniors
Read ANY book on the Minuteman Reads Summer Reading List 2024 or any book with a test on Renaissance Accelerated Reader Book Finder – see instructions/restrictions.
More books may be read off the list for extra credit.
Minuteman Reads Book List
- Reading Requirements for Honors English Comp. 11
- Reading Requirements for Dual Enrollment, English Composition I
Reading Requirements for Honors English Comp. 11
Reading Requirements for Dual Enrollment, English Composition I
Reading Requirements for Juniors enrolled in Dual Enrollment, English Composition I
In addition to reading a book on the Minuteman Reads Summer Reading List, and reading Grendel, students enrolled in English Composition I must also complete the following:
Minuteman Reads Book List
10th-12th Grade Summer Reading Reference Handout
Select, read, and take notes on one winner of the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction from the last five years:Pulitizer prize winners by category An assessment on your chosen book will be given the first week of class. |
Grade 12
Reading Requirements for all Seniors
Read ANY book on the Minuteman Reads Summer Reading List 2024 or any book with a test on Renaissance Accelerated Reader Book Finder – see instructions/restrictions.
More books may be read off the list for extra credit.
Minuteman Reads Book List
- Reading Requirements for Honors Dramatic Literature
- Reading Requirements for Dual Enrollment, World Literature I
Reading Requirements for Honors Dramatic Literature
Reading Requirements for Dual Enrollment, World Literature I
Reading Requirements for Seniors enrolled in Dual Enrollment, World Literature I
In addition to reading a book on the Minuteman Reads Summer Reading List 2023, students enrolled in World Literature I must read the following title; Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe
A physical copy of this title was provided at the end of the school year. Please make arrangements to come to the main office if you did not receive yours. An assessment will be given the first week of school
Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe
10th-12th Grade Summer Reading Reference Handout
Extra Credit
Minuteman Reads Summer Reading List
Read as many books off the list as interest you.
For every additional book you read/pass a computer-based test on (in the summer or when we return to school in the fall) with a 70% or above you will earn 10 points of extra credit–there is a maximum of 120% that may be earned for summer reading.
Minuteman Reads Book List
Renaissance Accelerated Reader Bookfinder
Renaissance Accelerated Reader Book Finder
When using the Renaissance Accelerated Reader Book Finder to choose a book for summer reading, please keep all of the following in mind:
- The book must NOT have been made into a movie – a quick check of the title on IMDB.com will let you know.
- The book must have one of the following three codes for interest level (IL):
- MG+, or UG – students should feel free to choose any book with these codes, however, upperclassmen are strongly encouraged to read books with the code UG, which stands for Upper Grade.
- Students may NOT read any books with the code LG or MG which stands for Lower Grade or Middle Grade.
- The book must have the following quiz type code: RP
As you read, you may take notes using the Non-Fiction Biography Note Sheet, the Non-Fiction Subject Note Sheet, and/or the Fiction Note Sheet. These note sheets may be used on your summer reading tests.
Why is reading important?
