Summer Reading 2023
Welcome to the Minuteman Reads Summer Reading Program!
Minuteman High School actively supports the growth of reading skills that will allow students to succeed academically and vocationally, as well as recognize the lifelong value of reading as a source of information, communication and entertainment. To this end, all incoming and enrolled Minuteman students participate in the "Minuteman Reads" summer reading program.
Summer Reading Testing Days (optional)
9th Grade Summer Reading
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: Wednesday, July 19th and Wednesday, August 2nd, both from 8 a.m. till noon. 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 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.
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: Wednesday, July 19th & Wednesday, August 2nd (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 Summer Reading List 2023
The 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 MASSACHUSETTS TEEN CHOICE BOOK AWARD NOMINEES for 2023/2022 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.
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, MG+, or UG – students should feel free to choose any book with thesecodes, however, upperclassmen are strongly encouraged to read books withthe code UG, which stands for Upper Grade. Students may NOT read anybooks with the code LG, which stands for Lower Grade.
- The book must have the following quiz type code: RP
GRADE 10
Reading Requirements for all Sophomores
Read any book on the Minuteman Reads Summer Reading List 2023 or any book with a test on Renaissance Accelerated Reader Book Finder. More books may be read off the list for extra credit.
Reading Requirements for Sophomores enrolled in Honors
In addition to the above, students enrolled in Honors must read the following title:
Read Earth Abides, by George R. Stewart
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Tests will be given on both books. More books may be read off of the list for extra credit. Loaner copies of Earth Abides will be provided by the English Department. |
GRADE 11
Reading Requirements for all Juniors
Read any book on the Minuteman Reads Summer Reading List 2023 or any book with a test on Renaissance Accelerated Reader Book Finder. More books may be read off the list for extra credit.
Reading Requirements for Juniors enrolled in Honors English Comp. 11
In addition to the above, students enrolled in Honors English Comp. 11 must read the following title:
Grendel by John Gardner
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Tests will be given on both books. More books may be read off of the list for extra credit. Loaner copies of Grendel will be provided by the English Department. |
Reading Requirements for Juniors enrolled in Dual Enrollment, English Composition I
In addition to reading a book on the Minuteman Reads Summer Reading List 2023, and reading Grendel, students enrolled in English Composition I must also complete the following:
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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 2023 or any book with a test on Renaissance Accelerated Reader Book Finder. More books may be read off the list for extra credit.
Reading Requirements for Seniors enrolled in Honors Dramatic Literature
In addition to reading a book on Minuteman Reads Summer Reading List 2023, students enrolled in Honors Dramatic Literature must read the following titles:
Prometheus Bound by Joseph Fisher
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A copy of this title was provided at the end of the school year. Email Mr. Donovan if you did not receive yours. |
“A Story of Prometheus”
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A copy of this title was provided at the end of the school year. Email Mr. Donovan if you did not receive yours. |
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
10th-12th Grade Summer Reading Reference Handout
Extra Credit
Clicking on the following link to see the Minuteman Reads 2023 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 summer reading list
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.
Click on the links below to download each organizer
Why is reading important?
