2024-2025 SUMMER READING LIST PDF Free Download
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2024-2025 SUMMER READING LIST
SARA YEAGER, DEAN OF ACADEMICS & FACULTY
860-386-4428 | SYEAGER@SUFFIELDACADEMY.ORG
185 NORTH MAIN STREET SUFFIELD, CONNECTICUT 06078
SUFFIELDACADEMY.ORG/ACADEMICS
ONE REQUIRED FOR ALL GRADES
A Deadly Education | Naomi Novik
Set in a boarding school with no adults, where you study magic and alchemy and enchantment by brutal lessons, where only 25%
of the students survive, it’s a surprisingly warmhearted story of a young woman trying to find friends, allies, and a path to surviving
until graduation.
Before the Coffee Gets Cold | Toshikazu Kawaguchi
In a small back alley of Tokyo, there is a café that has been serving carefully brewed coffee for more than one hundred years. Local legend
says that this shop offers something else besides coffee—the chance to travel back in time. Over the course of one summer, four customers
visit the café in the hopes of making that journey. But time travel isn’t so simple, and there are rules that must be followed. Most important,
the trip can last only as long as it takes for the coffee to get cold. Heartwarming, wistful, mysterious and delightfully quirky, Toshikazu
Kawaguchi’s internationally bestselling novel explores the age-old question: What would you change if you could travel back in time?
Can’t Hurt Me | David Goggins
[New York Times Best Seller Over 5 million copies sold] For David Goggins, childhood was a nightmare—poverty, prejudice, and physical
abuse colored his days and haunted his nights. But through self-discipline, mental toughness, and hard work, Goggins transformed himself
from a depressed, overweight young man with no future into a U.S. Armed Forces icon and one of the world’s top endurance athletes. The
only man in history to complete elite training as a Navy SEAL, Army Ranger, and Air Force Tactical Air Controller, he went on to set records
in numerous endurance events, inspiring Outside magazine to name him “The Fittest [Real] Man in America.” In Can’t Hurt Me, he shares
his astonishing life story and reveals that most of us tap into only 40% of our capabilities. Goggins calls this The 40% Rule, and his story
illuminates a path that anyone can follow to push past pain, demolish fear, and reach their full potential.
Carrie Soto is Back | Taylor Jenkins Reed
Carrie Soto was once the best tennis player in the world. Six years after retirement, she watches her record for number of Grand Slam titles
be overtaken. At thirty-seven years old, she decides to come out of retirement to reclaim her title, and she will stop at nothing to do so.
Chasing Shadows: My Life Tracking the Great White Shark | Greg Skomal
Dr. Skomal is a shark biologist based on Cape Cod, he is at the forefront of shark tagging and the lead scientist researching the return of
Great Whites to Cape Cod over the last 12 years. This book covers his research to understand and demystify this animal along with his
struggle to balance conservation and the panic of public opinion.
The Summer Reading Program at Suffield Academy reflects several important aims. Most importantly, we want to encourage
our students to read outside of the classroom and beyond the school year. Students should annotate their books as they read
and expect to discuss selections during the first few weeks of the fall term. At a minimum, each student should choose one
book from the reading list. However, students are encouraged to read throughout the summer and choose to read more than
one book.
2024-2025 SUMMER READING LIST » CONTINUED
Crying at H Mart | Michelle Zauner
This debut memoir by musician Michelle Zauner chronicles her complex relationship with her mother. With humor and heart, she tells
of growing up one of the few Asian American kids at her school in Eugene, Oregon; of struggling with her mother’s particular, high
expectations of her; of a painful adolescence; of treasured months spent in her grandmother’s tiny apartment in Seoul, where she and her
mother would bond, late at night, over heaping plates of food. As she grew up, moving to the East Coast for college, finding work in the
restaurant industry, and performing gigs with her fledgling band–and meeting the man who would become her husband–her Koreanness
began to feel ever more distant, even as she found the life she wanted to live. It was her mother’s diagnosis of terminal cancer, when
Michelle was twenty-five, that forced a reckoning with her identity and brought her to reclaim the gifts of taste, language, and history her
mother had given her.
Demon Haunted World | Carl Sagan
A celebrated astronomer and science communicator guides you through a labyrinth of pseudoscience and superstition. With eloquence
and clarity, Sagan champions the power of skepticism and critical thinking, revealing the wonders of the scientific method. This compelling
exploration not only exposes the dangers of unreason but also celebrates the profound beauty of the cosmos as seen through the lens of
science. An essential read for anyone yearning to discern the real from the fantastical and to understand the true nature of our world.
Endurance | Alfred Lansing
In August 1914, polar explorer Ernest Shackleton boarded the Endurance and set sail for Antarctica, where he planned to cross the last
uncharted continent on foot. In January 1915, after battling its way through a thousand miles of pack ice and only a day’s sail short of its
destination, the Endurance became locked in an island of ice. Thus began the legendary ordeal of Shackleton and his crew of twenty-seven
men. When their ship was finally crushed between two ice floes, they attempted a near-impossible journey over 850 miles of the South
Atlantic’s heaviest seas to the closest outpost of civilization. In Endurance, the definitive account of Ernest Shackleton’s fateful trip, Alfred
Lansing brilliantly narrates the harrowing and miraculous voyage that has defined heroism for the modern age.
Gods of Jade and Shadow | Silvia Moreno-Garcia
The Mayan god of death sends a young woman on a harrowing, life-changing journey in this one-of-a-kind fairy tale inspired by Mexican
folklore. The Jazz Age is in full swing, but Casiopea Tun is too busy cleaning the floors of her wealthy grandfather’s house to listen to any
fast tunes. Nevertheless, she dreams of a life far from her dusty small town in southern Mexico. A life she can call her own. Yet this new
life seems as distant as the stars, until the day she finds a curious wooden box in her grandfather’s room. She opens it—and accidentally
frees the spirit of the Mayan god of death, who requests her help in recovering his throne from his treacherous brother. Failure will mean
Casiopea’s demise, but success could make her dreams come true. In the company of the strangely alluring god and armed with her wits,
Casiopea begins an adventure that will take her on a cross-country odyssey from the jungles of Yucatán to the bright lights of Mexico City—
and deep into the darkness of the Mayan underworld.
Hidden Potential | Adam Grant
Do you want to know what it takes to improve and succeed? Do you want to achieve new levels of mastery? Adam Grant, the #1 New
York Times bestselling author of Think Again and award-winning TED Talks presenter, has helped many appreciate the steps required
to find meaning and motivation in their daily lives. In his latest work, enjoy reading how Steph Curry and others built character skills and
motivational structures to realize their potential. This book shows through science and compelling narratives that anyone can “rise to
achieve greater” goals. This book will inspire you to dream bigger.
Homegoing | Yaa Gyasi
Ghana, eighteenth century: two half sisters are born into different villages, each unaware of the other. One will marry an Englishman
and lead a life of comfort in the palatial rooms of the Cape Coast Castle. The other will be captured in a raid on her village, imprisoned
in the very same castle, and sold into slavery. Homegoing follows the parallel paths of these sisters and their descendants through eight
generations: from the Gold Coast to the plantations of Mississippi, from the American Civil War to Jazz Age Harlem. Yaa Gyasi’s
extraordinary novel illuminates slavery’s troubled legacy both for those who were taken and those who stayed—and shows how the memory
of captivity has been inscribed on the soul of our nation.
2024-2025 SUMMER READING LIST » CONTINUED
In Other Words | Jhumpa Lahiri
In Other Words is a memoir about her experience learning Italian as an adult. Originally written in Italian and translated by Ann Goldstein,
the book details the challenges and joys of mastering a new language. Lahiri shares how this journey has helped her navigate her identity,
caught between her American upbringing and Bengali heritage. She explores the difficulties of learning a new language, such as grappling
with new grammar and achieving fluency. At the same time, she finds joy in discovering new words and perspectives. Lahiri’s dedication to
Italian allows her to create a new sense of self, apart from her cultural backgrounds. The memoir reveals Lahiri’s personal struggles and her
strong passion for language.
It’s Not Hysteria | Karen Tang
Did you know that up to 90% of women experience menstrual abnormalities or pelvic issues in their lifetime? Yet these conditions are
overwhelmingly misunderstood, misdiagnosed, or dismissed. The root causes for these issues, such as PCOS, endometriosis, fibroids,
ovarian cysts, PMDD, or pelvic floor dysfunction, don’t receive the stream of funding for research and new treatments that other conditions
do, despite affecting up to half the population. Dr. Karen Tang is on a mission to transform how we engage with our bodies and our
healthcare. It’s Not Hysteria is a comprehensive guide to common conditions and potential treatment options, with practical tools such
as symptom prompts and sample questions for your provider, to equip readers to take control of their gynecologic health. Reproductive
healthcare, from abortion to gender-affirming care, is under siege. he onus continues to fall on patients to find and advocate for the care
they need. In the face of uncertainty and misinformation, It’s Not Hysteria is destined to become a new classic that educates and empowers
women and those assigned female at birth.
Mind Gym: An Athletes Guide to Inner Excellence | Gary Mack
I have read this book a few times, as both a competitive athlete and as a coach. It has helped me in both pursuits. Gary Mack, noted sports
psychology consultant to professional athletes and teams, explains how one’s mind influences one’s performance on the field, on the court,
at work, and in the classroom as much as one’s physical skill does, perhaps more so. Through several accessible lessons and inspirational
anecdotes from prominent athletes--many of whom Mr. Mack has worked with—the reader learns the techniques and exercises Mr. Mack
uses to help elite athletes deal with pressure, anxiety, fear, and other common mental obstacles preventing one’ peak performance.
Everyone can learn something from this short, enlightening read.
Remarkably Bright Creatures | Shelby Van Pelt
After Tova Sullivan’s husband died, she began working the night shift at the Sowell Bay Aquarium. Keeping busy has always helped her
cope, which she’s been doing since her eighteen-year-old son, Erik, mysteriously vanished over thirty years ago. At the aquarium, Tova
becomes acquainted with curmudgeonly Marcellus, a giant Pacific octopus living at the aquarium. Marcellus knows more than anyone
can imagine but wouldn’t dream of lifting one of his eight arms for his human captors—until he forms a remarkable friendship with Tova.
Ever the detective, Marcellus deduces what happened the night Tova’s son disappeared. And now Marcellus must use every trick his old
invertebrate body can muster to unearth the truth for her before it’s too late.
The Kite Runner | Khaled Hosseini
The Kite Runner tells the poignant story of Amir, a young boy from a wealthy family in Kabul, and his complex relationship with Hassan,
his loyal servant and friend. Set against the backdrop of a turbulent Afghanistan, the narrative weaves themes of friendship, betrayal,
and redemption. As Amir grows up, he grapples with his past mistakes and the haunting memories of his betrayal of Hassan. The novel
eloquently portrays Amir’s journey to seek forgiveness and make amends, ultimately offering a powerful exploration of the bonds of
loyalty, the impact of personal and political upheaval, and the possibility of redemption.
The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat and Other Clinical Tales | Oliver Sacks
Sacks presents a collection of anecdotes from his years as a neurologist that explores the memorable ways in which a mind can interpret the
world when medical factors interfere with the processes of perception. Sacks writes with both humor and compassion, and ultimately raises
questions about how modern humans live in, and relate to, the world at large.
2024-2025 SUMMER READING LIST » CONTINUED
The People We Keep | Allison Larkin
Little River, New York, 1994: April Sawicki is living in a motorless motorhome that her father won in a poker game. Failing out of school,
picking up shifts at a local diner, she’s left fending for herself in a town where she’s never quite felt at home. When she “borrows” her
neighbor’s car to perform at an open mic night, she realizes her life could be much bigger than where she came from. After a fight with her
dad, April packs her stuff and leaves for good, setting off on a journey to find a life that’s all hers. Driving without a chosen destination, she
stops to rest in Ithaca. Her only plan is to survive, but as she looks for work, she finds a kindred sense of belonging at Cafe Decadence, the
local coffee shop. Still, somehow, it doesn’t make sense to her that life could be this easy. The more she falls in love with her friends in Ithaca,
the more she can’t shake the feeling that she’ll hurt them the way she’s been hurt. As April moves through the world, meeting people who
feel like home, she chronicles her life in the songs she writes and discovers that where she came from doesn’t dictate who she has to be.
The Photography Storytelling Workshop: A five-step guide to creating unforgettable photographs | Finn Beales
“Don’t just take a picture, make photos that move people.” This summer read will guide and challenge you to explore how to take more
captivating and engaging photographs. Considering how to tell a story through your imagery and pull an audience into your imagination
beyond an Instagram feed. Consider how your lens can be your voice. Read this book and elevate your photography skills to the next level
alongside of Mrs. Graham, Suffield Academy’s photography teacher. When we return from summer, we can share and discuss our own
journeys as photographers and share the work we created through the guidance of this reading.
The Right Stuff | Tom Wolfe
Millions of words have poured forth about man’s trip to the moon, but until now few people have had a sense of the most engrossing side of
the adventure; namely, what went on in the minds of the astronauts themselves - in space, on the moon, and even during certain odysseys
on earth. It is this, the inner life of the astronauts, that Tom Wolfe describes with his almost uncanny empathetic powers, that made The
Right Stuff a classic.
The Rise of Super Man: Decoding the Science of Ultimate Human Performance | Steven Kotler
[Wall Street Journal bestseller] In this groundbreaking book, New York Times bestselling author Steven Kotler decodes the mystery of ultimate
human performance. Drawing on over a decade of research and first-hand reporting with dozens of top action and adventure sports
athletes like big wave legend Laird Hamilton, big mountain snowboarder Jeremy Jones, and skateboarding pioneer Danny Way, Kotler
explores the frontier science of “flow,” an optimal state of consciousness in which we perform and feel our best. Building a bridge between
the extreme and the mainstream, The Rise of Superman explains how these athletes are using flow to do the impossible and how we can use
this information to radically accelerate performance in our own lives. At its core, this is a book about profound possibility; about what is
actually possible for our species; about where—if anywhere—our limits lie.
The Women | Kristin Hannah
This book examines the role of women during the turbulent times of the Vietnam War and its aftermath. It explores what is means to show
emotion, to be strong, to love, to ask for help, and have your back covered by your women family. This is a work of historical fiction as the
author interviewed many people involved in the war and their experiences in Vietnam and at home when the war was over.
They Both Die at the End | Adam Silvera
On September 5, a little after midnight, Death-Cast calls Mateo Torrez and Rufus Emeterio to give them some bad news: they’re going
to die today. Mateo and Rufus are total strangers, but, for different reasons, they’re both looking to make a new friend on their End Day.
The good news: There’s an app for that. It’s called the Last Friend, and through it, Rufus and Mateo are about to meet up for one last
great adventure—to live a lifetime in a single day. Adam Silvera reminds us that there’s no life without death and no love without loss in this
devastating yet uplifting story about two people whose lives change over the course of one unforgettable day.
Tribe: On Homecoming and Belonging | Sebastian Junger
Combining history, psychology, and anthropology, Tribe explores what we can learn from tribal societies about loyalty, belonging, and the
eternal human quest for meaning. It explains the irony that-for many veterans as well as civilians-war feels better than peace, adversity can
turn out to be a blessing, and disasters are sometimes remembered more fondly than weddings or tropical vacations. Tribe explains why we
are stronger when we come together, and how that can be achieved even in today’s divided world.
2024-2025 SUMMER READING LIST » CONTINUED
We are All Whalers: The Plight of Whales and Our Responsibility | Michael J. Moore
Dr. Moore is a well-known marine biologist that works at WHOI in Falmouth, MA. He is an expert in his field and in this book, he addresses
modern day threats to whales, particularly the endangered North Atlantic Right whale. He shares his knowledge from 40 years of field
work, necropsies and research on whales, ending optimistically with information on technology that can make a dramatic difference for the
N. Atlantic Right whale population.
When Women Were Dragons | Kelly Barnhill
In 1955, hundreds of thousands of women spontaneously and inexplicably transform into dragons. This fantasy/science fiction novel follows
protagonist Alex Green, a young woman growing up in 1950s America, as more and more women in her life become dragons. Was it their
choice? Why did her aunt transform but her mother didn’t? Described as “timely and timeless,” the novel examines women’s roles in the
world and what happens when they take up the space they deserve.
With the Fire on High | Elizabeth Acevedo
From the New York Times bestselling author of the National Book Award-winning title The Poet X comes a dazzling novel in prose about
a girl with talent, pride and a drive to feed the soul that keeps her fire burning bright. Ever since she got pregnant freshman year, Emoni
Santiago’s life has been about making the tough decisions—doing what has to be done for her daughter and her abuela. The one place
she can let all that go is in the kitchen, where she adds a little something magical to everything she cooks, turning her food into straight-
up goodness. Even though she dreams of working as a chef after she graduates, Emoni knows that it’s not worth her time to pursue the
impossible. Yet despite the rules she thinks she has to play by, once Emoni starts cooking, her only choice is to let her talent break free.
Woeful Nights and Wishful Morns | Vyom Tiwari
Growing up is a struggle. Woeful Nights and Wishful Morns encapsulates that struggle by grappling with themes of grief, loss, and despair.
But life is not all darkness and gloom; there is beauty in nature, friendships, and simply being alive. The war between this darkness and light,
these nights and mornings, is overwhelming, but art has the power to make each day a little easier to get through. Hopefully, my collection
of poems can make your days easier too.
Wolfpack | Abby Wambach
Abby Wambach is a two-time gold medal Olympian and FIFA World Cup Champion. Based originally on her Commencement speech
to the Barnard College graduating Class of 2018, Wolfpack is all about leadership. Wambach specifically calls on women to “to unleash
their individual power, unite with their pack, and emerge victorious together.” An incredible soccer champion, Wambach is also a wise,
inspiring leader.
