Just Read!
This summer we'd love you to just read something. Just read a book, a newspaper or magazine article, a blog post - anything that will divert you, entertain you, inform you, or change your mind. Read in bed, in a garden, on a beach, on a plane - anywhere that's comfortable and lets you get lost in your reading.
If you want to check out a book from the library for the summer, just let us know when you take the book out.
Even easier is to borrow an ebook or audiobook from Sora. You can do this at any time and from anywhere! If you haven't yet got set up on Sora it's incredibly easy - just follow these steps and you won't need to fill your suitcase up with heavy books.
Don't worry, we're not going to quiz you when you get back in the Fall but if you want to enhance your summer with some classy reading, here are some suggestions from the UHS community.
For incoming 9th graders
I Was Their American Dream by This summer we are asking incoming 9th graders to read I Was Their American Dream by Malaka Gharib. This graphic memoir follows Gharib from her childhood into high school (and then later college and work) as she navigates her multicultural identities. This book will serve as the foundational text for the 9th grade Responsive Education course students will take in either the fall or spring semester next year.
Available in paperback via local and online retailers, there are also copies in all local public libraries. We have several copies on our Sora eBook platform - just click on the title, find San Francisco University High School, and enter your UHS email address (there's no password).
Fiction
Demon Copperhead by (ebook and in the library). The history of Appalachian coal towns and the current issues with opiates brought to you via an engaging spin on Dickens’ David Copperfield. It’s a great read, especially for those of us living in a Blue state trying to understand some of our national issues and regional divides.
Recommended by Carolyn (History)
I read this in audiobook form, and even though it's long, I didn't want it to end! Demon's voice pulls you in, and his story is both gripping and important to understand.
Recommended by Chrissy (Science)
Everything I Never Told You by (ebook) Begins with the death of a teenage girl and then uses the mysterious circumstances of her drowning as a springboard to dive into the troubled waters beneath the calm surface of her Chinese-American family. (Kirkus)
Recommended by Cove (Student)
Faust by (In the library) Faust, a scholar, makes a pact with Mephistopheles: Mephistopheles will serve Faust with his magical powers in exchange for Faust's soul.
Recommended by Jacob (Student)
The Great Believers by (ebook) A dazzling novel of friendship and redemption in the face of tragedy and loss set in 1980s Chicago and contemporary Paris. (Publisher)
Recommended by Kate (College Counseling)
Lessons in Chemistry by (ebook) Two chemists with major chemistry, a dog with a big vocabulary, and a popular cooking show are among the elements of this warm and witty compound. (Kirkus Reviews)
Recommended by Audrey (Student)
The Queen's Gambit by (ebook) Considering the recent chess boom, this book is excellent in seeing the life of a professional chess player. In addition, this book was made into a TV show in 2020 and was a HUGE hit. The Queen's Gambit was instrumental in the chess boom, and a must-read for anyone considering chess or who has watched the TV show.
Recommended by Jacob (Student)
Small Things Like These by (ebook) An incredibly heartwarming story of bravery in the face of an unspeakable injustice.
Recommended by a student.
Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by (In the library)
Recommended by Nicole (Library)
Yellowface by (ebook) A deliciously cynical look at cultural appropriation, the world of publishing, and social media, told through the eyes of a most self-deluded narrator.
Recommended by Hayley (Library)
Genre fiction
Our Missing Hearts by (ebook and in the library) One of the most engrossing and moving novels I have read in years. Dystopian fiction full of hope, and (the name notwithstanding) heart.
Recommended by Kate (College Counseling)
I Have Some Questions for You by (ebook) A beautifully-written novel about a very serious topic that also made me laugh out loud.
Recommended by Kate (College Counseling)
Leviathan Wakes by (ebook) A riveting interplanetary thriller for fans of fast-paced hard scifi with a dash of noir. (Publishers Weekly)
Recommended by a student.
The Secret History by (ebook) Under the influence of their charismatic professor, a group of clever, eccentric misfits at an elite college go beyond the boundaries of normal morality and discover how hard it can be to truly live and how easy it is to kill. (Publisher)
Recommended by Audrey (Student)
First Person Singular by (ebook) I was inspired by my English class on short stories to read this book and loved the collection of surreal narratives told from the first-person singular perspective.
Recommended by Ishaan (Student)
The Three-Body Problem by (ebook) Set against the backdrop of China's Cultural Revolution, a secret military project sends signals into space to establish contact with aliens. First book in a trilogy. (Publisher)
Recommended by Cedar (Student)
A Master of Djinn by (ebook) A vibrant detective novel full of djinn and magic set in 1910's steampunk Cairo- what's not to love?
Recommended by a student.
Luckiest Girl Alive by (In the library). With a singular voice and twists you won't see coming, Luckiest Girl Alive explores the unbearable pressure that so many women feel to "have it all" and introduces a heroine whose sharp edges and cutthroat ambition have been protecting a scandalous truth, and a heart that's bigger than it first appears. (Publisher)
Recommended by Fiona (Student)
The Space Between Worlds by (ebook) This is well-written and exciting sci-fi about parallel universes - not the same old thing.
Recommended by Chrissy (Science)
Legendborn by (ebook) I couldn't put this action-packed book down! I would recommend this book if you like any of the following: black girl magic, secret societies, Arthurian legend, interesting diverse characters, the chosen one trope, urban fantasy plus mystery with a well-developed magic system, stories that don't shy away from grief or racism. (Plus it has a gorgeous cover.)
Recommended by a member of staff.
Nonfiction
Master Slave Husband Wife by (ebook) I NEVER enjoy nonfiction, and I couldn't put this book down. Reading this account taught me what I didn't know I didn't know about the Underground Railroad, while simultaneously uncovering some of my hidden biases.
Recommended by Kate (College Counseling)
Born a Crime by (ebook and in the library) A hilarious, entertaining memoir that is almost unbelievable at many parts.
Recommended by Rohan (Student)
The Anthropocene Reviewed by (ebook) A collection of essays on a really wide diversity of interesting topics.
Recommended by Jacob (Student)
How to Be Perfect by (In the library) The book from the creator of The Good Place aims to "wade into some deeply confusing and painful applications of moral philosophy, stretching and straining and chewing on really tough questions that plague us in our daily lives, that cause us anxiety and anguish and often lead to loud arguments with our closest friends and family. But in a fun way!"
Recommended by Nicole (Library)
A Full Life by (will be in the library) It feels like honest, well-intentioned politicians are hard to come by these days. President Carter's autobiography might well be an antidote. In it, he candidly and humbly reflects on his lifelong dedication to service and faith, a message I myself have found inspiring and would like others to hear too.
Recommended by Nikhil (Student)
The Middle East Remembered by (Download) Badeau's wealth of knowledge and experience make this book part memoir and part history lesson. He provides insight into Middle Eastern politics in the decades following World War II. Though dated, "The Middle East Remembered" provides important context for understanding the Middle East today.
Recommended by Nikhil (Student)
Graphic novels
- I Was Their American Dream by (ebook and in the library) This graphic memoir follows Gharib from her childhood into high school (and then later college and work) as she navigates her multicultural identities.
Recommended by Nicole (Library) 
It Won't Always Be Like This by (ebook and in the library) Malaka travels from the U.S. to Egypt every summer to be with her father and his new family, and as she grows up, she adapts to the different culture and family circumstances. (Booklist)
Recommended by Nicole (Library)
The High Desert by (ebook and in the library) A sometimes bitter and brittle, always heartfelt memoir of growing up as a Black punk rocker in rural California. (Kirkus)
Recommended by Nicole (Library)
