Summer Reading Assignments

HHCA mentors have planned summer reading and assignment opportunities to help students stay engaged and prepared for the year ahead. Required reading and projects for students are outlined below, along with AP course assignments and additional resources as they become available.

Questions?

Reach out to Tabatha DeWitt, Director of Academics and Technology.

LOWER SCHOOL

Optional Lower School Summer Art Challenge (K-5)

All Lower School students (K-5) are invited to participate in Mrs. Knight's Summer Drawing Challenge 2026. Bring your drawings to Mrs. Knight on the first day of school for a fun prize! Your sketchbook can be big or small, or even just pages stapled together or placed in a folder.

Have fun being creative this summer!

click here for the instructions

click here for the drawing prompts

Mentor Contact: Kelly Knight

K & 1st Grade

2nd Grade

Required Reading:

Frog & Toad Storybook Favorites
Author: Arnold Lobel

Additional Required Reading:

Students should read three additional books of their choice at an appropriate level.

Assignment:

Students will choose their favorite book from their summer reading and complete a Book Review. Students should come prepared to share their Book Review with their class.

👉 click here for instructions

Mentor Contacts:
Kristal Dobbs and Katelyn Likins

3rd Grade

Required Reading:

Flat Stanley: His Original Adventure
Author: Jeff Brown

Assignment:

Students will create and decorate a “Flat Person” using the provided template or their own design. Over the summer, students should take photos of their Flat Person in different locations and activities such as vacations, camps, the beach, the pool, outdoor adventures, or everyday moments with friends and family.

Students should also create a journal to document these experiences. This may include brief written descriptions, diary entries, postcards, or a photo album format.

During the first week of school, students will bring their Flat Person, journal, and photos to share with their classmates.

click here for the flat stanley pattern

Mentor Contact: Brooke Brown and Susan Buck

4th Grade

Required Reading:

The Lemonade War
Author: Jacqueline Davies

Project:

Students will complete a Clothes Hanger Book Project for The Lemonade War. This creative mobile should include the title and author, plot summary, character analysis, setting, theme, personal reflection, and the phrase “Try this book on for size!”

click here for the 4th Grade Assignment

Mentor Contact: Shelby Guess

5th Grade

Required Reading:

The Way of the Warrior Kid: From Wimpy to Warrior the Navy SEAL Way
Author: Jocko Willink

Additional Required Reading:

Students should read one additional chapter book of their choice at an appropriate Lexile level.

Assignment:

Students will create a Book Commercial based on the book they enjoyed most from their summer reading. This project will allow students to creatively present and recommend their selected book.

Book Commercial Instructions: CLICK HERE
Book Commercial Template/Page: CLICK HERE

Note from Teacher: Students will have reading-related assignments connected to The Way of the Warrior Kid when they return to school. Students should also be prepared to take Accelerated Reader (AR) quizzes on their summer reading books. Notes may be used for summer reading AR quizzes only. These selections will help students work toward their first quarter AR goals.

MIDDLE SCHOOL

Middle School students should find their grade level below and follow the directions for their Summer Reading assignment. Students are encouraged to review all linked instructions carefully. 📌 Unless otherwise noted, Middle School Summer Reading assignments are due on the first day of school, August 13, 2026.

6th Grade

Required Reading:

Bridge to Terabithia
Author: Katherine Paterson

Assignment:

Students will read the book and create at least 15 annotations. Each annotation should include a meaningful moment from the text, the page number, and 1–2 sentences of student thinking. Students may use sticky notes in the book or write annotations on paper.

click here for instructions

Mentor Contact: Ashley Bezilla

7th Grade

Required Reading:

Tuck Everlasting
Author: Natalie Babbitt

Assignment:

Students should read the assigned book and complete the required assignment using the linked instructions.

click here for instructions

Note: Students may listen to the book through any audiobook app as they annotate. They will still need to have a hard copy to turn in on August 13.

Mentor Contact: Lori West

8th Grade

Students will choose one of the following required reading:

Chains
Author: Laurie Halse Anderson

Forge
Author: Laurie Halse Anderson

Assignment:

Students will keep a handwritten reading journal in a composition notebook while reading. Assigned journal entries will show active reading through thoughtful predetermined notes, reflections, and responses.

Students should arrive on the first day of English ready to test on their selected book and turn in the journal.

👉 click here for complete instructions

Mentor Contact: Jessica Tatro.

UPPER SCHOOL

Upper School students should complete all summer reading assignments based on their course placement for the 2026–2027 school year. AP course assignments are listed separately below. 📌 Unless otherwise noted, Upper School Summer Reading assignments are due on the first day of school, August 13, 2026.

English 1 CP & English 1 Honors (9th Grade)

English 1 CP Required Reading:

Lord of the Flies
Author: William Golding

English 1 Honors Required Reading:

To Kill a Mockingbird
Author: Harper Lee

Students should read the book assigned for their class (above) and complete handwritten annotations and notes. Students should be prepared to take a test and/or complete a written response or project related to the text.

click here for instructions

Due Date: August 13, 2026

World Literature (10th grade)

Required Reading:

Animal Farm
Author: George Orwell

Assignment:

Students will read the assigned book and complete handwritten annotations and notes. These notes will support class discussion, mentor/student conferences, and an in-class short response during Quarter 1. See the linked document for full details and a model.

click here for assignment instructions

Due Date: August 13, 2026

Materials Needed: Novel, notebook, and pen

American Literature (11th grade)

British Literature (12th grade)

Spanish 1 → Spanish 2 (review)

Students rising from Spanish 1 to Spanish 2 are encouraged to review key vocabulary and grammar concepts over the summer to stay prepared for the upcoming course.

Overview:

This optional review includes vocabulary practice, grammar refreshers, and listening activities designed to help students retain and strengthen their Spanish skills. Students are encouraged to spend a small amount of time each week engaging with the material.

Recommended Approach:

Students should aim to review vocabulary and grammar concepts regularly and incorporate listening practice through videos, Spanish-language media, or familiar shows set to Spanish audio.

click here for the Spanish 1 to Spanish 2 Review Guide

Mentor Contact: Christine Jackson

Spanish 2 → Spanish 3 (review)

Students rising from Spanish 2 to Spanish 3 are encouraged to review key vocabulary and grammar concepts over the summer to stay prepared for the upcoming course.

Overview:

Recommended Approach:

Students should aim to review vocabulary and grammar concepts regularly and incorporate listening practice through videos, Spanish-language media, or familiar shows set to Spanish audio.

click here for the Spanish 2 to Spanish 3 Review Guide

Mentor Contact: Christine Jackson

AP COURSES

Students enrolled in AP courses should complete the summer assignments for each AP course listed on their course schedule. 📌 AP assignments may have course-specific due dates, so students should carefully review the details for each course.

AP European History

Required Reading:

A History of Western Society, 13th Edition

Assignment:

Students will complete summer reading and work for the “Later Middle Ages” and “Renaissance” textbook sections. Students should read the assigned pages and complete the related review questions and terms. Full instructions are linked below.

click here for the instructions

Due Date: August 13, 2026

Mentor Contact: Andrew Dale

AP Government

Required Reading:

Federalist Papers, U.S. Constitution, required Supreme Court cases, Brutus No. 1, Letter from Birmingham Jail, and Declaration of Independence

Assignment:

Students will complete three parts: read and summarize the U.S. Constitution, prepare half-page summaries for required foundational documents, and review required Supreme Court cases. Full details are linked below.

AP Government Summer Assignment

Due Date: August 13, 2026

Mentor Contact: Matt Smith

AP Human Geography

Required Reading:

AMSCO Advanced Placement Human Geography, 2nd Edition by David Palmer and Perfection Learning
Prisoners of Geography, Fully Updated New Edition by Tim Marshall

Assignment:

Students should purchase the required texts and complete the summer work outlined in the linked Google Doc. The AMSCO text will be used throughout the year, and Prisoners of Geography will provide helpful historical and geographic context.

AP Human Geography Summer Assignment

Due Date: August 17, 2026

Mentor Contact: Kathryn Vanderkwaak

AP Language and Composition

Required Reading:

Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass by Frederick Douglass
Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl by Harriet Jacobs

Assignment:

Students will choose ten significant quotes or key passages from each book and complete a typed annotation analysis using the required format. Full instructions are linked below.

AP Language Summer Assignment

Due Date: August 13, 2026

Note for Families: Great care and research have been taken in selecting books for this course. At times, some sections of the books may contain objectionable or questionable content; we will discuss these sections with discernment. It is important for our students to be exposed to a variety of topics across all genres and to discuss these topics with the knowledge and insight they have gained.

Mentor Contact: Lauren Borack

AP Literature and Composition

Required Reading:

Frankenstein by Mary Shelley

Assignment:

AP Literature Summer Assignment

Note: This assignment calls for the book, not the movie.

Due Date: August 13, 2026

AP Macroeconomics

Required Reading:

Naked Economics: Undressing the Dismal Science by Charles Wheelan

Assignment:

Students should read and annotate the text with attention to economic theory, evidence, argument analysis, and real-world policy connections. Students should be prepared for a quiz.

Due Date:

January 5, 2027

Note for Families:

Please note this is a secular book with secular themes. The class will approach these topics from a Christian worldview.

Mentor Contact: Matt Smith

AP Seminar

AP United States History

Required Reading:

Advanced Placement United States History, 4th Edition

Assignment:

Students will read Chapter 1 of the AMSCO textbook, define and explain key terms, make connections from the chapter, and complete multiple choice and short answer questions. Students should follow the linked instructions carefully.

AP U.S. History Summer Assignment

Note: If buying the textbook is an issue or concern, please reach out. A few extra books are available each year.

Due Date: August 13, 2026

Mentor Contact: Courtney Hays