Gordon Lee High School Summer Reading List for Social Studies

For Social Studies classes

Each student must read one book from the appropriate grade-level list during the summer of 2011.

Joan of Arc: Her Story by Regine Pernoud: In this biography of the young, peasant girl who led an army against the English to put Charles VII on the throne, the authors clear away the myths so modern readers can see Joan as she was.
A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens: A classic tale of the French Revolution, with themes of love and self-sacrifice, heroes and quests.
Charles A. Lindbergh: A Human Hero by James Cross Giblin: "Lucky Lindy" became an American hero when ne made the first nonstop transatlantic flight, but he fell into disgrace after being accused of sympathizing with the Nazis. (ALA Best Book for Young Adults in 1998)
John Glenn: A Memoir by John Glenn: He was the first American astronaut to orbit the Earth. Nearly four decades later, as the world's oldest astronaut, his courage riveted a nation. But these two historic events only bracket a life that covers the sweep of an extraordinary century. In this engrossing book, John Glenn tells the story of his unique life - one lived at the center of a momentous time in history by a man who helped shape that history.

Uncle Tom's Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe: This is the controversial novel, published in 1852, in which author Harriet Beecher Stowe offers an indictment of the pre-Civil War South through the story of Uncle Tom, an elderly slave who maintains his human dignity in the face of cruelty, suffering, and death.
The Jungle by Upton Sinclair: Describes the conditions of the Chicago stockyards through the eyes of a young immigrant struggling in America.
American Lion: Andrew Jackson in the White House by Jon Meacham: Details the life of the seventh President of the United States, Andrew Jackson, and focuses on his political actions and choices that shaped the White House and inspired the later presidents—including Abraham Lincoln, Theodore Roosevelt, and others.

Freakonomics by Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner: The authors explore the economics of real-world issues often viewed as insignificant, such as the extent to which the Roe v. Wade decision affected violent crime, and examine hidden incentives behind all sorts of human behavior.