Each spring, the Holderness community—students, faculty, and staff alike—comes together to propose titles for our All-School Summer Read. From the many thoughtful submissions, one book will be selected to spark conversation and reflection across campus when we return in the fall.

As we explore this year’s nominations to select the All-School Summer Read, we consider not only which story resonates most, but which one might spark meaningful conversation. 

Courage & Consequence

James by Percival Everett
Recommended by: Henry '28

I first picked up this book on the Advanced History of the West class trip last summer. We had 45 minutes of free time in central Paris, and I figured there was no better way to spend the time than in the famous and historical Shakespeare and Company bookstore. 30 minutes and 40 or so captivating pages later, I realized I was going to have to buy it so I could finish reading. 

James is a modern retelling of the story of Huckleberry Finn from the perspective of Jim, the slave. It is incredibly well written, relevant, and historically accurate.

Sea Stories: My Life in Special Operations by Admiral William H. McRaven
Recommended by: Caroline Guzman, History Faculty

In this memoir, McRaven shares vignettes from his time in the service, touching upon his incredible life of military service, resilience, and grit as a Navy SEAL. His stories parallel significant periods of historical and political importance, all of which are captivating and almost unbelievable.

The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood
Recommended by: Marlena '26

If you haven't heard about it or read it before, The Handmaid's Tale follows the story of Offred, who is a Handmaid living in Gilead. The job of a handmaid is to carry the baby of a rich/powerful man, whose wife is infertile, and then give that baby up to the wife once it is born.

This book discusses serious topics of oppression, sexism, and the struggles of living in a society like Gilead. Although it might sound far-fetched or unrealistic, I was struck by the many parallels this book shares with real-life events/struggles.

The Paris Architect by Charles Belfoure
Recommended by: Cooper '27

The Paris Architect is a WWII story set in Paris in 1942, where an architect accepts a commission that could bring him a substantial amount of money, but it may also put his life in danger. He is supposed to design a secret hiding place for a wealthy Jewish man. The architect needs the money, and the challenge of outwitting the Nazis who have taken over his city is something he is tempted to do. After one of his hiding spaces fails, he struggles with the moral choices and dangers of the occupation.  

I enjoyed the suspense, and the moral dilemma the main character faces is as a "selfish" man who works for the Germans, yet also is being hired to build secret hiding places in architecture for Jews.

Identity, Belonging & Coming of Age

Marcelo in the Real World by Francisco X. Stork
Recommended by: Chungyeaon (Owen) '28

This is my FAVORITE book of all time. The book is about the protagonist Marcello, who has Asperger's qualities. He is forced by his father to stop going to a private school for children with special needs and work at his father's law firm for a summer. When he gets to the firm, he is involved in complicated "real-world" problems and situations.

The protagonist and I have similar experiences of stepping out of our comfort zone and experiencing, adapting, and enjoying the real world. I came to the US with minimal English skills–just like Marcelo has a type of autism–but we both adapted.

I want everyone to know that at some point they will voluntarily or by force step out of their comfort zone, and even though it looks tough at first, you will get used to it, and eventually you will find joy in the ‘real-world’.

The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath
Recommended by: Elizabeth McClellan, English Faculty

“It was a queer, sultry summer, the summer they electrocuted the Rosenbergs, and I didn’t know what I was doing in New York.” 

So begins The Bell Jar, Sylvia Plath's perennial classic and groundbreaking depiction of the limiting societal confines women faced in the 1950s. Yes, this is a book about women and history. Yes, it is about the narrator’s descent into despondency, instability, and indecision. But it’s also a book for anyone who is young (or young at heart!) and contemplating their own identity and place in the world.

It’s a book for anyone who has ever felt trapped or stifled by convention or expectation, and for anyone who has questioned the course of their own life. 

There’s even some skiing in it—truly something for everyone. 

The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller 
Recommended by: Mackenzie '26

The Song of Achilles is one of my favorite reads. This is a fictional origin story, taking place during the Trojan War. It was written through the eyes of Patroclus, a quiet young prince who was exiled from his own kingdom. He was taken in by the legendary warrior, Achilles, who was known to be “the best of the Greeks".

This story follows their lifetime and the adventures they face as Achilles and Patroclus are watched by the cruel sea goddess, Thetis, who is also Achilles’ mother. As they try to find a way around a curse that was placed on the future of Achilles’ life, the two form an inseparable bond that makes for a very emotional ending.

Theo of Golden by Allen Levi
Recommended by: Jennifer Larochelle, Academic Support Program

Theo is an elderly gentleman who exemplifies grace, compassion, and kindness when he arrives in the small southern town of Golden. There is an air of mystery about Theo as he settles into the community. He befriends those around him by putting them first and inquiring about their lives. He bestows upon some of the citizens their portrait, which has been drawn by a local artist, and which Theo has purchased from the local barista. 

Each bestowal draws him further into the hearts of the people, who were perhaps initially suspicious of his motives. Theo teaches us all to look beyond ourselves and cherish the stories of others, with humility, gratitude, and sincere curiosity. He gives of himself, not to fill himself, but to fill others. He would be a great member of the Holderness Community.

The Offing by Benjamin Myers
Recommended by: Pat Livingstone, History Faculty

“Will you follow your forefathers underground?”

“‘I don’t know,’ I said, though it was of course a question I had been forced by circumstance and expectation to contemplate for years.  ‘I thought I’d take a wander first….’”

And so begins the rich possibility that is Benjamin Myers’ bildungsroman, The Offing. Tired of school, where the protagonist felt “...a slave to the leaden ticking of the classroom clock, whose hands appeared on certain days to move with torturously slow delight, and once or twice even seemed to stop entirely,...” young Robert Appleyard lives in post-World War II England and decides to do something unexpected—he takes his last summer before following his ancestors into the coal mines to “wander” through the effulgent countryside.  It is during this act of “escapology and rebellion” that he finds himself traveling a particular course, “...even though it had the appearance of leading to a dead end.  This was to become one of those moments when life presents a new path whose importance may only be fully understood in years to come.”

Myers’ insuperable work is deserving of the highest praise as innocent Robert meets the “defiant and unapologetic” Dulcie, a woman who leaves a singular impression both on the page…and on Robert.  The Offing is a lyrical achievement that explores self-discovery, friendship, and youthfulness, leaving the reader begging for more.

Adventure, Survival & Exploration

Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir
Recommended by: Kennedy '28

The story is told through the perspective of Ryland Grace, a middle school science teacher turned astronaut. He is sent on a mission through space to save humanity from extinction, all whilst regaining his memory piece by piece. It is an interesting read that I highly recommend to all.

A Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson
Recommended by: Henry '28

A Walk in the Woods is a humorous recount of its author's experience on the Appalachian Trail in which he describes the environs, culture, and history of the trail as he hikes it with his unstable and overweight recovering alcoholic friend Stephen Katz, who, despite his shortcomings, proves to be a great and loyal friend to Bryson along his journey. 

The Food Explorer by Daniel Stone
Recommended by: Neal Frei '03, Assistant Director of Leadership Giving

The Food Explorer is one of the most engaging, fascinating, and accessible science-focused books I’ve read. I now recommend it to anyone interested in travel, food, farming, or food history.

Have you ever wondered how avocados arrived on U.S. shores? Or how mangoes, or even the cherry blossom trees in Washington, D.C., made their way here? In The Food Explorer, author Daniel Stone chronicles the true story of David Fairchild, a Gilded Age botanist who traveled the globe in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, introducing thousands of new fruits, vegetables, and plants to America and forever transforming the nation’s diet. Fairchild’s adventures, often exciting and sometimes dangerous, led to the introduction of crops such as quinoa, avocados, seedless grapes, cashews, nectarines, and the Meyer lemon.

The book reads as a blend of historical narrative, travelogue, and adventure story, complete with sketches and photos that help bring the journey to life and keep a wide range of readers engaged.

Dune by Frank Herbert
Recommended by: Luke '26

Dune, a book Mr. Carrigan recommended and loaned to me, has the world-building stage akin to Star Wars and house warfare like Game Of Thrones. It is a dystopian book with philosophy and fantasy woven through the story. The book is a true page turner that immerses the reader into the world of Arrakis, a Desert planet with many secrets. 

The book takes on many themes and life lessons that tackle the psychology of the mind and our role in affecting the future. It is filled with multiple distinct cultures that are all incredibly interesting and combines action with realistic political influences.

If you have read or watched any of the following series, I can guarantee you will enjoy reading Dune: Star Wars, The Lord of the Rings, Game of Thrones, Snow Piercer, Blade Runner 2049, and The Maze Runner.

Society, Human Nature & Systems

Animal Farm by George Orwell
Recommended by: Yuzhao (Jason) '26

The book is a political satire written in 1945 in criticism of the Soviet Union's politics. While reading it, I came to the conclusion that the book portrays the underlying cause for the dissolution of the Soviet Union very well, making it a good introduction to USSR politics for people interested. 

Furthermore, Animal Farm can also be connected to the current political situation in the United States, as both the USA and the USSR, arguably, each deviates from the original ideas that the two countries were created to follow. 

Gather by Kenneth M. Cadow
Recommended by: Hayden Keene, English Faculty

This story features young Vermonter Ian and his dog, Gather (but don't worry, this is not your stereotypical tragic dog story). Gather's compelling narrative voice invites us into Ian's world, a world in which he is not worried about school or sports, but rather putting food on the table, paying the bills, and his mother's opioid addiction. 

The book tackles themes reminiscent of Barbara Kingsolver's Demon Copperhead, including addiction, the failures of our education system, and life and community in rural America, but roots the narrative firmly in the ethos of New England. Despite tackling some heavy issues, it is full of humor, romance, adventure, resilience, and philosophy. 

Lord of the Flies by William Golding
Recommended by: Katelyn '28

It was my first year at Holderness, and it was also my first year participating in the bonfire. I remember running around and shouting out, "This reminds me of Lord of the Flies!" And the response was usually, "I've never read it, so I wouldn't know." 

Lord of the Flies by William Golding is a chaotic book that questions morality, humanity, and society as a whole. It all starts when a group of rich British boys are on a flight to escape violence due to World War II being at its height. The plane crashes on a deserted island, and the only adults on the plane are killed. It is up to the boys to create an organized civilization until they are able to be rescued. However, what happens when this organization gets thrown away? Will they follow beast-like instincts and go feral, or follow the rules of human society to their grave? 

Fun fact! William Golding was a teacher at one point, and the behavior of his students influenced the behavior of the boys on the island.

A Wild Card

Where’s Spot? by Eric Hill
Recommended by: Andrew Hart, Technology Support Specialist

Hill’s interactive masterpiece serves as a chilling, Kafkaesque commentary on parental anxiety and the elusive nature of truth, forcing the reader to physically dismantle the setting to find the protagonist. The constant gaslighting by the other animals creates a palpable sense of isolation that really resonated with my own high school experience. Honestly, the twist ending subverts the tragic trajectory established by the bear behind the door, leaving us questioning the nature of reality itself.

Nominations are coming to a close, and the selection for the All-School Summer Read will be announced in May!