AP US History

Longwood High School AP US History Summer Reading List

Non-fiction and Fiction    
       
NON-FICTION
       
Cover Title Author Description
1776  1776  McCullough, David 1776 is the story of Americans in the ranks, men of every shape, size, and color, farmers, schoolteachers, shoemakers, no-accounts, and mere boys turned soldiers.
 American Holocaust American Holocaust: The Conquest of the New World  Stannard, David E. Historian David E. Stannard argues that the European and white American destruction of the native peoples of the Americas was the most massive act of genocide in the history of the world.
 Facing East Facing East from Indian Country: A Native History of Early America  Richter, Daniel K. Discusses the myth of European control over the Native Americans in the sixteenth century, and claims that Native Americans controlled the majority of eastern North America well after Columbus' arrival, having only to adjust to their presence.
 Founding Brothers Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation Ellis, Joseph J. An analysis of the intertwined careers of the founders of the American republic documents the lives of John Adams, Aaron Burr, Benjamin Franklin, Alexander Hamilton, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, and George Washington.
 Founding Mothers Founding Mothers: The Women Who Raised Our Nation Roberts, Cokie Explores the lives of women who helped shape the United States, profiling such key figures as Abigail Adams, Eliza Pinkney, Dolley Payne Madison, Deborah Read Franklin, and Catherine Littlefield Greene
 Hamilton Adams Jefferson Hamilton, Adams, Jefferson: The Politics of Enlightenment and the American Founding Staloff, Darren Focuses on the contributions of Alexander Hamilton, John Adams, and Thomas Jefferson to the formation of American democracy, explaining how their devotion to Enlightenment principles was transformed by the battle for independence.
 His Excellency George Washington His Excellency: George Washington Ellis, Joseph J. From the French and Indian War to Mount Vernon, from the American Revolution to the presidency, Ellis delivers what will stand the test of time as the definitive biography of the greatest American icon.
 An Imperfect God An Imperfect God: George Washington, His Slaves, and the Creation of America Wiencek, Henry An analysis of how George Washington's life was impacted by slavery discusses his ties to the slave community, activities as a slave owner, realization of the evils of slavery, and political efforts on behalf of slaves.
 Inventing a Nation Inventing a Nation: Washington, Adams, Jefferson Vidal, Gore An irreverent treatment of this hallowed history takes readers into the drawing rooms and bedrooms of these three giant figures in American history, examining their everyday concerns as well as critical decisions.
 John Adams John Adams McCullough, David Chronicles the life of America's second president, including his youth, his career as a Massachusetts farmer and lawyer, his marriage to Abigail, his rivalry with Thomas Jefferson, and his influence on the birth of the United States.
 A Leap in the Dark A Leap in the Dark: The Struggle to Create the American Republic Ferling, John E. The author revisits a truly revolutionary period in American history, chronicling the battles over allegiance, philosophy, leadership, and ideas that surrounded the birth of the American republic.
 The Radicalism of the American Revolution The Radicalism of the American Revolution Wood, Gordon S. Examines colonial society and the transformations in colonial life that resulted from the republican tendencies brought to the surface by the Revolution.
 Young Patriots Young Patriots: The Remarkable Story of Two Men, Their Impossible Plan and the Revolution that Created the Constitution Cerami, Charles A. A history of the making of the Constitution focuses on Madison and Hamilton's dynamic leadership contributions to the effort to construct a national government.
       
FICTION      
       
 Walden and Civil Disobedience Civil Disobedience Thoreau, Henry David 'Civil Disobedience', expressing Thoreau's antislavery and antiwar sentiments, has influenced nonviolent resistance movements worldwide.
 Coming of Age in Mississippi Coming of Age in Mississippi Moody, Anne Anne Moody provides a first person account of growing up black in the rural south during the nineteen forties and fifties.
 East of Eden East of Eden Steinbeck, John The biblical account of Cain and Abel is echoed in the history of two generations of the Trask family in California.
 The Feminine Mystique The Feminine Mystique Friedan, Betty This landmark social and political volume on feminism is credited with being responsible for raising awareness, liberating both sexes, and triggering major advances in the feminist movement.
 The Grapes of Wrath The Grapes of Wrath Steinbeck, John Depicts the hardships and suffering endured by the Joads as they journey from Oklahoma to California during the Depression.
 The Man in the Gray Flannel Suit The Man in the Gray Flannel Suit Wilson, Sloan Here is the story of Tom and Betsy Rath, a young couple with every reason to be happy, but for some reason they are not. Like so many young men of the day, Tom finds himself caught up in the corporate rat race - what he encounters there propels him on a voyage of self-discovery that will turn his world inside out.
 Moby Dick Moby Dick Melville, Herman Presents the story of the ill-fated voyage of a whaling ship led by the fanatical Captain Ahab in search of the white whale that had crippled him.
 Nature by Emerson Nature Emerson, Ralph Waldo Emerson's Nature defines our distinctly American relationship to nature.
 1984 Nineteen Eighty-Four Orwell, George Portrays life in a future time when a totalitarian government watches over all citizens and directs all activities.
 On the Road On the Road Keroauc, Jack A reproduction of Kerouac's original 1951 scroll draft of "On the Road" offers insight into the writer's thematic vision and narrative voice as influenced by the American literary, musical, and visual arts of the post-World War II period.
 A Painted House A Painted House Grisham, John Racial tension, a forbidden love affair, and murder are seen through the eyes of a seven-year-old boy in a 1950s Southern cotton-farming community.
 Silent Spring Silent Spring Carson, Rachel L. Discusses the reckless annihilation of fish and birds by the use of pesticides and warns of the possible genetic effects on humans.
 The Sun Also Rises The Sun Also Rises Hemingway, Ernest A profile of the Lost Generation captures life among the expatriates on Paris' Left Bank during the 1920s, the brutality of bullfighting in Spain, and the moral and spiritual dissolution of a generation
 Uncle Tom's Cabin Uncle Tom's Cabin Stowe, Harriet Beecher In the classic 1852 novel that brought the abolitionists' message to the public, a devoutly Christian slave becomes separated from his wife and family when he is sold to the brutal planter Simon Legree.
       
6/20/2012