Summer Reading 2025: Upper School

It's the 2025 Upper School Summer Reading List! 

There’s nothing like a recommendation from someone you trust. It feels different: special, personal. It feels like the recommendation might actually be something you will like, versus something the algorithm thinks you should like. 

This year, we’re excited to share the personal reading recommendations of the Class of 2025. From fiction to nonfiction, literary classics to freshly published titles, and beloved picture books to brilliant novels, these are the books that our most recent alums adore – and they think you will, too. In addition to that splendid section, you’ll find our top recommendations. These are the books we loved talking about this year, and the titles that we can’t wait to read over the summer ourselves!

Whether you get your recommendations from this list, BookTok, or your best friend, we encourage you to read at least two books during the summer break.

We have also included the list of course-specific required summer readings. You can find those listed by grade and class.

• If you are a current student at Chapin, you will receive your required summer reading books before the end of the school year.
• If you are an incoming Chapin student, you will receive an email from Ms. Predovan with information on how to order any required books. Please do not order any required books until you have heard from Ms. Predovan!

You can also find a printable pdf version of the list at the bottom of this page.

Have a wonderful, book-filled summer!

Ms. Oldham, Director of the Annenberg Center for Learning and Research
Ms. Davis, '12, Collections Librarian