The great adventure of three girls paving their way in the workforce, the mystical battle between a young woman and a sea of monsters: these are just two of the descriptions of the books on the summer reading list this year. But how were these books chosen?
Rebecca Richter, summer reading coordinator, says, “The process of choosing the summer reading books usually starts before they’re actually assigned, because a lot of people have to read them.”
Plenty of different individuals contribute to the decision of which summer reading books to assign. Richter and Kate Boehm, summer reading coordinator, first choose books they think would be good fits for the student body, which they then give to the other to read.
A book that Richter and Boehm both came across was “Tress of the Emerald Sea.”
Boehm and Richter both loved the fantasy aspect of the book and thought that the book would be a perfect fit for the seniors.
But the journey does not stop there. The book is then given to the head of the English department, Alison Mead, to read.
Mead, AP English teacher and Great Books coordinator, must also make sure it is a fit for the students.
Finally, the book is read by a designated person at the Diocese of Phoenix and by the principal, Carol Ann Michaelson.
The 2025 all-school read “Uprising” made its journey through these steps. “We loved ‘Uprising’ because of its story about three young women facing trials and tribulations of the workforce,” Richter said.
Senior Alisen Tarin recently led a small group in the all-school discussion of “Uprising.” “The book really spoke to me because it showed me how strong these young women needed to be in this time period,” Tarin said.
Tarin explained how she felt the all- school discussion helped connect students, creating a better understanding of the whole novel.
Although the summer reading book selection takes various steps, Boehm said, “We are always welcoming suggestions for summer reading books.” Richter and Boehm often informally ask students about books they would be interested in having for summer reading.
A few years ago the all-school discussion was focused on the book “I Will Always Write Back.” Boehm says the book was actually recommended by a senior. The summer reading committee fell in love with the book and so did the rest of the school, which made it a perfect match for Xavier’s student body.
Much like Tress in “Tress of the Emerald Sea,” the summer reading books undergo a journey before they can land in the hands of Xavier students, but the journey is worth the effect the books have on all of the student body.
