The NEHS Advisory Council, with the help of Chapter Advisors from around the world, has selected two texts as the 2026-2027 Common Readers: Dashka Slater’s Accountable: The True Story of a Racist Social Media Account and the Teenagers Whose Lives It Changed (2023) and Kristin Hannah’s The Nightingale (2017).
Accountable: The True Story of a Racist Social Media Account and the Teenagers Whose Lives It Changed, by Dashka Slater
Dashka Slater’s Accountable: The True Story of a Racist Social Media Account and the Teenagers Whose Lives It Changed was selected as a Common Reader text because of its urgent exploration of “the real-world consequences of online behavior that young people face in our digital age.” The text blends investigative journalism with narrative storytelling, and the book invites readers to consider what accountability, harm, and growth mean for young people and their communities.
The text centers on a racist Instagram account created by a group of California high school students, and the ripple effects caused by the account’s exposure. Slater traces how the incident impacted not only those directly involved, but also the broader school community through reportage and interviews. The book examines the intersections of race, privilege, social media, and justice, offering a thoughtful and thought-provoking portrait of teenagers navigating the consequences of their actions.
Accountable has been widely praised for its “balanced narrative that illustrates the nuances inherent in all interpersonal interactions, whether in person or online” (Shelf Awareness). Critics have highlighted Slater’s ability to humanize all individuals involved while not minimizing the harm caused. By presenting multiple perspectives, she challenges readers to consider how systems of discipline, forgiveness, and education can (or should) function in moments of crisis.
The NEHS Advisory Council hopes that Accountable will encourage students to engage in meaningful conversations about accountability, complicity, ethics, empathy, and responsibility, both online and offline, while gaining a deeper understanding of how individual choices can shape entire communities.
The Nightingale, by Kristin Hannah
The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah is a historical novel that explores resilience in the face of unimaginable hardship. Set in Nazi-occupied France during the Second World War, the story follows two sisters, Vianne and Isabelle, whose very different paths reveal the many forms of courage, sacrifice, and resistance that define women’s experiences during wartime.
Chapter Advisors have noted that the novel is “a masterclass in how personal narrative can bridge the gap between history and heart” while also emphasizing that it “moves past basic historical facts to explore the complex moral ‘gray zones’ that make for incredible discussion.” Through Vianne’s struggle to protect her family and Isabelle’s involvement in the French Resistance, Hannah illuminates the moral complexities and personal costs of war.
Since its publication, The Nightingale has become an international bestseller and has received widespread critical acclaim. Reviewers have praised its “beautifully written and richly evocative examination of life, love, and the ravages of war, and the different ways people react to unthinkable situations” (Sara Gruen), with many highlighting Hannah’s ability to bring historical events to life through intimate, character-driven narratives that provide a “moving, emotional tribute to the brave women who fought behind enemy lines during the war” (Booklist).
The Nightingale invites NEHS members to reflect on themes of courage, sacrifice, love, and resilience. It’s an accessible but also deeply moving text that provides ample opportunity for discussions about history, ethics, and the strength of the human spirit.
Purchasing the Common Reader Texts
NEHS Common Reader texts can be purchased via the official English Honor Society Bookshop.org page, a carefully curated collection of literary works that celebrates the power of language, storytelling, and scholarship. This initiative not only supports independent bookstores but also provides students and educators with an accessible way to engage with significant texts related to NEHS.
Beyond this, the Bookshop.org page serves as an essential resource for anyone passionate about literature. By purchasing books through this platform, supporters are directly contributing to the promotion of literacy and independent bookstores, fostering a culture of reading and discussion within the NEHS community. Whether looking for the NEHS Common Readers or simply seeking to broaden literary horizons, this collection is a valuable tool for both students and Chapter Advisors.
Common Reader Archive
| Year | Author & Title |
| 2026 | Dashka Slater, Accountable: The True Story of a Racist Social Media Account and the Teenagers Whose Lives It Changed & Kristin Hannah, The Nightingale |
| 2025 | Angie Cruz, How Not to Drown in a Glass of Water & Matt Haig, The Midnight Library |
| 2024 | Kazuo Ishiguro, Klara and the Sun & Jesmyn Ward, Sing, Unburied, Sing |
| 2023 | Kayte Nunn, The Botanist’s Daughter |
| 2022 | Qian Julie Wang, Beautiful Country |
| 2021 | Christy Lefteri, The Beekeeper of Aleppo |
| 2020 | Colson Whitehead, The Nickel Boys |
| 2019 | Fatima Mirza, A Place for Us |
| 2018 | Celeste Ng, Everything I Never Told You & Gail Tsukiyama, The Samurai’s Garden |
| 2017 | Sebastian Barry, On Canaan’s Side |
| 2016 | Anne Tyler, Dinner at the Homesick Restaurant |
| 2015 | Sue Monk Kidd, The Invention of Wings |
| 2014 | Neal Shusterman, Unwind |
| 2013 | Gin Phillips, The Well and Mine |
| 2012 | T. Coraghessan Boyle, Tortilla Curtain |
| 2011 | Tobias Wolfe, Old School |
| 2010 | Sonia Nazario, Enrique’s Journey |
| 2009 | Markus Zuzak, The Book Thief |
