Dear Middle School Students and Families, Summer is a season of relaxation and family time; yet, it is also a time in which students may forget what they have learned the previous school year. In order to avoid this, Middle School students will participate in summer reading. What is the purpose of summer reading? - Maintain critical readings skills over vacation - Encounter literature that one might not read during the academic year - Experience the joys of independent reading What are the expectations for summer reading? - This summer you will read TWO novels. o o For the first novel, you must select a title from your rising grade level list. For the second novel, you may choose any age-appropriate novel that is approved by Ms. Lynch. Included in this packet is an extensive list of pre-approved novels from which you may choose, or you may read another book from your rising grade level list. If you would like to read a book that is not on the list, you must seek approval from Ms. Lynch. Credit will not be given if a student reads a book that was not approved. Please do not select a book you have already read. - Complete the Summer Reading Note-Taking Guide for each novel. You may use additional paper if necessary, please attach to the note-taking guide if used. Each note-taking guide will be worth one quiz grade for first trimester. o PLEASE NOTE: The Rising 6 th Graders have a different note-taking guide from the Rising 7 th and 8 th Graders. - During the first few weeks of school, you will complete an additional assignment about your second novel choice. Can students read more than two novels this summer? - Absolutely, students are encouraged to read as many novels as they would like. How can parents help their children complete this assignment? - Set aside designated time to read that will not interfere with summer plans. - Encourage your child to read novels that he/she will find interesting. - Read together. There are many new Middle Grades books that adults find entertaining as well. - Check your local library to see if they carry an audio and printed copy of your child s selected Summer Reading novel. Often times, it helps students to see and hear the author s language. Critical reading is one of the most important academic skills that will benefit your child in all content areas. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions regarding this assignment or suitable reading material for your child. Thank you for your support of this initiative. Ms. Emilia Lynch Ms. Emilia Lynch Middle School English elynch@jpii.org
DIRECTIONS: Students should select a novel from their rising grade-level Summer Reading list. Sci-Fi/Fantasy When You Reach Me (Stead) Rising 6 th grade Summer Reading List The Girl Who Drank the Moon (Barnhill) Historical Fiction A Single Shard (Park) The Hero Two Doors Down (Robinson) Sci-Fi/Fantasy Gossamer (Lowry) Tesla s Attic (Shusterman) Realistic Fiction Because of Mr. Terupt (Buyea) Wonder (Palacio) Challenge Yourself From the Mixed-up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler (Konigsburg) any Great Illustrated Classic Rising 7 th Grade Summer Reading List Historical Fiction The Bronze Bow (Speare) The Mostly True Adventures of Homer P Figg (Philbrick) Sci-Fi/Fantasy The House of the Scorpion (Farmer) The Neptune Project (Holyoke) Realistic Fiction The Big Field (Lupica) Stargirl (Spinelli) Challenge Yourself The Secret Garden (Burnett) any Great Illustrated Classic Rising 8 th Grade Summer Reading List Historical Fiction Stay Where You Are and Then Leave (Boyne) The Day of the Pelican (Paterson) Realistic Fiction Drums, Girls, and Dangerous Pie (Sonneblick) The Running Dream (Van Draaen) Challenge Yourself The Chocolate War (Cormier) any Great Illustrated Classic
Middle School Summer Reading List The following novels have been approved to read for your second Choice novel. If you would like to read a book that is not on this list, you must first get approval from Ms. Lynch to do so. HF Historical Fiction RF Realistic Fiction SCF Sci-Fi/Fantasy I Kill the Mockingbird by Paul Acampora (RF) Little Women by Louisa May Alcott (HF) Chains series by Laurie Halse Anderson (HF) Fever 1793 by Laurie Halse Anderson (HF) Crispin: The Cross of Lead by Avi (HF) Nothing But the Truth by Avi (RF) Sophia s War by Avi (HF) The Man Who was Poe by Avi (MYS) GENRE KEY ADV Adventure MYS - Mystery The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle by Avi (Adv) Hope Was Here by Joan Bauer (RF) Squashed by Joan Bauer (RF) The Indian in the Cupboard by Lynne Reid Banks (Adv) Leap of Faith by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley (RF) The War That Saved My Life by Kemberly Brubaker Bradley (HF) Shakespeare s Secret by Eloise Broach (MYS) Walk Two Moons by Sharon Creech (RF) My Brother Sam is Dead by James Lincoln Collier and Christopher Collier (HF) Matched series by Allie Condie (SCF) Bud, Not Buddy by Christopher Paul Curtis (HF) The Watsons Go to Birmingham 1963 by Christopher Paul Curtis (HF) The Witches by Roald Dahl (SCF) The Cat Ate my Gymsuit by Paula Dazinger (RF)
Because of Winn-Dixie by Kate DiCamillo (RF) The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane by Kate DiCamillo (Adv) Out of My Mind by Sharon Draper (RF) The City of Ember by Jeanne DuPrau (SCF) Johnny Tremain by Esther Forbes (HF) The Picture of Hollis Woods by Patricia Reilly Giff (RF) Escape from Mr. Lemoncello s Library by Chris Grabenstein (MYS) Running out of Time by Margaret Peterson Haddix (Adv) Turnabout by Margaret Peterson Haddix (SCF) Princess Academy by Shannon Hale (SCF) The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton (RF) Fish in a Tree by Linda Mullaly Hunt (RF) One for the Murphy s by Linda Mullaly Hunt (RF) Boston Jane by Jennifer L. Holm (Adv) Penny from Heaven by Jennifer L. Holm (HF) The Fourteenth Goldfish by Jennifer L. Holm (SCF) When Zachary Beaver Came to Town by Kimberly Willis Holt (RF) Swindle series by Gordan Korman (MYS) Ungifted by Gordan Korman (RF) Slacker by Gordan Korman (RF) A Wrinkle in Time by Madeline L Engle (SCF) Number the Stars by Lois Lowry (HF) The Giver series by Lois Lowry (SCF) A Corner of the Universe by Ann M. Martin (RF) Lunar Chronicles series by Marissa Meyer (SCF) The Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O Dell (Adv) Eragon series by Christohper Paolini (Adv)
A Single Shard by Linda Sue Park (HF) Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Patterson (RF) Same Stuff as Stars by Katherine Patterson (RF) The Great Gilly Hopkins by Katherine Patterson (RF) Hatchet by Gary Paulsen (Adv) Freak the Mighty by Rodman Philbrick (RF) The River Between Us by Richard Peck (HF) Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls (RF) Percy Jackson series by Rick Riordin (Adv) Echo by Pam Muñoz Ryan Harry Potter series by J.K Rowling (SCF) Fuzzy Mud by Louis Sachar (SCF) Holes by Louis Sachar (RF) Eighth Day series by Dianne K. Salerni (Adv) A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith (HF) The Egypt Game by Zilpha Keatley Snyder (MYS) The Witch of Blackbird Pond by Elizabeth George Speare (HF) Eggs by Jerry Spinelli (RF) Hokey Pokey by Jerry Spinelli (SCF) Loser by Jerry Spinelli (RF) Maniac Magee by Jerry Spinelli Milkweed by Jerry Spinelli (HF) Wringer by Jerry Spinelli (RF) Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry by Mildred Taylor (HF) Once on This Island by Gloria Wheelan (HF)
Name: Rising 6 th Graders Summer Reading Note-Taking Guide Setting: Where and When does the story take place? Characters: List the 5 most important characters in the book. Then, list at least three words to describe each character. Conflict: What is the biggest problem the main character must overcome? Plot: List at least five important events that occur in the story. Use bullet points. Resolution: How does the main character overcome the problem? Theme: What message does the author want to leave with the reader? This must be a complete sentence, not just one word.
Name: Grade: Rising 7 th and 8 th Grader Summer Reading Note-Taking Guide Title: Author: CHARACTERS List the main characters in the novel. For each character, give a general description of his/her personality (you can use bullet points), and find evidence from the text to support your character description (put the author s last name and page number in parenthesis at the end of the sentence). Main Characters Description Evidence and Page Number SETTING Identify where and when the story takes place (you can use bullet points), and find evidence from the text to support your identification (put the author s last name and page number in parenthesis at the end of the sentence). When and Where Evidence and Page Number
PROBLEM/SOLUTION Identify the conflict of the story, or the most important problem/obstacle the main character must overcome in the story, and the resolution, or how the problem is resolved. Conflict Resolution PLOT Identify at least five important or memorable events/scenes from the test. You may use bullet points. Theme Identify what big idea (e.g. right vs. wrong, responsibility, friendship, etc.) the novel deals with and what message (or theme) the author wants us to learn from that big idea. Then find evidence from the text to support your answer (put the author s last name and page number in parenthesis at the end of the sentence). Big Idea Theme Evidence and Page Number