WHITMAN-HANSON REGIONAL SCHOOL DISTRICT Hanson Middle School 111 Liberty Street Hanson, MA 02341 781-618-7575 Whitman Middle School 100 Corthell Avenue Whitman, MA 02382 781-618-7035 January 31, 2008 Dear Parents, Guardians, and Students: The Whitman-Hanson Regional School District s summer reading program has a twofold purpose: the first is to continue the developmental skill of reading so that no ground is lost over the summer and the second is to instill in students a love of reading that will last a lifetime. This year s list offers a wide-range of choices enabling students to select something that truly interests them. Using the list of suggested authors for grades five through eight from the Massachusetts Curriculum Frameworks, students may choose any two books from differing authors and genres (ex. biography and fiction), excluding poetry. Lists will be distributed by teachers, and they will also be available on the district website, at the town libraries, and at local bookstores. Students may not choose a book they have read previously. Students will keep a Reading Log which will be counted as their first homework grade. In addition, a Book Summary Sheet must be completed for each book and the combined grade will be counted as the first quiz grade of the year. These are included in this packet and will be available on the district website as well. In the spring, I will be meeting with all fifth grade students to answer any questions that students may have about the selections and the grading process as they enter middle school. In the meantime, if you have any questions please feel free to contact me through email, amy.hill@whrsd.org, or at 781-618-7453. Have a wonderful summer. Happy Reading!!! Yours sincerely, Amy Hill Language Arts Curriculum Coordinator Whitman-Hanson Regional School District
Contemporary Literature of the United States Grades 5 8: Isaac Asimov (science fiction) Avi (multi-genre) James Berry (fiction) Nancy Bond (fiction: fantasy) Ray Bradbury (science fiction) Bruce Brooks (fiction) Joseph Bruchac (fiction: historical) Alice Childress (fiction: realistic) Vera and Bill Cleaver (fiction) James and Christopher Collier (fiction: historical) Caroline Coman (fiction: realistic) Susan Cooper (fiction: fantasy) Robert Cormier (fiction) Bruce Coville (fiction: fantasy) Sharon Creech (fiction: realistic) Chris Crutcher (fiction) Christopher Paul Curtis (fiction: historical) Karen Cushman (fiction: historical) Michael Dorris (fiction) Paul Fleischman (fiction) Russell Freedman (biography) Jack Gantos (fiction: humorous) Sheila Gordon (fiction: Africa) Bette Greene (fiction) Rosa Guy (fiction: realistic) Mary Downing Hahn (fiction) Joyce Hansen (fiction) James Herriot (informational: animals) Karen Hesse (fiction: historical, fanciful) Felice Holman (fiction: historical, realistic) Irene Hunt (fiction: historical, realistic) Angela Johnson (fiction) Diana Wynne Jones (fiction: fantasy) M. E. Kerr (fiction: realistic) E. L. Konigsburg (fiction: realistic) Kathryn Lasky (multi-genre) Madeleine L Engle (fiction: fantasy) Ursula LeGuin (fiction: fantasy) Robert Lipsyte (fiction: realistic) Lois Lowry (fiction) Anne McCaffrey (fiction: fantasy) Robin McKinley (fiction: fantasy) Patricia McKissack (informational: history) Margaret Mahy (fiction: realistic) Albert Marrin (biography) Milton Meltzer (informational: history,
biography) Jim Murphy (informational: history) Phyllis Reynolds Naylor (fiction: realistic) Naomi Nye (fiction) Richard Peck (fiction: historical, realistic) Daniel Pinkwater (fiction: humorous) Philip Pullman (fiction: fantasy) Ellen Raskin (fiction: mystery) J. K. Rowling (fiction: fantasy) Isaac Bashevis Singer (fiction: historical) Gary Soto (fiction) Mildred Taylor (historical fiction) Theodore Taylor (fiction: historical) Yoshiko Uchida (fiction: historical; nonfiction) Cynthia Voigt (fiction: realistic, fantasy) Yoko Kawashima Watkins (fiction: historical) Laurence Yep (fiction) Jane Yolen (fiction: fantasy) Paul Zindel (fiction: realistic) Students may also select books from the following awards lists, past or present: The Newbery Medal The Caldecott Medal ALA Notable Books The Boston Globe-Horn Book Awards Source: Massachusetts English Language Arts Curriculum Framework http://www.doe.mass.edu/frameworks/ela/0601.doc
SUMMER READING LOG (Homework Grade) Name School Grade Homeroom I certify that I have read the following books from the Whitman-Hanson Regional School District s Summer Reading List: (Two books are required.) 1. 2. (Please list titles of additional books read.) 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. Student signature Parent/Guardian signature THIS LOG AND TWO SUMMER READING BOOK SUMMARY SHEETS SHOULD BE GIVEN TO THE STUDENT S LANGUAGE ARTS TEACHER ON THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL.
SUMMER READING BOOK ONE SUMMARY (Quiz Grade) Student Name Book Title: Author: Main Character: Description of main character (Strengths, weaknesses, likes, dislikes, physical appearance, age, other outstanding characteristics, etc.): Other characters: Setting (where & when):
Plot Diagram/Story Map 3. Climax 2. Rising Action 4. Falling Action 1. Exposition (Beginning) 5. Resolution (End) Plot (A
SUMMER READING BOOK TWO SUMMARY (Quiz Grade) Student Name Book Title: Author: Main Character: Description of main character (Strengths, weaknesses, likes, dislikes, physical appearance, age, other outstanding characteristics, etc.): Other characters: Setting (where & when):
Plot Diagram/Story Map 3. Climax 2. Rising Action 4. Falling Action 1. Exposition (Beginning) 5. Resolution (End)