Firegirl
By: Tony Abbott
Team 7~Summer Reading Book Option 1
Story Summary
Author
“There is something you need to know about
Jessica” Mrs. Tracy said quietly. From this moment
on, life is never quite the same for Tom and his 7th
grade classmates. They learn that Jessica has been
badly burned and will be attending their school while
getting treatment. Despite Jessica’s shocking
appearance and the fear she evokes in him and most of
the class, Tom slowly develops a friendship with
Jessica that changes his life. Firegirl is a powerful
book that shows the reader that even the smallest
gesture can have a huge impact on someone’s life.
Tony Abbott is the author of over 60
books for young readers. In 2007
Firegirl won the “Golden Kite” award.
It is the only award given by children’s
writers to children’s writers. He has
worked in book stores and libraries. He
currently lives in Connecticut with his
wife and two daughters.
After reading “Firegirl” this summer, please select one of these projects to complete.
Choices: (Pick ONE)
1. ILLUSTRATOR: Create a “graphic novel”. For 8 chapters of
“Firegirl” create accompanying illustrations or comic representations of characters, setting, and
events etc. Each illustration must have a short explanation (a sentence or two, which explains what
you have chosen to create. (Must have full page, color graphics and explanations for all 8
chapters).
2. SEQUEL: Create a “sequel” chapter to “Firegirl”. Your job is to continue the story after the
actual book has ended. What will happen next to Tom, Jessica and the other characters that we
meet at St. Catherine’s School? You decide! Include illustrations (Minimum of 2 written
pages—or more and 1 illustration page). Use essay format -use paragraphs, characterization,
and dialogue to move the action along.
3. Play list: Create a soundtrack for each chapter of the book, much like a movie has. Which songs
best represent what is going on in each chapter. List the song, artist/band and two to three
sentences that explain why the song fits the chapter. You can use music from any time period or
genre. It is important that you clearly and thoughtfully explain why you chose each particular song
to represent each chapter. Describe how the song is significant.
 Be prepared the first week of school with your project in final draft form.
 This is your first assignment for seventh grade, and we expect this to be your very best
work!
o Please use excellent handwriting OR type it if possible.
o Draft your work! Check for spelling and grammatical errors, then rewrite until it is
your BEST WORK!
Out of My Mind
Story Summary
By: Sharon M. Draper
Team 7~Summer Reading Book Option 2
Author Biography
Eleven-year-old Melody has a photographic
memory. Her head is like a video camera that is
always recording. Always. And there’s no delete
button. She’s the smartest kid in her whole
school—but NO ONE knows it. Most people—her
teachers and doctors included—don’t think she’s
capable of learning, and up until recently her
school days consisted of listening to the same
preschool-level alphabet lessons again and again
and again. If only she could speak up, if only she
could tell people what she thinks and knows. But
she can’t. She can’t talk. She can’t walk. She
can’t write. Being stuck inside her head is
making Melody go out of her mind—that is, until
she discovers something that will allow her to
speak for the first time ever. At last Melody has a
voice . . . but not everyone around her is ready to
hear it. Information for summary and biography found on www.sharondraper.com
Dr. Sharon M. Draper is a
professional educator as well as an
accomplished writer. She has been
honored as the National Teacher of
the Year, is a five-time winner of
the Coretta Scot King Literary
Award, and is a New York Times
bestselling author. She was selected
as Ohio's Outstanding High
School Language Arts Educator,
Ohio Teacher of the Year! Her
literary recognition began when, as
a challenge from one of her
students, she entered and won first
prize in a literary contest. She has
published numerous poems,
articles, and short stories in a
variety of literary journals.
After reading “Out of My Mind” this summer, please select one of these projects to complete.
Choices: (Pick ONE)
1. ILLUSTRATOR: Create a “graphic novel”. For 8 chapters of
“Out of My Mind” create accompanying illustrations or comic representations of characters,
setting, and events etc. Each illustration must have a short explanation (a sentence or two,
which explains what you have chosen to create. (Must have full page, color graphics and
explanations for all 8 chapters).
2. SEQUEL: Create a “sequel” chapter to the story. Your job is to continue the story after the
actual book has ended. What will happen next to Melody, her class, family etc. You decide!
Include illustrations (Minimum of 2 written pages—or more and 1 illustration page). Use
essay format -use paragraphs, characterization, and dialogue to move the action along.
3. Play list: Create a soundtrack for each chapter of the book, much like a movie has. Which songs
best represent what is going on in each chapter. List the song, artist/band and two to three
sentences that explain why the song fits the chapter. You can use music from any time period
or genre. It is important that you clearly and thoughtfully explain why you chose each
particular song to represent each chapter. Explain how and why the song is significant.
 Be prepared the first week of school with your project in final draft form.
 This is your first assignment for seventh grade, and we expect this to be your very best work!
o Please use excellent handwriting OR type it if possible.
o Draft your work! Check for spelling and grammatical errors, then rewrite until it is
your BEST WORK!
WHERE TO GET MY 7TH GRADE SUMMER READING BOOK!!
 PUBLIC LIBRARY (FREE!)—THE QUICKER YOU GO
THE MORE LIKELY YOU ARE TO FIND ONE ON THE
SHELF! (URBANA, MARYSVILLE, N. LEWISBURG)
 THERE MAY BE SOME “FIREGIRL” BOOKS IN THE
SCHOOL LIBRARY FOR CHECKOUT.
o THERE ARE NO “OUT OF MY MIND” BOOKS.
SORRY, THIS IS THE FIRST YEAR FOR THIS BOOK.
 AMAZON WWW.AMAZON.COM
 MALL BOOKSTORE
 BARNES AND NOBLE WWW.BARNESANDNOBLE.COM
 DOWNLOAD ONTO YOUR KINDLE OR NOOK IF YOU
HAVE ONE!
 HALF PRICE BOOK STORE---CARRIAGE PLACE ON
BETHEL ROAD IN DUBLIN---CHECK WEBSITE FOR
OTHER LOCATIONS THAT MAY BE CLOSER TO YOU!
o OR USE THE HALF PRICE BOOKS WEBSITE:
WWW.HPB.COM (BOOKS ARE USED AND
GENERALLY PRETTY CHEAP!)