REQUIRED SUMMER READING
MIDDLE SCHOOL - 2013
Summer reading is essential to maintaining your reading skills. It is my hope that you will find
the books listed below fun to read. Enjoy!
FOR INCOMING 6TH GRADERS
1. All incoming sixth graders are required to read ONE novel from the list below.
Al Capone Does My Shirts by Gennifer Choldenko
Call it Courage by Armstrong Sperry
The Great GIlly Hopkins by Katherine Peterson
Shadow of the Bull by Maia Wojciechowska
The Two Princesses of Bamarre by Gail Carson Levine
A View from Saturday by E. L. Konigsburg
Trouble River by Betsy Byers
Summer of the Swans by Betsy Byers
Chasing Vermeer by Blue Balliett
The BFG by Roald Dahl
Niagra Falls, or Does It? by Henry Winkler
After reading the book, create a treasure box based on the book. To do this, find a cardboard box. A
shoebox would work well. Cover up any words on the outside using paper then decorate the outside of
it with pictures that remind you of the book. Make sure you include the title and the author of the book
on the top of the box. You may use markers or crayons to do this.
Next, gather together TEN items that remind you of your book and put them in the box. Does a
character love flowers? Why not put a plastic flower in the box? A piece of candy is perfect for a
character who likes sweets. Think about stuffed animals, framed photographs, coins, stamps, and
other objects that you might place in your treasure chest to represent your book.
When you have completed your treasure box, on a piece of paper list your ten items and write a
sentence explaining why you included it in your box.
This will be your first graded assignment of 6th grade, so put in your best effort! During the first week of
school, we will share the boxes and display them in the hall.
2. All incoming sixth graders are also required to READ AT LEAST TWO MORE BOOKS of their choice
and complete the attached book report form for each of the books. These books can be nonfiction or
fiction. You may read more of the books listed above, but you do not have to.
HAPPY READING!
FOR INCOMING 7TH GRADERS
1. All incoming seventh graders are required to read ONE novel from the list below.
The Hobbit by J.R.R Tolkien
Storm Breaker by Anthony Horowitz
Walk Two Moons by Sharon Creech
Crash by Jerry Spinnelli
Taking Sides by Gary Soto
Maniac Magee by Jerry Spinelli
Hatchet by Gary Paulsen
Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson
Homecoming by Cynthia Voigt
Once upon a Marigold by Jean Ferris
Small Steps by Louis Sachar (sequel to Holes)
Caddie Woodlawn by Carol Ryrie Brink
Holes by Louis Sachar
Chains by Laurie Halse Anderson
After reading the book, make a MOVIE POSTER advertising the movie adaptation of the book. Start
with a color picture of an exciting scene from the book that would make people want to see the movie.
You may use crayons, paint, or marker to draw this.
On the poster, you must include the name of the book. You also need to include the name of the
famous director who would direct it and the name of the famous actors who would play the main roles
(They must be real directors and actors). Lastly, include a movie rating (G, PG, PG-13) for your movie.
This will be your first graded assignment of 7th grade, so put in your best effort! During the first week of
school, we will share the posters and display them in the hall.
2. All incoming seventh graders are also required to read AT LEAST two more books of their choice and
complete the attached book report form for these books. These books can be nonfiction or fiction.
3. Seventh grade students are required to have the paperback edition of the novel The Outsiders by S. E.
Hinton by the start of the school year. This is the first novel we will read when school begins. They
ARE NOT expected to read The Outsiders over the summer.
HAPPY READING!
FOR INCOMING 8TH GRADERS
1. All incoming eighth graders are required to read ONE novel from the list below.
Absolutely Normal Chaos By Sharon Creech
Girl in a Cage by Janet Yolen
Hush by Jacqueline Woodson
Hoot by Craig Hiaasen
Things not seen by Andrew Clements
Freak the Mighty by Rodman Philbrick
The Contender by Robert Lipsyte
Rocket Boys by Homer H. Hickam, Jr.
The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle by Avi
Tangerine by Edward Bloor
Out of the Dust by Karen Hesse
Nothing But the Truth by Avi
After reading the book, design a newsletter for your book. In your newsletter, you must include the
following:
a) Give your newsletter a catchy title.
b) Include an article in which you tell what happens during the climax (the point of highest tension or
the turning point; usually found in the last few chapters) of the book with a small picture of the event.
You may draw the picture yourself, use a computer to generate it, or cut it out of a magazine.
c) Include an article which identifies THREE personality traits (adjectives) that describe the personality
of one of the main characters and describes how he or she show those traits in the book. Include a
picture of the person. You may draw the picture yourself, use a computer to generate it, or cut it out
of a magazine.
d) Include an advertisement that has some meaningful connection to the book (For example, for The
Outsiders, you could have an advertisement for Mustang convertibles).
This will be your first graded assignment of 8th grade, so put in your best effort! During the first week of
school, we will share the newsletters and display them in the hall.
2. All incoming eighth graders are also required to read AT LEAST two more books of their choice and
complete the attached book report form for each book. This book can be nonfiction or fiction.
3. Eighth grade students are required to have the paperback edition of the novel To Kill a Mockingbird by
Harper Lee. We will be reading this novel after Christmas this year. They ARE NOT expected to read
To Kill a Mockingbird over the summer.
HAPPY READING!
MIDDLE SCHOOL REMARKABLE REVIEWER!
Your Name:
How challenging was the book? (circle one)
Low
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5
High
Title of Book:
Author of Book:
Summary of Book:
Characters in Book:
Setting:
I chose this book because: ____________________________________________________________________
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My favorite part of this book was: ______________________________________________________________
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I (would, would not) recommend this book because: _______________________________________________
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