Entering Grade 5 Summer Reading:
You are required to read two books this summer.
All 5th graders will read All the Way Home by Patricia Reilly Giff. On the first day of school, you must
arrive ready to discuss this book and complete assignments on it.
Your second reading book must by chosen from the following list. You must read something you have
not read before.
The Witch of Blackbird Pond by Elizabeth George Speare
Lily’s Crossing by Patricia Reilly Giff
Caddie Woodlawn by Carol Ryrie Brink
My Friend Flicka by Mary O’Hara (or another in this series)
Daughter of the Mountains by Louise Rankin
Kira-Kira by Cynthia Kadohata
The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo
Rascal by Sterling North
Adam of the Road by Elizabeth Janet Gray
Bridge to Teribithia by Katherine Paterson
Any from the Crispin Series by Avi
King of the Wind by Margaret Henry
Any in A Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket
Any in The Narnia Chronicles by C.S. Lewis (except The Silver Chair)
The assignment for the second book is to create a paper bag book report. You will bring this with you and
turn it in on the first day of school. The paper bag must be decorated in the theme of the book and must
include the title, author, and your name. Inside the bag, you must include ten objects that relate to the
story. The objects can be real or you can make them yourself. The items should be varied in nature.
Please write a one page (three paragraphs) book report describing the main characters, the conflict or
problem that these characters face in the book, and how these characters resolve the problem. Your book
report should be neatly handwritten or typed, using full sentences and proper spelling and grammar.
MIDDLE SCHOOL READING CHALLENGE!
If you like to read and are up for a challenge, get ready! For all students who read five MORE books from
these lists or pre-approved by your Language Arts teacher (total of 7 books), you will have a pizza party
lunch. These five additional books are books that you have not previously read. You and your parents
must sign a statement to that effect. Bring your signed list to school on the first day.
Have a great summer!
Entering Grade 6 Summer Reading:
Language Arts Teacher: Nancy Overhiser
Everyone will read Wonder by R.J. Palacio. On the first day of school you must arrive ready to discuss
this book and complete assignments on it. Your second reading book must be chosen from the following
list. You must read something you have not read before.
Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls
The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien
Hatchet by Gary Paulsen (or another Paulsen book)
The Wreckers by Ian Lawrence
The Incredible Journey by Shelia Burnford
Call it Courage by Armstrong Sperry
Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery (or another in the series)
Esperanza Rising by Pam Munoz Ryan
Redwall by Brian Jacques (or another in the series)
A Week in the Woods by Andrew Clements
Because of Winn-Dixie by Kate DiCamillo
Half Magic by Edward Eager
The Thief Lord by Cornelia Funke
Homeless Bird by Gloria Whelan
Project Mulberry by Linda Sue Park
Sammy Keyes and the Hotel Thief by Wendelin Van Draanen
100 Cupboards by N.D. Wilson
Pictures of Hollis Woods by Patricia Reilly Giff
The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan (or another in the series)
Soul Surfer by Bethany Hamilton
Everything on a Waffle by Polly Horvath
The Penderwicks on Gardam Street by Jeanne Birdsall
Gregor the Overlander by Suzanne Collins
No Talking by Andrew Clements
The assignment for the second book is to create a paper bag book report. You will bring this with you and
turn it in on the first day of school. The paper bag must be decorated in the theme of the book and must
include the title, author, and your name. Inside the bag you must include ten objects that relate to the
story. The items should be varied in nature. The objects can be real or you can make them yourself. You
also need to write a one page summary of the book including descriptions of the main characters, the
main plot, and the conclusion. Include a paragraph that tells whether you liked the book or not and why.
MIDDLE SCHOOL READING CHALLENGE!
If you like to read and are up for a challenge, get ready! For all students who read five MORE books from
these lists or pre-approved by your Language Arts teacher (total of 7 books), you will have a pizza party
lunch. These five additional books are books that you have not previously read. You and your parents
must sign a statement to that effect. Bring your signed list to school on the first day.
Have a great summer!
Entering Grade 7 Summer Reading:
Language Arts Teacher: Nancy Overhiser
All 7th grade students please read The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle by Avi and a second book
from the list below. You must read something that you have not read before. Complete and be prepared to
pass in on the first day of school the template for Literary Analysis for both books.
Fever 1793 by Laurie Halse Anderson
Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbitt
Time Stops for No Mouse by Michael Hoeye
Chains by Laurie Halse Anderson
The Summer of the Swans by Betsey Byars
Gold Dust by Chris Lynch
The City of Ember by Jeanne Du Prau
The Wanderers by Sharon Creech and David Diaz
Nory Ryan’s Song by Patricia Reilly Giff
Rules by Cynthia Lord
Moon Over Manifest by Clare Vanderpool
The Name of This Book is Secret by pseudonymous bosch
Eleven by Patricia Reilly Giff
When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead
Around the World in 100 Days by Gary Blackwoods
Touchblue by Cynthia Lord
Catherine, Called Birdy by Karen Cushman
All Creatures Great and Small by James Herriot (or another in this series)
Hope Was Here by Joan Bauer
The Strange Case of Origami Yoda by Tom Angleberger
The Moves Make the Man by Bruce Brooks
MIDDLE SCHOOL READING CHALLENGE!
If you like to read and are up for a challenge, get ready! For all students who read five MORE books from
these lists or pre-approved by your Language Arts teacher (total of 7 books), you will have a pizza party
lunch. These five additional books are books that you have not previously read. You and your parents
must sign a statement to that effect. Bring your signed list to school on the first day.
Have a great summer!
Entering Grades 8 Summer Reading Assignments
Language Arts Teacher: Nancy Overhiser
All 8th grade students please read The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton and a second book from the list below.
You must read something that you have not read before. Complete and be prepared to pass in on the first
day of school the template for Literary Analysis for both books.
Miracle’s Boys by Jacqueline Woodson
Airborn by Kenneth Oppel
Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli
Homecoming by Cynthia Voigt
Divergent by Veronica Roth
The Blind Side by Michael Lewis
Into Thin Air by Jon Krakauer
The Call of the Wild by Jack London
The Other Side of Truth by Beverley Naidoo
Kon Tiki by Thor Heyerdahl
Ties That Bind, Ties That Break by Lensey Namioka
Stones in Water by Donna Jo Napoli
The Martian Chronicles by Ray Bradbury
Dove by Robin Lee Graham
Jacob Have I Loved by Katherine Paterson
The Pigman by Paul Zindel
Hoot by Carl Hiassen
Close to Famous by Joan Bauer
Journey to the Center of the Earth by Jules Verne
Heat by Mike Lupica
Weedflower by Cynthia Kadohata
Milkweed by Jerry Spinelli
The Boy in the Striped Pajamas by John Boyle
MIDDLE SCHOOL READING CHALLENGE!
If you like to read and are up for a challenge, get ready! For all students who read five MORE books from
these lists or pre-approved by your Language Arts teacher (total of 7 books), you will have a pizza party
lunch. These five additional books are books that you have not previously read. You and your parents
must sign a statement to that effect. Bring your signed list to school on the first day.
Have a great summer!
BCA Language Arts Template for Literary Analysis
Grades (7-12)
Student Name _________________
Book Title_______________________ Author___________________
Date Published_________________
Write about the following topics in complete sentences. Please type and proof read your work.
Setting:
1. Where (include ALL major places, whether countries, towns, homesteads, etc.)
2. When (include any flashbacks that are used to develop the plot and characters)
3. Who (include all major characters and describe them)
4. What (Be sure to consider whether any major events, such as a war, or famine, or other event or
situation that contribute to the plot and characters in the novel)
Point of View: Who “tells the story?” First person, third person narrator; does the story change point of
view?
Major Characters: (included the Protagonist and Antagonist, and important supporting characters)
Literary Conflicts: (included the conflict Man vs. Man, Man vs. Society, Man vs. Environment, Man vs.
Himself and their resolutions, or NOT)
Major Themes in the novel (What lesson or message does the reader take from this novel? Themes are
usually very general and often appear in many works of literature. Example: Man’s inhumanity to man;
the power of love; forgiveness).
Write a well-developed paragraph that addresses an aspect of the novel (s) that most interest(s) you:
something you learned about another time, place, or an interesting character. Perhaps the author’s style of
writing interests you, or the way the author develops the conflicts and characters. Perhaps there is an
ironic ending. Does the author use imagery, dialogue, flashbacks, or other literary devices to engage the
reader?