Garfield Middle School 6th, 7th & 8th Grade
Summer Reading 2009 Due September 16th, 2009
Incoming 6th Grade Summer Reading
Instructions:
1) Required Book: Peck, Richard. A Long Way from Chicago
2) Choose 1:
Appelt, Kathi
The Underneath
Bloor, Edward
Burnford, Shiela
Tangerine
The Incredible Journey
Carson Levine, Gail
The Princess Test
Creech, Sharon
Heartbeat
Dane Bauier, Marion
On My Honor
Denenberg, Barry
Stealing Home: The Story of Jackie Robinson
Ellis, Deborah
The Breadwinner
Fletcher, Ralph
Flying Solo
Gaiman, Neil
The Graveyard Book
Gary Paulsen
Woodsong
Griffiths, Andy
Treasure Fever
Hest, Any
Remembering Mrs. Rossi
Keatley Snyer, Zilpha
The Egypt Game
Kehret, Peg
Escaping the Giant Wave
Kimmel Smith, Robert
The War with Grandpa
Law, Ingrid
Savvy
Lupica, Mike
Heat
Smith, Roland
Thunder Cave
Spinelli, Jerry
Report to the Principal’s Office
Spinelli,Jerry
Loser
Winthrop, Elizabeth
The Castle in the Attic
6th Grade Assignments: You must complete
two assignments for each book that you read.
1. Create a four page mini-book of your novel.
Page 1-Title, author, your name, and a drawing.
Page 2-A paragraph about the beginning. (Introduce the characters, plot, setting)
Page 3-A paragraph about the middle. (Include the most exciting part or problem
in the story)
Page 4-A paragraph about how the story ends. Include your opinion of the book.
You may include additional pictures if you wish.
2. Write 10 journal entries as if you are the main character. Write about the events,
feelings, and concerns of the main character. Each entry should be a minimum of five
sentences.
3. Write a friendly letter to the author. Explain what you liked about the book. Describe the
lesson you learned by reading the story. Must be at least 3 paragraphs.
4. Create a newspaper article about the story in past tense. Create a name for your
newspaper. Write a catchy title for the article. Describe the characters, what happened,
and explain the most exciting details of the story. Don’t forget the ending! Make a
prediction of what may happen next. Include a drawing, photo, or clip-art.
5. Pick 20 new words from your book. Define them and write an original sentence
for each.
6. Pretend you are the teacher! Make a test for this book. Include ten really good
questions. Write the answers. Questions and answers must be complete sentences.
6th Grade Self-Contained Classes: Read ONE book from the following list:
Hest, Amy. Remembering Mrs. Rossi
Griffiths, Andy. Treasure Fever
Spinelli, Jerry. Report to the Principal’s Office
Complete two assignments from the above list for the book you read.
6th Grade ESL STUDENTS: Read One Book:
Please read The Cricket in Times Square by George Selden. Complete the following
assignment:


Write out your title decoratively on a large paper, minimum size 9 X 12. For each
letter of the title write a phrase from the book, and include illustrations.
Also write a 100 word summary of the book.
Incoming 7th Grade Summer Reading
Instructions:
Incoming 7th grade students will read Hatchet by Gary Paulsen, and one choice book from the
attached choice list.
Each seventh grade student MUST complete 2 assignments for each book they read. They will
be evaluated as two test grades in the FIRST MARKING PERIOD.
7th grade assignments are due SEPTEMBER 16, 2009. NEATNESS COUNTS.
All ESL students are required to read A Cricket in Times Square, by George Selden, only, and
complete assignment #2 on assignment sheet, as well as a 100 word summary of the book.
Class assignments will be given in September, based on the summer reading.
All 7th grade self-contained students are required to read Dear Mr. Henshaw by Beverly Cleary
and complete 2 assignments from the attached list.
Resource Room students participation in mandatory.
Incoming Resource Room students must read Hatchet, by Gary Paulsen, and another choice
book from the choice list then complete any two assignments from the attached list for both
books.
Incoming 8th Grade Summer Reading
Instructions:
1. Eighth grade students(including resource room) will read The River by Gary Paulsen.
Students are then required to write a news article about any of Brian's experiences. List as
many details as you can about Brian's time in the wilderness. Remember the first paragraph of a
news article, called the "lead", should tell the reader the five w's - who, what, where. when and
why. Be sure to add a catchy headline to your story. The article should be three columns like a
real newspaper article and fill one 8 1/2 x11 paper. Include a picture with a caption within the
news article. The project must be typed. This is the only assignment for this book.
2. Eighth grade students must also read any book from the attached choice book list and
complete any 2 assignments.
3. All ESL students are required to read Crash by Jerry Spinelli only, and complete assignment
#2 on the assignment list as well as a 100 word summary of the book. Class assignments will
be given in September, based on the summer reading list.
4. All eighth grade self-contained students are required to read How To Eat Fried Worms, by
Thomas Rockwell and complete any two assignments from the attached list.
5. All 8th grade students must complete assignments which are due SEPTEMBER 16, 2009.
6. NEATNESS COUNTS.
7. All Grade 8 Honors Language Arts students must read Johnny Tremain by Esther Forbes
and complete 3 assignments on the assignment sheet.
8. All Grade 8 Honors Language Arts students must also read any book on the choice book
list and complete 2 assignments on the assignment sheet.
Incoming 7th & 8th Grade Choice
Assignments:
All work must be neatly handwritten or typed when required. Check Your Spelling!
1. Draw the setting of your book and explain it with a few sentences under the drawing.
Minimum size 8 x11. Use markers, colored pencils, crayons, etc.
2. Write out your title decoratively on a large paper, minimum size 9x12. For each letter write a
phrase about the book and include illustrations.
3. Write a poem, at least 16 lines, about any element of the story. Examples: setting, plot,
characters, conflict or theme. (This must be typed.)
4. Pick 20 NEW words from your book, define them and write an original sentence for each.
5. Make a crossword puzzle (30 words) using vocabulary words from your book. Include a
second copy of the puzzle with the answers filled in. (Not a word search!)You may use puzzle
maker websites on the Internet.
6. Create an interview with the main character along with a cover. Ask 10-15 questions to
explain the character's actions, feelings, etc.
7. Write 10 journal entries as if you were the main character. Write about events, feeling and
concerns of the main character. Each entry should be a minimum of five sentences.
8. Write a three paragraph friendly letter to the author. Explain what you liked about the book
and the lessons you learned by reading the story.
9. Complete Facebook Template for the main character in the story you read. Use as many
details form the story as possible. The Facebook Template is attached. Please Click here to
open PDF template.
7th & 8th GRADE CHOICE BOOK LIST:
Adventure
1. Long Road to Gettysburg by Jim Murphy
2. Snow Bound by Harry Mazer
3. The Black Pearl by Scott O'Dell
4. From the Mixed up Files of Ms. Basil E. Frankweiler by E.L. Koningsburg
5. Catherine Called Birdy by Karen Cushman
6. The River Between Us by Richard Peck
7. Redwall by Brian Jacques
8. Macaroni Boy by Katherine Ayres
9. Canyons by Gary Paulsen
10. Crispin: The Cross of Lead by Avi
11. A Single Shard by Linda Sue Park
12. The Whipping Boy by Sid Fleischman
13. City of the Beasts by Isabel Allende
14. Goose Girl by Shanon Hale
15. Vampirates: Demons of the Ocean by Justin Somper
16. The King's Shadow by Elizabeth Alder
17. The Seeing Stone by Kevin Crossley
18. The Sea of Trolls by Nancy Farmer
Humor
1. Bel Air Bambi and the Mall Rats by Richard Peck
2. Squashed by Joan Bauer
3. Flour Babies by Anne Fine
4. The Acorn People by Ron Jones
5. Al Capone Does my Shirts by Gennifer Choldenko
6. Wringer by Jerry Spinelli
7. Boy: Tales of Childhood by Roald Dahl
8. Aliens Ate my Homework by Bruce Coville
9. The BFG by Roald Dahl
Mystery and Suspense
1. The Disappearance by Rosa Guy
2. The Man Who was Poe by Avi
3. The Executioner by Jay Bennet
4. Down a Dark Hall by Lois Duncan
5. Summer of Fear by Lois Duncan
6. The Witch of Blackbird Pond by Elizabeth George Speare
7. And Then There were None by Agatha Christie
8. Chilling Hour by Collin MacDonald
9. Other Bells for us to Ring by Robert Cormier
10. The Hound of the Baskervilles by Sir Arthur Conan Boyle
11. Missing Since Monday by Ann M. Martin
12. Kingdom of the Golden Dragon by Isabel Allende
13. Behind the Curtain by Peter Abrahams
14. Down the Rabbit Hole by Peter Abrahar
15. The Star of Kazan by Eva Ibboston
Friendship
1. Pardon Me, You're Stepping on my Eyeball by Paul Zindel
2. Ace Hits the Big Time by Barbara Beasley Murphy
3. The Schwa was Here by Neal Shusterman
4. That Was Then, This Is Now by S.E. Hinton
5. Old Yeller by Fred Gibson
6. Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom
7. Lily's Crossing by Patricia Reilly Giff
8. The Tiger Rising by Kate DiCamillo
9. One Unhappy Horse by C.S. Adler
10. Amandine by Adele Griffin
Science Fiction
1. The Girl Who Owned a City by O.T. Nelson
2. Z for Zachariah by Robert C. O'Brien
3. Dandelion Wine by Ray Bradbury
4. Owl in Love by Patrice Kindl
5. Eva by Peter Dickinson
6. Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer
7. The Game of Sunken Places by M.T. Anderson
8. May Bird and the Ever After by Jodi Lynn Anderson
9. The Diary of Pelly D. by L.J. Adlington
Sports
1. The Moves Make the Man by Bruce Brooks
2. The Boy Who Drank Too Much by Shep Greene
3. Chinese Handcuffs by Chris Crutcher
4. Baseball in April and Other Stories by Gary Soto
5. Iceman by Chris Lynch
6. On the Devil's Court by Carl Deuker
7. The Chief by Robert Lipsyte
8. Winning by C.S. Adler
Multicultural
1. Zlata's Diary, A Child's Life in Sarajevo by Zlata Filipovic
2. Perseopolis: The Story of a Childhood by Marjane Satrapi
3. Charlota by Scott O'Dell
4. Shabanu: Daughter of the Wind by Suzanne Fisher Staples
5. Watsons go to Birmingham: 1963 by Christopher Curtis
6. My Own True Name by Pat Mora
7. Summer of my German Soldier by Betty Greene
8. Toning the Sweep by Angela Johnson
9. Call me Maria by Judith Ortiz-Colfer
10. Esparanza Rising by Pam Munoz Ryan
11. Cuba 15 by Nancy Osa
12. The Summer of El Pintor by Ofelia Dumas
13. Under the Same Sky by Cynthia DeFelice
14. Under the Royal Palms by Alma Flor Ada
15. Go and Come Back by Joan Abelove
16. Ashes of Roses by Mary Jane Auch
Family Life
1. Night-by Elie Wiesel
2. Somewhere in the Darkness-by Walter Dean Myers
3. Jacob Have I Loved-by Katherine Paterson
4. The Glory Field-by Walter Dean Myers
5. A Year Down Yonder-by Richard Peck
6. A Family Apart-by Joan Lowery Nixon
7. Life in the Fat Lane-by CherieBennett
8. Things Hoped For-by Andrew Clements
9. Saying it Out Loud-by Joan Abelove
10. Absolutely Normal Choas-by Sharon Creech
11. Seek-by Paul Fleischman
12. Stones in the Water-by Donna Jo Napoli
Indicates a challenging book.