2015 SUMMER READING LIST
4th – 6th Graders
Dear Scholars and Parents,
This summer all rising 4th-6th graders must read The Mysterious Benedict Society and at least two other
books of their choosing. Scholars must complete the Summer Reading Record (Part 1 and 2) in this packet
and return it the first Friday after the beginning of school to their Language Arts Instructor.
Required Reading: Steward, Trenton Lee; The Mysterious Benedict Society AR 5.6
The required novel serves as a jumping off point for classroom activities at the beginning of the school year.
A discussion guide is included in this packet.
Additional Reading: At Least Two Other Books
After each title, the reading level is indicated using the Accelerated Reader “Book Level” which is a grade
level equivalent (e.g., AR BL 5.2 would be grade 5 and 2 months). Please note that the reading level is not
an indicator of the interest or maturity level of a book but is given as a general gauge for the difficulty level
of the title. Although all of the titles are considered “Middle Grade” in terms of interest level, we
encourage parents to oversee what is appropriate for your particular scholar given that the list is inclusive
of some titles geared more to older scholars.
Summer Reading Record: Scholars are asked to record their summer reading on the “Summer Reading
Record” (see attachment below). A completed record, including a parent’s signature, should be returned to
AGA.
Part I.
This summer all rising 4th-5th graders must read 3 Books (1 Mandatory, 2 of Your Choosing):

The Mysterious Benedict Society, Stewart, Treton Lee

2 Novels of Your Choosing
2015 SUMMER READING LIST
4th – 6th Graders
Complete reading record below, have a parent sign it, and bring it to your Language Arts class in August!
Scholar’s Name: _________________________
Part II.
Choice Novels:
1) Title: _____________________________
Author: _____________________________
Date Completed: _____________________
2) Title: _____________________________
Author: _____________________________
Date Completed: _____________________
Parents Signature __________________________________________ Date______________________
Part III.
Please list other books that you have read just for fun! 
Title
Author
Rating
Complete the study guide below as you read The Mysterious Benedict Society.
Be sure to bring this completed Study Guide back to school with you in August along with your “Reading
Record”.
1. Beginning on page 1, the importance of following instructions is stressed to the children throughout the
book and accompanied by the threat of dire consequences if instructions are not followed to the letter.
How do the instructions play a role in helping and/or hindering the children in reaching their goal of being
selected as “one” of the special gifted children?
How do they use the instructions to their advantage or disadvantage?
2. What is the most important test the children pass in order to be selected? How are they tested? Why
doesn’t it seem to matter that all the children solve the problem in a different way, yet still make it to the
next round of testing?
3.With so much in common, Kate, Reynie, Sticky, and Constance still have dissimilar traits as well. What are
the traits they possess that bring them together in unity? What causes discord among the team members?
2015 SUMMER READING LIST
4th – 6th Graders
What in their backgrounds and family life is similar? What is dissimilar? How do their likenesses play a role
in their assignment?
4.Why do Reynie, Kate, and Sticky take an immediate dislike to Constance? How does Constance finally
overcome their opinion of her?
5. At The Learning Institute for the Very Enlightened, along with the other messengers, the children in the
Mysterious Benedict Society are taught that there are no rules. What is ironic about this statement? Why is
there no truth to it?
6. What strength does each member of the team contribute to help the team succeed in its goal to stop the
evil Mr. Curtain?
7. How does Mr. Curtain determine what type of brain function he performs on the adults he kidnaps to
work for him? A complete brainsweep? Or a Lacunar Amnesia? What is the difference between these brain
operations?
8. What is the Whisperer? How does it work? Why does it make the Messengers feel so good about
themselves when they sit in it and put the helmet on their heads?
9. Why are Reynie and Sticky so terrified to become Messengers? Are their fears founded? Why or why
not?
10. When Milligan comes to rescue them, the children’s decision to stay on the island seems foolish and a
sure death sentence for them. Why do they feel like it is the only decision they can make?
11. Kate’s willingness to break into The Whispering Gallery alone to dismantle the computer demonstrates
her commitment and bravery. Why does Reynie allow her to take such dangerous steps? How does
Constance show her loyalty?
12. Why is Milligan so devoted, even willing to die for the team throughout the story? Who is he? How
does he come to work for Mr. Benedict?
13. Mr. Benedict and Mr. Curtain are twin brothers, one benevolent and kind and one evil to the core.
What similarities are there between these brothers? How does their past contribute to their different
lifestyles?
14. Mr. Benedict challenges those readers who want to know his first name to decipher the code “within
your grasp” to determine his name. Have you figured out his name? If so, what is it?
2015 SUMMER READING LIST
4th – 6th Graders
ADDITIONAL READING OPTIONS:
Hannigan, Katherine; Ida B - and Her Plans to Maximize Fun, Avoid Disaster, and (Possibly) Save the
World AR BL 5.3
In Wisconsin, fourth-grader Ida B spends happy hours being home-schooled and playing in her family's
apple orchard, until her mother begins treatment for breast cancer and her parents must sell part of the
orchard and send her to public school.
Lupica, Mike; Heat AR BL 5.3
Pitching prodigy Michael Arroyo is on the run from social services after being banned from playing Little
League baseball because rival coaches doubt he is only twelve years old and he has no parents to offer
them proof.
Singh, Vandana; Younguncle Comes to Town AR BL 5.5
In a small town in northern India, three siblings await their father's youngest brother, Younguncle, who
comes to live with them and entertains them with his funny, zany adventures.
Hale, Shannon; Princess Academy: Palace of Stone AR BL 5.2
Miri returns to Asland and calls upon all her knowledge of rhetoric and other useful lessons learned at the
Princess Academy when she and the other girls face strong opposition while working for a new, fair charter.
Book #2 (any book in the series)
Sonnenblick, Jordan; Drums, Girls, & Dangerous Pie AR BL 5.9
The life of thirteen-year-old Steven Alper, already complicated by his friendship with two girls and a talent
for drumming, is turned upside down when his five-year-old brother Jeffrey is diagnosed with leukemia.
(Sequel: After Ever After AR BL 5.2)
Cowell, Cressida; How to Train Your Dragon AR BL 6.6
This book chronicles the adventures of Hiccup Horrendous Haddock the Third as he tries to pass an
important initiation by catching and training a dragon. Book #1(any books from the series)
Kerr, P.B.; The Akhenaten Adventure AR BL 5.7
Twelve-year-old twins John and Philippa Gaunt discover that they are descended from a long line of Djinn
and embark upon a great journey to Egypt with their Uncle Nimrod in order to locate the lost tomb of the
Pharaoh Akhenaten. (Series: Children of the Lamp)
Norton, Mary; The Borrowers AR BL 5.3 Miniature people who live in an old country house and survive by
borrowing things from the humans are forced to emigrate from their home under the clock. (Series)
Sewell, Anna; Black Beauty (unabridged) AR BL 7.7
A horse in nineteenth-century England recounts his experiences with both good and bad masters.
Scott, Michael; The Alchemist AR BL 6.4
While working at summer jobs, 15-year-old twins, Sophie and Josh, find themselves caught up in a deadly,
centuries-old struggle between rival alchemists, Nicholas Flamel and John Dee, over the possession of
secret formulas. Book #1 (any book from this series)
2015 SUMMER READING LIST
4th – 6th Graders
Avi; Crispin: The Cross of Lead AR BL 5.0
Set in medieval England, a young boy on the run from his miserable past comes to discover not only his
true identity, but his sense of self-worth. (Series)
Burch, Robert; Queenie Peavy AR BL 5.6
Thirteen-year-old tomboy Queenie, who lives in a small town in Depression-era Georgia, is tormented by
taunts that her father is in prison and decides to retaliate by causing a lot of trouble, until she discovers
something important about her father and herself.
Curtis, Christopher Paul; Bud, Not Buddy AR BL 5.0
Ten-year-old Bud, a motherless boy living in Flint, Michigan, during the Great Depression, escapes a bad
foster home and sets out in search of the man he believes to be his father--the renowned bandleader H.E.
Calloway of Grand Rapids.
Cushman, Karen; Alchemy and Meggy Swann AR BL 5.6
In 1573, the crippled, scorned, and destitute Meggy Swann goes to London, along with her goose Louise, to
stay with her father who does not really want her. As he pursues his dream of transforming base metal into
gold, she gets caught up in the intrigue and transforms herself.
Alcott, Louisa May – Little Women (unabridged only) AR BL 7.9
Classic autobiographical account of the trials and joys of mid-nineteenth century New England family life.
Selznick, Brian - The Invention of Hugo Cabret: A Novel in Words and Pictures AR BL 5.1 When twelveyear-old Hugo, an orphan living and repairing clocks within the walls of a Paris train station in 1931, meets a
mysterious toyseller and his goddaughter, his undercover life and his biggest secret are jeopardized.
Wells, H.G. – The Time Machine AR BL 7.4
This creative science fiction work concerns a journey into the fourth dimension.