2015 SUMMER READING LIST “BOOK BLURBS”

FOR CURRENT 6TH GRADERS ENTERING 7TH GRADE

 ALL 7TH GRADE STUDENTS ARE TO

SELECT TWO (2) NOVELS FROM THIS LIST.

AMONG THE HIDDENMARGARET PETERSON HADDIX

SCIENCE FICTION

$8.00154 PAGES

AMONG THE HIDDENMARGARET PETERSON HADDIX

This is the story of Luke, a third child,

who was born in a time when having more

than two children in your family is forbidden by

the population police. Consequently, Luke

has been kept hidden his whole life, but when

he discovers another illegal third child in a

neighbor’s house, life changes for both of

them.

RULESCYNTHIA LORD

REALISTIC FICTION

$7.00224 PAGES

RULESCYNTHIA LORD

Rules is the story of two siblings,

Catherine and her brother David. David is

autistic and life revolves around David and his

needs. While Catherine loves David, she is

also frustrated by him and feels neglected by

her parents. Catherine tries to help by setting

rules for David to follow.

GUITAR NOTESMARY AMATO

REALISTIC FICTION $9.00

320 PAGES

GUITAR NOTES MARY AMATO

Guitarist, Tripp Broody, and cellist, Lyla Marks, are very

different from each other. However, they end up using the same

practice room at their school on opposite days. Although Lyla

doesn’t know Tripp, she begins leaving notes for him between the

strings of his guitar. These notes lead to an unlikely friendship

between them which soon includes a song writing challenge and a

closeness that neither of them expected.

BLOOD ON THE RIVER JAMESTOWN 1607

ELISA CARBONE

HISTORICAL FICTION

$7.00

260 PAGES

BLOOD ON THE RIVER JAMESTOWN 1607

ELISA CARBONE

This story is based on the true story of the Jamestown settlement. Samuel Collier, a homeless boy in London, becomes a page for Captain John Smith aboard a ship headed for the new world. His journey promises great opportunity, but it ends up being nothing that he first imagined.

DEAD END IN NORVELTJACK GANTOS

REALISTIC FICTION

$8.00

350 PAGES

DEAD END IN NORVELTJACK GANTOS

Jack is ready for summer vacation, but after getting in trouble one too many times, his mother grounds him for the summer. Jack’s only escape from home is when he assists Miss Volker, an elderly woman from town who writes the obituaries for the newspaper. Jack types her obituaries because Mrs. Volker has arthritis in her hands. She is also the town coroner, and Jack drives her around town to examine the bodies of the newly dead. When the number of deaths begins to increase, Jack finds himself involved in the town’s murder mystery.

A MANGO-SHAPED SPACEWENDY MASS

YA REALISTIC FICTION

$8.00

236 PAGES

A MANGO-SHAPED SPACEWENDY MASS

Mia Winchell seems like a typical kid, but she's got a big secret. To Mia, sounds, numbers, and words have color for her. No one knows, and Mia plans to keep it that way. When school problems cause Mia to reveal her well kept secret, she must learn to accept herself and embrace her ability, called synesthesia, which is a mingling of the senses.

THE WESTING GAMEELLEN RASKIN

MYSTERY

$8.00

204 PAGES

THE WESTING GAMEELLEN RASKIN

The Westing Game has sixteen interesting and bizarre characters, who live in a mysterious apartment building. After the death of Mr. Westing, these characters are invited to Sunset Towers where they each  compete to become heir to the Westing fortune. Would-be heirs play both chess and the stock market game in their attempts to solve the puzzle of Westing’s death and gain millions.

SUMMER BOOK READING SUGGESTIONS• If you read the book early in the summer, reread it in August to refresh your memory of the story and

its details.

• If you own the book, you can mark it up, talking to the text, as you read. If you don’t own the book, record notes

separately on post its or in a journal. Pay particular attention to the following:o The settingo Characters’ names, personality traits, and important contributions they make to the storyo How the characters change throughout the booko The conflicto Important plot events that helped solve the problemo The turning point in the storyo The resolutiono Consider writing a brief summary of each chapter

• Keep notes to review in August. Bring handwritten notes to class when you return to school. Notes and book

may be used for the tests.

• E-readers or digital forms of the book (including highlighting and note taking on the devices) are allowed to be

used during the test. You will NOT be allowed access to the internet during the test.

• Complete the required activity for each book you read, and bring them to school with you in August.

ACTIVE READING

 Response

 An active

reader pays

attention to his or

her thoughts

while reading. Prove you were an active

reader by explaining how your thoughts changed.

    

 Before I began reading, I thought     After reading the middle of the book, I now think     At the conclusion of the book, my thoughts and reactions are    

MAIN CHARACTER

 Response

 Copy a

passage from the book that shows how a

main character

has changed from the

beginning to the end of the novel.

Explain how this passage demonstrates the change. 

 Quote: Page # ________      This is an example of how __________________ has changed during novel because       

MINOR CHARACTE

RS

 Response

 Pick two

minor characters from the

novel who had a major

impact on the story.

Explain their

influence.   

 

 Minor Character #1:        Minor Character #2:        

 CONFLICT

 Response

 Novels contain

many kinds of conflict.

Some conflicts

occur between

characters and some conflicts

occur within a character. Identify one such conflict and describe how it was resolved.

 

 Conflict:         Resolution: