The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle by Avi

The Secret Garden by F. Hodgson Burnett

Call Me Frances Tucket by Gary Paulsen

Among the Hidden by M. Peterson Haddix

The Redwall Series by Brian Jacques

Tale of Despereaux, Because of Winn Dixie, The

Tiger Rising by Kate DiCamillo

Eragon, Eldest, Brisingr by Christopher Paolini

The Alex Rider Series by Anthony Horo-witz

The Lottery Rose by Irene Hunt

Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli

Montmorency by Eleanor Updale

The Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket

The Pendragon Series by D.J. Machale

Artemis Fowl Series by Eoin Colfer

The Edge Chronicles by Paul Stewart

The Thief Lord by Cornelia Funke

Surviving the Applewhites by S. Tolan

Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbitt

Chasing Vermeer, The Wright 3 by Blue Balliett

The Dark Materials Series by Philipo Pullman

The Overlander Series by Suzanne Collins

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“Something magical can happen when you read a good book.”

- J. K. Rowling

“Books are keys to wisdom’s treas-ure; Books are gates to lands of pleas-ure; Books are paths that upward lead; Books are friends. Come let us read.”

- Emilie Poulsson

FOR STUDENTS

(incoming 7th Graders)

You will need to read the required summer reading choice,

The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle by Avi.

It is also a requirement for you to read a second book from

the list printed on the reverse side of this brochure.

Do not read novels you have read previously. Challenge

yourself and enjoy something new and different.

KEEP A RESPONSE JOURNAL

As you are reading Charlotte Doyle, think about and respond

to it. During the first week of school you will be using your

Response Journal as part of a language arts classroom dis-

cussion. Responses will be collected and graded.

Your response journal should contain 2-3 sentence chapter

summaries that include your reactions, predictions, insights,

and thoughtful commentary.

You may write these responses neatly in black or blue ink, or

type them. They will serve as an aid to your memory and will

be turned in to your teachers.

PREPARE FOR CULMINATING ACTIVITY

An in-school, culminating activity will also be assigned in the

fall to validate the reading. These grades will be incorpo-

rated into your first marking period grade average. If the

assignment is not completed, it will negatively affect your

first marking period grade.

GO ABOVE AND BEYOND!

Although only two novels are required, many other wonderful

book choices are listed for you to enjoy. Contact your local

library. You are encouraged to read as many selections as

you can during vacation.

PHILOSOPHY We believe that learning is a year-round endeavor and that summer vacation presents unique opportunities to develop better readers. With these goals as our guide, we have designed a program of summer reading that is intended to moti-vate students to love and enjoy reading independently.

FOR PARENTS Education is a partnership and your encouragement, involvement, and support are an important component of your child’s success. Thank you for your help in promoting a love of reading. We suggest that you set aside some time during the day for the family to read. In this way you can provide an appropriate environment for reading to occur, but most importantly you will be a good role model for your children! With the right book, the right setting, and a little incen-tive, the reading habit can be sustained and vocabu-lary development, fluency and comprehension can continue through the summer.

RESEARCH INDICATES THAT Regular Summer Reading…

… Maintains Reading Skills Between School Years...

… Increases Growth of

Background Knowledge… … and Sets Up Lifelong Reading!

COMPLETE THE WRITTEN ACTIVITY Before you begin the year, for each of the two novels you read do the following: 1. TITLE & AUTHOR — Record the title and the author of the novel. 2. SETTING — Identify where and when the story takes place. 3. CHARACTER DESCRIPTION — Identify the main character and list five adjectives that best describe him or her. 4. CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT— De-scribe how the main character undergoes change by explaining how he/she is different at the end of the novel than how they were at the beginning. 5. OTHER CHARACTERS — Identify three other characters and their relationships and/or interactions with the main character. 6. CONFLICT — Identify the main problem the main character faces. 7. CLIMAX — Document, in detail, the climax of the story, where the main problem is re-solved. 8. TIMELINE — Starting with the beginning, the middle, and the end of the novel, make a timeline of ten major events that take place. 9. THEME — Identify the main mor-al, main message or human insight of the novel. See you soon!