ET Richardson Middle School

E. T. Richardson Middle School

2018 Summer Reading Requirements for Incoming 7th Grade LA Plus Students

1 June 2018

Dear Incoming Seventh Grade LA+ Student,

During the summer, you are expected to read three books (two assigned, one choice) and complete the reading response assignment for each. The book you choose may be from the list provided or your own choice from off the list as long as you get parent/guardian approval (complete attached permission slip). Your teachers encourage you to make a selection from the range of books that best fits your interests and needs.

Book #1: Required Classic Reading – The Red Pony by John Steinbeck It is recommended that you read this story in the weeks just before returning to school since there will be an assessment of the story elements in early September.

Book #2: Required Contemporary Reading – Drums, Girls, and Dangerous Pie by Jordan Sonnenblick.

Book #3: Free Choice of Fiction or Nonfiction* Select any book that interests you and is on grade level or above. *Nonfiction books must be narrative nonfiction, biography, autobiography, or memoir.

In addition to reading your three books, you are required to complete a reading response assignment for each of them. Your summer reading responses are due on the second day of school in the fall. Additional copies of the reader response assignments can be found on the E.T. Richardson Middle School website located from http://www.ssdcougars.org/.

Reading for enjoyment is a lifelong habit that your teachers at ETR support and want to develop in you. For this reason, the list of books provided includes novels from a variety of genres and from many great young adult authors. Your teachers are confident that you will choose a book that will interest you and engage you in your reading experience. Set regular time aside for reading, away from the many screens that take up so much of our time  In seventh grade language arts plus, you will be expected to read at least thirty minutes a night as part of your language arts homework, so it helps to build up your reading “muscles” over the summer.

Have a safe and fun-filled summer vacation, and enjoy your summer reading! Your teachers look forward to meeting you in September and hearing about your summer reading adventures.

Sincerely,

Your Seventh Grade LA+ Teachers

2 E.T. Richardson Middle School Seventh Grade Summer Reading List

Manageable: Among the Hidden (Shadow Children Series) by Margaret Peterson Haddix, Ages 9-12, 160 pages Luke has never been to school. He's never had a birthday party, or gone to a friend's house for an overnight. In fact, Luke has never had a friend. Luke is one of the shadow children, a third child forbidden by the Population Police.

Joey Pigza Swallowed the Key (Joey Pigza Series) by Jack Gantos, Ages 10-up, 160 pages To the constant disappointment of his mother and his teachers, Joey has trouble paying attention or controlling his mood swings when his prescription medications wear off and he starts getting worked up and acting wired

There’s a Girl in my Hammerlock by Jerry Spinelli, RL 5.5, 199 pgs. 13 year old Maisie joins her school’s formerly all-male wrestling team and tries to last through the season, despite opposition from other students, her best friend, and her own teammates.

Heat by Muke Lupica, Ages 9-12, 240 pages Michael Arroyo has a pitching arm that throws serious heat. But his firepower is nothing compared to the heat Michael faces in his day-to-day life. Newly orphaned after his father led the family’s escape from Cuba, Michael’s only family is his seventeen-year-old brother Carlos. If Social Services hear of their situation, they will be separated in the foster-care system—or worse, sent back to Cuba. Together, the boys carry on alone, dodging bills and anyone who asks too many questions. But then someone wonders how a twelve-year-old boy could possibly throw with as much power as Michael Arroyo throws. With no way to prove his age, no birth certificate, and no parent to fight for his cause, Michael’s secret world is blown wide open, and he discovers that family can come from the most unexpected sources.

The Smugglers by Iain Lawrence, RL 4.2, 183 pgs. th In 18 century England, after his father buys a schooner called the Dragon, 16 year old John sets out to sail it from Kent to London and becomes involved in a dangerous smuggling scheme.

Storm Warriors by Elisa Carbone, RL 6.5, 168 pgs. In 1895, after his mother’s death, 12 year old Nathan moves with his father and grandfather to Pea Island off the coast of North Carolina where he hopes to join the all-black crew at the nearby lifesaving station, despite his father’s objection.

The Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket, Ages 9-12 Are you made fainthearted by death? Does fire unnerve you? Is a villain something that might crop up in future nightmares of yours? Are you thrilled by nefarious plots? Is cold porridge upsetting to you? Vicious threats? Hooks? Uncomfortable clothing? It is unlikely that your answers will reveal A Series of Unfortunate Events to be ill-suited for your personal use. A librarian, bookseller, or acquaintance should be able to suggest books more appropriate for your fragile temperament. But to the rarest of readers we say, "Proceed, but cautiously."

3 Chasing the Falconers (On the Run Series) by Gordon Korman, Ages 9-12, 160 pages Aidan and Meg Falconer are their parents' only hope. The Falconers are facing life in prison -- unless Aidan and Meg can follow a trail of clues to prove their innocence. The problem? Right now they're trapped in a juvenile detention center. Until they escape one night -- and find themselves on the run, both from the authorities and from a sinister attacker t who has his own reason to stop them. The Falconers must use their wits to make it across the country . . . with plenty of tests along the way. Gordon Korman takes readers into FUGITIVE territory -- with thrilling results.

The Abduction (Kidnapped Series) by Gordon Korman, Ages 9-12, 144 pages It's every brother's worst fear: As Aiden and his sister Meg are walking home from school one day, a van pulls over and Meg is kidnapped. There's no way for Aiden to stop it from happening. He's the only witness to his sister's disappearance. Why has Meg been kidnapped? Is it for ransom? As a vendetta against Meg and Aiden's parents? Or is there an even bigger conspiracy at work? While Meg fends off her kidnappers and plans an escape, Aiden must team up with the FBI to try to find her--tracking down clues only a brother could recognize.

The Great Fire by Jim Murphy, 8-12, 144 pgs. An unforgettable you-are-there account of the great Chicago fire of 1871.

Freedom Walkers: The Story of the Montgomery Bus Boycott by Russell Freedman, Ages 8-12 112 pages Written by an acclaimed author of nonfiction for young readers, this well-researched account of the Montgomery bus boycott is a must-read for students in the upper elementary grades and middle school. The account sets the stage for the boycott by reviewing what life was like for blacks living in the South in the 1950s. The author uses personal accounts of various citizen participants as well as Rosa Parks and Martin Luther King, Jr., providing powerful words and experiences for readers.

Esperanza Rising by Pam Munoz Ryan, Ages 8-12, 272 pgs. Esperanza and her mother are forced to leave their life of wealth and privilege in Mexico to go to work in the labor camps of Southern California, where they must adapt to the harsh circumstances facing Mexican farm workers on the eve of the Great Depression.

The Watsons Go to Birmingham-1963 by Christopher Paul Curtis, Ages 9-12, 224 pages The ordinary interactions and everyday routines of the Watsons, an African American family living in Flint, Michigan, are drastically changed after they go to visit Grandma in Alabama in the summer of 1963.

Moderate: Guts: The True Story Behind Hatchet and the Brian Books by Gary Paulsen, Young Adult, 160 pgs. The author tells the real story behind several of his award-winning adventure stories.

The Last Book in the Universe by Rodman Philbrick, Ages 9-12, 224 pages It's the story of an epileptic teenager nicknamed Spaz, who begins the heroic fight to bring human intelligence back to the planet. In a world where most people are plugged into brain-drain entertainment systems, Spaz is the rare human being who can see life as it really is. When he meets an old man called Ryter, he begins to learn about Earth and its past. With Ryter as his companion, Spaz sets off an unlikely quest to save his dying sister -- and in the process, perhaps the world.

Walk Two Moons by Sharon Creech, Ages 12 and up, 280 pgs. After her mother leaves home suddenly, 13 year old Sal and her grandparents take a car trip retracing her mother’s route. Along the way, Sal recounts the story of his friend Phoebe, whose mother also left.

Alex Rider: Stormbreaker by Anthony Horowitz, Young Adult, 262 pages Nothing can prepare fourteen-year-old Alex for the news that the uncle he always thought he knew was really a spy for MI6— Britain’s top-secret intelligence agency. Recruited to find his uncle’s killers and complete his final mission, Alex suddenly finds himself caught in a deadly game of cat and mouse.

4 Shug by Jenny Han, Ages 12-up, 248 pages Annemarie Wilcox, or Shug as her family calls her, is beginning to think there's nothing worse than being twelve. She's too tall, too freckled, and way too flat-chested. Shug is sure that there's not one good or amazing thing about her. And now she has to start junior high, where the friends she counts most dear aren't acting so dear anymore -- especially Mark...

The Moves Make the Man by Bruce Brooks, RL 7.2, 280 pgs. A black boy and an emotionally troubled white boy in North Carolina form a precarious friendship.

Derek Jeter; the Life You Imagine: Life Lessons for Achieving your Dreams by Derek Jeter and Jack Curry, 12 and up, 304 pgs. Derek Jeter is an undisputed star. He bats, fields, and runs like a champion. In fact, in his mind, the New Jersey native has always seemed destined for pinstripe prominence: When his eighth grade classmates adjudged him "most likely to play shortstop for the New York Yankees," they were only echoing his own dreams. This illustrated autobiography serves admirably as a self-image booster for kids, for Jeter's soft- spoken seriousness and steady work make him a fine role model.

Last Shot: A Final Four Mystery by John Feinstein, Ages 12-up, 272 pages Danny Jordan is one of two lucky winners of the US Basketball Writer's Association's contest for aspiring journalists. His prize? A trip to New Orleans and a coveted press pass for the Final Four. It's a basketball lover's dream come true! But the games going on behind the scenes between the coaches, the players, the media, the money-men, and the fans turn out to be even more fiercely competitive than those on the court. Danny and his fellow winner, Brigid-Ann Robinson, are nosing around the Superdome and overhear what sounds like a threat to throw the championship game. Now they have just 48 hours to figure out who is blackmailing one of MSU's star players . . . and why.

The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle by Avi, RL 7.0, 232 pgs. As the lone young lady on a transatlantic voyage in 1832, Charlotte learns that the captain is murderous and the crew is rebellious.

Boston Jane: An Adventure by Jennifer Holmes, RL 8.2, 273 pgs. Schooled in the lessons of etiquette for young ladies of 1854, Miss Jane Peck of Philadelphia finds little use for manners during her long sea voyage to the Pacific Northwest and while living among the American traders and Chinook Indians of the Washington Territory.

Skellig by David Almond, Young Adult, 192 pages Ten-year-old Michael was looking forward to moving into a new house. But now his baby sister is ill, his parents are frantic, and Doctor Death has come to call. Michael feels helpless. Then he steps into the crumbling garage. . . .

Fairest by Gail Carson Levine, Ages 10-up, 336 pages Aza, which means lark in Ayorthaian, wonders about her true parentage. She wants a reason to explain why she is so big and ugly and has such an amazing song voice. Her voice counts for much in a land where everyone sings. She is happy enough in her inn-home where her mother, father, and sister Areida adore her, and the guests do not annoy her all that much. She can usually satisfy them. She pleases herself with the voice trick of throwing her voice or the imitated voices of others, wherever she wants. When Aza is taken to court by the duchess whose dame is sick, she does not know she is walking into a hot-bed of conflict. Within days, she views a royal wedding, falls in love with Prince Ijori, sees King Oscaro suffer a blow that puts him in a coma-like state, and is pleased then horrified to become the waiting-woman of the new, foreign, manipulative, and non-singing Queen Ivi.

Gathering of Days by Joan W. Blos, 9-12, 144 pgs. The journal of a fourteen-year-old girl, kept the last year she lived on the family farm, records daily events in her small New Hampshire town, her father's remarriage, and the death of her best friend.

5 Escape: The Story of the Great Houdini by Sid Fleischman, Ages 12-up, 210 pages Who was this man who could walk through brick walls and, with a snap of his fingers, vanish elephants? In these pages you will meet the astonishing Houdini—magician, ghost chaser, daredevil, pioneer aviator, and king of escape artists. No jail cell or straitjacket could hold him! He shucked off handcuffs as easily as gloves. In this fresh, witty biography of the most famous bamboozler since Merlin, Sid Fleischman, a former professional magician, enriches his warm homage with insider information and unmaskings. Did Houdini really pick the jailhouse lock to let a fellow circus performer escape? Were his secrets really buried with him? Was he a bum magician, as some rivals claimed? How did he manage to be born in two cities, in two countries, on two continents at the same instant?

When My Name Was Keoko by Linda Sue Park, Ages 9-12, 208 pgs. Newberry Medal-winning author Linda Sue Park chronicles the compelling story of two siblings, 10-year- old Sun-hee and 13-year-old Tae-yul, and their battle to maintain their identity and dignity during one of Korea's most difficult and turbulent times. In alternating first-person chapters, they relate their family's troubles under the strict fascist regime.

The Slave Dancer by Paula Fox, Ages 12 and up, 144 pgs. Kidnapped by the crew of an African-bound ship, a 13-year-old boy discovers to his horror that he is a slave and his job is to play music for the exercise periods of the human cargo.

Before We Were Free by Julia Alvarez, Young Adult, 192 pages Anita de la Torre never questioned her freedom living in the Dominican Republic. But by her 12th birthday in 1960, most of her relatives have emigrated to the United States, her Tío Toni has disappeared without a trace, and the government’s secret police terrorize her remaining family because of their suspected opposition of el Trujillo’s dictatorship. Using the strength and courage of her family, Anita must overcome her fears and fly to freedom, leaving all that she once knew behind.

Milkweed by Jerry Spinelli, Young Adult, 208 pages He’s a boy called Jew. Gypsy. Stopthief. Runt. Happy. Fast. Filthy son of Abraham. He’s a boy who lives in the streets of Warsaw. He’s a boy who steals food for himself and the other orphans. He’s a boy who believes in bread, and mothers, and angels. He’s a boy who wants to be a Nazi someday, with tall shiny jackboots and a gleaming Eagle hat of his own. Until the day that suddenly makes him change his mind. And when the trains come to empty the Jews from the ghetto of the damned, he’s a boy who realizes it’s safest of all to be nobody.

Challenging: Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card, Young Adult, 336 pages The Earth is under attack and the survival of the human species depends on a military genius who can defeat the alien “buggers.” Recruited for military training, Andrew “Ender” Wiggin’s childhood ends the moment he enters his new home: Battle School.

The Wand in the Word: Conversations with Writers of Fantasy by Leonard S. Marcus, Young Adult, 202 pages In a series of incisive interviews, Leonard S. Marcus engages thirteen master storytellers in spirited conversation about their life and work, providing inspiring reading for fantasy fans and future writers alike. What kind of child were you? When did you decide you wanted to be a writer? Why do you write fantasy? "Fantasy," writes Leonard S. Marcus, "is storytelling with the beguiling power to transform the impossible into the imaginable and to reveal our own ‘real' world in a fresh and truth-bearing light." Few have harnessed this power with the artistry, verve, and imagination of the authors encountered in this compelling book. How do they work their magic?

Warriors Don’t Cry by Melba Pettillo Pattillo Beals and Anne Greenberg (Editor), Young Adult, 240 pgs. Beals, one of the nine black students who integrated Central High School in Little Rock, AR, in 1957, tells an incredible story of faith, family love, friendships, and strong personal commitment. Drawing from the diaries she kept, the author easily puts readers in her saddle oxfords as she struggles against those people in both the white and black communities who would have segregation continue.

6 The Bartimaeus Trilogy, Book One: The Amulet of Samarkand by Jonathan Stroud, 480 pages Nathaniel is a young magician with only one thing on his mind: revenge. As an apprentice to the great magician Underwood, Nathaniel is gradually being schooled in the traditional art of magic. All is well until he has a life-changing encounter with Simon Lovelace, a rising, star magician. When Simon brutally humiliates Nathaniel in front of everyone he knows, Nathaniel decides to speed up his magical education, teaching himself spells way beyond his years. Eventually, he masters one of the most difficult spells of all: summoning the all-powerful djinni, Bartimeus. But summoning Bartimeus and controlling him are two very different things--and Nathaniel may be in way over his head.

The Last Mission by Harry Mazer, Young Adult, 192 pgs. In 1944, a 15-year-old Jewish boy tells his family he will travel in the West, but instead enlists in the US Air Corps and is subsequently taken prisoner by the Germans.

Little Women by Louisa May Alcott, Young Adult, 449 pgs. Meet the March sisters: the talented and tomboyish Jo, the beautiful Meg, the frail Beth, and the spoiled Amy, as they pass through the years between girlhood and womanhood. A lively portrait of growing up in th the 19 century with lasting vitality and enduring charm.

Anne of Green Gables by L. M. Montgomery, Ages 12 and up, 308 pgs. When mischievous orphan Anne Shirley arrives at the Cuthbert farm, Green Gables, she knows she wants to stay forever. One of the best loved and most enduring books in all of children’s literature, written with sweetness and charm.

Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson, Ages 12 and up, 298 pgs. While going through the possessions of a deceased guest who owed them money, the mistress of the inn and her son find a treasure map that leads them to a pirate’s fortune.

Little House Series by Laura Ingalls Wilder, 9-12, 238 pgs. Now, this favorite classic -- the first in the original nine-book series -- is available in a large-print, easy-to- read format, sure to captivate a new audience of younger readers. Both adults and kids will love sitting together and reading about pioneer girl Laura Ingalls and her family, in this warm, affectionate look back at Colonial days.

Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry by Mildred Taylor, Young Adult, 288 pgs. Mildred Taylor's Newberry Award-winning book is the bittersweet and beautifully written story of the Logans, a poor black family struggling through poverty and racism in Depression-era Mississippi. Through the eyes of Cassie, the feisty only daughter, we come to admire the dignity, courage, and resourcefulness of this close-knit family.

The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams Seconds before the Earth is demolished for a galactic freeway, Arthur Dent is saved by Ford Prefect, a researcher for the revised Guide. Together they stick out their thumbs to the stars and begin a wild journey through time and space.

The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate by Jacqueline Kelly, 352 pages Calpurnia Virginia Tate is eleven years old in 1899 when she wonders why the yellow grasshoppers in her Texas backyard are so much bigger than the green ones. With a little help from her notoriously cantankerous grandfather, an avid naturalist, she figures out that the green grasshoppers are easier to see against the yellow grass, so they are eaten before they can get any larger. As Callie explores the natural world around her, she develops a close relationship with her grandfather, navigates the dangers of living with six brothers, and comes up against just what it means to be a girl at the turn of the century.

7 Reading Response Assignment: Required Classic Book, The Red Pony

Your Name: ______

Title: The Red Pony Author’s Name: John Steinbeck Open-Ended Response

Explain how two different events in Jody’s life (each one from a different chapter of the book) have taught him an important life lesson. Use evidence from the text to support your two-paragraph response. Do not exceed the space provided; handwriting is preferred. ______

8 Reading Response Assignment: Required Contemporary Book, Drums, Girls, and Dangerous Pie

Your Name: ______

Title: Drums, Girls, and Dangerous Pie Author’s Name: Jordan Sonnenblick Snapshot Summary

Somebody: Describe the main character. Write at least two sentences that share specific details about this character’s personality and appearance. ______

Wanted: Explain what motivated this character. Write at least two sentences to explain what this character wanted to get or to be, and why. ______

But: Explain what obstacle got in the way of the character. Write at least two sentences describing what the main conflict was and why or how the character was struggling with it. ______

So: Explain how the conflict was resolved. Write at least four sentences describing what happened in the end, including whether or not the character got what he/she wanted, and how he/she felt because of that in the end. ______

9 Reading Response Assignment: Free Choice Book

Your Name: ______

Title: ______Author’s Name: ______

Snapshot Summary (Do not exceed the space provided, handwritten responses are preferred)

Somebody: Describe the main character/figure. Write at least two sentences that share specific details about his/her personality and appearance. ______

Wanted: Explain what motivated this character/figure. Write at least two sentences to explain what the he/she wanted to get or to be, and why. ______

But: Explain what obstacle got in the way of the character/figure. Write at least two sentences describing what the main conflict was and why or how the character/figure was struggling with it. ______

So: Explain how the conflict was resolved. Write at least four sentences describing what happened in the end, including whether or not the character/figure got what he/she wanted, and how /she felt because of that in the end. ______

10 Rubric for Seventh Grade Summer Reading Responses

4 - Excellent The response demonstrates an in-depth understanding of the book as a whole. Student includes a concise description of main character, main character’s motivation, main conflict, and the resolution which may include how main character changed. 3 - Proficient The response demonstrates an understanding of the book as a whole. Student includes a description of main character, main character’s motivation, main conflict, and the resolution. 2 - Developing The response indicates some difficulty with summarizing, but some details from the story are provided, such as character and conflict. 1 - Limited The response lacks understanding of how to summarize. Partial understanding of the story is demonstrated through vague details of story, such as character and conflict. 0 - Incomplete Little or no response. Evidence of reading and understanding are not indicated.

11 Parental Permission Slip for Summer Reading Free Choice Book E.T. Richardson Middle School Seventh Grade

Date ______

I hereby give permission for my son / daughter to read . . .

______Title of Book

______Author

(which is not on the Recommended List) as his / her choice book for the Summer Reading Requirements.

______Parent / Guardian Signature

______Student Signature