2018 Summer Reading

Regular QR Code for Summer Reading Pre AP Summer Reading Connections

Example of how to complete connection page Example of how to complete connection page

Contact Information with any questions or concerns: Teri Eubank [email protected] (512) 268-1472

2018 Summer Reading Product Checklist

Purpose of summer reading: Summer reading is the singular activity that is most strongly and consistently related to preventing academic loss during the summer. The state academic standard we will focus on is 6.8.Fig19C – students will reflect on understanding to monitor comprehension through making connections – textual, personal, and world.

Requirements: 1 book

Your book choice must come from the BMS summer reading list(s). BMS summer reading lists (different for each grade level) is attached to this document; the information is taken from the district lists provided.

Annotations for beginning, middle and end using the Text Connection Log: Text to Self Text to Text Text to World

Provided: A text connections log will distributed to students prior to last day of school and will be on the BMS website & The Bobcat Zone by June 7, 2018.

Parent Note: Please note that some of the books on these lists may contain mature language, situations, and themes. We strongly encourage parents and/or guardians to preview the books.

While the Lexile Framework is a scientific way to match reader with text considered the right level of challenge, the Lexile Framework does not take into account student interest and literary merit. We strongly encourage parents and/or guardians to consider readability, interest, and literary merit when helping students choose books.

Communication: Information about BMS summer reading is communicated through a variety of approaches, including emails, newsletters, and the school website. Also, educators shared information directly with students via a promotional video and direct instruction.

Grading: Students will receive an assessment grade after the second week of school for the work they will complete over the summer reading. BMS educators will assign additional activities related to the summer reading after the second week of school.

Name ______

2018 Summer Reading Product (PRE AP)

3 Text to World (40 points), 2 Text to Text (20 points), 1 Text to Self (30 points), & Mechanics and Grammar (10 points) With a total value of 100. This is over the ENTIRE book.

Text to Self – when comparing what you have read to yourself, explain the connection with an example about yourself so that we understand the connection.

Text to Text – when comparing what you have read to another book, provided the title, author and a brief explanation of the other book so that we understand the connection.

Text to World – when comparing what you have read to a world event, explain the world event so that we understand the connection.

Note: all entries must be in complete sentences with proper capitalization and punctuation to be considered for full credit.

Name ______

2018 Summer Reading Product (REGULAR/RESOURCE)

3 Text to Self (40 points), 2 Text to Text (20 points), 1 Text to World (30 points), & Mechanics and Grammar (10 points) With a total value of 100. This is over the ENTIRE book.

Text to Self – when comparing what you have read to yourself, explain the connection with an example about yourself so that we understand the connection.

Text to Text – when comparing what you have read to another book, provided the title, author and a brief explanation of the other book so that we understand the connection.

Text to World – when comparing what you have read to a world event, explain the world event so that we understand the connection.

Making Text Connections Rubric (PRE AP) 4 3 2 1 Connection Connection is Connection is Connection is Connection is not directly related to partially related vaguely related to related to the 3 -Text to World the event in the to the event in the event in the event in the text. 1- text. The student the test. The text. The The student’s explains student’s student’s explanation is completely, and explanation is explanation is poor, and did not demonstrated good, which satisfactory make a clear insightful displays an because some connection. connections. understanding of connection was text connection. made. Connection Connection is Connection is Connection is Connection is not directly related to partially related vaguely related to related to the 2 2 - Text to Text the event in the to the event in the event in the event in the text. 2- text. The student the test. The text. The The student’s explains student’s student’s explanation is completely, and explanation is explanation is poor, and did not demonstrated good, which satisfactory make a clear insightful displays an because some connection. connections. understanding of connection was text connection. made. Connection Connection is Connection is Connection is Connection is not directly related to partially related vaguely related to related to the 3- 1 -Text to Self the event in the to the event in the event in the event in the text. text. The student the test. The text. The The student’s explains student’s student’s explanation is completely, and explanation is explanation is poor, and did not demonstrated good, which satisfactory make a clear insightful displays an because some connection. connections. understanding of connection was text connection. made. Mechanics Entries have no Entries have one Entries have three Entries have six or and Grammar errors in or two to five more punctuation, punctuation, punctuation, punctuation, capitalization, capitalization, capitalization, capitalization, grammar, and grammar, and grammar, and grammar, and spelling. spelling errors. spelling errors. spelling errors.

3 Text to World (40 points), 2 Text to Text (20 points), 1 Text to Self (30 points), & Mechanics and Grammar (10 points) With a total value of 100. This is over the ENTIRE book. Making Text Connections Rubric (REGULAR/RESOURCE) 4 3 2 1 Connection Connection is Connection is Connection is Connection is not directly related to partially related vaguely related to related to the 3 -Text to Self the event in the to the event in the event in the event in the text. 4- text. The student the test. The text. The The student’s explains student’s student’s explanation is completely, and explanation is explanation is poor, and did not demonstrated good, which satisfactory make a clear insightful displays an because some connection. connections. understanding of connection was text connection. made. Connection Connection is Connection is Connection is Connection is not directly related to partially related vaguely related to related to the 3 2 - Text to Text the event in the to the event in the event in the event in the text. 5- text. The student the test. The text. The The student’s explains student’s student’s explanation is completely, and explanation is explanation is poor, and did not demonstrated good, which satisfactory make a clear insightful displays an because some connection. connections. understanding of connection was text connection. made. Connection Connection is Connection is Connection is Connection is not directly related to partially related vaguely related to related to the 6- 1 -Text to World the event in the to the event in the event in the event in the text. text. The student the test. The text. The The student’s explains student’s student’s explanation is completely, and explanation is explanation is poor, and did not demonstrated good, which satisfactory make a clear insightful displays an because some connection. connections. understanding of connection was text connection. made. Mechanics Entries have no Entries have one Entries have three Entries have six or and Grammar errors in or two to five more punctuation, punctuation, punctuation, punctuation, capitalization, capitalization, capitalization, capitalization, grammar, and grammar, and grammar, and grammar, and spelling. spelling errors. spelling errors. spelling errors.

3 Text to Self (40 points), 2 Text to Text (20 points), 1 Text to World (30 points), & Mechanics and Grammar (10 points) With a total value of 100. This is over the ENTIRE book. 2018 Summer Reading Product (PRE AP)

Text-to-World Text-to-World Text-to-World

Text-to-Text Text-to-Text

Text-to-Self

2018 Summer Reading Product

(REGULAR/RESOURCE)

Text-to-Self Text-to-Self Text-to-Self

Text-to-Text Text-to-Text

Text-to-World

2018 Summer Reading Product Summer Reading Assignment Regular (REGULAR/RESOURCE)

Text to Self

As I read Bruiser, I was In my book, Cody’s reckless In my family I have a brother reminded of a time when there behavior kinda’ reminds me of just like Tennyson. We have a was a student at my school that my own childhood. Like the love/hate relationship, but I seemed misunderstood by most time when I tried to jump off a would not know what to do students. The student had skateboard ramp. I thought I without him. usually reactions to others, was invincible. sometimes made noises, and sprinted from class to class.

Text to Text

Bruiser to Wonder: one of the central Bruiser to Star Girl: Both characters characters was gradually accepted by were outcast, they meet people that other characters that were able to accept them for who they are. overlook differences and stereotypes. Whether the character wanted to be In Bruiser, people wondered why acknowledged or not, their gifts Brewster was such a loner. In Wonder, brought the best out in them. characters seemed to have a shocked reaction to Augie.

Text to World

Empathy: When watching the news about the San Antonio Fire Fighters and their loss of one of their men, the Chief was giving a public announcement about the situation. He could not contain his emotions as he spoke, many others in the audience began to tear up and feel his pain. In Bruiser, the parents start to give away their pain and Brewster takes it all on.

Summer2018 Summer Reading Reading Assignment Product (PRE Pre AP) AP

Text to World

Foster Care: Many children that are Empathy: When watching the news Sibling Relationships: On the Nightly placed in a foster situation are about the San Antonio Fire Fighters News with Lester Holt they had a placed in temporary family homes. and their loss of one of their men, piece about sibling birth order vs. The system is very bogged down the Chief was giving a public twins. They noted that twins become with too many children that the announcement about the situation. attached in the womb, after birth state is trying to keep their siblings He could not contain his emotions as they start displaying similar abilities together. In Bruiser, Brewster did he spoke, many others in the and seem to not do well when not want to be separated from audience began to tear up and feel separated. In Bruiser, Tennyson and Cody when their uncle died, his pain. In Bruiser, the parents start Bronte seem to thrive when they therefore they were placed in a to give away their pain and Brewster have each other’s backs. temporary holding home instead of takes it all on. foster care.

Text to Text

Bruiser to Wonder: one of the central Bruiser to Star Girl: Both characters characters was gradually accepted by were outcast, they meet people that other characters that were able to accept them for who they are. Whether overlook differences and stereotypes. the character wanted to be In Bruiser, people wondered why acknowledged or not, their gifts Brewster was such a loner. In Wonder, brought the best out in them. characters seemed to have a shocked reaction to Augie.

Text to Self

As I read Bruiser, I was reminded of a time when there was a student at my school that seemed misunderstood by most students. The student had usually reactions to others, sometimes made noises, and sprinted from class to class. I was unsure about getting to know them, but one day the teacher paired us up for an activity. I was surprised by their knowledge of the material and the fact that we had a lot in common. Looking back, I can see that in a lot of ways I am like Bronte from Bruiser.

6th Grade ELA and World Cultures Summer Reading List 2018

Please note that some of the books on these lists may contain mature language, situations, and themes. We strongly encourage parents and/or guardians to preview the books.

Hatchet by Gary Paulson 1020L Brian Robertson, sole passenger on a Cessna 406, is on his way to visit his father when the tiny bush plane crashes in the Canadian wilderness. With nothing but his clothing, a tattered windbreaker, and the hatchet his mother had given him as a present, Brian finds himself completely alone. Challenged by his fear and despair -- and plagued with the weight of a dreadful secret he's been keeping since his parent's divorce -- Brian must tame his inner demons in order to survive. It will take all his know-how and determination, and more courage than he knew he possessed.

Lost Boy, Lost Girl: Escaping Civil War in Sudan by John Hul Dau 900L One of thousands of children who fled strife in southern Sudan, John Bul Dau survived hunger, exhaustion, and violence. His wife, Martha, endured similar hardships. In this memorable book, the two convey the best of African values while relating searing accounts of famine and war.

Revolution by Deborah Wiles 840L It's 1964, and Sunny's town is being invaded or at least that's what the adults of Greenwood, Mississippi, are saying. All Sunny knows is that people from up north are coming to help people register to vote, and they're calling it Freedom Summer. Meanwhile, Sunny can't help but feel like her house is being invaded, too, because she has a new stepmother, a new brother, and a new sister crowding her life, giving her little room to breathe. And things get even trickier when Sunny and her brother are caught sneaking into the local swimming pool-- where they bump into a mystery boy whose life is going to become tangled up in theirs. Deborah Wiles tells the riveting story and of kids who, in a world where everyone is choosing sides, must figure out how to stand up for themselves and fight for what's right.

A Night Divided by Jennifer A. Nielsen 810L With the rise of the Berlin Wall, twelve-year-old Gerta finds her family divided overnight. She, her mother, and her brother Fritz live on the eastern side, controlled by the Soviets. Her father and middle brother, who had gone west in search of work, cannot return home. Gerta knows it is dangerous to watch the wall, to think forbidden thoughts of freedom, yet she can’t help herself. She sees the East German soldiers with their guns trained on their own citizens; she, her family, her neighbors and friends are prisoners in their own city. No one can be trusted. Will Gerta and her family find their way to freedom?

Among the Hidden by Margaret Peterson Haddix 800L 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. He’s lived his entire life in hiding, and now, with a new housing development replacing the woods next to his family’s farm, he is no longer even allowed to go outside. Then, one day Luke sees a girl’s face in the window of a house where he knows two other children already live. Finally, he’s met a shadow child like himself. Jen is willing to risk everything to come out of the shadows–does Luke dare to become involved in her dangerous plan? Can he afford not to?

Refugee by Alan Gratz 800L This timely and powerful novel tells the story of three different children seeking refuge. Josef is a Jewish boy living in 1930s Nazi Germany. With the threat of concentration camps looming, he and his family board a ship bound for the other side of the world. Isabel is a Cuban girl in 1994. With riots and unrest plaguing her country, she and her family set out on a raft, hoping to find safety in America. Mahmoud is a Syrian boy in 2015. With his homeland torn apart by violence and destruction, he and his family begin a long trek toward Europe.

The Kids of Kabul by Deborah Ellis 800L Deborah Ellis went to Kabul to find out what happened to Afghanistan’s children since the fall of the Taliban in 2001. She interviewed children who spoke about their lives now. They are still living in a country torn apart by war. Violence and oppression still exist, particularly affecting the lives of girls, but the kids are weathering their lives with courage and optimism: "I was incredibly impressed by the sense of urgency these kids have — needing to get as much education and life experience and fun as they can, because they never know when the boom is going to be lowered on them again."

The Wild Robot by Peter Brown 740L When robot Roz opens her eyes for the first time, she discovers that she is alone on a remote, wild island. She has no idea how she got there or what her purpose is-- but she knows she needs to survive. After battling a fierce storm and escaping a vicious bear attack, she realizes that her only hope for survival is to adapt to her surroundings and learn from the island's unwelcoming animal inhabitants. As Roz slowly befriends the animals, the island starts to feel like home--until, one day, the robot's mysterious past comes back to haunt her. From bestselling and award- winning author and illustrator Peter Brown comes a heartwarming and action- packed novel about what happens when nature and technology collide.

Seedfolks by Paul Fleischman 710L Newbery Medal-winning Seedfolks from Paul Fleischman tells thirteen stories from diverse perspectives—young and old, immigrant and native, haunted and hopeful. A fractured neighborhood unites with just a few seeds, turning a drab empty lot in Cleveland into beautiful green garden.

A Long Walk to Water by Linda Sur Park 720L A Long Walk to Water begins with two stories, told in alternating sections, about two eleven-year-olds in Sudan, a girl in 2008 and a boy in 1985. The girl, Nya, is fetching water from a pond that is two hours’ walk from her home: she makes two trips to the pond every day. The boy, Salva, becomes one of the "lost boys" of Sudan, refugees who cover the African continent on foot as they search for their families and for a safe place to stay. Enduring every hardship from loneliness to attack by armed rebels to contact with killer lions and crocodiles, Salva is a survivor, and his story goes on to intersect with Nya’s in an astonishing and moving way.

We Are All Made of Molecules by Susin Nielsen 710L Thirteen-year-old Stewart is academically brilliant but socially clueless. Fourteen- year-old Ashley is the undisputed “It” girl in her class, but her grades stink. Their worlds are about to collide when Stewart and his dad move in with Ashley and her mom. Stewart is trying to be 89.9 percent happy about it, but Ashley is 110 percent horrified. She already has to hide the real reason her dad moved out; “Spewart” could further threaten her position at the top of the social ladder. They are complete opposites. And yet, they have one thing in common: they—like everyone else—are made of molecules.

Words in the Dust by Trent Reedy 670L Zulaikha's life in Afghanistan is not easy. She is teased constantly for a facial deformity and although the Taliban is no longer in power, it has violently taken her mother from her, and the 13-year-old is left keeping house for a busy, traditional father and his bad-tempered wife. She is trapped by the confines of her culture as well as by her own fears, but things begin to change when she meets a mysterious woman who wants to work with her on her writing and teach her about poetry. When American soldiers roll into town and offer her the chance to fix her cleft palate, Zulaikha allows herself to wish for a better and different future. This book is full of hard truths, painful lessons, beautiful human interaction, and the promise of possibility.

Terror at Bottle Creek by Watt Key 650L In this gritty, realistic wilderness adventure, thirteen-year-old Cort is caught in a battle against a Gulf Coast hurricane. Cort's father is a local expert on hunting and swamp lore in lower Alabama who has been teaching his son everything he knows. But when a deadly Category 3 storm makes landfall, Cort must unexpectedly put all his skills―and bravery―to the test. One catastrophe seems to lead to another, leaving Cort and two neighbor girls to face the storm as best they can. Amid miles of storm- thrashed wetlands filled with dangerous, desperate wild animals, it's up to Cort to win―or lose―the fight for their lives. 3

The Breadwinner by Deborah Ellis 630L The first book in Deborah Ellis’s riveting Breadwinner series is an award- winning novel about loyalty, survival, families, and friendship under extraordinary circumstances during the Taliban’s rule in Afghanistan. Eleven- year-old Parvana lives with her family in one room of a bombed-out apartment building in Kabul, Afghanistan’s capital city. Parvana’s father — a history teacher until his school was bombed and his health destroyed — works from a blanket on the ground in the marketplace, reading letters for people who cannot read or write. One day, he is arrested for the crime of having a foreign education, and the family is left without someone who can earn money or even shop for food. As conditions for the family grow desperate, only one solution emerges. Forbidden to earn money as a girl, Parvana must transform herself into a boy, and become the breadwinner.

Slated by Teri Terry 530L Kyla’s memory has been erased, her personality wiped blank, her memories lost forever. She’s been slated. The government claims that she was a terrorist and they are giving her a second chance—if she plays by their rules. But scenes from the past haunt her as she tries to adjust to a new life, family, and school, leaving her unsettled. Who is she really? And if only criminals are meant to be slated, why are so many other teens disappearing? As she and her friend Ben seek answers, Kyla is torn between the need to know more and her instinct for self- preservation.

Fish in a Tree by Lynda Mullaly Hunt 550L Ally is a talented artist and a math whiz but her skills don't stop her from feeling dumb as she begins sixth grade. Ally finds letters on the page almost impossible to decode because they seem to move around; trying to make sense of them gives her headaches. To add to her problems, her military dad is deployed overseas and she's struggling to cope with the death of her much-loved grandfather. After being misunderstood by another teacher, Ally is transferred to Mr. Daniels's class. Mr. Daniels is supportive and encourages Ally to let go of her protective shell. In this class she meets Keisha and Alfred, students with differences of their own, and they help and support one another, identifying their individual strengths. McInerney's reading effectively captures the characters' personalities: Ally's insecurity, Keisha's confidence, science-loving Alfred's robot-like affect, and their snarky classmate, hard-to-like Shay.

The Hays CISD 6th Grade ELA and World Cultures Summer Reading List was synthesized from the following sources: Bookworm For Kids, School Library Journal, International Literacy Association, National Book Foundation, Texas Library Association, Scholastic, and Lexile Framework for Reading.

7th Grade On-Level ELA, Pre-AP ELA, and Texas History Summer Reading List 2018

Please note that some of the books on these lists may contain mature language, situations, and themes. We strongly encourage parents and/or guardians to preview the books.

The Wednesday Wars by Gary D. Schmidt 990L The Wednesday Wars is a compelling story about a teenage boy’s mishaps and adventures during the 1967–1968 school year in Long Island, New York. Meet Holling, a seventh-grader at Camillo Junior High. His father wants Holling and his sister to be on their best behavior: the success of his business depends on it. But how can Holling stay out of trouble when he has so much to contend with? A bully demanding cream puffs; angry rats; and a baseball hero signing autographs the very same night Holling has to appear in a play in yellow tights! As fate sneaks up on him again and again, Holling finds Motivation—the Big M—in the most unexpected places and musters up the courage to embrace his destiny, in spite of himself.

White Lilacs by Carolyn Meyer 990L Based, as the author explains in an endnote, on an event that took place in 1921- 22, this somber, moving story focuses on prejudice, injustice and everyday bravery. When the city council of Dillon, Tex., unveils its plans to raze Freedomtown--an all-black enclave in the town's center--and replace it with a park, the proposal unleashes a tumult of rage and defiance in the black community. As seen through the eyes of 12-year-old aspiring artist Rose Lee Jefferson, this struggle for equal rights quickly becomes a sorrowful march toward an inevitable eviction. Even Rose Lee's activist older brother fails in his fight against Dillon's privileged class: he is tarred and feathered by citizens in the community. Numerous historical details are smoothly integrated into the story. Bleak though its conclusion is, this bittersweet novel is poignant and tender, both in its spare vernacular dialogue and delicate description.

Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson 990L Raised in South Carolina and New York, Woodson always felt halfway home in each place. In vivid poems, she shares what it was like to grow up as an African American in the 1960s and 1970s, living with the remnants of Jim Crow and her growing awareness of the Civil Rights movement. Touching and powerful, each poem is both accessible and emotionally charged, each line a glimpse into a child’s soul as she searches for her place in the world.

Dark Water Rising by Marian Hale 970L Galveston, Texas, may be the booming city of the brand-new twentieth century, but to Seth, it is the end of a dream. He longs to be a carpenter like his father, but his family has moved to Galveston so he can go to a good school. Still, the last few weeks of summer might not be so bad. Seth has a real job as a builder and the beach is within walking distance. Things seem to be looking up, until a storm warning is raised one sweltering afternoon. No one could have imagined anything like this. Giant walls of water crash in from the sea. Shingles and bricks are deadly missiles flying through the air. Forget the future, Seth and his family will be lucky to survive the next twenty-four hours.

Code Talker by Joseph Bruchac 910L Throughout World War II, in the conflict fought against Japan, Navajo code talkers were a crucial part of the U.S. effort, sending messages back and forth in an unbreakable code that used their native language. They braved some of the heaviest fighting of the war, and with their code, they saved countless American lives. Yet their story remained classified for more than twenty years. But now Joseph Bruchac brings their stories to life for young adults through the riveting fictional tale of Ned Begay, a sixteen-year-old Navajo boy who becomes a code talker. His grueling journey is eye-opening and inspiring. This deeply affecting novel honors all of those young men, like Ned, who dared to serve, and it honors the culture and language of the Navajo Indians.

The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate by Jacqueline Kelly 830L 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.

The Truth About Sparrows by Marian Hale 820L Sadie Wynn doesn't want a new life; her old one suits her just fine. But times are hard in drought-plagued Missouri, and Daddy thinks they'll be better off in Texas. Sadie hates this strange new place, where even children must work at the cannery to help make ends meet and people are rude to her disabled father. Yet when trouble comes, it is the kindness of these new neighbors that helps the family make it through. And no one helps more than Dollie, a red-headed chatterbox of a girl who just might become a good friend-if Sadie gives her half a chance.

The Afterlife by Gary Soto 810L You'd think a knife in the ribs would be the end of things, but for Chuy, that's when his life at last gets interesting. He finally sees that people love him, faces the consequences of his actions, finds in himself compassion and bravery… and even stumbles on what may be true love. After he is killed in a bathroom in a club, seventeen-year-old Chuy finds himself leaving his body and becoming a ghost. As he gets used to his ghostly body, he visits those whom he loved and finds a chance at love in the afterlife. A funny, touching, and wholly original story by one of the finest authors writing for young readers today.

The Crossover by Kwame Alexander 750L Josh and his twin brother Jordan are awesome on the court. But Josh has more than basketball in his blood, he's got mad beats, too, that tell his family's story in verse, in this fast and furious novel of family and brotherhood from Kwame Alexander.

Esperanza Rising by Pam Muñoz Ryan 750L Esperanza thought she'd always live with her family on their ranch in Mexico-- she'd always have fancy dresses, a beautiful home, and servants. But a sudden tragedy forces Esperanza and Mama to flee to California during the Great Depression, and to settle in a camp for Mexican farm workers. Esperanza isn't ready for the hard labor, financial struggles, or lack of acceptance she now faces. When their new life is threatened, Esperanza must find a way to rise above her difficult circumstances--Mama's life, and her own, depend on it.

Crossing the Wire by Will Hobbs 670L When falling crop prices threaten his family with starvation, fifteen-year-old Victor Flores heads north in an attempt to "cross the wire" from Mexico into the United States so he can find work and send money home. But with no coyote money to pay the smugglers who sneak illegal workers across the border, Victor must struggle to survive as he jumps trains, stows away on trucks, and hikes grueling miles through the Arizona desert. Victor's journey is fraught with danger, freezing cold, scorching heat, hunger, and dead ends. It's a gauntlet run by millions attempting to cross the border. Through Victor's often desperate struggle, Will Hobbs brings to life one of the great human dramas of our time.

Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli 590L From the day she arrives at quiet Mica High in a burst of color and sound, the hallways hum with the murmur of "Stargirl, Stargirl." She captures Leo Borlock's heart with just one smile. She sparks a school-spirit revolution with just one cheer. The students of Mica High are enchanted. At first. Then they turn on her. Stargirl is suddenly shunned for everything that makes her different, and Leo, panicked and desperate with love, urges her to become the very thing that can destroy her: normal.

Bystander by James Preller 600L Eric is the new kid in seventh grade. Griffin wants to be his friend. When you're new in town, it's hard to know who to hang out with―and who to avoid. Griffin seems cool, confident, and popular. But something isn't right about Griffin; he always seems to be in the middle of bad things. And if Griffin doesn't like you, you'd better watch your back. There might be a target on it. As Eric gets drawn deeper into Griffin's dark world, he begins to see the truth about Griffin. He's a liar, a bully, a thief. Eric wants to break away, do the right thing. But in one shocking moment, he goes from being a bystander... to the bully's next victim.

The Hays CISD 7th Grade On-Level ELA, Pre-AP ELA, and Texas History Summer Reading List was synthesized from the following sources: Bookworm For Kids, School Library Journal, International Literacy Association, National Book Foundation, Texas Library Association, Scholastic, and Lexile Framework for Reading.

8th Grade On-Level ELA, Pre-AP ELA, and US History Summer Reading List 2018

Please note that some of the books on these lists may contain mature language, situations, and themes. We strongly encourage parents and/or guardians to preview the books.

Guts by Gary Paulsen 1230L Gary Paulsen tells the real stories behind the Brian books, the stories of the adventures that inspired him to write Brian Robeson's story: working as an emergency volunteer; the death that inspired the pilot's death in Hatchet; plane crashes he has seen and near-misses of his own. He describes how he made his own bows and arrows, and takes readers on his first hunting trips, showing the wonder and solace of nature along with his hilarious mishaps and mistakes. He shares special memories, such as the night he attracted every mosquito in the county, or how he met the moose with a sense of humor, and the moose who made it personal. Readers may wonder how Gary Paulsen survived to write all of his books -- well, it took guts.

The Great Fire by Jim Murphy 1130L The Great Fire of 1871 was one of most colossal disasters in American history. The damage was so profound that few people believed the city could ever rise again. By weaving personal accounts of actual survivors together with the carefully researched history of Chicago and the disaster, Jim Murphy constructs a riveting narrative that recreates the event with drama and immediacy. And finally, he reveals how, even in a time of deepest despair, the human spirit triumphed, as the people of Chicago found the courage and strength to build their city once again.

Candy Bombers by Michael O. Tunnell 1130L After World War II the United States and Britain airlifted food and supplies into Russian-blockaded West Berlin. US Air Force Lieutenant Gail S. Halvorsen knew the children of the city were suffering. To lift their spirits, he began dropping chocolate and gum by parachute. Michael O. Tunnell tells an inspiring tale of candy and courage.

Hidden Figures Young Reader’s Edition by Margot Shetterly 1120L This is the amazing true story of four African-American female mathematicians at NASA who helped achieve some of the greatest moments in our space program. This book brings to life the stories of Dorothy Vaughan, Mary Jackson, Katherine Johnson, and Christine Darden, four African-American women who lived through the civil rights era, the Space Race, the Cold War, and the movement for gender equality, and whose work forever changed the face of NASA and the country.

Harriet Tubman Secret Agent by Thomas Allen 1120L Harriet Tubman, Secret Agent brings readers deep into the undercover world of African-American spies—enslaved and liberated—risking everything in the name of freedom. How were the Underground Railroad and slave songs used to pass secret messages? What were “contrabands” and “black dispatches?” What did Harriet share with the Secret Six and a maidservant in the home of Confederate President Jefferson Davis?

The Crossing: by Jim Murphy 1080L How George Washington Saved the American Revolution It is 1776, and George Washington and his army of rebellious American colonists are emboldened by its stunning victories over the British at Lexington and Concord. But now, the Americans face the threat of a brutal British retaliation. George Washington, who has little experience with a threat of this magnitude, is unanimously chosen as commander in chief in hopes he can unite the colonies. Britain's army is massive and well trained. America's is small and unruly. As the British begin their invasion of New York City and its environs, George Washington isn't the only one who is overcome with doubts that he can succeed against such overwhelming odds. Jim Murphy shows George Washington's transformation from a gentleman farmer with little military experience to a brilliant general, as he delivers the country from the blackest of times -- into the brightest of futures.

Soldier’s Heart by Gary Paulson 1000L In June 1861, when the Civil War began, Charley Goddard enlisted in the First Minnesota Volunteers. He was 15. He didn't know what a "shooting war" meant or what he was fighting for, but he didn't want to miss out on a great adventure. The "shooting war" turned out to be the horror of combat and the wild luck of survival; how it feels to cross a field toward the enemy, waiting for fire. He entered the service as a boy and when he came back he was different; he was only 19, but he was a man with "soldier's heart."

Letters from a Slave Girl: by Mary Lyons 880L The Story of Harriet Jacobs Harriet Jacobs was born into slavery; it's the only life she has ever known. Now, with the death of her mistress, there is a chance she will be given her freedom, and for the first time Harriet feels hopeful. But hoping can be dangerous, because disappointment is devastating. Harriet has one last hope, though: escape to the North. And as she faces numerous ordeals, this hope gives her the strength she needs to survive. Based on the true story of Harriet Ann Jacobs, Letters from a Slave Girl reveals in poignant detail what thousands of African-American women had to endure not long ago. It's a story that will enlighten, anger, and never be forgotten.

The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros 870L Acclaimed by critics, beloved by readers of all ages, taught everywhere from inner-city grade schools to universities across the country, and translated all over the world, The House on Mango Street is the remarkable story of Esperanza Cordero. Told in a series of vignettes – sometimes heartbreaking, sometimes deeply joyous – it is the story of a young Latina girl growing up in Chicago, inventing for herself who and what she will become.

The Glory Field by Walter Dean Myers 800L This is the story of one family whose history saw its first ancestor captured, shackled, and brought to this country from Africa. A family who can still see remnants of the shackles that held some of its members captive -- even today. It is a story of pride, determination, struggle, and love. And of the piece of the land that holds them together throughout it all.

Chains by Laurie Halse Anderson 780L As the Revolutionary War begins, thirteen-year-old Isabel wages her own fight... for freedom. Promised freedom upon the death of their owner, she and her sister, Ruth, in a cruel twist of fate become the property of a malicious New York City couple, the Locktons, who have no sympathy for the American Revolution and even less for Ruth and Isabel. When Isabel meets Curzon, a slave with ties to the Patriots, he encourages her to spy on her owners, who know details of British plans for invasion. From acclaimed author Laurie Halse Anderson comes this compelling, impeccably researched novel that shows the lengths we can go to cast off our chains, both physical and spiritual.

Lunch-Box Dream by Tony Abbott 780L Bobby and his family are visiting Civil War battlefields on the eve of the war's centenary, while inside their car, quiet battles rage. When an accident cuts their trip short, they return home on a bus and witness an incident that threatens to deny a black family seats. What they don't know is the reason for the family's desperation to be on that bus: a few towns away, their child is missing. In Lunch- Box Dream Tony Abbott presents Jim Crow, racism, and segregation from multiple perspectives. In this story of witnessing without understanding, a naïvely prejudiced boy, in brief flashes of insight, starts to identify and question his assumptions about race.

Kira Kira by Cynthia Kadohata 740L kira-kira (kee ra kee ra): glittering; shining. That's how Lynn, Katie Takeshima's sister, makes everything seem. The sky is kira-kira because its color is deep but see-through at the same time. And so are people's eyes. When Katie and her family move from a Japanese community in Iowa to the Deep South of Georgia, it's Lynn who explains to her why people stop on the street to stare. And it's Lynn who, with her special way of viewing the world, teaches Katie to look beyond tomorrow. But when Lynn becomes desperately ill, and the whole family begins to fall apart, it is up to Katie to find a way to remind them all that there is always something glittering -- kira-kira -- in the future.

Sophia’s War: A Tale of the Revolution by Avi 730L In 1776, young Sophia Calderwood witnesses the execution of Nathan Hale in New York City, which is newly occupied by the British army. Sophia is horrified by the event and resolves to do all she can to help the American cause. Recruited as a spy, she becomes a maid in the home of General Clinton, the supreme commander of the British forces in America. Through her work she becomes aware that someone in the American army might be switching sides, and she uncovers a plot that will grievously damage the Americans if it succeeds. But the identity of the would-be traitor is so shocking that no one believes her, and so Sophia decides to stop the treacherous plot herself, at great personal peril: She’s young, she’s a girl, and she’s running out of time. And if she fails, she’s facing an execution of her own.

Touching Spirit Bear by Ben Mikaelsen 730L After severely injuring Peter Driscal in an empty parking lot, mischief-maker Cole Matthews is in major trouble. But instead of jail time, Cole is given another option: attend Circle Justice, an alternative program that sends juvenile offenders to a remote Alaskan Island to focus on changing their ways. Desperate to avoid prison, Cole fakes humility and agrees to go. While there, Cole is mauled by a mysterious white bear and left for dead. Thoughts of his abusive parents, helpless Peter, and his own anger cause him to examine his actions and seek redemption—from the spirit bear that attacked him, from his victims, and from himself.

Letters from a Slave Boy: The Story of Joseph Jacobs by Mary Lyons 710L Like his mother and grandmother before him, Joseph Jacobs was born into slavery. Joseph lives with his grandmother and sister in North Carolina, but he has not seen his mother for more than seven years. Unbeknownst to Joseph, his mother, Harriet, has been hiding from her owner in the attic of the house that Joseph lives in. But when Harriet's hiding place is in danger of being revealed, she is forced to flee north to safety only moments after being reunited with her family. In this companion novel to Letters from a Slave Girl, Joseph's stirring quest for freedom and identity is told through letters imagined by the author. Based on the real-life stories of Harriet and Joseph Jacobs, Letters from a Slave Boy is set against the backdrop of some of the most exciting and turbulent times in American history.

The Lions of Little Rock by Kristin Levine 630L As twelve-year-old Marlee starts middle school in 1958 Little Rock, it feels like her whole world is falling apart. Until she meets Liz, the new girl at school. Liz is everything Marlee wishes she could be: she's brave, brash and always knows the right thing to say. But when Liz leaves school without even a good-bye, the rumor is that Liz was caught passing for white. Marlee decides that doesn't matter. She just wants her friend back. And to stay friends, Marlee and Liz are even willing to take on segregation and the dangers their friendship could bring to both their families.

Witness by Karen Hesse NA Leanora Sutter. Esther Hirsh. Merlin Van Tornhout. Johnny Reeves.... These characters are among the unforgettable cast inhabiting a small Vermont town in 1924. A town that turns against its own when the Ku Klux Klan moves in. No one is safe, especially the two youngest, twelve-year-old Leanora, an African- American girl, and six-year-old Esther, who is Jewish. In this story of a community on the brink of disaster, told through the haunting and impassioned voices of its inhabitants, Newbery Award winner Karen Hesse takes readers into the hearts and minds of those who bear witness.

A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry NA Set on Chicago's South Side, the plot revolves around the divergent dreams and conflicts within three generations of the Younger family: son Walter Lee, his wife Ruth, his sister Beneatha, his son Travis and matriarch Lena, called Mama. When her deceased husband's insurance money comes through, Mama dreams of moving to a new home and a better neighborhood in Chicago. Walter Lee, a chauffeur, has other plans, however: buying a liquor store and being his own man. Beneatha dreams of medical school. The tensions and prejudice they face form this seminal American drama. Sacrifice, trust and love among the Younger family and their heroic struggle to retain dignity in a harsh and changing world is a searing and timeless document of hope and inspiration.

A Fire in My Hands by Gary Soto NA Few writers capture the everyday moments of life like Gary Soto. In direct and vivid poems, he draws from his own youth in California's Central Valley to portray the joys and sorrows of young people. But Soto's casual foreword, his questions and answers about poetry, and his brief autobiographical anecdotes with each poem emphasize that poetry keeps alive "the small moments" and finds meaning in "commonplace everyday things." While not denying that poetry can be difficult, he makes the reader want to pay attention.

The Hays CISD 8th Grade On-Level ELA, Pre-AP ELA, and US History Summer Reading List was synthesized from the following sources: Bookworm For Kids, School Library Journal, International Literacy Association, National Book Foundation, Texas Library Association, Scholastic, and Lexile Framework for Reading.