JMJ Dear 6th , 7th and 8 th Graders, On your first day of school in August, please bring with you a PORTFOLIO or FOLDER OF YOUR OWN DESIGN which you can DISPLAY and SHARE with everyone. This portfolio will remain with you for the entire year. In this portfolio, you will place all of your l iterature choices, experiences and projects for the year. To begin, your portfolio will contain the following 5 elements.

A minimum of 2 books must be read during the summer. The following are the requirements for the portfolio .

1. A TITLE PAGE with a PHOTO of yourself and a TABLE OF CONTENTS, followed by . . .

2. A brief explanation that states

*what genre of books you like to read and why

*how you improved your mind, body and spirit during the summer months. (due first day of school) You may include photos or drawings, if you wish.

3. A 1-2 paragraph narrative about the books you read

4. A READING RECORD of the author, title, dates, and number of pages you have read over the summer. (include any and all reading)

5. TWO READING-RELATED ACTIVITIES .

You may choose a summer-long, TEACHER -DIRECTED activity listed, OR you may select a STUDENT- DIRECTED activity which you will be thinking about as you read over the summer, but which you probably will not create until you have finis hed your reading selections.

YOU SELECT the ONE type of activity which you feel best reflects YOUR intellectual, emotional, and creative needs!

TEACHER-DIRECTED CHOICES:

1. Keep a “daily” REFLECTIVE journal on each day’s reading. Limit your thoughts, observations, and puzzlements to 2-3 sentences per entry

OR

2. Keep a CORRESPONDENCE journal. After reading a book (or selections of poetry or non -fiction), write a letter to its author or to one of the main characters. Using PROPER correspondence format, focus on important issues raised in the “book” and reveal any thoughts, observations, or puzzlements that you would like to share with the author, poet, character, or reader of your journal. (Length: 2-5 paragraphs per book.

OR

STUDENT-DIRECTED ACTIVITY:

This type of activity is designed for RISK TAKERS. While reading over the summer, carefully monitor your OBSERVATIONS AND REFLECTIONS.

Using one or more of your readings as a jumping-off point or source of inspirations, CREATE YOUR OWN ACTIVITY which should reflect your CREATIVE SELF. Feel free to experiment and explore with any ONE or MORE of several mediums, such as . . .

• ORIGINAL WRITING (poetry, prose, script writing for stage, film, or video/TV) • ORIGINAL ARTWORK (drawing, painting or sculpture and a short typed summary) • ORIGINAL MUSIC (music and/or lyrics and a short typed summary) • ORIGINAL MEDIA PRODUCTIONS (photography, slide presentation, video, film, etc. and a short typed summary

CREATIVE WORK should be “displayed” in such a way that it is appropriate for a GENERAL AUDIENCE, that the QUALITY of the creation reflects PRIDE AND QUALITY, and that it can be “hung up” or showcased in the classroom. “Type” written work, whenever possible, mount or frame using a contrasting background. This work must include the elements of literature clearly explained and provide reasons for your explanation of mood, theme, and types of characters.

If you choose a STUDENT-DIRECTED activity, clearly LABEL your activity with your NAME AND GRADE and include a LISTING of this activity in your portfolio, so that students and teachers are made aware that your activity may be found somewhere other than in your portfolio.

The AUTHORS of these outstanding books are NOT LISTED ALPHABETICALLY but rather in the order of their books’ probable POPULARITY and/or ease of reading. The more ADVANCED reading selections are at the end of each thematic section. You will find number of pages and themes.

Remember! Read until you find what appeals to you. Make reading a daily, enjoyable activity in your life!

EXPLORING VALUES

THE FAITHFUL FRIEND, San Souci THE FRIENDSHIP, Taylor (standing up for truth) MANIAC MAGEE, Spinelli (fighting prejudice, finding oneself) THE RIFLE, (gun issues) SHILOH, Naylor (risking all to help someone) WEASEL, DeFelice (choices) WRINGER, Spinelli (standing up for beliefs)

YOUNG ADULT MULTICULTURAL BOOKS GRADE 7

AMERICAN DRAGONS, Yep, ed. BEARSTONE, Hobbs CALL IT COURAGE, Sperry THE CIRCUIT, Jimenez DRAGON’S GATE, Yep FREEDOM SONGS, Moore FRIEDRICH, Richter THE FRIENDS, Yumoto THE FRIENDSHIP, Taylor GOING WHERE I’M COMING FROM: MEMOIRS OF AMERICAN YOUTH, Mayer HABIBI, Nye IMMIGRANT KIDS, Freedman JAZMIN’S NOTEBOOK, Grimes JOURNEY OF THE SPARROWS, Buss KOKOPELLI’S FLUTE, Hobbs LUPITA MANANA, Beatty THE MOVES MAKE THE MAN, Brooks OFF AND RUNNING, Soto ROSA PARKS: MY STORY, Parks WORDS BY HEART, Sebestyen

BOOKS THAT ARE CLASSIC

THE ADVENTURES OF TOM SAWYER ALICE’S ADVENTURES IN WONDERLAND CAPTAINS COURAGEOUS A CONNECTICUT YANKEE IN KING ARTHUR’S COURT DR. JEKYLL AND MR. HYDE DRACULA THE SECRET SHARER THE HOUSE OF SEVEN GABLES KIDNAPPED OLIVER TWIST THE PRICE AND THE PAUPER PUDD’NHEAD WILSON ROBINSON CRUSOE THE TIME MACHINE 20,000 LEAGUES UNDER THE SEA WAR OF THE WORLDS THE WIND IN THE WILLOWS WUTHERING HEIGHTS NEWBERRY BOOK AWARD WINNERS FOR MIDDLE SCHOOL

AMOS FORTUNE: FREE MAN, Yates BELLE PRATER’S BOY, White BRIDGE TO TEREBITHIA, Paterson CATHERINE, CALLED BIRDY, Cushman DICEY’S SONG, Voight ELLA ENCHANTED, Levine THE GIVER, Lowry HATCHET, Paulsen ISLAND OF THE BLUE DOLPHINS, O’Dell JULIE OF THE WOLVES, George LILY’S CROSSING, Giff MY BROTHER SAM IS DEAD, Collier & Collier OUT OF THE DUST, Hesse ROLL OF THUNDER, HEAR MY CRY, Taylor SHILOH, Naylor THE UPSTAIRS ROOM, Reiss THE WESTING GAME, Raskin WRINGER, Spinelli

Summer Reading List

The View From Saturday E.L. Konigsburg

Bud, Not Buddy Christopher Paul Curtis

What Could Go Wrong? Willo Davis Roberts

The Twenty-One Balloons William Pene DuBois

Someone is Hiding on Alcatraz Island Eve Bunting

The Breadwinner Deborah Ellis

A Week in the Woods Andrew Clements

Because of Winn-Dixie Kate DiCamillo

Behind the Bedroom Wall Laura E. Williams

Dealing With Dragons and series Patricia C. Wrede

Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer

A Long Way from Chicago Richard Peck

Under the Blood Red Sun Graham Salisbur Cousins Virginia Hamilton

Running Out of Time Margaret Peterson Haddix

The Duplicate William Sleator

The Duplicate William Sleator

Ryan White: My Own Story Ryan White

Joey Pigza Swallowed the Key Jack Gantos

The Secret of Platform 13 Eva Ibbotson

The Man in the Ceiling Jules Feiffer

The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar and Six More Roald Dahl

Millicent Min: Girl Genius Lisa Yee

The Thief Lord Cornelia Funke

8th Grade Reading List

The Upstairs Room Johanna Reiss

Number the Stars Lois Lowry

The Cage Ruth Minsky Sender

Reflections of a Childhood Friend Alison Leslie Gold

I Am David Anne Holm

Behind the Border Kossman

Friedrich Hans Peter Richter

The Boy in the Striped Pajamas John Boyne

Escape Allan Zullo