2010 Summer Reading Program
middle school
2010 Summer Reading Program Student achievement begins with confident reading. So this summer don’t forget to tuck a book into camp trunks, carry-on luggage and hiking knapsacks. Leave room in the beach bag for a book by your favorite author!
He that loves a book will never want a faithful friend, a wholesome counselor, a cheerful companion, an effectual comforter. By study, by reading, by thinking, one may innocently divert and pleasantly entertain himself, as in all weathers, as in all fortunes. - Barrow Does not wisdom call and does not understanding raise her voice? - Proverbs 8:1 The failure to read good books both enfeebles the vision and strengthens our most fatal tendency -- the belief that the here and now is all there is. - Allan Bloom Children are made readers on the laps of their parents. - Emilie Buchwald But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach and it will be given to him. - James 1:5 Read, read, read. - William Faulkner Today a reader, tomorrow a leader. - W. Fusselman To read is to empower To empower is to write To write is to influence To influence is to change To change is to live. - Jane Evershed The greatest gift is the passion for reading. It is cheap, it consoles, it distracts, it excites, it gives you knowledge of the world and experience of a wide kind. It is a moral illumination. - Elizabeth Hardwick
Reading is to the mind what exercise is to the body. - Joseph Addison
Why Read Throughout the Summer? Researchers have confirmed what you may have observed as a parent - that children differ widely in how much they read. Some children are voracious readers who keep a flashlight by the bed while other children believe that reading is a painful experience devised by adults who just don’t understand all that life has to offer. Researchers have shown that students who read consistently and widely develop fluency, a rich and useful vocabulary, expand their knowledge of God’s world, other people, historical events, and culture. Most significantly, reading is a fundamental skill that positively correlates with academic achievement. Simple reading is not enough. Chall, Jacobs, and Baldwin (1990) emphasize that challenging but comprehensible reading materials need to be the primary portion of students’ reading diets. Reading easy, entertaining, enjoyable books or an “old favorite” is appropriate once in awhile but should be considered an occasional treat. We encourage students, with parent help and direction, to choose books to read that appeal to their interests. Students are encouraged to read with purpose—to learn or for pleasure. We also advocate designating some reading time each day. For middle students, the themes or concepts that students learn about through summer reading assignments will be integrated in the curriculum in August. Summer reading gives students the background information they need to participate in meaningful class discussions. The quantity of thought-provoking supplementary books that are beneficial for students preparing themselves for college grows every year. Students can use the summer months to their advantage by reading a wide variety of books. Upper school students may be able to include their thoughts and reflections about books that have impressed them as part of college essays. All choices for summer reading for lower school students are personal. We have listed favorite series, authors and award winning books. Again we encourage students to read within their reading zone. Middle and upper school students have both required and optional reading suggestions. Thank you in advance for supporting encouraging your children to read consistently throughout the summer. Chall, J., B.Jacobs, and L. Baldwin. “The Reading Crisis.” Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 1990.
Middle School Instructions & Required Reading For middle school students, reading consistently throughout the summer months allows them to increase their background knowledge which they can apply to new tasks. The books that students are encouraged to read relate to topics that will be discussed in the fall and allows them to have a common basis for discussion and reflection with peers. All middle school students will have an opportunity to demonstrate what they have learned through summer reading when they return to school in August. Become familiar with the plot, characters, setting(s) and conflicts of the book(s) you are reading. Students entering grades six through eight are required to read one specific book (identified on the list below) and are encouraged to read one or more of the optional books listed. We encourage voracious readers to read books of their choice. 2010 Middle School Summer Reading Selections Rising Grade 6 Required Selection: Listening For Lions by Gloria Whelan (Students will be required to take an AR test on the required reading during the month of August with their teacher.)
Rising sixth grade students are encouraged to read one or more of the following optional books: The Watsons Go To Birmingham by Christopher Paul Curtis Rising Grade 7 Required Selection: Keeping Score by Linda Sue Park (Students will be required to take an AR test on the required reading during the month of August with their teacher.)
Rising seventh grade students are encouraged to read one or more of the following optional books: Tangerine by Edward Bloor The Bronze Bow by Elizabeth George Speare Rising Grade 8 Required Selection:
Touching Spirit Bear
by Ben Mikaelsen
Rising eighth grade students are encouraged to read one or more of the following optional books: The Book Thief by Marcus Zusak The House of the Scorpion by Nancy Farmer
Charlotte Christian School faculty and staff have not read all of these books. We have, however, read reviews and have tried to recommend books that are wholesome and uplifting. There may be times when reviews may not reveal language or ideas that members of the Charlotte Christian community consider inappropriate; therefore, we recommend that families read together. Reading with family members benefits students in several ways. Reading as a family supports the concept (value) that reading often and reading on a variety of topics creates a well-read educated person. Students retain information better when they have an opportunity to discuss (retell) what they have learned or experienced by reading. Students can ask questions about unfamiliar concepts or vocabulary. Explanations will foster additional learning that becomes new background knowledge. This new background knowledge can be used for making connections to even more new learning in the future.
Award Winning Books In addition to the wonderful classic books on the list of middle school reading choices, students may select from the following Newbery Award, and honor books. 2010 Medal Winner: • When You Reach Me
by Rebecca Stead
Honor Books: • Claudette Colvin: Twice Toward Justice • The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate • The Mostly True Adventures of Homer P. Figg
by Phillip Hoose by Jacqueline Kelly by Rodman Philbrick
2009 Medal Winner: 2009 MedAl winner is not overlooked by Charlotte Christian but neither is recommended. 2008 Medal Winner: • Good Masters! Sweet Ladies! Village from a Medieval Village by Laura Amy Schlitz Honor Books: • Elijah of Buxton • The Wednesday Wars • Feathers 2007 Medal Winner: • The Higher Power of Lucky Honor Books: • Penny fron Heaven • Hattie Big Sky • Rules 2006 Medal Winner: • Criss Cross Honor Books: • Whittington • Hitler Youth: Growing Up in Hitler’s Shadow • Princess Academy • Show Way 2005 Medal Winner: • Kira-Kira Honor Books: • Al Capone Does My Shirts
by Christopher Paul Curtis by Gary D. Schmidt by Jacqueline Woodson by Susan Patron, illustrated by Matt Phelan (Simon & Schuster/Richard Jackson)
by Jennifer L. Holm (Random House) by Kirby Larson (Delacorte Press) by Cynthia Lord (Scholastic) by Lynne Rae Perkins (Greenwillow Books/HarperCollins)
by Alan Armstrong, illustrated by S.D. Schindler (Random House)
by Susan Campbell Bartoletti (Scholastic) by Shannon Hale (Bloomsbury Children’s Books) by Jacqueline Woodson, illustrated by Hudson Talbott (G.P. Putnam’s Sons) by Cynthia Kadohata (Atheneum Books for Young Readers/Simon & Schuster)
by Gennifer Choldenko (G.P. Putnam’s Sons/a division of Penguin Young Readers Group)
• The Voice that Challenged a Nation: Marian Anderson and the Struggle for Equal Rights by Russell Freedman (Clarion Books/Houghton Mifflin) • Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster Boy by Gary D. Schmidt (Clarion Books/Houghton Mifflin)
Award Winning Books 2004 Medal Winner: • The Tale of Despereaux: Being the Story of a Mouse, a Princess, Some Soup, and a Spool of Thread by Kate DiCamillo, illustrated by Timothy Basil Ering (Candlewick Press) Honor Books: • Olive’s Ocean by Kevin Henkes (Greenwillow Books) • An American Plague: The True and Terrifying Story of the Yellow Fever Epidemic of 1793 by Jim Murphy (Clarion Books) Other books that may appeal to ms readers: • Granny Torrelli Makes Soup* by Sharon Creech • Soldier’s Heart* by Gary Paulsen (Male appeal - graphic novel of Civil War soldier) • Ghost Canoe* by Will Hobbs (Male appeal - action/adventure) • Redwall Series** by Brain Jacques
(Male appeal)
Nonfiction: • The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens** • The Great Fire*
by Sean Covey by Jim Murphy
• The Other Side of Truth* • Red Scarf Girl*
by Beverly Naidoo by Ji Li Jiang
Authors who write for young adults: • Ann Rinaldi writes historical fiction and these will appeal to girls. • Sharon Creech has titles that will appeal to both guys and girls. • Gary Paulsen and Will Hobbs write action adventure books that are appealing to all. • Avi writes books that will appeal to both genders. • Philip Pullman writes books in the fantasy genre that also deal with good versus evil. • In The Tiger in the Well series, his writing has been compared to Charles Dickens. • Elizabeth George Speare has several books that will appeal to young adults. • Richard Peck also writes quick reads that are appealing to young people. • Jacqueline Woodson and Mildred Taylor also have many fine books to their credit and are renown African American authors.
Charlotte Christian School is a Christ-centered, college preparatory school, equipping and developing students to effectively integrate Biblical truth and learning into their daily lives and to impact the culture for Christ. 7301 Sardis Road • Charlotte, NC 28270 • (704) 366-5657 • www.charlottechristian.com