6th Grade Summer Reading 2014

Libraries

Summer Reading for Rising 6th Graders

2014

Dear Rising Sixth Grader, It’s time to think about summer reading! I hope you have lots of time to read books this summer. We want you to read books that you will enjoy, so we’ve included a lot of choice in your requirements.

Please keep a reading log this summer. There is an example at the end of this booklet. This allows you to record what you read over the summer. You will turn in your reading log in English class during the first week of classes.

1) Please read a book for our book discussion groups. You should have chosen one already and know what group you are in. If you need to start to read your book, and just don’t like it, you can switch to another book, just email tvahlsing@abingtonfriends.net, telling me you are doing so. You can find the choices on the summer reading website, where you found this guide.

2)We encourage you to read a book by our visiting author, Matt Phelan. Even if you don’t choose his book for your book group, you will get more out of the author visit if you’ve read a book that he has written.

3)In all, you should read at least four books this summer- one for the discussion group and three others.

At the end of this booklet is a list of my suggestions if anyone is stuck for what to choose.

Students will be able to check out books from the Faulkner Library for Summer Reading. Of course any books not returned in the fall will be billed.

I look forward to reading your reviews in the fall. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to email me.

Sincerely, Toni Vahlsing Director of Libraries Abington Friends School (215) 576-3976 tvahlsing@abingtonfriends.net

Distinguished Summer Reading: For those of you who want an additional challenge, aim to become a “Distinguished Reader.” To earn this recognition, you must do the following: 1) Read 1400 pages during the summer months, including the books required above.

2) Total the pages that you read on your reading log.

Students who rise to this challenge will receive a notation on their official school transcript and will be recognized in other ways as well.

We highly suggest that you read a book by our visiting author, Matt Phelan, a graphic novelist and illustrator. If you can, read one of his books over the summer so that you are familiar with his work when he comes to visit:

Bluffton by Matt Phelan This gorgeous graphic novel follows two boys during the summers in Bluffton, Michigan when the Vaudvillian actors would come to have a vacation. It is a sweet story, well told.

The book is based on some real Vaudville actors, which you may want to learn more about after reading this.

Around the World by Matt Phelan This graphic novel retells and reinterprets three journeys around the world. One tale is of a former coal miner who travelled around the world on a bicycle. The second is the story of Nellie Bly, a female reporter who wanted to beat the record of going around the world in 80 days. The third story is about a man who sailed around the world by himself. In the third tale, it is difficult to tell what is real and what is inside the sailor’s head.

The Storm in the Barn by Matt Phelan A suspenseful tall tale set in the time of the Dust Bowl, Jack Clark faces the normal problems of most eleven year olds, plus the fact that it never rains. What is the face he sees in the barn? Is it real or is he seeing things?

Here are some of the books that Matt Phelan illustrated:

Did you know? If you participate in your public library’s summer reading program, you can get all sorts of free stuff? Some libraries enter teenagers into drawings for BIG prizes! Go to your public library. Another advantage of going... they will have many of these books and you won’t have to buy them!

Suggestions for your other books: Here are some suggestions- you can read what you want to read. The point of summer reading is to enjoy it.

Things Not Seen by Andrew Clements What would happen if you woke up and were invisible? What would you do? Fifteen year-old Bobby has to decide whether to attend school and face all sorts of questions or to disappear from life to try to figure out what is happening to him.

Locomotion by Jacqueline Woodson Lonnie’s story is told through 60 poems that he has written. While trying to express himself creatively, he gradually tells us about the fire that left him orphaned as well as his sister who has been adopted. Lonnie is still in foster care. If you have trouble writing poetry, you might identify with Lonnie as he struggles to convey his feelings.

Milo: Sticky Notes and Brain Freeze by Alan Silberberg If you enjoyed reading Diary of a Wimpy Kid, you’ll love Milo. Not only does he deal with the day-to-day life of being a seventh grader, but also being without his mom, who died a few years before this story. The cartoon illustrations that are interspersed throughout the book are hilarious in their own right, not just illustrating the story. This is laugh-outloud funny. I loved it so much that I read it at the circulation desk in the library because I couldn’t put it down!

The City of Ember by Jeanne DuPrau When the generators fail in the city of Ember, it is totally dark. The generators are failing more and more often and the city is running out of supplies. Lina and Doon team up to figure out what is happening to their city and to find out what is beyond the city limits.

You will want to read the next in the series, too.

Amalee by Dar Williams Amalee has been raised by her father and his four friends from college. When Amalee’s father gets sick, it is his friends that help Amalee deal with her father’s sickness as well as the mean girls at school. You will cheer for Amalee as she navigates this difficult time in her life.

Wonder by R.J. Palacio Wonder is a book that everyone should read. Auggie was born with multiple disorders that resulted in his face being extremely disfigured. In this book, he attends school for the first time in fifth grade. This is a heart-breaking, but positive book that will stretch any reader’s sympathy for people with differences.

Inkheart by Cornelia Funke Meggie’s father is so good at reading books aloud that when he does, characters from the books appear in our world. Unfortunately a person from this world goes into the book to take that character’s place. Meggie’s mother has been missing for years. Guess where she is? In a book, that only has a few copies left in the world. Meggie’s father needs to find the book before someone else does.

Smiles to Go by Jerry Spinelli Did you enjoy reading Maniac McGee? If so, you will love Smiles to Go. Will Tuppence is a ninth grader in the middle of a love triangle. As he is grappling with this, something happens with his adorable five year old sister that puts his life into perspective. You will not forget Will or his sister anytime soon.

The Secret of Platform 13 by Eva Ibbotson A doorway between two worlds only opens every nine years for nine days. A prince from one world has been lost in ours when he was a baby. The king and queen have had nine years to plan. Which magical creatures will they send? A very odd but endearing rescue team is put together. Mistaken identity, magic, and friendship make this fantastical adventure a great read.

Midnight for Charlie Bone by Jenny Nimmo Charlie Bone discovers that he has special powers and has to go to a special school.

No, this is not Harry Potter, but if you are a Harry Potter Fan, give this a try. Charlie and the other children with special powers can each do one specific thing. Charlie can hear voices through paintings and photographs. There is a battle going on and Charlie lives at home on the weekend with family members taking different sides. The evil characters are pure evil, including one of Charlie’s grandmothers. I certainly wouldn’t want to live with her! This book starts a long series that you will continue to want to read.

Rules by Cynthia Lord Catherine has an autistic younger brother whom she loves, but sometimes feels embarrassed by his behavior. She makes rules for him, about who he should hug and other things “normal” people know. When Catherine gets to know a boy who communicates with a word board and is confined to a wheelchair defining “normal” is not important anymore.

Sea Legs by Alex Shearer If your dad were a steward on a cruise ship would you stowaway to be with him? These twin boys do just that. Hanging out by the pool, sneaking to their hideout, it is all a great adventure. They just don’t want to get caught.

The Boxes by William Sleator Annie’s mysterious Uncle Marco gives her two boxes for safekeeping, instructing Annie not to open them. Of course she does, and the consequences are quite extreme. Time itself is not safe when the boxes are opened and near each other.

Pinned by Sharon Flake Adonnis was born without any legs, but is really good at school while Autumn reads way below her grade level, but is one of the best wrestlers in the state. Autumn is sure they are made for each other and Adonnis is sure they are not, but somehow she keeps showing up in his dreams. This is told from alternating perspectives.

Tuesdays at the Castle by Jessica Day George The castle Glower isn’t just any ordinary castle. It can add rooms whenever it becomes bored! The castle can give opinions on people by how it decorates their rooms. Princess Celie’s parents disappear and suddenly other kingdoms are trying to take over. Read how the castle tries to help. What fun!

Sammy Keyes series by Wendelin Van Draanen Sammy lives illegally in a high rise apartment for seniors with her Grandmother. She also solves a lot of mysteries. The intersection of these two things makes her life interesting, i.e. she can’t let the police know where she lives. Sammy’s archenemy, Heather, and her brother (a romantic interest of Sammy’s) make her life even more complicated. Full of characters who get more complex as the series continues, give this great series a try.

Anything but Typical by Nora Raleigh Baskin Jason’s autism gets in the way of making friends. His greatest talent is writing stories. He posts them to an online group and meets “Phoenixbird” virtually. She likes his writing and may be Jason’s first friends. When a chance to meet in person arises, Jason is worried that she will only see his autism and not the writer that she knows. This is a fascinating look through Jason’s eyes.

Stealing Air by Trent Reedy On his first day living in Iowa Brian makes an enemy. Turns out Frankie is the meanest kid in town, and has a sister that Brian would love to hang out with. Brian needs to be “cool”, but his neighbor, Max, is a science wiz. Hanging with Max won’t help him fit in, but Max has a secret, a small plane that he has been building, Awesome story about being a boy and trying to do what is right.

These books are recommended by current 6th graders: Title Small as an Elephant Mockingbird Bud, Not Buddy Eight Keys 11 Birthdays A Tangle of Knots Total Tragedy of a Girl Named Hamlet The Lightning Thief Fever 1793 Locomotion (reviewed above)

Author Jennifer Richard Jacobson Kathryn Erskine Christopher Paul Curtis Suzanne LeFleur Wendy Mass Lisa Graff Erin Dionne Rick Riordin Laurie Halse Anderson Jacqueline Woodson

To sum up: 1) Read a book for our summer book groups.

2) Read at least three other books of your choice.

3) Keep a reading log.

This is a sample reading log. You can turn this in, or make your own. Only write down the title of the book after you have read it, not everyday that you read.

If you read eight books this summer and fill out a log from Barnes and Noble, you can get a free book at B&N. You can make a copy of that form to count as your reading log.

Reading Log Name_________________ Title

Author

# pages

Date completed

Total pages Would you like some free audiobooks? Sync gives away two free audiobooks per week!

Visit audiobooks.sync.com!

Did you know that if you sign up for your public library’s summer reading program, you can win prizes for bringing them a reading log?

You can also get a free book from Barnes and Noble!