Lynbrook Middle School 7th Grade Summer Reading - 2016
This is a list of recommended readings. Students may feel free to read any book
of interest to fulfill their summer reading requirement of two books.
Anderson, Laurie Halse. Chains. In the spring of 1776, Isabel, a teenage slave, and her sister, Ruth, are sold to ruthless, wealthy
loyalists in Manhattan. While running errands, Isabel is approached by rebels, who promise her freedom (and help finding Ruth,
who has been sent away) if she agrees to spy. Try Forge which is the sequel to Chains.
Byars, Betsy. The Dark Stairs. Herculeah Jones, the daughter of a private investigator and a police officer, tries to solve the
mystery of the “Dead Oaks,” but is the murderer now after her? Other titles in this series are Dead Letter, Death’s Door, and
Disappearing Acts.
Cabot, Meg. Princess Diaries. Average ninth grader Mia Thermopolis suddenly learns that her father is a
European prince and she is a princess! Follow her adventures in Princess in the Spotlight, Princess in Love and
Princess in Waiting and the Royal Wedding.
Al Capone Does My Shirts , Al Capone Shines My Shoes and Al Capone Does My
Homework. A twelve-year-old boy named Moose moves to Alcatraz Island in 1935 when guards' families were
Choldenko, Gennifer.
housed there, and he has to contend with his extraordinary new environment in addition to life with his autistic
sister. Try No Passengers Beyond This Point.
Creech, Sharon. Walk Two Moons. Thirteen-year-old Salamanca accompanies her grandparents on a six day journey to Idaho to
retrace her mother’s last spiritual trip. Sal needs to make the journey to deal with her anger at her mother’s departure. Her
book, The Wanderer, features Sophie (age 13) and cousin Cody as they set off on a family sailing excursion to cross the Atlantic.
Fathers, uncles, sons and Sophie learn a lot about each other. In Granny Torelli Makes Soup, Rosie gets advice on friendship and
delicious soup from her Granny. In Chasing Redbird, Zinny discovers an overgrown trail that begins on her family’s property and is
determined to clear it from beginning to whenever it ends. Also try her Great Unexpected a mystery in which a boy suddenly
appears from a tree startling Naomi.
Curtis, Christopher. The Watsons Go to Birmingham 1963. Kenny and his family travel from Flint, Michigan to
Birmingham, Alabama to visit their Grandmother. Their visit is shattered when a violent act upsets a quiet Sunday
church service. Try his Bud not Buddy, Bucking Sarge, Elijah Of Buxton, Madman of Piney Woods or the
Mighty Miss Malone as other great choices!
Funk, Cornelia. Thief Lord. Story of two boys who are orphaned and run off to Venice to escape their aunt where
they join a group of street children whose leader is the Thief Lord. Other great books are Inkheart, Inkspell and
Inkdeath. Great choices for fantasy lovers! Also try her Mirrorworld series.
Giff, Patricia Reilly. Eleven. Sam uncovers an old newspaper article in his Grandfather’s attic which leads him to wonder what
happened to his parents. Of course he must investigate which makes a great suspense story. Also try: Willow Run, Water
Street, Lily’s Crossing, Nory Ryan’s Song and her latest Wild Girl.
Green, Tim. Baseball Great All twelve-year-old Josh wants to do is play baseball but when his father, a minor
league pitcher, signs him up for a youth championship team, Josh finds himself embroiled in a situation with
potentially illegal consequences. Lost Boy, The Big Time, Football Genius, Kid Owner, Home
Run and Football Champ are some additional titles by Tim Green.
Horowitz, Anthony. Alex Rider Series. When his guardian dies in suspicious circumstances,
fourteen-year-old Alex Rider finds his world turned upside down. Within days he's gone from
schoolboy to superspy. Forcibly recruited into MI6, Alex has to take part in grueling SAS training
exercises. Try his Gatekeeper Series.
Christopher, Matt. Slam Dunk. Julian is a thirteen year old basketball star who is feeling a lot of pressure at the
start of a new school year. You see, he is the only player still on last year’s winning team! See what happens when his friend’s
health crisis helps him to regain perspective.
Horvath, Polly. Everything on a Waffle. Living in a small fishing village, eleven-year-old Primrose recounts her
experiences when a terrible storm takes her parents’ lives. At least that’s what the town believes. Primrose knows
that they will return. Try Trolls, The Vacation and My One Hundred Adventures and the sequel Northward to
the Moon if you enjoy this author.
Hunter, Erin. Warriors Into the Wild. This is Book One of Warrior: the prophecies begin series. Enjoy any or all!
Kadahota, Cynthia. Half a World Away. Jaden who considers himself an epic failure discovers the transformative power of love
when he deals with the adoption of a new brother as the family travels to Kazakhstan. A very moving and compelling story of love.
Also try Thing About Love and Kira-Kira.
Lowry, Lois. The Willoughbys. A delightful old fashioned tale filled with orphans, a long lost child, romance and a baby left on a
doorstep. This parody offers the best of irony and some descriptions that remind you of the classics.
Lupica, Mike. The Big Field. When fourteen-year-old baseball player Hutch feels threatened by the arrival of
a new teammate named Darryl, he tries to work through his insecurities about both Darryl and his remote and
silent father, who was once a great ballplayer too. Try also Underdogs, Travel Team , Heat, Batboy or any
from the Comeback Kid series. Other choices include QB1, Fantasy League, and Only Game.
Palacio, R.J. Wonder. Auggie Pullman, who was born with extreme facial abnormalities and was
not expected to survive, goes from being home-schooled to entering fifth grade at a private middle school in
Manhattan, which entails enduring the taunts and fear of his classmates as he struggles to be seen as just another
student. In Auggie & me: Three Wonder Stories, we hear the stories told from Julian, Charlie, and Charlotte's
perspectives.
Paulsen, Gary. Lawn Boy. This is the story of 12 year old who starts a lawn business which grows until
he is making thousands of dollars. Hatchet is the story of a boy, named Brian, who struggles to survive alone in a
wilderness after a plane crash has stranded him in a remote area. Try Brian’s Winter which presents how Brian would
have managed to survive a long winter on his own. Check out Brian’s Return when he decides that city life is not for
him anymore. In The River, (sequel to Hatchet) a team of government survival experts convinces Brian to re-enact his
ordeal in the wilderness. Also check out Return of Lawn Boy and Woods Runner.
Peck, Richard. A Long Way from Chicago. Mary Alice has often spent summers with Grandma Dowdel in rural Illinois, but as
the Depression worsens, her parents send her off to live with Grandma until the economy improves. Mary Alice finds the
adjustment difficult but Grandma helps her out with some great surprises. Try A Year Down Under and A Long Way
From Chicago for more great adventures.
Riordan, Rick. Rick Riordan, the best-selling author of the Percy Jackson series, pumps up the action and suspense in
The Lost Hero, the first book in The Heroes of Olympus series. Fans of demi-gods, prophesies, and quests will be
left breathless--and panting for the rest of the series. The latest in the series is The Blood of Olympus.
Ryan, Pam Munoz. Esperanza Rising. Esperanza and her mother are forced to leave their life of wealth and privilege
in Mexico to go 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. Her latest is Echo which involves a forbidden forest and three mysterious
sisters.
Rowling, J.K. Read any of the Harry Potter books.
Stead, Rebecca. When You Reach Me. Miranda wonders why her friend Sal has suddenly become so distant after an
encounter with a bully. She is genuinely puzzled by the mysterious notes that appear that seem to imply that the writer
is watching her. This New York City story will draw your attention until its conclusion. Enjoy Liar and Spy, First Light
or her latest Goodbye Stranger.
Yolen, Jane. Devil’s Arithmetic. Hannah is not looking forward to hearing all the same stories told by her aunts, uncles and
grandparents when they gather for Passover. However she soon finds herself transported back in time to a small village in Poland
during the Nazi occupation. Hannah comes to understand the horror of her family’s experiences.