MIDDLE SCHOOL
SUMMER OF 2016: READING LIST AND REQUIREMENTS
Students, your brain is like a muscle; if you do not use it, you will start to lose it. The summer reading
will keep your brain in shape. You will buy two books, at a discounted price, from the Frederick
Douglass Academy to read DURING THE SUMMER. Each grade must read two books. You will be
tested on the books at the beginning of the upcoming school year. In addition, you are required to
complete all components of the assignment for your grade level.
 ALL WORK IS DUE ON FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2016.
 THESE ASSIGNMENTS WILL BE COUNTED TOWARD YOUR FIRST MARKING
PERIOD AVERAGE.
 FAILURE TO COMPLETE THE ASSIGNMENT WILL RESULT IN A GRADE OF
ZERO FOR THE PROJECT WHICH IN TURN COULD RESULT IN A FAILING
GRADE.
ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS
The NYS Common Core curriculum emphasizes studying an author’s craft. Thus, for the
summer, each grade will be reading two books by the same author, so they can begin to analyze
an author’s writing style.
All these books are very popular and can be borrowed at your local library, purchased at a book
store such as Barnes and Noble or bought online from Amazon.com or Thirftbooks.com.
We thank you in advance your support to ensure you child’s success next school year! If you
have any questions, please feel free to contact Middle School Assistant Principal Ms. Billy at
[email protected] or call the school at (212) 491-4107
Sincerely,
Middle School English Department
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Summer Reading Assignment: (See page 3 for required text) Read each book then complete
the following two-part assignment:
 PART ONE: Nightly independent reading journal entry (See page 4 for details)
You must purchase a composition notebook to use to complete a journal entry for each chapter read. You
must spend at least 30 minutes a night reading and writing a journal entry in your composition notebook.
It is suggested that you tape the journal entry form in your notebook so you will have the required journal
entry format on hand to complete assignment correctly.
 PART TWO: Analyzing Author’s Craft
After reading both books, please answer the following questions thoroughly. Write a paragraph for
each question.
1) What did you notice about the author’s writing style? Give an example from each
literary work to support your response. If you are struggling to
(Ex.
Did they write descriptively? Poetically? With suspense? Choppy and abrupt? How did
the author decide to tell the story? From what point of view or order? Etc.
2) What connections can be made between the two works? More specifically, what
themes (topics or lessons) do you see in both works? What can you conclude about the
author then?
3) Which novel did you prefer? Why? Give specific details from the texts to support your
claim/stance.
4) What is the
Give an example from each literary work to support your response)
EXTRA CREDIT (30 points)
Create a display board or diorama for your book with images. Explain each part of the board or diorama and its relationship to the book.
th
th
th
Write about the plot, characters, themes, and author in at least 2-4 paragraphs (6 grade 2 paragraphs, 7 grade 2 paragraphs and 8
grade 4 paragraphs).
2
6th Grade Required Texts by author Walter Dean Myers:
Bad Boy: A Memoir
As a boy, Myers was quick-tempered and physically strong, always ready for a fight. He also read
voraciously. He aspired to be a writer while growing up poor in Harlem. His hope for a successful future
diminished as he came to realize fully the class and racial struggles that surrounded him. He began to
doubt himself and the values that he had always relied on, attending high school less and less, turning to
the streets and to his books for comfort. (From Amazon.com)
Slam (Sports Fiction)
Seventeen-year-old Greg "Slam" Harris can do it all on the basketball court. He's seen ballplayers come
and go, and he knows he could be one of the lucky ones. Maybe he'll make it to the top. Or maybe he'll
stumble along the way. Slam's grades aren't that hot. And when his teachers jam his troubles in his face,
he blows up. Slam never doubted himself on the court until he found himself going one-on-one with his
own future, and he didn't have the ball. (From Amazon.com)
7th Grade Required Texts by the author Sharon Draper:
We Beat the Street
Growing up on the rough streets of Newark, New Jersey, Rameck, George, and Sampson could easily
have followed their childhood friends into drug dealing, gangs, and prison. But when a presentation at
their school made the three boys aware of the opportunities available to them in the medical and dental
professions, they made a pact among themselves that they would become doctors.
Romiette and Julio (Romance Fiction)
When Romiette Cappelle meets Julio Montague, she feels as though she has met the soul mate who can
rescue her from her recurring nightmare about fire and water. But like the Shakespearean characters
whose names echo theirs, Romiette and Julio discover that not everyone approves of their budding
romance. (From Amazon.com)
8th Grade Required Texts by the author John Green:
Fault in Our Stars
Despite the tumor-shrinking medical miracle that has bought her a few years, Hazel has never been
anything but terminal, her final chapter inscribed upon diagnosis. But when a gorgeous plot twist named
Augustus Waters suddenly appears at Cancer Kid Support Group, Hazel’s story is about to be completely
rewritten. (From Amazon.com)
Looking For Alaska (Realistic Fiction)
Miles is leaving his loving Florida home for the "great perhaps" of the same Alabama boarding school
attended by his father. Ominous chapter headings (40 days before, 10 days after) reveal that something
tragic may happen. At school, Miles is accepted by a brainy group of pranksters led by his roommate and
Alaska Young, a smart and sexy feminist. As the school year progresses, Miles's crush on Alaska
intensifies, even after it becomes evident that her troubled past sometimes causes her to be selfdestructive.
3
Independent Reading logs
FDA Middle School Students,
You must use the following format to log your reading. This format will be used for the rest of the year.
Past this page in your reading journal to follow when you complete your nightly reading journal.
FDA
Name
Class
Date
(Skip a line)
Title:
Author:
pages read
(Skip a line)
Detail 1
(1-2 sentences)
P#
Detail 2
(1-2 sentences)
p#
Detail 3
(1-2 sentences)
p#
Reflection
(3-5 sentences)
Choose 2-3 important details from your reading. Each sentence must include at least 7 words or more.
Choose one of the following for your reflection each night (try not to use the same choice over 2 times
per week).
Prediction
Tell what you think will happen next. Remember to use evidence from the story to show
you make this prediction.
Connection
Make a text-to-text, text-to-self or text to world connection= (In the story
___________,When the protagonist screamed, “Stop hitting me,” It reminded me of a
time I was being bullied and wanted to scream.)
Question
“While I was reading (briefly discuss what was happening in this part of the story) Then
ask your question…I wondered….” Write 2 more questions you may have had during
reading. (A total of 3 questions are required.)
Brief summary Write a brief summary – topic sentence, conflict/problem, events that happened,
solution
Visualize
What are you picturing in your mind when you read this section? Sketch a picture on a
separate piece of paper and label the important parts- then attach to book as a response.
4
****Choose 2 interesting or unknown words from your reading each night. Find two synonyms for
each word. Write a definition for unknown words.
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