Summer Reading
Dighton Middle School
Grade 6
One of the most important elements in becoming a life-long reader is to develop a reading
habit. There is a world of books available to you - books that can entertain you, inform
you, and inspire you. The goal is for you to enjoy what you're reading. Former sixth grade
students have assisted in recommending many interesting and exciting books for you to
read this summer.
Assignment:
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Choose TWO books that you have NOT read from the attached Grade 6 reading list.
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Fill out the attached Book Summary on ONE of your books. This form is also
available on the Dighton Middle School website. The tab is Our School-WelcomeSummer Reading or Grade 6-Mrs. Cleary-Summer Reading. Copies are also available
at the DMS office and the Dighton Public Library.
OR
 Answer the questions in your Google Drive and share it with me
[email protected] if you have not set up a folder.
OR
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Attend a Book Club at the Dighton Public Library with Miss Lorie. Visit or call the
library for more information.
July 14th-Saving Zasha
July 21st-Troublemaker
July 28th-The Giver
August 4th-About Average
August 11th-(12) Finally
August 18th-Resistance, Book 1
Ausust 25th-I Survived: the Nazi Invasion, 1944
For your SECOND book, you will do an in-class assignment the first week of school on a
main character from your book (Character Analysis). Please be prepared to discuss and
write about your main character (you may want to keep notes and bring it to school in
September). If you attend more than one book club at the library, you can complete
your character analysis in September on one of the characters from one of the books.
Grade 6 Summer Reading List
Nonfiction
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Freedom Walkers by Russell Freedman
Rosa Parks is known as the Mother of the Civil Rights Movement. Read how her
refusal to give up her seat on a bus led to the Montgomery Bus Boycott.
Annie and Helen by Deborah Hopkinson
After an illness at 19 months, Helen Keller became deaf and blind. Read how her
teacher, Annie Sullivan, taught Helen to understand words and language.
Abraham Lincoln and Fredrick Douglass by Russell Freedman
These historical figures had many things in common. Learn about their
accomplishments to end slavery in our country.
Harriet Tubman: DK Biography by Kem Knapp Sawyer
Harriet Tubman was born into slavery, but did not die a slave. Learn about her
escape and her leadership in the escape of many other slaves.
Amelia Lost by Candace Fleming
This book takes readers from Amelia Earharts’s childhood to her last flight.
Show Me the Money by Alvin D. Hall
A third grader learns about money and how it works in the world.
Who Was Rosa Parks? By Yona Zeldis McDonough
I am Helen Keller by Grace Norwich
[Any of the “Who Was…” or “I am….” Books]
Historical Fiction relating to time periods we will cover in 6th grade
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Resistance Book I by Carla Jablonski & Leland Purvis (Graphic Novel)
Through cartoons, this graphic novel tells the story of how Paul and Marie get
involved in the French Resistance during World War II to help their Jewish friend,
Henri.
I Survived: The Nazi Invasion, 1944 by Lauren Tarshis
Out of the Dust by Karen Hesse
Through free-verse poems, Billy Jo tells the story of her family’s struggles with
devastating dust storms in Oklahoma during the Great Depression.
Saving Zasha by Randi Barrow
Mikhail finds a German shepherd that will need a new master, but German shepherds
are not allowed in Russia because of World War II.
Finding Zasha by Randi Barrow
Twelve-year-old Ivan is ordered to play his concertina for German soldiers. He takes
this opportunity to spy on the Germans. However, he falls in love with their German
shepherd puppies, Zasha and Thor.
Fiction
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About Average by Andrew Clements
Although Jordan believes she is an average girl, she discovers that she is not just
average when a disaster occurs at her elementary school in Illinois.
 11 Birthdays by Wendy Mass
Amanda finally turns 11, but when she wakes up the next morning it’s her birthday
again!
 Finally by Wendy Mass
Rory is so tired of hearing, “When you’re 12..” Well now, she is turning 12!
 Girl with Silver Eyes by Willo Davis Roberts
Katie Welker is used to being alone. She’d rather read a book than be with people.
She can make things happen just by thinking about it.
 The Sign of the Beaver by Elizabeth Speare (Historical Fiction)
An unlikely relationship between a white settler, Matt, and a Native American,
Attean, forms as these two boys need each other to survive.
 Troublemaker by Andrew Clements
Clay is always getting himself into trouble. Hopefully he will not end up in jail like his
older brother.
 The Lemonade War by Jacqueline Davies
Siblings, Evan and Jessie, begin a lemonade war. They are very different people.
Evan is people-smart and Jessie is math-smart. Who will win?
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The World According to Humphrey by Betty G. Birney
This comical book is about Humphrey, the class hamster, that also goes home with
students on the weekends.
Fantasy
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Witch and the Wizard (or other in the series) by James Patterson
Wisty and Whit are kidnapped from their home and taken to a prison. They are
accused of being a witch and wizard and need to find a way to get back home.
Heroes of Olympus: The Lost Hero (or other in the series) by Rick Riordan
Like the Percy Jackson series, you will find Greek and Roman mythology in this
series. In The Lost Hero, Jason wakes up on a school bus and realizes he has
amnesia.
Pegasus: The Flame of Olympus by Kate O’ Hearn
When Pegasus crashes onto the roof of Emily’s Manhattan apartment, her life
changes forever.
The Road to Nyn by Brian Michaud
This novel takes you on a magical journey as Kay, training to be a knight and studying
magic, enters the caves of the Goblin Realm.
Science Fiction
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The Giver by Lois Lowry
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Jonas lives in a futuristic society where everyone’s life is planned and organized.
Children grow up to have a certain Assignment. There is no pain, war, fear, hate, or
even color in this society.
A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle
With the assistance of Mrs. Whatsit, Mrs. Who, Mrs. Which, and their friend,
Calvin, Meg and her brother, Charles, set out to find their father, a scientist, that
has traveled to another world via a “tesseract” and needs their help.
Sports
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Heat by Mike Lupica
Michael and his brother, Carlos, are parentless facing the world on their own in fear
that they will be separated if authorities find out. Michael is an awesome baseball
player, but does not have a birth certificate to prove his age to advance to the Little
League World Series.
 Hothead by Cal Ripken, Jr.
With family problems on his mind, Connor loses his temper very quickly which could
result in him getting kicked off his baseball team.
 Million Dollar Throw by Mike Lupica
Nate has an opportunity to throw a football at a Patriots game aiming at a target for
one million dollars. The money could help out a lot of people including his family since
his dad lost his job.
 Free Baseball by Sue Corbett
Felix is a baseball fan that becomes a bat boy for a minor league baseball team
hoping to be reunited with his dad in Cuba.
Mystery
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The 39 Clues: Book 1 The Maze of Bones (or other book in the series)
Amy and Dan need to find the first clue which is connected to Benjamin Franklin
unless they want to walk away with one million dollars instead.
 Theodore Boone: Kid Lawyer #1 (or other book in the series) by John Grisham
Good thing Theo has spent a lot of time in the court room. He may be able to assist
in a trial.
Name ___________________
Date _________________
Book Summary
Book Title:
Author:
1. Main Character(s)________________________________________________
Write a paragraph about the main character. If there is more than one main character,
choose one. Be sure to include at least one character trait and support it with details
from your book.
2. What is the setting (time & place)?
3. What is the main conflict the main character faces or challenges/accomplishments?
4. Describe the major events from the beginning of the book.
5. Describe the major events from the middle of the book.
6. Describe the major events from the end of the book. If applicable, be sure to include
how the conflict is resolved.