June 2016 Dear Computer School Families, Each summer the students at The Computer School are required to complete a summer assignment to enhance their learning over the summer months. During the first week of school, students will use their summer reading book to write their first INCLASS literary essay. Below are the steps to complete the Summer Reading Assignment. I. Read a minimum of two books: 1) Read one of the 8 core books listed below, connecting to our 20162017 school wide theme of Engagement. 2) Read any other book of your choice. II. Complete a creative response. Choose one of three options listed at the end of this letter to reflect on and respond to one of the core books. This assignment must be completed and presented on the first day of school. III. Explore the culture of NYC. Each student must visit a museum, a monument, a historic site, or attend a performance (play, concert, etc.). SUMMER READING CORE BOOKS The books in this list represent the diversity of reading levels in a middle school. Starred books are for advanced readers. FICTION 1. Pax by Sara Pennypacker From bestselling and awardwinning author Sara Pennypacker comes a beautifully wrought, utterly compelling novel about the powerful relationship between a boy and his fox. Pax is destined to become a classic, beloved for generations to come. Pax and Peter have been inseparable ever since Peter rescued him as a kit. But one day, the unimaginable happens: Peter's dad enlists in the military and makes him return the fox to the wild. At his grandfather's house, three hundred miles away from home, Peter knows he isn't where he should be—with Pax. He strikes out on his own despite the encroaching war, spurred by love, loyalty, and grief, to be reunited with his fox. Meanwhile Pax, steadfastly waiting for his boy, embarks on adventures and discoveries of his own. . . . 2. Inside Out & Back Again by Thanhhia Lai Inside Out and Back Again is a New York Times bestseller, a Newbery Honor Book, and a winner of the National Book Award! Inspired by the author's childhood experience of fleeing Vietnam after the Fall of Saigon and immigrating to Alabama, this comingofage debut novel told in verse has been celebrated for its touching child'seye view of family and immigration. Hà has only ever known Saigon: the thrills of its markets, the joy of its traditions, and the warmth of her friends close by. But now the Vietnam War has reached her home. Hà and her family are forced to flee as Saigon falls, and they board a ship headed toward hope—toward America. This moving story of one girl's year of change, dreams, grief, and healing received four starred reviews, including one from Kirkus which proclaimed it "enlightening, poignant, and unexpectedly funny." 3. Argos: The Story of Odysseus as Told by His Loyal Dog by R.K. Hardy From a compelling new voice in middle grade literature comes a reimagination of The Odyssey told from the point of view of Odysseus’s loyal dog. Argos is a thrilling tale of loyalty, determination, and adventure. For twenty years, the great hero Odysseus struggles to return to Ithaka. After ten years beneath the walls of Troy, he begins the long journey back home. He defeats monsters. He outsmarts the Cyclops. He battles the gods. He does whatever it takes to reunite with his family. And what of that family—his devoted wife, Penelope; his young son, Telemachos; his dog, Argos? For those twenty years, they wait, unsure whether they will ever see Odysseus again. But Argos has found a way to track his master. Any animal who sets foot or wing on Ithaka brings him news of Odysseus’s voyage—and what a voyage it is! These tales bring hope that one day his master will return. Meanwhile, Argos watches over his master’s family and protects them from the dangers that surround a throne without its king. This rousing story of devotion and determination is an original take on one of the most beloved myths of all time. 4. ** Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Saenz This Printz Honor Book is a “tender, honest exploration of identity” ( Publishers Weekly ) that distills lyrical truths about family and friendship. Aristotle is an angry teen with a brother in prison. Dante is a knowitall who has an unusual way of looking at the world. When the two meet at the swimming pool, they seem to have nothing in common. But as the loners start spending time together, they discover that they share a special friendship—the kind that changes lives and lasts a lifetime. And it is through this friendship that Ari and Dante will learn the most important truths about themselves and the kind of people they want to be. NONFICTION 1. The Flea – The Amazing Story of Leo Messi by Michael Part The captivating story of soccer legend Lionel Messi, from his first touch at age five in the streets of Rosario, Argentina, to his first goal on the Camp Nou pitch in Barcelona, Spain. The Flea tells the amazing story of a boy who was born to play the beautiful game and destined to become the world's greatest soccer player. 2. A Beginner’s Guide to Immortality: From Alchemy to Avatars by Maria Birmingham Is it possible to live forever? People have been trying to figure out a way to escape mortality since, well, forever. This book takes readers on a fastpaced tour of several wacky and wise methods humans have used to try prolonging their lives, from ancient immortality elixirs and quests for a fountain of youth to modernday research into cryogenics and robotics. Touching on folklore from around the world, famed literary immortals, and studies of animals that seem unaffected by aging, the book delves into topics as diverse as genetics, religious rituals surrounding the afterlife, and research into basic lifestyle choices, like eating blueberries or getting a pet, that could help you live longer. Each page is a playful mix of fascinating facts that open up crosscurricular topics in history, science, and social studies to explore. Illustrations of historical figures, imaginary places, and scientific specimens add a touch of whimsy and bring out the beauty, sincerity, and playful side of human curiosity. 3. Breakthrough: How One Teen Innovator is Changing the World by Jack Andraka, with Matthew Lysiak For the first time, teen innovator and scientist Jack Andraka tells the story behind his revolutionary discovery. When a dear family friend passed away from pancreatic cancer, Jack was inspired to create a better method of early detection. At the age of fifteen, he garnered international attention for his breakthrough: a fourcent strip of paper capable of detecting pancreatic, ovarian, and lung cancers four hundred times more effectively than the previous standard. Jack's story is not just a story of dizzying international success; it is a story of overcoming depression and homophobic bullying and finding the resilience to persevere and come out. His account inspires young people, who he argues are the most innovative, to fight for the right to be taken seriously and to pursue our own dreams. Doityourself science experiments are included in each chapter, making Breakthrough perfect for STEM curriculum. But above all, Jack's memoir empowers his generation with the knowledge that we can each change the world if we only have the courage to try. 4. ** A Different Kind of Daughter: The Girl Who Hid from the Taliban in Plain Sight by Maria Toorpakai and Katharine Holstein A DIFFERENT KIND OF DAUGHTER tells of Maria's harrowing journey to play the sport she knew was her destiny, first living as a boy and roaming the violent back alleys of the frontier city of Peshawar, rising to become the number one female squash player in Pakistan. For Maria, squash was more than liberationit was salvation. But it was also a death sentence, thrusting her into the national spotlight and the crosshairs of the Taliban, who wanted Maria and her family dead. Maria knew her only chance of survival was to flee the country. ~ Book descriptions from amazon.com~ **For advanced readers For other summer reading suggestions, you can visit the New York Public Library’s teen site at teenlink.nypl.org and Teen Reads at http://www.teenreads.com . Also, see our list of summer reading suggestions from your teachers below. Other Recommendations from Your Teachers: Ms. E. Butler: Wonder by Raquel Palacio Ms. K. Butler: Bloodchild and Other Stories by Octavia Butler Ms. Chu: All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr Ms. Fenlon: Staying Fat for Sarah Byrnes by Chris Crutcher Ms. Furr: Mockingbird by Kathryn Erskine Mr. Geraci: Fever 1793 by Laurie Halse Anderson Ms. Kissoon: Krakatoa: The Day the World Exploded by Simon Winchester Ms. Nana: The Book Thief by Markus Zusak Mr. O’Mara: Twerp by Mark Goldblatt Ms. Reilly: My Art, My Life An Autobiography by Diego Rivera with Gladys March Mr. Rodriguez: The Enemy by Charlie Higson Ms. Rudzitis: The Nick and Tesla Series by Bob Pflugfelder and Steve Hockensmith Ms. Schoen: Never Ending Story by Michael Ende Ms. Seuling: Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson Ms. Shalom: Girl in the Blue Coat by Monica Hesse Ms. Skinner: Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison Ms. Wang: A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini Mr. Weissberg: Flipped by Wendolyn Van Draamen Mr. Zafiriadis: Ready Player One by Ernest Cline Name: ___________________________ Summer Reading Creative Response Assignment Directions : After you have completed your summer reading books, fill out the information below and choose one of the options (A, B or C) to show your knowledge of your core book choice . Please bring this signed sheet and your project on the first day of school. This will help you as we discuss our summer reading. Happy reading! Core Book Choice: Author: Date Completed: Parent Signature: Other Book Choice: Author: Date Completed: Parent Signature: Option A: Movie Recommendations Pick three movies that you think the main character in your book MUST watch. Write a page explaining what each movie is about and why you think it is a mustsee for this character. Option B: New Cover Draw a new and improved cover for your book. Then, write a page explaining your choices. Make sure your cover includes the title and author and highlights your favorite parts of the book! Option C: Letter/Email Exchange Write a letter or email from one character in your book to another character. Then, write the other character’s response. Be sure to address the characters’ thoughts and feelings about events in the book.
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