Newton County School System
Summer Reading
Summer 2014
7th Grade List
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This Summer
Students must read one (1)
book from the list for the
grade level in which they will
be enrolled at the beginning
of the school year.
Students should also respond
to the literature by
completing two of the
activities from the appropriate
choice board.
The summer reading
assignment will be taken for a
grade in the student’s English
Language Arts (ELA) class
within the first three weeks
of school.
As a means of recognizing
the student’s efforts, each
assignment will be graded
and counted as a
performance task grade for
the first marking period of
the 2014-2015 school year.
Quest students must
complete the Quest
assignment.
A Girl Named Disaster by Farmer
Black Pearl by O’Dell
Briar Rose by Yolen
Cajun Folktales by Reneaux
Carver: A Life in Poems by Nelson
Cloaked in Red by Velde
• Crispin: The Cross of Lead by Avi
• Ender’s Game (and/or its sequels)
by Card
• Eragon (and/or its sequels) by Paolin
• Esperanza Rising by Ryan
• Face on the Milk Carton by Cooney
• Heartbeat by Creech
• Homeless Bird by Whelan
• Hoot by Hiassen
• Hope Was Here by Bauer
• Inkheart by Funke
• Iqbal by D’Adamo
• Island of the Blue Dolphins by O’Dell
• Jacob Have I Loved by Patterson
• Little Women by Alcott
• No Pretty Pictures: A Child of War
by Lobel (non-fiction)
• Novio Boy by Soto
• On My Honor by Bauer
• Rasco and the Rats of NIMH by
O’Brien
• Red Scarf Girl: A Memoir of the
Cultural Revolution by Jiang
• Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry by
Taylor
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Soldier Boys by Hughes
Soldier’s Heart by Paulsen
Sounder by Armstrong
Starfall by Cadnum
Stargirl by Spinelli
Surviving the Applewhites by Tolan
Swiftly Tilting Planet by L’Engle
The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by
Twain
The Black Pearl by O’Dell
The Dark is Rising by Cooper
(series)
The Devil’s Arithmetic by Yolen
The Firefly Letters: A Suffragette's
Journey to Cuba by Engle
The Hobbit by Tolkein
The House of Dies Drear by Hamilton
The House of the Scorpion by
Farmer
The Lightning Thief (series) by Riordan
• The Pearl by Steinbeck
• The Princess Bride by Goldman
• The Red Pony by Steinbeck
• The Sign of the Beaver by Speare
• The Skin I’m In by Flake
• The Wanderer by Creech
• Touching Spirit Bear by Mikaelsen
• Treasure Island by Stevenson
• Trickster’s Choice by Peirce
• Zlata’s Diary by Filipovic
Additional Selections:
Any award winning book or book from the list above that is within the student’s Lexile range.
Helpful Links:
Lexile levels: www.Lexile.com/fab/GA
ebooks:http: www.gutenberg.org/wiki/Main_Page
Summer Reading Response Choice Board
Directions: Choose two activities to complete as you read your book this summer.
Illustration
Compare/Contrast Writing Style
Dialogue
Draw or paint your favorite scene from
Compare and contrast the writing style
Imagine that the main character from the
the book you read. You may do this on
of the book you read to that of a book
book you read accidentally meets a
traditional canvas or poster board; or
you read last school year. Think about the
character from a book you read in class
you may be ultra-creative and choose
use of description, dialogue, word
last year. Write a 2-page dialogue
your own medium.
choice, and character development.
introducing these characters to each
other.
Epilogue
Word Web
Movie Poster
Create an alternate ending to the book you
Create a “word web” (see instructions
Create a movie poster from the book
read. This ending must be at least 2
below) with 10 vocabulary words you
you read. Think about which current
pages. Please edit for spelling,
learned while reading your book.
actors/ actors would play each part and
punctuation, and usage.
design a poster accordingly.
Visual Presentation
Diorama/Table
Letter
Create a visual presentation comparing
Create a diorama or table model of the
Write a letter to the author of the book.
and contrasting the main character
setting of the book you read.
Explain your opinion of the book. What
(protagonists and antagonists) from the
did you like or dislike? (one page in
book you read and the main character of
length)
a book you read last school year.
Word Web Graphic Organizer
Synonym
Antonym
Sentence
Illustration
Summer Reading 2014
QUEST Summer Reading Response Choice Board
Directions: Choose two activities to complete as you read your book this summer.
Essay
Compare/Contrast Writing Style
Dialogue
Compose an essay in which you
Compare and contrast the writing style of the
Imagine that the main character from the
summarize the novel in paragraph one;
book you read to that of a book you read last
book you read accidentally meets a
analyze the characterization, author's
school year. Think about the use of
character from a book you read in class last
use of stylistic devices, figurative
description, dialogue, word choice, and
year. Write a 2-page dialogue introducing
language, and symbolism in paragraphs
character development. Provide examples of
these characters to each other. Draw, paint,
two through five, and develop a
shared styles as well as how the styles differ.
or take photos to create a scene
concluding paragraph that states if you
You may include why you feel the author
representing this encounter. You may do this
would recommend this book to other
used a specific style when writing the novel.
on traditional canvas or poster board; or you
teens and if you believe this book should
may be ultra- creative and choose your own
win a book award.
medium such a comic strip creator,
glogsteredu, prezi, etc.
Habitat
Fakebook
Movie Poster
Create/build a habitat based on two
Create a “Fakebook” page (http://
Create a movie poster depicting the book
scenes from your novel. This may be
www.classtools.net/fb/home/page) or a
you read. Think about which current
done as two separate habitats, or you
"Facebook" page (on poster board-- not really
actors/actresses would play each part and
may create one habitat merging the two
on the world wide web) for the main
design a poster accordingly. Include a
scenes from the different novels.
characters in the book. On your page, make
digital or written trailer that introduces the
sure to have sections that allow for a picture
book’s ideas and themes as you view them
of the character, the character's status for the
personally. Be sure to include quotes
day (ex. Willy Wonka is
), his/her
representing the theme or ideas.
relationship status, political and/or religious
views, Contact information (e- mail, current
town), Personal Info (activities, interests,
favorite music, favorite movie, favorite book,
favorite
(you choose another favorite for your
character). This page should include 10
vocabulary words you learned while
reading these books.
Comic Strip
Game
Letter
Create a comic strip that represents
Create a game based on your novel’s
Write a letter to the author of your book
comparisons and differences between the
themes and character interaction. Be sure
stating your recommendation for the book to
main characters (protagonists and
to included rules and directions.
receive an award. Explain your opinion of
the book. What did you like or dislike along
antagonists) from the book you read. Be
sure to include information that will
You may also choose to build a sociogram
with suggestions for improving the book to
show the way the main characters
instead of creating a game.
make the bestseller’s list? (one page in
change, including what the change is and
length)
what brought about the change. Include
quotes from the story that will
provide information about the character.
QUEST Summer Reading 2014