SUMMER READING LIST
FOR STUDENTS ENTERING GRADE 7
SEPTEMBER, 2015
FROM THE FOLLOWING LIST OF SUGGESTED SUMMER READING, PLEASE READ A MINIMUM
OF TWO BOOKS PLUS THE REQUIRED READING. BE PREPARED TO OFFER ORAL OR
WRITTEN REPSONSES WHEN SCHOOL RESUMES IN THE FALL.
REQUIRED READING:
McEWAN, IAN. THE DAYDREAMER.
It seems to many people that ten-year-old Peter Fortune spends most of his days with his head
in the clouds living a quiet perhaps boring life. Only Peter knows of the fantastic adventures he
experiences when he lets his mind wander and he begins to daydream. Through his daydreams
Peter learns to see the world from numerous points of view. McEwan’s vivid and poetic
writing celebrating the creative abilities of a gifted 10-year-old reveals a profound
understanding of childhood.
MYRCA (MANITOBA YOUNG READER’S CHOICE AWARDS) TITLES
DOCTOROW, Cory IN REAL LIFE
Teenaged Anda is an experienced gamer, so when she is encouraged to join a guild in an online role
playing game she signs up right away. Soon, she meets a kid who collects valuable objects in the game
and sells them for real cash, something Anda knows is against the rules. When she finds out the sad
truth about her new friend’s real life in China, she wants to help. Will she be able to make a difference
before being banned from the game?
ELLIS, Sarah OUTSIDE IN
When 14-year-old Lynn meets a mysterious girl at the bus stop, she’s introduced to the community of
Underlanders, people who live off the grid, relying on the cast-offs of ‘Citizens’ to survive. As Lynn’ s
friendship with the Underlanders grows, she promises to keep them a secret, but when her friends start
to question her loyalty to them and her her new-age mother gets involved, Lynn is forced to make a
choice.
KERBEL, Deborah BYE BYE EVIL EYE
Dani Price lives a charmed life. She is thirteen, well-liked, beautiful and even has a red Mini Cooper
parked in her driveway, just waiting for her to turn sixteen. Her best friend, Kat, invites her to spend
three weeks in Greece with her family. However, once they arrive things start to go wrong for Dani. Has
she been cursed with the evil eye? Will she be able to break the curse, before it’s too late?
MATSON, Stacey A YEAR IN THE LIFE OF A TOTAL AND COMPLETE GENIUS
Arthur A. Bean wants to be a famous writer when he grows up so when a grade 7 writing contest is
announced, he is sure this is his big break. But with the recent death of his mother he has a lot on his
mind and is plagued by writer’s block. Arthur’s troubles are compounded when he is paired with his
nemesis, Robbie Zack, on a class assignment. Will Arthur be able to let the past go and realize that
friendship can be helpful in difficult times?
FICTION:
ABBOTT, TONY. THE POSTCARD.
When Jason's grandmother dies, he's sent down to her home in Florida to help his father clean out her
things. At first he gripes about spending his summer miles away from his best friend, doing chores, and
sweating in the Florida heat, but he soon discovers a mystery surrounding his grandmother's murky
past.
BELL, WILLIAM. ZACK.
The son of a Jewish father and black mother, high school senior Zack has never been allowed to meet his
mother's family, but after doing a research project on a former slave, he travels from his home in Canada
to Natchez, Mississippi to find his grandfather. The real power of the story, the answer to racism, lies in
the individuality of the characters and in the immediacy of Zack’s contemporary first-person narrative.
A wry mix of laughter, anger and tears.
CREECH, SHARON. WALK TWO MOONS. (NEWBERY MEDAL)
Thirteen-year-old Sal Hiddle is on a journey with her grandparents to find her mother. On the way, Sal
tells her grandparents the story of her friend Phoebe, who receives messages from a “lunatic” and whose
mother has also disappeared. This touching story of love, loss, and growth works with fully realized
characters.
CURTIS, CHRISTOPHER PAUL. BUD, NOT BUDDY. (NEWBERY AWARD)
An orphaned runaway, Bud, copes with the adult world with his numbered “rules and things”. His few
treasures from his former life with “Momma,” are kept in a battered suitcase. One, a flyer advertising a
musical group, leads him on a fantasy journey to an amazing reality. A 1999 Gold Award Winner.
DIONNE, ERIN. TOTAL TRAGEDY OF A GIRL NAMED HAMLET.
Hoping to fly under the radar in middle school, Hamlet’s dream of a quiet eighth-grade year is dashed.
Her genius seven-year-old sister, Desdemona, is also enrolled in eighth grade so she can fill her
homeschooled curriculum deficiencies in the arts before moving on to college, and her flamboyant
Shakespearean scholar parents—in full Elizabethan garb—offer their expertise in Hamlet’s class.
FRIESEN, GAYLE. JANEY’S GIRL.
As fourteen-year-old Claire and her mother drive across the country, Claire tries to unravel some of the
mysteries about her family. But families have more secrets than Claire realizes, and real-life relationships
are more complicated than a young girl’s dreams. Friesen tells an involving story, particularly strong in
revealing the emotions of other characters besides Claire. A coming- of- age novel with a twist.
GEORGE, JEAN CRAIGHEAD. JULIE OF THE WOLVES. (NEWBERY MEDAL)
While running away from home and an unwanted marriage, a thirteen-year-old Eskimo girl becomes
lost on the north slope of Alaska and is befriended by a wolf pack. Like many teenagers, this girl is
searching for answers. Her choices, however, may determine whether she lives or dies. Compelling
reading.
HIAASEN, CARL. SCAT.
Nick and Marta are determined to find what happened to their biology teacher after she disappears on a
school field trip to Black Pine Swamp resulting in a fast paced ecological mystery involving the Florida
Panther and a cast of unique characters.
HOLUBITSKY, KATHERINE. ALONE AT NINETY FOOT.
Fourteen-year-old Pam is struggling to come to terms with the emotional overload that her mother’s
death has brought to her life. A thoughtful, passionate, often funny, sometimes sad story of how she puts
her life back together.
JORDAN, SHERRYL. THE HUNTING OF THE LAST DRAGON.
In England in 1356, as a monk records his every word, a young reluctant hero, Jude, tells of his journey
with a young Chinese noblewoman to kill the last dragon. A story within a story - a combination of
fantasy, romance, and historical fiction. Makes absorbing reading.
LUNN, JANET. SHADOW IN HAWTHORN BAY.
When fifteen-year-old Mary journeys from Scotland to Canada in search of her cousin, she makes a
tragic discovery and alienates the townsfolk. A heroine with great strength of character. Mysterious
historical fiction.
McCAFFREY, ANNE. DRAGONSONG. (HUGO AND NEBULAR AWARD)
Forbidden by her father to indulge in music in any way, Menolly runs away taking shelter with the
planet’s fire lizards who, along with her music, open a new life for her. McCaffrey is one of the bestloved writers of fantasy
McCLINTOCK, NORAH. SCARED TO DEATH.
(MANITOBA YOUNG READERS CHOICE AWARD)
Just days after she came to Chloe for help, Tessa is found dead. As Chloe gets closer to finding the killer,
the killer is watching her. Daughter of the investigating detective, Chloe has much to learn about the
truth behind the mystery and the people involved.
PAULSEN, GARY. THE ISLAND.
When Wil’s father gets a new job necessitating a move, Wil makes the journey two-fold. He takes this
opportunity to make an inner journey to learn more about himself as he retreats to an uninhabited island
on the lake. There he reflects, writes, and paints. The outside world must still be dealt with: parents,
town bullies, and his new friend Susan.
PERKINS, LYNNE RAE. CRISS CROSS. (NEWBERY AWARD)
There is a great deal of humor in this gentle story about a group of childhood friends facing the
crossroads of life and how they wish to live it. Young teens will certainly relate to the selfconsciousnesses and uncertainty of all of the characters, each of whom is straining toward clarity and
awareness. The book is profusely illustrated with Perkins's amusing drawings and some photographs.
SMITH, BETTY. A TREE GROWS IN BROOKLYN. (CLASSIC)
In this moving novel, a young girl growing up in colourful turn-of-the-century Brooklyn, Francie Nolan
is an appealing protagonist – romantic, resourceful, hungry for beauty. Her struggle to survive and
thrive is told with humour and pathos.
STEINBECK, JOHN. THE RED PONY. (CLASSIC)
Ten-year-old Jody carefully grooms and trains the red pony colt his father has given him, until he
unwisely leaves it out in the corral during a rainstorm. He desperately tries to nurse the pony back to
health. A gripping story of a young boy with courage to explore deeper meaning.
TWAIN, MARK. THE PRINCE AND PAUPER. (CLASSIC)
When young Edward VI of England and a poor boy who resembles him exchange places, each learns
something about the other’s very different station in life. This adventure of drama and narrow escapes is
filled with Twain’s wit and humour.
WILDER, THORNTON. THE BRIDGE OF SAN LUIS REY. (PULITZER PRIZE) (CLASSIC)
A Franciscan Brother searches into the lives of five people hurled into the gulf below when a bridge
collapsed about two hundred years before. This search explores the true meaning of the human
condition.
YOLEN AND HARRIS. GIRL IN A CAGE.
As English armies invade Scotland in 1306, eleven-year-old Princess Marjorie, daughter of the newly
crowned Scottish King, Robert the Bruce, is captured by England’s King Edward Longshanks and held in
a cage on public display. This heroine models ingenuity and strength of character.
HISTORICAL FICTION:
AUCH, MARY JANE. ASHES OF ROSES.
Sixteen-year-old Margaret Rose Nolan, newly arrived from Ireland, finds work at New York City’s
Triangle Shirtwaist Factory shortly before the 1911 fire in which 146 employees died. The School Library
Journal describes this book as “Fast-paced, populated by distinctive characters, and anchored in Auch’s
convincing sense of time and place, this title is a good choice for readers who like historical fiction.”
AVI. THE TRUE CONFESSIONS OF CHARLOTTE DOYLE. (NEWBERY HONOR)
As the only passenger, and the only female, on a transatlantic voyage in 1832, thirteen-year-old Charlotte
finds herself caught between a murderous captain and a mutinous crew. Awash with shipboard activity,
intense feelings, and a keen sense of time and place, the story is a throwback to good old-fashioned
adventure yarns on the high seas
CUSHMAN, KAREN. CATHERINE CALLED BIRDY. (NEWBERY HONOR)
The fourteen-year-old daughter of a rustic knight records the events of her days in the year 1290, writing
perceptive, scathing, and often raucously funny observations about her family, friends, and would-be
suitors. A delightful, rebellious heroine determined not to marry the man of her father’s choice.
DOYLE, MARISSA. BEWITCHING SEASON.
Twins Persephone and Penelope are of two minds about their coming-out season. Pen is excited about
the social whirl. Persephone would rather be home studying magic with their beloved governess, Ally.
But when Ally disappears somewhere in Kensington Palace, the girls must harness their magical skills
amidst the swirl of balls and presentations to find her.
HIGGINS, F. E. THE EYEBALL COLLECTOR.
Although Hector Fitzbaudly has always lived a plush life on the posh side of the River Foedus, he’s
yearned to slip away from his comfortable home and see the seedy side of Urbs Umida. Unfortunately,
he gets his chance when a blackmail artist confronts his father with a terrible secret from his past, and
Hector finds himself penniless and on the streets. He is determined to get his revenge against the man
responsible, who has been a pauper, a gentleman, and an Eyeball Collector—stealing jewels from the
wealthy to make false eyes to replace his missing one. He is a master of disguise, and a swindler who
moves from place to place.
PATERSON, KATHERINE. LYDDIE.
Thirteen-year-old Lyddie has much to contend with working at a fabric factory in the 1840’s. Her fierce
spirit helps her face loneliness, illness, and loss at too early an age. She is all too aware of the issues of
inequality to women and slavery. She finds hope and courage that reading education will lead to a better
future.
ANIMAL/ADVENTURE:
ARMSTRONG, W.M.H. SOUNDER. (NEWBERY AWARD)
Wrongly accused, an innocent black man and his son are helped in their escape from pursuers by a loyal
and tenacious hound. An uplifting portrayal of hope and strength of character in the face of profound
human tragedy.
HERRIOT, JAMES. ALL CREATURES GREAT AND SMALL.
A country veterinary surgeon describes the joys and trials of his profession and recalls his early career
and experiences with his unique clientele. His compassionate stories are touching, humorous, and
enlightening. Storytelling at its finest.
LONDON, JACK. CALL OF THE WILD. (CLASSIC)
The adventures of an unusual dog, part St. Bernard, part Scotch shepherd, that is stolen and shipped to
the Klondike gold fields during the Gold Rush of the 1890’s. Buck has to learn to survive in the brutal
world of the frozen north, and deal with humans – some fair, others cruel.
LONDON, JACK. WHITE FANG.
A young man tries to fulfill his father’s wish to find gold in the treacherous Yukon Valley of Alaska.
Along the way he befriends a veteran gold miner and a magnificent wolf dog named White Fang. Half
dog, half wolf, White Fang has not known kindness before this young man’s arrival. Can he overcome
the cruelty and brutality of his past and accept human kindness?
BIOGRAPHY:
FILIPOVIC, ZLATA. ZLATA’S DIARY.
In September 1991, shortly before war broke out on the streets of Sarajevo, eleven-year-old Zlata
Filipovic began to keep a diary. In a voice both innocent and wise, she wrote of the horror of war, the
death of friends, a shortage of food, and days spent in fear – and issued a compelling plea for peace that
has moved parents and children and will continue to awaken the conscience of the world.
MCCLAFFERTY, CARLA KILLOUGH. IN DEFIANCE OF HITLER: THE SECRET MISSION OF
VARIAN FRY.
Rescue stories bring hope to the Holocaust darkness, and this stirring account of a young New York City
journalist who secretly helped more than 2,000 refugees escape Nazi-occupied France blends exciting
adventure with the grim history. Before the U.S. entered the war, Fry, 32, spent a year in Marseilles,
using his relief organization as a cover for a hidden rescue operation which saved well-known artists,
politicians, and scientists, including Marc Chagall and Heinrich Mann.
MCCLAFFERTY, CARLA KILLOUGH. SOMETHING OUT OF NOTHING: MARIE CURIE AND
RADIUM.
Born Manya Sklodowska and educated in her native Poland at a Floating University that operated in
defiance of harsh Russian policies, Curie moved to Paris to continue her studies. There, both before and
after the tragic death of her beloved, kindred spirit Pierre, she dedicated her life to pure research and
enlisted her father-in-law to care for her children. She never took out patents, so even as she was rising
to international fame, entrepreneurs worldwide began trumpeting wild claims for the healing benefits of
radioactive products.
PASTAN, AMY. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. (DK BIOGRAPHY).
Tells the amazing story of struggle and triumph of one of the greatest Civil Rights leaders. In this
groundbreaking new series, DK brings together fresh voices and DK design values to give readers the
most information-packed, visually exciting biographies on the market today.
TURNER, PAMELA S. A LIFE IN THE WILD: GEORGE SCHALLER’S STRUGGLE TO SAVE THE
LAST GREAT BEASTS.
This inspiring biography chronicles the conservationist's studies of wildlife around the world. Schaller
has spent his life counting, observing, and photographing wild animals, from mountain gorillas in
Central Africa to snow leopards in Tibet, and providing data to encourage governments to protect their
habitats. The book is arranged chronologically in chapters that intertwine vignettes of his contacts with
individual animals with information about his research techniques.
SCHWAGER, TINA AND MICHELE SCHUERGER. GUTSY GIRLS: YOUNG WOMEN WHO DARE.
Twenty-five young women share their adventures in such activities as skydiving, building homes, and
mountain climbing, demonstrating the value of courage, commitment, and a positive attitude.