2016 Summer Reading Assignments – Rising 7th Grade
Dear Middle School Parents and Students:
The summer reading program is designed to continue to develop students’ reading skills and to help foster a
love of reading. Rising 7th grade students are required to read two books over the summer—one fiction and
one nonfiction. Some suggestions are provided below; however, students are not limited to the books on
the list. Please help your student find a book that he or she is interested in and that is on a comfortable
independent reading level.
For each of the books, students are asked to complete an annotated bibliography. The format is attached.
Students should bring their annotated bibliographies when they return to school in August. We will be doing
several follow-up activities during the first two weeks of the school year. I hope you enjoy your summer and
keep reading!
Sincerely,
Ms. Harrigan
Fiction
Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card
Brown Girl Dreaming, Jacqueline Woodson
Milkweed Jerry Spinelli
Nonfiction
Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli
In these Girls, Hope is a Muscle
The Red Kayak by Priscilla Cummings
Cheaper by the Dozen
The Giver by Lois Lowry
Adrift: Seventy-six Days Lost at Sea
Gathering Blue by Lois Lowry
Red Scarf Girl: A Memoir of the Cultural
Book Thief by Marcus Zusak
When the Emperor Was Divine by Julie Otsuka
The Red Pyramid by Rick Riordan (any from
this series)
Revolution
Warriors Don't Cry: A Searing Memoir of the
Battle to Integrate Little Rock's Central
High
I am Malala by Malala Yousafzai
Unbroken by Lauren Hillenbrand
Annotated Bibliography
Students must complete an annotated bibliography for each book that they read for summer reading.
1. Title
2. Author
3. Genre (nonfiction, historical fiction, fiction, fantasy, etc.)
4. Publication Date (copyright date)
5. Describe the setting fully (time and place)
6. Briefly, in 5 sentences or less, summarize the plot of the book in your own words (not the
words on the back of the book.)
7. Choose any one character and write a descriptive paragraph about that character. Some
things to consider: What is he or she like? What is important to this character? What are the
character’s strengths? What makes this character interesting? (You don’t have to write
about the protagonist or main character—choose any character that interests you.)
8. Write a one paragraph reaction to this book. Did you love it? Hate it? Have a mixed
reaction? Why? Give your opinion about whether this is a good book or not. Be sure to
explain your opinion.
9. Find one sentence from the book that you think is significant or important. Make sure to
give the page number.
10. Give one word that sums up this book.