Dear Caravel Parents of Sixth Graders:
Summer reading is required for all middle school students. We hope to
encourage pleasurable reading as a lifelong activity and build students' personal
collections of worthwhile literature. Students are required to complete the
following assignments.
Assignment #1 Fiction Novel – Students may choose a fiction novel of their choice.
We are allowing the students to choose their own novels so that they may read
books that are highly interesting to them and on their individual reading level.
However, it is imperative that the students follow all of these guidelines:
 The novel should be on the student’s individual reading level, and it must be
a book that the child has not read previously.
 Novels that have been made into movies may not be used, so please check to be
sure that the novel is not a movie.
 Novels that are going to be used during class instruction may not be used.
We have included a list of novels that the students will be reading in their
middle school Reading classes. Students may not choose books that are on this
list.
Students will complete the attached book report form and turn it in on the first day
of school. The form should be filled out completely, and all directions need to be
followed. Points will be deducted from the students’ grades if these guidelines are
not followed.
Assignment #2 – Flush Novel - The second reading requirement is to read the
novel, Flush, by Carl Hiaasen. There is no written assignment with this novel.
However, students will complete comprehension activities and assessments during
the first weeks of school to demonstrate their understanding of the novel. Students
will need to bring the novel to class with them during that time. We would
recommend that the students read this novel last, so that the novel will be fresh in
their minds at the beginning of the school year.
Thank you for your support in this important educational program. Guidelines
and criteria for these assignments can be found on RenWeb.com and caravel.org.
We hope that your child has a summer filled with memorable reading experiences.
If you have any questions, you can email us at [email protected] or
[email protected].
Happy Reading!
Mrs. Carrie Cochran
Mrs. Lynne Schaefer
6th Grade Reading Teachers
Middle School Reading Class Novels
Students may NOT choose books from this list. This is a current list of the novels
that the students will be reading in middle school. This list is NOT a guideline for
course requirements. Please see information provided by course teachers, as this
list is subject to change due to curriculum changes. Please be sure not to read any of
the following books for summer reading or book reports.
6th Grade:
Hoot, by Carl Hiaasen
The Tale of Despereaux, by Kate DiCamillo
Stealing Freedom, by Elisa Carbone
The Miracle Worker, a play by William Gibson
7th Grade:
The Red Kayak by Priscilla Cummings
SOS Titanic by Eve Bunting
I Am the Cheese, by Robert Cormier
Roll of the Thunder Hear My Cry, by Mildred D. Taylor
Tangerine by Edward Bloor
8th Grade:
The Contender, by Robert Lipsyte
The Giver, by Lois Lowry
The Outsiders, by S.E. Hinton
Monster, by Walter Dean Myers
The Book Thief, by Markus Zusak
Lord of the Flies, by William Golding
Gifted Hands by Ben Carson
Name _____________________________________
6th Grade Summer Reading Book Report
Assignment #1
Read a fiction novel of your choice and complete all of the following questions. You may
write on this paper (neatly in cursive) or you may type your answers. For questions #4-8,
make sure you write your answers in complete sentences.
1.
Title of the book (1 point) ________________________________________________________
2. Author (1 point)_______________________________________________________
3. Genre (1 point)________________________________________________________
4. Describe the setting of this book in complete sentences. Tell where and when the
story takes place. (2 points)
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5. Describe the main characters in the novel. Describe their character traits (ex.
friendly, serious, brave, etc.), as well as their actions that show these traits.
(3 points)
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6.
Write a summary of the book that describes the beginning, middle, and end of
the book. Make sure you include the main conflict (problem) in the book as well
as the solution to the problem in your summary. Make sure your summary is
your original summary. (10 points)
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7. What was your favorite part of this book? Why was it your favorite part?
(1 point)
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8. Would you recommend this book to others? Why or why not? (1 point)
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9. Choose five words from the novel that you did not know. Write the word, the
dictionary definition, and then the sentence from the novel in which the word is
found. (5 points)
Word #1 - ______________________________________________
Definition: _______________________________________________________________________________
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Sentence: ________________________________________________________________________________
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Word #2 - ______________________________________________
Definition: _______________________________________________________________________________
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Sentence: ________________________________________________________________________________
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Word #3 - ______________________________________________
Definition: _______________________________________________________________________________
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Sentence: ________________________________________________________________________________
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Word #4 - ______________________________________________
Definition: _______________________________________________________________________________
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Sentence: ________________________________________________________________________________
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Word #5 - ______________________________________________
Definition: _______________________________________________________________________________
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Sentence: ________________________________________________________________________________
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Book Citation – Correctly cite your novel using the correct MLA format. (5 points)
Author’s Last Name, First Name. Title of Book. Publisher, Publication date.
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Student and Parent Checklist
Students, please check off each item to show that you have followed all of the requirements.
________ I have not read a book that was on the Middle School Reading List.
________ I checked to make sure that my book is not a movie.
________ I read the entire book, and I have not read this book prior to this summer.
________ I wrote my own original summary of the novel. I did not use any online resources or
the back of the book for help with the summary.
________ My child followed all of these guidelines.
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(Parent/Guardian Signature)
Total Points: _______________ / 30 points
Grade: _________