St. George’s Episcopal School
2016 Summer Reading List for Students Entering Sixth Grade
The purpose of summer reading is for you to experience the joy of reading and to foster the love of
literature. Involvement with literature can include the entire family, and you are welcome to listen,
read aloud, or read alone. Share, discuss, and enjoy these books together.
Please have your parents approve your book choices.
PARENTS PLEASE NOTE: Sometimes parents are caught off guard by questions summer reading
books might draw out of their children. In an effort to lessen the chance of surprises, I have made a
note of books that are reviewed by a website called Common Sense Media. This site features an age
rating that reflects the site’s recommendation for the earliest age that the content of the book is
appropriate. This rating is based on CONTENT ONLY, not on reading level.
Because each child and family are different, and because some of the books may contain
violence or mature themes, I encourage you to check the site before choosing your books for
the summer; it offers detail about material you may want to be aware of before your kids read.
Please visit their website at www.commonsensemedia.org.
Summer reading requirements are as follows. You have one required book to read that has been
selected by your teacher. Also, read two books from the list that follows. In summary, a total of
three books is required for summer reading.
All responses for Summer Reading are due on THURSDAY, AUGUST 18.
REQUIRED READING: The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin
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For each chapter, write a two-sentence summary.
Choose 2 of the characters who interest you or who grab your attention. Write a 3-5
sentence description of each of the two characters.
Find 3-5 passages in the book that describe each character directly or that make the
personality of the character clear. For example, there may be a conversation or an action
that tells you what the character is like. A passage like this is acceptable.
Quote these passages and cite a page number. You may complete this in a chart or in bullet
point format.
This work may be handwritten or typed and is due on the first day of school.
CHOICES in READING:
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Choose TWO of the following books to read.
Choose one assignment for each book you read. This work is due on the first day of school.
You must choose two different responses.
Julie of the Wolves
George, Jean Craighead
BL 5.8
CSM Reviewed
Common sense and courage enable a young Eskimo girl to survive when she becomes lost in the
Arctic wild.
The Mysterious Benedict Society
Stewart, Trenton Lee
BL: 5.6
CSM Reviewed
After passing a series of mind-bending tests, four children are selected for a secret mission to go
undercover at the Learning Institute for the Very Enlightened, where their mission is to stop the
plan of the evil Ledroptha Curtain. Book #1
Esperanza Rising
Ryan, Pam Muños
BL: 5.3
CSM Reviewed
Esperanza and her mother are forced to leave their life of wealth and privilege in Mexico to work in
the labor camps of Southern California on the eve of the Great Depression.
The Secret Garden (Unabridged)
Burnett, Frances Hodges
BL: 6.3
CSM Reviewed
Mary moves to a huge estate to live with her mysterious uncle, his ailing son, the servants--and a
secret garden.
Everything on a Waffle
Horvath, Polly
BL: 5.8
Eleven-year-old Primrose, living in a small fishing village in British Columbia, recounts her
experiences and all that she learns about human nature and the unpredictability of life in the
months after her parents are lost at sea.
The Higher Power of Lucky
Patron, Susan
BL: 5.9
CSM Reviewed
Fearing that her legal guardian plans to abandon her to return to France, ten-year-old aspiring
scientist Lucky Trimble determines to run away while also continuing to seek the Higher Power
that will bring stability to her life. Book #1
Where the Mountain Meets the Moon
Lin, Grace
BL: 5.5
CSM Reviewed
Minli, an adventurous girl from a poor village, buys a magical goldfish and then joins a dragon on a
quest to find the Old Man of the Moon in hopes of discovering how to change her family's fortune.
Call it Courage
Sperry, Armstrong
BL: 6.2
An inspiring youth overcomes his fear of the sea and proves his courage to himself and his tribe.
Ginger Pye
Estes, Eleanor
BL: 6.0
The disappearance of a new puppy named Ginger and the appearance of a mysterious man in a
mustard yellow hat bring excitement into the lives of the Pye children.
Al Capone Does My Shirts
Choldenko, Gennifer
BL: 3.5
CSM Reviewed
A twelve-year-old boy named Moose moves to Alcatraz Island in 1935 when guards' families were
housed there, and has to contend with his extraordinary new environment in addition to life with
his autistic sister.
Jacob Have I Loved
Paterson, Katherine
BL: 5.7
Feeling deprived all her life of schooling, friends, mother, and even her name by her twin sister,
Louise finally begins to find her identity.
Elijah of Buxton
Curtis, Christopher Paul
BL: 5.4
CSM Reviewed
In 1859, eleven-year-old Elijah, the first freeborn child in Buxton, Canada, a haven for slaves fleeing
the American South, uses his wits to try to bring to justice the lying preacher who has stolen money
that was to be used to buy a family's freedom.
Unbroken: An Olympian's Journey from Airman to Castaway to Captive (Young Adult Version)
Hillenbrand, Lauren
BL: 6.4
CSM Reviewed
This adaptation of UNBROKEN tells the story of Olympic runner Louie Zamperini's odyssey during
World War II and the courage, cunning, and fortitude he found to endure and overcome.
A Wrinkle in Time
L’Engle, Madeleine
BL: 4.7
CSM Reviewed
Meg Murry and her family receive a surprise visit from an unearthly stranger out of another
dimension in time.
Stargirl
Spinelli, Jerry
BL: 4.2
CSM Reviewed
In this story about the perils of popularity, the courage of nonconformity, and the thrill of first love,
an eccentric student named Stargirl changes Mica High School forever.
RESPONSES TO SUMMER READING
REQUIRED RESPONSE: PRESENTATION
You will prepare a formal oral presentation for one of your books. You may choose which book you
want to present to the class; I recommend that you choose the one you liked better! Students will
turn in their notecards on August 18, 2016.
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Your presentation must be 4-5 minutes. You will need to practice your presentation at home
to ensure that it is not longer than 5 minutes.
You may use index cards with notes for reference, but you should not read your
presentation from the cards. You may not use a fully-written speech. You will turn in
whatever notes you use.
This is a formal presentation. You should practice standing still, making eye contact with
your audience, speaking clearly, avoiding distracting mannerisms and filler (um, ah, etc.),
and knowing what you are going to say BEFORE you say it.
Your presentation must include:
o The title and author of your book
o A spoiler-free summary of the plot. You should give an idea of what the book is
about, but you should NOT detail all of its events. The best presentations will make
your classmates interested in reading the book themselves. Make sure you don’t
give away the ending.
o A description of the character you found most interesting and an explanation of why
that character captured your attention. This character may be a major or minor, a
hero or a villain—just make sure (s)he worth hearing about!
o A recommendation. Would you encourage your classmates to read the book? Why?
Even if you didn’t particularly like your book, consider who might. Include at least
one quality of the book that you liked and one that you didn’t.
OPTIONAL RESPONSE: CHOOSE ONE of the following projects to complete in response to your
second student-choice book. This project is due August 18, 2016.
OPTION ONE: CEREAL BOX
Cover an empty cereal box with paper and fill in the following information:
 Front of Box (20 points):
1. Cereal Name—something fun that has to do with the story. As an example, a box about
Click Clack Moo (a picture book about farm animals) might have the name “Clucky
Charms.”
2. Illustration, drawn with color or printed off the computer that represents the book.
 Side Panel 1 (20 points): Title, author, list of 3 interesting characters with brief descriptions
 Side panel 2 (20 points): 2-3 significant quotes from the book, cited with the page number.
These quotes should relate to the larger message (theme) of the book.
 Back of Box (20 points):
1. Crossword puzzle, maze, word search, or other game related to your book. This is your
chance to be creative.
2. Brief, spoiler-free summary of the book. Give an idea of what the book is about without
giving away all of the details. *If you read only one book, you do not have to write a
separate plot summary for both assignments.
 Top of Box (20 points): Review from you, the expert critic, with the number of stars you
would give it out of 5. Your critique should include a reason for your rating.
 Bonus (5 points): Include a prize related to your book.
OPTION TWO: CHARACTER INTERVIEW
Assume the role of a news interviewer, and choose one major character from your book to
interview about their experience in the story.
 Write 10 questions to ask the character. Include the following and label each type (P for
plot, C for character reaction, D for decision, L for learning).
o 3 questions about the plot of the story.
o 5 questions about the character’s thoughts, feelings, and reactions to the events of
the story.
o 1 question about the hardest choice the character had to make.
o 1 question about what the character learned in the course of the story.
 Write the character’s responses to your questions. Ensure that the answers you give are
appropriate for the character you are interviewing, and do not answer with just yes or no.
Using specific examples from the events of the book will make your answers stronger.
OPTION THREE: SKETCHBOOK
You will create a collection of drawings to represent your chosen book.
 Front Cover (15 points): Create a cover for your sketchbook. Include the title and author of
the book and an illustration that represents the book.
 Sketches (15 points each): Choose 5 key scenes from your book. Each scene needs to have a
significant impact on the story. Draw a picture (in color) of each of the scenes. Write 1-2
sentences explaining why each scene is significant.
 Back Cover (10 points): Write a review of the book. Include (1) whether you recommend
the book or not, (2) your reasons for your recommendation, and (3) your ranking out of 5
stars. *If you read only one book, you do not need to compose two separate
recommendations for the project and the presentation.
OPTION FOUR: BOOK JACKET
A book jacket is the paper cover on a hard-back book. Its purpose is to entice a reader to pick up the
book and read it. You will design your own book jacket for your chosen book.
 Cover image
o Create or choose an image that suits the mood/atmosphere of the book and give
hints about what the book is about. The strongest cover image will let the reader
know what to expect from the book and may include symbolic images. It should not
come from the existing book or a movie version of the book.
 Front Flap: Character Summaries
o In the front flap, write brief descriptions of the main character and at least 2 other
important characters. Descriptions should include both physical details and
personality traits. The strongest character descriptions will also demonstrate an
understanding of the relationships between characters. (50-100 WORDS EACH)
 Back Cover: Plot summary
o The back cover will include a summary of the plot that does not spoil the plot.
Instead, it should entice a potential reader to find out more. It should demonstrate
an understanding of the main problem in the story and should include enough detail
to draw a reader in. (250 word max)
 Back flap: Recommendation
o Also on the back cover, you should include your opinion of the book, much like a
publisher would include. You may give positive or negative reviews, but you must
say why you give the recommendation that you do. Note at least one positive and
one negative, and clarify what audience would enjoy the book.
OPTION FIVE: BROWN BAG SUMMARY
Find or create 7 items that represent your book. For each item, write 3-5 sentences explaining how
the object appropriately represents the plot, character, conflict, or theme within your chosen book.
Why have you chosen that object? How does it relate to your book? You will want to use examples
from the book to explain your objects. Make sure that you have:
o At least two items to represent the plot
o At least two items to represent key characters
o At least one item that represents a major idea or lesson in the book.