Sanford Middle School
Summer Reading
Dear Student,
Select and read TWO books, that you have not read, by authors on the provided list, or novels on the current middle
school Sunshine State Young Reader’s Award (SSYRA) list (available at libraries, bookstores, and at
http://www.floridamedia.org/?page=ssyrahome). Please Note: Students going into 7th and 8th Grade ADVANCED or
GIFTED level classes should choose at least one of their two authors from the challenging list.
Additional information, including copies of the worksheets, authors by genre, and book suggestions will be available on
Sanford Middle’s website: http://www.sanford.scps.k12.fl.us/
The books can be fiction or nonfiction. You will complete the Outside Reading Report for both books (in this packet and
available to download on the school website). Choose ONE of your books to complete the additional assignment of
creating a bookmark.
For the Bookmark Assignment:
If your book was fiction:
Use the information on your Outside Reading Report for Fiction to create a bookmark about your book. Your bookmark
should include:
 The title and author of the book.
 Summary of important events (the events that occur in the book) without giving away the ending.
 Characters – list the main characters, their defining traits and conflicts they face.
 Setting – Describe the setting of your book.
 Theme – What was the theme of your book?
 Review – How did the story make your feel? Did you enjoy it? Explain what you did/did not enjoy. Be specific
with details about the plot, characters, setting and language of the book.
 Graphics – Include a picture or image from the book that relates to the theme. The image can be clip art, handdrawn art, or an image cut from a magazine.
If your book was nonfiction:
Use the information on your Outside Reading Report for Nonfiction to create a bookmark about your book. Your
bookmark should include:
 The title and author of the book.
 Know – What did you know about the topic before you started reading?
 Want – What did you want to learn about the topic and why?
 Learn – What are three new things you learned from this book?
 Connections – Make three connections to the book.
 Review – Did you enjoy the book? Explain why you did not did not enjoy it. Be specific with details!
 Graphics – Include a picture or image from the book that relates to the topic. The image can be clip art, handdrawn art, or an image cut from a magazine.
Your bookmark can either be neatly handwritten or typed. A sample bookmark for The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien is
attached as an example.
You will turn in two (2) Outside Reading Reports (1 for each book), and one (1) bookmark. Be sure your name is on
everything. Be prepared to share about both of your books that you read in your Language Arts class in August. The
assignment is required, is due the second Friday we return from Summer Break, and will count as a homework
assignment in your Language Arts class.
Enjoy your summer reading!
The Language Arts Department
Sanford Middle School
Name:
Date:
Outside Reading Report – Fiction
Can be completed on notebook paper, or on this worksheet.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
What is the book’s title?
Who is the book’s author?
PLOT & CONFLICT
What happens in the story (plot)?
Be Brief!
What is the major problem
(conflict) in the story?
How is the major problem solved?
CHARACTERS
Who is the main character (protagonist)?
What are some traits of the main
character?
Who or what is the main character’s
opponent (antagonist)?
What happens to the main character at the
end of the story?
SETTING
When does the story take place?
Where does the story take place?
Why is the setting of the story important?
THEME, MOOD, & MORAL
What message about life is the author
making (theme)?
How does the story make you feel (mood)?
What is the life lesson learned in the story
(moral)?
Name:
Date:
Outside Reading Report – Nonfiction
Can be completed on notebook paper, or on this worksheet.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
What is the book’s title?
Who is the book’s author?
Who is the book’s publisher?
What is the publication date?
PRIOR KNOWLEDGE
KNOW – What did you know about the
topic or subject of your book before you
started reading? (2-3 sentences)
WANT – What did you want to know
about this topic? Why were you
interested in this topic? (2-3 sentences)
LEARNING
LEARN – what are three new things you
learned from reading this book? (5-7
sentences)
CONNECTIONS
Make three connections to the book. (5-7
sentences)
Sanford Middle School Summer Reading
Bookmark Rubric – FICTION
4
3
2
SUMMARY
Describes THE MOST
important events in the
book
Describes MOST of the
important events in the
book.
REVIEW
Uses multiple criteria to
judge the book (such as
creativity, plot,
characterization, setting,
descriptive and figurative
language).
The main characters are
named and clearly
described
Graphics are neat, of high
quality, related to the
theme/purpose of the
book, enhance reader
interest or understanding.
Uses 1-2 criteria to judge
the book.
CHARACTERS
GRAPHICS
Virtually free of spelling,
SPELLING,
PUNCTUATION punctuation or grammar
& GRAMMAR errors.
TOTAL POINTS
/20
REVIEW
CONNECTIONS
GRAPHICS
Lists SOME events in the
book but information is
incomplete, unclear, or
inaccurate.
The main characters are
named and described
The main characters are
named but not described.
It is hard to tell who the
main characters are
Graphics are related to
the theme/purpose of the
book, are of good quality
and enhance reader
interest and
understanding.
Just a few spelling,
punctuation or grammar
errors.
Graphics are related to
the theme/purpose of the
book and are of good
quality.
Graphics seem randomly
chosen, are of low quality
OR distract the reader.
Spelling, punctuation or
grammar errors are
somewhat distracting to
the reader
There are many spelling,
punctuation or grammar
errors and they distract
the reader
Evaluate work as good or
bad based only on
personal taste.
%
1
Identifies and explains in
detail what they knew,
wanted to know, and the
three things learned
Uses multiple criteria to
judge the book
(descriptive language,
information, research,
anecdotes, etc.)
Clearly identifies and
explains the three
connections made
Identifies and explains
what they knew, wanted
to know, and the three
things they learned.
Uses 1-2 criteria to judge
the book.
Identifies but does not
explain what they knew,
wanted to know and the
three things learned
Tries to use objective
criteria to judge the book,
but does not apply
criteria correctly.
Basic listing of what they
knew, wanted to know
and lists less than three
things learned.
Evaluate work as good or
bad based only on
personal taste.
Identifies and explains the
three connections made.
Identifies the three
connections made but
does not explain them.
Graphics are neat, of high
quality, related to the
theme/purpose of the
book, enhance reader
interest or understanding.
Graphics are related to
the theme/purpose of the
book, are of good quality
and enhance reader
interest and
understanding.
Just a few spelling,
punctuation or grammar
errors.
Graphics are related to
the theme/purpose of the
book and are of good
quality.
It is hard to tell the
connections made, or the
student lists less than
three.
Graphics seem randomly
chosen, are of low quality
OR distract the reader.
Virtually free of spelling,
SPELLING,
PUNCTUATION punctuation or grammar
& GRAMMAR errors.
TOTAL POINTS
Describes SOME
important events but
misses other key events,
or highlights unimportant
details
Tries to use objective
criteria to judge the book,
but does not apply
criteria correctly.
Sanford Middle School Summer Reading
Bookmark Rubric – NONFICTION
3
2
4
KNOW,
WANT, LEARN
1
/20
%
Spelling, punctuation or
grammar errors are
somewhat distracting to
the reader
There are many spelling,
punctuation or grammar
errors and they distract
the reader
Sample Bookmark – Fiction
The Hobbit
By JRR Tolkein
Summary:
Little Bilbo Baggins is just an innocent Hobbit who
lives a simple and straightforward life. But when a
wizard named Gandalf makes him an offer to go along
on a dangerous adventure, Bilbo can’t resist! He will
travel with a band of dwarves trying to regain their
long lost treasure from a dragon named Smaug who
lives inside a mountain. It is a very dangerous
adventure but Bilbo decides to go along as their head
robber.
Their next adventure occurs when they decide to take
shelter to get away from the rain. They find an
indentation in the face of one of the mountains that
opens up inside. When they are sleeping, a large band
of goblins captures them and takes them down into
their tunnels. Gandalf uses his magic to create a cloud
smoke and sparks that give them a chance to flee.
Characters:
Bilbo Baggins is a Hobbit who is employed as a robber
for a wizard and a group of dwarves to steal treasure
from a dragon.
Galdalf is a wizard who gives guidance and help with
magic when the troop needs it
Thorin is the dwarf in charge of the expedition and the
son of the dwarves’ kind whose kingdom was
destroyed by Smaug the dragon.
Smaug is the dragon responsible for killing and taking
over the dwarves’ lair in the mountain. He also took all
their treasures.
Beorn is a man who helped the band of adventurers
during the mid part of their journey. He gives them
advice and a safe place to stay.
Fili is one of Thorin’s dwarves on his trip, who always
helps him with the tasks like lookout and seeing if it’s
safe for the rest of the troop to pass.
Setting:
The Shire in Middle Earth during a time Long Ago.
Along the way Bilbo finds a ring that makes him
invisible. While trying to find a way out, he runs into a
monster named Gollum who challenges Bilbo to a
riddle contest. If Bilbo loses, he will be eaten, but if he
wins, he will be spared. Bilbo wins and then uses his
invisible ring to escape the goblin lair and meet up
with his friends
Bilbo bails the dwarves out many times, including
saving them from huge spiders. He also helps them
escape from the elf prison. But his biggest challenge is
finding Smaug’s lair. Will he succeed?
Theme:
Look inside yourself to accomplish great tasks.
Review:
This book was very entertaining. Some of the
characters were peculiar which made them fun to read
about. The setting was unique because it had evil
forests, castles, and a city under a mountain! Also
there were lots of exciting adventures with goblins,
elves, and a dragon. The book never gets boring if you
like fantasy books.
I would give this book 3/5 stars.
Authors by Reading Level
Authors are divided into two levels: average and challenging.
The divisions are based on the difficulty level of the text as well as the subject matter.
Average Level
Challenging Level
Incoming 7th/8th Advanced/Gifted must read one of
their two books at this level
Abdel-Fattah, Randa
Abrahams, Peter
Anderson, Laurie Halse
Avi
Barron, T.A.
Barry, Dave
Bartoletti, Susan Campbell
Blumenthal, Karen
Bowler, Tim
Brewer, Heather
Bruchac, Joseph
Buckingham, Royce
Cabot, Meg
Carman, Patrick
Choldenko, Gennifer
Colfer, Eoin
Collins, Suzanne
Cooney, Caroline
Creech, Sharon
Crutcher, Chris
Curtis, Christopher Paul
Cushman, Karen
Dashner, James
Delaney, Joseph
D'Lacey, Chris
Dowd, Siobhan
Draper, Sharon
Duncan, Lois
DuPrau, Jeannie
Dygard, Thomas
Ellis, Deborah
Farmer, Nancy
Fleischman, Sid
Fradin, Dennis Brindell
Freedman, Russell
Gaiman, Neil
Grandits, John
Gratz, Alan
Grimes, Nikki
Haddix, Margaret Peterson
Hahn, Mary Downing
Hawass, Zahi
Hiaasen, Carl
Hickam, Homer
Higson, Charlie
Hinton, S.E.
Hobbs, Will
Horowitz, Anthony
Hughes, Dean
Kadohata, Cynthia
Korman, Gordon
Landy, Derek
Lasky, Kathryn
Lawrence, Ian
Lauber, Patricia
Lipsyte, Robert
Littman, Sarah
Lubar, David
Lupica, Mike
Macaulay, David
MacHale, D.J.
Mahy, Margaret
Marsden, John
Mazer, Harry
Meltzer, Milton
Meyer, Stephenie
Mikaelson, Ben
Montgomery, L.M.
Murphy, Jim
Myers, Walter Dean
Nixon, Joan Lowery
Paolini, Christopher
Patterson, James
Paulsen, Gary
Pearson, Ridley
Peck, Richard
Pfeffer, Susan Beth
Philbrick, Rodman
Pratchett, Terry
Rennison, Louise
Riordan, Rick
Roth, Veronica
Rowling, J.K.
Rylant, Cynthia
Sachar, Louis
Shan, Darren
Shusterman, Neal
Sis, Peter
Smith, Sherri L.
Spinelli, Jerry
Springer, Nancy
Strasser, Todd
Thimmesh, Catherine
Walker, Sally
Westerfeld, Scott
Wilhelm, Doug
Wrede, Patricia
Yancey, Rick
Yep, Laurence
Yolen, Jane
Adamson, Joy
Alcott, Louisa May
Asimov, Isaac
Austen, Jane
Bass, L.G.
Beddor, Frank
Bronte, Charlotte
Burnett, Frances Hodges
Card, Orson Scott
Carroll, Lewis
Christie, Agatha
Cooper, Susan
Crichton, Michael
Crossley-Holland, Kevin
Dessen, Sarah
Dickens, Charles
Donnelly, Jennifer
Doyle, Sir Arthur Conan
Feinstein, John
Frost, Helen
Grant, Michael
Herriot, James
Hoffman, Mary
Jacques, Brian
Kipling, Rudyard
Kostick, Conor
Lasky, Kathryn
Lee, Harper
L'Engle, Madeleine
Lewis, Michael
McCaffrey, Anne
Ness, Patrick
Owen, James A.
Pullman, Phillip
Rinaldi, Ann
Scott, Michael
Shelley, Mary
Sonnenblick, Jordan
Staples, Suzanne
Stevenson, Robert Louis
Stiefvater, Maggie
Stoker, Bram
Stroud, Jonathan
Swift, Jonathan
Tolkien, J.R.R.
Twain, Mark
Verne, Jules
Voigt, Cynthia
Weaver, Will
Wells, H.G.
Wyss, Johann