Summer Reading Assignment
Grade 7
OR
Thirteen-year-old Jonah has always known that
he was adopted, and he’s never thought it was
any big deal. In fact, his parents spend more
time thinking about it than he does (hence their
bookshelves full of “adoption books”). That all
changes when he and his friend, Chip, also
adopted, start receiving strange, anonymous
letters. Jonah, Chip, and Jonah’s sister,
Katherine, are plunged into a mystery that
involves the FBI, a possible baby- smuggling
operation, an airplane that appeared out of
nowhere — and maybe even ghosts. The kids
discover they are caught in a battle between two
opposing sides that want very different things
for Jonah and Chip’s lives.
Capricorn (Cap for short) had lived every day of his
life on Garland Farm growing fruits and vegetables. He
was homeschooled by Rain, the only person he knew in
the world. Life was simple for Cap. But when Rain falls
out of a tree while picking plums and is hospital-ridden,
he has to attend the local middle school and live with
his new guidance counselor and her irritable daughter.
Cap doesn’t exactly fit in at Claverage Middle School
(dubbed C Average by the kids). He has long,
ungroomed hair, wears hemp clothes, and practices Tai
Chi out on the lawn. His weirdness basically makes him
biggest nerd in school. This is great news for Zach
Powers, big man on campus. He can’t wait to instate
the age-old tradition in C-Average School: The biggest
nerd is nominated for class president–and wins. So
when Cap becomes president, he is more puzzled than
ever. But as Cap begins to take on his duties, the joke
starts to turn on Zach.
Will Cap turn out to be the greatest President in the
history of C-Average School? Or the biggest punchline?
Summer Reading Assignment
Grade 7
Directions
Read either Found by Margaret Peterson Haddix or Schooled by Gordon Korman.
Copies of the books are available at the public library, or any bookstore, such as
Barnes and Noble or Borders.
As you are reading complete the study guide to help you focus and remember what
you have read. Once you have finished reading one of the two selected novels, be
sure to review your study guide over the summer. This study guide will serve as a
resource to use while studying for the test. You will have a multiple choice test on
the first Friday back to school. This test will be valued at 25 points and will be the
first grade of the new nine weeks.
**Please remember that you are reading one of the two novels, not both, and your
test will be the first Friday you are back in school.
Schooled by Gordon Korman Summer Reading Study Guide 1. Explain the type of life Cap has been leading at Garland. How is his life about to change dramatically? 2. Where does Cap live while his grandmother, Rain, recovers? What do you think would be the most difficult thing to understand about middle school life? 3. Describe Cap’s first day of middle school. Explain his reactions to the differences from what he was used to living with his grandmother. 4. How is Cap treated by Sophie, Zach, Hugh, and Naomi? How do people decide whether to be cruel or kind to someone who is new? Do you blame Sophie for her reaction to him? Would you want Cap to be living in your house? 5. Hugh realizes that if it weren’t for Cap he would be low man on the totem pole. “Better him than me.” (p.30). Explain how Hugh felt both guilty and relieved all at the same time. 6. What prank does Zach plan for Cap? In your opinion who is worse‐ Zach or Naomi? Why? 7. Cap is full of hippie wisdom like “When you’re unkind to others, it’s usually because you don’t believe that you, yourself, deserve kindness.” (p.46) Do you agree with this statement? What about his other philosophical statements? 8. Do you think buying Sophie the bracelet and pretending that it was from her father was the right thing for Cap to do? Why or why not? 9. What event changed how everyone saw Capricorn? Explain why you think it changed their impression of him. 10. What were the rumors going around about Capricorn after he got tackled and punched? How do you think rumors get started? 11. Why does Hugh think, “I was a worm, but at least I had the strength of character to be ashamed of it.” (p. 75) Does Zach realize that he’s being a worm too? 12. Change is a big theme throughout the book. Choose a character and describe significant changes within him or her during the course of the story. 13. What did you think about the ending of the book? Would you have changed it, why or why not? Name___________________________
Found
by Margaret Peterson Haddix
Summer Reading Study Guide
1. Describe the opening scene. Why do you think Haddix decided to start
her story here. As you read, make predictions about what you think
will happen next.
2. If you received those letters what would you do? To whom would you
show them? Would you, like Jonah, keep them from your parents?
Why or why not?
3. What does Chip learn about himself? Do you think a kid has the right
to know whether or not they are adopted? Why or why not? Defend
your answer. Do you think you would want to know about your birth
parents or would be content as Jonah seems to be?
4. Katherine tells Johan, “…If you’re going through some adolescent ‘Who
am I?’ phase, it’s not because you’re adopted. Everyone goes through
that. I don’t know who I am either.” (p. 54) Do you feel like this? Do
you wonder how others will define you? Do you care?
5. How do Chip and Jonah rule out the letters being a simple prank?
Would this be a good prank or not? What are the qualities of an
excellent prank?
6. Jonah and his parents feel threatened by their meeting with James
Reardon at the FBI. How would your parents react? How would you?
Would you keep looking for answers even though deportation could
happen?
7. What odd events happen at the FBI? Would you have believed
Katherine about the disappearing man? Would you have had enough
guts to open the file and snap a picture like Katherine did? What do
they discover?
8. Create a list of questions you would want to ask the witnesses or
survivors if you were Jonah or Chip. Katherine says, “…but when you’re
not talking, sometimes you notice things more.” (p. 113) What does
Katherine notice about Mr. Reardon? Now you try it. What do you
notice that you might’ve missed?
9. What do the kids learn from Angela DuPre at the library? Do you
agree with her theory about the babies? How hard would it be for you
to believe her?
10. When the kids are sorted at the adoption conference what does
Katherine decide to do? Would you have made the same decision? Who
are the other kids? How do you think Jonah and Katherine’s parents
will react?
11. Explain what happens inside the cave. Is this what you expected from
your predictions or were you surprised? Can you figure out who is
actually good and who is evil? Why is it so confusing to Jonah and the
others? Is it always easy to tell in real life or not?
12. Who are the babies? Why were they left on the plane? Whose side do
you actually believe? Why? How would you feel if you were Jonah and
Chip? Do you think Katherine wishes she stayed behind?
13. Who do you think Jonah is in history? Do you like to read series
books? Why?
14. How does the novel end? Was it satisfying? What do you think will
happen next in the series? What questions does Haddix leave in your
mind for the next book?