Summer Reading 2016—Rising Grade Six
“The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more you learn, the more places
you’ll go.”
—Dr. Seuss
To the Rising Sixth-Graders at Avenues:
Welcome! Because we think reading is so important for your success in the Upper Division, we
want you to devour as many books as possible over the course of the summer. Set a goal for
yourself, and make a plan to reach that goal. If you’re traveling, pack along a few books. If you’re
home, build in a consistent time to do some reading.
We do have one required text that we want all rising sixth-graders to read before we return to
school in September: The Circuit, by Francisco Jimenez. In addition, sixth grade World Course
teachers are requiring that you read Thing Explainer by Randall Munroe.
Beyond these two texts, it is important that you continue to build your own personal reading
habits. To do this, we ask that you also read one book of your choice.
Therefore, we are requiring each student to read three books in total:
• One free choice book at an appropriate reading level for you from the book list below OR from
the library web sites:
o http://school.avenues.org/msuslibrary/
o http://school.avenues.org/elclslibrary/ (There are great middle-level book suggestions on
the Lower Division site)
• Thing Explainer by Randall Munroe
• The Circuit (We recommend reading this last so it's fresh in your mind in September)
You do not need to do any writing about the books, but we suggest that you annotate The Circuit
in order to deepen your understanding of it. If you need help focusing your annotations, practice
looking for the literary elements about which you learned this year, such as themes, motifs,
symbols, suspense, characterization, conflict, etc. However, remember that annotating might be
as simple as marking a line here or there or starring phrases that look important. Focus on the
meaning and quality of what you mark and not a volume of annotations. If you are new to
Avenues, annotate in whatever way is familiar to you.
Thing Explainer may appear to be a non-traditional summer reading choice; however, as readers
in the 21st century, it is important to hone our visual literacy skills. This book is filled with
complex, interesting images that can be analyzed and also enjoyed! As you read, pay attention to
the way the author uses analogies, diagrams and engaging word choice to explain the “things” we
see in our daily life. You do not need to annotate this text, but be ready to share your
observations in September.
Have a great summer!
Sincerely,
The sixth grade humanities team
AVENUES NEW YORK LLC 212.524.9000 SIXTH GRADE SUGGESTED READING LIST
Anna of Byzantium by Tracy Barrett
Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepety
The Book Thief by Marcus Zusak
The Boxer and the Spy by Robert Parker
The Boy in the Striped Pajamas by John Boyne
The Cabinet of Wonders by Marie Rutkoski
Capture the Flag by Kate Messner
Chains by Laurie Halse Anderson
City of Bones by Cassandra Clare
The City of Ember by Jeanne DuPrau
Coraline by Neil Gaiman and David McKean
Crispin: The Cross of Lead by Avi
Counting by 7s by Holly Goldberg Sloan
Danny the Champion of the World by Roald Dahl
The Dead by Charlie Higson
Delirium by Lauren Oliver
Divergent by Veronica Roth
Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card
Esperanza Rising by Pam Munoz Ryan
The Fault in our Stars by John Green
Fever 1793 by Laurie Halse Anderson
Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes
Game Changers by Mike Lupica
A Girl Named Disaster by Nancy Farmer
Heat by Mike Lupica
House of Silk: A Sherlock Holmes Novel by Anthony Horowit
I am Number Four by Pittacus Lore
AVENUES NEW YORK LLC 212.524.9000 The Indian in the Cupboard by Lynne Reid Banks
The Infinity Gauntlet by Jim Starlin
Jacob Have I Loved by Katherine Paterson
Kira-Kira by Cynthia Kadohata
Legend by Marie Lu
The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan
Maze Runner by James Dashner
The Missing by Tim Gautreaux
Out of the Dust by Laurie Halse Anderson
Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry by Mildred D. Taylor
A Single Shard by Linda Sue Park
The Snow Child by Eowyn Iveylt
Someone Named Eva by Joan M. Wolf
When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead
Where the Mountain Meets the Moon by Grace Lin
Classics
Alexander the Great: A Novel by Nikos Kazantzakis
The Call of the Wild by Jack London
The Golden Compass by Phillip Pullman
The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien
I am the Cheese by Robert Cormier
Johnny Tremain by Esther Forbes
Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
The Red Pony by John Steinbeck
Swiss Family Robinson by Jonathan David Wyss
White Fang by Jack London
AVENUES NEW YORK LLC 212.524.9000 Nonfiction
The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank
Endurance: Shackleton’s Incredible Voyage by Alfred Lansing
Modoc: The True Story of the Greatest Elephant That Ever Lived by Ralph Heller
Never Cry Wolf by Farley Mowat
Temple Grandin: How the Girl Who Loved Cows Embraced Autism and Changed the World by
Temple Grandin
Three Cups of Tea: Young Reader’s Edition by Greg Mortenson
AVENUES NEW YORK LLC 212.524.9000