Sixth Grade Summer Reading Assignment 2017
Summer is a wonderful time for relaxing fun and adventures, which is how it should be. I hope that part
of your summer fun includes reading books. For those of you who do not like to read, I invite you to be
persistent in finding books you enjoy.
For this summer, I am requiring that you read two books, one from the “Newer Fiction” list and
one from the “Classic Fiction” list provided on page two. I encourage you to choose books you
have not yet read. Also, I want you to review each book on the list, excluding those you are already
familiar with, before making your selection. You can go to websites such as Amazon and Common Sense
media (www.commonsensemedia.org) to read brief overviews and reviews of these books.
Of course, once you have chosen your two books (print or electronic format), read them. As you
read please take notes (annotations) to help you answer the questions listed at the end of this
packet. There is no reason to go crazy with your annotations. For each book, you are to
complete the Summer Reading Assignment (see page four) by responding to each of the
questions (written or typed) on two separate documents, one per book. Be sure to use complete
sentences with specific details from the book when responding to the questions.
Have a terrific summer!!!
“Books are the quietest and most constant of friends; they are the most accessible
and wisest of counselors, and the most patient of teachers.” – Charles William
Eliot
“I find television very educating. Every time somebody turns on the set, I go into
the other room and read a book.” – Groucho Marx
Newer Fiction
Classic Fiction
Maxi’s Secrets by Lynn Plourde
White Fang by Jack London
Fish in a Tree by Lynda Mullaly Hunt
The Call of the Wild by Jack London
One for the Murphy’s by Lynda Mullaly Hunt
The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain
Brooklyn Nine by Alan Gratz
Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
Romeo and Juliet Code by Phoebe Stone
Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson
Mighty Miss Malone by Christopher Paul Curtis
The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame
Paperboy by Vince Vawter
Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery
Crossover by Kwame Alexander
Old Yeller by Fred Gipson
Hero Two Doors Down by Sharon Robinson
My Side of the Mountain by Jean Craighead
George
Woodsrunner by Gary Paulsen
*The Princess Bride by William Goldman
Wish by Barbara O’Connor
Finding Perfect by Elly Swartz
The Seventh Wish by Kate Messner
*I Am Malala (Young Readers Edition) by
Malala Yousafzai
*Sophia’s War by Avi
*Elijah of Buxton by Christopher Paul Curtis
*For More Advanced Readers
Summer Reading Assignment
Main Characters
Protagonist: Almost every book revolves around one or more main characters. The main character of a
story is called the protagonist. The experiences the protagonist endures in the story causes him/her to
change throughout the story.
Character Traits: A character trait is a feature that helps to create an image of the character in the
reader’s mind. In a story, the character traits of the protagonist are what set him/her apart from the other
characters in the story. External traits refer to the character’s physical appearance, such as height, hair
color, age, abilities and skills. Internal traits refer to the character’s personality, such as emotions,
beliefs, attitudes, and fears.
Conflict
External Conflict: The protagonist is faced with at least one external conflict (or problem) he/she must
deal with in the story. External conflicts occur outside of the protagonist’s realm of control. External
conflicts can be related to another character, nature, and society.
Internal Conflict: In addition to being confronted with external conflicts, the protagonist must deal with
internal conflicts. Internal conflicts occur inside the protagonist’s mind. They deal with how the
protagonist feels about herself. Examples of internal conflicts include feelings of self worth, identity, and
fears.
Resolution
In most stories, the protagonist’s conflicts and experiences cause him to change or to learn a valuable
lesson. The part of the story where the protagonist learns this lesson or realizes that he has changed is
called the resolution. The resolution is the final outcome of the story where all the loose ends are tied up,
usually.
Questions to Address for Each Book
1.
What is the title of the book? What is the author’s name? When was it first published?
2. Who is the protagonist in the novel?
3. Describe the protagonist by including both external and internal traits.
4. What is the main conflict of the novel? Is it external or internal? Explain.
5. How did the protagonist change from the beginning of the story to the end?
6. What important lessons did the protagonist learn?
7. Did you like the resolution of the story? Explain.