Summer Reading.docx



ASSIGNMENT:Here are the summer reading recommendations and assignment. Students are encouraged to reinforce skills and promote strong reading habits. Teachers will guide students to appropriate texts at the conclusion of the school year, so students will know not only what books would be appropriate for them to read, but also how to access them. Reading Expectations:Students can read one fiction and one nonfiction text that have a common theme, setting, motif, or idea. Students may select any book that is available to them with parent consent. The ELA teachers have made reading recommendations, and will also guide students in how to access texts for free in digital form at each grade level. A list of digital resources to help access books from lock down is available at the end of this document. Writing Expectations:Students can complete three prompts for the fiction text of their choice, and three prompts for the nonfiction text of their choice. The list of prompts is included in this packet. Assignment Steps:Over the summer, choose a pairing of one fiction and one non-fiction book to read. If the student does not like a book, they may stop. If the two books do not match in theme or topic, the prompts are still worthwhile. The goal is to choose six prompts to answer based on the summer reading (three for the fiction text, three for the nonfiction text). Each paragraph should have:[1] A clear topic sentence that provides and answer to the prompt (thesis).[2] A brief introduction displaying where the quote appears in the text. [3] A quote from the text that illustrates or supports the point that you are making in your topic sentence. [4] Multiple sentences that offer analysis of the text based on the focus of the prompt. [5] A clear concluding statement. FICTION PROMPTSChoose THREE from the following:Choose a significant passage (between one sentence and one paragraph) that reveals the book’s theme, or central message. Record the passage and page number, and explain how it relates to the theme.Why do you think the author chose the title he/she did? Analyze its deeper meaning. If it is an obvious title, rename it something more symbolic and explain your rationale. From whose point of view is the story told? What other voices could tell the story? Be sure to explain how the story would be different from this other, new perspective. What is the main problem/obstacle/mystery that the characters/people must overcome/solve? How was this problem resolved? Was this a satisfactory conclusion?Do you think the characters/people and their problems/decisions/relationships are believable/realistic? Why or why not?How is your book structured/organized? How does the way the author structures his/her book affect the story and your appreciation of the book?For your book, what is more important, the characters or the plot? Was the plot moved forward by the decisions of the characters or were the characters at the mercy of the plot? How did it affect your enjoyment of the book? When did you get stuck while reading? What was confusing you about your book? What strategies did you use to help you read better? Comment on the author’s style and use of language. Is it effective or ineffective? Does it add to or detract from your enjoyment of the book?Choose a character and explain the psychology behind his/her choices. How is this character affected by the environment, the ways other people see him/her, and the ways he/she sees himself/herself?Are there any particularly vivid images that stand out? What effect do these images have on the writers' purpose?Does the writer use devices of humor? Puns? Irony? Sarcasm? Understatement? Parody? How did these devices influence your enjoyment of the book? NON-FICTION PROMPTSChoose THREE from the following:How does the author establish authenticity in the text? Consider the facts, statistics, and research that are used to make the book seem “real.”What is one thing that is unique about this nonfiction book? Explain this uniqueness.What ideas might you have for turning this work of nonfiction into a work of fiction? Give a brief summary of what your story might be like. These should be meaningful and relevant to the author’s purpose.In what ways can the information in the book be applied to your life? Be specific by choosing a specific element from the text as well as a specific aspect of your life.Does the author have an overall purpose/message to the book? If so, what is it and how do you know this is the message?How does the book incorporate literary elements such as characterization, figurative language (metaphor, simile, etc.), and narrative? What effect do these elements have on the book?What questions did you ask yourself about the text as you were reading? How did these questions help you understand the book?What prior knowledge did you bring to the reading that helped you understand the book? Be sure to choose a specific part of the book to support your answer.How does the author establish his/her credibility? Explain specific ways the author presents himself/herself as a trustworthy and qualified messenger?Analyze the attitude of the writer. How does his/her tone extend the meaning of the book? Does this tone change or stay consistent? Be sure to comment on the effectiveness of this tone.How does the writer use diction? Is it formal? Informal? Technical? Jargon? Slang? Is the language emotionally evocative? Does the language change throughout the piece? How does the language contribute to the writers' aim?Are there any particularly vivid images that stand out? What effect do these images have on the writers' purpose?Optional Suggested Book PairingsLexile levels are noted in parenthesis. Pairing #1 0-25831Wonder (790), by R.J. Palacio August Pullman was born with a facial deformity that, up until now, has prevented him from going to a mainstream school. Starting 5th grade at Beecher Prep, he wants nothing more than to be treated as an ordinary kid—but his new classmates cannot get past Auggie’s extraordinary face. WONDER, now a #1 New York Times bestseller and included on the Texas Bluebonnet Award master list, begins from Auggie’s point of view, but soon switches to include his classmates, his sister, her boyfriend, and others. These perspectives converge in a portrait of one community’s struggle with empathy, compassion, and acceptance. 0-23659Chicken Soup for the Preteen Soul (780) By Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen Written by and for preteens, this uplifting collection of stories touches on the emotions and situations they experience every day: making and losing friends, fitting in while keeping their personal identity, discovering the opposite sex, dealing with pressures at school including violence, and coping with family issues such as divorce. Pairing #2 0-27051Peak (760) By Roland Smith The only thing you will find on the summit of Mount Everest is a divine view. The things that really matter lie far below. –Peak Marcello After fourteen-year-old Peak Marcello is arrested for scaling a New York City skyscraper; he’s left with a choice: wither away in juvenile detention or fly to Kathmandu with his long-lost father. Peak quickly learns that his father’s renewed interest in him has strings attached. As owner of Peak Expeditions, he wants his son to be the youngest person to reach the Everest summit. The story of Peak’s dangerous ascent—told in his own words—is suspenseful, immediate, and impossible to put down. 0-25780Within Reach: My Everest Story (970) By Mark Pfetzer, Jack Galvin In May 1996, the media scrambled to document the gripping story of sixteen-yearold Mark Pfetzer's expedition to Mount Everest. Not only was he the youngest climber ever to attempt the summit, he also witnessed the tragedy documented in Jon Krakauer's Into Thin Air, in which eight climbers perished in a sudden storm. Within Reach is Mark's extraordinary account of this experience and of his triumphs over several other challenging peaks. At once triumphant and tragic, this story will be an inspiration to climbers, athletes, and armchair enthusiasts alike. Pairing #3 0-27685Flush (830) Carl Hiaasen With their father jailed for sinking a riverboat, Noah Underwood and his younger sister, Abbey, must gather evidence that the owner of this floating casino is emptying his bilge tanks into the protected waters around their Florida Keys home. 0-26097Generation Green (900) By Linda Sivertsen, Tosh Sivertsen We all know about the Earth's environmental crisis, but there is someone who can truly make a difference: you. If you text your friends or chat with them online, download music to your iPod, or toss bottles and papers into recycling bins, you're already more eco-savvy than you think. It is just as easy to do even more to help save the earth, and Generation Green shows you how. Pairing #4 0-22224Sword of the Rightful King (1010) By Jane Yolen Merlinnus the magician devises a way for King Arthur to prove himself the rightful king of England--pulling a sword from a stone--but trouble arises when someone else removes the sword first. 0-27558The Medieval World (900) by Philip Steele Thundering hooves, shining armor and magnificent fortresses . . . the medieval age still fascinates young readers. Heraldry, knights, castles, battles, hawking and hunting, sieges, and holy wars -- The Medieval World by Philip Steele takes readers back through the centuries to medieval times. Fans of the chivalrous age will learn how a young page trained for knighthood, what it was like to ride into battle, how a castle was equipped for a siege, and much, much more. Pairing #5 0-26275Orphan of Ellis Island (810) By Elvira Woodruff During a school trip to Ellis Island, Dominick Avaro, a ten-year-old foster child, travels back in time to 1908 Italy and accompanies two young emigrants to America. Immigrant Kids (1050) by Russell Freedman America meant "freedom" to the immigrants of the early 1900s—but a freedom very different from what they expected. Cities were crowded and jobs were scare. Children had to work selling newspapers, delivering goods, and laboring sweatshops. In this touching book, Newberry Medalist Russell Freedman offers a rare glimpse of what it meant to be a young newcomer to America. Pairing #6 0-24397Hatchet (1020) by Gary Paulsen After a plane crash, thirteen-year-old Brian spends fifty-four days in the wilderness, learning to survive initially with only the aid of a hatchet given him by his mother, and learning to survive his parents' divorce. 0-24129Guts (980) by Gary Paulsen The author relates incidents in his life and how they inspired parts of his books about the character, Brian Robeson. Pairing #7 0-59562How to Survive Middle School (660) By Donna Gephart When eleven-year-old David Greenberg's best friend makes the start of middle school even worse than he feared it could be, David becomes friends with Penny, who shares his love of television shows and posts one of their skits on YouTube, making them wildly popular--online, at least. 0-27603Too Old for This, Too Young for That! Your Survival Guide for Middle School Years (1050) by Harriet S. Mosatche, Karen Unger M.A. Too Old for This, Too Young for That! Is a friendly, reassuring guide to help tweens successfully navigate the often-turbulent middle school years? Readers learn they're not alone in the challenges they face and find practical tips and tools for all kinds of situations-getting settled in at middle school, making friends, handling peer pressure, setting and reaching goals, and dealing with body changes and getting along better with family and adults. Life in the middle can be tough. For many, the experiences, challenges, and changes of the middle school years can seem like one long roller coaster ride-with difficulties, twists and turns, and sudden starts and stops. Interactive, inviting, and fun, this book can ease common concerns and help tweens on the middle school roller coaster to enjoy the ride. Note: Parents may want to preview this book due to some sensitive but appropriate topics. WAYS TO ACCESS BOOKS Digitally:?Book Selection -- Here are resources to help with book selection: -100/100-best-novels/ala/mgrps/divs/yalsa/booklistsawards/booklistsbook.us/MackinVIA – Access to all of Wissahickon library’s online resources. Both ebook and audio are available. Students use their school email/password to log in. – an awesome resource (completely free) that categorizes ebooks by genre. Overdrive and Libby Apps – just need a library card. You will have access to all of the e-books and audio books that are currently available in your country’s public library system. Download on a smartphone to begin. : Easy to search through – wide selection of free online books. – has a “Free Online” selection. Their Young Adult counterpart, EpicReads, is also linked below, but that only has books available for sale. Gutenberg: With a collection of more than 45,000 free e-books,?Project Gutenberg?is a volunteer effort to create and share e-books online. The online format is a bit awkward to search through, but it is a good place. If you google the title of a book and “PDF” (i.e., Tom Sawyer PDF) this is the version that will usually come up.: This option has limited selection of free books, however it just takes a bit of searching to come up with something good. – mostly high level classics, but a great aggregator of resources! ................
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