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Teague Middle School Summer Reading List 2015-Rising Sixth Graders

The goals of Summer Reading for Teague Middle School are to not only improve literacy
but to promote a love of lifelong reading as well. The research is clear that children who
don't read during the summer months can lose up to three months of reading progress
and that loss has a cumulative, long-term effect.

Directions (See back of sheet):

All students are expected to read at least two books over the summer break: One for English
Language Arts and one for World History from the suggested titles below. In addition, students
may choose to read other grade appropriate titles not included on the lists for extra credit. To
encourage active reading, students will complete a Dialectical Response Journal for the books
they select. Please see the attached directions on how to complete a dialectical journal. Journals
MUST be turned in to the language arts and world history teachers by Friday, August 28th.

ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS

Author

Title

Lisa Yee

Stanford Wong Flunks Big-Time

After flunking sixth-grade English, basketball prodigy Stanford Wong must struggle to pass his summer
school class, keep his failure a secret from his friends, and satisfy his academically demanding father.
Smile
In this charming graphic novel Raina, a sixth-grader, navigates the tough world of middle school all while
enduring mountains of dental work after knocking out her two front teeth.

FICTION
Raina Telgemeier
FICTION
Christopher Paul
Curtis
HISTORICAL
FICTION
Laurence Yep
FICTION
Pam Munoz Ryan
FICTION
Gordon Korman
FICTION

Chris Tebbetts
and James
Patterson
FICTION

Elijah of Buxton
Master storyteller Christopher Paul Curtis lends his trademark humor and vibrant narrative style to the
gripping tale of eleven-year-old Elijah Freeman, the first child born into freedom in Buxton, Canada, a
settlement of runaway slaves just over the border from Detroit.
Skunk Scout
Teddy is not thrilled with the present his uncle gives him for his tenth birthday-a camping trip for himself
and his younger brother-but on his first outing away from San Franciscos Chinatown, Teddy learns some
interesting facts about nature, about his uncle, and about himself.
The Dreamer
A fictionalized biography of the Nobel Prize-winning Chilean poet Pablo Neruda, who grew up a painfully
shy child, ridiculed by his overbearing father, but still became one of the most widely-read poets in the
world.
Ungifted
One middle-school troublemaker accidentally moves into the gifted and talented programand changes
everything. For fans of Louis Sachar and Jack Gantos, this funny and touching underdog story is a lovable
and goofy adventure with robot fights, middle-school dances, live experiments, and statue-toppling pranks!
Middle School: The Worst Years of My Life
Middle School Can Be Funny...A Cartoon-Enhanced Adventure: Rafe Khatchadorian has enough
problems at home without throwing his first year of middle school into the mix. Lucky for Rafe, he's got a
foolproof plan for the best year ever, if only he can pull it off.

Armstrong
Sperry
ADVENTURE
FICTION

Call It Courage
Based on a Polynesian legend, this is the story of a youth who overcomes his fear of the sea and proves his
courage to himself and his tribe.

Augusta
Scattergood
REALISTIC
FICTION

Glory Be
A Mississippi town in 1964 gets riled when tempers flare at the segregated public pool. As much as Gloriana
June Hemphill, or Glory as everyone knows her, wants to turn twelve, there are times when Glory wishes she
could turn back the clock a year. Maybe its the new girl from the North thats got everyone out of sorts. Or
maybe its the debate about whether or not the town should keep the segregated public pool open.

Lexile
650
410

1070

500

650

730

700

830

680

WORLD HISTORY
Scholastic
BIOGRAPHY

Wicked History Series: Alexander the Great, Julius Caesar, Gengis Khan, Atila the
Hun, Hannibal, Catherine The Great, and Cixi.

750+

Citations Summaries were taken from www.loc.gov and www.scholastic.com.

*Please keep in mind that some content may be too mature for younger readers and therefore
parental discretion is advised. See your public librarian for further information or assistance.
DIALECTICAL JOURNALS

You will create a three column chart.

Quotes (from the text)
Page Numbers

Personal Reactions

As you read, choose meaningful passages that stand out to you and record them in the left-hand column of the
chart (ALWAYS include page numbers).
In the right hand column, write your response to the text (ideas/insights, questions, reflections, and comments
on each passage you choose.

Dialectical Journal Format

1. You must have at least one entry (1) for each chapter of the book, or for each ten pages of a book not
organized by chapters.
2. Each personal reaction must be at least 3-5 complete sentences.
3. Your dialectical journal can be typed in a standard, 12-point font OR handwritten.
4. Make clear connections to the sentence starters selected.
Possible Personal Reaction Sentence Starters
The following are possible starter sentences for your response to quoted passages in your journal:
1. I do not understand
2. I noticed that
3. I now understand
4. This character reminds me of myself
5. I think the setting is important because
6. I think the relationship between ________ and ____ is interesting because
7. I really like this (idea, person, attitude, etc.) because
8. Something I notice (appreciated, wondered, etc.) is
9. My favorite passage (or quote) is _________ because
10. I like (dislike) ________ because
Sample Dialectical Journal Entry for Hatchet by Gary Paulsen
QUOTES: Passages from the textMust have at
least one quote per chapter. Make sure to number
them.

PAGE NUMBERS

EACH Passage you quote must relate to one of the following

codes above. Make sure to use a variety.

1. Thanks. Its really nice. But the words sounded

hollow, even to Brian.

P.8/chapter 1

I do not understand why Brian feels that way about getting a

hatchet from his Mom. If the words sounded hollow to Brian,
he must not mean it. Why is he mad at his mom?

2. No roads, no trails, no clearings. Just the lakes,

and it came to him that he would have to use a lake
for landing. If he went down into the trees he was
certain to die.

p.23/chapter 2

I cant imagine keeping my cool in a situation like this. Id be on

my cell phone, freaking out and he is trying to land the plane! I
guess its important to keep your cool in a crisis.