Dear Upcoming 7th Grade Students and Parents,

We love to help students develop and/or maintain a love of reading, which is why we are requesting that each student read at least one book of his/her choice for summer reading.

Students should follow these requirements when choosing a book:

·  Books must be at least 100 pages.

·  Books should not have been read previously.

·  A copy of the book (print or digital) must be brought to school in August.

·  Books chosen should be checked for appropriateness in content and reading level for each student by his/her parents/guardians.

Upon returning to school, students will be using the book for various assignments throughout the first nine weeks. Each student should be prepared to discuss the following using specific details from his/her book:

·  Reasons the book is a good choice of reading (or not) for 7th graders

·  Lesson(s) the author is trying to teach the readers

·  Connections (text to self, text to text, text to world) made to the book

·  Genre and the elements that create it

We have provided some suggested titles that have been culled from lists of award winners, as well as student and teacher favorites. Students do not have to choose a book from the list; however, they can do so if they desire. Students can also follow the Bulldog Reads blog at http://bmsbulldogreads.blogspot.com to find even more book suggestions.

Summer reading books can come from the library, a bookstore, a friend, a bookshelf at home, etc. Just remember that students will need to have the book in class when school starts back.

We are extremely excited to extend this opportunity of free choice for summer reading and hope that the students will embrace this freedom. Learning about all the books everyone read over the summer will be a highlight of the new school year!

Thanks,

7th Grade ELA Teachers

These titles are only suggestions. Not every book is right for every reader. Parents, please make sure that you are in agreement with your child’s reading choice.

Fantasy

The Looking Glass Wars - Frank Beddor

The Hobbit- J.R.R. Tolkien

Chronicles of Narnia - C.S. Lewis

Bad Magic - Pseudonymous Bousch

A Snicker of Magic - Natalie Lloyd

Circus Mirandis - Cassie Beasley

Eragon - Christopher Paolini

The Ruins of Gorlan - John Flanagan

The Angel Experiment - James Patterson

Science Fiction

Found - Margaret Peterson Haddix

Double Identity - Margaret Peterson Haddix

A Wrinkle in Time - Madeline L’Engle

Ender’s Game - Orson Scott Card

Cinder - Marissa Meyer

Legend - Marie Lu

Matched - Ally Condie

Among the Hidden - Margaret Peterson Haddix

Life as We Knew It - Susan Beth Pfeffer

The Uglies - Scott Westerfeld

Historical Fiction

Fever 1793 - Laurie Halse Anderson

Chains - Laurie Halse Anderson

One Came Home - Amy Timberlake

Paperboy - Vince Valter

Countdown - Deborah Wiles

Revolution - Deborah Wiles

Crispin: The Cross of Lead - AVI

Elijah of Buxton - Christopher Paul Curtis

Uprising - Margaret Peterson Haddix

Chasing Secrets - Gennifer Choldenko

Realistic Fiction

Freak the Mighty - Rodman Philbrick

Heat – Mike Lupica

The Crossover - Kwame Alexander

Out of my Mind - Sharon Draper

Schooled - Gordon Korman

Confetti Girl - Diana Lopez

I Funny - James Patterson

Mockingbird – Katheryn Erskine

The Skin I’m In - Sharon G. Flake

Counting by 7s - Holly Goldberg Sloan

Mystery/Thriller

Wanted - Caroline B. Cooney

Girl, Stolen - April Henry

The Westing Game – Ellen Raskin

Greenglass House - Kate Millford

Strike Three, You’re Dead - Josh Berk

Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library - ChrisGrabenstein

Book Scavenger - Jennifer Chambliss Bertman

Skeleton Creek - Patrick Carman

Nonfiction (Informational/Biography/Memoir/Autobiography)

An American Plague: The True and Terrifying Story of the Yellow Fever Epidemic of 1793 - Jim Murphy

“The President Has Been Shot!”: The Assassination of John F. Kennedy - James L. Swanson

Bomb: The Race to Build – and Steal – the World’s Most Dangerous Weapon - Steve Sheinkin

Rhythm Ride: A Road Trip Through Motown Sound - Andrea Davis Pinkney

Phineas Gage: A Gruesome but True Story about Brain Science - John Fleischman

Brown Girl Dreaming - Jacqueline Woodson

How They Croaked - Georgia Bragg

The Boys Who Challenged Hitler - Phillip Hoose

Guts and Glory: The American Civil War – Ben Thompson

Guts and Glory: World War II – Ben Thompson