Valor Christian Summer Reading Assignments

Valor Christian Summer Reading Assignments

Dear Parents and Guardians,

Summer is a time to go on vacation, participate in sports, and stay up a little later than usual. However, it is also a good time to continue developing the reading skills that have been honed during the school year. Studies show that most students experience a loss ofreading skills over the summer months, but children who continue to read actually increase their comprehension and vocabulary, as well enjoy the benefits of reading for pleasure. Consequently, this summer Valor middle school students will be reading selected novels and complete specific grade-level assignments.

Students are being asked to read onemandatorytitle and asecondtitle from a designated reading list for his or her grade level.Deadlines to complete assignments for both books are listed below:

Friday, August 29, 2014 - Bring a completedone pager(A one pager is a book report form)for the mandatory novel.

Friday, September 5, 2014 - Bring a completedone pager for the second novel.

Students may print a one pager form by going online to the middle school summer reading website. It can be found on our Valor website:

Before choosing a title, please visit the website above that best suits your child. I have included links to parent review resources that will help you make an informed decision.

Listed on the following page are the book titles by grade level.

Incoming Grade 6 Required Title:
(Click here to read more about each book.)
WonderBy R. J. Palacio

Incoming Grade 6
Designated List:
Choose one from the designated reading list below:
Journey to Topaz
By Yoshiko Uchida

The Watsons Go to Birmingham
By Christopher Paul Curtis

D'Aulaires' Book of Greek MythsByIngrid'AulaireandEdgar Parind'Aulaire
Note: If you have trouble locating this title, please feel free to read another Greek mythology book. There are many versions out there; choose one that best suits you!

The Cay
By Theodore Taylor

Walk Two Moons
By Sharon Creech

HolesBy Louis Sachar
/ Incoming Grade 7
Required Title:
(Click here to read more about each book.)
Hatchet
By Gary Paulsen

Incoming Grade 7 Designated List:
Choose one from the designated reading list below:
A Wrinkle in Time
by Madeleine L'Engle

Out of My Mind
By Sharon Draper

The Devil's Arithmetic
ByJane Yolen

End of the Spear
By Steve Saint

Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry
By Mildred Taylor

Candy Bomber
By Michael O. Tunnell
/ Incoming Grade 8
Required Title:
(Click here to read more about each book.)
Chasing Lincoln's Killer
By James Swanson

Incoming Grade 8
Designated List:
Choose one from the designated reading list below:
Counting by 7s
By Holly Goldberg Sloan

The Hiding Place
By Corrie Ten Boom

The Giver
By Lois Lowry

And Then There Were None
By Agatha Christie

Bomb: The Race to Build--And Steal--The World's Most Dangerous Weapon
By Steve Sheinkin

The Pearl
By John Steinbeck

Students are free to listen to audiobook versions of the novels while reading along, but I do ask that they read the entire work. I will be asking students to sign that they did not watch a movie version in lieu of reading or choose a title that they have read before.

Sincerely,

Gwen Silva
Middle School Language Arts Teacher
Valor Christian Academy
525 Earle Lane
Redondo Beach, California
310-798-5181
Email: