Dear Parents and Students,
Our school district has a required summer reading program. On the other side of this letter is a list of recommended books to read during the summer. Because students’ maturity and reading levels vary, we encourage parents to participate actively in selecting their children’s reading.
Students are expected to read and respond to two books from the list for the grade they will be entering in the fall. Students are responsible for obtaining their own books; the public libraries, as well as local booksellers specializing in children’s and young adult literature, will have most of these titles available. Some schools will have book fairs this spring featuring these summer reading titles.
This year the Santa Monica Public Library is focusing young adult summer activities around the topic of “metamorphosis.” It is recommended that students choose one of their summer reading books from the metamorphosis section of the list. In September, some schools may host events related to this topic and these books.
All students must be prepared to share and evaluate the two books they read soon after school begins in September.
TASK #1: Be prepared to make a written recommendation to your teacher that a book you read be retained or deleted from next year’s list. TASK #2: Guidelines for the assignment for the second book you read will be given the first or second week of school. This assignment could be in-class writing, a book talk, or a special project.
We are very excited about this program and hope the books on this list will provide knowledge and pleasure for your child. We encourage you to read and/or discuss these books with your student.
Sincerely, Carol Hagen, Librarian, John Adams Middle School Meredith Lebo, Librarian, Lincoln Middle School Joe Di Mercurio, Librarian, Malibu High School
Realistic Flake, Sharon - The Skin I'm In. Thirteen-year-old Maleeka, uncomfortable because her skin is extremely dark, meets a new teacher with a birthmark on her face and makes some discoveries about how to love who she is and what she looks like. Hiaasen, Carl - Hoot. Roy, who is new to his small Florida community, becomes involved in another boy's attempt to save a colony of burrowing owls from a proposed construction site. Hinton, S.E. - The Outsiders. Ponyboy is 14, tough, confused, yet sensitive - when his best friend kills a rival gang member, a nightmare of violence begins. Ryan, Pam Munoz - Becoming Naomi Leon. When Naomi's absent mother resurfaces to claim her, Naomi runs away to Mexico with her great-grandmother and younger brother in search of her father. Soto, Gary - Local News. A collection of thirteen short stories about the everyday lives of Mexican American young people in California's Central Valley. Spinelli, Jerry - Loser. Even though his classmates from first grade on have considered him strange and a loser, Daniel Zinkoff's optimism and exuberance and the support of his loving family do not allow him to feel that way about himself. Van Draanen, Wendelin - Flipped. In alternating chapters, two teenagers describe how their feelings about themselves, each other, and their families have changed over the years. Woodson, Jacqueline - Miracle's Boys. Twelve-year-old Lafayette's close relationship with his older brother Charlie changes after Charlie is released from a detention home and blames Lafayette for the death of their mother. Sports Deuker, Carl - On the Devil's Court. Struggling with his feelings of inadequacy and his failure to make the basketball team at his new school, seventeen-year-old Joe Faust finds himself willing to trade his soul for one perfect season of basketball. Lupica, Mike - Heat. Twelve-year-old Michael Arroyo is a star pitcher who struggles with his father’s death as he pursues his dream of leading his South Bronx All-Stars to the Little League World Series. Myers, Walter Dean - SLAM! Sixteen-year-old "Slam" Harris is counting on his noteworthy basketball talents to get him out of the inner city and give him a chance to succeed in life, but his coach sees things differently. Historical Curtis, Christopher Paul - The Watsons Go to Birmingham. The ordinary interactions and everyday routines of the Watsons, an African American family living in Flint, Michigan, are drastically changed after they go to visit Grandma in Alabama in the summer of 1963. Namioka, Lensey - Ties that Bind, Ties that Break. Ailin's life takes a different turn when she defies the traditions of upper class Chinese society by refusing to have her feet bound. Park, Linda Sue - A Single Shard. Tree-ear, a thirteen-year-old orphan in medieval Korea, lives under a bridge near a potters' village, and longs to learn how to throw the delicate celadon ceramics himself. Mystery & Adventure Balliett, Blue - Chasing Vermeer. When seemingly unrelated and strange events start to happen and a precious Vermeer painting disappears, eleven-year-olds Petra and Calder combine their talents to solve an international art scandal. Blackwood, Gary - The Shakespeare Stealer. A young orphan boy is ordered by his master to infiltrate Shakespeare's acting troupe in order to steal the script of "Hamlet," but he discovers instead the meaning of friendship and loyalty. Hoobler, Dorothy - In Darkness, Death. In eighteenth-century Japan, young Seikei becomes involved with a ninja as he helps Judge Ooka, his foster father, investigate the murder of a samurai. Paulsen, Gary - Brian's Winter. Brian is forced to survive a winter in the wilderness with only his survival pack and hatchet.
Biography & Autobiography
Dahl, Roald - Boy: Tales of Childhood. Presents humorous anecdotes from the author's childhood, including his education at an English boarding school and summer vacations in Norway. Jimenez, Francisco - Breaking Through. Having come from Mexico to California ten years ago, fourteen-year-old Francisco is still working in the fields but fighting to improve his life and complete his education.
Science Fiction & Fantasy Adams, Douglas - The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. Seconds before Earth is demolished to make room for a galactic freeway, an earthman is saved by his friend. Together they journey through the galaxy. Barron, T.A. - The Lost Years of Merlin. A young boy who has no identity nor memory of his past washes ashore on the coast of Wales and finds his true name after a series of fantastic adventures. Crichton, Michael - Andromeda Strain. For five days, American scientists struggle to identify and control a deadly new form of life. Wrede, Patricia - Dealing with Dragons. Determined not to be pushed into marrying a boring and proper prince, Princess Cimerone flees her kingdom and becomes an assistant to the dragon Kazul.
Classic Alcott, Louisa May - Little Women. Chronicles the joys and troubles of the four March sisters as they grow into young ladies and marry in 19th-century New England. Rawls, Wilson - Where the Red Fern Grows. A young boy living in the Ozarks achieves his heart's desire when he becomes the owner of two redbone hounds and teaches them to be champion hunters. Metamorphosis Avi - Crispin: the Cross of Lead. Historical Fiction. Falsely accused of theft and murder, an orphaned peasant boy in fourteenth-century England flees his village and meets a larger-than-life juggler who holds a dangerous secret.
Castellucci, Cecil – The Plain Janes. Graphic Novel/Realistic Fiction. After a September 11th-like attack on Metro City, Jane moves with her parents to suburbia where she rallies a group of misfits at her new school to join a secret club. Riordan, Rick - The Lightning Thief.Fantasy. Twelve-year-old Percy, son of a mortal woman and Poseidon, god of the sea, goes to a camp for demigods where he and his friends set out on a quest to prevent a war between the gods. Westerfield, Scott - Uglies. Science Fiction. Growing up in a futuristic world, 15 year old Tally, a fun-loving trickster, attracts the attention of the secret police when she begins to question the society she lives in and breaks the rules.
Summer Reading 2008
Dear Parents and Students,
Our school district has a required summer reading program. On the other side of this letter is a list of recommended books to read during the summer. Because students’ maturity and reading levels vary, we encourage parents to participate actively in selecting their children’s reading.
Students are expected to read and respond to two books from the list for the grade they will be entering in the fall. Students are responsible for obtaining their own books; the public libraries, as well as local booksellers specializing in children’s and young adult literature, will have most of these titles available. Some schools will have book fairs this spring featuring these summer reading titles.
This year the Santa Monica Public Library is focusing young adult summer activities around the topic of “metamorphosis.” It is recommended that students choose one of their summer reading books from the metamorphosis section of the list. In September, some schools may host events related to this topic and these books.
All students must be prepared to share and evaluate the two books they read soon after school begins in September.
TASK #1: Be prepared to make a written recommendation to your teacher that a book you read be retained or deleted from next year’s list.TASK #2: Guidelines for the assignment for the second book you read will be given the first or second week of school. This assignment could be in-class writing, a book talk, or a special project.
We are very excited about this program and hope the books on this list will provide knowledge and pleasure for your child. We encourage you to read and/or discuss these books with your student.
Sincerely,
Carol Hagen, Librarian, John Adams Middle School
Meredith Lebo, Librarian, Lincoln Middle School
Joe Di Mercurio, Librarian, Malibu High School
Realistic
Flake, Sharon - The Skin I'm In. Thirteen-year-old Maleeka, uncomfortable because her skin is extremely dark, meets a new teacher with a birthmark on her face and makes some discoveries about how to love who she is and what she looks like.
Hiaasen, Carl - Hoot. Roy, who is new to his small Florida community, becomes involved in another boy's attempt to save a colony of burrowing owls from a proposed construction site.
Hinton, S.E. - The Outsiders. Ponyboy is 14, tough, confused, yet sensitive - when his best friend kills a rival gang member, a nightmare of violence begins.
Ryan, Pam Munoz - Becoming Naomi Leon. When Naomi's absent mother resurfaces to claim her, Naomi runs away to Mexico with her great-grandmother and younger brother in search of her father.
Soto, Gary - Local News. A collection of thirteen short stories about the everyday lives of Mexican American young people in California's Central Valley.
Spinelli, Jerry - Loser. Even though his classmates from first grade on have considered him strange and a loser, Daniel Zinkoff's optimism and exuberance and the support of his loving family do not allow him to feel that way about himself.
Van Draanen, Wendelin - Flipped. In alternating chapters, two teenagers describe how their feelings about themselves, each other, and their families have changed over the years.
Woodson, Jacqueline - Miracle's Boys. Twelve-year-old Lafayette's close relationship with his older brother Charlie changes after Charlie is released from a detention home and blames Lafayette for the death of their mother.
Sports
Deuker, Carl - On the Devil's Court. Struggling with his feelings of inadequacy and his failure to make the basketball team at his new school, seventeen-year-old Joe Faust finds himself willing to trade his soul for one perfect season of basketball.
Lupica, Mike - Heat. Twelve-year-old Michael Arroyo is a star pitcher who struggles with his father’s death as he pursues his dream of leading his South Bronx All-Stars to the Little League World Series.
Myers, Walter Dean - SLAM! Sixteen-year-old "Slam" Harris is counting on his noteworthy basketball talents to get him out of the inner city and give him a chance to succeed in life, but his coach sees things differently.
Historical
Curtis, Christopher Paul - The Watsons Go to Birmingham. The ordinary interactions and everyday routines of the Watsons, an African American family living in Flint, Michigan, are drastically changed after they go to visit Grandma in Alabama in the summer of 1963.
Namioka, Lensey - Ties that Bind, Ties that Break. Ailin's life takes a different turn when she defies the traditions of upper class Chinese society by refusing to have her feet bound.
Park, Linda Sue - A Single Shard. Tree-ear, a thirteen-year-old orphan in medieval Korea, lives under a bridge near a potters' village, and longs to learn how to throw the delicate celadon ceramics himself.
Mystery & Adventure
Balliett, Blue - Chasing Vermeer. When seemingly unrelated and strange events start to happen and a precious Vermeer painting disappears, eleven-year-olds Petra and Calder combine their talents to solve an international art scandal.
Blackwood, Gary - The Shakespeare Stealer. A young orphan boy is ordered by his master to infiltrate Shakespeare's acting troupe in order to steal the script of "Hamlet," but he discovers instead the meaning of friendship and loyalty.
Hoobler, Dorothy - In Darkness, Death. In eighteenth-century Japan, young Seikei becomes involved with a ninja as he helps Judge Ooka, his foster father, investigate the murder of a samurai.
Paulsen, Gary - Brian's Winter. Brian is forced to survive a winter in the wilderness with only his survival pack and hatchet.
Biography & Autobiography
Dahl, Roald - Boy: Tales of Childhood. Presents humorous anecdotes from the author's childhood, including his education at an English boarding school and summer vacations in Norway.
Jimenez, Francisco - Breaking Through. Having come from Mexico to California ten years ago, fourteen-year-old Francisco is still working in the fields but fighting to improve his life and complete his education.
Science Fiction & Fantasy
Adams, Douglas - The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. Seconds before Earth is demolished to make room for a galactic freeway, an earthman is saved by his friend. Together they journey through the galaxy.
Barron, T.A. - The Lost Years of Merlin. A young boy who has no identity nor memory of his past washes ashore on the coast of Wales and finds his true name after a series of fantastic adventures.
Crichton, Michael - Andromeda Strain. For five days, American scientists struggle to identify and control a deadly new form of life.
Wrede, Patricia - Dealing with Dragons. Determined not to be pushed into marrying a boring and proper prince, Princess Cimerone flees her kingdom and becomes an assistant to the dragon Kazul.
Classic
Alcott, Louisa May - Little Women. Chronicles the joys and troubles of the four March sisters as they grow into young ladies and marry in 19th-century New England.
Rawls, Wilson - Where the Red Fern Grows. A young boy living in the Ozarks achieves his heart's desire when he becomes the owner of two redbone hounds and teaches them to be champion hunters.
Metamorphosis
Avi - Crispin: the Cross of Lead. Historical Fiction. Falsely accused of theft and murder, an orphaned peasant boy in fourteenth-century England flees his village and meets a larger-than-life juggler who holds a dangerous secret.
Castellucci, Cecil – The Plain Janes. Graphic Novel/Realistic Fiction. After a September 11th-like attack on Metro City, Jane moves with her parents to suburbia where she rallies a group of misfits at her new school to join a secret club.
Riordan, Rick - The Lightning Thief.Fantasy. Twelve-year-old Percy, son of a mortal woman and Poseidon, god of the sea, goes to a camp for demigods where he and his friends set out on a quest to prevent a war between the gods.
Westerfield, Scott - Uglies. Science Fiction. Growing up in a futuristic world, 15 year old Tally, a fun-loving trickster, attracts the attention of the secret police when she begins to question the society she lives in and breaks the rules.
April 08 (ml)