Grade 6 teachers believe that reading a minimum of 3-4 books this summer will maintain the growth and current reading level of a student over the summer. One thing we know to be true is that reading at home and outside of school is what closes gaps and strengthens readers. Over the summer we encourage students to read a book a week to keep their minds strong and retain the knowledge they gained in grade 5. Just like a healthy body, exercising their brain over the summer is just as important to ensure that when a student returns in August they are FIT and ready to learn.
Hale, Natan
Nathan Hale’s Hazardous Tales (Any book in the series)
These graphic novels tell the thrilling, shocking, and TRUE stories of American history. Big Bad Ironclad! covers the history of the amazing ironclad steam warships used in the Civil War. Other titles include Alamo All Star and Treaties, Trenches, Mud, and Blood (A World War I Tale). (Publisher)
Telgemeier, Raina
Smile
From sixth grade through tenth, Raina copes with a variety of dental problems that affect her appearance and how she feels about herself. (Publisher)
Telgemeier, Raina
Sisters
Raina can't wait to be a big sister. But once Amara is born, things aren't quite how she expected them to be. Amara is cute, but she's also a cranky, grouchy baby, and mostly prefers to play by herself. Their relationship doesn't improve much over the years, but when a baby brother enters the picture and later, something doesn't seem right between their parents, they realize they must figure out how to get along. (Publisher)
Holm, Jennifer
Sunny Side Up
Sunny Lewin has been packed off to Florida to live with her grandfather for the summer. At first she thought Florida might be fun -- it is the home of Disney World, after all. But the place where Gramps lives is no amusement park. It’s full of . . . old people. Really old people. Luckily, Sunny isn’t the only kid around. She meets Buzz, a boy who is completely obsessed with comic books, and soon they’re having adventures of their own: facing off against golf ball-eating alligators, runaway cats, and mysteriously disappearing neighbors. But the question remains -- why is Sunny down in Florida in the first place? The answer lies in a family secret that won’t be secret to Sunny much longer. (Publisher)
Bell, Cece
El Deafo
Going to school and making new friends can be tough. But going to school and making new friends while wearing a bulky hearing aid strapped to your chest? That requires superpowers! In this funny, poignant graphic novel memoir, author/illustrator Cece Bell chronicles her hearing loss at a young age and her subsequent experiences with the Phonic Ear, a very powerful—and very awkward—hearing aid. (Publisher)
Telgemeier, Raina
Ghosts
Catrina and her family are moving to the coast of Northern California because her little sister, Maya, is sick. Cat isn't happy about leaving her friends for Bahía de la Luna, but Maya has cystic fibrosis and will benefit from the cool, salty air that blows in from the sea. As the girls explore their new home, a neighbor lets them in on a secret: There are ghosts in Bahía de la Luna. Maya is determined to meet one, but Cat wants nothing to do with them. As the time of year when ghosts reunite with their loved ones approaches, Cat must figure out how to put aside her fears for her sister's sake -- and her own. (Publisher)
Martin, Ann
The Baby-Sitter’s Club Graphix
Kristy, Mary Anne, Claudia, and Stacey are best friends and founding members of The Baby-sitters Club. Whatever comes up -- cranky toddlers, huge dogs, scary neighbors, prank calls -- you can count on them to save the day. Baby-sitting isn't always easy, and neither is dealing with strict parents, new families, fashion emergencies, and mysterious secrets. But no matter what, the BSC have what they need most: friendship. (Publisher)
Hatke, Ben
Mighty Jack
Jack might be the only kid in the world who's dreading summer. But he's got a good reason: summer is when his single mom takes a second job and leaves him at home to watch his autistic kid sister, Maddy. It's a lot of responsibility, and it's boring, too, because Maddy doesn't talk. Ever. But then, one day at the flea market, Maddy does talk―to tell Jack to trade their mom's car for a box of mysterious seeds. It's the best mistake Jack has ever made. (Publisher)
Adventure & Mystery
- Aiken, J. Wolves of Willoughby Chase
A wicked governess, along with the wolves, makes this a compelling Victorian melodrama.
- Avi Confessions of Charlotte Doyle
Charlotte, a 13-year-old passenger on the Seahawk in 1832, has been accused of murder and found guilty. This is her account of that terrifying voyage.
- Brittain, B. The Wish Giver
This suspenseful story tells what happens when wishes are granted to three young adults.
- Burnford, S. The Incredible Journey
The adventures of two dogs and a cat who set out to cross 300 rugged miles of northern Ontario are found in this exciting book.
- Eckert, A. Incident at Hawk's Hills
A six-year old boy wanders away from home and is nurtured and protected by a badger. ·
- George, J. C. Julie of the Wolves
After running away from home, Julie, a twelve-year-old Eskimo girl, becomes hopelessly lost. She survives with the help of a pack of Arctic wolves. ·
- O'Dell, S. Island of the Blue Dolphins
An Indian girl spends eighteen years alone on a rocky island off the coast of California.
· Paulsen, G. Canyons
After finding the weathered skull of an Indian boy, Brennan Cole becomes curious to learn about its owner.
· Peck, R. Secrets of the Shopping Mall
After taking up residence in a shopping mall, two girls discover that they are not alone.
· Raskin, E. The Westing Game
The will of an eccentric multi-millionaire stipulates that the sixteen heirs will inherit his fortune only if they can use the clues given to solve a mystery.
· Yep, L. Dragonwings
Moon Shadow leaves his Chinese village in 1903 and goes to live with his father in San Francisco where the two work toward their dream of creating a dragon-like flying machine.
Animals
· Byars, B. Midnight Fox
When Tom spends two months on a farm with his aunt and uncle, he never expects that a black fox will become the focus of his life.
· Kjelgaard, J. Big Red
A trapper's son and a champion Irish Setter have many exciting adventures together.
Classics
- Burnett, F. H. A Little Princess
Arriving at a London boarding house like a "little princess," Sara Crewe is left penniless following a sudden misfortune. Though her spirit is never broken, her life is once again transformed when a mysterious Indian gentleman moves in next door. ·
Montgomery, L. Anne of Green Gables
Eleven year old Anne Shirley wins the heart of her foster mother.
· Rawlings, A. The Yearling
In this book, you'll find the timeless story of backwoods Florida and the tender relationship of a young boy and his tame fawn.
· Roth, A. Iceberg Hermit
This survival story is based on the true account of a young boy who is trapped on an iceberg after his whaling ship sinks with the entire crew.
· Swell, A. Black Beauty
Told from the point of view of the main character, Black Beauty takes the reader through the horse's carefree colt days to his horrible mistreatment by humans. While teaching readers the lessons of kindness and generosity through pointing out the cruelty of others, the author creates unforgettable characters in this first-rate story.
Historical Fiction
· Pullman, P. The Ruby in the Smoke
A 16 year old girl, whose father has died, struggles to solve the mystery of her father's death, the illegal activities of her father's firm, and the location of a precious ruby.
· Reiss, J. The Upstairs Room
When the Germans attack Holland in World War II, two Jewish girls are hidden in a Dutch family's small farmhouse, even while German soldiers occupy the house.
· Speare, E. The Witch of Blackbird Pond
While Kit Tyler of Barbados visits her Puritan aunt in colonial Connecticut, she becomes friendly with Hannah, the witch of Blackbird Pond. The friendship causes a terrifying witchhunt and a suspenseful trial.
Humor
· Dahl, R. Revolting Rhymes
This is a book of humorous poems written as only Roald Dahl can write.
· Silverstein, S. Where the Sidewalk Ends
From the author of Light in the Attic, here is another collection of original poems by a contemporary master poet and artist.
Imaginative & Science Fiction
· L'Engle, M. Wrinkle in Time
A provocative, imaginative tale of a brother and sister in search of their father who is lost in the fifth dimension.
· Lewis, C. S. The Chronicles of Narnia
Enter the enchanted land of Narnia through any of these six books. If you would like to meet Aslan, the noble, talking lion, who frees Narnia from an evil spell, start with The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe.
· O'Brien, R. Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of Nimh
A widowed mouse, Mrs. Frisby, attempts to save her family by acquiring some help from the well-taught rats of Nimh.
Nonfiction
· Filipovic, A. Zlata's Diary
For two years, beginning in September 1991, Zlata Filipovic writes of her feelings and experiences surviving in war-torn Sarajevo.
· Gordon, S. Waiting for the Rain: A Novel of South Africa
The friendship of two boys is strained by injustice and turmoil arising from wealth and class privilege.
· Macaulay, D. Castles
David Macaulay, author and artist, explores the architectural structure of 13th century castles in this Caldecott Honor Book. The reader will go through the steps in planning and constructing a castle with the aide of Macaulay's clearly presented information and detailed illustrations.
Realistic Fiction
· Armstrong, C. Sounder
After a young boy's world is shattered when his father, a black sharecropper, is jailed for stealing food for his family, the boy grows in courage with his devoted dog Sounder at his side.
· Blume, J. Tiger Eyes
A young girl must make painful adjustments after her father's death.
· Cleaver, V. Where the Lilies BloomWhen her father dies, Mary Call must take care of her two siblings and keep the family together.
· Danziger, P. The Cat Ate My Gymsuit
With the help of her teacher, a ninth grade girl develops a better attitude towards herself. She then helps to organize a campaign to reinstate this teacher who has since been fired.
· Fox, P. One-Eyed Cat
Ned is forbidden to shoot his air rifle, but after disobeying this rule, he wounds a cat and the results gnaw at his conscience.
· Lord, B. In the Year of the Boar and Jackie Robinson
The world of baseball and Jackie Robinson help a young Chinese girl to adjust to a new life in America.
· North, S. Rascal
Twelve years old Sterling North's baby raccoon, Rascal, lives with him for a year in a Wisconsin village. After a year of fun being together, Sterling realizes he must free Rascal forever.
· Rawls, W. Where the Red Fern Grows
A young boy's dogs win the gold cup in a contest, but tragedy strikes.
· Taylor, T. The Cay
Blinded as the result of a shipwreck, a young boy is saved by an older West Indian man who teaches the boy to cope with his handicap while they survive on a desert island.
· Voight, C. Dicey's Song
The four Tillerman children come to live with their grandmother in the Chesapeake Bay area. In the face of tragedy, they work hard to make ends meet and to adjust to their new way of life.
· Yep, L. Child of the Owl
When young Casey moves from her seedy California hotel to her grandmother's San Francisco home, she begins to experience a whole new world.