Seventh Grade Summer Reading List 2020

Incoming seventh graders are required to read a minimum of two books from the following list during the summer. Additionally, they must complete a different project for each of the two books. If you have any questions about anything, please contact Mr. Hakim at ajhakim@stpaulonthelake.org or connect to your Google Classroom page using the following code: e7zrcz2 Have a great summer! Mr. Hakim

American Born Chinese by Gene Luen Yang (Contemporary Fiction, 233 pages) Three parallel stories interlock in this graphic novel. In the first, the American-born Chinese boy of the title, Jin, moves with his family from San Francisco's Chinatown to a mostly white suburb. There he's exposed to racism (from children and adults), bullying, and taunts and is isolated until a Taiwanese boy, Wei-Chen Sun, moves in and they become friends. But Jin develops a crush on a white girl and longs to fit in. The second story is a

retelling of the story of the Monkey King, a fabled Chinese character who develops extraordinary powers in his quest to be accepted as a god. The third concerns Danny, a popular Anglo boy who's visited by his cousin, Chin-Kee, a walking, talking example of the most pernicious Asian stereotypes. (Summary From Common Sense Media)

The Girls Who Drank the Moon by Kelly Barnhill (Fantasy, 400 pages) THE GIRL WHO DRANK THE MOON is the story of Luna, taken as a baby from her family in the Protectorate as part of a cruel ritual designed to keep the populace fearful and compliant. Though the Elders circulate a story that an evil witch demands the annual sacrifice, they don't realize there's actually a good witch who saves and protects the babies. When Xan rescues Luna, she accidentally feeds her moonbeams that "enmagic" her,

so she decides to adopt and raise Luna in a family that includes a dragon and a wise bog monster. Luna's magical powers prove to be unpredictable and unruly, so Xan casts a spell that cocoons the magic until her 13th birthday. Will Luna harness her magic successfully? This story is interwoven with stories from the Protectorate about an antagonist who feeds on the sorrow of others, Luna's mother who yearns for her lost daughter, and a brave couple who challenge the status quo. (Summary from Common Sense Media)

The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo (Animals and Fantasy, 270 pages) Listen, dear reader, to Kate DiCamillo, and you will hear of Despereaux Tilling, a half-sized mouse with giant ears who is "such the disappointment" to his mama because he won't act like other mice. He is sickly, faints at loud noises, loves music, bright light, and reading books. Worst of all, because he has fallen in love with a human princess named Pea, he talks to humans. For this transgression he is condemned by the other mice,

including his own father, to be sent to the dungeon to be eaten by the rats. You will also, dear reader, hear of Roscuro the rat, who also loves light, but has a grudge against the princess. And of Miggery Sow, an abused, dimwitted, partially deaf serving girl who wishes to be a princess. And you will hear how the strange stories of these three outsiders intersect in a most unusual way. Reader, do you believe in happily ever after? (Summary from Common Sense Media)

That was Then, This is Now by S.E. Hinton (Coming of Age, 154 pages) Best friends become enemies when one accepts violence and crime and the other turns against that life. Bryon and Mark grow up together on the wrong side of the tracks, get into fights, and hustle pool. But Bryon changes, while Mark doesn't. Teenagers love the gritty realism of this novel and the story of a boy's inner turmoil. (Summary from Common Sense Media)

All the Right Stuff by Walter Dean Myers (Coming of Age, 224 pages) Sixteen-year-old Paul DuPree and his mom are awakened one night at 3 a.m. by New York City cops, breaking the news that Paul's dad, who's been in and out of their lives, was just killed during a robbery. Paul's determined to be a better person and have a better life than his often-jailed father, but he hasn't thought much about how to make it happen. The summer job he's landed through his school's community program, which has him helping an opinionated old man make soup for senior citizens, soon has him asking big questions about life and the people in his

neighborhood. (Summary from Common Sense Media)

Heat by Mike Lupica (Sports, 220 pages) Michael, an unusually talented 12-year-old pitcher on his Little League team, has a lot going on at home that only his best friend Manny and the kindly lady upstairs in his apartment building, Mrs. C., know about. Born in Cuba, Michael lost his mother to cancer when he was very young. His father brought Michael and his brother Carlos to America with the hope of seeing Michael pitch in the Little League World Series. Now his father is dead too, and and he and Carlos are trying to keep it a secret until Carlos, just months

shy of his 18th birthday, can legally assume custody of Michael. But Children's Services are getting suspicious, and a rival coach and player have accused Michael of being older than he claims, causing him to be suspended until he can find proof. Something needs to go right -- and soon. (Summary from Common Sense Media)

Amina’s Voice by Hena Khan (Contemporary Fiction, 208 pages) In AMINA'S VOICE, Amina, who's Pakistani American, and her best friend, Soojin, from a Korean family, are starting sixth grade in a Milwaukee suburb. The two suffer the occasional taunt from their classmates ("Speak English. You're in America") but are in the full swing of American middle school life. They prepare for the upcoming choral concert and navigate friendship troubles and jealousy when another girl, formerly with the mean crowd, wants to befriend them. Amina also has a busy life with her Muslim

community at their vibrant Islamic Center and wonders how to balance that culture when her uncle, who's from Pakistan and stricter, comes to stay with them for a month. Will her parents let her brother join the basketball team? And does Islam really frown on her love of music and singing? When the center becomes the target of vandalism and arson, the larger community rises to support their Muslim neighbors.

Firegirl by Tony Abbott (School, 145 pages) Tom is a sweaty, overweight kid at a Catholic school. His best friend is Jeff, who is angry about his parents' divorce and his dad's disinterest. Tom has a crush on pretty, popular Courtney, and dreams of rescuing her as a superhero. An ordinary kid in an ordinary life. Then his class gets a new student, Jessica, who has been severely disfigured in a fire, and who is in town for skin grafts at the hospital. None of the

children know how to deal with her, and Jeff is angry about her mere existence. Wild rumors about her circulate around the school. But Tom gradually establishes a tentative relationship with her during the short time she is in school, a few weeks that change everything.

The Girl Who Owned a City by O.T. Nelson (Literary Fiction, 208 pages) A deadly plague has devastated Earth, killing all the adults. Lisa and her younger brother Todd are struggling to stay alive in a world where no one is safe. Other children along Grand Avenue need help as well. They band together to find food, shelter, and protection from dangerous gangs invading their neighborhood. When Tom Logan and his army start making threats, Lisa comes up with a plan and leads her group to a safer place. But how far is she willing to go to

protect what's hers?

Summer Reading Projects Option 1: Break it Down Your task is to construct a six-panel brochure OR an 8-page digital presentation (PowerPoint, Google Slides, Prezi, iMovie, Haiku Deck, Animoto, etc.) that breaks down the major ideas and elements of the book you read.

1. Put your full name on the project. Identify the book you read for your summer project. 2. Fold a piece of 8 ½ x 11 (or larger) paper into three equal sections 3. Create specific sections of the brochure to describe the book elements listed below. You

may split them up as you wish, but make sure you have included all of them. a. Main character — Who is he/she? What is he/she like? b. Two Secondary Characters — Who are they? What are they like? What do they

want? i. Include a drawing/illustration/picture of the characters.

c. Setting — Where and when does the story take place AND how do these elements affect the characters, their problems, or their decisions?

i. Include a drawing/illustration/picture of the setting. d. Conflict — What is the main character’s problem(s)?

i. Include a drawing/illustration/picture that represents the conflict of the story.

e. Climax — What was the most exciting moment or turning point in the story? i. Include a drawing/illustration/picture that represents the climax of the

story. f. Resolution — How did the main character solve his or her problem and what

was the result? i. Include a drawing/illustration/picture that represents the resolution of

the story. g. Theme — What did the author want to teach you about life through the

struggles of the main character? Which TWO events most helped you to learn this lesson?

i. Include a drawing/illustration/picture that represents the theme of the story.

h. Review — Did you like the book? What was your favorite part? Who would you recommend this book to?

4. If you choose to display your knowledge using PowerPoint (or another digital tool), include a title slide (the book title and your name) and the six bullets above on individual slides.

Option 2: Character Artwork Your task is to create a puppet, a sculpture, a digital graphic, or a painting of one of the main characters in the story. Additionally, complete a character trait graphic organizer about the character, and write a speech you believe the character might give at a particular point in the book.

1. Put your full name on the project. Identify the book you read for your summer project. 2. Complete the character trait graphic organizer for the character of your choosing. 3. Decide if you want to create a puppet, a sculpture, or a painting about the character of

your choosing. Your artwork should be homemade and created by you. Do not use store-bought toys/puppets, and do not copy your character’s likeness from the book cover or from another artist’s rendition of the character.

4. Create a puppet, sculpture, digital graphic, or painting of either the protagonist or antagonist in the story. Have your character hold something in his hand that represents him. Make sure that the artwork helps the viewer learn something about the characteristics of the character you’re depicting.

5. Write a speech on hard copy or in Google Docs. The speech should be based on an important scene in the book and should depict what you think your character might say if given the chance at that time. Make sure that the speech is written in first person (as if you were the character).

Recommended Character Trait Graphic Organizer What character traits do you notice about the character or person you depict in your project? Does the character display grit? optimism? curiosity? zest? self-control? empathy? Or does this person display negative traits? Both?

Character Trait Explanation Trait: Quote: Page #:

Trait: Quote: Page #:

Trait: Quote: Page #:

Trait: Quote: Page #:

Option 3: Double-Entry Journal Your task is to use a notebook, composition book, folder or Google Docs to record your thoughts about and understanding of your summer reading book. 1. Put your full name. Identify the book you read for your summer project. 2. Divide several pages of your notebook into two sections by drawing a vertical line down

the center. 3. Label the double-entry journal page “QUOTE FROM TEXT” on one side and “MY

THOUGHTS” on the other 4. You must have at least 10 entries in your double-entry journal. 5. Count the number of chapters in your book. Decide how many entries you will need to

write for each chapter or group of chapters. 6. Make sure your 10+ journal entries are evenly spaced throughout the book. 7. Always show the page number on the left side of the page for each entry. 8. On the left side, copy down a short quote from the text that you find interesting in some

way. 9. On the right side, write your personal responses. Why you found that sentence(s) or

quote(s) interesting or confusing. Each personal response should be at least three sentences to make sure you have thoroughly explained your thinking.

Example Double-Entry Notebook

Option 4: Waxing Poetic Your task is to write and perform (the performance can be recorded) a song or poem about the characters in the novel.

1. Put your full name. Identify the book you read for your summer project. 2. Write out a song or poem about the main character in the book. 3. Songs should have at least three verses and a chorus; poems should have at least 4

stanzas. 4. Using your phone, computer, a video recorder, or other recording device, create and

record a performance of your song. Option 5: Create a Comic Strip Your task is to choose the main conflict in the book you read and depict the conflict as a comic strip.

1. Put your full name. Identify the book you read for your summer project. 2. Choose the main conflict of the book—what character(s) is/are involved? How is/are

he/she/they affected by the conflict? How is the conflict resolved? What happens as a result of the conflict?

3. Using at least six boxes, create a comic strip depicting the main conflict of the book. 4. Each box should have a dialogue cloud, meaning, characters (or the narrator) should be

speaking. 5. As in a typical comic, boxes DO NOT have to be the same size. 6. Each box should be colored and designed to create a full depiction of the conflict.