Summer Reading

Summer reading is a program used in many schools to encourage students

to use their academic skills over the summer. Summer reading is meant to
enhance students’ reading abilities, stretch their mind, and open them to new
knowledge while practicing their reading and writing skills.

Requirements:
 Students have to read 3 of the books listed below.
 For each book you need to:
o Write a Reading letter
o Create a Cartoon for the story

How do I get the books I need?

 Get a library card and check out the books from the local Los Angeles libraries
o Pico Union Library
 1030 S. Alvarado Street, Los Angeles, CA 90006
 (213) 368-7545
 Mon. 10-6, Tue. Noon-8, Wed. 10-6, Thu. Noon-8, Fri. 1:30-5:30, Sat. 10-6,
Sun. Closed
o Downtown Library
 630 W. 5th St., Los Angeles, CA 90071
 (213) 228-7000
 Mon. 10-6, Tue. 10-8, Wed. 10-6, Thu. 10-8, Fri. 10-6, Sat. 10-6, Sun. Closed
o Echo Park
 1410 W. Temple Street, Los Angeles, CA 90026
 (213) 250-7808
 Mon. 10-6, Tue. Noon-8, Wed. 10-6, Thu. Noon-8, Fri. 1:30-5:30, Sat. 10-6,
Sun. Closed

 Go to Barnes and Noble (Book Store)

o Located at Fairfax and 3rd Street at The Grove
 Take the 720 to Wilshire Blvd and Fairfax Ave
 From there, take the FARIFAX DASH to Fairfax Ave and 3rd Street
o Located at Glendale Americana
 Take Line 92 to Broadway and Brand Blvd.

 Order from [Link] (Online bookstore)

o Pick the three books you want to read over the summer
o Give money (cash or check made out to Megan Markevich) to Ms. Markevich (Rm.
220) and she will order them for you before school is out.
o Money due by Friday, June 11, 2010

ASSIGNMENTS ARE DUE THE FIRST DAY OF

 SCHOOL: Monday, September 13, 2010!
Summer Reading Books: Pick 3 that are listed below
Stormbreaker by Anthony Horowitz ($7.99)
After the death of the uncle who had been his guardian, fourteen-year-old Alex Rider is coerced to continue his uncle's dangerous
work for Britain's intelligence agency, M16

Becoming Naomi Leon by Pam Munoz Ryan ($6.99)

The story of two children that live with their grandmother fight for freedom and search for their father in order to make their lives
better.

Bad Boy: A Memoir by Walter Dean Myers ($8.99)

The autobiography of author, Walter Dean Myers describes his life in Harlem, New York City as a child and adolescent. He drops
out of high school and joins the army, feeling that his life situation and race leaves him little other choice. Through his struggles, he
discovers the courage to be a writer.

Out of my Mind by Sharon Draper($7.99)

Melody struggles everyday in school and with her family to show that she is intelligent and strong, but her classmates, teachers, and
parents don’t see her that way. She shows her strength quietly to overcome her disability and prove to herself that she is worth it.

Before We Were Free by Julia Alvarez ($6.99)

12-year-old Anita fears as her country, Dominican Republic, is being taken over by a dictator and she watches her family around her
flee to the United States. Her mom and dad are the only ones left to fight Trujillo and his dictatorship.

The Road to Paris by Nikki Grimes ($6.99)

Paris and her brother Malcolm are constantly searching for a new home. Their alcoholic mother left them and Paris refuses to be
separated from Malcolm. Paris search for home leads her on the road to discovering herself.

And then There Were None by Agatha Christie ($6.99)

Considered the best mystery novel ever written by many readers, And Then There Were None is the story of 10 strangers, each
lured to Indian Island by a mysterious host. Once his guests have arrived, the host accuses each person of murder. Unable to leave
the island, the guests begin to share their darkest secrets--until they begin to die.

A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier by Ishmael Beah ($8.64)

A 12-Year-old boy growing up in Sierra Leone, Africa loves causing mischief, dancing to hip-hop videos and memorizing
Shakespeare passages. But rebel forces destroy his village and he is forced to join the national army. He learns how to shoot an
AK-47 and destroys any rebel in sight. He struggles after the war to rehabilitate himself and release his hate and anger.

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins ($9.78)

Taking place in the future, The Hunger Games, details the collapse of the United States where people are plagued with fire, famine,
and war. Katniss, a 16 year old, is required to participate in the Hunger Games, which is televised and all citizens are required to
watch. Katniss must destroy the other 24 contestants in order to feed her family for the next year.

The Lord of the Flies by William Golding

A group of boys are stranded on an island after a plane crash. After days without rules or leadership, the boys turn against one
another in a struggle for power.

Breaking Through by Francisco Jimenez ($6.95)

Panchito returns as an adolescent and he struggles to please his parents while still being an “American kid.” He struggles with
adapting to the life his parent’s want for him and the life he wants for himself.

The Library Card by Jerry Spinelli ($5.99)

A library card is a kind of a magic ticket. It takes you wherever you want to go and gives you whatever you need. Told from the
stories of 12 kids, a mysterious blue card helps them find their way.

The Pigman by Paul Zindel ($6.99)

For high school sophomores, John and Lorraine, the world feels meaningless and nothing is important. They can never please their
parents and school is a chore. To pass time, they play pranks on unsuspecting people. It’s during one of these pranks that they
meet the “Pigman.” John and Lorraine become interested in Mr. Pignati as they learn that life is what you make of it.
That Was Then, This is Now by S.E. Hinton ($9.99)
Hinton paints a deeply felt portrait of best friends Byron and Mark, as they grow up and grow apart.

A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith ($11.55)

A young girl struggles to survive in Brooklyn, New York in the early 1900s.

Summer Reading Planning Sheet

What 3 books will I choose to read this summer?
1. __________________________________________

2. __________________________________________

3. __________________________________________

How will I get these 3 books? (Library, bookstore, bring $ to school)

__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________

How will I encourage myself to make sure I finish all of my assignments before
school starts?
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________

Now, explain to your parents about the summer reading program.

• Show them the requirements
• Ask them how will they help you get the books you need to read
• Tell them that you have to make a reading letter and a cartoon for each
book
__________________________________________________________
Tear this section off and return by Friday, June 11, 2010
Parent’s Pledge:
I understand my child’s summer reading requirement.
I will ask them everyday if they read for 30 minutes during the summer.
I will ask my student to show me ALL THREE of his/her summer reading projects before
September 13, 2010.

Compromiso de Padres:
Entiendo que es requisito que mi hijo/a lea tres libros este verano.
Yo le preguntare cada día si ha leído 30 minutos diariamente.
Le pediré a mi hijo que me muestre LOS TRES proyectos de lectura de verano antes de
septiembre 13, 2010.

_________________________ ________________________
Student Name Parent Signature
Nombre de Estudiante Firma de Padre

Reading Letter

Dear Ms. Markevich,

Paragraph 1: Plot Summary (4-6 sentences)

• What are the main events in the novel?
• What are the turning points?
• What is the climax?

Paragraph 2: Characters (4-6 sentences)

• Who are the characters in the novel?
• Which character was your favorite/least favorite? Why?
• How did the character(s) change over the novel?

Paragraph 3: Theme (4-6 sentences)

• What did this book teach you about life?
• What will you remember in 10 years about this book?
• What kind of lessons did the characters learn? Did they make
any mistakes and learn from them or change?

Paragraph 4: Recommendation (4-6 sentences)

• What did you like/dislike about this book?
• Who would you recommend this book to?
• Would you read any other books written by the same author?
Name:
_______________________________________________________________

Directions:
Use the following squares to retell the story you read, in cartoon form.
Pick the four
most important events. Illustrate each event and add a caption that tells
what is
happening. You may also use thought or speech bubbles to convey what
the
characters are thinking or saying.

Taken together, your cartoons should summarize the story, and the
sequence of
events should be correct. Make your cartoon colorful! (Plan your work on
another piece of paper before you begin drawing in the squares.)