The summer reading for all 5-6 students for the 2007 - 2008 school year includes one book about the Middle Ages, the topic we will be focusing on in Humanities, and a second book of your choice from a "short" selected list (below). Reading is an enjoyable and important part of a good summer. We hope that you read more than what we are requiring and tell us about your favorites.

Required reading for all is Crispin The Cross of Lead by Avi, about a poor boy in the Middle Ages who is accused of a crime he did not commit. The book is full of plot twists and life in Medieval England. (There is a sequel to this book called Crispin At the Edge of the World that you may want to read as well, but is not required.)

Your second required reading is a choice of any book from the "short" list below. Note that some books are more challenging than others and choose accordingly. Please choose books that you have not already read.

You will need to write down some thoughts about the two books you read as part of your required reading. It will help you remember and think about the story. Think about characters and developing story themes. Write just a few sentences after reading each two or three chapters, summarizing the story to that point. You may type or handwrite your summaries. Number these summaries according to chapters and date them. Put them into a folder for safekeeping.

Bring the two books you read and the folder with the summaries on the first day of school. You will be doing some writing about your summer reading, along with a cooperative project with a small group of peers, during the first week of school. We hope you have a wonderful summer.

See you in September,

Susan Phillips, Shirley Rinaldi and Fred Shaw

5-6 Short List (Please choose and read one of these in addition to Crispin)

Accessible
Lowry, Lois. Number the Stars. (a Danish family hides a Jewish girl during WWII)
Montgomery, L.M. Anne of Green Gables. (a young orphan brings joy to others)
Raskin, Ellen. The Westing Game. (mystery)

Intermediate
Doyle, Arthur Conan. Sherlock Holmes Stories. (famous detective stories)
LeGuin, Ursula. The Wizard of Earthsea. (an apprentice wizard makes a mistake)
Paulson, Gary. Hatchet or Brian's Winter. (survival stories)

Challenging
Alcott, Louisa May. Little Women. (a family of four sisters in hard times)
Burns, Olive. Cold Sassy Tree. (a story of a small town and its characters)

Revised June 2007