Hawtree Creek Middle School~MS 297121-10 Rockaway BoulevardSouth Ozone Park, NY 11420www.HCMS297.com718.659.3792

Dr. Maureen Hussey – Founding Principal

Summer Reading Requirement - 6th Grade

Hawtree Creek Middle School students will be required to read a minimum of 3 books during the summer and submit written responses on the first day of school for the 2020-2021 school year.

STEP 1: Choose your novels

On the following page is a list of fiction and non-fiction novels recommended for your summer reading. Please be sure to choose novels within your Lexile level. Some of these novels may be available at your local library. Some novels you may need to purchase. All of the books can be found at Barnes and Noble Booksellers, Amazon.com or Scholastic.com. You may also choose to purchase these books on a tablet device.

You must read:

City of Ember by Jeanne DuPrau (680L)The city of Ember was built as a last refuge for the human race. Two hundred years later, the great lamps that light the city are beginning to flicker. When Lina finds part of an ancient message, she’s sure it holds a secret that will save the city. She and her friend Doon must decipher the message before the lights go out on Ember forever.

You may choose: 1 novel from the non-fiction list of your choice 1 novels from the fiction list of your choice

Students are encouraged to read more than 2 books from this list if they choose!

My current Lexile level is: _____________________ and I should read novels within the _____________________ range. If you do not know you’re current Lexile level, the 6th grade Lexile range is between 865 to 1165, so feel free to choose any novel in that range! If you know your reading letter (A-Z), you can visit the following website to convert your letter to your Lexile level: https://www.readinga-z.com/learninga-z-levels/level-correlation-chart/

STEP 2: Read at least 3 BooksEnjoy your summer by kicking back in the shade with a great book! On average, 8th graders should be reading a minimum of 25-30 minutes per day.

STEP 3: Write 5 Journal Responses for Each Book You ReadIn this packet, students will find guidelines for writing journal entries after each book that is read. Students may choose from a list of reading response prompts.

Students must complete 5 journal responses per book that is read, 15 total.

After each response, students must write 3-5 sentences answering the following question: What HCMS Character Value (Community, Leadership, Perseverance, Collaboration) is evident in this book? Explain how this book demonstrates an HCMS Character value.

Students may choose to write their responses on loose-leaf OR typed and printed out from a computer. All typed responses must be in double-spaced, size 12, Times New Roman font.

Fiction Journal Responses

Below is a list of 10 writing response prompts. You must choose 5 writing response prompts for each fiction novel you read.

Circle any writing response prompts you will choose:

1. How does the main character’s relationships with other people in the community impact him/her? Use two pieces of text evidence to support your response.

2. Explain a theme of your novel (a theme is a message or moral the reader can learn). Use two pieces of text evidence to support your response.

3. What can readers learn from the community in this novel? Explain your reasoning. Explain how using two pieces of text evidence in your response.

4. Do you think the title of the novel fits the story? Explain why using two pieces of text evidence in your response.

5. What was the most important line from the novel? Explain why this is the most important line using two pieces of text evidence from somewhere else in the text to support your response.

6. How is collaboration (teamwork) reflected in your novel? How has it influenced/changed characters’ perspectives and/or events? Explain using two pieces of text evidence from the novel.

7. What do you think the author’s purpose for writing this book was? Explain why using two pieces of evidence from the chapter to support your response.

8. What advice would you give to characters in this novel to help them on their journey? Explain the main character’s actions and support your response using two pieces of evidence from the novel.

9. Compare what you read to a movie or book you have seen or read in the past. Explain how they are similar using two pieces of text evidence from the novel.

10. Who tells this story? Why do you think the author chose to have this story told from this point of view? Use two pieces of text evidence from the novel to support your response.

Nonfiction Journal Responses

Below is a list of 7 writing response prompts. You must choose 5 writing response prompts for each fiction novel you read.

1)What is the most important thing the author wanted you to learn about or think about after reading this book? Why is this important for people to know this or think about this? Support your response with two pieces of textual evidence.

2)How can you apply what you learned in this novel to your daily life? Support your response with two pieces of textual evidence.

3)Describe anything or anyone you would like to know more about after reading the book. What about this person/event intrigued you? What more would you like to know? Support your response with two pieces of textual evidence.

4)Did the ideas or events in this book remind you of ideas or events in another book, movie, TV show, the news? How so? Support your response with two pieces of textual evidence.

5)How did the author engage you (pull you in) to reading this book? What techniques did they use? Support your response with two pieces of textual evidence.

6)How is this novel structured? How did this structure help you understand what the author wanted you to learn? Support your response with two pieces of textual evidence.

7)Is the author taking a position or a stance in this novel? If so, what is it? Do you agree or disagree? Support your response with two pieces of textual evidence.

Summer 2020 Writing Response Format

Responses should be written on loose-leaf

Name ________________________________________________________________________ Date _________________________________

Title __________________________________________________________________ Author ________________________________

Writing Response Prompt #: __________________

Writing Response Prompt Question: ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Writing Response (8-10 sentences):______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

What HCMS Character Value (Community, Leadership, Perseverance, Collaboration) is evident in this book? _________________________________________

Explain how this book demonstrates an HCMS Character value in 2-3 sentences.____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Novel Recommendations by Lexile Level

570-700 Lexile LevelFiction:

The Fear Zone by LK.R. Alexander(570L)If you don’t stand up to your fears, they will destroy you. When five kids are invited to a cemetery at midnight, they think it’s just a prank. When they find a gravestone that instructs them to dig up a grave, they think it’s a joke. It’s no joke.

The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas (590L) Starr Carter is constantly switching between two worlds. The uneasy balance between these worlds is soon shattered when she witnesses the fatal shooting of her childhood best friend at the hands of a police officer. Facing pressure from all sides of the community, Starr must find her voice and decide to stand up for what's right.

I Survived the Sinking of the Titanic, 1912 by Lauren Tarshis (590L)Ten-year-old George Calder can’t believe his luck: He and his little sister, Phoebe, are on the famous Titanic, crossing the ocean with their aunt Daisy. The ship is full of exciting places to explore, but when George ventures into the first class storage cabin, a terrible booms shakes the entire boat, Suddenly, water is everywhere, and George’s life changes forever

Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli (590L)Stargirl. From the day she arrives at quiet Mica High in a burst of color and sound, the hallways hum with the murmur of “Stargirl, Stargirl.” She captures Leo Borlock’ s heart with just one smile. She sparks a school-spirit revolution with just one cheer. The students of Mica High are enchanted. At first.

Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer (600L)Twelve-year-old Artemis is a millionaire, a genius-and above all, a criminal mastermind. But Artemis doesn't know what he's taken on when he kidnaps a fairy, Captain Holly Short of the LEPrecon Unit. These aren't the fairies of the bedtime stories-they're dangerous!

Holes by Louis Sachar (660L)Stanley Yelnats has been unjustly sent to a boys’ detention center, Camp Green Lake, where the boys build character by spending all day, every day digging holes exactly five feet wide and five feet deep. There is no lake at Camp Green Lake. But there are an awful lot of holes.

The Face on the Milk Carton by Caroline B. Cooney (660L)No one ever really paid close attention to the faces of the missing children on the milk cartons. But as Janie Johnson glanced at the face of the ordinary little girl with her hair in tight pigtails, she felt overcome with shock. She recognized that little girl—it was her. How could it possibly be true?

570-700 Lexile LevelNonfiction:

Experiments with Light by Salvatore Tocci (600L)Explains what light is, how we see, and where colors come from, and offers nine experiments to reinforce these concepts.

Hoop Stars by Sydelle A. Kramer (600L)Introducing four basketball stars, including Shaquille O'Neal, David Robinson, Charles Barkley, and Hakeem Olajuwon, an easy-to-read collection of mini-biographies recounts their history-making career achievements.

Space Junk by Steve Kortenkamp (620L)Describes the types of debris orbiting Earth and discusses the hazards space junk presents to spacecraft and astronauts.

The Truth about Witches by Eric Braun – (640L)Witches have charmed us for years in popular fairy tales. Have you ever wondered what witches look like? What do you think witches use to cast spells? Hop on your broom, and fly through the pages of this book to find out the truth about witches.

Beyond the Bars: Exploring the Secrets of the Police Station by Tammy Enz (670L)Where do the police keep their weapons? And where do the criminals go once they’re arrested? Behind the scenes of the police station there’s a whole world of activity that keeps citizens safe. Let’s go beyond the bars to unlock the secrets of a police station.

700-800 Lexile Level

Fiction:

Divergent by Veronica Roth (700L)One choice can transform you. Beatrice Prior's society is divided into five factions—Candor (the honest), Abnegation (the selfless), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful), and Erudite (the intelligent). Beatrice must choose between staying with her Abnegation family and transferring factions. Her choice will shock her community and herself.

The Crossover by Kwame Alexander (750L)Josh and his twin brother Jordan are awesome on the court. But Josh has more than basketball in his blood. He’s got mad beats too, bears that tell his family’s story in verse. Both brothers must come to grips with growing up on and off the court, as they realize breaking the rules can come at a terrible price, resulting in a game-changer for their entire family.

Coraline by Neil Gaiman (750L)When Coraline steps through a door to find another house strangely similar to her own, things seem marvelous. But there’s another mother and father there, and they want her to stay and be their little girl. They want to change her and never let her go. Coraline will have to fight all her wits and courage if she is to save herself and return to her ordinary life.

The Outsiders by S.E. Hilton (750L)No one ever said life was easy. But Ponyboy is pretty sure that he's got things figured out. He knows that he can count on his brothers, and he knows that he can count on his friends. But not on much else besides trouble with the Socs, a vicious gang of rich kids whose idea of a good time is beating up on “greasers” like Ponyboy. At least he knows what to expect—until the night someone takes things too far.

The Giver by Lois Lowry (760L)Twelve-year-old Jonas, who lives in a seemingly ideal, if colorless, world of conformity and contentment. Not until he is given his life assignment as the Receiver of Memory does he begin to understand the dark, complex secrets behind his fragile community

Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbit (770L)The Tuck family is confronted with an agonizing situation when others discover their secret about a spring that prevents people from ever growing older.

The Maze Runner by James Dashner (770L)When Thomas wakes up in the lift, the only thing he can remember is his name. He’s surrounded by strangers—boys whose memories are also gone. Outside the towering stone walls that surround them is a limitless, ever-changing maze. It’s the only way out—and no one’s ever made it through alive.

700-800 Lexile LevelNonfiction

Sarah Morton’s Day: A Day in the Life of a Pilgrim Girl by Kate Waters (700L)Text and photographs of Plymouth Plantation follow a pilgrim girl through a typical day as she milks the goats, cooks and serves meals, learns her letters, and adjusts to her new stepfather.

Who Was Ferdinand Magellan by Sydelle Kramer (710)When Portuguese sailor Ferdinand Magellan set from Spain in 1519, he believed he could get to the Spice Islands by sailing west through or around the New World. He was right, but what he didn't know was that the treacherous voyage would take him three years and cost him his life.

The Lost Boy: A Foster Childs Search for Love of a Family by Dave Pelzer (720L)Dave is moved in and out of five different homes. He suffers shame and experiences resentment from those who feel that all foster kids are trouble and unworthy of being loved just because they are not part of a "real" family. Tears, laughter, devastation and hope create the journey of this little lost boy who searches desperately for just one thing -- the love of a family.

Pop! The Invention of Bubble Gum by Meagan McCarthy (740L)Gum. It's been around for centuries from the ancient Greeks to the American Indians, everyone's chewed it. But the best kind of gum bubble gum wasn't invented until 1928, when an enterprising young accountant at Fleer Gum and Candy used his spare time to experiment with different recipes.

Red Scarf Girl by Ji-Li Jiang (770L)In 1966 Ji-li Jiang turned twelve. An outstanding student and leader, she had everything: brains, the admiration of her peers, and a bright future in China’s Communist Party. But that year China2s leader, Mao Ze-dong, launched the Cultural Revolution, and everything changed.

800-900 Lexile LevelFiction:

Refugee by Alan Gratz (800L)Three young people will go on harrowing journeys in search of refuge. Al will face unimaginable dangers- from drownings to bombings to betrayals. But for each of them, there is always hope of tomorrow.

Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins (810L)In the ruins of a place once known as North America lies the nation of Panem, a shining Capitol surrounded by twelve outlying districts. The Capitol is harsh and cruel and keeps the other districts in line by forcing them to participate in the annual Hunger Games, a fight-to-the-death on live TV.

Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson (810L)In this classic novel, the friendship between young Jess and Leslie grows as they meet in Terabithia, their secret hiding place – and only ends with the tragic death of one of them.

Matilda by Roald Dahl (840L)Matilda is a sweet, exceptional young girl, but her parents think she's just a nuisance. She expects school to be different but there she has to face Miss Trunchbull, a menacing, kid-hating headmistress. It'll take a superhuman genius to give Miss Trunchbull what she deserves, and Matilda may be just the one to do it!

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green (850L)Hazel Grace Lancaster, a 16-year-old cancer patient, meets and falls in love with Gus Waters), a similarly afflicted teen from her cancer support group. Hazel feels that Gus really understands her.

The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros (870L)Told in a series of vignettes sometimes heartbreaking, sometimes deeply joyous it is the story of a young Latina girl growing up in Chicago, inventing for herself who and what she will become. Few other books in our time have touched so many readers

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone by J.K. Rowling (880L)After 10 miserable years with his aunt and uncle, Harry Potter is invited to attend Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Each book follows another year in Harry's education while more of his frightening destiny is revealed.

800-900 Lexile LevelNonfiction:

Who Was Dr. Seuss? by Janet Pascal (820L)Ted Geisel loved to doodle from the time he was a kid. He had an offbeat, fun-loving personality. He often threw dinner parties where guests wore outrageous hats! And he donned quirky hats when thinking up ideas for books like his classic The Cat in the Hat. This biography, with black-and-white illustrations throughout, brings an amazingly gifted author/illustrator to life.

I am Malala by Malala Yousafzai (830L)When the Taliban took control of the Swat Valley in Pakistan, one girl spoke out. Malala Yousafzai refused to be silenced and fought for her right to an education.

Hurricane Katrina by Sean Callery (840L)This Scholastic Discover More special takes you straight into the eye of Hurricane Katrina. How did Katrina form, and how was it tracked? What was the time line of events? Why was it so devastating? How did people survive? When were essential services restored? How were lives repaired and towns rebuilt? And how can we prepare for another monster storm on this scale?

Lost Star: The Story of Amelia Earhart by Patricia Lauber (870L)A fascinating look at the life of a remarkable woman and the unsolved mystery surrounding her disappearance during her attempt to fly around the world in 1937.

Lost Boy Lost Girl by John Bul Dau (900L)One of thousands of children who fled strife in southern Sudan, John Bul Dau survived hunger, exhaustion, and violence. His wife, Martha, endured similar hardships. In this memorable book, the two convey the best of African values while relating searing accounts of famine and war.

900-1000 Lexile LevelFiction:

Freak The Mighty by Rodman Philbrick (930L)Two boys a slow learner stuck in the body of a teenage giant and a tiny Einstein in leg braces forge a unique friendship when they pair up to create one formidable human force.

The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan (930L)Four mothers, four daughters, four families whose histories shift with the four winds depending on who's "saying" the stories. In 1949 four Chinese women, recent immigrants to San Francisco, begin meeting to eat dim sum, play mahjong, and talk. United in shared unspeakable loss and hope, they call themselves the Joy Luck Club. Rather than sink into tragedy, they choose to gather to raise their spirits and money.

A Dog’s Purpose by Bruce W. Cameron (970L)Surprised to find himself reborn as a rambunctious golden-haired puppy after a tragically short life as a stray mutt, Bailey's search for his new life's meaning leads him into the loving arms of 8-year-old Ethan. During their countless adventures Bailey joyously discovers how to be a good dog. But this life as a beloved family pet is not the end of Bailey's journey. Reborn as a puppy yet again, Bailey wonders will he ever find his purpose?

The Case of the Missing Marquess by Nancy Springer (970L)When Enola Holmes, the much younger sister of detective Sherlock Holmes, discovers her mother has disappeared-on her 14th birthday nonetheless-she knows she alone can find her. Disguising herself as a grieving widow, Enola sets out to the heart of London to uncover her mother's whereabouts-but not even the last name Holmes can prepare her for what awaits.

Nonfiction:Soul Surfer: A True Story of Faith, Family and Trying to Get Back on The Board by Bethany Hamilton (960L)They say Bethany Hamilton has saltwater in her veins. How else could one explain the passion that drives her to surf? How else could one explain that nothing, not even the loss of her arm could come between her and the waves?

Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson (990L)Jacqueline Woodson tells of her childhood as an African American in the American Northeast and South in the 1960s. Born in Columbus, Ohio, to the descendants of former slaves, Jacqueline is named after her father, Jack, much to the chagrin of her mother, Mary Ann.

Marley and Me by John Grogan (990LJohn and Jenny had just begun their life together. They were young and in love, with a perfect little house and not a care in the world. Then they brought home Marley, a wiggly yellow furball of a puppy. Life would never be the same.

1000+ Lexile LevelFiction

The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien (1000L)Bilbo Baggins was a hobbit who wanted to be left alone in quiet comfort. But the wizard Gandalf came along with a band of homeless dwarves. Soon Bilbo was drawn into their quest, facing evil orcs, savage wolves, giant spiders, and worse unknown dangers. Finally, it was Bilbo alone and unaided who had to confront the great dragon Smaug, the terror of an entire countryside.

The Boy in The Striped Pajamas by John Boyne (1000L)When Bruno returns home from school one day, he discovers that his belongings are being packed in crates. His father has received a promotion and the family must move from their home to a new house far away. While exploring his new environment, he meets another boy whose life and circumstances are very different to his own, and their meeting results in a friendship that has devastating consequences.

The Bad Beginning by Lemony Snicket (1010L)Violet, Klaus, and Sunny Baudelaire are intelligent children. They are charming, and resourceful, and have pleasant facial features. Unfortunately, they are exceptionally unlucky. The three youngsters encounter a greedy and repulsive villain, itchy clothing, a disastrous fire, a plot to steal their fortune, a lumpy bed, a deadly serpent, a large brass reading lamp, a long knife, and a terrible odor.

Hatchet by Gary Paulsen (1020L)The story focuses on thirteen-year-old Brian Robeson, a son of divorced parents.  As he travels from New York on a bush plane to see his father in the Canadian oil fields, his pilot suffers from a heart attack and dies.  Not knowing what to do, Brian tries to land the plane, but ends up crashing into a lake in the forest.  Being a lone survivor, Brian must learn how to live on his own with only a hatchet.

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime by Mark Haddon (1090L)A boy with autism sets out to solve the murder of a neighbor's dog and discovers unexpected truths about himself and the world.

Nonfiction:The Diary of Anne Frank by Anne Frank (1010L)In 1942, with Nazis occupying Holland, a thirteen-year-old Jewish girl and her family fled their home in Amsterdam and went into hiding. For the next two years, until their whereabouts were betrayed to the Gestapo, they and another family lived cloistered in the "Secret Annex" of an old office building. Cut off from the outside world, they faced hunger, boredom, the constant cruelties of living in confined quarters, and the ever-present threat of discovery and death.

Boy: Tales of Childhood by Roald Dahl (1020L)Boy is a funny, insightful and at times macabre glimpse into the early life of Roald Dahl, one of the world's favorite authors. We discover his experiences of the English public school system, the idyllic paradise of summer holidays in Norway, the pleasures (and pains) of the sweetshop, and how it is that he avoided being a Boazer. This is the childhood - sad and funny, sinister and delightful - that inspired the much-loved children's writer.

Shipwreck at the Bottom of the World by Jennifer Armstrong (1090L)August 1914, Ernest Shackleton and 27 men sailed from England in an attempt to become the first team of explorers to cross the Antarctic continent from one side to the other. Five months later and still 100 miles from land, their ship, Endurance, became trapped.

Novels for English Language Learners

Smile by Raina Telgemeier (410L)Raina just wants to be a normal sixth grader. But one night after Girl Scouts she trips and falls, severely injuring her two front teeth, and what follows is a long and frustrating journey with on-again, off-again, braces, surgery, embarrassing headgear, and even a retainer with fake teeth.

Miles Morales Spider-Man by Jason Reynolds (710L)Miles Morales is just your average teenager. Dinner every Sunday with his parents, chilling out playing old-school video games with his best friend, Ganke, crushing on brainy, beautiful poet Alicia. He’s even got a scholarship spot at Brooklyn Visions Academy. Oh, yeah, and he’s Spider Man.

Esperanza Rising by Pam Muñoz Ryan (750L)Esperanza thought she'd always live with her family on their ranch in Mexico — she'd always have fancy dresses, a beautiful home, and servants. But a sudden tragedy forces Esperanza and Mama to flee to California during the Great Depression, and to settle in a camp for Mexican farm workers.

Journey of the Sparrows by Fran Leeper Buss , Daisy Cubias (760L)Maria and her brother and sister, Salvadoran refugees, are smuggled into the United States in crates and try to eke out a living in Chicago with the help of a sympathetic family.

Lupita Manana by Patricia Beatty (760L)To help her poverty-stricken family, 13-year-old Lupita enters California as an illegal alien and starts to work while constantly on the watch for “la migra.”

Wonder by R.J. Palacio (790L)August Pullman is a ten-year-old boy who suffers from severe birth defects, as he navigates school life. August begins attending school, where he meets and befriends Jack. Classroom politics briefly come between Jack and August, but they reconcile.