RISING 6th GRADERS BOOKS RECOMMENDED FOR SUMMER READING

SUMMER 2019

Dear 6th graders, below is a short list of the many books that you may find interesting to read over the summer.

Animal Stories

Herriot, James, All Creatures Great and Small. This is an amusing account of the author's first unpredictable year as a veterinarian. His years of study did not prepare him for all his adventures!

Biographies/Autobiographies

Dahl, Roald, Boy

This is a memoir of the author's experiences and daring exploits during his school years. Some of these escapades will surprise you.

Fritz, Jean, Homesick: My Own Story This is the author's story of growing up in China during a period of transition and her longing to return to America. This will help you understand the study of China in your social studies class.

Fantasy and Science Fiction

Pierce, Tamora, Alanna, The First Adventure Alanaa begins her first adventure that leads to the fulfillment of her dreams and a magical destiny that will make her a legend. The Alanna series has been one of the 6th grade "favorites" for the last few years. The books are full of wonderful creativity.

Yolen Jane, Dragon's Blood A bondservant in Master Sarkkhan's dragon barns, young Jakkin Steward hopes to obtain his freedom by stealing a dragon hatchling and secretly training it to become a champion fighter. As his relationship with the young dragon develops, will he really be able to send him in to fight in the pits? Two more books continue the story and make up the Pit Dragon Trilogy. Mystery

Christie, Agatha, And Then There Were None Ten mystified strangers, gathered together on an Indian island, mysteriously die, one by one. This novel is regarded as one of the best mystery books ever written! You will never guess the ending of this one Fiction

Sandy Stark-McGinnis, Extraordinary Birds Eleven-year-old December knows everything about birds, and everything about getting kicked out of foster

homes. All she has of her mom is the bird guide she left behind, and a message: "In flight is where you'll find me." December believes she's truly a bird, just waiting for the day she transforms. The scar on her back is where her wings will sprout; she only needs to find the right tree and practice flying.

Susan Vaught, ME AND SAM HANDLE THE APOCALYPSE Jesse is on the case when money goes missing from the library and her dad is looking like the #1 suspect in Edgar Award–winning author Susan Vaught’s latest middle grade mystery.

Ann, M. Martin, Rain Reign Rose Howard has OCD, Asperger's syndrome, and an obsession with homonyms (even her name is a homonym). She gave her dog Rain a name with two homonyms (Reign, Rein), which, according to Rose's rules of homonyms, is very special. Rain was a lost dog Rose's father brought home. Rose and Rain are practically inseparable.

Cece Bell, El Deafo 2015 Newbery Honor Book - 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!

Tracy Baptiste, The Jumbies Corinne La Mer claims she isn't afraid of anything. Not scorpions, not the boys who tease her, and certainly not jumbies. They're just tricksters made up by parents to frighten their children. Then

one night Corinne chases an agouti all the way into the forbidden forest, and shining yellow eyes follow her to the edge of the trees. They couldn't belong to a jumbie. Or could they?

Rebecca K.S. Ansari, The Missing Piece of Charlie O'Reilly Charlie O’Reilly is an only child. Which is why it makes everyone uncomfortable when he talks about his brother. Liam. His eight-year-old kid brother, who, up until a year ago, slept in the bunk above Charlie, took pride in being as annoying as possible, and was the only person who could make Charlie laugh until it hurt.

Kate DiCamillo, Raymie Nightingale Two-time Newbery Medalist Kate DiCamillo returns to her roots with a moving, masterful story of an unforgettable summer friendship.

Kheryn Callender, Hurricane Child Being born during a hurricane is unlucky, and twelve-year-old Caroline has had her share of bad luck lately. She's hated and bullied by everyone in her small school on St. Thomas of the US Virgin Islands, a spirit only she can see won't stop following her, and -- worst of all -- Caroline's mother left home one day and never came back.

Erin Estrada Kelly, Hello Universe Winner of the Newbery Medal - “A charming, intriguingly plotted novel.”—Washington Post

Rebecca Stead, Goodbye Stranger This brilliant, New York Times bestselling novel from the author of the Newbery Medal winner When You Reach Me explores multiple

perspectives on the bonds and limits of friendship.

Meg Medina, Merci Suárez Changes Gears Winner of the 2019 Newbery Medal Thoughtful, strong-willed sixth-grader Merci Suarez navigates difficult changes with friends, family, and everyone in between in a resonant new novel from Meg Medina

Hobbs, Will, Far North The brutal sub-arctic winter is fast approaching and two boys from vastly different cultures learn to depend on each other for their survival. This truly teaches us the benefit and need to recognize each other's strengths.

Voigt, Cynthia, Homecoming Abandoned children courageously journey from Connecticut to Maryland in search of love.

Hurmence Belinda, A Girl Called Boy A pampered young black girl who has mysteriously been transported back to the 1850s during the time of slavery struggles to deal with the plight of her ancestors.

Paterson, Katherine, The Sign of the Chrysanthemum Muna, an illegitimate Japanese boy, searches for his unknown father (a samurai warrior with a chrysanthemum tattoo on his arm) during the 12th century. The book reveals the realities and beauty of feudal Kyoto.

Paterson, Katherine, Jacob Have I Loved While growing up among the "water people" on an island off the coast of eastern Maryland during the 1940s, Louise searches for her identity and fights the jealousy she feels toward her talented, fragile, and beautiful twin sister.

Riordan, Rick, Percy Jackson and the Olympians (books 1-3) The Lightning Thief – Percy Jackson is a good kid, but he can't seem to focus on his schoolwork or control his temper. When his mom tells him the truth about where he came from, she takes him to the one place he'll be safe--Camp Half-Blood, a summer camp for demigods (on Long Island). There, Percy learns that the father he never knew is actually Poseidon, God of the Sea. Soon Percy finds himself caught up in a mystery that could lead to disastrous consequences. Together with his friends--a satyr and other the demigod daughter of Athena--Percy sets out on a quest to reach

the gates of the Underworld (located in a recording studio in Hollywood) and prevent a catastrophic war between the gods.

Riordan, Rick, The Sea of Monsters After a summer spent trying to prevent a catastrophic war among the Greek gods, Percy Jackson finds his seventh-grade school year unnervingly calm. But things don't stay quiet for long. Percy soon discovers there is trouble at Camp Half-Blood: the magical borders which protect Half-Blood Hill have been poisoned by a mysterious enemy, and the only safe haven for demigods is on the verge of being overrun by mythological monsters. To save the camp, Percy needs the help of his best friend, Grover, who has been taken prisoner by the Cyclops Polyphemus on an island somewhere in the Sea of Monsters--the dangerous waters Greek heroes have sailed for millennia--only today, the Sea of Monsters goes by a new name: the Bermuda Triangle. Now Percy and his friends must retrieve the Golden Fleece from the Island of the Cyclopes by the end of the summer or Camp Half-Blood will be destroyed. But first, Percy will learn a stunning new secret about his family--one that makes him question whether being claimed as Poseidon's son is an honor or simply a cruel joke.

Riordan, Rick, The Titan's Curse When Percy Jackson receives a distress call from his friend Grover, he immediately prepares for battle. He knows he'll need his powerful demigod allies, Annabeth and Thalia, at his side; his trusty bronze sword Riptide; and... a ride from his mom. The demigods race to the rescue, to find that Grover has made an important discovery: two new powerful half bloods whose parentage is unknown. But that's not all that awaits them. The Titan lord, Kronos, has set up his most devious trap yet, and the young heroes have unwittingly fallen prey. Hilarious and action-packed, this third adventure in the series finds Percy faced with his most dangerous challenge so far: the chilling prophecy of the Titan's curse.

Alexie, Sherman, The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-time Indian Illustrated by Ellen Forney.

Sherman Alexie tells the story of Junior, a budding cartoonist who leaves his school on the Spokane Indian Reservation to attend an all-white high school. This heartbreaking, funny, and beautifully written tale, coupled with poignant drawings that reflect the character’s art, is based on the author’s own experiences and chronicles the contemporary adolescence of one Native American boy as he attempts to break away from the life he seems destined to live.

Chasing Vermeer series by Blue Balliet Sixth graders Petra and Calder team up to solve the mystery of a missing painting. Along the way, there are plenty of other puzzles and patterns to intrigue the reader, including hidden pentomino messages in the illustrations.

Historical Fiction

Avi, The Fighting Ground Jonathan goes off to fight in the Revolutionary War and discovers that the real war is being fought within himself.

Curtis, Christopher Paul, Elijah of Buxton Its 1860, and 11-year-old Elijah is a first-generation freeborn child. His Canadian town of Buxton serves as a haven for runaway slaves.

Cushman, Karen, Catherine, Called Birdy

Fighting fleas, unsuitable suitors, and her mother's attempts to make a lady of her, Catherine writes in her diary about her frustrations with her life as a young noblewoman in medieval times.

Wilson, Diane Lee, I Rode a Horse of Milk White Jade At the end of the 13th century, across the Asian continent all property belongs to the Kublai Khan. Rich in cultural and historical detail, the novel shows the courage, faith and determination of a young girl pursuing her dreams.

Paterson , Katherine, Bread and Roses, Too The 1912 "Bread and Roses" workers strike in Lawrence, Massachusetts, is the backdrop for Katherine Paterson’s historical novel about a pair of children caught up in the event. Sports

Gutman, Dan, The Million Dollar Shot This is a story full of action and suspense for the NBA fan. Will Eddie resolve his family's problems?

Wolff, Virginia Euwer, Bat 6 Set in Oregon in the 1940s, this story evolves around the annual softball game between two rival sixth grade teams.

Spinelli, Jerry, Crash Seventh-grade super-athlete John "Crash" Coogan has always been proud of his aggressive behavior until his relationship with his Quaker best friend and his grandfather's illness make him consider the meaning of friendship and the importance of family. Read the book and realize the reason for the title.

Brooks, Bruce, The Moves Make the Man As Jerome, a black athlete, shares his skills and interest in basketball with Bix, a white baseball player, their friendship grows and the game becomes a reflection of both their lives.

Multicultural

O'Dell, Scott, Alexandra A young Greek sponge diver is determined to expose heroically those who had used her sponges to smuggle drugs. With the location in Tarpon Springs, Florida, the story highlights not only the dangers under water but reveals evil dangers on shore!

de Saint-Exupery, Antoine, The Little Prince An enchanting fable of a pilot who, when forced to land in the desolate Sahara desert, meets an extraordinary small person. There is a message for every reader in this book.

Speare, Elizabeth George, The Sign of the Beaver

Matt tries to survive alone in the Maine wilderness and is astonished by the help of an Indian chief and his grandson, Attean. Read and understand how we can always learn from each other's cultural differences.

Curtis, Christopher Paul, The Watsons Go to Birmingham – 1963 Most of Kenny's problems revolve around his older brother Byron, at thirteen "officially a teenage juvenile delinquent," whose wild and hilarious exploits make up the first part of the book. Then everything changes after a strange and fantastic trip south to Birmingham where civil rights protests are being met by violence.

Campbell, Eric, The Place of Lions This is a very good survival story, which has some wonderful descriptive passages of Africa in general, and lions in particular. On a journey into Tanzania where his father is to take a new job, the plane carrying Chris and his father crashes. The pilot is seriously injured and unconscious. His father has a broken leg but Chris, though hurt, is ambulatory. This is fortunate because the plane has crashed near where a pride of lions is staying and Chris is witness to incredible danger there. The older male is being challenged by a young one and only barely manages to maintain his supremacy after a fierce battle. Chris has, in the meantime, decided to go for help. Not far off poachers have machine-gunned elephants and incurred the wrath of two men who love Africa and are dedicated to preserving its wildlife. The poachers find Chris but first drive away and then decide to kidnap him. Chris has been followed across the plain by the old, dying lion and a mysterious connection has been made as both head for a hill where the lion hopes to die and Chris hopes to find help.

Fleischman, Paul, Seedfolks In an abandoned lot, a girl decides to plant a few lima beans. Though they are strangers to each other, the neighbors find ways to contribute: planting their own seeds, making improvements, sharing their time. Each of the 13 chapters is told by a different character---young

and old, male, and female, Vietnamese and Haitian and Indian. As their individual stories become one story, the lot becomes a garden, and the neighborhood becomes a community.

Crossover by Kwame Alexander 12-year old Josh Bell and his twin brother Jordan are awesome basketball players but must come to grips with growing up on and off the court to realize breaking the rules comes at a terrible price, as their story's heart-stopping climax proves a game-changer for the entire family. A novel in verse full of beat.

The First Rule of Punk by Ceclia C. Péez On Day One at her new school, twelve-year-old Malú (María Luisa, if you want to annoy her) inadvertently upsets Posada Middle School’s queen bee, violates the school’s dress code with her punk rock look, and disappoints her college-professor mom in the process. When she assembles a group of like-minded misfits at school and starts a band, Malú finally begins to feel at home. She'll do anything to preserve this, which includes standing up to an anti-punk school administration to fight for her right to express herself!