Summer reading is due September 25th. Please plan accordingly.
Here is a copy of the required summer reading project. Please go to Mint Hill Middle website for a better version.
http://schools.cms.k12.nc.us/minthillMS/Pages/SummerReading.aspx
Required Middle School Summer Reading Assignment
Mint Hill Middle School: 6th Grade
Mint Hill has high expectations for students’ literacy development. All students are expected to be
actively involved in their own reading plan as well as participating in writing assignments in all
content areas. Students will perform at high levels and will be cultivated in a rigorous environment. It
is imperative that students begin the school year in the mindset that they are successful and that
reading and writing will be the doorway to which they will gain that success.
As part of this, all students will participate in the summer reading program at MH. Students are
required to read two books (one fiction and one non-fiction) over the summer and complete a mini
project to accompany their fictional novel. All of the titles listed are selections that the teachers from
the English Language Arts department felt that students should experience. While we hope that
students’ summer reading will encompass more than just these two novels, these two will be
referenced and used upon returning to school. Books on the list need not be purchased unless you
choose to do so. All are available at a local public library.
Fiction
Al Capone Does My Shirts by Gennifer Choldenko (3.5/MG)
The Red Pyramid by Rick Riordan (4.5/MG)
The Tale of Despereaux (4.7/MG)
Drums, Girls, and Dangerous Pie by Jordan Sonneblick (5.9/MG+)
Code Talker: A Novel About The Navajo Marines of World War Two by Joseph Bruchac (6.4/MG)
Nonfiction
Bad Boy: A Memoir by Walter Dean Myers (6.5/MG)
Night by Elie Wissel (4.8/UG)
Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes by Eleanor Coerr (4.1/MG)
Woodsong by Gary Paulsen (5.6/MG)
So You Want to Be President by Judith St. George (4.8/MG)
Mini project: Book Jacket
Please complete the following assignment based on your fictional title. This can be done digitally or by hand,
but will be turned in at the beginning of the upcoming school year.
a. Fold a sheet of paper like it’s a hard cover book jacket
b. On the cover create/include an illustration that will describe the story.
c. On the inside flap write a description of the main character.
d. On the inside back flap write a description of the central problem/conflict.
e. On the back cover discuss the idea of change throughout this novel, with examples from the text.Non-Fiction Novel Information Sheet
Your Name _______________________________________________
Please answer the following questions about the novel you read. Use an extra sheet of paper to continue your
answers if necessary.
Title_______________________________________________ Author_______________________________________________
Copyright date_________________________________ Number of pages_______________________________________________
1. Express your personal opinion about the book. “I liked it,” or “I hated it,” or “It was okay," are not sufficient. Explain
your reasons for liking or disliking the book. Give examples from the book that support your opinions. To whom would
you recommend your book and why?
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
2. What is the central idea discussed in the book? What issues or ideas does the author explore?
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
3. Discuss one specific passage that struck you as significant—or interesting, profound, amusing, illuminating,
disturbing, sad...? What was memorable? Quote (word for word) the passage from your book. Explain why you think the
passage has value and is worth remembering. Include page numbers.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
4. Discuss a second specific passage that struck you as significant—or interesting, profound, amusing, illuminating,
disturbing, sad...? What was memorable? Quote (word for word) the passage from your book. Explain why you think the
passage has value and is worth remembering. Include page numbers.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
The following rubric will be used to grade your Summer Reading assignment:
4 Exceeds Standard Student demonstrated that he/she read a book and completed a project to inspire others to read.
3 Satisfactory Student demonstrated that he/she read a book by completing a project.
2 Needs Improvement Student completed a project but did not demonstrate that he/she read the book thoroughly.
1 Unsatisfactory Student completes the Novel Information sheet but not a reading project.
Here is a copy of the required summer reading project. Please go to Mint Hill Middle website for a better version.
http://schools.cms.k12.nc.us/minthillMS/Pages/SummerReading.aspx
Required Middle School Summer Reading Assignment
Mint Hill Middle School: 6th Grade
Mint Hill has high expectations for students’ literacy development. All students are expected to be
actively involved in their own reading plan as well as participating in writing assignments in all
content areas. Students will perform at high levels and will be cultivated in a rigorous environment. It
is imperative that students begin the school year in the mindset that they are successful and that
reading and writing will be the doorway to which they will gain that success.
As part of this, all students will participate in the summer reading program at MH. Students are
required to read two books (one fiction and one non-fiction) over the summer and complete a mini
project to accompany their fictional novel. All of the titles listed are selections that the teachers from
the English Language Arts department felt that students should experience. While we hope that
students’ summer reading will encompass more than just these two novels, these two will be
referenced and used upon returning to school. Books on the list need not be purchased unless you
choose to do so. All are available at a local public library.
Fiction
Al Capone Does My Shirts by Gennifer Choldenko (3.5/MG)
The Red Pyramid by Rick Riordan (4.5/MG)
The Tale of Despereaux (4.7/MG)
Drums, Girls, and Dangerous Pie by Jordan Sonneblick (5.9/MG+)
Code Talker: A Novel About The Navajo Marines of World War Two by Joseph Bruchac (6.4/MG)
Nonfiction
Bad Boy: A Memoir by Walter Dean Myers (6.5/MG)
Night by Elie Wissel (4.8/UG)
Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes by Eleanor Coerr (4.1/MG)
Woodsong by Gary Paulsen (5.6/MG)
So You Want to Be President by Judith St. George (4.8/MG)
Mini project: Book Jacket
Please complete the following assignment based on your fictional title. This can be done digitally or by hand,
but will be turned in at the beginning of the upcoming school year.
a. Fold a sheet of paper like it’s a hard cover book jacket
b. On the cover create/include an illustration that will describe the story.
c. On the inside flap write a description of the main character.
d. On the inside back flap write a description of the central problem/conflict.
e. On the back cover discuss the idea of change throughout this novel, with examples from the text.Non-Fiction Novel Information Sheet
Your Name _______________________________________________
Please answer the following questions about the novel you read. Use an extra sheet of paper to continue your
answers if necessary.
Title_______________________________________________ Author_______________________________________________
Copyright date_________________________________ Number of pages_______________________________________________
1. Express your personal opinion about the book. “I liked it,” or “I hated it,” or “It was okay," are not sufficient. Explain
your reasons for liking or disliking the book. Give examples from the book that support your opinions. To whom would
you recommend your book and why?
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
2. What is the central idea discussed in the book? What issues or ideas does the author explore?
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
3. Discuss one specific passage that struck you as significant—or interesting, profound, amusing, illuminating,
disturbing, sad...? What was memorable? Quote (word for word) the passage from your book. Explain why you think the
passage has value and is worth remembering. Include page numbers.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
4. Discuss a second specific passage that struck you as significant—or interesting, profound, amusing, illuminating,
disturbing, sad...? What was memorable? Quote (word for word) the passage from your book. Explain why you think the
passage has value and is worth remembering. Include page numbers.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
The following rubric will be used to grade your Summer Reading assignment:
4 Exceeds Standard Student demonstrated that he/she read a book and completed a project to inspire others to read.
3 Satisfactory Student demonstrated that he/she read a book by completing a project.
2 Needs Improvement Student completed a project but did not demonstrate that he/she read the book thoroughly.
1 Unsatisfactory Student completes the Novel Information sheet but not a reading project.