Summer Reading List 2008

"Reading to children aloud everyday is as important as brushing their teeth and fastening their seat belts."
- Rosemary Wells

This year we have reached out to find books of all kinds. We've contacted area schools that your child may be attending after graduation, and we asked parents, children, teachers and anyone I could stop on their book pick. What has emerged is a list of books of every genre: thriller, fantasy, mystery, historical and realistic fiction. Remember that summer reading should be fun! ProLiteracy, a non-profit literacy group based in New York, thinks introducing boys to comic books sometimes sparks a life-long interest in reading. So if they want to read anime, go ahead! Don't forget the many great books on CD that your local libraries offer. Rather than popping in a DVD for that long summer car drive, why not listen to a book; it makes it fun for the whole family, including the front seat motorists!

Erin Recommends

  • The Watson's Go To Birmingham
  • Star Girl    Spinelli
  • Nory Ryan's Song    Patricia Reilly Giff
  • Out of the Dust    Karen Hesse

My (Kate) Picks

  • A Mango Shaped Space
  • Rules by Cynthia Lord
  • Tangerine by Edward Bloor
  • Kira-Kira by Cynthia Kadahota
  • Number the Stars by Lois Lowry
  • Books by Jerry Spinelli
  • Hush by Jacqueline Woodson
  • Books by Sharon Creech
  • Gooney Bird Greene books by Lois Lowry for the 1st and 2nd graders

Primary Circle's Recommendations

Without a doubt the Junie B. Jones series and Magic Tree House series were the two most popular. As well, the girls enjoy the Rainbow Magic series.

Daniel: The Homework Machine

Abby: Rainbow Magic books

Maia V. The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe

Kate L. Chronicles of Narnia- " for someone who likes adventure and magic" Kate also recommends The Warriors. "People that like cats and adventures and battles" will like this series.

Morgan S. Farmer Boy- "It's good and it's funny."

Maia G. Matilda- "All the parents do is watch TV and their daughter loves to read. Then she meets this wonderful teacher." The Tale of Emily Winsap "people who like adventure and a little bit of magic" will like this book.

Chris S. Diary of a Wimpy Kid "It's really funny. The main character is Gregory. And once he accidentally goes into the women's bathroom."

Emma Pixie Tricks "It's about a girl who finds a fairy and tries to capture bad fairies."

Jake L. Captain Underpants "It's really funny"

Caroline: Junie B. Jones First Grade One Man Band "It's really, really funny. She joins in the band and the other one gets nervous and she gets to stand in.."

Garrett: Magic Tree House #39 "people who like Magic Tree House" will like this.

Lia: My Secret Unicorn "It's a series. People who like magic and horses and unicorns" will like this.

Oldest Group Recommends

The response from this group was overwhelming. We could have spent hours discussing books So, if you want to know what kids are actually reading versus what is on the bestseller list, take a look:

Alex N.: All books by Douglas Adams

Alex N.: Claudia – "about a girl who is a tomboy and her mom thinks something is seriously wrong with her." Also, Crispin.

Alex W. The Giver-"about people in the future" Peter & the Shadow Thieves

Alex W.: Flush-about this kid who finds out that a man is polluting the water and he wants to stop him."

Alex: City of Ember, People of Sparks and Prophet "If you like the supernatural, it's like a primitive future."

Alexxys: Book of 1000 Days

Atticus: "all of the Spiderwick Chronicles."

Jesse: Space Station Seventh Grade "It's really a boy book: it's really funny."Also, Alex Rider series (Note: If you like Alex Rider, you may want to try James Patterson's book, Maximum Ride.")

Jordan: Ryan's Song and Maggie's Door by Patricia Riff – "It's about the Irish potato famine."

Josh: Pushcart Boy, Diary of a Wimpy Kid

Julia: Hugo Cabret

Lior: The Green Book by Patterson – "really short, quick read about this ship of people who meet cool creatures"

Margot: Skullduggery Pleasant-"we listened to it in the car last summer." From Amazon-(Stephanie's uncle Gordon is a writer of horror fiction. But when he dies and leaves her his estate, Stephanie learns that while he may have written horror, it certainly wasn't fiction.)

Margot: The Penderwicks and anything by Tamora Pierce

Molly & Margot: A Mango Shaped Space- "about a girl who has this disorder where she associates color to noises and to words."

Molly: Being-"it's kind of gory but it's really good. A guy checks into the hospital and it turns into something else. This book is for people who like fantasy and people who like adventure.

Peter: Chet Gecko series " I read this when I was younger: it's a quick mystery read" Also, House of the Scorpion.

Robbie: Tangerine –'it's about a family that moves to Tangerine County in Florida-a happy/depressiong book." Also, read Inkheart "supernatural fantasy book-where slowly the pieces of the puzzle come together."

Robert: Who Really Killed Cock-Robin? "trying to stop pollution."

Sam: The Westing Game- "a good mystery book about a person who is very rich and dies mysteriously."

Sam: Diary of a Wimpy Kid-"it's a really good series, about a wimpy kid who has the worst life ever. Sten adds, "Most people can relate to at least half of it."

Sten: "anything by Eion Colfer!"

Thomas: "all of the three series of Warriors-18 books in all" (Note:That will keep your child reading all summer!)Also, Septimus Heap(Check out their website- http://www.septimusheap.com/)

Will: The Golden Compass

Some ALA (American Library Association) Recommendations

  • Invention of Hugo Cabret
  • Rainstorm
  • At Gleason's Gym
  • Henry's Freedom Box: A True Story from the Underground Railroad

For those entering 7th grade

Here are some summer reading requirements and suggestions

Westtown Additions to the Summer Reading

  • Fleming, Candace - Our Eleanor: A Scrapbook Look at Eleanor Roosevelt's Remarkable Life
  • Lupica, Mike - Travel Team
  • Oppenheim, Joanne & Snowden Becker - Dear Miss Breed: True Stories of the Japanese American Incarceration During World War II
  • Librarian Who Made a Difference
  • Paterson, Katherine - Bread and Roses, Too

Springton Lake Middle School

Take a look at their Book Blog, written by the students, to see what book you might read next.

Friends Central Some Recommendations

  • Books by Katherine Paterson
  • Books by Anthony Horowitcz
  • The Giver by Lois Lowry

Wilmington Friends Recommends

  • The Gospel According to Larry
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