Tantasqua Regional Junior High School Summer Reading List
2010
Grade 7
Discussion Title – Tangerine - Edward Bloor (See description below.) ALL seventh grade students must read this book.
Belle Prater’s Boy – When Woodrow's mother suddenly disappears, he moves to his
Ruth White grandparents' home in a small Virginia town where he
befriends his cousin and together they find the strength to face
the terrible losses and fears in their lives.
Crash- The story of a seventh grade football sensation in his
Jerry Spinelli humorous, and touching journey through seventh grade.
Farewell to Manzanar- The true story of one Japanese American family and their
Jeanne W. Houston attempt to survive the indignities of forced detention during
World War II.
The Golden Compass- Lyra, age 11, must travel north to fulfill her destiny of saving
Philip Pullman her people. Fantasy with armored bears, and the value of
friendship and love.
Great Expectations- Suspenseful story of Pip as he searches for his true benefactor.
Charles Dickens This book is suggested for advanced readers.
The Hobbit - The delightful fantasy set in Middle Earth peopled by
J.R.R. Tolkien charming dwarf-like creatures called hobbits.
The House on Mango Realistic portrayal of Hispanic culture in an urban area of
Street - Sandra the United States.
Cisneros
The Island – 15-year-old Wil discovers himself and the wonders of nature
Gary Paulsen on an island in northern Wisconsin.
The Lilies of the A group of nuns hold an impossible dream – Homer Smith, a
Field – W. Barrett black ex-GI, sets out to make this dream a reality.
Lily’s Crossing- A young girl learns that World War II is bound to change
Patricia Giff everyone, even the Americans who never leave home.
Little Women – Beloved story of the four March girls, Jo, Beth, Amy, and
Louisa May Alcott Meg, as they grow up.
A Long Way From A boy recounts his annual summer trips to rural Illinois with his
Chicago - sister during the Great Depression to visit their larger-than-life
Richard Peck grandmother
Peak – Roland Smith This is the emotional, tension-filled story of a fourteen-year-old boy's attempt to be the youngest person to reach the top of Mount Everest.
Pictures of Hollis Woods- A troublesome 12-year-old orphan, staying with an elderly
Patricia Reilly Giff artist who needs her, remembers the only other time she was happy in a
foster home, with a family that truly seemed to care about her.
The Prince and the An interesting story of two young boys who switched their
Pauper – Mark Twain identities and their lifestyles.
Riding the Flume- In 1894, 15-year-old Francie determines to fight the lumber-
Patricia Pfitsch men and protect the largest sequoia tree ever seen, which had
Been given to her sister just before her death six years earlier.
The Secret Garden – Mary befriends the invalid son of the manor and together they
Frances H. Burnett investigate the mysteries of the secret garden.
Shipwreck at the This is the extraordinary and harrowing true story of Shackleton and the
Bottom of the World - crew of the Endurance. This is the story of their attempt to cross the frozen
Jennifer Armstrong Antarctic continent from one side to the other and all the adventures they encountered.
+Tangerine – Paul Fisher is an adolescent faced with challenges of adjusting
Edward Bloor to a new school, making new friends, and confronting the horrible truth (Discussion Title) about his family.
Three Cups of Tea This young-reader’s edition of the New York Times best-seller
Young Reader’s Ed.)- for adults presents an abbreviated, simplified account of Mortenson’s life-
Greg Mortenson & saving mountain rescue by Pakistani villagers that inspired his life’s work:
David Oliver Relin building schools in Pakistan and Afghanistan.
Travel Team – After he is cut from his travel basketball team--the very same team that his
Mike Lupica father once led to national prominence--twelve-year-old Danny Walker
forms his own team of cast-offs that might have a shot at victory.
Treasure Island – A thrilling story of buried treasure, piracy, and adventure in
Robert Louis Stevenson days past.
20,000 Leagues Under An embittered genius takes refuge from humanity aboard his
the Sea – Jules Verne fantastic submarine, the Nautilus.
When Zachary Beaver Set during the Vietnam War, Cal and Todd befriend Zachary,
Came to Town- “the fattest boy in the world,” after he is abandoned in their
Kimberly Willis Holt small Texas town.
Where the Lilies Bloom – A spunky 14-year-old girl holds her orphaned family together
Vera and Bill Cleaver after the death of their father.
+Indicates discussion title.
Note: Abridged versions are not acceptable.
Tantasqua Regional Junior High School Summer Reading List
2010
Grade 8
Discussion Title – Life As We Knew It – Susan Beth Pfeffer (See description below.) ALL
eighth grade students must read this book.
Anne Frank: the Diary Famous diary of a young Jewish girl hiding from the Nazis in
of a Young Girl – Amsterdam during World War II.
Anne Frank
Anne of Green Gables – Eleven-year-old Anne Shirley wins the heart of her foster
L.M. Montgomery mother in this first novel of the Anne series.
The Autobiography of The story of a remarkable woman’s struggle against prejudice
Miss Jane Pittman – from the Civil War through the 1960s.
Ernest Gaines
The Black Stallion – Story of the wildest of all wild creatures – an untamed
Walter Farley stallion.
The Contender – This novel tells the story of a young man’s struggle to grow
Robert Lipsyte up in Harlem and become a fighter.
Death Be Not Proud – The true story of a teenager’s heroic battle against cancer.
John Gunther
Elsewhere - This young adult novel is a tender, funny, and thought-provoking story
Gabrielle Zevin about first love and seeing death as the other half of life. Liz discovers
a place so like Earth, but also completely different.
Fantastic Voyage – Four men and a woman, reduced to microscopic size, enter
Isaac Asimov a man’s bloodstream to remove a blood clot.
Gulliver’s Travels – Generations learn the failings of man from his travel story to
Jonathan Swift fantastic lands.
Illustrated Man – Stories that blend weird fantasy and chilling truth involving
Ray Bradbury time and space.
+Life As We Knew It – When an asteroid hits the moon, Miranda must learn to survive the
Susan Beth Pfeffer unimaginable.
(Discussion Title)
A Man Without A “Damn the United States! I wish I never hear of the United
Country – Edward Hale States again!” Philip Nolan’s wish was his sentence.
Maximum Ride A group of genetically enhanced kids who can fly and have other unique
The Angel Experiment – talents are on the run from part-human, part-wolf predators called
James Patterson Erasers in this exciting science fiction thriller.
The Moves Make the A black boy and an emotionally troubled white boy in North
Man – Bruce Brooks Carolina form a precarious friendship. The bond that holds
them together? Basketball.
Oliver Twist – The moving tale of an orphan who must make his way
Charles Dickens through the horrors of London’s sinister underworld.
Olive’s Ocean – On a summer visit to her grandmother’s cottage by the
Kevin Henkes ocean, Martha gains perspective about her life.
The Outcasts of Poker Realistic portraits of Americans and immigrants in the
Flat – Bret Harte California Sierra.
Rascal – Story of a ring-tailed raccoon and his eleven-year-old
Sterling North friend.
Rebecca – Story of a young bride haunted by the ghost of her
Daphne DuMaurier husband’s first wife.
Roll of Thunder, Hear A southern black family is determined to maintain their
My Cry – Mildred Taylor pride and independence against hard times and racial
inequality.
Schooled – Gordon Capricorn Anderson had never watched a television show before. He'd
Korman never tasted a pizza. See how his life changes when he leaves the
Garland Farm commune.
Seedfolks –Paul An urban neighborhood is transformed when a young Vietnamese
Fleischman girl begins a garden in an abandoned lot. Soon people from all
backgrounds join to turn the littered lot into a garden for the whole
community.
Shane – Set in the Old West, the story of a gunman’s struggle to
Jack Schaefer escape his past by living with a normal, loving family.
Shoeless Joe – The story of Ray, an insurance man turned Iowa farmer – a
W.P. Kinsella baseball fanatic who builds his “Field of Dreams.”
Sounder – A heart-wrenching story of a black family in the South.
William Armstrong
The 39 Clues – The Maze Grace Cahill, matriarch of the world’s most powerful family, dies and
of Bones – leaves behind a challenge to her descendants. They can either inherit
Rick Riordan one million dollars, or forgo the money and receive the first of 39 clues
that will lead them on an around-the-world adventure.
Three Cups of Tea - The astonishing, uplifting story of a real-life Indiana Jones and his
Greg Mortenson humanitarian campaign to use education to combat terrorism in the Taliban's backyard.
White Fang - Story of the taming of a wild wolf dog through the
Jack London patience and devotion of one man.
The Witch of Blackbird When Kit’s friendship with an old woman is discovered,
Pond – Elizabeth she is accused of witchcraft.
George Speare
The Wind Singer- Relegated to the lowest levels of society after a schoolroom
William Nicholson rebellion, Kestral Hath and her twin brother seek to recover
the wind singer from the evil spirit lord.
Witness – The year is 1924, and a small town in Vermont is falling
Karen Hesse under the influence of the Ku Klux Klan, two girls find
themselves among those who are no longer welcome.
The Yearling – Marjorie Jody Baxter, living in the Florida backwoods with his pet
Rawlings fawn, experiences the joys and pains of growing up.
+Indicates discussion title.
Note: Abridged versions are not acceptable.
HIGH SCHOOL
FRESHMAN:
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society by Shaffer and Barrows
The Book Thief by Zusak
Bog Child by Dowd
Black and White by Volponi
SOPHOMORE:
The Tipping Point: How Little Things can make a big difference by Gladwell
Nineteen Minutes by Picoult
Under the overpass by Yankoski
A long way gone: memoirs of a boy soldier by Beah
JUNIOR:
March by Brooks
The House of the Scorpion by Farmer
Snow Flower and the secret fan by See
The Kite Runner by Hosseini
SENIOR:
Blink by Gladwell
I am the messenger by Zusak
Feed by Anderson
Stones into schools: promoting peace with books, not bombs in Afghanistan and Pakistan by Mortenson
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