Assignment:

Students are required to write a letter for each of the three books they read over the summer. The letters to your teacher should contain:

1. A brief description of the book, including information about the:

• Setting — where it takes place, time in history (minimum of 1 paragraph),
• Main characters — use appearance and personality traits (minimum of 1 paragraph).
  
• Conflicts the main character faces — tell how he/she solves these conflicts.  Remember, conflicts are struggles confronting the character; they may be character versus character, character versus nature, and character versus him/herself (minimum of 3 paragraphs).

2. Questions — What were some questions you had while you were reading?  Did you still have questions when you finished the book?

3. Connections — Make at least 2 connections. For example text to self, text to text, or text to world.

4. Would you recommend this book to others? Why or why not?

5. Vocabulary — Create a list of words (10 minimum) that you did not know.

Required Reading:

Call of the Wild  by Jack London
The adventures of an unusual dog, part St. Bernard, part Scotch shepherd, that is forcibly taken to the Klondike gold fields where he eventually becomes the leader of a wolf pack.
On the web!: http://london.sonoma.edu/

Choose at least two others from the titles below:

Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
A collection of Sherlock Holmes mystery adventures, including "A Scandal in Bohemia," "The Red-Headed League," and "The Adventure of the Speckled Band."

Artemis Fowl (any of 5 books in the series) by Eoin Colfer
When a twelve-year-old evil genius tries to restore his   family fortune by capturing a fairy and demanding a ransom in gold, the fairies fight back with magic, technology, and a particularly nasty troll.
On the web!: http://www.artemisfowl.com/

Bad Boy: A Memoir by Walter Dean Myers
Author Walter Dean Myers describes his childhood in Harlem in the 1940s and 1950s, discussing his loving stepmother, his problems in school, his reasons for leaving home, and his beginnings as a writer.
On the web!: http://www.walterdeanmyers.net/

Down-to-Earth Guide to Global Warming by Laurie David & Gordon Cambria
Describes why global warming happens, how it affects the planet, and measures that can be taken to stop it.

The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien
The adventures of the well-to-do hobbit, Bilbo Baggins, who lived happily in his comfortable home until a wandering wizard granted his wish.

The Homecoming  by Cynthia Voight
Thirteen year-old Dicey is responsible for taking care of her younger siblings when their mother leaves them in a mall parking lot. The family travels together towards their aunt's house. When things there don't work out, they continue on in search of their 'crazy' grandmother.

The Last Book in the Universe by Rodman Philbrick
After an earthquake has destroyed much of the planet, an epileptic teenager nicknamed Spaz begins the heroic fight to bring human intelligence back to the Earth of a distant future.
On the web!: http://www.rodmanphilbrick.com/

Midnight Magic by Avi
In Italy in 1491, Mangus the magician and his apprentice are summoned to the castle of Duke Claudio to determine if his daughter is indeed being haunted by a ghost.
On the web!: http://www.avi-writer.com/

Miracle's Boys by Jacqueline Woodson
Twelve-year-old Lafayette's close relationship with his older brother Charlie changes after Charlie is released from a detention home and blames Lafayette for the death of their mother.
On the web!: http://www.jacquelinewoodson.com

Monster by Walter Dean Myers
While on trial as an accomplice to a murder, sixteen-year-old Steve Harmon records his experiences in prison and in the courtroom in the form of a film script as he tries to come to terms with the course his life has taken.
On the web!: http://www.walterdeanmyers.net/

New Moon (sequel to Twilight) by Stephanie Meyer
When the Cullens, including her beloved Edward, leave Forks rather than risk revealing that they are vampires, it is almost too much for eighteen-year-old Bella to bear, but she finds solace in her friend Jacob until he is drawn into a "cult" and changes in terrible ways.
On the web!: http://www.stepheniemeyer.com/

The Rag and Bone Shop by Robert Cormier
Trent, an ace interrogator from Vermont, works to procure a confession from an introverted twelve-year-old accused of murdering his seven-year-old friend in Monument, Massachusetts.

Scorpions by Walter Dean Myers
After reluctantly taking on the leadership of the Harlem gang, the Scorpions, Jamal finds that his enemies treat him with respect when he acquires a gun--until a tragedy occurs.
On the web!: http://www.walterdeanmyers.net/

Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson
A traumatic event near the end of the summer has a devastating effect on Melinda's freshman year in high school.
On the web!: http://www.writerlady.com/

Tangerine by Edward Bloor
Twelve-year-old Paul, who lives in the shadow of his football hero brother Erik, fights for the right to play soccer despite his near blindness and slowly begins to remember the incident that damaged his eyesight.

That Was Then, This Is Now by S. E. Hinton
Sixteen-year-old Mark and Bryon have been like brothers since childhood, but now, as their involvement with girls, gangs, and drugs increases, their relationship seems to gradually disintegrate.
On the web!: http://www.sehinton.com/

Touching Spirit Bear by Ben Mikaelsen
After his anger erupts into violence, fifteen year-old Cole, in order to avoid going to prison, agrees to participate in a sentencing alternative based on the Native American Circle Justice, and he is sent to a remote Alaskan Island where an encounter with a huge Spirit Bear changes his life.
On the web!: http://www.benmikaelsen.com/

Twilight by Stephanie Meyer
When seventeen-year-old Bella leaves Phoenix to live with her father in Forks, Washington, she meets an exquisitely handsome boy at school for whom she feels an overwhelming attraction and who she comes to realize is not wholly human.
On the web!: http://www.stepheniemeyer.com/

Usborne Encyclopedia of World Religions by Susan Meredith
A balanced exploration of the beliefs, history and customs of all the major world religions, as well as many lesser-known faiths.

Email readingsummer@chelseaschools.com 
if you have questions about the books or the assignments.

These books can be checked out from:

The Chelsea Public Library
Hours: Mon & Tue 9am-9pm
Wed & Thur 9am-8pm
Fri 9am-5pm & Sat 9am-12noon
 
The Williams School Library
Monday-Thursday
12noon-3pm
July 7th - Aug 7th

...Or purchased at Barnes & Noble, Saugus.