Dear Students and Families,
Welcome to 7th grade! Over the summer, students are expected to complete a required summer reading assignment. This assignment is designed to help students stay engaged with reading, prepare for the upcoming school year, and practice important reading and writing skills.
Book Selection
Students must choose ONE of the following books from the Archdiocese of Philadelphia's approved list to read over the summer:
Among the Hidden by Margaret Peterson Haddix
Luke has never been to school. He’s never had a birthday party, or gone to a friend's house for an overnight. In fact, Luke has never had a friend. Luke is one of the shadow children, a third child forbidden by the Population Police. He’s lived his entire life in hiding, and now, with a new housing development replacing the woods next to his family's farm, he is no longer even allowed to go outside. ©1998 Grade Level 7-8
Fever 1793 by Laurie Halse Anderson
It’s late summer 1793, and the streets of Philadelphia are abuzz with mosquitoes and rumors of fever. Down near the docks, many have taken ill, and the fatalities are mounting. Now they include Polly, the serving girl at the Cook Coffeehouse. South Carolina Book Award Nominee for Junior Book, Manitoba Young Readers' Choice Award Nominee for Sundogs, Rebecca Caudill Young Readers' Book Award Nominee ©2002 Grade Level 8-9
The Wednesday Wars by Gary D. Schmidt
A poignant coming-of-age story involving the funny misadventures of Long Island, New York, seventh-grader Holling Hoodhood and his unlikely discovery of Shakespeare in the turbulent academic year of 1967-1968. ©2007 Grade Level 5-9. 2008 Newbery Honor
Students should choose the book they feel is most appropriate for their reading level and interest. All books will be used for the same type of assessment and project when school begins.
Assessment Overview
This summer reading assignment will be worth a total of 50 points, divided into two parts:
1. Reading Test (25 points)
Students will take an open-book test during the first week of school based on their selected book.
2. Project (25 points)
Students will complete ONE project from the options listed below.
Students will demonstrate understanding of the novel by using textual evidence and showing thoughtful engagement with the book. Textual evidence means including quotes and a page number.
Project Options (Choose ONE)
Students will select one of the following:
All projects must:
Typed and printed work is strongly preferred.
Handwritten work is acceptable only if it is clearly legible. Illegible work may not be accepted/graded.
1. Alternative Scenario Essay
Write a well-developed essay (1–2 pages) exploring one “what if” scenario from the novel.
Suggested Ideas:
Requirements:
2. Character Diary / Journal
Write 6 diary entries from the perspective of a character in the novel.
Requirements:
3. Double Entry Journal
Create a chart with 10 entries total.
Format:
Requirements
Response Expectations:
4. Slideshow:
5. Written Comprehension Questions
Answer 10 questions about the novel in complete sentences:
1. Who is the protagonist of the novel? What kind of person is the protagonist? Describe the main character and explain their role in the story. Provide at least two character traits and support them with evidence from the text.
2. What is the main conflict in the novel? Identify the central problem and explain why it is important to the story.
3. How is the conflict developed and resolved? Explain how the conflict begins, develops over time, and is ultimately resolved (or not resolved).
4. Which other characters play an important role in the conflict? Explain how at least one additional character helps or hinders the main character or plot.
5. What is the setting of the novel? Describe the time and place of the story and explain how the setting affects the events of the novel.
6. Who tells the story (point of view)? Is the narrator a character in the story or an outside observer? How does this point of view affect the reader’s understanding? Clearly state if the story is told in first-person (I, me) or third-person (he, she, they).
7. What do you consider the climax of the novel? Identify the most intense or important moment and explain why it is the climax.
8. What is a central theme of the novel? State a theme and explain how the author develops this theme throughout the story. Theme is the moral or lesson of the story. What do you think the author expected the reader to learn or understand after reading this book?
9. Did the protagonist change over the course of the novel? Explain how the character changed (or did not change), using evidence from the text.
10. What questions or predictions did you have while reading, and were they answered?
Requirements:
Summer Reading Rubric (25 Points – Project)
1. Literacy Understanding (5 points)
2. Following Directions (5 points)
3. Content and Textual Evidence (5 points)
4. Writing Quality (5 points)
5. Effort and Presentation (5 points)
Important Notes
If you have any questions about the assignment, please contact the teacher before the start of the school year.
Thank you.