Grade 6

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Summer Reading
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O N M A R T H A’ S V I N E YA R D
For Students Entering 6th Grade
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New Favorites
Here are some of our newest
favorites for 6th grade!
Alamo All-Stars
by Nathan Hale
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Listen to the Moon
by Michael Morpurgo
“It is not true we only have one life to live; if we can read, we
can live as many more lives and as many kinds of lives as we
wish.” -- S.I. Hayakawa
Dear 6th graders,
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Summer vacation is here (Yahoo!) and it is also a wonderful time to
READ! You should be exploring different genres and finding what
you enjoy the most. It is important that you read books that are
not too hard and not too easy, but are right at your level. The five
finger test is a great way to determine if a book is just right -- if
you can count five words on a page that you don’t understand, it
isn’t a good fit for you.
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Pax
by Sara Pennypacker
Drama
by Raina Telgmeier
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Going Where It’s Dark
by Phyllis Naylor Reynolds
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Terror at Bottle Creek
by Watt Key
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Soar
by Joan Bauer
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Masterminds
by Gordon Korman
Summer is also the perfect time for you to explore books that you
choose and are interested in. Here are some summer reading tips
for parents and students:
• Set aside regular reading time
• Visit the local library -- they have wonderful collections for young
adults!
• Pack a book wherever you go!
• Try an audiobook!
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REQUIRED READING
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Mrs. Simmons is requiring all incoming 6th graders to read 2 books
this summer and create a poster. You can choose one from this list
or the websites listed on her assignment page in her packet. See
her packet for instructions in order to come to school prepared on
the first day. Directions are also on her website
Created May 2016 by Ms. Cole, librarian at the Edgartown School on Martha’s
Vineyard in Massachusetts. It was based on an earlier version by Ms. Lambacher and
influenced by ideas from the staff at the Edgartown School. Happy reading!
Books About 6th Grade
The Sixth Grade Nickname
Game by Gordon Korman
Extra Credit
by Andrew Clements
A pair of best friends give
nicknames to their
classmates and struggle to
find the right one for the new
girl, Cassandra.
Sixth grader Abby exchanges
letters with a boy from
Afghanistan, bridging a gap
between cultures despite his
village’s rules about writing
to a girl.
Shakespeare’s Secret
by Elise Broach
Hero becomes obsessed with
finding a valuable diamond
supposedly hidden in her new
home, especially when the
most popular boy in school
begins to give her attention.
Agnes Parker...Girl in
Progress
by Kathleen O’Dell
Agnes is determined to
become a whole new person
for her sixth grade year.
Bat 6
by Virginia Wolff
Told in 21 voices, this is the
story of a sixth grade girls’
baseball team in 1949 when
Japanese-Americans were put
into internment camps.
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I Was a Sixth Grade Alien
by Bruce Coville
Aliens have made contact,
and insist that their children
attend Earth school.
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Heads or Tails: Stories
from the Sixth Grade
by Jack Gantos
Jack keeps a journal to help
him deal with his problems,
like his younger brother, dogeating alligators, and strange
next door neighbors.
Operation Yes
by Sara Holmes
An Air Force base school class
comes together to help their
first year teacher and
soldiers.
The View from Saturday
by E.L. Konigsburg
Four students develop a
special bond with their
teacher who choses them to
represent their sixth-grade
class in a competition.
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Realistic Fiction and Humor
Boys Without Names by
Kashmira Sheth
Out of My Mind
by Sharon Draper
The Secret Language of
Girls by Frances O’Roark
Dowell
Total Tragedy of a Girl
Named Hamlet
by Erin Dionne
Walk Two Moons
by Sharon Creech
School of Fear
by Gitty Daneshvari
Lost Boy by Tim Green
Eight Keys
by Suzanne LaFleur
Luv Ya Bunches
by Lauren Myracle
Liar, Liar by Gary Paulsen
Jeremy Fink and the
Meaning of Life
by Wendy Mass
The Face on the Milk
Carton by Caroline B. Cooney
Each Little Bird That Sings
by Deborah Wiles
The Terrible Two
by Mac Barnett
Flipped
by Wendelin Van Draanen
The Meaning of Maggie
by Megan Jean Sovern
Stanford Wong Flunks Big
Time by Lisa Yee
The Girls by Amy Koss
Because of Mr Terrupt
by Rob Buyea
Historical Fiction
Roll of Thunder, Hear My
Cry by Mildred D. Taylor
My Name is America series
Blood on the River
by various authors
by Elisa Carbone
Girls of Many Lands (series)
The Long Walk to Water*
by Avi
by various authors
by Linda Sue Park
Dear America series
A Year Down Yonder*
A Single Shard
by various authors
by Richard Peck
by Linda Sue Park
Weasel by Cynthia DeFelice
When Hitler Stole Pink
Rabbit by Judith Kerr
Al Capone Does My Shirts*
by Gennifer Choldenko
True Confessions of
Charlotte Doyle
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Mystery
Nancy Drew
The Ghost of Cutler Creek
by Carolyn Keene
by Cynthia DeFelice
Gilda Joyce: Psychic
Investigator
Enola Holmes (series) by
Nancy Springer
by Jennifer Allison
Hardy Boys
by Franklin Dixon
Trackers (series) by Patrick
Carman
The Egypt Game
by Zilpha Keatley Snyder
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Murder at Midnight* by Avi
Chasing Vermeer by Blue
Balliet
Ghost of Crutchfield Hall*
by Mary Downing Hahn
Heist Society (series)
by Ally Carter
I,Q: Independence Hall* by
Roland Smith
Something Upstairs* by Avi
Fantasy
Bone (series)
by Jeff Smith
Breadcrumbs
by Anne Ursu
Savvy
by Ingrid Law
The Golden Compass(series)
by Philip Pullman
The Girl Who Could Fly
by Victoria Forrester
Fablehaven (series) by
Brandon Mull
Artemis Fowl (series)
by Eoin Colfer
The Lost Years of Merlin
by T.A. Barrie
Ranger’s Apprentice (series)
by John Flanagan
Pendragon (series)
by D.J. MacHale
The City of Ember* (series)
by Jeanne DuPrau
Circle of Magic (series) by
Tamora Pierce
Ingo* by Helen Dunmore
Powerless by Matthew Cody
Hero by Mike Lupica
Midnight for Charlie
Bone*(series) by Jenny
Nimmo
Inkheart (series) by Cornelia
Funke
The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien
100 Cupboards* (series)
by N.D. Wilson
Summer of Moonlight
Secrets by Danette Haworth
Science Fiction
The Lost Children by Carolyn
Cohagan
Among the Hidden (series)
by Margaret Peterson Haddix
A Wrinkle in Time
by Madeleine L’Engle
Fuzzy Mud
by Louis Sachar
The Supernaturalist
by Eoin Colfer
Quantum Prophecy (series)
by Michael Carroll
The House of the Scorpion
by Nancy Farmer
The Limit
by Kristen Landon
Tesla’s Attic
by Neil Shusterman
N.E.R.D.S. (series)
by Michael Buckley
The Ear, the Eye, and the
Arm by Nancy Farmer
Space Case: a Moon
AlphaNovel by Stuart Gibbs
Found (series)
by Margaret Peterson Haddix
Code Orange
by Caroline B. Cooney
Ambassador
by William Alexander
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Action/Adventure
The Mysterious Benedict
Society (series)
by Trenton Lee Stewart
The Roar (series)
by Emma Clayton
The Dangerous Days of
Daniel X (series)
by James Patterson
Touching Spirit Bear
by Ben Mikaelsen
Kidnapped (series) by
Gordon Korman
Ice Dogs
by Terry Lynn Johnson
Stormbreaker (series)
by Anthony Horowitz
The False Prince
by Jennifer Nielsen
Zane and the Hurricane
by W. R. Philbrick
The Incredible Journey by
Sheila Every Burnford
Tunnels (series) by Roderick
Gordon
Stormbreaker (series)
by Anthony Horowitz
Alabama Moon by Watt Key
Mississippi Jack (series)
by L.A. Meyer
Peak by Roland Smith
Sisters Grimm (series)
by Michael Buckley
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Newbery and King Awards
Willow Run
by Patricia Reilly Giff
Heart of a Samurai
by Margi Preus
Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of
NIMH by Robert O’Brien
The Evolution of Calpurnia
Tate by Jacqueline Kelly
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Turtle in Paradise
by Jennifer L. Holm
Dead End in Norvelt
by Jack Gantos
Where the Mountain Meets
the Moon by Grace Lin
Doll Bones by Hollylack
Inside Out and Back Again
by Thanhha Lai
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Holes by Louis Sachar
Tuck Everlasting
by Natalie Babbitt
The Giver by Lois Lowry
My Side of the Mountain
by Jean Craighead George
The Westing Game by Ellen
Raskin
When You Reach Me
by Rebecca Stead
Hatchet by Gary Paulsen
Rules by Cynthia Lord
The Crossover by Alexander
Kwame
Once Crazy Summer by Rita
Williams-Garcia
P. S. Be Eleven by Rita
Williams-Garcia
Elijah of Buxton
by Christopher Paul Curtis
Bud, Not Buddy
by Christopher Paul curtis
Favorite Series
Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling
Radiance by Alyson Noel
Percy Jackson and the
Olympians by Rick Riordan
Camp Confidential*by
Melissa Morgan
Dear Dumb Diary by Jim
Benton
Chasing the Falconers by
Gordon Korman
Darkwing by Kenneth Oppel
Charlie Bone by Jenny
Nimmo
The Kane Chronicles
by Rick Riordan
Once Upon a Curse by E.D.
Baker
The Fire Within
by Chris D’Lacey
The Janie Books
by Caroline B. Cooney
Sherlock Holmes: The
Legend Begins by Andrew
Lane
39 Clues by various authors
The Name of This Book is
Secret by Pseudonymous
Bosch
Warriors by Erin Hunter
All the Wrong Questions
by Lemony Snicket
Eragon by Christopher Paolini
Septimus Heap
by Angie Sage
Non-fiction
FAVORITE
AUTHORS/
ILLUSTRATORS
Avi
Andrew Clements
Bruce Coville
Jack Gantos
Margaret Peterson
Haddix
Robert Holland
Peg Kehret
Jeff Kinney
Gordon Korman
D.J. MacHale
Phyllis Reynolds
Naylor
Richard Peck
Rick Riordan
Louis Sachar
Jerry Spinelli
Jacqueline Woodson
The Last Apprentice
by Joseph Delaney
Bulu: African Wonder Dog
by Dick Houston
Bulu, a Jack Russell Terrier born in
Zambia, becomes a foster parent
for orphaned baby animals after
being adopted by Anna and Steve,
who left England to live in the
African bush.
Spy School
by Adrian Gilbert
Discusses the skills and training
needed to become a spy, spying
techniques and different types of
surveillance. Includes profiles of
famous spies and double agents.
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Phineas Gage
by John Fleischman
Through the case history of Phineas
Gage, a 19th century Vermonter
who had an iron bar driven through
his brain and lived, the book
examines what is known of brain
function.
Mythological Creatures
by Lynn Curlee
A bestiary featuring mythical
creatures and stories about them.
(Check out the Mythlopedia series
from Scholastic to get more info on
the Greek and Roman Gods and
Goddesses.)
Titanic: Voices From the
Disaster
by Deborah Hopkinson
Tells the tale of the sinking of the
Titanic using the narratives of the
witnesses and survivors to the
disaster.
Chasing Lincoln’s Killer
by James Swanson
Recounts the escape of John Wilkes
Booth, Abraham Lincoln's assassin,
and follows the intensive twelveday search for him and his
accomplices.
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Afghan Dreams: Young Voices
of Afghanistan
by Tony O’Brien
Children and teens of many ages
tell their stories about their lives in
Afghanistan, intertwined by their
messages and hope for peace.
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Popular: Vintage Wisdom for a
Modern Geek by Mayavan
Wagenen
Amemoir of a one year social
experiment in which teen author
Maya Van Wagenen followed a
1950's popularity guide, written by
former teen model Betty Cornell.
Classics
Old Yeller by Fred Gipson
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The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien
Chronicles of Narnia
by C.S. Lewis
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My Secret Garden
by Frances Hodgeson Burnett
The Black Stallion by Walter Farley
Captains Courageous by Rudyad Kipling
Wizard of Oz books by Frank L. Baum
Black Beauty by Anna Sewell
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Hans Brinker and the Silver Skates by Mary
Mapes Dodge
The Hornblower series
by C. S. Forrester
The Little Prince
by Antoine de Saint-Exupery
Little Women series by Louisa May Alcott
Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stephenson
Anne of Green Gables by L. M Montgomery
The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth
Grahame
Recommendations from former 6th Graders
Wonder
Stargirl
A Mango Shaped Space
Percy Jackson series
Smile
The Giver
Gilda Joyce series
Counting by 7s
Meaning of Maggie
Face in the Milk Carton
The Night Gardener
Monstrous
the One and Only Ivan
Holes
Scat
Flush
The Graveyard Book
Elephant Run
The Bridge to Terebithia
Swindle
Honor Dressed in Blood
Fantasy League and other Mike Lupica
books
Dewey the Library Cat
Wildwood
Wings of Fire
Tuck Everlasting
Falling
My Side of the Mountain
The Hatchet series
Ungifted
Sight
The Great Unexpected
The Misadventures of Benjamin
Bartholomew Piff series
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