Summer Learning Book Talk Directions

Choose one of the three to five books you read over the summer to present as a book talk in your 6th Grade Language Arts class. Use an 8½ x11 or a 9×12 piece of paper for your presentation.

Front of the Paper

1. Create a visual representation of the book. This could be a picture of the setting, the characters, or your favorite event in the story.

2. Include the title and author of your book.
Back of the Paper
1. Write a complete summary of your book. Be sure to include specific and important details about the events in the story including how the story ends.

2. Write down your favorite passage and the pages it came from. Be sure to have a sticky note while you read so you can easily find your favorite part again and use it for this book talk.

3. Would you recommend this book to a classmate? Evaluate what is good/bad about the book using some specific details about the plot, characters, problem, and solution of your novel.

Recommended Summer Book List for Incoming 6th Graders

All students attending Bryant Middle School must read 3-5 books over the course of the summer. Then, they must select one of the books to present to the class as a Book Talk upon returning to school in the Fall. (Details about the assignment will be shared by your Language Arts teacher in the Fall). Here are some recommendations but you are encouraged to use your lexile level from the Spring Reading NWEA to choose a high interest book of your choice that will challenge your reading ability.

**********Please choose a chapter book and not a graphic novel.***********

Crash by Jerry Spinelli Lexile: 560
Fever 1793 by Laurie Halse Anderson Lexile: 580
Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli Lexile: 590
The Girl Who Drank the Moon by Kelly Barnhill Lexile: 640
Pictures of Hollis Woods by Patricia Giff Lexile: 650
Ella Enchanted by Gail Levine Lexile: 670
Number the Stars by Lois Lowry Lexile: 670
The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo Lexile: 670
A Long Walk to Water by Linda Sue Park Lexile: 720
A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle Lexile: 740
Harriet the Spy by Louise Fitzhugh Lexile: 760
Refugee by Alan Gratz Lexile: 800
Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson Lexile: 810
Maniac Magee by Jerry Spinelli Lexile: 820
Matilda by Roald Dahl Lexile: 840
Lost in the Pacific, 1942 by Tod Olson Lexile: 880
The Watsons go to Birmingham by Christopher Paul Curtis Lexile: 920
Freak the Mighty by Rodman Philbrick Lexile: 930
Bud, Not Buddy by Christopher Paul Curtis Lexile: 950
Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O’Dell Lexile: 1000

autograph, biography, photographer, infraction, fracture, graphic, photograph, biographer, graphite

fraction, refraction, pictograph, phonograph, fractal