Summer Reading

Summer Reading 2020 • Middle School

Middle school students will read at least four books this summer. 

First, all TAMS students will read Beyond the Bright Sea by Lauren Wolk (Common Sense Media Link), which will serve as our community read.

Beyond that, grade specific expectations are outlined below.

Each fifth grader will read:

• The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate | Common Sense Media Link
• ONE of the following novels:
  • Wishtree by Katherine Applegate | Common Sense Media Link
  • Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus by Dusti Bowling | More Information
• ONE additional student-choice book—anything that is 5th-grade reading level or above.

Each sixth grader will read:

• The Cay by Theodore Taylor | Common Sense Media Link
• ONE of the following novels:
  • So Far from the Bamboo Grove by Yoko Kawashima Watkins
  • Fish in a Tree by Tracy Moore | Common Sense Media Link
• ONE additional student-choice book—anything that is 6th-grade reading level or above.

Sixth grade students should expect September assignments in their English classes based on The Cay and their chosen novel. With this in mind, we recommend all students have copies to bring to school in September. 

Each seventh grader will read:

• Refugee by Alan Gratz | Common Sense Media Link
• ONE of the following nonfiction texts:
  • Undefeated: Jim Thorpe and the Carlisle Indian School Football Team by Steve Sheinkin | Common Sense Media Link
  • Hidden Figures: Young Readers’ Edition by Margot Lee Shetterly | Common Sense Media Link
• ONE additional student-choice book—anything that is 7th-grade reading level or above.

Seventh grade students should expect September assignments in their English classes based on Refugee and their chosen nonfiction text. With this in mind, we recommend all students have copies to bring to school in September.

Each eighth grader will read:

• Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson | Common Sense Media Link
• ONE of the following nonfiction texts:
  • I Am Malala: How One Girl Stood Up for Education and Changed the World by Malala Yousafzai and Patricia McCormick | Common Sense Media Link
  • Unbroken: An Olympian’s Journey from Airman to Castaway to Captive by Laura Hillenbrand | Common Sense Media Link
• ONE additional student-choice book—anything that is 8th-grade reading level or above.

Eighth grade students should expect September assignments in their English classes based on Brown Girl Dreaming and their chosen nonfiction text. With this in mind, we recommend all students have copies to bring to school in September.

We encourage parents and students to explore the YALSA (Young Adult Library Services Association) website, which has terrific resources to help teens find books. The following lists, in particular, are well worth exploring:

• Newbery Medal and Honor Books
• National Book Award in Young People’s Literature
• The Michael L. Printz Award
• YALSA “Award for Excellence in Nonfiction”
• YALSA “Amazing Audiobooks for Young Adults”
• YALSA “Best Fiction for Young Adults”
• YALSA “Popular Paperbacks for Young Adults”
• YALSA “Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers”
• YALSA “Teens' Top Ten”

Should you have questions or concerns regarding summer reading, please feel free to email or call me.

Sincerely,

Brian Cibelli
English Department Head
bcibelli@thayer.org
781-664-2326

Summer Reading 2020 • Upper School

Students entering all grades must read THREE books: one required for their grade level (under “For All”), one from the “Choose at Least One” list for their grade level, and one of their own selection. Please note that students registered for Honors or AP level English must read a second required text in addition to those three, and that the second required text for AP Literature & Composition is different than the second required text for AP Language & Composition.

The optional texts lists are intentionally short so that more students read the same books. We hope this common reading will spark frequent, substantial literary discussions about those texts. A defining characteristic of the Thayer community is that we enjoy sharing with each other—that sharing includes passionate conversations about books!

MEMBEAN: Membean accounts will stay open and available throughout the summer. We encourage students to continue their work with Membean; frequent vocabulary practice improves reading comprehension (and confidence!) and performance on standardized tests. 9th graders and new 10th and 11th graders will open Membean accounts at the start of the school year.