Summer Reading

Summer Reading 2023 | Middle School

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

First, all Middle School students will read the novel The Last Mapmaker by Christina Soontornvat, which will serve as our community read in advance of a virtual visit from the author in September. Christina Soontornvat’s website has a page devoted to the novel, including a discussion guide that might prove useful and/or helpful. The Last Mapmaker is available as an audiobook, as are most of the grade-specific texts that follow, and we encourage students to utilize audiobooks for their summer reading if it’s helpful and/or preferred.

Additional grade-specific expectations are outlined below. Though we’re only encouraging, not requiring, students to read a self-selected title beyond those listed, we certainly hope they will do so. We’ve built and maintained over the past few years a website called the “TAMS Independent Reading Guide,” which houses links to prominent book awards and book lists, in addition to hundreds of book recommendations from TAMS students themselves. You’ll also find a section of the site built by Ms. Francois, our librarian, that includes book talks, a featured author, and free choice summer reading suggestions. 

Please note: Middle School summer reading books can be purchased at the local bookstore Buttonwood Books.

Each fifth grader will read:

• The Last Mapmaker by Christina Soontornvat | Common Sense Media Link
• Wishtree by Katherine Applegate | Common Sense Media Link
• ONE of the following books:
  • Rain Reign by Ann M. Martin | Common Sense Media Link
  • Swim Team by Johnnie Christmas | Common Sense Media Link
• Encouraged, though not required: at least ONE additional student-choice book—anything that is 5th-grade reading level or above.

Each sixth grader will read:

• The Last Mapmaker by Christina Soontornvat | Common Sense Media Link
• Attack of the Black Rectangles by Amy Sarig King | Common Sense Media Link
• ONE of the following eleven books, presented according to genre:
  • Graphic Novel: 
    • Best Friends by Shannon Hale and LeUyen | Common Sense Media Link
    • When Stars are Scattered by Victoria Jamieson and Omar Mohamed | Common Sense Media Link
  • Novel in Verse:
    • The Crossover by Kwame Alexander | Common Sense Media Link
    • Alone by Megan E. Freeman
  • Realistic Fiction:
    • Those Kids from Fawn Creek by Erin Entrada Kelly | Common Sense Media Link
    • The Parker Inheritance by Varian Johnson | Common Sense Media Link
  • Historical Fiction: 
    • Becoming Muhammad Ali by James Patterson and Kwame Alexander | Common Sense Media Link
    • Show Me a Sign by Ann Clare LeZotte
    • I Must Betray You by Ruta Sepetys | Common Sense Media Link
  • Fantasy/Science Fiction: 
    • Scythe by Neal Shusterman | Common Sense Media Link
    • Windswept by Margi Preus
  • Encouraged, though not required: at least ONE additional student-choice book—anything that is 6th-grade reading level or above.

Each seventh grader will read:

• The Last Mapmaker by Christina Soontornvat | Common Sense Media Link
• Refugee by Alan Gratz | 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
  • Undefeated: Jim Thorpe and the Carlisle Indian School Football Team by Steve Sheinkin | Common Sense Media Link
• Encouraged, though not required: at least ONE additional student-choice book—anything that is 7th-grade reading level or above.

Each eighth grader will read:

• The Last Mapmaker by Christina Soontornvat | Common Sense Media Link
• Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson | Common Sense Media Link
• ONE of the following nonfiction texts:
  • Unbroken: An Olympian’s Journey from Airman to Castaway to Captive by Laura Hillenbrand | Common Sense Media Link
  • The Woman All Spies Fear: Code Breaker Elizebeth Smith Friedman and Her Hidden Life by Amy Butler Greenfield 
• Encouraged, though not required: at least ONE additional student-choice book—anything that is 8th-grade reading level or above.

World Languages

Classes not included below (i.e. French I & II, Chinese I, Latin I, Spanish I) do not have a summer reading assignment.