2026 Summer Reading Assignment
This summer, 7th grade students will explore the concept of power—how it is gained, lost, and understood—through the book Flying Lessons & Other Stories, edited by Ellen Oh. Each story in the collection presents a different perspective, but all focus on characters experiencing changes in their sense of power. Students will read two assigned stories, “Flying Lessons” by Soman Chainani and “Sol Painting, Inc.” by Meg Medina, along with one additional story of their choice. For each, they will analyze both the character’s power journey (how power changes from beginning to end) and the theme of power (what the story teaches about it). To demonstrate their understanding, students will create a tri-fold pamphlet that visually and thoughtfully represents how power develops across the stories, combining summaries, explanations, and symbolic images. Click on attachment to the left for full assignment directions.

Assignment Due Date: Friday, August 21, 2026