Going into
6th Grade
Going into
7th Grade
Going into
8th Grade
Everybody loves Mother Paula's pancakes. Everybody, that is, except the colony of cute but endangered owls that live on the building site of the new restaurant. Can the awkward new kid and his feral friend prank the pancake people out of town? Or is the owls' fate cemented in pancake batter?
Welcome to Carl Hiaasen's Florida—where the creatures are wild and the people are wilder!
Hardback ISBN: 978-0375821813
Paperback ISBN: 978-0440419396
Three different kids.
One mission in common: ESCAPE.
Josef is a Jewish boy in 1930s Nazi Germany. With the threat of concentration camps looming, he and his family board a ship bound for the other side of the world…
Isabel is a Cuban girl in 1994. With riots and unrest plaguing her country, she and her family set out on a raft, hoping to find safety and freedom in America…
Mahmoud is a Syrian boy in 2015. With his homeland torn apart by violence and destruction, he and his family begin a long trek toward Europe…
All three young people will go on harrowing journeys in search of refuge. All will face unimaginable dangers–from drownings to bombings to betrayals. But for each of them, there is always the hope of tomorrow. And although Josef, Isabel, and Mahmoud are separated by continents and decades, surprising connections will tie their stories together in the end.
Hardback ISBN: 978-0545880831
Paperback ISBN: 978-9352754748
Laureth Peak's father has taught her to look for recurring events, patterns, and numbers―a skill at which she's remarkably talented. Her secret: She is blind.
But when her father goes missing, Laureth and her seven-year-old brother, Benjamin, are thrust into a mystery that takes them to New York City, where surviving will take all her skill at spotting the amazing, shocking, and sometimes dangerous connections in a world full of darkness.
Hardback ISBN: 978-1596438019
Paperback ISBN: 978-1250056986
What two books would you like to read? There's almost no limit on what you can choose!
Three things to keep in mind:
Your choices should be at your reading level or higher
They cannot be titles that are going to be assigned in English class &
You have not read them before
Any books that match that criteria can be your Summer Reading Choice Books!
Of course, when you can read so many books, sometimes it's hard to choose!
If you'd like help picking out a book you might like, consider some of the suggestions below.
Annual Award for Literary Excellence in Literature for Children.
Award winners are typically around a 4th - 7th grade reading level.
Annual Award for Literary Excellence in Young Adult Literature.
Award winners are typically around a 8th - 12th grade reading level.
The book award selected by students! You can look at the list of Nominated Titles from any year to get an idea of what other students in PA have enjoyed.
There are plenty of book awards given out each year. You're welcome to explore the full list that the American Library Association has made. Maybe you'll find a book award that aligns with your interest? Such as the Corretta Scott King Award for outstanding books for youth by African American authors. Or the APALA's Award to honor work by Asian/Pacific Americans. Maybe you want to see who won the Pura Belprè Award for best Latino/Latina writer this year? You could always check out the Schneider Family Award to read a story that features the disability experience of a child. Not to mention the Stonewall Book Award for books with exceptional merit for the LGBTQIA+ experience.
As you can see, there's awards for many topics and interests. If you think one (or both!) of your Choice Books should be a book that has won recognition, feel free to explore your award-winning options!
Many corners of the internet want to help you find your next great read. You can use the following sites to search book titles that you know you like and find close recommendations.
Please note: All of the following links lead to external sites where ads and cookies are outside of EA's administration.
Still not quite sure what to read? Ask for suggestions! Your English teacher and Ms. Hay love talking about books!