The Ramsey Public School District is dedicated to encouraging young people to see reading as a meaningful way to better understand our passions, our curiosities, and the world around us. In these particularly trying times, we feel that reading now, more than ever, is an essential outlet for our young people, as it provides a medium to grow creativity, critical thinking, communication, empathy, reflection, and the essential literacy skills that they will need in the future. In order to do this, we feel that choice is essential to finding the right book to pique our students' curiosity during the summer months; therefore, this summer students will choose at least two books, fiction or nonfiction, which they feel would be both engaging and appropriate for a middle school audience. Although the minimum is two, we hope that students will read more. While reading, we encourage students to continue using all the skills and strategies they have learned this year to be active readers. This could include jotting, using post its, and writing about their reading in a reader's notebook. During the week of September 20th, students will need to be prepared to demonstrate their understanding of their chosen works.
Below, we also have a list of student-generated recommendations. We encourage you to read as a family, draw upon common interests, and have conversations that create deep and lasting connections with literature. We also recommend that you preview the book to ensure it is appropriate for you and your family. One resource to help with this is Common Sense Media.
We wish you a healthy and happy summer!
If you have any questions about the summer reading, please feel free to call Carmen Lacherza, English Language Arts Supervisor, at 201-785-2300 Extension 21572 or email clacherza@ramsey.k12.nj.us.
Below are a few works that Smith students loved reading this year. Please don't feel limited by this list. When reading, please apply all the skills and strategies you have developed this year. This list represents a wide range of topics and interests. We encourage you and your family to preview any book before reading to be sure it is appropriate.
Popular Fiction
As Brave As You by Jason Reynolds
White Bird: A Wonder Story by R.J. Palcio
Hello, Universe by Erin Entrada Kelly
Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
Other Words for Home by Jasmine Varga
Where the World Ends by Geraldine McCaughrean
Becoming Muhammed Ali by James Patterson and Kwame Alexander
Nonfiction
Harbor Me by Jacqueline Woodson (Sequel to Brown Girl Dreaming)
I Will Always Write Back by Martin Ganada and Caitlin Alifrenka
A Writer's Notebook: Unlocking the Writer Within You by Ralph Fletcher
Courage to Soar: A Body in Motion, A Life in Balance by Simone Biles
An Invisible Thread: A Young Readers' Edition by Laura Schroff and Alex Tresniowski
Bee Fearless: Dream Like a Kid by Mikaila Ulmer
Graphic Novels
March by John Lewis, Andrew Aydin, Nate Powell
Almost American Girl by Robin Ha
When Stars are Scattered by Victoria Jamieson, Omar Mohamed
Wings of Fire by Tui T. Sutherland
Fantasy
The Beast Player by Nahoko Uehashi
Aru Shah (Pandava Quartet Series) by Roshani Chokshi
The Trials of Apollo: The Hidden Oracle (Book 1) by Rick Riordan
King and the Dragonflies by Kacen Callender
Kingdom Keepers by Ridley Pearson
Where the Mountains Meet the Moon by Grace Lin
Barnes and Noble Teen Bestsellers
Association of Library Services for Children Notable Books 2021