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Summer Reading Assignment for 2020

Ms. Chu's Summer Reading Recs for 2020

~Click on images to read book descriptions~

Porcelain rabbit goes on journey. 12-year old tech genius speaks whale. Scholarship girl navigates middle school.

10 stories of 10 kids walking home. Prince Sebastian loves wearing dresses. RBG's landmark cases.

Hunger Games prequel. The non-history book you need to read. Girl defies all odds to educate herself.

Ms. Chu's Summer Reading Recs for 2019

George by Alex Gino (realistic fiction): George is a 4th grader who is born as a boy but in her heart knows she is a girl. Recommended for readers who want to read a heartfelt story about coming out and a week in the life of a brave young person.

El Deafo by Cece Bell (graphic novel memoir): Cece loses her hearing and has to relearn how to communicate with those around her and fit into her new school. Recommended for readers who like reading about struggling through difficulties and being resilient!

Inkling by Kenneth Oppel (realistic fiction w/fantastic elements): A little ink spot comes to life to rescue a family who lost their mom and a father who struggles with depression. Recommended for those who like funny, sad, and inspiring all in one.

Posted by John David Anderson (realistic fiction): Cell phones are banned at Frost's middle school and students communicate via post-it notes; for every kind one, there's a mean one, and students must resolve their conflicts. Recommended for those who love to read about working through middle school drama with the help of good friends.

Rising Waters by Marc Aronson (nonfiction): The story of the Thai Cave Rescue and how 12 soccer team players and their coach survived in a dark cave for two weeks. Recommended for those who like to learn about water rescues and the power of a sports team to help each other survive.

Notorious RBG - Young Readers' Edition by Irin Carmon and Shana Knizhnik (nonfiction/biography): A beautifully designed book on the life of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Recommended fort those who love reading about feminist icons and a woman who changed the world!

White Rose by Kip Wilson (historical fiction in verse): The incredible story of Sophie Scholl, a young German college student who challenged the Nazi regime during World War II as part of The White Rose, a non-violent resistance group. Recommended for those who love poetry and reading about historical figures who should be forever remembered.

Children of Blood and Bone by Toni Adeyemi (fantasy): A West-African inspired fantasy where Zélie Adebola has to bring back magic and strike against a monarchy. Recommended for those who love reading about heros who fight for their beliefs without fear.

All The Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr (historical fiction): A gorgeously written novel from the perspectives of 12-year-old blind French girl and a young German boy during WWII. Recommended for those who love a writer who cares for language and who want to get lost in a story.

Ms. Chu's Summer Reading Recs for 2018

Ruby on the Outside by Nora Raleigh Baskin (realistic fiction): Eleven-year-old Ruby just started middle school and she has never told anyone her darkest secret: her mother is in prison. Recommended for readers who want to read a realistic portrayal of what it's like to have an incarcerated parent and go through all the feelings.

Goodbye Stranger by Rebecca Stead (realistic fiction): It's the start of seventh grade and best friends Bridge, Emily, and Tab made a pact never to fight. But middle school presents challenges with friends who turn into more than friends, changing alliances, and social media drama. Recommended for readers who like reading from different character perspectives and books about growing up in the digital age.

Miles Morales Spiderman by Jason Reynolds (YA fiction): When Miles (aka Spiderman) gets suspended from school, he begins to question his powers. Recommended for those who like books with a humorous tone and are curious about Spiderman's teenage identity.

The Backstagers by James Tynion and Rian Sygh (graphic novel): Jory transfers to an all-boys private school and joins the drama club so he won't be an outcast. Recommended for those who love to read about the magic of being "backstage" in the theater and finding acceptance.

The Lumberjanes by Noelle Stevenson (graphic novel): The story starts with five campers out after hours investigating an event they all witnessed: a woman turning into a bear. Recommended for those who like girl power stories about friendship and teamwork.

Akata Witch by Nnedi Okorafor (fantasy): Sunny Nwazue is a teen born to Nigerian parents in the US. When she moves back to Nigeria, she discovers that she and her friends are "Leopard people" or those with magical powers. Recommended fort those who love getting lost in a world of magic, wonder, and imagination.

Brazen: Rebel Ladies Who Rocked the World by Penelope Bagieu (nonfiction graphic novel): Learn about incredible women who aren't usually recognized in history books or current events. Recommended for those who love beautiful artwork combined with stories of powerful women.

One by Sarah Crossan (narrative poetry): Tippi and Grace share everything—clothes, friends . . . even their body. This story, told in verse, is about conjoined twins who attend high school for the first time ever. Recommended for those who love poetry and a good cry at the end of a book.

For mature readers (parent/guardian approval required):

The 57 Bus: A True Story of Two Teenagers and a Crime That Changed Their Lives by Dashka Slater (YA fiction): Sasha was the victim of what was supposed to be a harmless prank by a high school boy, Richard. These two teens would have never met had this crime not taken place on the 57 Bus. Recommended for those who are curious about gender, the criminal justice system, and what it means to have empathy for others.

***Visit my favorite librarians, Mike and Kaitlin, at the 53rd Street NYPL this summer and ask them for more recs (they hang out downstairs in the YA and Children's section)***

Ms. Chu's Summer Reading Recs for 2017

For rising sixth graders:

Worst-Case Scenario Survival Handbook: Middle School by Robin Epstein (nonfiction): Necessary tips and advice for surviving middle school. Recommended for all incoming sixth graders who want a "cheat sheet" on how to make new friends, deal with haters, and communicate with teachers.

Secret Coders by Gene Luen Yang and Mike Holmes (fantasy graphic novel): Twelve-year old Hopper hates her new school. She and her new friend Eni are determined to solve a big mystery at their school by learning coding skills. Recommended for readers who love graphic novels and want to learn about coding.

For rising sixth and seventh graders:

The Running Dream by Wendelin Van Draanen (realistic fiction): Sixteen-year-old Jessica is a runner. So when a tragic school bus accident causes her to lose one of her legs, she faces a long road to recovery, which includes struggling with a prosthetic limb and having a wonderful track team help rekindle her dream to run again. Recommended for readers who love reading heart-warming stories.

Ghost by Jason Reynolds (realistic fiction): When Ghost (real name Castle Cranshaw) impulsively challenges an elite sprinter to a race--and wins--the track coach sees he has something: crazy natural talent. But Ghost also has a lot of hidden anger, and a past that he tries to outrun. Recommended for readers who appreciate a narrator who sounds like your classmate or friend is telling you a story.

Furthermore by Tahereh Mafi (fantasy): Alice Alexis Queensmeadow was born without color in a world where color is everything. She embarks on a journey to find her missing father, the one person who believes in her, and discovers the magical land of Furthermore. Recommended for readers who pay attention to writing style and want to get lost in a fantasy world.

For rising eighth graders (and advanced readers, PG-13):

1984 by George Orwell (fiction): A great modern classic of a dystopian society where critical thought is suppressed under a totalitarian regime. "Newspeak," "Doublethink" and "Big Brother" are vocabulary words in this imaginary world, but the story feels all too real. Recommended for readers who enjoy books that make you think and reflect on our own community and world.

Unbroken: Adapted for Young Readers by Laura Hillenbrand (historical nonfiction): A young adult adaptation of the acclaimed biography of Olympic Runner turned Prisoner-Of-War Louie Zamperini. A warning that his story includes intense violence, brutality, and torture. Recommended for readers who love learning about WWII and history.

All American Boys by Jason Reynolds and Brendan Kiel (realistic fiction): A haunting tale of a brutal assault by a police officer on a young black man. Readers get an inside perspective from the two narrators - one white and one black (each account written by a different author). Recommended for readers who appreciate positive activism in the face of brutality. Strong language and violence at times but overall positive message.

For reading with the supervision of parents and family members:

We Should All Be Feminists by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie (nonfiction): A must-read essay that starts a dialogue about feminism, gender expectations, culture, beliefs and values. An enriching short read that started from this TED Talk. Some content is for mature readers, but the overall message and worldview is enriching.

What Ms. Chu is Reading This Summer: