6-8 Reading List (YMLA) - Ivy Preparatory Academy

Rising 6th Grade NonFiction Description
Ten True Tales: Heroes of 9/11
By: Allan Zullo
Lexile: 980
Ten True Tales: Heroes of 9/11 by Allan Zullo - Ten stories of the first-responders who risked their lives
on September 11, 2001.
Middle School: The Real Deal
(revised edition): From Cafeteria
Food to Combination Locks
By Juliana Farrell, Megan Howard,
Beth Mayall
Lexile:N /A
From cliques to class schedules, electives to extra credit, cafeteria food to combination locks, you'll find
everything you need to know right here. And in this newly revised edition, you'll also get the most up-todate information on everything from technology to test taking. This book has the latest scoop, the
coolest quizzes, and the best advice around if you're about to take the middle school plunge.
No Summit Out of Sight
By Jordan Romero
Lexile: 850
On May 22, 2010, at the age of thirteen, American teenager Jordan Romero became the youngest person
to climb to the summit of Mount Everest. At fifteen, he became the youngest person to reach the
summits of the tallest mountains on each of the seven continents. In this energizing memoir for young
adults, Jordan, now seventeen, recounts his experience, which started as a spark of an idea at the age of
nine and, many years of training and hard work later, turned into a dream come true.
Hoop Genius
By John Coy and Joe Morris
Lexile: 880
Taking over a rowdy gym class right before winter vacation is not something James Naismith wants to
do at all. The last two teachers of this class quit in frustration. The students--a bunch of energetic young
men--are bored with all the regular games and activities. Naismith needs something new, exciting, and
fast to keep the class happy or someone's going to get hurt. Saving this class is going to take a genius.
Discover the true story of how Naismith invented basketball in 1891 at a school in Springfield,
Massachusetts.
Rising 6th Grade Fiction
Description
The Limit
By Kristen Landon
Lexile: 690
An eighth grade girl was taken today . . . With this first sentence, readers are immediately thrust into a
fast-paced thriller that doesn't let up for a moment. In a world not too far removed from our own, kids
are being taken away to special workhouses if their families exceed the monthly debt limit imposed by
the government. Thirteen-year-old Matt briefly wonders if he might be next, but quickly dismisses the
thought. After all, his parents are financially responsible, unlike the parents of those other kids. As
long as his parents remain within their limit, the government will be satisfied and leave them alone.
But all it takes is one fatal visit to the store to push Matt’s family over their limit—and to change his
reality forever.
Fantasy Fiction) Relates the tale of Rumpelstiltskin’s childhood and youth, explaining why his name is
so important, how he is able to spin straw into gold and why a first-born child is his reward for helping
the miller’s daughter-turned-queen.
Rump
By: Liesl Shurtliff
Lexile: 660
The Crossover
By: Kwame Alexander
Lexile: 750
Twelve-year-old twin basketball stars Josh and Jordan wrestle with highs and lows on and off the court
as their father ignores his declining health.
"With a bolt of lightning on my kicks . . .The court is
SIZZLING. My sweat is DRIZZLING. Stop all that quivering. Cuz tonight I'm delivering, " announces
dread-locked, 12-year old Josh Bell. He and his twin brother Jordan are awesome on the court. But Josh
has more than basketball in his blood, he's got mad beats, too, that tell his family's story in verse, in this
fast and furious middle grade novel of family and brotherhood from Kwame Alexander.Josh and Jordan
must come to grips with growing up on and off the court to realize breaking the rules comes at a terrible
price, as their story's heart-stopping climax proves a game-changer for the entire family.
The Giver
By Louis Lowry
Lexile: 760
The Giver, the 1994 Newbery Medal winner, has become one of the most influential novels of our time.
The haunting story centers on twelve-year-old Jonas, who lives in a seemingly ideal, if colorless, world
of conformity and contentment. Not until he is given his life assignment as the Receiver of Memory
does he begin to understand the dark, complex secrets behind his fragile community. Lois Lowry has
written three companion novels to The Giver, including Gathering Blue, Messenger, and Son.
Rising 7th Grade NonFiction
Description
Nelson Mandela: No Easy Walk To
Freedom: The Complete Life Story:
1918-2013
By: Barry Denenberg
Lexile: 990
From his humble beginnings in rural South Africa to his tragic death at age 95 in 2013, Nelson
Mandela's life is a tale of inspiration and courage. The most up-to-date biography of Nelson
Mandela.This powerful biography provides an in-depth look at Nelson Mandela who grew up in a rural
village in South Africa under racist apartheid rule — a regime he ultimately helped
overthrow.Denenberg explores the history of South Africa and its often violent struggle for civil rights,
while tracing Mandela's role in that history. Lawyer, leader of the African National Congress, political
prisoner who spent 26 years in jail, president--no one else has had such enormous influence on his
fellow South Africans. Even beyond South Africa Nelson Mandela influenced freedom fighters
everywhere.
A handbook to self-esteem and success. Now updated for the digital age, this classic book applies the
timeless principles of the 7 Habits to the tough issues and life-changing decisions teens face. In an
entertaining style, Covey provides a simple approach to help teens improve self-image, build
friendships, resist peer pressure, achieve their goals, and get along with their parents, as well as tackle
the new challenges of our time, like cyberbullying and social media. In addition, this book is stuffed
with cartoons, clever ideas, great quotes, and incredible stories about real teens from all over the world.
The 7 Habits of Highly Effective
Teens
Lexile: 870
Port Chicago 50:Disaster mutiny
and the Fight for Civil Rights
By: Steve Sheinkin
Lexile: 950
On July 17, 1944, a massive explosion rocked the segregated Navy base at Port Chicago, California,
killing more than 300 sailors who were at the docks, critically injuring off-duty men in their bunks, and
shattering windows up to a mile away. On August 9th, 244 men refused to go back to work until unsafe
and unfair conditions at the docks were addressed. When the dust settled, fifty were charged with
mutiny, facing decades in jail and even execution. This is a fascinating story of the prejudice that faced
black men and women in America's armed forces during World War II, and a nuanced look at those who
gave their lives in service of a country where they lacked the most basic rights
Get Real: what kind of world are
YOU buying?
By Rockliff, Mara
Lexile: 890
Can you change the world with your wallet? You already do. In this frank, teen-friendly manifesto, Mara
Rockliff reveals what you’re really buying when you spend your money on a cell phone, a cheap t-shirt,
or fast food—and shows the way to better choices, both for people and the planet.
Rising 7th Grade Fiction
Description
The Lightening Thief
By Rick Riordan
Lexile: 740
Classic Greek mythology is mixed with modern adventure in this brand-new, action-packed series.
Twelve-year-old Percy is always in trouble, and it doesn't help that he's started seeing monsters
everywhere! Things become clearer when Percy discovers he is the son of Poseidon, God of the Sea.
Percy is sent to a summer camp on Long Island, but trouble starts all over again when Percy is sent on
a quest to prevent war on Mount Olympus.
On a foggy night in Amsterdam, a man falls from a rooftop to the wet pavement below. It's Archibald
McQuinn, the notorious cat burglar, and he's dying. As sirens wail in the distance, Archie manages to
get out two last words to his young son, March: "Find jewels. "March and Jules have no intention of
staying put. They know their father's business inside and out, and they're tired of being pushed around.
Just one good heist, and they'll live the life of riches and freedom that most kids only dream about...
Loot: How To steal a Fortune
By: Jude Watson
Lexile: 560
Ungifted
Gordon Korman
Lexile 730
Divergent
By: Veronica Roth
Lexile: 700
When Donovan Curtis pulls a major prank at his middle school, he thinks he’s finally gone too far. But
thanks to a mix-up by one of the administrators, instead of getting in trouble, Donovan is sent to the
Academy of Scholastic Distinction, a special program for gifted and talented students.
Although it wasn’t exactly what Donovan had intended, the ASD couldn’t be a more perfectly
unexpected hideout for someone like him. But as the students and teachers of ASD grow to realize that
Donovan may not be good at math or science (or just about anything), he shows that his gifts may be
exactly what the ASD students never knew they needed.
One choice can transform you. Beatrice Prior's society is divided into five factions—Candor (the
honest), Abnegation (the selfless), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful), and Erudite (the
intelligent). Beatrice must choose between staying with her Abnegation family and transferring factions.
Her choice will shock her community and herself. But the newly christened Tris also has a secret, one
she's determined to keep hidden, because in this world, what makes you different makes you dangerous.
YMLA 2015 Summer Reading Journal Assignment
2015 Summer Reading Journal Response
Each scholar is responsible for reading 2 books from the Summer Reading list and responding to each of the topics listed below. Responses should
be at least one paragraph in length (5-7 sentences).
Journal Topics
1. Did you like this book? Why or why not? Would you read another book by this author why or why not?
2. Describe one problem or conflict in this book? How was it resolved?
3. What connections to your own life did you make while reading this book
4. What do the main character’s actions tell you about his/her personality? Be sure to cite specific examples from the text.
5. What is the overall theme of message of the book. Be sure to cite textual evidence.
6. Choose two characters in the book and describe their similarities and differences?
7. Choose 4 words from the book that you are reading that you had difficulty understanding. Make a prediction as to what you think that word
means and then use a dictionary to write down the actual definition.
8. If you could write an alternate title for the book that you have read what would it be and why?