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Summer Reading Expectations

Required Summer Reading
for Incoming Sixth-graders

Watsons Go to Birmingham

1.‎ The Watsons Go to Birmingham -1963
 by Christopher Paul Curtis

2. A second novel of your choice.
We recommend that you read The Watsons Go to Birmingham  between August 1 and the start of school.

Students should be prepared to discuss this story in class and work on assignments related to this book during the first week of school.

Electronic Book Version

“Reading is a basic tool in the living of a good life.” —Mortimer Adler

Summer Reading Program Information

1. Review the accompanying list of possible summer reads.

2. Identify several potential novels; talk with a parent, guardian, or librarian about your book choice(s); and read the book(s).

3. Please maintain a reading list. You will turn it in with the signature of a parent or guardian when your Language Arts teacher asks for it during the first week of school. 

Download and print Reading Record

We encourage families to listen to one of the Novels as a family activity. Many novels are available for download at your public library's website.

Baldwin Library

Southfield Library

Possible Choice Novels

Berkshire 6th Grade Summer Reading

This list of books is meant to be a place to START searching out good books and new favorite authors. Feel free to explore other books and authors, too! Read whatever you like, whether or not it is on this list. We encourage students to take this list to their local library and talk with their youth librarian about these and other reading choices.

  • "Magyk" by A. Sage (series)
  • "Okay for Now" by Gary D. Schmidt
  • "The Wild Robot" by P. Brown
  • "100 Cupboards" by N. D. Wilson (trilogy)
  • "Hoot" by C. Hiaasen
  • "Three Times Lucky" by S. Turnage
  • "Wright 3" by B. Balliet
  • "The Book Without Words" by Avi
  • "Surviving the Applewhites" by S. Tolan
  • "Gregor the Overlander" by Collins (series)
  • "Dead End in Norvelt" by J. Gantos
  • "Picture of Hollis Woods" by P. Giff
  • "The Golden Compass" by P. Pullman (series)
  • "A Year Down Yonder" by R. Peck
  • "How to Steal a Dog" by B. O’Connor
  • "The Black Stallion" by W. Farley (series)
  • "Mission Mumbai" by M. Narsimhan
  • "Squint" by C. Morris and S. Brown
  • "Over Sea, Under Stone" by Cooper (series)
  • "Twerp" by M. Goldblatt
  • "Summerlost" by A. Condie
  • "Merchant of Death" by D. J. MacHale (series)
  • "Hatchet" by G. Paulsen (series)
  • "Hidden Talents" by D. Lubar
  • "Princess Academy" by S. Hale Dragon
  • "Rider" by C. Funke
  • "Ravenmaster’s Secret" by E. Woodruff
  • "The Lightning Thief" by R. Riordan (series)
  • "Downriver" by W. Hobbs
  • "Guy Wire" by S. Weeks (series)
  • "Wolf Hollow" by L. Wolk
  • "The Beastly Arms" by P. Jennings
  • "Greetings from Witness Protection" by J. Burt
  • "Shadow on the Mountain" by M. Preus
  • "The Young Man and the Sea" by R. Philbrick
  • "A Boy at War" by H. Mazer (series)
  • "The Eyes and the Impossible" by D. Eggers
  • "The Parker Inheritance" by V. Johnson
  • "The Last Cuentista" by D. B. Higuera
  • "Navigating Early" by Vanderpool
  • "Dave at Night" by G. Levine
  • "The City of Ember" by J. DuPrau (series)
  • "The Wizard’s Dog" by E. Gale (series)
  • "The Shakespeare Stealer" by G. Blackwood
  • "North" by D. Napoli
  • "Journey to the River Sea" by E. Ibbotson
  • "The Emerald Atlas" by J. Stephens
  • "Among the Hidden" by M. P. Haddix (series)
  • "The Mysterious Benedict Society" (series) by Trenton Lee Stewart
  • "Torpedo Run" by R. White
  • Novel of your Choice