Summer Reading: Grades 6-8
While there is no specific summer reading requirement for students entering grades 6-8, we do encourage students to read throughout the summer for both enjoyment and to prevent the “summer slump” relative to literacy skills.
For additional information, feel free to read the message below from Jen Houlihan, Secondary Instructional Supervisor for English Language Arts, Reading, and Library Media.
Dear Future Falcons and Middle School Families:
Each year as the school year draws to a close, I write a letter to our students and families to launch this page of our website dedicated to summer reading.
As I consider what I’d like to say, I always begin by reading the letter I wrote last year, with the hindsight of a full trip around the sun and hopefully, the reflection, learning, and growth that comes with it.
As I look at the world around us as it exists in this moment, I can’t remember a time in my career when it felt more important to ensure our next generation of thinkers, doers, and contributors leave our system as literate young adults in every sense of the word - equipped to make their own choices, empowered to make a difference in the world, and liberated from systems of oppression and injustice.
Lyndon B. Johnson once said, “Books and ideas are the most effective weapons against intolerance and ignorance.” In my 45 trips around the sun, I’m not sure I’ve ever felt those words as deeply as I do right now. And with that, we - your ELA teachers and librarians - ask one thing of you as we send you off for a well-deserved summer vacation.
Please read.
Read widely, vastly, and deeply. Read something you’ll love that matters to you. Read as if your life depends on it, because it does. Literacy is a path to free will - the freedom to make your own choices and the freedom from others defining your path. That is your right and we - your educators - would do anything to protect that.
We are pleased to announce that Summer Reading 2022 is now live here on our district website. In this space, you will be able to view a list of recommended books and book talk videos from our teachers and librarians across the district. Every book on this list was carefully chosen to take into consideration the varied interests of our students. While there is no summer reading requirement for students entering grades 6-8, we do encourage students to read throughout the summer for both enjoyment and to prevent the “summer slump” relative to literacy skills.
There are many ways to access both print and digital copies of books. The branches of the Albany Public Library have our list of recommended titles and are ready to help our students check them out. We also have a robust collection of eBooks and audiobooks available; directions for access can be found on the district website.
If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to connect with our summer school librarians Emer Geraghty (July 5-22) or Sonji Greenaway (July 25-Aug. 10) at (518) 475-6429, egeraghty@albany.k12.ny.us, or sgreenaway@albany.k12.ny.us. We wish you a wonderful, healthy, and safe summer full of new adventures and great books!
Sincerely,
Secondary Instructional Supervisor for English Language Arts, Reading, and Library Media
Suggested titles
The list of recommended books below was compiled by our teachers and librarians across the district. Every book on this list was carefully chosen to take into consideration the varied interests of our students.
You can also view this Google Slides presentation created by our middle school librarians, which gives an overview of each title.
You Should See Me in a Crown by Leah Johnson
The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han
If You Come Softly by Jacqueline Woodson
Unwind by Neal Shusterman
Ink by Alice Broadway
The Book of Ivy by Amy Engel
Pure by Julianna Baggott
Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake
Imaginary Friend by Stephen Chbosky
Luck of the Titanic by Stacey Lee
Allies by Alan Gratz
Pieces and Players by Blue Balliett
Ali Cross by James Patterson
Girl on Fire by Alicia Keyes
Coraline (Graphic Novel version) by Neil Gaiman
Shock Waves by Miles Morales
Roller Girl by Victoria Jamieson
Allergic by Megan Wagner Lloyd and Michelle Mee Nutter
Your Life Has Been Delayed by Michelle I. Mason
Displaced by Dean Hughes
The Seclusion by Jacqui Castle
Big Apple Diaries by Alyssa Bermudez
Additional resources
Have questions?
Summer Librarian
School Librarian
