Summer Reading

  • Summer Reading - 2023

    Reading is powerful and opens the world of imagination and knowledge for our children. In an effort to continue building upon our students’ love of books, the district will be implementing summer reading again in 2023.

    Summer provides a wonderful opportunity for students to enjoy great books, while also avoiding reading loss or the “summer slide” that takes place when children are not able to read as consistently. The goal of the summer reading program is to foster a love of reading while children and families explore new books together. Students in grades 6-8 and 9-12 (rising 6th and rising 9th will have the appropriate book for their grade level) will each have their own novel. All students will be provided the required book. Refer to the chart below for the selected novel with a brief description.

Make it a Family Affair!

  • So how can you make reading a natural fit for your summer? Here are some pointers:  

    • Make sure your children are reading books that are on their level—not too easy and not too hard.

    • Help them find books about things they are interested in—sometimes the key to getting a child to love reading is simply to find the right genre or author. 

    • If a book at any grade level catches the interest of your child, certainly allow them to select the book. Students should have a good understanding of their personal reading comfort level from their learning experiences in ELA this school year.

    • Bring your children to the library and/or make use of digital libraries. You can look at the additional resources chart below for plenty of free access to books!

    • Talk to your children about what they are reading. Open-ended questions (What would you have done if you were that character? What do you like about this book?) can start a meaningful discussion and show your children that you value what they are reading. 

    • Feel free to reach out to your child’s current ELA teacher for additional summer reading pointers.

      Selected Novels for Grades 6-12

      Grade Band Novel Description Additional Info Book Trailer
      6-8 Summer Novel Patina by Jason Reynolds A newbie to the track team, Patina must learn to rely on her teammates as she tries to outrun her personal demons in this follow-up to the National Book Award finalist Ghost by New York Times bestselling author Jason Reynolds. Ghost. Lu. Patina. Sunny. Four kids from wildly different backgrounds with personalities that are explosive when they clash. But they are also four kids chosen for an elite middle school track team—a team that could qualify them for the Junior Olympics if they can get their acts together. They all have a lot to lose, but they also have a lot to prove, not only to each other, but to themselves. Watch Trailer
      9-12 Summer Novel All My Rage by Sabaa Tahir From #1 New York Times bestselling author Sabaa Tahir comes a brilliant, unforgettable, and heart-wrenching contemporary novel about family and forgiveness, love and loss, in a sweeping story that crosses generations and continents. From one of today’s most cherished and bestselling young adult authors comes a breathtaking novel of young love, old regrets, and forgiveness—one that’s both tragic and poignant in its tender ferocity. Watch Trailer

      Additional Resources

      Resource Description Links and URLs
      Sora Sora is a digital library that all students in the state of Delaware have access to through their school district account. Books can be checked out like a traditional library and read online. Audio books are available for some titles. Access from ClassLink
      Sora Sweet Reads suggested summer titles
      Audiofile Sync Audio file sync is a free audiobook program for Teens. Starting April 28th, students can register for an account and download two free audio books. These books will be yours to keep! New titles will be available every Thursday. Simply log on each week and if you like a title download it! https://audiofilemagazine.com/sync/
      Blue Hen Book Award 2023 The Blue Hen Book Award is a children’s choice award sponsored by the Youth Services Division of the Delaware Library Association. The award encourages literacy and library use by children and teens.Books are divided into three categories: young readers, middle readers and teen readers and students have the choice of both novels and graphic novels. Each category has 5 suggested books to choose from. To download simply enter your DE library card number! https://guides.lib.de.us/bluehen
      New Castle County Reads Each year NCC picks one book as a county book club. The selected title is available in local libraries. As part of the selection many activities are held to interact with the author and discuss the novel. This year’s selection is: This Tender Land by William Kent Krueger https://www.newcastlede.gov/710/New-Castle-County-Reads
      • We can’t wait for the 2023-2024 school year and to share in the love of reading with your child when they return!

        If you would like to have access to a report about your student’s Independent Reading Level Assessment (IRLA information), this can be provided by your building principal or Tabitha Bendel. If you have any questions about summer reading, please contact Tabitha Bendel the Secondary ELA Curriculum Specialist.