Springton Lake Middle School
1900 N. Providence Road
Media, Pennsylvania 19063-2493
Telephone 610.627.6500
Fax 610.566.8665
www.rtmsd.org
James M. Wigo, Sr.
Superintendent of Schools
Robert Salladino, Jr., Ed.D., Principal
Donald DiPaulo, M.A., Assistant Principal
Kathy White, M.S., Assistant Principal
Spring 2015
Dear SLMS Students and Parents,
As the end of the school year draws closer, we hope you’re making plans to enjoy your
summer, relax, and…read. There are many reasons to read: to learn something new, to keep
reading skills sharp, and also to dream, to laugh, to wonder, and to grow. Our SLMS Summer
Reading List has been designed to help students do all of this, as well as increase the amount of
reading they do in their free time and provide a number of common texts for students and
teachers to refer to throughout the next year.
Since reading can be a wondrous rehearsal for life, we’re encouraging both students and
their parents to read from the selections on this year’s list. This will create an opportunity for
you to have some great dinner table conversations this summer and to share family ideas,
feelings and experiences.
The seventh grade teachers are excited to offer Okay For Now, by Gary D. Schmidt,
as our 7th grade all-class read. This book is a required read for all entering seventh grade
students. This book celebrates resilience and highlights invaluable lessons about love,
creativity, and survival. Students must also complete an attached Literary Text Analysis for the
novel. In September, students will be evaluated in their Language Arts class on their
understanding of the book.
In addition, all students are required to read a second book of an appropriate
reading level, this one of their own choosing. Students must also complete a Literary Text
Analysis for the novel.
ELA students are also expected to read The Book Thief by Markus Zusak, an
unforgettable and intense story about the ability of books to feed the soul; ELA students will
complete Literary Text Analysis for this book as well.
Please note that Springton Lake’s summer reading list is not optional: it is required.
Activities and lessons will reference these books, their characters and themes throughout the
school year.
Local bookstores will stock copies of each title, and the Middletown and Media-Upper
Providence Libraries will make additional copies of the books available for your use. A limited
number of ebook and audio versions of the titles will also be available through the Delaware
County Library System. The summer reading books will also be listed on both the district cable
channel (Channel 11) and the Rose Tree Media School District website.
Families can find an additional suggested list of titles by genre on the SLMS Library
webpage. These are being provided to offer a variety of titles that may be of interest to students
who are looking for additional ideas for other good reads. Should parents prefer that their child
not read a particular title for his/her grade level, parent may opt to have their child read from the
additional titles shared on the website. Parents will need to contact their child’s seventh grade
teacher in September, should they choose this option.
At the back of this packet, you will find a summer reading contract. We ask that both
students and parents read the contract, sign it, and return it to your sixth grade teacher by Friday,
May 29th.
REMEMBER:
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Read, sign, and return your summer reading contract by Friday, May 29,
2015.
Read Okay For Now and complete the Literary Text Analysis.
Read an additional book of their choice and complete the Literary Text
Analysis.
ELA students read The Book Thief and complete the Literary Text Analysis.
Enjoy your summer, relax, and READ!
Sincerely,
SLMS Language Arts Department
Grade 7 Summer Reading List 2015
Springton Lake Middle School
Directions:
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Every incoming 7th grade language arts student will read Okay For Now by Gary D.
Schmidt and one other novel of their choice.
Incoming seventh grade AGP/ELA students will ALSO read The Book Thief by Marcus
Zusak.
Students should fill out the attached Literary Text Analysis for each book they read. Be
sure to answer all of the questions in each section of the form. If the question asks for a
specific example from the story, be sure to give actual text support, not a generalized
statement.
A suggested list of titles for the “choice” book is attached for your convenience. It provides
many suggestions for exciting summer reading in a variety of genres.
Doug struggles to be more than the "skinny thug" that some
people think him to be. He finds an unlikely ally in Lil
Spicer, who gives him the strength to endure an abusive
father, the suspicions of a town, and the return of his oldest
brother, forever scarred, from Vietnam. Gary Schmidt
expertly weaves multiple themes of loss and recovery in a
story teeming with distinctive, unusual characters and
invaluable lessons about love, creativity, and survival.
This novel by two-time Newbery Honor-winning author and
National Book Award Finalist, Gary D. Schmidt, is the
“stealthily powerful, unexpectedly affirming story of
discovering and rescuing one’s best self.” -Booklist
New York Times bestseller, The Book Thief by Markus
Zusak, is an unforgettable story about the ability of books
to feed the soul.
It is 1939. Nazi Germany. The country is holding its
breath. Death has never been busier, and will become
busier still.
Liesel Meminger is a foster girl living outside of Munich,
who scratches out a meager existence for herself by
stealing when she encounters something she can’t resist—
books. With the help of her accordion-playing foster
father, she learns to read and shares her stolen books with
her neighbors during bombing raids as well as with the
Jewish man hidden in her basement.
In superbly crafted writing that burns with intensity,
award-winning author Markus Zusak, author of I Am the
Messenger, has given us one of the most enduring stories
Parents: Try reading the same summer reading selection as your child and then let them
interview you! 
SPRINGTON LAKE MIDDLE SCHOOL SUMMER READING PROGRAM
OPTIONAL PARENT INTERVIEW
Once you and your parent have read your book(s), discuss these questions together.
Then, record your interview results below. Ask your parent to write any comments and
to sign the bottom of this sheet.
Student’s Name: ______________________ Parent’s Name: ________________________________
Book Title and Author: ___________________________________________________________________
1. Which character did you find the most interesting? Why?
2. What was your favorite part of the story? Why?
3. What lessons/morals do you think this book can teach?
4. What did you learn from reading this book?
5. Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?
Parent comments:
Parent Signature:
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Literary Text Analysis For__________________
Title of Book:____________________________________ Name_________________________________________
Author:_________________________# of pages:______ Point of View Story is told from 1st, 2nd, or 3rd.
Protagonist:_____________________________________ Antagonist:_____________________________________
How does the setting impact the story:_______________________________________________________________
Author’s Purpose: Let’s think about what the author intended when writing this novel.
The categories below will assist you with this task.
CONFLICT: Name the type and describe in no more than 5 sentences the major conflict that the protagonist faces.
How does the antagonist complicate the conflict with the protagonist?
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CHARACTER GROWTH: What changes in character did the protagonist go through? Antagonist? Explain what
they were like at the beginning of the novel and how they changed by the end. Give specific text evidence from the
story to support how the characters grew from the beginning to the end of the book.
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THEME: Identify the theme of the story. (What was the message or lesson the author wanted to convey?) How
does the author show the development of the theme? Give text evidence from the beginning, middle and end.
Theme:_______________________________________________________________________________________
Beginning:___________________________________________________________________________
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Middle:______________________________________________________________________________
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End:________________________________________________________________________________
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FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE: Give an example of figurative language used in the novel (simile,
metaphor, hyperbole, personification, alliteration, onomatopoeia). You could also give an example of
imagery. Detail how the use of figurative language or imagery enhances the reader’s understanding of
the novel.
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My Reaction: How was the author able to connect to me as a reader?
The categories below will assist you with this task.
Personal Connection: The connection I made with this novel is: text to self, world, text, or media.
Give specific details on your connection in about 5 sentences.
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RATING: Rate this book on a scale of 1 to 10. What qualities of a good book does this novel
demonstrate or not demonstrate? Why did you give this rating? Who would enjoy this book?
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2015
Grade 7
Summer Reading Contract
I have read the summer reading letter and understand that I am expected to:
 Read Okay For Now as the 7th grade all-class read.
 Complete the Literary Text Analysis for Okay For Now.
 Read a grade level book of your choice.
 Complete a Literary Text Analysis for your self-selected book.
 ELA students read The Book Thief and complete a Literary Text Analysis.
______________________________________
(Student Signature)
______________________________________
(Student Name Printed)
I have read the summer reading letter and understand that my child is responsible for
completing the following for the Summer Reading Program at Springton Lake Middle
School:
 Read Okay For Now as the 7th grade all-class read.
 Complete the Literary Text Analysis for Okay For Now.
 Read a grade level book of your choice.
 Complete a Literary Text Analysis for your self-selected book.
 ELA students read The Book Thief and complete a Literary Text Analysis.
______________________________________
(Parent Signature)
______________________________________
(Parent Name Printed)
Please return this summer reading contract to:
Your 6th Grade Teacher
by Friday, May 29, 2015