Read any book that addresses the theme of
GROWTH
GROWTH
That basically means ANY genre of fiction or biography, because all stories have characters that grow and change over time. When you come back to school in the fall, you will complete a Collins writing assignment in class about how your book addressed the theme of growth.
Can I read a fantasy book?
Yes, you can read ANY genre of fiction or biography as long as it's about people. Even personified animals count as people in this case. Can I read a book that has a movie?
Yes, as long as you actually read the book. It's interesting to compare the book and the movie. The writing assignment about the book will ask questions that compare it to the movie, so be prepared. Can I read a book I read last year?
No, you should read something totally new to you. It's great to reread books you love, but to get credit in class you need to try something new to you. |
Why do I have to read anyway?
Middle school is a time when most people are trying to figure out who they are and who they want to be. One way to try out another person’s life is through reading. We learn to have empathy and compassion for others by understanding their experiences and their challenges. We also see ourselves reflected in what we read, which can give us ideas for how to solve our own problems or show us we are not alone. Think of books as being a window into someone else’s life and a mirror into your own. Maybe you want to find a book about someone who is very much like you or maybe you want to try to understand someone very different from you. Either way you will understand yourself and the world you live in a little better after each book you read. |
JFunke Recommends These Books
(But you can read anything!)
Heartwarming
Funny
Survival
Suspenseful
Romantic
Dumplin’ (Dumplin' #1) by Julie Murphy
(for ages 13 and up) With starry Texas nights, red candy suckers, and Dolly Parton songs, Dumplin' is guaranteed to steal your heart. Self-proclaimed fat girl Willowdean Dickson (dubbed "Dumplin'" by her former beauty queen mom) has always been at home in her own skin. Her thoughts on having the ultimate bikini body? Put a bikini on your body. With her all-American-beauty best friend, Ellen, by her side, things have always worked . . . until Will takes a job at Harpy's, the local fast-food joint. There she meets Private School Bo, a hot former jock. Will isn't surprised to find herself attracted to Bo. But she is surprised when he seems to like her back. Instead of finding new heights of self-assurance in her relationship with Bo, Will starts to doubt herself. So she sets out to take back her confidence by doing the most horrifying thing she can imagine: entering the Miss Clover City beauty pageant--along with several other unlikely candidates--to show the world that she deserves to be up there as much as any girl does. Along the way, she'll shock the hell out of Clover City--and maybe herself most of all. Read Puddin' to find out what happens next! |
My Life Next Door by Huntley Fitzpatrick
(for ages 13 and up) "One thing my mother never knew, and would disapprove of most of all, was that I watched the Garretts. All the time." The Garretts are everything the Reeds are not. Loud, messy, affectionate. And every day from her rooftop perch, Samantha Reed wishes she was one of them . . . until one summer evening, Jase Garrett climbs up next to her and changes everything. As the two fall fiercely for each other, stumbling through the awkwardness and awesomeness of first love, Jase's family embraces Samantha - even as she keeps him a secret from her own. Then something unthinkable happens, and the bottom drops out of Samantha's world. She's suddenly faced with an impossible decision. Which perfect family will save her? Or is it time she saved herself? A transporting debut about family, friendship, first romance, and how to be true to one person you love without betraying another. |