Pollard's 2019 Summer Reading Program
Summer reading is important for all students, for it fosters a lifelong love of reading and helps students to maintain the gains in reading comprehension skills they make during the school year. For this reason, we expect all rising 7th and 8th graders to read a minimum of two books over the summer.
One book is our all school read, and the other is any book of the student's choosing.
See below for more information and ideas.
One School, One Book 2019
It Wasn't Me by Dana Alison Levy
This summer, all rising 7th and 8th grade Pollard students, along with Pollard faculty and staff, will read It Wasn't Me by Massachusetts author Dana Alison Levy.
"The Breakfast Club meets middle school mystery in this story of six very different seventh graders forced together in the aftermath of a vandalism incident." After the main character Theo's photographs are vandalized during a special exhibition of his work at school, five other students are at the scene when the vandalism is discovered -- the Nerd, the Princess, the Jock, the Weirdo, and the Screw-Up -- but all they will say when asked what they know about what happened is "It Wasn't Me." A favorite teacher convinces the principal to allow them to work together in a Justice Circle to try to resolve the issue rather than face suspension.
In the fall, we will devote our first early release day to gathering together as a community to discuss the book and participate in a variety of activities related to it, including a visit from author Dana Alison Levy. See the letter to parents that was sent home (also linked below) for more information.
Personal Choice Books
In addition to reading It Wasn't Me, Pollard students are expected to read at least one other book over the summer, but you're encouraged to read more! Below are suggestions for books to appeal to a wide range of readers; however, students can read any books they'd like and do not have to choose from these lists.
The suggested book list (with links to reviews on Goodreads) accompanied the family letter that went home with rising 7th and 8th grade students at the end of the school year. Additional printed copies of the list are available in the Pollard main office, and copies have also been shared with the Needham Free Public Library, the New England Mobile Book Fair, and Wellesley Books.
Here is another list of all the titles with cover images and descriptions.
We also have most of the books in the Pollard library, and some will be at High Rock. Rising 8th grade students who are returning to Pollard next fall can borrow up to ten books over the summer. High Rock has a similar policy, where students can borrow books and return them to Pollard in the fall. We will send them back to High Rock for you.
If you have any questions, don't hesitate to reach out.
Happy Summer, and Happy Reading!
Ms. Doherty
Pollard teacher-librarian
sue_doherty@needham.k12.ma.us