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Summer Reading (Middle School)

As a new or returning middle school student, you have summer reading. Teachers have tried to choose books that will sharpen your reading skills and set up themes for the coming year.  One or two books are assigned below. The other(s) should be taken from the appropriate 2024 Summer Reading list for your grade level.


If you have questions, email your English teacher for the upcoming school year.

10-Book Summer Reading Challenge: see the sidebar to learn how to sign up for this optional summer reading challenge.

2024–25 book assignments

Rising fifth graders: Read The Year of the Dog by Grace Lin.
  • Choose one other book from the summer reading list that you have not read previously. 

Rising sixth graders: Read Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus by Dusti Bowling.
  • Choose one regular novel or two graphic novels from the list that you have not read previously.

Rising seventh graders: Read Same Sun Here by Neela Vaswani and Silas House and Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer.
  • Choose one more book from the summer reading list that you have not read previously. 

Rising eighth graders: Read The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
  • In addition, choose one more book from the summer reading list that you have not read previously. These books should be appropriate for your reading and grade levels. *Because of the length of The Book Thief, I am requiring only one additional book, but if you love to read, feel free to choose more than one!
  • You may check out library books, but you will need to have a physical copy of your books with you for the first few weeks of school.

We are always looking for more great books to enjoy. If you are interested in reading a book of comparable difficulty that is not on the list, please ask your future English teacher for permission. You are encouraged to take notes so that you are prepared to discuss the books and to write about them in August.

Happy reading!
Ready for a Summer of Reading?
 
All KCD Middle School students are eligible for and encouraged to participate in our annual 10-Book Summer Reading Challenge! This program, sponsored by our English department, encourages and rewards voracious summer reading. All participants will receive recognition during the fall of our 2024-25 school year and be invited to our special summer-reading party, where we will celebrate our readers with prizes!  
 
Contact Clark Pollitt (clark.pollitt@kcd.org) with any questions.

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Kentucky Country Day School is a private JK–12, coeducational school located on a spacious 80+ acre campus in Louisville, KY. KCD combines a rigorous academic program with a wide variety of athletic and extracurricular programs. Our outstanding faculty creates an intimate learning environment that is both challenging and supportive.