These are books suggested by Fairfield Public Schools in Connecticut for students entering seventh grade, although they would still be appropriate and enjoyable for students entering eighth grade!

Fairfield Public Schools Summer Reading 2006 -- Grade 7

Anderson, Laurie Halse- Fever 1793: Matilda Cook learns to cope with the devastation of her world due to the yellow fever epidemic.

Avi - Beyond the Western Sea, Book One and Two: This 1850's emigrant story describes the adventures of 15-year-old Maura and her younger brother who fled their impoverished Irish village and embark on a journey to the New World.

Bennett, Cherie- Zink: With the help of a trio of zebras from the Serengeti, Becky faces her battle with leukemia, her family's fears for her, her competition with a hypocritical classmate, and the possibility that she might die.

Capuzzo, Michael- Close to Shore: The Terrifying Shark Attacks of 1916:  The gruesome true story of the rogue shark that terrorized the Jersey Shore. 

Choldenko, Gennifer- Al Capone Does My Shirts: Moose and his family move to Alcatraz Island when his father finds work as a prison guard.

--Creech, Sharon – The Wanderer:Sophie and her family travel on The Wanderer on a transatlantic voyage to see their grandfather in England.

--DeFelice, Cynthia- The Apprenticeship of Lucas Whitaker: After his family dies of consumption in 1849, twelve-year-old Lucas becomes a doctor's apprentice.

Dickinson, Peter – A Bone from a Dry Sea: The theory of evolution is explored when a girl and her archeologist father search for fossils.

Ellis, Deborah - The Breadwinner: Because the Taliban rulers of Kabul, Afghanistan, impose strict limitations on women’s freedom and behavior, eleven-year-old Parvana must disguise herself as a boy so that her family can survive after her father's arrest. 

++Farmer, Nancy - A Girl Named Disaster: A complex novel about an African-American girl who embarks on a life-altering journey and draws strength from spirits and ancestors along the way. 
-- Giff, Patricia Rielly– Lily’s Crossing: During her summer vacation, Lily befriends a young girl who has come to America to escape World War II.Hesse, Karen -Phoenix Rising: An accident at a nuclear power plant in Vermont changes a farm family's life in this tale of love and hope rising from destruction and despair.

--Park, Linda Sue – When My Name was Keoko: Being Korean under Japanese rule is difficult for Sun-hee and her family as war looms.

Paulsen, Gary- How Angel Peterson Got His Name: and other outrageous tales of extreme sports: Boys in the late 40’s and 50’s perform many daring stunts to add adventure to their lives.

++Plum-Ucci -The Body of Christopher Creed: Torey Adams, a high school junior with a seemingly perfect life, struggles with doubts and questions surrounding the mysterious disappearance of the class outcast.

--Sachar, Louis - Holes: In this darkly humorous tale, Stanley Yelnats is accused of a crime he didn't commit and sentenced to Camp Green Lake where his punishment includes digging a large hole in the dried out lake every day.
Staples, Suzanne Fisher -Shabanu: Daughter of the Wind: A young Pakistani girl struggles for her identity in a culture that forbids independence by women.

--Taylor, Theodore-The Trouble with Tuck:  Helen devotes herself to helping her dog Tuck cope with his blindness.++Voight, Cynthia - Izzy, Willy-Nilly: A car accident causes 15-year-old Izzy to lose one leg and face the need to start building a new life as an amputee.

--Easy Reading

++More challenging reading.  May contain more mature language or subject matter.  Parents, please review these with your children.