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Summer Reading Program – June 9 thru August 2, 2008

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Booklists:

Printable 2008 Summer Reading Booklists for Teens [PDF]

Fiction

Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie

Budding cartoonist Junior leaves his troubled school on the Spokane Indian Reservation to attend an all-white farm town school where the only other Indian is the school mascot.

At the Firefly Gate by Linda Newbery

Moved to a country town, shy Henry finds friendship in an old lady named Dottie, who shares her stories of her deceased love and wartime hero, teaching Henry lessons of heroism as he reconnects with the spirit of a man from long ago.

Evil Genius by Catherine Jinx

Cadel Darkkon grows from a 7-year-old computer hacker to a 14-year-old college student at the Axis Institute, where he studies Assassination, Forgery, Embezzelment, and other similar fields. He is the son of an archvillian, but he finds he doesn't want the life he is being trained for.

Fly on the Wall by E. Lockhart

When Gretchen Yee, a student at the Manhattan High School for the Arts, wishes she were a fly on the wall of the boys' locker room, she never expects her wish to come true in such a dramatic way.

How to be Popular by Meg Cabot

After the Super Big Gulp incident, Steph Landry, now known as the town screw-up, discovers a little book called "How to Be Popular," which propels her into a world of popularity with hilarious--and romantic--results.

Just as Long as We’re Together by Judy Blume

Stephanie's relationship with her best friend, Rachel, changes during her first year in junior high as she tries to conceal a family problem and meets a new girl from California.

Kissing the Bee by Kathe Koja

While working on a bee project for her advanced biology class, quiet high school senior Dana reflects on her relationship with gorgeous best friend Avra and Avra's boyfriend Emil, whom Dana secretly loves.

Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka (Fiction KAF)

A traveling salesman, Gregor Samsa, wakes up to find himself transformed into a giant insect. Curiously, his condition does not arouse surprise in his family, who merely despise it as an impending burden

Repossessed by A. M. Jenkins

A fallen angel, tired of being unappreciated while doing his pointless, demeaning job, leaves Hell, enters the body of a seventeen-year-old boy, and tries to experience the full range of human feelings before being caught and punished, while the boy's family and friends puzzle over his changed behavior.

Silver Moon Elm by MaryJanice Davidson

Almost immediately after learning yet another devastating family secret, fifteen-year-old Jennifer awakens in a universe transformed by werearachnid sorcery, in which weredragons are long extinct, and she must try to find a way to change everything back.

Secret Life of Sparrow Delany by Suzanne Harper

Sparrow has enjoyed being excluded from the family séances, but that could change soon. They live in Lily Dale, NY, famous for spiritual mediums. Sparrow has been seeing ghosts since age 5, but never told her family. Now a ghost is determined to have her help, and she is determined to ignore him.

Uglies by Scott Westerfeld

In Tally's world, everyone gets to be transformed from ugly to gorgeous on their sixteenth birthday, but Tally's friend Shay would rather risk life on the outside than be operated on, and when she runs away, the authorities make Tally find her friend and turn her in.

Non-Fiction

Gut-Eating Bugs: Maggots Reveal the Time of Death!  by Danielle Denega (Y 363.25 D)

Describes how forensic entomologists can use bugs to determine the time of death in criminal investigations, and provides case studies to emphasize the methods used.

Origami Insects and their Kin by Robert Lang (736.982 L)

Noted origamist presents step-by-step instructions and diagrams for 20 challenging projects: treehopper, spotted ladybug, orb weaver, tarantula, butterfly, grasshopper, dragonfly, praying mantis, more.

Graphic Novel

Amazing Spider-Man: The Life & Death of Spiders  by Michael Straczynski

An introspective Peter Parker ponders the true nature of his powers and reflects on the moral responsibilities that accompany them . . . and realizes there are natural enemies his powers bring him as well!

Undertown, Vol. 1 by Jim Pascoe

Young Sama seeks the Sugar Stone, a mysterious object that can help Sama’s father, in a magical place called “Undertown.” However insects and “Furmen” also vie for control of the Sugar Stone.

Craft Instructions:

ORIGAMI

Materials:

• Origami Paper
• Origami instructions

Directions:

1. Follow instructions to create your own origami bug.

MANGA

Materials:

• Pencils
• Blank manga sheets

Directions:

1. Fill in the spaces to create your own manga.
2. Fill in a bunch to make a book!

HARDWARE JEWELRY

Materials:

• Various hardware pieces (bolts, screws, etc.)
• Jewelry twine

Directions:

1. Tie and thread the hardware on the jewelry twine and see what you can come up with – necklace, bracelet, whatever!

PIPE CLEANER BUTTERFLY

Materials:

• 3 pipe cleaners (any color)

Directions:

1. Take one pipe cleaner to make the body. Fold in the middle and twist to the top, leaving about an inch and a half for the antennae.
    
2. Take one pipe cleaner to make the top set of wings. Twist the middle of the pipe cleaner around the “body” (close to the antennae) to secure the wings. Curve each half of the pipe cleaner to form wings and twist each end around the “body” to attach.
    
3. Take the last pipe cleaner to make the bottom set of wings. Twist the middle of the pipe cleaner around the “body” (this time, under the spot where you attached the first set of wings). Curve each half of the pipe cleaner to form wings and twist each end around the “body” to secure.
    
4. Curve the two end pieces from the body to look like antennae.

Instruction Sheet:

Register for the Summer Reading Program and pick-up your starter packet with your reading log. Complete 15 activities from the list below. Activities may be done more than once and count each time completed. Reading a book can be substituted for any of the activities. Record the title of your book or name of the activity in the spaces on the reading log provided. Feel free to share your activities with the librarian. When you have completed 15 activities, bring your log to any branch to be stamped, and you will be entered into the final drawing. Have fun reading this summer!!

• Read a book of your choice.
• Listen to an audio book.
• Read or write a poem.
• Attend a library program.
• Complete an SRC craft.
• Write a book review.
• Write a blog entry about a change you would like to see in the world.
• Write a blog entry about a change you’ve made.
• Read to someone else.
• Start a journal.
• Write a letter to your future self or someone else.

 Bored? Come to the library for programs and activities – it’s air conditioned!

Web sites that will "bug" you!

Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka   (download the eBook from Project Gutenberg)

Metamorphosis: Poems to Inspire Transformation

Origami Club: Bugs

Origami Help for Beginners

Thinking Fountain: Metamorphosis

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This page is provided by the Baltimore County Public Library, Towson, Maryland USA.
The text version of this page was last revised on 26 August 2008.
The graphics version of this page was last revised on 26 August 2008.
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