Reading is an important skill for success in all academic areas.  Studies show that students who read at least three books over the summer are more likely to maintain academic gains made during the school year as well as score higher on achievement tests.  Summer is an excellent time to encourage your child to read for enjoyment.  Students can also use summer months to get an early start on meeting the 1,000,000 Word/25 Book Georgia Performance Reading Standard.  Please refer to the list of recommended authors and books in order to guide your child’s selection.

The following book has been selected due to its correlation with the 7th grade Language Arts curriculum.  Guided reading questions are provided to enhance your child’s reading comprehension. 

 7^th Running Out of Time  by Margaret Peterson Haddix  (730L)

7^th Grade Titles

 Alexander, Lloyd                             The Iron Ring   (680L)   
Colfer, Eoin                                     Supernaturalist   (650L)
Cooney, Caroline                              Code Orange   (850L)
Hiaasen, Carl                                   Flush (830L)
Namioka, Lensey                              An Ocean Apart, a World Away   (780L)
Nye, Naomi Shihab                            Habibi   (850L)   
Patterson, James                              Maximum Ride: Angel Experiment  
Smith, Roland                                   Peak   (780L)
Yep, Laurence                                  Tiger’s Apprentice    (740L)

Non-fiction
Mah, Adeline Yen                            Chinese Cinderella (960L)          Biography
Seiple, Samantha & Tom     Mutants, Clones, and Killer Corn: Unlocking the Secrets of Biotechnology   (NF)

 7^th Grade Authors:

 Visit www.lexiles.com for more information on the Lexile reading level framework.

Running Out of Time by Margaret Peterson Haddix

Summary

Thirteen-year-old Jessie thinks she is living in a small village in the year 1840 when she is sent out of the village to for medicine that can save the lives of her sister and the rest of the village children.  When she sets out, she discovers that the year is really 1996 and the whole world that she knows is actually a tourist site created by heartless scientists who will not allow anyone to leave?  Without the medicine, Jessie’s sister will die.

Discussion questions

1.    Who is Clifton?
2.    What is life like in the village?
3.    How would you describe Jessie?
4.    Why does her mother decide to trust Jessie with the truth?
5.    How does Jessie react to the truth?
6.    How do you feel about the parents keeping the truth from their children?
7.    What does Jessie think about the clothing and behavior of the students who are “watching” her village?
8.    Why have the scientists like Isaac Neeley created this village?
9.    Do you agree with the theory of sacrificing a few in order to save many?

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