Summer Reading Together 2020 is sponsored by the Boston Public Library (BPL), Boston Public Schools, WGBH, and Scholastic Press.

These booklists were compiled by librarians from BPL, the Departments of English Language Arts and Library Services, and ELA teachers from BPS. They were prepared by the BPL Office of Youth Services and Office of English Language Arts and Literacy and Office of Library Services at BPS.

Summer Reading Together engages students in their rising grades to share the experience of reading and talking about the same book over the summer and when school begins. Boston school communities are welcome to opt into this one book/one-grade summer reading program.

The goal of this initiative is to prevent summer reading loss, encourage pleasure reading, and foster a culture of readers. It is our focus to motivate, engage, and cultivate a culture of readers.

We encourage you to choose a second text to read from the grade-appropriate reading lists below. You may be asked to engage in a discussion about that book as well.

Assignment:

This summer, read your book for about 20 minutes per session.

As you read, consider the following:

Fiction

• What do you think the author wants us to know? What is the author’s message?
• How did the author create humor; suspense; sadness, and so on? (provide examples)
• Is the language in the text inviting and engaging? (provide examples)
• How does the writing in this text compare with other fiction texts you read this year?

Non-Fiction

• What do you think the author wants us to know? What is the author’s message?
• Did the author explain things clearly? (provide examples)
• How does the author use language to explain experiences? (provide examples)
• How does this text compare with other nonfiction texts (articles) you read this year?

Remember to highlight, underline, or use “sticky notes.” Share with someone in your home what you found interesting or confusing, and discuss why. If possible, in September, bring your book to school. Be prepared to share your thoughts about the text you read this summer.

Boston Public Library presents Imagine Your Story!

Keep the story going all summer with the “Imagine Your Story” summer reading program at the Boston Public Library. Starting June 1, download an activity sheet here. Click here to have one mailed to you. Complete your quest for reading success by finishing six “plot points” on the activity sheet. Plot points are completed by reading, fulfilling one of the activity options, or a combination of both. 

Let us know that you’ve completed the “Imagine Your Story” challenges by August 15.

Learn more about the process and prizes at www.bpl.org/imagine-your-story.

To get a Boston Public Library card, click here.

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