Summer Reading...Had Me a Blast -- Middle School

This is the second part in a three part series about how my school handles summer reading.  Today's focus is our middle school.

Middle school readers are first and foremost middle schoolers!  They can be a tough crowd still caught between admitting they like to read, and wanting to move into the world of cool. 

Our middle school librarians do everything they can to bring the cool to the MS library.  The librarian is also a restorer of WWII Jeeps and always has gadgets for the boys to touch and play with.  He is also a passionate and engaging book talker, and knows exactly the type of literature that appeals to adolescent boys -- being a former adolescent boy himself.

MS boys are required to read four books over the summer.  Two are required by the English department, and vary according to grade level.  The other two books are of the boy's choosing and suggestions are made for each grade level.  The boys must complete written assignments for the required books and be prepared to discuss them in class upon return to school in the fall.  All of the middle school summer reading information is contained in a LibGuide, and available online.

In order to keep the fun in summer reading, provide incentive for reading quality literature as optional selections, and appeal to a MS students love of free pizza; the librarians have devised "Reading Cafe" selections.  These selections are sponsored by middle school teachers.  If a boy selects a Reading Cafe book, he reads the book over the summer, and comes to a pizza lunch to discuss the book with other middle school readers and the sponsoring teacher.  They have proven to be very popular and provide a simple incentive for summer reading.