Maret School – Rising 4th Grade Summer Reading 2017  

Summer is an opportunity for students of all ages to enjoy reading in a relaxed and leisurely setting. Summer reading is a vital way that students keep their skills sharp for the upcoming school year. It is also a time when students should have the freedom to find books that they want to read for fun; pursue their personal interests through reading; explore new ideas, cultures, and viewpoints; and develop a lifelong love of reading. The Maret School recommends that students spend at least 20 minutes reading each day during the summer. Students should select books and other reading material that interest and challenge them, and families should consider ways that they can read together or make discussing books a part of their lives over the summer months. We recognize that there is a range of readers at each grade level. If books on this list do not match your child's reading ability, you may choose to read them aloud with your child.

When the Sea Turned to Silver by Grace Lin: Pinmei, a storyteller's granddaughter, must find the Luminous Stone that Lights the Night to rescue her grandmother, who has been kidnapped by the Tiger Emperor. The Blossoming Universe of Violet Diamond by Brenda Woods: A biracial girl finally gets the chance to meet the African-American side of her family. Skulduggery Pleasant series by Derek Landy: Skulduggery Pleasant, an undead sorcerer and detective, and his partner Stephanie Edgley, try to prevent Nefarian Serpine from unleashing a weapon of terrible power.

Seeds of Freedom: The Peaceful Integration of Huntsville, Alabama by Hester Bass: For the citizens of Huntsville, creativity, courage, and cooperation were key to integrating their city and schools

during the Civil Rights movement.

Rain Reign by Ann M. Martin: Struggling with Asperger's syndrome, Rose shares a bond with her beloved dog, but when the dog goes missing during a storm, Rose is forced to confront the limits of her comfort levels to search for her pet.

Family Game Night and other Catastrophes by Mary E. Lambert: Annabelle can't let anyone find out what her house is like. They'll realize that her mom is crazy. They'll make fun of her. Or feel sorry for her. Or try to help.

Double Vision series by F. T. Bradley: After a routine school field trip goes awry, Linc Baker is thrust into a world of intrigue and espionage. Lost in NYC: A Subway Adventure by Nadja Spiegelman: After getting separated from his class during a field trip, new kid Pablo learns to navigate the subway and his own feelings about making friends and living in a big city.

Absolutely Almost by Lisa Graff: Albie has never been the smartest, tallest, best at gym, greatest artist, or most musical in his class—as his parents keep reminding him—but new nanny Calista helps him uncover his strengths and take pride in himself.

The Great Shelby Holmes by Elizabeth Eulberg: Shelby Holmes, the best detective in her Harlem neighborhood, and her new easy-going friend from downstairs, John Watson, become partners in a dog-napping case.

Maret School – Rising 4th Grade Summer Reading 2017  

The Misadventures of the Family Fletcher by Dana Alison Levy: The adventures of a family with two fathers, four adopted boys, and a variety of pets as they make their way through a school year and deal with a grumpy new neighbor. The Goldfish Boy by Lisa Thompson: A boy struggling with OCD is uniquely qualified to solve a kidnapping. The Wolf Boy by Susan Williams Buckhorn: Marked as tabat—the unlucky one—Kai and his wolf, Uff, must brave the long winter together and learn what it takes to survive on their own. Calico Girl by Jerdine Nolan: Callie struggles to understand slavery when her stepbrother is sold away at the start of the Civil War, but she is determined that her whole family will be free one day.

Fish in a Tree by Lynda Mullaly Hunt: Ally's greatest fear is that everyone will find out she is as dumb as they think she is because she still doesn't know how to read. Spirit Animals series (various authors): As a dark force engulfs the land, the fate of Erdas has fallen on the shoulders of four young strangers who each have forged a rare bond with their spirit beasts.

Rump: The True Story of Rumpelstiltskin by Liesl Shurtliff: The story of Rumpelstiltskin's childhood—why his name is so important, how he spins straw into gold, and more.

Neighborhood Sharks: Hunting With the Great Whites of California's Farallon Islands by Katherine Roy: An up-close look at the ocean's most fearsome predator and the scientists who study them—26 miles from San Francisco.

The Key to Extraordinary by Natalie Lloyd: The women in Emma's family all have a destiny that they see in a dream, but when hers comes, it shows her only a key, and she must solve a ghostly mystery that has haunted her town for generations.

Stef Soto, Taco Queen by Jennifer Torres: Mexican-American Stef Soto is hoping to break free from her overprotective parents and the embarrassing reputation of their taco truck, but she learns that family, friendship, and the taco truck are

important and wonderful parts of her life.

From the Mixed Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by E.L. Konigsburg: Claudia and Jamie decide to run away and hide out at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, where they try to solve a mystery.

Out of My Mind by Sharon M. Draper: Considered by many to be mentally retarded, a brilliant, impatient girl with cerebral palsy discovers a technological device that will allow her to speak for the first time.

Two Naomis by Olugbemisola Rhuday-Perkovich: The story of two girls, both named Naomi, whose divorced parents begin to date.

Maret School – Rising 4th Grade Summer Reading 2017  

El Deafo by Cece Bell: A graphic-novel memoir by author/illustrator Cece Bell, who grew up hearing impaired.

Smile by Raina Telgemeier: A graphic memoir about the author’s experience after she injured her two front teeth and had to have surgeries and wear embarrassing braces and headgear—all while also dealing with the trials and tribulations of middle school.

The Time Museum by Matthew Loux: In this graphic novel, Delia wants an internship at the Time museum. But to get it, she'll have to travel back and forth in time—and compete against five other candidates from all over time.

Beezus and Ramona by Beverly Cleary: Four-year-old Ramona has an imagination that makes her a menace to everyone around her, particularly her older sister, Beezus.

Warriors series by Erin Hunter: Rusty, a bored house kitten, is apprenticed by the ThunderClan and must struggle to fit in when the group of feral cats is threatened by ShadowClan, the enemy.

Bunnicula by Deborah Howe: Though scoffed at by Harold the dog, Chester the cat tries to warn his human family that their foundling baby bunny must be a vampire.

Sideways Stories from Wayside School by Louis Sachar: Humorous episodes from the classroom on the 13th floor of Wayside School, which was accidentally built sideways with one classroom on each story.

Little House in the Big Woods by Laura Ingalls Wilder: A year in the life of two young girls growing up on the Wisconsin frontier.

Mr. Popper’s Penguins by Richard Atwater: Mr. Popper starts out with one penguin in his house, but before he knows it, there are twelve.

Sidekicks by Dan Santat: Captain Amazing tries to hire a new sidekick when he feels he is getting too old to be a reliable superhero, but his pets have different ideas.

Fooled You!: Fakes and Hoaxes Through the Years by Elaine Pascoe: Hoaxes are meant to fool the world, and some people fall for them. Would you?

Until I Find Julian by Patricia Reilly Giff: Mateo's big brother Julian works in the U.S. When the family doesn't hear from Julian, Mateo sneaks out and journeys to find him, crossing the border with the help of a new friend.

Heroes in Training series by Joan Holub: The adventures of the young Olympians, who are battling King Cronus to fulfill their destinies.

Breadcrumbs by Anne Ursu: Hazel is alone in an enchanted wood, trying to save her best friend Jack’s life after an accident with a magical mirror and a run-in with a villainous queen.

Maret School – Rising 4th Grade Summer Reading 2017  

The Seventh Wish by Kate Messner: Unsure of how to get her family's attention, Charlie comes across the surprise of her life one day while ice-fishing...a fish offering to grant her a wish in exchange for its freedom.

The Secret Tree by Natalie Standiford: After Minty discovers a secret tree with a hollow trunk that holds the secrets of everyone in the neighborhood, Mindy and Raymond—a new boy drawn to the tree—start watching their neighbors.