Entering Grade 9 Summer Reading Instructions 


​During the summer, Fessenden students in grade 5-9 are expected to read 3 summer reading books. We believe that choice sparks curious, lifelong readers.  Accordingly, students can choose their summer reading books, and we encourage your sons to make these choices for themselves. However, in order to foster conversation and dialogue upon our return to school, their book selections must come from one of our grade level lists. If your son finds a series or author on one of the lists that he is enjoying, he may read all of his required reading from that series or that author.

When students return to school in the fall, they will complete one of the following project options listed below. Please do not complete projects over the summer.  The projects are explained below only for students to keep in mind as they read during the summer.

Project Options:
  • MOVIE TRAILER  Using iMovie, create a trailer for your book. This movie should be a preview to the book that will convince those watching it to want to read the book.  Make sure to use quotes from the book to bring it to life. This should be about 1 minute long.
  • COLLAGE Make a collage using photographs, words and phrases from magazines. Make sure these pictures, words and phrases connect to characters or the book in general. You can also add quotes from the book.  These should help those that have not read the book get a better understanding of what it is about and even interest them to read it.
  • PODCAST Create a podcast for your book.  Use the following questions to help make the podcast interesting.  The podcast should be about 5-10 minutes long.

Optional Summer Reading Tasks/Project Preparation:
To be prepared for the first project we also suggest, but do not require, that your son take brief notes using the following reading tasks:  
  • Character List: Write down a list of characters in the front of your book as they are introduced.   Write their name, the things they do in the book, and what they are like.  
  • Chapter Summary:  At the end of each chapter, write three quick notes about what occurred during the chapter.  
  • Big Moments:  When a big moment happens in the book that you think is important, underline it.  Write a quick note why you think it is important on the page. You could have maybe 4-5 of these throughout a book.  

                          Please do not complete the projects over the summer!
​                                          You'll do these in class in September. 

Summer Admissions/Late Summer Admission:
If your son is admitted to Fessenden during the summer and does not have time to complete some or all of the required summer reading, please email the English Department chair,  Thomas Minehart, at tminehart@fessenden.org to formulate an appropriate plan for your son.
OPTIONAL--READING MORE BOOKS 
While you are required to read only three books, we encourage you to read as many other books as you can that are either on or off the list.​