UMMS Summer Reading!

Dear Families,

Upper Moreland Middle School's theme for summer reading is “Books as Windows, Mirrors and Sliding Glass Doors,” a phrase coined by Dr. Rudine Sims Bishop. She elaborated this idea by stating:

“Books are sometimes windows, offering views of worlds that may be real or imagined, familiar or strange. These windows are also sliding glass doors, and readers have only to walk through in imagination to become part of whatever world has been created and recreated by the author. When lighting conditions are just right, however, a window can also be a mirror. Literature transforms human experience and reflects it back to us, and in that reflection we can see our own lives and experiences as part of the larger human experience.” (1990, p. ix)

Students are encouraged to choose books with this “windows, mirrors, and doors” theme that are of interest to them. When students are engaged in reading books they choose, reading becomes an empowering part of their lives.

The list below is a recommended collection of inclusive titles. While this list includes many great options, your middle schooler can also choose another book in which they are interested. We suggest that you and your middle schooler review the selections to make the right choice for your family.

Happy Reading!

1. New Kid by Jerry Craft

2. Project Mulberry by Linda Sue Park

3. Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus by Dusti Bowling

4. The Total Eclipse of Nestor Lopez by Adrianna Cueves

5. Millionaires for the Month by Stacy McNulty

6. The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan

7. Look Both Ways by Jason Reynolds

8. Out of My Mind by Sharon Draper

9. Eleven by Tom Rogers

10. Alone by Megan Freeman

11. A High Five for Glenn Burke by Phil Bidner

12. Born Behind Bars by Padma Venkatraman

13. Amina’s Voice by Hena Khan

14. The Jumbies by Tracey Baptiste

15. Roll With It by Jamie Summer

16. A Good Kind of Trouble by Lisa Moore Ramée

17. Stand Up, Yumi Chung by Jessica Kim

18. Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky by Kwame Mbalia

19. Rea & the Blood of the Nectar by Payal Doshi

20. The Wednesday Wars by Gary D. Schmidt

21. Lifeboat 12 by Susan Hood

22. One for the Murphys by Lynda Mullaly Hunt

23. Starfish by Lisa Fipps

24. Rez Dogs by Joseph Bruchac

25. Boy in the Striped Pajamas by John Boyne

26. Crossover by Kwame Alexander

27. The Last Wild by Piers Torday

28. The Pearl by John Steinbeck

29. The Running Dream by W. Van Draanen

30. The Bridge Home by Padma Venkatraman

31. Cinder by Marissa Meyer

32. Refugee by Alan Gratz

33. The Skin I’m In by Sharon G. Flake

34. A Wish in the Dark by Christina Soontornvat

35. Stuck in Neutral by Terry Trueman

36. King and the Dragonflies by Kacen Callender

37. The Canyon’s Edge by Dusti Bowling

38. Maybe He Just Likes You by Barbara Dee

39. The Red Kayak by Priscilla Cummings

40. Drums, Girls & Dangerous Pie by Jordan Sonnenblick

1. Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson

2. Bomb by Steve Sheinkin

3. Sachiko by Caren Stelson

4. All Thirteen: The Incredible Cave Rescue of the Thai Boys’ Soccer Team by Christina Soontornvat

5. El Deafo by Cece Bell

6. Born a Crime (Adapted for Young Readers) by Trevor Noah

7. How They Croaked by Georgia Bragg

8. Not So Different: What You Really Want to Ask about Having a Disability by Shane Burcaw

9. I Am Malala (Young Readers Edition) by Malala Yousafzai

10. Poison: Deadly Deeds, Perilous Professions, and Murderous Medicines by Sarah Albee

11. Accidental Archaeologists: True Stories of Unexpected Discoveries by Sarah Albee
    

12. Kid Athletes: True Tales of Childhood from Sports Legends by David Stabler
    

13. The Epic Athletes series by Den Wetzel

14. The Boys in the Boat (Young Readers Adaptation) by Daniel James Brown
    

15. Bee Fearless: Dream Like a Kid by Mikaila Ulmer
    

16. I Am Not a Label: 34 Disabled Artists, Thinkers, Athletes and Activists from Past and Present by Cerrie Burnell
    

17. When Stars are Scattered by Omar Mohamed and Victoria Jamieson

18. The Hazardous Tales series by Nathan Hale

19. Hidden Figures (Young Readers' Edition) by Margot Lee Shetterly
    

20. Maker Comics: Draw a Comic! by Jp Coovert
    

• Don't forget to visit the UM Public Library or Union Library of Hatboro this summer! Check out their awesome programming and summer events.
• Did you know you can use your UM Public Library card, not only to borrow physical books, but also to download audio and eBooks? If you don't have a card, click here to learn how to easily sign up!