Summer Reading allows students to enjoy literature while improving their reading skills. The 2026 ELWM Summer Reading Themes are Courage and Overcoming Obstacles. The SCASL SC Junior Book Award Nominees, district, and school selected texts are suggestions related to these themes. Students may also choose to read other novels, articles, and poems that explore the themes of Courage and Overcoming Obstacles.    

      * Visit our Media Center @ EL Wright Library Cyber Center for additional Summer Reading information.*

Below Are Suggested SCASL SC Junior Book Award Nominees Titles

You can find the titles below on SORA

Courage: Text Selections

 Courage: Article Links

Courage: Poem Links

 Novel Titles:

• Grenade by Alan Gratz
• California Blue by David Klauss
• Nothing But the Truth by Avi
• Summer of the German Soldier by Bette Greene
• Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli

• Esperanza Rising by Pam Munoz Pyan

• As Brave as You by Jason Reynolds
• The Only Road by Alexandra Diaz
• Refugee by Alan Gratz
• McCormick Yousafzai

• Freak the Mighty by Rodman Philbrick
• Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson

Speech and Play Titles:

• "What to the Slave is the 4th of July?"                                 

     by Frederick Douglass

• 2005 Stanford Commencement                     

   by Steve Jobs

• “I Will Fight No More Forever”

              by Joseph Bruchac

• A Raisin in the Sun                         

     by Lorraine Hansberry

Poem Titles:

• “Legacies” by Nikki Giovani

•  “First They Came ” 

    by Martin Niemoller

•  “Knock Knock”                 

     by Daniel Beaty

•  “Courage” by Anne Sexton

•  “If ” by Rudyard Kipling

• “The Rose that Grew from   

   Concrete” by Tupac

Choice Board

         Students, please complete as many activities on the Choice Board below that you choose. Read texts that have the Theme of Courage and/or Overcoming

        Obstacles and the activities that you complete should highlight the theme(s).              

       Completed activities can be submitted in the ELWM Summer Reading Google Classroom:(the class code is:z7pvryqn) or by submitting the                                                                      

        (Summer Reading Form) as you complete the activities. The activities can also be turned in at the beginning of the school year.

Movie Trailer Preview:

Create a movie trailer for your fiction or non-fiction text.

• It must be original
• Include appropriate and relevant music
• It should entice the audience to read the book themselves
• Create an alternate ending for the text
• At least 2 to 3 minutes in length

Comic Strip Review:

Create a comic strip by choosing at least one character to review; include the setting, and important events.

Comic Strip Review must include:

• Character(s)
• Setting
• Dialogue (each frame)
• At least 10 frames

Optional Community Service Project Reflection:

Random Acts of Kindness this Summer by doing something kind for a family member, friend, or neighbor;  

• Write a letter or send a postcard or text to someone to “Check- In” with them.

• Help someone in your community who needs assistance.

Then reflect, record, and share your Acts of  Kindness with the Wolf Pack!

AVID One Pager:

Include the text title, the author’s name, and at least one illustration.

• Include color
• Create visuals that connect to the theme
• Limit the white/blank space on the paper.
• Include three pieces of textual evidence.
• Include an explanation for how the three pieces of evidence relate to the theme or central idea.

Insta-Worthy Post:

Collect a series of images that are worthy of posting on Instagram.  

Include a quote from the text for each image and at least one hashtag to go along with the image.

Novels /memoirs (10 images) Poems/Songs/Articles/Speeches (1 image each - at least five different pieces of text).

 Please highlight the Theme of Courage or Overcoming Obstacles in your post.

Main Character Profile:

Create a social media profile for the main character (fiction) or person (non-fiction) in your reading.

Social Media Profile must include:

• Social media platforms (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc.)
• Character or person’s name
• Personal information known such as age, hobbies/interests, etc.
• 10 relevant posts they would have made regarding any events or issues.

Book Review:

• Introduce the book
• Tell us about it without giving away the ending.
• Tell us your favorite part or make a connection
• Give recommendations… I recommend this book to anyone who likes…..

Historical Context: Current Events:

Compare the events in the text to at least four current events in history using reputable sources and text-based details.

Timeline of Events:

Create a timeline of events from your reading. Your timeline must include:

• -8-10 major events from the reading.
• -Each event needs an illustration or photo AND explain why the events were important for the plot.