Cyrus Peirce Middle School 2007 Summer Reading Packet and ...

Winner of the 2004 Newbery Medal, this superbly suspenseful tale of a little mouse withbig aspirations comes from Kate DiCamillo, author of another Newbery Honor book,Because of Winn-Dixie. In lilting storytelling language reminiscent of fairy tales of old,DiCamillo spins the yarn of Despereaux Tilling, a literate mouse who lives by a differentcode and happens to fall in love with a real princess. Despereaux is anxious to profess hislove, but when he tells his community of his dreams, he gets banished into the darkdungeon where mice never leave. Adjacent to Despereaux's dilemma is the story of a ratnamed Chiaroscuro, ruthless in personality and in love with making his way toward light.When these two characters eventually collide -- along with Miggery Sow, a down-and-outservant who aims to become a princess of her own -- the result is a heroic, surprisingheartwarmer that brings families together, gives hope to underdogs everywhere, andteems with justice.Science FictionGathering Blue by: Lois LowryKira, an orphan with a twisted leg, lives in a world where the weak are cast aside. Shefears for her future until she is spared by the all-powerful Council of Guardians. Kira is agifted weaver and is given a task that no other community member can do. While hertalent keeps her alive and brings certain privileges, Kira soon realizes she is surroundedby many mysteries and secrets. No one must know of her plans to uncover the truthabout her world and see what places exist beyond.Gossamer by: Lois LowryReaders first meet the dream-givers as they creep around a dark house in the middle ofthe night where an old woman and a dog named Toby are sleeping. Littlest was verysmall, new to the work, energetic and curious. Fastidious was tired, impatient, and had aheadache. Littlest is soon paired with a new partner, Thin Elderly, who is a much betterguide and teacher than Fastidious was. They are benevolent beings who visit humans(and pets, too) at night. They handle objects, gather memories, and give them back in theform of happy dreams that comfort and help those they're assigned to. The dream-givers'counterparts are the strong and wicked Sinisteeds, who inflict nightmares and sometimestravel in frightening Hordes. And the humans that Littlest and Thin Elderly care for doneed help and protection from bad dreams. The old woman is lonely and has taken in afoster child named John, who's living apart from an abusive father and the fragile motherwho desperately wants him back. Lowry's prose is simple and clear. This carefully plottedfantasy has inner logic and conviction.Jurassic Park by: Michael CrichtonAn astonishing technique for recovering and cloning dinosaur DNA has been discovered.Creatures once extinct now roam Jurassic Park, soon-to-be opened as a theme park. Untilsomething goes wrong...and science proves a dangerous toy....Messenger by: Lois LowryMatty, who has lived in Village with the blind Seer since running away from an abusivechildhood, is looking forward to receiving his true name, which he hopes will beMessenger. But he is deeply unsettled by what is going on. He has discovered his ownpower to heal others and learned of disturbing changes within his community. Under thegentle guidance of Leader, who arrived in Village on a red sled as a young boy and whohas the power of Seeing Beyond, the citizens have always welcomed newcomers,especially those who are disabled. But a sinister force is at work, which has promptedthem to close admission to outsiders. Also, it seems that Matty's beloved Mentor has beentrading away parts of his inner self in order to become more attractive to Stocktender's