8th Grade Summer Reading Assignment Writing about Reading

This summer you are required to read a minimum of THREE BOOKS. You may read the short story by Daniel Keyes’ Flowers for Algernon, but this is not a required choice. It will explore themes and ideas that we will discuss the first week of school, but the reading is optional. Please choose at least 2 books to read from the attached list. Your third book is a free choice. You may not choose books you have already read. When you are finished reading, complete the following writing assignment for either Flowers for Algernon or a choice book. An additional assignment based on your other books will be given during the first week of school.

Link to Short Story

THE SUMMER READING ASSIGNMENT IS DUE ON THE SECOND DAY OF SCHOOL.

Assignment: This assignment should be no more than one typed page. Write a one paragraph response to the book with specific examples. You might consider:

● This book made me think/feel/realize/wonder/consider…. ● One part I particularly enjoyed is when______because______● I love how the author______● What I’ll remember about this book is______● I think the author wrote this book to______● The author’s theme (not the subject) is ______because______● If I could talk to the author about this book, I would say/ask______

Your page should include a heading (BMS writing standards), must be double spaced in 12 point font, should be well organized and your ideas should be detailed and fully developed. Edit for spelling and grammar. Make sure you use specific examples and at least one quote from your book to support what you are saying. Your answer must include at least one quote from the book, cited properly (MLA). Your response should be typed and should follow the BMS writing standards.

FOR SEPTEMBER:

You must purchase a copy of our first novel to be ready for the first week of school: Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie. ISBN: 978-0316013697 The other books you choose are up to you. Here are some ideas for selecting great books: Recommendations are a great place to start. Ask your parents, relatives, trusted friends and teachers for suggestions of their favorite reads. Read another book by your favorite author. Check out the ALA website where you can see librarians’ picks for the best books this year (and past years). See what’s popular on Amazon.com and ’ best seller lists. Visit the school and local library or support local bookstores. Don’t forget that our school’s e-book catalog has an amazing assortment of books to choose. Explore nonfiction books- it’s amazing what you can learn. Read voraciously!

Required:

Book 1: Title Book 1: Author

Book 2: Title Book 2: Author

Book 3: Title Book 3: Author

Bonus Books! The Sky’s the limit!

Title Author

Make sure you and a parent sign the bottom:

Your signature:______Parent signature:______

Incoming 8th Grade Summer Reading Assignment

Choose at least one of the Titles Below: Fiction Nonfiction

Ready Player One - Ernest Cline Hidden Figures Young Readers’ Edition - Margot - E. Lockhart Lee Shetterly Turtles All The Way Down - John Green (or any Into Thin Air - John Krakauer other John Green novel) The 57 Bus - Dashka Slater The Sun is Also a Star - Nicola Yoon We Are Displaced - Malala Yousafzai Two Can Keep a Secret- Karen M. McManus The Lady is a Spy - Don Mitchell Warcross/Wildcard - Marie Lu Robert E. Lee: The Man, The Soldier, The Myth - The Book of Dust - Philip Pullman Brandon Marie Miller His Dark Materials Trilogy - Philip Pullman The Faithful Spy: Dietrich Bonhoeffer and the Fahrenheit 451 - Ray Bradbury Plot to Kill Hitler - John Hendrix Slater The Summer I Turned Pretty - Jenny Han Free Lunch by Rex Ogle Dumplin’/Puddin’ - By Julie Murphy A Thousand Sisters: The Heroic Airwomen of the Fangirl/Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell Soviet Union in World War II by Elizabeth Weir Pride by Ibi Zoboi All Thirteen: The Incredible Cave Rescue of the On the Come Up by Angie Thomas Thai Boys’ Soccer Team by Christina Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy - Douglas Soontornvat Adams (or any in this series) The Rise and Fall of Charles Linbergh by Far From the Tree by Robin Benway Candace Flemming Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adayemi How We Got To the Moon: The People, Color Me In by Natasha Diaz Technology, and Daring Feats of Science Behind The Field Guide to the North American Teenager Humanity's Greatest Adventure by John Rocco by Ben Phillipe Genesis Begins Again by Alicia D Williams Graphic Novels I Love You So Mochi by Sarah Kuhn Lovely War by Julie Berry The Iliad by Gareth Hinds (Graphic Novel edition) Patron Saints of Nothing by Randy Ribay The Odyssey by Gareth Hinds (Graphic Novel Pet by Akwaeke Emeze edition) Look Both Ways by Jason Reynolds The Faithful Spy: Dietrich Bonhoeffer and the Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard (or any in this Plot to Kill Hitler - John Hendrix Slater series) Pumpkinheads by Rainbow Rowell and Faith Erin All American Muslim Girl by Nadine Jolie Hicks Courtney They Called Us Enemy by George Takei and We Are Not Free by Tracy Chee Justin Eisinger Deeplight by Francis Hardinge Hey Kiddo by Jarrett J Krosoczka Don’t Read the Comments by Eric Smith Boxers and Saints by Almost American Girl by Robin Ha Dragon Hoops by Gene Luen Yang Banned Book Club by Kim Hyun Sook, Ryan Estrada and Hyun-Jo Ko Parents and Guardians: If you are unfamiliar with any of the titles on this list please be sure to use a reference like commonsensemedia.org, School Library Journal or Goodreads/Amazon book reviews to ensure you are comfortable with the content of your child’s choice.

FOR SEPTEMBER: You must purchase a copy of our first novel to be ready for the first week of school: Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie. ISBN: 978-0316013697