Leander ISD
8th Grade Pre-AP Language Arts Novel List and Summer Assignment 2015
Welcome readers and writers to 8th grade Pre-AP Language Arts! We look forward to working
with you during the next school year. As part of this course, students will read a novel over the
summer and complete a dialectical journal.
The Pre-AP, AP, or IB English summer reading assignment is an established convention at most schools offering these courses,
and the rationale for it seems simple enough: Reading over the summer helps keep the students’ minds “in the game,” and it
adds to the number of major literary works the students will have read by the time they take their AP exams. Also, students in
a given class arrive to school in August having had a common literary experience, providing them and their teacher
immediate instructional opportunities.
STEPS TO SUCCESS:
STEP 1
Please select one of the following novels to read over the summer. This list reflects a variety of
genres and selections from both contemporary and classic novels. Additionally, these books were
chosen for their literary merit and to help students become widely read in preparation for the
Advanced Placement Exams they will take later in high school.
***IMPORTANT NOTE***
Some of the titles below deal with mature and/or controversial subject matter. Parents and students
will want to preview their potential book choice prior to reading and discuss if the book is the “right
fit” for the student. One quick way to preview the subject matter is to read reviews from online sites
like Barnes & Noble, Amazon, or Goodreads.com.

Alas, Babylon by Pat Frank (870 Lexile, Science Fiction) When a nuclear holocaust ravages the United
States, a thousand years of civilization are stripped away overnight, and tens of millions of people are killed
instantly. But for one small town in Florida, miraculously spared, the struggle is just beginning, as men and
women of all backgrounds join together to confront the darkness.

Call of the Wild by Jack London (1170 Lexile, Adventure Fiction) Buck, a dog, is stolen from his home and
thrust into the merciless life of the Arctic north where he must endure hardship, bitter cold, and the savage
lawlessness of man and beast. ***Be sure you do not read the abridged or children’s versions of this
novel, as they are very, very different.

Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card (780 Lexile, Science Fiction) In order to develop a secure defense against
a hostile alien race's next attack, government agencies breed child geniuses and train them as soldiers. A
brilliant young boy, Andrew "Ender" Wiggin lives with his kind but distant parents and his equally unusual
brother and sister. Within the three Wiggin children lie the abilities to remake a world. If the world
survives, that is.

The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien (1000 Lexile, Fantasy) Bilbo Baggins, a respectable, well-to-do hobbit, lives
comfortably in his hobbit-hole until the day the wandering wizard Gandalf chooses him to take part in an
adventure from which he may never return.

The Lottery Rose by Irene Hunt (1070 Lexile, Realistic Fiction) Abused by his mother and her boyfriend,
Georgie Burgess learns to live with hurt. When Georgie wins a small rosebush in a grocery store lottery he
gives it all the love and caring he’s never had. Georgie’s life begins to open up for him when the courts send
him to a home for boys where he will be safe. Slowly, and not without pain, Georgie learns to give—and to
receive—love…

The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd (840 Lexile, Historical Fiction) Fourteen-year-old Lily and her
companion, Rosaleen, an African-American woman who has cared for Lily since her mother's death ten
years earlier, flee their home after Rosaleen is victimized by racist police officers. They find a safe haven in
Tiburon, South Carolina at the home of three beekeeping sisters, May, June, and August.
*book summaries adapted from Amazon.com
Leander ISD
8th Grade Pre-AP Language Arts Novel List and Summer Assignment 2015
Where might I find these books?
If possible, students should purchase their own copies of the novel. It is an advantage to be able to
take notes in the margins and underline or highlight notable passages. You may buy these books
cheaply online and find copies at our local bookstores.
You may also check out your chosen works from the public library or check out digital copies of
your books from the new LISD OverDrive Digital Library (see information below). However, you
would not be able to take notes in the text itself.
If these options are not viable, we do have a limited number of some titles available at school, but
these may not be annotated or marked in any way. These books will be distributed on a first-come,
first-served basis. Those interested may contact one of the teachers listed below before leaving
school for the summer.
Introducing OverDrive Digital Library
In September, Leander ISD Libraries expanded their services to include audiobooks and eBooks, which are available for
students and teachers to download and enjoy for up to two weeks. Using this new service, LISD library card holders can
check out and download digital media anytime, anywhere by visiting http://digitallibrary.leanderisd.org.
Users may browse the library’s website, check out with a valid library card, and download to PC, Mac®, and many mobile
devices. To use the service, students will need to install free software — OverDrive® Media Console™ will be required for
audiobooks and Adobe® Digital Editions will be required for eBooks. Titles can be enjoyed immediately or transferred to
a variety of devices, including iPod®, Sony® Reader™, and many others. Some audio titles can also be burned to CD to
listen on-the-go. Titles will automatically expire at the end of the two-week lending period and there are no late fees or
loss of materials.
This new service, powered by OverDrive, is free for students and teachers. Patrons can login by using their district
username and password credentials.
To get started downloading audiobooks, eBooks, and more, visit http://digitallibrary.leanderisd.org. For additional
OverDrive tips and FAQ’s, visit http://ldl.leanderisd.libguides.com/OverdriveHelpTips.
STEP 2
While reading the selected novel during the summer, students are expected to keep a dialectical
journal to assist in their comprehension and to collect reflections on characters, plot, setting,
conflicts, themes, and key vocabulary. Please see the attached dialectical journal example and
suggested activities.
STEP 3
Don’t wait until the week before school begins to try and read your selected novel and complete the
dialectical journal. Unexpected events may pop up that could get in the way of you completing your
reading on time. Make a plan for the number of pages or chapters you are going to read per week
and stick to it. The same goes for your dialectical journal. Work on it while you are reading. Do not
wait until you are finished with the novel.
Leander ISD
8th Grade Pre-AP Language Arts Novel List and Summer Assignment 2015
STEP 4
Because we will be using this novel as the basis for much of the work completed during the first six
weeks of school, students are expected to bring a copy of their chosen novel (annotated if possible)
and their completed dialectical journal on the first day of class.
STEP 5
Students can expect an assignment or multiple assignments over their summer reading during the
first week(s) of class. Therefore, students must come to the first day of class having read their
selected novel, completed their dialectical journal, and prepared to discuss their novel.
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact one of the teachers below. Have a good
summer!
Cedar Park MS:
Canyon Ridge MS:
Four Points MS:
Florence Stiles MS:
Henry MS:
Leander MS:
Running Brushy MS:
Wiley MS:
LISD Contact:
Nancy Espinosa – [email protected]
Michele Sutton – [email protected]
Francie Washington – [email protected]
Tiffany Blackmon – [email protected]
Jaime Bell-Garrison – [email protected]
Lucinda Lassiter – [email protected]
Cindy Modrall – [email protected]
Charleen Starr – [email protected]
Jennifer Abramson- [email protected]
Are you stuck? Don’t know what to do?
Visit the Summer Reading online forum for help, to ask questions, etc.… Teachers will be logging in
regularly to help answer your questions. Visit the online forum at http://goo.gl/i3pji.
Leander ISD
8th Grade Pre-AP Language Arts Novel List and Summer Assignment 2015
Dialectical Journal
Creating and maintaining a dialectical journal will help you tremendously as you read your selected
novel over the summer. You will be able to use your dialectical journal to help complete
assignments your 8th grade Pre-AP teacher will be giving during the first week(s) of class.
Therefore, you are more likely to be successful if you take the time to create a thorough, highquality dialectical journal.
What is a dialectical journal?
“A dialectical journal is a conversation between you and what you are reading. You simply write
down passages that make you think or interest you and write about your thoughts. This process is
an important way to understand a piece of literature. By writing about literature, you make your
own meaning of the work in order to truly understand it. When you do this yourself, then the text
belongs to you--you have made it yours. The passages are there for everyone to read; however, the
connections and interpretations are uniquely yours. You are neither right or [sic] wrong in your
response. So be willing to take risks and be honest.” – definition from the Lawrence Livermore
National Laboratory
STEPS TO JOURNAL SUCCESS
STEP 1
In your journal, create a table like the one below. The bottom section about theme won’t come until
the very end of your journal.
Page
#
Please include a variety of the
following: chapter summaries,
notes, quotations, and definitions.
My thoughts, questions, reactions,
etc. about the novel…
After completing the novel, the theme that fits my book BEST is...
Why did you choose that particular theme?
How does this connect directly to
plot, a character, or a theme of your
novel?
Leander ISD
8th Grade Pre-AP Language Arts Novel List and Summer Assignment 2015
STEP 2
As you work with your text, consider all of the ways that you can connect with what you are
reading. Here are some suggestions that will help you understand the book on a deeper level. You
should consider completing several of the following suggestions in your dialectical journal. You
will be able to use your journal for class assignments. Students will likely be much more
successful if they have prepared a vast array of notes in their dialectical journals.


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









words and phrases that stand out to you
words and phrases that confused you or that you did not know the meaning of
important scenes or key sections of dialogue
character descriptions, motivations, and flaws
key decisions characters make
sections that are confusing for you
questions that pop into your head as you are reading
inferences you make while reading
connections you make to other texts, films, t.v. shows
connections you make to your personal life
symbols, themes, topics
literary devices (flashbacks, foreshadowing, sub-plots) used
figurative language (allusions, alliteration, metaphors, similes, etc.) used effectively
How long does it have to be?
Many students ask, “How long does my dialectical journal have to be? How many entries
should I have?” There is no right answer to that question. This journal is your notes on an
entire novel. Remember that you will be using this journal in class while working on the
assignment(s) your teacher assigns. So if you have high-quality, thorough notes, you will be
very prepared.
STEP 3
Occasionally go back and reread your dialectical journal entries to refresh your memory of what
you have read. Students should feel free to add any additional notes or questions that pop into
their heads. Look at the example below for an idea of what a dialectical journal might look like.
Your journal, however, will be much longer and more thorough.
STEP 4
When you finish reading, choose the ONE following thematic statement that BEST fits your selected
novel? What specific examples from the book (scenes, conversations, characters, conflicts)
illustrate these themes? Write down your thoughts in your dialectical journal.


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Only when we are tested does our real upbringing show.
Other people help us see what we are and what we can become.
Everyone perceives people differently.
Crisis destroys some people and makes others stronger.
There’s no telling where a road will take you.
Leander ISD
8th Grade Pre-AP Language Arts Novel List and Summer Assignment 2015
Here is a sample dialectical journal.
Page
#
Please include a variety of the
following: chapter summaries,
notes, quotations, and definitions.
My thoughts, questions,
reactions, etc. about the novel…
How does this connect directly to
plot, a character, or a theme of your
novel?
4
The main character, Joe,
just screamed at his
friend, Sue.
What does this mean?
Are Joe and Sue at the
end of their friendship?
This friendship breaking
up is one of the main
conflicts of the story. Joe’s
over-the-top reaction is an
example of how stressful his
life is at the moment.
5
Sue replied, “Joe, I am in
this until the end. I will
always be your friend.”
Sue reminds me of my
own friend Amy; Amy
recently told me that she
would always be my
friend. I think Sue is
committed to Joe, but Joe
I think, is afraid.
This shows what a caring
and resilient friend Sue is.
7
“The two friends walked
down the lane and into
the sunset.”
I think this means that
they overcame their
differences. Then again,
when I read “sunset,” I
sometimes think it is a
negative thing, like an
ending.
It relates to the theme
because it shows that Joe
was able to come through
his crisis a stronger person.
If he had tried to deal
with everything alone, he
would not have been able
to. He needed his friend’s
help and support.
“melancholy”
Adj. – sad, gloomy,
At times, Joe is extremely
depressed because of all
that is wrong in his life at
the moment. He is
described as being
melancholy.
13
depressed
After completing the novel, the theme that fits my book BEST is...
Crisis destroys some people and makes others stronger.
Why did you choose that particular theme?
Despite their differences and their falling out, Joe and Sue’s friendship is strong enough
to withstand any obstacles.
Leander ISD
8th Grade Pre-AP Language Arts Novel List and Summer Assignment 2015
STEP 5
Can you identify the major elements of the plot of your selected novel? Look at the pyramid below
for a reminder of the different parts of the plot.
STEP 6
In your journal, draw a plot pyramid for your novel. Label it with specific examples/scenes from
your novel just like the Little Red Riding Hood example below.
Remember to bring your novel and your dialectical journal to the first day of school.