Summer Reading for 8th Grade
Due: August 30th
Did you know that students who read over the summer start the next year at least
two months ahead of the students who do not read? Summer is a wonderful time to read
the books you like best. At SST, we use creative summer reading assignments to make sure
our students are ready for the next grade.
Summer reading requires students to read ONE book from our list this summer and
complete the corresponding activity. These books and activities have been designed for
your student to be able to answer essential questions about identity. The theme of identity
will continue onto the first quarter of the school year, so consider this a head start!
Summer Reading is a major grade in middle school! All written responses must be,
neatly written or typed and edited for spelling and grammar. Double space, Times New
Roman, 12 pt font must be used for typed responses if students choose not to hand write it.
All activities require evidence: direct quotes, summaries, or paraphrases. Any artistic
assignments should use color. Let’s start 8th grade strong!
The following books can be bought from Amazon, Half Price Books, Barnes and
Noble, or any other local book store. I encourage you to use Goodreads.com and other sites
to make sure you are comfortable with your student reading the novel. All the books are
about teens and quite a few are based on real issues – which means that difficult subject
matter comes up. If you do not want your child to read one of these books, please email me
so I can make sure they are assigned something else.
Life As We Knew it by Susan Beth Pfeffer
The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
Bud, Not Buddy by Christopher Paul Curtis
Wonder R.J. Palacio
I Am the Cheese by Robert Cormier
Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls
Esperanza Rising by Pam Munoz Ryan
Hatchet by Gary Paulsen
Harriet the Spy by Louise Fitzhugh
Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret By Judy Blume
The False Prince by Jennifer A. Nielsen
Riders by Veronica Rossi
Skinny by Donna Cooner
Splintered by A.G. Howard
Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli
Please let me know if you have any questions about the books or activities! I will be
checking my e-mail over summer.
Mrs. Belline
[email protected]
Summer Reading Activities
Essential question #1: How do we shape and form our identities?
Books that cover the question: Wonder; Life As We Knew it; Stargirl; Hatchet; Are You
There God? It’s Me, Margaret; Harriet the Spy
Activity- Character Autopsy
Draw the main character of the novel. Find quotations/passages or use your own words to
illustrate the following “body parts” for a post-reading autopsy of one of the major
characters.
-
Eyes- See the world through your character’s eyes. What fears affect him or her?
Hands- What are the character’s actions? What does he or she do, and what are the
effects on others?
Heart- What is your character’s motivation? Love? Pride? Faith? Justice? Does the
character struggle with a moral dilemma?
Mouth- How did he or she change over the course of the novel?
Essential question #2: How do our personal experiences shape our view of others OR the
world around us?
Books that cover the question: Bud, Not Buddy; I Am the Cheese; Where the Red Fern
Grows; Skinny; The False Prince
Activity- Letter Writing
Write a series of self-reflective letters from the main character’s point of view on what the
character learned about himself/herself, others, and life. The character’s “self-discovery”
will be made through the reflective letters.
- At least 4 letters that are half a page long
- Evidence from the book is in the reflective letters
- A self discovery in the character’s point of view is made and understood by using the
essential question as a guide
Essential Question #3: How does culture and/or community define your character’s
identity?
Books that cover the question: Esperanza Rising; The Book Thief; Splintered; Riders
Activity- Self Portrait
Create a “portrait” of your character made up of objects, symbols and/or imagery that
represent key elements of his or her cultural identity. Students can create these selfportraits using whatever medium they choose, including graphic software on the computer,
magazine cut-outs, drawing, 3-D sculpture, modeling clay and so forth.
Students will write analysis that explains the objects he or she included in the character
portrait and how they relate to his or her personal identity.
- Portrait shows creativity and “outside the box” thinking
- Analysis is at least half page long, single spaced, typed or written.
- Analysis connects and answers the essential question and provides evidence from
the novel