Newton County School System
Summer
Summer 2015
8th Grade List
This Summer
Students must read one (1)
book from the list for the
grade level in which they will
be enrolled at the beginning
of the school year.
Students should also respond
to the literature by
completing two of the
activities from the appropriate
choice board.
The summer reading
assignments will be taken for
a grade in the student’s
English Language Arts (ELA)
class within the first three
weeks of school.
As a means of recognizing
the student’s efforts, each
assignment will be graded
and counted as a
performance task grade for
the first marking period of
the 2015-2016 school year.
Quest students must
complete the Quest
assignment.
• A Dream of Freedom: The Civil
Rights Movement from 1954- 1968
(non-fiction) by McWhorter
• A Gathering of Days by Blos
• A Little Princess (unabridged) by
•
•
•
•
•
Out of the Dust by Hesse
Pride and Prejudice by Austen
Savannah by Price
Soldier’s Heart by Paulsen
The Alchemist by Coelho
Barnett
A Wrinkle in Time by L’Engle
Alas Babylon by Frank
An American Plague by Murphy
Animal Farm by Orwell
Anne of Green Gables (unabridged)
•
•
•
•
The Call of the Wild by London
The Great Fire by Murphy
The Hero and the Crown by McKinley
The Hunger Games series by
Collins
•
•
•
•
•
by Montgomery
• Around the World in Eighty Days by
Verne
• Dogsong by Paulsen
• Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by
Stevenson (classic)
• Eleanor Roosevelt by Freedman
• Eragon by Paolini
• Fever 1793 by Anderson
• Hannibal by Abbott (classic)
• Hound of the Baskervilles
(unabridged) by Conan
• Howls Moving Castle by Jones
(graphic)
• I, Juan de Pareja byTrevino
• I, Robot by Asimov
• Lincoln: A Photobiography by
Freedman
• Nothing but the Truth by Avi
• The Invention of Hugo Cabret by
Selnick (graphic)
• The Lottery Rose by Hunt
• The Midwife’s Apprentice by
Cushman
• The Once and Future King by White
•
•
•
•
•
The Outsiders, Hinton
The Red Pony by Steinbeck
The Road to Memphis by Taylor
The Secret Garden by Burnett
The Swiss Family Robinson
•
•
•
•
•
•
(unabridged) by Wyss
The Thief by Turner
The Wolves of Willoughby by Aiken
Watership Down by Adams
Which Way Freedom by Hansen
White Fang by London
Witness by Hesse
Additional Selections:
Any award winning book or book from the list above that is within the student’s Lexile range.
Helpful Links: Lexile levels: www.Lexile.com/fab/GA ebooks:http: www.gutenberg.org/wiki/Main_Page
http://thefutureinreading.myon.com/GetGAREADING
Login information: School Name: Get Georgia Reading, Georgia Campaign for Grade-Level Reading
Username and password: read
Summer Reading Response Choice Board
Directions: Choose two activities to complete as you read your book this summer.
Illustration
Compare/Contrast Writing Style
Dialogue
Draw o r paint your f a v o r i t e scene from
Compare and c o n t r a s t the writing style of the
Imagine that t h e main character from the
the book you read. You may do this on
book you read to that of a book you read last
book you read accidentally meets a character
traditional canvas or poster board; or
school year. Think about the use of
from a book yo u read in class last year. Write a
you may be ultra-creative and c h o o s e
description, dialogue, word choice, and
2-page dialogue introducing these characters
your o w n medium.
character development.
to each other.
Epilogue
Word Web
Movie Poster
Create a “word web” ( see instructions below)
Create a movie poster from t h e book you
read. This ending must be at least 2
with 10 vocabulary words you learned while
read. Think about which current actors/
pages. Please edit for spelling,
reading your boo k .
actors would play each part and design a
Create an alternate ending to the book you
punctuation, and usage.
poster accordingly.
Visual Presentation
Diorama/Table
Letter
Create a visual presentation comparing
Create a diorama or table model of the
Write a letter to the author of the book. Explain
and c o n t r a s t i n g the main character
setting of the book you read.
your o p i n i o n of the book. What did you like or
dislike? (one page in length)
(protagonists and a n t a go n i s t s ) from t h e
book yo u read and t h e main character of
a book you read last school year.
Word Web Graphic Organizer
Synonym
Antonym
Sentence
Illustration
Summer Reading 2015
QUEST Summer Reading Response Choice Board
Directions: Choose two activities to complete as you read your book this summer.
Essay
Compare/Contrast Writing Style
Dialogue
Compose an essay in which you
Compare and c o n t r a s t the writing style of the
Imagine that t h e main character from the
summarize the novel in paragraph one;
book you read to that of a book you read last
book you read accidentally meets a
analyze the characterization, author's
school year. Think about the use of
character from a book yo u read in class last
use of stylistic devices, figurative
description, dialogue, word choice, and
year. Write a 2-page dialogue introducing
language, and symbolism in paragraphs
character development. Provide examples of
these characters to each other. Draw,
two through five, and develop a
shared styles as well as how the styles differ.
paint, or take p h o t o s to create a scene
concluding paragraph that states if you
You may include why you feel the author used a
representing this encounter. You may do
would recommend this book to other
specific style when writing the novel.
this on traditional canvas or poster board;
teens and if you believe this book
or you may be ultra- creative and choose
should win a book award.
your own medium such a comic strip
creator, glogsteredu, prezi, etc.
Habitat
Fakebook
Movie Poster
Create/build a habitat based on two
Create a “Fakebook” page ( http://
Create a movie poster depicting the book
scenes from y ou r n o v e l.This may be done
www.classtools.net/fb/home/page) or a
you read. Think about which current
as two separate habitats, or you may
"Facebook" page (on poster board-- not really
actors/actresses would play each part a n d
create one h a b i t a t merging the two
on the world wide w e b) for the main
design a poster accordingly. Include a
scenes from t h e different novels.
characters in the book. On your page, make
digital or written trailer that introduces
sure to have sections that allow for a picture
the book’s ideas and themes as you view
of the character, the character's status for the
them personally. Be sure t o include quotes
day (ex. Willy Wonka is
), his/her
representing the theme or ideas.
relationship status, political and/or religious
views, Contact information (e- mail, current
town), Personal Info (activities, interests,
favorite music, favorite movie, favorite book,
favorite
(you choose another favorite for your
character). This page should include 10
vocabulary words you learned while
reading these books.
Comic Strip
Game
Letter
Create a comic strip that r e p r es e n t s
Create a game based on your n o v e l ’ s
Write a letter to the author of your boo k
comparisons and d i ff e r e n c e s between
themes and character interaction. Be sure
stating your r e c o m m e n d a t i o n for the book
the main characters (protagonists and
to included rules and d i r e c t i o n s .
to receive an award. Explain your opinion
sure to include information that will
You may also choose to build a sociogram
along with suggestions for improving the
show the way the main characters
instead of creating a game.
book to make the bestseller’s list? (one
of the book. What did you like or dislike
antagonists) from t h e book you read. Be
change, including what the change is and
page in length)
what brought about the change. Include
quotes from the story that will
QUEST Summer Reading 2015