Hill Country Middle School
Incoming 8th Graders
SUMMER READING PROGRAM 2015
ASSIGNMENT DUE: WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 26, 2015
Students need to complete the following for class:
BOOK REQUIREMENTS:
 Take a picture of yourself holding
the book with the cover or title page
readable in the photograph. Your face
must be visible.
 Students will select one sentence or
passage to fit each of the following
categories:
o Unique, creative, or distinctive
diction (word choice)
o Writing risks
o Creative use of punctuation
1 book (of your choice)
190 pages or more
No graphic novels
Young Adult Fiction
Can NOT have been made into a movie
Can NOT have been a television show or series
May NOT be something you’ve previously read.
 Students will need to take a picture or screenshot of each sentence and/or
passage and paste it onto its own page. The example will need to be highlighted
or underlined.
o These may be a clear photograph or a screen-shot from an electronic
device. These must be printed.
o These examples must not give away the ending or major plot twists. Do
not pull any information from the last chapter of your book.
 Below each example, you must include a TWO sentence explanation of how the
example text shows one of the three writing styles.
 The examples must come from varied places in the book.
 You must include the paragraph number and page number for each example.
CHECKLIST FOR MY SUMMER READING ASSIGNMENT
Picture:
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I have a picture of myself with my book.
My whole face is clearly visible in the picture.
My book cover is clearly visible in the picture.
My picture is printed (black and white OR color).
My printed picture is either 5x7 or 8x10 in size (printed on 8.5x11
paper).
Pages and Paragraphs:
 I have a picture of EACH of the three writing examples.
 I have the page numbers where I found my examples.
 I have the paragraph number for my examples.
Examples:
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I have one example that shows unique, creative, or distinctive diction.
I have one example that shows the author taking a creative writing risk.
I have one example that shows creative use of punctuation.
I have one example (screen shot or picture) per page and have included a
TWO sentence explanation of how that example shows the particular
writing style of the author.
 My examples are highlighted or underlined in the picture or screenshot,
and are clear and easy to read when printed.
 I have 4 separate documents to turn in (my picture and 3 examples).
Materials to bring to class on Wednesday, August 26:
 Printed picture of my face and my book (on its own piece of paper).
 3 printed and highlighted examples of text with pages, paragraph
numbers, and two-sentence explanations.
These are examples for this assignment of what you should have
when you return to school.
(first page)
(Second page) Interesting Diction:
Page 178, paragraph 3
This text shows an example of interesting diction
because…
(Fourth page)
(Third page)
Writing Risks:
Page 54, paragraph 3
This text shows an example of the author taking
a risk in his/her writing style by…
Creative Use of Punctuation:
Page 71, paragraph 5
This text shows the author creatively using
punctuation….
SUGGESTED NOVEL LIST
All books listed meet the requirement for the summer reading assignment. Parents and
students should evaluate the self-selected book on their own. This is JUST
POSSIBILITIES of choices. You may choose another text that fits the requirements.
Genre
Title
Author
action adventure
Cherub: The Recruit
Robert Muchamore
fantasy
Young Elites
Marie Lu
fantasy
Circus Mirandus
Cassie Beasley
fantasy
Graceling
Kristen Cashore
fantasy/ Lone Star
The Kiss of Deception
fantasy/futuristic/adventure/ Lone
Star
The Boundless
Mary A Pearson
fantasy/supernatural/Lone Star
Unbreakable
Kami Garcia
futuristic/science fiction
The Leveller
Julia Durango
futuristic/science fiction
The Glass Arrow
Kristen Simmons
Kenneth Oppel
futuristic/science fiction/ Lone Star In the After
Demitria Lunetta
futuristic/science fiction/ Lone Star Proxy
Alex London
historical fiction
Revolution
Deborah Wiles
historical fiction
Echo
historical fiction/memoir/verse
Brown Girl Dreaming
Pam Munoz Ryan
Jacqueline
Woodson
memoir
Laughing at My Nightmare
memoir/Lone Star
Popular
mystery
Moving Target
Shane Burcaw
Maya Van
Wagenen
Christina Diaz
Gonzalez
mystery/ Lone Star
Buzz Kill
Beth Fantaskey
mystery/ Lone Star
Forget Me
K.A. Harrington
mystery/ Lone Star
The Great Greene Heist
Varian Johnson
realistic
Rain Reign
Ann M. Martin
realistic
No Parking at the End of Times
Bryan Bliss
realistic
Simon vs the Homo Sapians Agenda Becky Albertalli
realistic
Hit Count
realistic
Read Between the Lines
Jo Knowles
The Disreputable History of Frankie
Landau-Banks
E. Lockhart
realistic
Chris Lynch
realistic
Whale Talk
Chris Crutcher
realistic
Staying Fat for Sarah Byrnes
Chris Crutcher
realistic
The Boy in the Black Suit
Jason Reynolds
realistic
The Honest Truth
Dan Gemeinhart
realistic
All We Have is Now
realistic
Every Last Word
Lisa Schroeder
Tamara Ireland
Stone
realistic/ Lone Star
A Blind Spot for Boys
Justina Chen
realistic/mystery
We Were Liars
E Lockhart
science fiction
The Cage
Megan Shepherd
supernatural
Prudence
Gail Carriger
WHAT TO DO IF I HAVE QUESTIONS?
Please email one of the teachers on this list. Because it is summer, please
allow one week for a response before emailing another teacher.
Mrs. Buttler – [email protected]
Mrs. Martin – [email protected]
Mrs. Mosher – [email protected]
Ms. Boyd – [email protected]
Mrs. Funderburgh – [email protected]
Mrs. McClennahan – [email protected]