RISING 8th GRADE SUMMER READING RESPONSE SHEET 2015
Use your own paper as needed to fully complete responses.
THE BASICS…
Sentence Starters:
Fiction Book Title:
_________________________________
Author____________________________
Using the sentence structure indicated, complete the following
sentence starters by writing a brief reflection about what you
learned from reading your books. Please use both books for
sentences-- fiction (2) and non-fiction (2).
Non-Fiction Book Title:
_________________________________
Author:___________________________
(Simple sentence) I learned…
On a scale of 1– 10, I’d give this book set/pair a
rating of _____. Using complete sentences,
(Compound Sentence) I wonder…
explain your rating.
Intended Audience:
For what type of person
or group of people was each book intended? (In
other words, when the author decided to write
this book, who did he think would be interested in
actually buying it and reading it?)
Your answer should follow the "ACE" formula Answer the question, Cite text evidence, and
Explain how your text evidence supports your
answer.
You are not limited to, but make sure to include,
the following information in your two responses:
(Remember to complete a response for your
fiction book AND your non-fiction book, minimum
5 sentences each paragraph)




_____
(Complex Sentence) [aaawwubbis] I think…
(Compound Complex) I’m surprised that…
_____
SYMBOLS…
Draw a collage of 3 objects or symbols that best represent
your book set/pair. Label each object/symbol.
genre
age recommendation
subject matter appropriateness
level of difficulty (easy/challenging)
Lessons Learned…[FOCUS Question response]
Fiction Quote:
Quote from book: “____________________________
_______________________________________________
_______________________________________________.”
Significance: This quote was important because….
_________________________________________________
_________________________________________________
Nonfiction Quote:
Quote from book: “____________________________
_______________________________________________
_______________________________________________.”
Significance: This quote was important because….
_________________________________________________
_________________________________________________
Answer your book pair “FOCUS QUESTION” (on the back of
this page) in complete sentences with correct grammar,
usage, and mechanics. Your response must be a minimum of
10-12 sentences and contain a minimum of 1 quote from
each of your two books. You may use an additional sheet of
paper to answer your focus question if needed.
Focus Questions on the back
Written Assignment due to your 8th
Grade Language Arts Teacher by Friday,
August 21, 2015, for a grade.
Lessons Learned: (continued from page 1)
Use the Focus Question for your book pair to answer the “Lessons Learned” response.
FICTION / NONFICTION PAIRING
SOS Titanic by Eve Bunting
Titanic: Voices from the Disaster
by Deborah Hopkinson
Countdown by Deborah Wiles
Freedom Walkers: The Story of the Montgomery
Bus Boycott by Russell Freedman
Code Orange by Caroline B. Cooney
The Secret of the Yellow Death: A True Story of
Medical Sleuthing by Suzanne Jurmain
An Acquaintance with Darkness by Ann Rinaldi
Chasing Lincoln’s Killer by James Swanson
Chains by Laurie Halse Anderson
Written in Bone: Buried Lives of Jamestown and
Colonial Maryland by Sally M. Walker
Unstoppable by Tim Green
Soul Surfer: A True Story of Faith, Family, and
Fighting to Get Back on the Board
by Bethany Hamilton
Code Talker: A Novel About the Navajo Marines
of World War Two by Joseph Bruchac
Left for Dead: A Young Man’s Search for Justice
for the USS Indianapolis by Pete Nelson
Prisoner B-3087
by Alan Gratz, Jack Gruener, Ruth Gruener
The Nazi Hunters: How a Team of Spies and
Survivors Captured the World’s Most Notorious
Nazi by Neal Bascomb
FOCUS QUESTION
What factors contributed to the high number
of casualties on the Titanic?
How did the United States change politically
and socially during the 1950s and 1960s?
How did scientists try to solve epidemics in the
past, and how do epidemics continue to pose
a threat in the present and future?
What did the Civil War and Lincoln’s
assassination demonstrate about people’s
loyalty to friends, family and country?
What challenges did colonial settlers have to
overcome to survive in the New World?
How can people with disabilities overcome
physical and emotional challenges in life?
What do the experiences of our soldiers in
World War II teach us about heroism and
patriotism?
Should Nazi soldiers who worked in
concentration camps during World War II be
held responsible for their actions during the
Holocaust?
Summer Reading Assignment due to your 8th Grade Language Arts teacher
August 21, 2015, for a grade.
Descriptions of the books and a book talk video can be found on the Jones Media Center website
under the Students Tab > Media Center > Summer Reading