Summer Reading Project Guidelines—Grades 6-8
At YES Prep Southeast, we believe that reading over the summer is very important for keeping your brain
active! Your reading brain is a muscle that needs daily workouts to stay sharp.
Essay-on-a-Poster
Directions:
1) Choose a novel off your grade-level list. (The novel lists are the last few pages of this document.)
2) Buy the novel at a local bookstore or off amazon.com.
3) Read the novel, annotating as you go. (Annotating means you underline important quotes, circle
unfamiliar words, and write notes about what’s happening in the margins of your book).
4) Complete the graphic organizers attached—the MAP, vocabulary search, plot lines, character sketches,
and theme and author’s purpose questions. You can either . . .
a. Print the attached graphic organizers and fill them in. OR
b. Copy the graphic organizers onto separate sheets of paper
5) Paste the graphic organizers onto a posterboard. On the poster, please include
a. the title of the novel
b. the author’s name
c. your name
d. drawings/ decorations that relate to the book
6) Present your project to the class on the first day of school. This presentation will be the first
impression you make on your ELA teacher. It’s your chance to prove what you’re capable of!
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If you are a NEW 6th grader, you must do ONE poster project.
If you are a RISING 7th or 8th grader, you must complete TWO poster projects on TWO novels (you
may double-side one poster).
Rubric: How You’ll Be Graded!
Category
1. Map—Map is very detailed! Every location is labeled on the map, or there is
a key for labeling locations. You clearly did a careful job drawing this. The
map is colored, on white paper, not in pen or pencil on lined paper.
Excellent work!
2. Vocabulary—You choose interesting words from your novel! You copied the
sentences from the book exactly and you include the page number for those
quotes. The definitions you found are all correct. Your work is neat,
complete, and accurate.
3. Character—You clearly have a deep understanding of these characters. Your
work is very detailed. You write in complete sentences. Your quotes reveal
something important about the characters. Your quotes are copied exactly,
and include page numbers.
4. Plot Lines—from reading your plot lines, I get a good idea of the plot of the
book. I can clearly tell what the conflict of the story is. I also understand the
MOST important events from the beginning, middle, and end of the story.
Your work is in complete sentences and is accurate.
5. Theme and Author’s Purpose—You thought carefully about your answers!
You wrote multiple sentences about your ideas. Your thinking on this book
is accurate. It’s clear you understand the author’s reasons for writing this
book.
6. Poster—Your poster includes the title of book, author’s name, and your
name. Your poster is neat and attractive. You decorated the poster with
objects, drawings, or quotes that relate to the novel. Beautiful!
7. Mechanics—You did your BEST writing on this project. It’s clear you edited
your work, and did multiple drafts of your writing. Your writing is in
complete sentences, and has few spelling, grammar, or punctuation errors.
8. Annotations—Your book has clearly been annotated carefully. Every page is
underlined or contains notes about the major points of the novel.
9. Presentation—During your presentation to the class, you speak loudly and
clearly. You introduce yourself and you present the main characters and
main plot points of the novel. Your presentation is interesting to listen to
and makes me want to read the book.
10. Audience—You listen attentively and respectfully during others’
presentations. You ask thoughtful questions at the end of their
presentations which are related to what they’ve said, not random
questions.
No
Almost
Yes!
1
2
3
1
2
3
1
2
3
1
2
3
1
2
3
1
2
3
1
2
3
1
2
3
1
2
3
1
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3
Total:_______/30
Setting Map
Below, draw a map of all the important locations in your book. Be sure to label the locations, either by writing on the
map, or creating a key and symbols. Include as many details as you can!
Vocabulary Search
What are some interesting words you have found in your reading? Write down 10 words from any part of your novel.
Then look up the words in a dictionary and write the definition in your own words. If you have access to a computer,
use dictionary.com! Be sure to copy the sentence using the word exactly, and write down the page number!
Word
Sentence from the Book
Definition
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
Which word on this list is your favorite word? Write the word and then draw a picture to represent that word.
__________________________________
Character Heads
Choose three important characters from your story. Fill out the character maps below with the information indicated
below. Be sure to write in complete sentences!
Forehead:
what is this character’s
Ideology (what does he/she believe in)?
Eyes: What does this character hope to see?
Mouth: What is one important quote this character says or
is said about this character? What does the quote tell you?
Copy the quote exactly and include the page number!
Plot Lines
Today you will create three timelines for your book. Divide the novel into three sections, beginning, middle, and end.
Then choose the four (4) most important events from each section and write them in the boxes for that particular
section. Remember, choose the events that really stood out as the most important!
Beginning of the novel:
1
2
3
4
1
2
3
4
2
3
4
Middle Part:
End of the Novel
1
Theme and Author’s Purpose
Answer the questions below in complete sentences. Do your best writing.
How did the main character
change from the beginning to the
end of the novel?
What did the main character learn
about LIFE or PEOPLE? (Theme)
What did YOU (the reader) learn
about LIFE or PEOPLE from reading
this novel?
Why did the author write this
book? What did she want to teach
you?
(Author's Purpose)
Summer Reading Novel List
Grade 6
It’s important to read a novel that is at your level and that interests you. If you can, go to a bookstore, and
read the first few pages of these novels. Make sure that the topic interests you and that the book is easy to
understand before you buy. If you’re ordering online, Amazon.com will give plot summaries, and sometimes
you can read the first-few pages by clicking on “Look Inside.”
Easy Reads
 Big Nate and Friends by Lincoln Peirce (Lexile )
 Superfudge by Judy Blume (Lexile )
 Tales from a Not-So-Fabulous Life (Dear Dork Diaries #1) by Rachel Renee Russell (Lexile )
Intermediate Reads
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A Week in the Woods by Andrew Clements(Lexile )
Frindle by Andrew Clements (Lexile )
Freak the Mighty by Rodman Philbrick (Lexile )
Middle School, the Worst Years of My Life by James Patterson (Lexile )
Ungifted by Gordan Korman (Lexile )
Things Not Seen by Andrew Clements (Lexile )
Challenge Reads
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Savvy by Ingrid Law (Lexile )
Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer (Lexile )
The Maze Runner by James Dashner (Lexile )
Summer Reading Novel List
Grades 7/8 (Tier 1)
Choose TWO
novels to read over the summer. You MAY choose to read both sequels from one novel. Do
NOT skip a sequel (eg. Do not read book 3 in a series before book 2)
You must complete a poster for EACH novel (you can also double-side one poster to do so)
Suggestions
Sequels to Matched
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Crossed by Allie Condie (Lexile 630)
Reached by Allie Condie (Lexile 670)
If you liked Matched, you will love…
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Divergent by Veronica Roth (Lexile 700)
Insurgent by Veronica Roth (Lexile 710)
Sequels to The Giver
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A Gathering Blue by Lois Lowry (Lexile 680)
The Messenger by Lois Lowry (Lexile 720)
Son by Lois Lowry (Lexile 720)
If you loved Phantom Tollbooth, try…
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A Wrinkle in Time by Madeline L’Engle (Lexile 740)
Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer (Lexile 930)
If you liked Monster, try…
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Hoops by Walter Dean Myers (Lexile 740)
Slam by Walter Dean Myers (Lexile 750)
Scorpions by Walter Dean Myers (Lexile 610)
Kick by Walter Dean Myers (Lexile 610)
Summer Reading Novel List
Grade 7-8 (Tier 2)
Choose TWO novels to read over the summer. IF you read one of these novels in class, you MAY read the
sequel. However, re-reading the novel you read with your class does not count. Do NOT read a sequel if you
have not read the first book! (It won’t make sense!)
You must complete a poster for EACH novel (you can also double-side one poster to do so)
Sequels to Life as we Knew It
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This World We Live In by Susan Beth Pfeffer (Lexile 670)
The Dead and the Gone by Susan Beth Pfeffer (Lexile 680)
Sequel to Trino’s Choice
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Trino’s Time by Diane Gonzalez Bertrand (Lexile 710)
If you liked Trino’s Choice
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Canyons by Gary Paulsen (Lexile 930)
Rules of the Road by Joan Bauer (Lexile 850)
Bang! by Sharon Flake (Lexile 590)
If you liked Number the Stars
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Lisa’s War by Carol Matas (Lexile 600)
Ashes by Katheryn Lasky (Lexile 770)
The Upstairs Room by Joan Reiss (Lexile 380)
Any books in the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants series (Lexile 720)
Any books in the Twilight series (Lexile 720)
Any books in the Artemis Fowl series (Lexile 930)
Any books in the Alex Rider series (Lexile 740)
Summer Reading Novel List
Grade 7-8 (Tier 2.5/3)
It’s important to read a novel that is at your level and that interests you. If you can, go to a bookstore, and
read the first few pages of these novels. Make sure that the topic interests you and that the book is easy to
understand before you buy. If you’re ordering online, Amazon.com will give plot summaries, and sometimes
you can read the first-few pages by clicking on “Look Inside.”
Make sure you pick a NEW novel. You can’t pick a book you read last summer.
Easy Reads
 Big Nate and Friends by Lincoln Peirce (Lexile 300)
 Superfudge by Judy Blume (Lexile 560)
 Tales from a Not-So-Fabulous Life (Dear Dork Diaries #1) by Rachel Renee Russell (Lexile 560)
Intermediate Reads
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




A Week in the Woods by Andrew Clements(Lexile820 )
Frindle by Andrew Clements (Lexile 830)
Freak the Mighty by Rodman Philbrick (Lexile 1000)
Middle School, the Worst Years of My Life by James Patterson (Lexile 700)
Ungifted by Gordan Korman (Lexile 730)
Things Not Seen by Andrew Clements (Lexile 690)
Challenge Reads
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

Savvy by Ingrid Law (Lexile 1070)
Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer (Lexile 930)
The Maze Runner by James Dashner (Lexile 770)