BRUNSWICK ACADEMY
8th Grade Summer Reading List
Each rising 8th grader is required to read two books this summer. One book is preselected and will be read by every student. The second book should be chosen from the list given at the end of this sheet. A report on the required preselected book is due the first day of school. The second book is only to be read this summer. We will use it to create a special report during the first six weeks of school. Have fun!
Required Book for Summer Reading- The Pearl by John Steinbeck
A written book report on this book will be due the first day of school. Use the following guidelines in preparing your report. Plan ahead! No excuses!
Your report should be typed in paragraph form, Times New Roman 12, double-spaced, with one inch margins. Use MLA format, which includes the following information in a header on page one: Name/Teacher/Class/Date. Develop paragraphs for the following information:
Introductory Paragraph – Write a paragraph including the title of the book and the author. Include a sentence or two about the book in general.
Brief Summary Plot – This should not be a detailed description of everything that happens in your book. This plot summary should be no more than one page long. You should just show that you have read the book and, most importantly, comprehend what you have read.
Point of View – Is the book written in 1st or 3rd person? Who is the narrator?
Setting- Give a description of the time and place of the events in the book.
Character Sketch- Give an analysis of one of the main characters. Include physical description, characteristics, and any relevant information that helped develop the character.
Theme- Write a paragraph describing the main idea or point of the novel. There may be more than one theme. Think to yourself, “What is the writer saying to me?”
Recommendation and Evaluation- (Answer all of these questions.) What are your thoughts on this novel? Did you enjoy reading it? Why or why not? How does it compare with other books you have read? What real-life connections can you make with your novel? Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not? You must support or back up your opinions. Do not just say, “I didn’t like it.” You must tell me why.
In addition to the required reading, please select and read this summer one of the books from the following list. Remember to select a book that you have not read before! Be prepared to discuss your choice thoroughly at the beginning of school. We will prepare an assignment related to this second book during the first six weeks of school.
Books Author
Rebecca Daphne DeMaurier
I Heard the Owl Call My Name Margaret Craven
That was Then, This is Now S. E. Hinton
Where the Lilies Bloom Vera and Bill Cleaver
House Made of Dawn N. Scott Momaday
Light in the Forest Conrad Richter
Around the World in 80 Days Jules Verne
Small Steps Louis Sachar
I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings Maya Angelou
Pay It Forward Catherine Hyde
Heartbeat Sharon Creech
Code Talker Joseph Bruchac
Milkweed Jerry Spinelli
Hoot Carl Hiaasen
The Giver Lowry
Treasure Island Robert Louis Stevenson
All Creatures Great and Small James Harriot
Chronicles of Narnia C. S. Lewis
Of Mice and Men John Steinbeck
Tom Sawyer Mark Twain
Huckleberry Finn Mark Twain
Crossing the Wire Will Hobbs
Look for Me By Moonlight Mary Downing Hahn
Go Big or Go Home Will Hobbs
Fairest Gail Levine
Travel Team Mike Lupica
Alligator Bayou Donna Jo Napoli
Hitler Youth: Growing Up In Hitler’s Shadow Susan Campbell Bartoletti
Get started early and get this job done so that you can have some other type of fun this summer! Enjoy your summer and come back to school ready for 8th grade!
2010