8th Grade Summer Reading 2010

Book Choices

First choose and read TWO of the following books…

Non-fiction

Chew on This by Eric Schlosser

Three Cups of Tea (YA version) by Sarah Thomson (Adapter), Greg Mortenson

Greg Mortenson (Author)

Memoir

Bad Boy by Walter Dean Myers

Fiction

One of those hideous books where the mother dies by Sonya Sones

Last Shot by John Feinstein

Sleeping Freshmen Never Lie by Dave Lubar

13 by James Howe

Book of a Thousand Days by Shannon Hale

Project Choices

Then choose and complete TWO of the following projects (do a different type of project for each book you read)…

OR

Create ONE project that examines a theme/big idea that appears in both of the books you read (this will require you to compare & contrast the similarities and differences in how the themes work in the different books)…

Create a soundtrack for your book. Your soundtrack must include at least six songs and each song must represent or have a connection with something in the book. Create a CD booklet for your soundtrack with a cover and a page for each song that states the title, the artist/band, and at least 1 paragraph about how the song connects to the book you read.

Mathematically prove something about your book. Ask a question about something in the text such as “Who is the meanest character?” or “Are male and female characters equally strong?” Find evidence to answer your question from the text. Quantify this data and create a poster with a title, your question, an explanation of methods, your data, and a reflection on the experience.

Create a word cloud for your book. Visit to look at, learn about, and experiment with word clouds. Create a word cloud poster based on your book. Write a short reflection that is at least one page in length and talks about at least three specific words that appear on the word cloud for your book.

Videotape a book talk about your book. This is essentially a sales-pitches to introduce the book to other students and get them excited to read it. These talks should be about 8-10 minutes in length. Please submit on DVD or VHS.

Interview one of the characters from your book. This interview should be at least 12 questions long and each response should be about a paragraph in length. Ask the character questions in your own voice and answer from the perspective of that character. Your questions may be about the story or other ideas, but the responses should be based on what you know about the character from the text.

Create a photo album of the most important events in your book. Your photo album must include at least 16 “photos” of events from your book. Underneath the photos include a caption that is composed of a direct quote from your text, including page number. Inside the front cover, write an inscription from the perspective of a character in your book.

Create a physical game or sport based on an event, theme, or idea in your book. Get as creative as you’d like with this option, creating a game based on abstract ideas or themes or specific events in your book. Write the official rules to the game and a short reflection at least one page in length that explains the origins of this game.

When is it all due?

All summer reading projects are due no later than Wednesday, September 15, 2010. Projects handed in after this date will lose significant points.

Where do I get my books?

  • The New York Public Library (
  • The Queens Library (
  • Amazon (
  • Local book stores

Other questions?

Email Miyo at any time during the summer.

2010 Summer Reading Assignment

I have read the 2010 Summer Reading Assignment and understand that reading and project(s) must be completed and submitted by Wednesday, September 15, 2010. The Summer Reading Assignment will count as the first Writing Project grade for Marking Period 1. If I have any questions during the summer break, I understand that I can contact Miyo at .

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