Book of the Month Assignment

English 7 – Ms. Dorsey’s Classes

The Assignment: This year, besides the books we read in class, you will each read two books per term. You will have some time to read in class, but you will also need to read at home (and in the car, and while you’re waiting at the doctor’s office, and so on). Most months I will assign a particular genre for you to read. You will select from that genre a book that has 100 pages or more, have Ms. Dorsey approve it (there will be a list for signed up for a book), read it, and report to an assigned group in class. Bring the book or a picture of the front cover of the book onthe due date. Most of the books will be novels (fictional).

Anovelis a long narrative, normally in prose, which describes fictional characters and events, usually in the form of a sequential story. – Google Search for “novel, definition, literature”

Students will be graded on the completion of the book and their ability to discuss their novel in depth.

Students need to be prepared to discuss several topics:

*summary of the book read -- leaving out spoilers

*ranking it on a scale of 1-10 and why

*particular elements or aspects of literature that we are learning about in class

Where to find books: school media center, classroom library, your home library, A.F. Library – or others, bookstores and used-book dealers, other stores. garage sales.

1. September Book Assignment
Date Due / Genre / Element or Aspect of Literature / My Book Title (and other possibilities)
September 23/24
We will hold the book discussions on these days. / Any Fictional
Genre
(a novel) / Character and Conflict
Who is the protagonist?
Who is the antagonist?
What is the major conflict?
Which type of conflict is it?
How does the protagonist change over the course of the book? (Avoid Spoilers)
Does the antagonist change?
2. October Book Assignment
Date Due / Genre / Element or Aspect of Literature / My Book Title (and other possibilities)
October 20/21 / Realistic Fiction
(a novel) / Theme – Determine one or more themes in your book and be able to defend your choice(s) using examples and passages from the book.
(Theme is the main idea of the story, the discovery about life that we take away from the story, stated as a complete sentence.)

Here is how you will be graded:

1 / 3 / 5
Student was unprepared to discuss the book. (It seems as if student didn’t read the book or read it carefully.) / Student could give a basic summary of the book but struggled to discuss the book in depth. (it seems as if the reading was rushed through or skimmed, summary sounded like the summary on the back of the book) / Student discussed their book with ease and in depth. Great detail was provided to the group. Student covered the assigned element or aspect of literature.
Student brought the book or a picture of the cover.

Books Not Allowed for the Outside Reading Assignment

(Don’t use these for Book of the Month!)

American Fork Junior High English Department

Ask your teacher about individual titles.

Books taught in 7th grade:

A Long Walk to Water

Book of Three (Ask about this one.)

Ice Story (Ask about this one.)

The Giver

How They Croaked

The Outsiders

Stand Tall

Books taught in 8th grade:

Chasing Lincoln’s Killer

Diary of Anne Frank

The Lightning Thief

Phineas Gage

Roll of Thunder Hear My Cry

And Then There Were None

Books taught in 9th grade:

Anthem

Book Thief

To Kill a Mockingbird

Night

Out of the Dust

Romeo and Juliet

Silent Boy

Tale of Two Cities

Books you have already read or had read to you in elementary school.

Books that are obviously below your own reading level.

Others You May NOT Use:

Captain Underpants series Judy Blume books

Harriet the Spy series Beverly Cleary books

Great Brain series Katherine Patterson books (Most)

Goosebumps series Scriptures

Boxcar Children series Comic books or joke books

R.L. Stine books Magazines

Short story collections

Books you read in a Reading Literature class should not also be used for a Book of the Month assignment.

Do not use a book in verse or a graphic novel unless you have permission from your teacher. These can be great to read, but may or may not work for the assignment your teacher expects you to complete with the book.

Teachers may set limits on other books in a series or by the same author.

If you are reading a book that has been made into a movie, your teacher may ask for additional information about the book.

An individual teacher may add or delete books on this list at his/her discretion.

Individual teachers may set book length requirements.The consequence for doing a book test/review on the above books will be a zero (no points) on the assessment.

For lists of Recommended Books from Ms. Dorsey,

search for “recommended books” on the class blog or see the tab for Required Reading.

This page is about books not allowed for the outside reading assignment.