Harrington Park School
8th Grade Summer Reading
“One benefit of summer was that each day we had more light to read by!”
~ Jeannette Walls, journalist & author ofThe Glass Castle: A Memoir
During the summer, all 8th grade students are expected to read…
A Long Walk to Water: Based on a True Storyby Linda Sue Park – A Long Walk to Waterbegins as two stories, told in alternating sections, about two eleven-year-olds in Sudan: a girl in 2008 and a boy in 1985. The girl, Nya, is fetching water from a pond that is a two hours’ walk from her home: she makes two trips to the pond every day. The boy, Salva, becomes one of the "lost boys" of Sudan, refugees who cover the African continent on foot as they search for their families and for a safe place to stay. Enduring every hardship from loneliness to armed rebels to killer lions and crocodiles, Salva is a survivor, and his story goes on to intersect with Nya’s in an astonishingly moving way.
- This book will help introduce our 8th grade research question:
“Should war-torn child refugees be allowed citizenship in our country?”
- SUMMER READING ASSIGNMENT #1: While reading A Long Walk to Water, all students are expected to maintain a notebook to record notes (with page numbers!) so they may use it as a source during the 8th grade research project! Don’t forget to bring this with you on the first day of school because it will count as your first homework grade of 8th grade!
At least one other book of the student’s choice(consider the optional “war-torn child refugee” suggestions below!)
- ALL books must be approved by a parent/guardian before reading!
- SUMMER READING ASSIGNMENT #2: Complete the reading log on the back of this page throughout the summer. Don’t forget to bring this with you on the first day of school because it will count as your first homework grade of 8th grade!
OPTIONAL “War-Torn Child Refugees” Suggestions
Interested in further reading about the topic to prepare for the “war-torn child refugees” research assignment?
Consider reading one of these books IN ADDITION TO A Long Walk to Water!
(WARNING: Given the nature of the subject matter, the books below may continue graphiccontent. Therefore, parents/guardians should preview these books before allowing a child to read any of them!)
I Am Malala: How One Girl Stood Up for Education and Changed the World (Young Readers Edition) by MalalaYousafzai & Patricia McCormick(Gr. 6+)
Taking Flight: From War Orphan to Star Ballerina by Michaela DePrince(Gr. 6+)
A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldierby Ishmael Beah(High School / Adult Literature)
Escape From Slavery: The True Story of My Ten Years in Captivity and My Journey to Freedom in Americaby Francis Bok(High School / Adult Literature)
The Bite of Mangoby Mariatu Kamara(High School / Adult Literature)
If you have any questions, please email Mr. Conn ().
HAPPY SUMMER READING!!
HARRINGTON PARK SCHOOL
SUMMER READING LOG
8th Grade Language Arts
Student Name:______
Title / Author / Date Started / Date Finished- A Long Walk to Water: Based on a True Story
2.
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5.
Parent/Guardian Signature:______
*** THIS LOG IS DUE ON THE 1st DAY OF SCHOOL! ***
It will count as your 1st homework grade of the year!