RED Summer Reading: Incoming 8th Grade Language Arts
The intention of summer reading is to keep your minds engaged over the months while you are not in school. Reading is
a pleasurable activity, one that you can enjoy leisurely over the summer months. This summer’s reading program is built
around choice. The goal is for you to be reading through the entire summer, so you will have one “check-in” date in the
middle of the summer, and the other assignment will be due the first day of school.
When selecting a book, take some time to be sure you have a book that is appropriate for you. Read the first page or
two to see if the vocabulary seems to be at the right level.
Although the assignments are not overly difficult, there is a lot of information and directions to be followed. Please do
not lose any of these sheets.
Grades for the summer reading will be applied to your first quarter grade. Failure to complete the work will result in a
zero for the assignment. It’s not a good idea to start off in a hole – getting out of it won’t be easy. If you or your parents
have questions or concerns, please contact Mrs. Richardson at 553-3161, x11402 (until the end of the school year) or by
email at richardson_j@nrschools.org. This will be checked essentially every day.
Expectations:
1.) Read two (2) books from the list that is provided. The list is organized by genre. Try to be adventurous! You are
to read books that are new to you – books that you have not read in the past.
2.) Complete five items from the list of questions (descriptions on following pages) for each book by the specified
time.
a. Always create a heading for each assignment on the document itself:
i. First and last name
ii. Title (underlined) and Author of book
b. If typing your assignments, you are to follow these requirements:
i. Font size 12
ii. Times New Roman
iii. Double-spaced
iv. One-inch margins
c. If hand-writing your assignments, you are to follow these requirements:
i. Write legibly.
ii. Use blue or black ink or pencil.
iii. Observe the margins.
iv. Write on the front of the page only.
3.) Submit your work through email, snail mail, or by dropping it off in the office at the middle school. The check-in
dates appear on the next page.
Check-in dates:
Assignments that accompany the first book must be submitted during the week of July 6 – 10.
Assignments that accompany the second book must be submitted during the week of August 17 - 21. This assignment
can be brought in on the first or second day of school.
WAYS TO SUBMIT:
Email
Put your first and last name in the subject line. The assignments should be attached to the email. Do not type your
responses in the body of the email. No blame will be put on technological difficulties for not turning in assignments on
time. Use this email address:
richardson_j@nrschools.org
Snail Mail
Fold the assignment neatly in an envelope, seal it, and put the appropriate postage on it. When you address the
envelope, it is your responsibility to write it neatly and correctly. Include a return address. No blame will be put on the
U.S. Postal Service for envelopes that don’t make it to the school. Address the envelope as follows:
New Richmond Middle School
Attn: Mrs. Richardson
1135 Bethel-New Richmond Rd.
New Richmond, OH 45157
Drop Off
If you are dropping off your assignment, you need to come to the building between the hours of 8:00 am and 3:00 pm.
Put the assignment in the box labeled “Richardson” in the main office. If the office is locked, locate a custodian to help
you.

Review all the choices prior to reading each book. Knowing what questions will be asked will help you
keep an eye out for possible answers. You should take notes while you read to help you create your answers
once you finish the books. If the book is yours, annotate in the margins like you’ve been practicing. If you are
borrowing, you could use sticky notes or write on a separate sheet of paper.

On the following pages is a list of all the questions you might choose to answer about the books you read.
Each response should be a well-developed paragraph. That means it should have a topic sentence that is
followed by multiple sentences that support and describe your ideas. Proofread your writing before
submitting it. We have to be able to make meaning out of the words you write.

There are multiple questions listed for each item. You are not simply answering those questions in a listed
fashion. You are to use those questions as a guide for creating a paragraph.
Of the following choices, you MUST pick 5 to respond to for each book. Once you have chosen an item from the list,
you cannot choose it again. That means, by the end of the summer, you will have completed 10 items from the list (5
for each book you read).
1. Write a paragraph that discusses genre. Identify the genre of the novel you read. Go beyond just whether it is
fiction or nonfiction (examples: science fiction, action/adventure, romance, biography, etc.). Give and explain
three details from the story that show the novel is that genre.
2. Write a paragraph that discusses point of view. From what point of view was this novel written (1st person, 3rd
person limited, or 3rd person omniscient)? Who is the narrator? What role does the narrator play? How does this
point of view affect the story (be specific)?
3. Write a paragraph describing one of the main characters. Explain what the person is like, both physically and
his/her personality. Give examples from the story of what the character says or does that shows what he/she is
like.
4. Pull out a quote that you feel is important to the overall story. Copy the WHOLE quote exactly as it appears in
the book. Identify the page number on which it appears. Write a paragraph in which you explain the quote’s
meaning and its importance to the overall story.
5. Write a paragraph where you discuss the author’s style of writing. What do you notice about HOW the author
writes? Comment on the structure of the novel, the word choice, the use of flashback or anything that seems
unique. Explain how you think this affects the story or how it affects the reader’s understanding or appreciation
of the story.
6. Write a paragraph that discusses setting. Describe the setting of the story (remember that setting is both time
and place). What clues were you given as to the setting? How was the setting important to the events of the
story?
7. Write a paragraph that reviews the book. This is a paragraph that shows your opinion of the novel as a whole.
Did you like it or not? Support with specific examples from the story. Focus on WHY you feel the way you do
about the story.
8. Write a paragraph that discusses conflict. What are the major conflicts in the story? Which characters are
involved? How do the conflicts help the story move forward?
9. Write a paragraph that discusses the climax. Describe what happens during the climax. How do you know that is
the climax? (Use the events that lead to and that happen after to prove you have identified the climax.)
10. Write a paragraph that discusses the resolution. How does the author resolve the book? Were you satisfied
with how it was resolved? Why or why not? What would you have liked to see instead if you were unhappy?
11. Write a paragraph about theme. Remember that theme is a general statement about life, people or the world
that a reader learns after finishing a book. Look at what the main characters learn about life as a way to help
you identify theme. Tell what the theme is in very general terms. Then explain how you know this is the theme
by supporting it with specific events from the story.
12. Write a paragraph about the minor characters in this story. Who are they and what is their importance to the
story? What is their relationship to the main characters? What purpose do they serve in the story?
13. Write a paragraph about the title. Authors spend a lot of time deciding on their titles. What is the significance of
the title? Discuss why the author chose this title instead of something different. How did your ideas about the
title change as you got further into the story?
14. Write a paragraph about the antagonist. The antagonist is the “villain” or the character who seems to get in the
way of the main character. Pick three thoughtful adjectives to describe this character. Give examples from the
book that support the adjectives you picked.
15. Write a paragraph about figurative language. Identify 2 places in the book where the author used figurative
language (language that has to be “translated” – cannot be taken exactly as it is written). Quote the figurative
language and explain what the author wants the reader to understand from the figurative language.
16. Write a paragraph about allusion. An allusion is when an author mentions something that we would recognize
from another book or a movie, a work of art or music. Quote the sentence where you see the allusion. To what
is the author referring? How does this allusion help you understand what is happening in the story?
17. Write a paragraph about one major event. Pick one of the major events that occurs during the rising action.
Describe the event in detail. Explain what its importance is to the whole story. How might the story have been
different if this event had been different?
As you create your answers to these questions, be sure you are being thoughtful and thorough. As long as you are doing
this, and being sure to focus on the questions being asked, you will be on the right track.
Also remember to proofread your answers. Be sure what you wrote is what you meant, that your sentences are
constructed in such a way that meaning can easily be made out of your ideas. Check for editing issues as well:
capitalization, spelling, punctuation, etc.
POSSIBLE BOOKS TO READ
You will not need to bring the books to class when school begins. Therefore, you have some choice in how you read. If
you have a tablet for reading you are welcome to acquire the books that way. You can order the books from an online
source like amazon.com if you wish. You can purchase them from a store, but we would recommend calling first to find
out if titles are available (if they aren’t, they might be able to order them for you). You can also check with the local
library. Even if your branch doesn’t have the title you are looking for, they can transfer books between branches.
However you choose to get your books, be proactive. Don’t wait until the last minute.
SCIENCE FICTION
Hidden Talents by David Lubar
Maximum Ride by James Patterson
Life As We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer
This Place Has No Atmosphere by Paula Danzinger
The Last Book in the Universe by Rodman Philbrick
HISTORICAL FICTION
Elijah of Buxton by Christopher Paul Curtis
Red Moon at Sharpsburg by Rosemary Wells
Black Duck by Janet Taylor Lisle
Legend of Bass Reeves by Gary Paulsen
Airman by Eoin Colfer
HORROR/SUSPENSE
Full Tilt by Neal Shusterman
The Chronicles of Vladimir Tod: Eighth Grade
Bites by Heather Brewer
Midnighters: The Secret Hour by Scott Westerfeld
HUMOR
Something to Blog About by Shana Norris
Son of the Mob by Gordon Korman
The Teacher’s Funeral: A Comedy in Three Parts
by Richard Peck
MYSTERY
Down the Rabbit Hole: An Echo Falls Mystery by
Peter Abrahams
Last Shot: A Final Four Mystery by John Feinstein
The Man with the Red Bag by Eve Bunting
Snatched by Pete Hautman and Mary Logue
FANTASY
Everlost by Neal Shusterman
Dealing with Dragons by Patricia Wrede
Magyk by Angie Sage
Children of the Lamp: The Akhenaten Adventure
by P. B. Kerr
NONFICTION
Team Moon: How 400,000 People Landed
Apollo 11 on the Moon by Catherine
Thimmesh
Promises to Keep: How Jackie Robinson
Changed America by Sharon Robinson
My Life as a Furry Red Monster: What Elmo Has
Taught Me About Life, Love, and
Laughing Out Loud by Kevin Clash
SPORTS
Throwing Like a Girl by Weezie Kerr Mackie
Dairy Queen by Catherine Gilbert Murdock
Pinned by Alfred C. Martino
Football Genius by Tim Green
Stotan! by Chris Crutcher
REALISTIC FICTION
The Face on the Milk Carton by Caroline B. Cooney
The Killing Sea by Richard Lewis
Red Midnight by Ben Mikaelsen
Homecoming by Cynthia Voight
Schooled by Gordon Korman
Nothing But the Truth by Avi
Monster by Walter Dean Myers
ACTION/ADVENTURE
The Recruit by Robert Muchamore
Jimmy Coates: Assassin? By Joe Craig
Soldier Boys by Dean Hughes
Code Orange by Caroline Cooney
Flash Flood by Chris Ryan
Silverfin by Charlie Higson