Grade 8 Summer Reading
Read two books from the following list (that you have not already read). Complete the newspaper project for
one and select a project for the other book. Completed work is due by the FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL.
Note—We will begin reading The Giver by Lois Lowry the first week of school. Please purchase this book or plan to
check out a copy from the public library. (Please do NOT begin reading this book until you are assigned a set of chapters.)
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
The Adventures of Tom Sawyer—Twain
The Pigman—Zindel
Al Capone Does My Shirts—Choldenko
Peeled—Bauer
Al Capone Shines My Shoes—Choldenko
Rebecca—DuMaurier
Anne of Green Gables—Montgomery
The Romeo and Juliet Code—Phoebe Stone
The Book of One Hundred Truths—Schumacher
St. Catherine Laboure and the Miraculous Medal—
Powers-Waters
The Call of the Wild—London
A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court—Twain
Crash—Spinelli
Death on the Nile—Christie
Devil’s Arithmetic—Yolen
Saint Ignatius and the Company of Jesus –Derleth and
Law
Saint John Bosco—Beebe
Saint Maximillian Kolbe—Jablonski
Drums, Girls & Dangerous Pie—Sonnenblick
St. Thomas Aquinas: And the Preaching Beggars—
Larnen and Lomask
The Ear, the Eye and the Arm—Farmer
Scat—Carl Hiaasen
11 Birthdays—Wendy Mass
The Schwa was Here—Shusterman
Enders Game—Card
The Second Mrs. Gioconda—Konigsburg
Feathers—Woodson
Sender Unknown—Lowenstein
Flush—Hiaasen
Shoeless Joe—Kinsella
Freedom Walkers—Freedman
So B. It—Weeks
Franklin Delano Roosevelt—Freedman
Stealing Freedom—Carbone
The Hound of the Baskervilles—Doyle
Summer Ball—Lupica
Ida B: . . . and Her Plans to Maximize Fun, Avoid
Disaster, and (Possibly) Save the World—Hannigan
Theodore Boone: Kid Lawyer—Grisham
Incantation—Hoffman
The Invisible Man—Wells
Jeremy Fink and the Meaning of Life—Mass
Kira-Kira—Kadohata
March: Book 1—Louis, Aydin, and Powell
The Martian Chronicles—Bradbury
The Teacher’s Funeral—Peck
The Time Machine—Wells
Travel Team—Lupica
War of the Worlds—Wells
The Watsons Go to Birmingham, 1963—Curtis
Witness—Hesse
Little Women—Alcott
The Wright Brothers: How They Invented the Airplane—
Freedman
Maniac Magee—Spinelli
Wonder—Palacio
Mousetrap—Christie
The Year of the Hangman—Blackwood
Out of the Dust—Hesse
If you have any questions, please send me an email at hredmond@smsmd.org. I will check my email at least once a
week over the summer. Don’t wait until the last minute to get started and be sure to do your own work in your
own words.
Book 1—Newspaper
Create a four-page newspaper for your book. Include the following:

A news story that is a summary of the plot

A feature article that includes information about the setting and any important locations

An interview with your favorite character

An editorial that gives an opinion about the theme or lessons learned

Three original ads that would be pertinent to the story and the time period

Photos—however, these should not take up more than ¼ of each page.
Be creative!
Body text should be 12 points. Line spacing may be not more than 1.25 lines.
Book 2—Select a Project
Any typed work should be 12 points and double-spaced. All work should be proofed.

Create a movie of yourself as a TV reporter and give a report of a scene from the book as if it is happening live. Include
interviews with important characters and information pertinent to the setting. Be creative! (The script should be 2-3 pages typed.)

Create a movie of an interview of a character from your book. Write at least fifteen questions that will give the character the
opportunity to discuss his/her thoughts and feelings about his/her role in the story. Each answer should require several sentences.
(The script should be 2-3 pages typed.)

Write a diary that one of the story's main characters might have kept throughout the entire book's events. Remember that the
character's thoughts and feelings are very important in a diary. This should not just be a summary of events. (2-3 pages typed)

Create a mini-comic book relating a chapter of the book. The story line should be clear and the color illustrations should be done
with care.

Write and perform an original song that tells the story and theme of the book.

Do research and write a 2-3 page essay about a real topic brought up in your book. Explain how the author used this real topic to
affect the fictional characters in the story. At least three sources should be cited.

Create a dossier on a character. Pretend that you are a foreign spy sent to report on your chosen character. Compile a secret file
with general and specific information regarding your character. Be sure to include information beyond physical characteristics.
What motivates the character? What habits does the character have? Who does the character associate with? Etc. Don't forget the
photo. Background information on the character should cover major events from the story and provide a clear understanding of
the character.

Design and produce a series of eight postcards. On one side draw or paint an appropriate image. On the other side, compose a
message to from one character to another. The messages should give a summary of the story and the character’s feelings about
what is happening.
Depth is important for all projects. Thought should be evident—think about what motivates the characters, how conflict affects
character, how the theme is expressed, how the story relates to your life, etc.
Be sure to use spell-check and to proof your writing. Thanks!