9th
The Renaissance Charter School
Grade Summer Reading Project 2014
Book List
This summer, you are expected to read one of the books below and complete a creative project
and a character analysis essay.
Before handing the text to a child, parents may wish to research or read the book to decide
what is appropriate for their child.
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Night by Elie Wiesel (nonfiction)
Farewell to Manzanar by Jeanne and James Houston (nonfiction)
Maus by Art Spiegelman (fiction)
Diary of Anne Frank by Anne Frank (nonfiction)
Summer of My German Soldier by Bette Greene (fiction)
Part I: Project List
After reading, complete one of the following projects for the book you read.
Create a Facebook page. Design a profile page for 3 different characters in the story. Include
relevant cover picture, profile picture, facts in an “About” section, a “Friends”, a “More” section,
and at least 5 wall posts (something the character wrote or a friend posted on that character’s
wall). You may use the template attached or create your own pages.
Write several diary entries from the point of the view of the character. Write about the
character’s feelings and reactions to significant events or other characters in the story.
Be a TV or radio reporter. Write and give a report of a scene from the book as if it is
happening "live". Include an interview with one of the witnesses of the event.
Write and perform a dramatic monologue. Choose a character and an event from the book
that you read. In the point of view of “I”, write a monologue that expresses the character’s
innermost thoughts about the event. Your performance should be at least 2 minutes long.
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 campaign sign. Nominate one of the characters for an office in local, state or national
government. On the sign, create a slogan highlighting which office your candidate is running for
and what qualities make them right for that office. On a piece of paper, write a one-page
reflection explaining why you chose that character and why you think that character would make
an excellent public official.
Part 2: Essay Prompt
Along with the creative project, you will also write an essay on the following prompt:
A dynamic character undergoes an important inner change throughout the course of a story, as a
change in personality or attitude. Choose a dynamic character from the book you read. Write
an essay explaining how life during WWII affects, or changes, the character. Include character
traits and an explanation of the event that causes the character to change. Use details from the
book to support your answer. Your essay should have an introduction, body, and conclusion.
Remember to include details from the book to support your ideas.
When is it all due?
Your book needs to be read, your summer reading project and essay need to be complete by the
first day of school, Monday, September 8, 2014. The Summer Reading Assignment will count
as the first Project grade for Marking Period 1 in ELA. Projects handed in after this date will
lose significant points.
Where do I get my books?
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The New York Public Library (www.nypl.org)
The Queens Library (www.queenslibrary.org)
Amazon (www.amazon.com)
Local book stores