Mrs. Redmond’s 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 Friday of the first week 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.)
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The Adventures of Tom Sawyer—Twain
The Pigman—Zindel
Al Capone Shines My Shoes—Choldenko
Peeled—Bauer
Anne of Green Gables—Montgomery
Rebecca—DuMaurier
The Book of One Hundred Truths—Schumacher
The Romeo and Juliet Code—Phoebe Stone
The Call of the Wild—London
St. Catherine Laboure and the Miraculous Medal—
Powers-Waters
A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court—Twain
Crash—Spinelli
Death on the Nile—Christie
Devil’s Arithmetic—Yolen
Drums, Girls & Dangerous Pie—Sonnenblick
Saint Ignatius and the Company of Jesus –Derleth and
Law
Saint Joan: The Soldier Girl—de Wohl
Saint John Bosco—Beebe
The Ear, the Eye and the Arm—Farmer
St. Thomas Aquinas: And the Preaching Beggars—Larnen
and Lomask
11 Birthdays—Wendy Mass
Scat—Carl Hiaasen
Enders Game—Card
The Schwa was Here—Shusterman
Feathers—Woodson
The Second Mrs. Gioconda—Konigsburg
Flush—Hiaasen
Sender Unknown—Lowenstein
Freedom Walkers—Freedman
Shoeless Joe—Kinsella
Franklin Delano Roosevelt—Freedman
So B. It—Weeks
Hatchet—Paulsen
Stealing Freedom—Carbone
The Hound of the Baskervilles—Doyle
Theodore Boone: Kid Lawyer—Grisham
Ida B: . . . and Her Plans to Maximize Fun, Avoid
Disaster, and (Possibly) Save the World—Hannigan
The Teacher’s Funeral—Peck
Incantation—Hoffman
The Invisible Man—Wells
Jeremy Fink and the Meaning of Life—Mass
Kateri Tekakwitha: Mohawk Maiden—Brown
The Martian Chronicles—Bradbury
Little Women—Alcott
Loser –Spinelli
Things Not Seen—Clements
The Time Machine—Wells
Touching Spirit Bear—Mikaelsen
War of the Worlds—Wells
The Watsons Go to Birmingham, 1963—Curtis
The Westing Game—Ellen Raskin
Witness—Hesse
Maniac Magee—Spinelli
The Wright Brothers: How They Invented the Airplane—
Freedman
Mousetrap—Christie
Wonder—Palacio
Out of the Dust—Hesse
The Year of the Hangman—Blackwood
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

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.
Be sure to use spell-check and to proof your writing. Thanks!
Book 2—Select a Project

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. (The script should be 2-3 pages typed.)

Write a diary that one of the story's main characters might have kept before, during, and after the 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 1½ -2 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 repo rt 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. Major events from the story should be evident in the file.

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.
Any typed work should be 12 points and double-spaced. All work should be proofed. 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.