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5 months ago
2024
Summer Reading Book of Choice Written Project
Directions: All writing is due on Wednesday, August 14 except incoming seventh graders will write their projects in class the first days of school. All students need to make sure their book is read before school starts. Grades for the writing project will be included in the fall 2024 grades. The typed assessment should be written in essay form following the outline. Use the outline for specifics on what to discuss. Writing should expound on these points in paragraph format. Junior high needs to be one and a half pages minimum to two pages maximum which includes three components from Roman numeral two below. High school needs to be two pages minimum to three pages maximum which included four components from Roman numeral two below. Use different events to prove your answers. Line spacing is double but make sure there are no extra spaces between paragraphs. All books need to be read. Audio books are okay IF the students read with the audio book. All writing needs to be the student’s own work—not Spark notes, book covers, etc. Just changing a few words is still plagiarism.
I. Introduction Paragraph-Required
A. Introduce the title and author of the book with a few original(not from the book cover, etc.) summarizing sentences about the book. Hook the reader in introduction.
II. Body Paragraphs-Required to
do the A component and F component then choose other components(at least one
more for junior high and two more for high school) for the body of your essay.
Remember to indent paragraphs each time you start a new component (A,
B, C, etc.)
A. Characterization
1. Who is the
protagonist?
2. Why has the writer
used this character as the hero/protagonist?
3. Discuss if the
protagonist (main character) is a dynamic (changes throughout the course
of the book-Do not
explain physical changes but internal) or static(does not
change) character.
Expound on how the protagonist changes or doesn’t change by using
events which occur
during the course of the novel and how these events affect the
protagonist. Explain
what traits this character possesses from beginning to ending.
The same trait may be
used throughout the whole book if applicable but use
different events to
prove the protagonist’s trait(s).
B. Theme(moral to the story
statement)
1. What is the lesson
learned from the novel? State this as a complete sentence.
2. Discuss at least two
different events from the beginning and ending of the book which
give supporting evidence for the
theme. Choose the best events to prove the theme.
C. Conflict
1. What is the conflict
which drives the entire plot of the novel?
2. Expound on this
conflict and how it leads to other events throughout the novel.
D. Point of View
1. What point of view was
the novel narrated in?
2. What is the writer’s
purpose for writing in this point of view?
3. Share two events
showing why this point of view was best in these events.
1. What was the most
emotional turning point of the novel? Expound on it.
2. Discuss what led up to
it being the most emotional part.
F. Resolution
1. How did the book end?
2. Discuss if you liked or
did not like the ending and why or why not.
3. How did the climax
resolve the conflict?
G. Facts vs. Opinions
1. List three facts found
in this book. To be a fact, one must be able to prove it.
2. Expound on at least one
of the facts and why it is important and/or startling.
3. List three opinions
about those facts.
4. Expound on at least one
of your opinions.
H. Title Interpretation
1. Why was the book given
the title it was?
2. Was it an effective or
ineffective title?
3. If you were to give it a
new title, what would it be and why? Even if you like the title, think of
a
different one.
I. Relationships in the book
1. Discuss at least one
relationship in the book.
2. How did the relationship
change or stay the same throughout the novel? Show this through events.
III. Concluding
Paragraph-Required
A. Evaluate and summarize
the storyline
B. Reflect upon
your own reading of the book
Make sure you make
your conclusion a strong paragraph and don’t announce that you are
concluding. Just do it. Proofread and fix your own errors. Your
grammar and mechanics matter in your grade.
Students:
These are possible choices for your summer reading books. Students, make sure you discuss with your parents(s)/guardian(s) what you choose to read remembering these are choices and some may have delicate material. Please do not read something you have already read and remember to choose at your reading level. Junior high students may read up into the high school level if desired. Don’t read something too easy for you. Challenge yourself as well as choose a book you will love. Some of these you may check out from the school, but you must return in the fall or you will be charged for it.
If there is a listed book which is in a series, please remember you may read any book in that series that you have not already read.
The following are NOT choices because they are used in classes:
Les Miserables, Count of Monte Cristo, Frankenstein, Hound of the Baskervilles, Black Like Me, Tale of Two Cities, Macbeth, A Separate Peace, The Scarlet Letter, Ethan Frome, My Antonia, Huckleberry Finn¸ The Crucible, Fahrenheit 451, The Giver, Night, Julius Caesar , Great Expectations, To Kill a Mockingbird, Anne Frank, I Heard the Owl Call My Name, Guts, Roll of Thunder Hear My Cry, Rent Collector, Death on the Nile, Boys in the Boat, The Great Gatsby, The Hobbit, Of Mice and Men, Outsiders
Grade Level Recommendation | Book | Author | Genre | School has this book for checkout if you desire |
Junior High | Touching Spirit Bear | Ben Mikaelsen | fiction | X (SR) |
Every Soul a Star | Wendy Mass | fiction |
| |
Outsiders | S.E. Hinton | fiction | X (SR) | |
Summer of My German Soldier | Bette Greene | fiction | X (SR) | |
The Call of the Wild | Jack London | Adventure fiction |
| |
A Day No Pigs Would Die | Robert Newton Peck | Fiction | Library | |
The Sign of the Beaver | Elizabeth George Spear | Historical fiction | Library | |
The Adventures of Tom Sawyer | Mark Twain | Satire, Folklore, Adventure Fiction | X (BR) | |
Bridge to Terabithia | Katherine Paterson | Realistic fiction | Library | |
Park’s Quest | Katherine Paterson | fiction | Library | |
The Pinballs | Betsy Byars | Fiction |
| |
The Crossing | Gary Paulsen | Fiction | Library | |
Sarny: A Life Remembered |
Gary Paulsen |
Historical fiction |
| |
Fablehaven Series | Brandon Mull | Fantasy |
| |
From the Mixed Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler | E.L. Konigsburg | Fiction |
| |
Devil’s Arithmetic | Jane Yolen | Historical fiction |
| |
A Family Apart | Joan Lowery Nixon | Fiction | Library | |
Number the Stars | Lois Lowry | Historical Fiction | Library | |
Julie of the Wolves | Jean Craighead George | Fiction | Library | |
Harriet Tubman Conductor on Underground Railroad | Ann Petry | Biography |
| |
Finest Hours by Tougias and Sherman | Casey Sherman and Michael Tougias | Nonfiction-true story of coast guard’s daring rescue |
| |
Anne of Green Gables Books | L.M. Montgomery | Realistic fiction |
| |
Chronicles of Narnia Books | C.S. Lewis | Fantasy |
| |
The Hiding Place | Corrie Ten Boom | nonfiction |
| |
Junior high continued | Beneath A Scarlet Sky(series) | Mark Sullivan | Epic tale(based on true story) |
|
Dragon’s Keep | Janet Lee Carey | Adventure/Fantasy |
| |
Candy Shop War | Brandon Mull | Fantasy Fiction | Library | |
The Brotherband Chronicles | John Flanagan | Fantasy Fiction |
| |
Wild Life | Richard Ford | nonfiction |
| |
The False Prince and The Ascendance Series | Jennifer A. Nielsen | Fantasy fiction |
| |
Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief as well as others from this series | Rick Riordan | Fantasy, young adult, Greek mythology |
| |
Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone | J.K. Rowling | Fantasy fiction |
| |
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets | J.K. Rowling | Fantasy fiction |
| |
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban | J.K. Rowling | Fantasy fiction |
| |
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire | J.K. Rowling | Fantasy fiction |
| |
The Ghost of Graylock | Dan Poblocki | Ghost story, paranormal fiction |
| |
The Quick and the Dead | Louis L’Amour | Western/fiction |
| |
Sounder | James Barkley/William Armstrong | fiction |
| |
Indian in the Cupboard | Lynne Reid Banks | fantasy |
| |
Where the Red Fern Grows | Wilson Rawls | Adventure tale |
| |
Peak | Roland Smith | Fiction |
| |
The Hiding Place | Corrie Tenboom | Nonfiction-Autobiography |
| |
A Night Divided | Jennifer A. Nielson | Historical fiction |
| |
Land of Stories | Chris Colfer series | Adventure and fantasy |
| |
Princess Academy | Shannon Hale | Fantasy |
| |
Beauty | Robin McKinley | Fantasy |
| |
Summer of the Monkeys | Wilson Rawls | Drama |
| |
Amari and the Night Brothers | B.B. Alston | Fantasy |
| |
The Cay | Theodore Taylor | Fiction |
| |
High school | Where I Belong
| Marcia Argueta Mickelson | Fiction
|
|
Shane | Jack Schaefer | Western |
| |
A Lesson Before Dying | Ernest Gaines | Fiction but based on true story |
| |
The Alchemist | Paulo Coelho | Adventure, Fantasy |
| |
Lightning Thief and others by this author | Rick Riordian Series | Fantasy, Greek Mythology | X | |
Education of Little Tree | Forrest Carter | Historical Fiction | X(a few) | |
The Book Thief | MarKus Zusak | Realistic/historical fiction | Library | |
Finest Hours by Tougias and Sherman | Casey Sherman and Michael Tougias | nonfiction |
| |
The Help | Kathryn Stockett | Realistic fiction | X | |
Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet | Jamie Ford | Japanese American Experience WWII | X | |
Orphan Keeper | Camron Wright | Suspense, Historical Fiction | X | |
And Then There Were none | Agatha Christie | Mystery | Library | |
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time | Mark Haddon | Mystery |
| |
The Maltese Falcon | Dashielle Hammott | Mystery |
| |
Rebecca | Daphne du Maurier | Mystery |
| |
The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes | Sir Arthur Conan Doyle | Mystery |
| |
Murder on the Orient Express | Agatha Christie | Mystery | Library | |
The Turn of the Screw | Henry James | Mystery | Library | |
Michael Vey Series | Richard Paul Evans | Fantasy | X | |
The Hunger Games Series | Suzanne Collins | Fantasy/Science Fiction | X | |
The Lord of the Rings Series | J.R.R. Tolkien | Fantasy/Science Fiction | Library | |
Brave New World | Aldous Huxley | Fantasy/Dystopian-Science Fiction | Library | |
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix | J.K.Rowling | Fantasy/Science Fiction | Library | |
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince | J.K. Rowling | Fantasy/Science Fiction | Library | |
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows | J.K. Rowling | Fantasy/Science Fiction | Library | |
Unwind(Series) |
Neal Shusterman |
Fantasy/Science Fiction |
| |
Enders Game | Orson Scott Card | Fantasy/Science Fiction | X (SR) | |
The Things They Carried | Tim O’Brien | Historical Fiction- | Library | |
All Quiet on the Western Front | Erich Maria Remarque | Historical Fiction |
| |
Red Badge of Courage | Stephen Crane | Historical Fiction | X (SR) | |
Uncle Tom’s Cabin | Harriet Beecher Stowe | Anti-slavery novel | X (SR) | |
The Poisonwood Bible(longer book-slow read but good) | Barbara Kingsolver | Historical Fiction |
| |
The Secret Life of Bees | Sue Monk Kidd | Historical fiction |
| |
The Odyssey | Homer | epic |
| |
The Scarlet Pimpernel | Baroness Orczy | Historical fiction |
| |
The Boy on the Wooden Box | Leon Layson | Nonfiction | Library | |
The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind | Bryan Mealer and William Kamkwamba | Nonfiction |
| |
Life of Pi | Yann Martel | Adventure Fiction |
| |
The Chosen | Chaim Potok | Student recommended |
| |
The Glass Castle | Jeannette Walls | Biography | Library | |
Tuesdays With Morrie | Mitch Albom | Biography | Library | |
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings | Maya Angelou | Biography |
| |
The Other Wes Moore | Wes Moore | Biography |
| |
Angela’s Ashes | Frank McCourt | Biography |
| |
A Long Way Gone | Ishmael Beah | Biography | Library | |
Mountains Beyond Mountains | Tracy Kidder | Biography |
| |
Stiff | Mary Roach | Science | Library | |
Jurassic Park | Michael Crichton | Science | Library | |
The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks | Rebecca Skloot | Science |
| |
Silent Spring | Rachel Carson | Science | Library | |
The Hot Zone | Richard Preston | Science | Library | |
Einstein’s Dreams | Alan Lightman | Science |
| |
Chesapeake | James A Michener | History |
| |
Long Walk to Freedom | Nelson Mandela | History | X(BR) | |
Unbroken | Laura Hillenbrand | History/Biography | X (SR) | |
Light in the Forest | Conrad Richter | Coming of Age | X (SR) | |
A Farewell to Arms | Ernest Hemingway | Fiction | Library | |
Animal Farm | George Orwell | Satire | X(BR) pretty rough shape) | |
Grapes of Wrath | John Steinbeck | Historical Fiction | X | |
The Good Earth | Pearl S. Buck | Historical Fiction | Library | |
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn | Betty Smith | Fiction |
| |
1984 | George Orwell | Dystopian Fiction | X | |
A Prayer for Owen Meany | John Irving | Fiction |
| |
Death of a Salesman | Arthur Miller | Tragedy | Library | |
East of Eden | John Steinbeck | Allegory/drama | Library | |
Hiroshima | John Hersey | War Account | Library | |
Pride and Prejudice | Jane Austen | Fiction | Library | |
Jane Eyre | Charlotte Bronte | Romance, Classic Regency | Library | |
Wuthering Heights | Emile Bronte | Tragedy, Gothic Fiction | X (BR) | |
The Canterbury Tales | Geoffrey | Fiction | Library | |
The House on Mango Street | Sandra Cisneros | Fiction |
| |
Roots | Alex Haley | Fiction | Library | |
The House of Seven Gables | Nathaniel Hawthorne | Gothic Fiction | Library | |
A Midsummer Night’s Dream | William Shakespeare | Fantasy Fiction | X (BR) | |
The Joy Luck Club | Amy Tan | Fiction | X (BR) | |
Three Cups of Tea | Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin | Memoir | X (BR) | |
Anthem | Ayn Rand | Science Fiction | X (BR) | |
The Long Walk | Slavomir Rawicz | Fiction | X (BR) | |
Laughing Boy | Oliver La Farge | Historical Fiction | X (BR) | |
Fellowship of the Ring | J.R.R. Tolkien | Fantasy | X(BR) | |
The Jungle | Upton Sinclair | Fiction | X (BR) | |
The Pigman | Paul Zindel | Fiction | X (BR) | |
April Morning | Howard Fast | Historical Fiction | X(BR) | |
The Kite Runner | Khaled Hosseini | Fiction | X | |
The Pearl | John Steinbeck | Parable, Fiction | X (BR) | |
High School(continued) |
The Fifth Wave(series) |
Rick Yancy |
Science fiction |
|
Gathering Blue, Messenger, Son | Lois Lowry | Dystopian fiction |
| |
Sense and Sensibility | Jane Austen | romance |
| |
The Landry News | Andrew Clements | Nonfiction(history, journalism, government) |
| |
Steve Jobs Biography | Walter Isaacson | nonfiction |
| |
Heroes of Olympus Series-junior high and high school level | Rick Riordan series | Fantasy/fiction |
| |
The Silent Storm | Sherry Garland | Adventure |
| |
Insignia | S.J. Kincaid | Nonfiction |
| |
The Selection(series) | Kiera Cass | Dystopian, young adult, romance |
| |
Doomed Queen Anne | Carolyn Meyer | Historical fiction, young adult fiction |
| |
Lunar Chronicles(series) | Marissa Meyer | Fantasy, fiction, dystopian |
| |
Bamboo People | Mitali Perkins | fiction |
| |
The Running Dream | Wendelin Van Draanen | fiction |
| |
Sammy’s Song | Alma Yates | fiction |
| |
If I Stay | Gayle Forman | fiction |
| |
The Captive Maiden | Melanie Dickerson | fiction |
| |
Escape from Camp 14 | Blain Harden | biography |
| |
Where the Crawdads Sing | Delia Owens | fiction |
| |
Between a Rock and a Hard Place | Aron Rolsten | nonfiction |
| |
The Shallows | Nicholas Carr | nonfiction |
| |
Between Shades of Gray | Ruta Sepetys | Historical |
| |
All the Light We Cannot See | Anthony Doerr | Historical Fiction |
| |
| Little Women | Louisa May Alcott | Family saga/realist |
|
Heartless | Marissa Meyer | Fantasy |
| |
Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes | Suzanne Collins | Dystopian action/adventure |
| |
Eragon Series | Christopher Paolini | Fantasy |
| |
Fairy Tale | Stephen King | Fantasy |
| |
Fable | Adrienne Young | Young adult fantasy |
| |
Strange the Dreamer | Laini Taylor | Fantasy |
| |
Dane of Thieves | Mary E. Pearson | Fantasy romance |
| |
Legendborne | Tracy Deonn | Fantasy |
| |
The Da Vinci Code | Dan Brown | fiction |
| |
Scythe trilogy | Neal Shusterman | Science fantasy |
| |
Six of Crows | Leigh Bardugo | Fantasy |
| |
Alcatraz Vs. The Evil Librarians Series | Brandon Sanderson | Fantasy |
| |
Shadow and Bone trilogy | Leigh Bardugo | Fantasy |
| |
The Inheritance Games Trilogy | Jennifer Lynn Barnes | Young adult |
| |
| Red Queen Series | Victoria Aveyard | Fantasy |
|
A Monster Calls | Patrick Ness | Fantasy/fiction |
|
Name: __________________
English: _________________
Summer Reading Rubric and Reflection
Date: ___________________
Summer Reading Book of Choice Written Project
Please review the following rubric and give yourself an honest appraisal. Then answer the following questions.
Category | 3 Proficient | 2 Developing | 1-Inadequate |
Length -1 ½ to 2 pages(junior high) 2-3 pages(high school) Essay Format—beginning, middle, ending paragraphs |
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Introduction-introduce title and author of the book with a few engaging sentences about the book. Hook the reader. |
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Body- Required components--Characterization: Who is the protagonist? Why has the writer used this character as the protagonist? Expound on how the protagonist changes or doesn’t change by using events. Explain protagonist’s traits. Resolution: How does the book end? Discuss if you liked or did not like the ending and why or why not. How did the climax resolve the conflict? |
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Body- Own choice component—two more for high school and one more for junior high(Follow guidelines-Expound) |
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Conclusion-Evaluate the storyline and reflect upon own reading of the book |
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BEST EFFORT was shown in written report. |
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Did you complete your book by Wednesday, August 16 _____________________________________
If no, FINISH and let the teacher know when you are done because points are being given for completion as well as above categories on written essay. (Over)
Reflect on your overall experience with reading your book. Consider strengths and weaknesses. What was the best part of the experience? What were some of your struggles? If you did struggle, what are some goals you can make to make the next reading assignment more successful? ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
2024 Summer Reading Book of Choice Written Project
Directions: All writing is due on Wednesday, August 14 except incoming seventh graders will write their projects in class the first two days of school. All students need to make sure their book is read before school starts. Grades for the writing project will be included in the fall 2024 grades. The typed assessment should be written in essay form following the outline. Use the outline for specifics
on what to discuss. Writing should expound on these points in paragraph format. Junior high needs to be one and a half pages minimum to two pages maximum which includes three components from Roman numeral two below. High school needs to be two pages minimum to three pages maximum which included four components from Roman numeral two below. Use different events to prove your answers. Line spacing is double but make sure there are no extra spaces between paragraphs. All books need to be read. Audio books are okay IF the students read with the audio book.
I. Introduction Paragraph-Required
A. Introduce the title and author of the book with a few original summarizing sentences about the book. Hook the reader in introduction.
II. Body Paragraphs-Required to do the A component and F component then choose other components(at least one more for junior high and two more for high school) for the body of your essay.
Remember to indent paragraphs each time you start a new component (A, B, C, etc.)
A. Characterization
1. Who is the protagonist?
2. Why has the writer used this character as the hero/protagonist?
3. Discuss if the protagonist (main character) is a dynamic (changes throughout the course
of the book-Do not explain physical changes but internal) or static(does not
change) character. Expound on how the protagonist changes or doesn’t change by using
events which occur during the course of the novel and how these events affect the
protagonist. Explain what traits this character possesses from beginning to ending.
The same trait may be used throughout the whole book if applicable but use
different events to prove the protagonist’s trait(s).
B. Theme(moral to the story statement)
1. What is the lesson learned from the novel? State this as a complete sentence.
2. Discuss at least two different events from the beginning and ending of the book which
give supporting evidence for the theme. Choose the best events to prove the theme.
C. Conflict
1. What is the conflict which drives the entire plot of the novel?
2. Expound on this conflict and how it leads to other events throughout the novel.
D. Point of View
1. What point of view was the novel narrated in?
2. What is the writer’s purpose for writing in this point of view?
3. Share two events showing why this point of view was best in these events.
E. Climax
1. What was the most emotional turning point of the novel? Expound on it.
2. Discuss what led up to it being the most emotional part.
F. Resolution
1. How did the book end?
2. Discuss if you liked or did not like the ending and why or why not.
3. How did the climax resolve the conflict?
G. Facts vs. Opinions
1. List three facts found in this book. To be a fact, one must be able to prove it.
2. Expound on at least one of the facts and why it is important and/or startling.
3. List three opinions about those facts.
4. Expound on at least one of your opinions.
H. Title Interpretation
1. Why was the book given the title it was?
2. Was it an effective or ineffective title?
3. If you were to give it a new title, what would it be and why? Even if you like the title, think of a
different one.
I. Relationships in the book
1. Discuss at least one relationship in the book.
2. How did the relationship change or stay the same throughout the novel? Show this through events.
III. Concluding Paragraph-Required
A. Evaluate and summarize the storyline
B. Reflect upon your own reading of the book
Make sure you make your conclusion a strong paragraph and don’t announce that you are concluding. Just do it. Proofread and fix your own errors. Your grammar and mechanics matter in your grade.