Rising 8th Grade Summer Learning
Scroll to the bottom of this page to find printable Choice Book lists and discussion questions for Required Books.
Required Math Practice
This summer we are offering two options for students to reinforce their math proficiency over the summer months. Practicing 1 to 1.5 hours a week consistently every week of the summer (10 to 15 hours total) will help ensure a smooth transition back to school in August. If your child wants to do more, all the better. Review the following options with your child to determine which are preferred and would be beneficial.
- Math Minutes for Rising 8th (ISBN-13: 978-1591984313 ): These workbooks are available for purchase online or through local bookstores. Students should complete the workbook for the grade they just completed.
- Khan Academy (https://www.khanacademy.org/math/get-ready-for-8th-grade): Complete the entire course or target specific areas for practice.
- Kuta Software (http://kutasoftware.com/): Select Free Worksheets then click the appropriate course. There you will find a wide variety of topics and sub-topics with pre-made worksheets (and associated answer keys).
Optional Keyboarding Practice
For students entering grades 3- 8, computer keyboarding is an essential skill that will benefit them greatly as we increase the use of technology. Typing.com offers fun, helpful, and free keyboarding practice. Students should create an account to keep track of their progress (not for teachers to monitor).
Required Book
Read BOTH books and answer associated discussion questions.
Read BOTH books and answer associated discussion questions.
Choice Books
Choose at least TWO, preferably from different genres; as well, select titles you have NOT read previously. If you choose a graphic novel as one of your choice books, please choose a traditional book as your second choice book.
Printable lists available below.
Choose at least TWO, preferably from different genres; as well, select titles you have NOT read previously. If you choose a graphic novel as one of your choice books, please choose a traditional book as your second choice book.
Printable lists available below.
HISTORICAL/POLITICAL FICTION
Animal Farm by George Orwell Manor Farm pig, Major, tells the other animals that if it were not for the presence of man they could achieve a utopia. Soon the animals revolt and take over the farm themselves, changing its name to Animal Farm. For a time they almost achieve utopia, but eventually the animals must yield much of the management of the farm to the pigs. With the pigs in charge, they soon take on man's privileges, while most of the other animals return to the lives they had before the revolution. This novel can be seen simply as a betrayal of the ideals of socialism, but Orwell makes the animals' revolt a symbol for any modern revolution. As Long As the Lemon Trees Grow by Zoulfa Katouh This challenging read recounts some of the harsh realities Syrians have been facing over the last decade, told from the perspective of hijabi teen Salama, who's struggling to decide between fleeing to (relative) safety or staying to help what remains of her community. Leaving her homeland is risky, but so is staying. It isn't easy to visualize the pain and trauma Syrians face by watching, reading, or listening to news reports, but author Katouh, who is Syrian, shares these stories, all inspired by real events and tragedies, with authenticity and raw truth, putting a moving human face on these historic events. Displacement by Kiku Hughes Kiku is on vacation when suddenly she finds herself displaced to the 1940s Japanese-American internment camp that her late grandmother, Ernestina, was forcibly relocated to during World War II. These displacements keep occurring until Kiku finds herself "stuck" back in time. Living alongside her young grandmother and other Japanese-American citizens, Kiku witnesses the lives of Japanese-Americans who were denied their civil liberties and suffered greatly, but managed to cultivate community and commit acts of resistance in order to survive. Fallen Angels by Walter Dean Myers Seventeen-year-old Richie Perry, just out of his Harlem high school, enlists in the Army in the summer of 1967 and spends a devastating year on active duty in Vietnam. Fallout by Todd Strasser In an alternate-history of the Cuban missile crisis, eleven-year-old Scott's family becomes the laughingstock of their neighborhood when they build a bomb shelter. However, when the Civil Defense siren sounds, sending them to the shelter, they can't keep their neighbors out. In chapters that alternate between their time in the shelter and the weeks leading up to the attack, the story reveals the true nature of each person in the shelter. Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys World War II is drawing to a close and thousands of refugees are desperate for freedom. Among them are Joana, Emilia, and Florian, whose paths converge en route to the ship that promises salvation. Forced by circumstance to unite, the three find their strength, courage, and trust in each other. Just when it seems freedom is within their grasp, tragedy strikes. Not country, nor culture, nor status matter as all ten thousand people aboard must fight for the same thing: survival. MYSTERY The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown (Full edition; NOT the young reader's ed.) While in Paris, symbologist Robert Langdon is notified that the curator of the Louvre has been murdered, his body covered in symbols. As Langdon and cryptologist Sophie Neveu sort through the bizarre riddles, they are stunned to discover a trail of clues hidden in the works of Leonardo da Vinci. Even more startling, the late curator guarded a breathtaking historical secret. Unless Langdon and Neveu can decipher the puzzle the ancient truth will be lost forever. The Hound of the Baskervilles by Arthur Conan Doyle Set on Dartmoor in Devon, England, The Hound of Baskervilles tells the story of an attempted murder inspired by the legend of a fearsome, diabolical hound of supernatural origin. Sherlock Holmes and his companion Dr. Watson investigate the case. Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie Famous Belgian detective Hercule Poirot must sift through clues--some real and some planted--to find a murderer aboard a crowded train speeding through the snowy European landscape. NONFICTION/MEMOIR The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind by William Kamkwamba (Full edition; NOT the young reader's ed.) When a terrible drought struck William Kamkwamba's village, his family lost the season's crops, leaving them with nothing. William began to explore science books, looking for a solution. There, he came up with the idea to build a windmill. Made out of scrap metal and old bicycle parts, William's miraculous windmill brought electricity to his village and helped them access the water they needed! Chasing Lincoln’s Killer by James L. Swanson Recounts the escape of John Wilkes Booth, Abraham Lincoln's assassin, and follows the intensive twelve-day search for him and his accomplices. Fallout: Spies, Superbombs, and the Ultimate Cold War Showdown by Steve Sheinkin As WWII ends, the US and the Soviet Union emerge as the greatest world powers on extreme opposites of the political spectrum. The two nations begin a competition to build even more destructive bombs and conquer the Space Race. In their battle for dominance, spy planes fly above, armed submarines swim below, and undercover agents meet in the dead of night. The Cold War game grows more precarious with fingers literally on the trigger. The showdown culminates in the Cuban Missile Crisis, the world's very close call with a third world war. Hidden Figures by Margot Lee Shetterly (Full edition; NOT the young reader's ed.) Before John Glenn orbited Earth, or Neil Armstrong walked on the Moon, a group of dedicated female mathematicians known as 'human computers' used pencils, slide rules and adding machines to calculate the numbers that would launch rockets, and astronauts, into space. Among them were a group of exceptionally talented African American women, some of the brightest minds of their generation. Hiroshima by John Hersey On August 6, 1945, Hiroshima was destroyed by the first atomic bomb ever dropped on a city. This book tells what happened on that day, told through the memoirs of survivors. Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer In April, 1992, a young man hitchhiked to Alaska and walked alone into the wilderness north of Mt. McKinley. His name was Christopher Johnson McCandless. He had given $25,000 to charity, abandoned his car and most of his possessions, burned all the cash in his wallet, and invented a new life for himself. Four months later, a party of moose hunters found his decomposed body. How McCandless came to die is the unforgettable story of Into the Wild. The Rise and Fall of Charles Lindbergh by Candace Fleming First human to cross the Atlantic via airplane; Nazi sympathizer and anti-Semite; loner whose baby was kidnapped and murdered; champion of Eugenics; tireless environmentalist. Charles Lindbergh was all of the above and more. Here is a spellbinding biography about an American hero who was also a deeply flawed man. |
NONFICTION/MEMOIR (cont'd)
They Called Us Enemy by George Takei (with Eisinger, Scott, and Becker, illus.) Before George Takei braved new frontiers in Star Trek, he woke up to find his own birth country at war with his father's and their entire family forced from their home into an uncertain future. In 1942, at the order of President Roosevelt, every person of Japanese descent on the west coast was shipped to a "relocation center," where they would be held for years under armed guard. This is Takei's firsthand account of those years behind barbed wire. Unbroken OR Unbroken (Young Adult Adaptation) by Laura Hillenbrand (Either edition is acceptable) Louis Zamperini was headed toward juvenile delinquency until he got into something more productive: running. Louis became a world-class runner and Olympian. Following his running career and WW II looming, Louis joined the Army Air Corps, and it was with the downing of his bomber that his harrowing journey began. Adrift in the Pacific Ocean, attacked by sharks, brutalized as a POW, Louis' is a tale of survival against all odds. NOTE: Full adult edition uses strong language, including profanity. REALISTIC FICTION All American Boys by Jason Reynolds Two teenage boys, one black (Rashad) and one white (Quinn), are inextricably linked when Quinn witnesses Rashad being savagely beaten by a policeman who has served as Quinn’s de facto big brother since his father was killed—and whose younger brother is one of Quinn’s best friends. Can Quinn simply walk away and pretend he hasn’t seen anything? And what of Rashad? Hospitalized with internal bleeding, all he wants is to be left alone. The challenge for both boys becomes more intense when the case begins to divide first their school and then the entire community. The Final Four by Paul Volponi There are only four teams left in March Madness-the NCAA basketball championship. The heavily favored Michigan Spartans and the underdog Troy Trojans meet in the first game in the seminfinals, and it's there that the fates of Malcolm, Roko, Crispin, and M.J. intertwine. As the last moments tick down, you'll learn how each player went from being a kid who loves to shoot hoops to a powerful force in one of the most important games of the year. Which team will leave the Superdome victorious? In the end it will come down to who has the most skill, the most drive, and the most heart. Goodbye Stranger by Rebecca Stead As Bridge makes her way through seventh grade on Manhattan's Upper West Side with her best friends, curvaceous Em, crusader Tab, and a curious new friend-or more than friend-Sherm, she finds the answer she has been seeking since she barely survived an accident at age eight: "What is my purpose?". Our Town: A Play in Three Acts by Thorton Wilder ISBN 13: 978-0060512637 Set in a mythical New England village, Our Town, is an American classic. It is the simple story of a love affair that asks timeless questions about the meaning of love, life, and death. It explores the relationship between two neighbors, George Gibbs and Emily Webb, whose childhood friendship blossoms into romance, and then culminates in marriage, parenthood, and, ultimately, death. SCI-FI/DYSTOPIAN/FANTASY/FOLK TALES Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card ISBN 13: 978-0312853235 In order to develop a secure defense against a hostile alien race, government agencies breed child geniuses and train them as soldiers. A brilliant young boy, Andrew "Ender" Wiggin lives with his kind, yet distant parents, his sadistic brother Peter, and the person he loves most, his sister Valentine. Peter and Valentine were candidates for the soldier-training program but didn't make the cut―young Ender does. Ender's skills make him a leader at school yet he suffers from isolation, peer rivalry, adult pressure, and fear. Is Ender the general Earth needs? The Giver by Lois Lowry (or any in series) Jonas was born into a world where everybody has agreed that well-matched married couples will raise two offspring, one boy and one girl. At age 12, they receive a career assignment, sensibly chosen by the community's Elders. There is no pain or controversy and there is no choice. This civilization is so pleasant that readers are easily seduced by the illusion of this ordered, pain-free society. Until the time that Jonah begins training for his job assignment--the Receiver of Memory. As his training progresses, readers, and Jonah, learn the society's collective memories of a world and discover the terrible truth about the society in which he lives. Good Omens: the Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witch by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett According to The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witch (the world's only accurate book of prophecies, written in 1655, before she exploded), the world will end on a Saturday. Next Saturday. Just before dinner. So the armies of Good and Evil are amassing, Atlantis is rising, frogs are falling, tempers are flaring. Everything appears to be going according to the Divine Plan. Except a somewhat fussy angel and a fast-living demon—both of whom have lived amongst Earth's mortals since The Beginning and have grown rather fond of the lifestyle—are not actually looking forward to the coming destruction. The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune Linus Baker leads a quiet life in a tiny house with a devious cat and his old records. As a caseworker, he spends his days overseeing the well-being of magical children in government-sanctioned orphanages. When Linus is asked to travel to an orphanage, where six dangerous children reside: a gnome, a sprite, a wyvern, an unidentifiable blob, a were-Pomeranian, and the Antichrist, Linus must set aside his fears. Their caretaker, the charming Arthur Parnassus, will do anything to keep his wards safe and as Arthur and Linus grow closer, long-held secrets are exposed, and Linus must decide to destroy a home or watch the world burn. Legend by Marie Lu (or any in series) Born into an elite family, fifteen-year-old June is a prodigy being groomed for success in the Republic's highest military circles. Born into the slums, fifteen-year-old Day is the country's most wanted criminal, but his motives may not be as malicious as they seem. From very different worlds, June and Day have no reason to cross paths - until the day June's brother, Metias, is murdered and Day becomes the prime suspect. Day is in a race for his family's survival, while June seeks to avenge Metias's death. But in a shocking turn of events, the two uncover the truth of what has really brought them together, and the sinister lengths their country will go to keep its secrets. The Long Walk by Stephen King Ray Garraty is competing in the annual match of stamina and wits known as The Long Walk. One hundred boys must keep a pace of four miles per hour without ever stopping with the winner being awarded anything he wants for the rest of his life. But, there are some harsh rules they must adhere to in order to beat out the rest. There is no finish line—the winner is the last man standing. Contestants cannot receive any outside aid. Slow down and you’re given a warning. Three warnings and you’re out of the game—permanently. Note: Uses strong language, including profanity. The Selection by Kiera Cass (or any in series) For thirty-five girls, the Selection is the chance of a lifetime. The opportunity to escape a rigid caste system, live in a palace, and compete for the heart of Prince Maxon. But for America Singer, being Selected is a nightmare. It means turning her back on her secret love, who is a caste below her, and competing for a crown she doesn’t want. Then America meets Prince Maxon and realizes that the life she’s always dreamed of may not compare to a future she never imagined. |
Rising 8th Grade Summer Reading List (alpha by title)
Rising 8th Grade Summer Reading List (alpha by genre; includes summaries)
Discussion Questions for Required Reading
Answer the discussion questions in complete sentences. You may type or write your responses. We will discuss them as a class in August.
Summer Reading Record
Rising 8th Grade Summer Reading List (alpha by genre; includes summaries)
Discussion Questions for Required Reading
Answer the discussion questions in complete sentences. You may type or write your responses. We will discuss them as a class in August.
Summer Reading Record