Betton Hills Preparatory School
Middle School Summer Reading Program
8th Grade
Required summer readings (2) for all incoming 8th Graders
A Separate Peace by John Knowles
A Separate Peace is the story of two teenage boys, Gene and Phineas. Told through the eyes of Gene many years after the events of the novel, the story is about Gene's experience at boarding school and his relationship with Phineas who is more popular and more athletic and outgoing. With the backdrop of World War II, the novel reveals profound insights into human nature and will leave the reader astounded by the end.
The Good Earth by Pearl S. Buck
The Good Earth is a novel about peasant life in China during the 1920s. (Pulitzer Prize winner) Read for the beauty of the descriptions of China, a hard life of farming and the simplicity of the well written characters. There will be a test on the book the first week of school followed by in-class discussion.
Reporting Requirements:
Reading journal on A Separate Peace
Essay on The Good Earth
Reporting Instructions
A Separate Peace by John Knowles
Instructions for the Reading Journal:
A reading journal is a record of how you feel about the book after you have finished reading a passage. In this reading journal there should be very little summary. You should have twice as much personal commentary, which is your feeling about the book and how you react to it, than summary. The most successful reading journals tell stories of you. For example, "The fast bus ride that Charlie endures reminds me of Dorothy being catapulted to the mythical city of Oz by the tornado. It also reminds me of a fast ride on the train going from Washington, D.C. to New York. The train ride took only an hour but because of the speed and the view out the window it seemed like a tornado. I think I prefer a train ride to Charlie’s crazy bus ride as the landing is softly." That is an example of commentary—it is your opinion.
A Separate Peace has several themes that run throughout the book. Was, relationships, immaturity, are some of them. Explore some of the themes in your journal. What do you think the characters are learning? Are they successful? You should also tell if you like or dislike the story and why. The "why" and "how" of a story is more important than the "who" or "what."
The Good Earth
Essay Outline
Use the following outline to write your essay. This form is an outline only. It is not your composition. Feel free to make notes on this form, but your final draft needs to be word-processed, double spaced in size 12 Times New Roman font. No other font is acceptable. Please proofread your paper for spelling, capitalization and grammatical errors before you submit it to your teacher.
Paragraph One:
This paragraph begins with an opening sentence that works as an "attention
getter" for the reader. This attention getter needs to be related to the book in
some way. For example, if read The Adventure of Tom Sawyer, I might begin
with something like:
One of the most beloved characters of all literature is a
young boy
whom many adults might think needs some lessons in proper behavior .
In addition to your "attention getter", you will need to state the title and author of the book you read, the setting and a sentence that states what the book is about. For example: The novel, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain, is about the many mischievous events of a young boy and his friends as they learn some very important life lessons. These events occur in the late nineteen hundreds in the southern part of the United States. Finally, you will need a sentence that works to transition to the paragraph that follows this one.
Paragraph Two:
This paragraph introduces and explains the relationships of the main characters
in the book you read. Try to describe each main character completely, as if they
were someone I might meet. A good way to organize this paragraph is to introduce
the characters in order of importance.
Paragraph Three:
This paragraph explains the conflict(s) of the story. This is the problem and
how the problem is solved or dealt with. The events or plot of the book are also
referred to in this paragraph since that is where the conflict(s) occurs. Often
you can find the conflict by asking the following questions:
What is the goal of the main Character?
What gets in the way of the character's goal?
How does the character overcome this obstacle?
Do not merely state the conflict. Prove, through referring to events in the book, that this conflict really exists. It is not enough to say, the conflict is man versus society. Your claim must be proven through examples.
Paragraph Four:
This paragraph explains the theme of the book. The theme is different from what
the book is about. To find it, you need to ask yourself, what did the main
character(s) learn? This is the key to figuring out the theme. Theme is not
stated directly, but must be inferred by the reader. For example, a possible
theme for The Adventures of Tom Sawyer might be: The laws of society
don't often seem fair or even logical. If this is a valid theme, then the events
of the story will reinforce it as will the lesson(s) the main character learns.
Paragraph Five:
It is this final paragraph that you will also give your opinion of this theme and the book itself.
Turn in your journal
and your essay on the first day of school. Essays should be double spaced and either typed Times New Roman font size 12 or written neatly in ink. Journals should be neatly written in ink and double spaced. These will be your first grades for the quarter. In August there will also be a discussion and test on the required books.8th Graders may choose additional books to read as well.
Students will receive extra credit for these additional readings if they complete note cards on each additional book chosen. Each completed note card should be in the following format:Do not do cards on the required books.
1. You must use a 5"x 8" note card only
2. Use only one card for each book.
ON THE FRONT OF THE CARD INCLUDE:
ON THE BACK OF THE CARD INCLUDE:
Additional titles for 8th grade:
Adams, Douglas The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy
Arthur Dent escapes the planet Earth a few seconds before it is demolished to make way for an intergalactic freeway. With his friend, Ford Prefect, he hitches rides to different parts of the galaxy and takes part in several humorous adventures.
Adams, Richard Watership Down
The adventures of a group of rabbits, who search for a place where they can live in peace. An allegory of human society.
Alexi, Sherman The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian
An autobiography of a boy growing up on an Indian reservation and facing life outside of his comfort zone.
Bat-Ami, Miriam Two Suns in the Sky
A Catholic American girl falls in love with a young Holocaust survivor, against her parents’ wishes. Based on a little-known camp in Oswego, NY, where Jewish refugees were held during World War II.
Blacker, Terence The Angel Factory
When Thomas opens a secret file on his father’s computer, he discovers that in his "perfect" futuristic world , nothing is what it seems.
Bradford, Richard Red Sky at Morning
A classic coming of age story, which takes place in the West during World War II.
Bronte, Charlotte Jane Eyre
A Victorian love story, involving a strong-willed governess and her brooding employer.
Brooks, Bruce The Moves Make the Man
A black boy and an emotionally troubled white boy form a friendship based on their common interest in basketball.
Clarke, Arthur C. Childhood’s End
A science fiction classic involving a race of aliens who bring peace and prosperity to the Earth, but who take away the freedom of mankind.
Cormier, Robert The Chocolate War
A high school student becomes first a hero and then a victim through intimidation and the misuse of power.
Davis, Samson The Pact
Three teenagers from a rough part of Newark, NJ make a promise to help each other get to college.
Draper, Sharon Tears of a Tiger
The death of a high school basketball star in an auto accident profoundly affects the life of his best friend, who was driving the car.
Dorris, Michael A Yellow Raft on Blue Water
A coming of age story about an Indian/black girl searching for connections with family and her own identity.
Enger, Leif Peace Like a River
Eleven-year-old Ruben narrates the story of his family’s journey throughout the West, searching for his older brother Davy, who has been accused of murder.
Farmer, Nancy The House of the Scorpion
In the futuristic country of Opium, Matt, a clone of the powerful drug lord, El Patron, discovers the evils of his society. An imaginative science fiction story that looks at the social implications of technology. (National Book Award)
Gaines, Ernest The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman
The fictional account of a black woman who was born into slavery and lived to witness the racial turmoil of the 1960s.
Garland, Sherry Indio
On the day she is to be married, a pueblo Indian girl is captured by Spanish conquistadors and sold into slavery in a Mexican silver mine.
Gilbreth, Frank, et. al. Cheaper by the Dozen
The hilarious story of a family of twelve children growing up in the 1920s.
Giovanni, Nikki Shimmy Shimmy Shimmy Like My Sister Kate
Looking at the Harlem Renaissance through poems.
Greenberg, Joanne I Never Promised You a Rose Garden
Describes the three year battle of a mentally ill teenage girl and her relationship with her doctor.
Grimes, Nikki Bronx Masquerade: While studying the Harlem Renaissance, students at a Bronx high school read aloud poems they've written, revealing their innermost thoughts and fears. (Coretta Scott King award)
Haley, Alex Roots: The chronicle of a black family, which begins in Africa in 1750 and ends in Arkansas seven generations later.
Hart, Elva Trevino Barefoot Heart: Stories of a Migrant Child: An autobiographical account of the life of a Mexican American child, who moved back and forth between Texas and Minnesota. She eventually went to college and received a master’s degree in computer science/engineering.
Hesse, Karen Witness
The story of a small town in the 1920s and its involvement with the Ku Klux clan.
Hesse, Karen Letters from Rifka
A young Jewish girl writes letters to her cousin, describing her family's escape from Russia in 1919 and their jouney to America.
Hoffman, Alice At Risk
A family is shattered when their eleven-year-old daughter is diagnosed with AIDS.
Holt, Kimberly Willis My Louisiana Sky
A girl living in a small Louisiana town in the 1950s must choose whether to care for her mentally handicapped parents or move in with her glamorous aunt in Baton Rouge.
Kincaid, Jamaica Annie John
The story of a young black girl growing up on Antigua and her relationship with her mother.
Krakauer, Jon Into Thin Air
A personal account of the Mt. Everest disaster.
Lowry, Lois The Giver
Jonas, a young boy from a seemingly utopian, futuristic world, is chosen to receive special training from The Giver, who holds the memories of joy and pain. The theme of balancing the values of freedom and security is skillfully presented. (Newbery Medal)
Lowry, Lois Gathering Blue
In a barbaric society of the future, a crippled orphan girl with a talent for weaving is given the responsibility of preserving the memory of the culture. A companion volume to The Giver – read The Giver first.
Mccaughrean, Geraldine The White Darkness
An unusual teenaged girl who embarks on a wild expedition to Antarctica with her lunatic Uncle Victor.
Myers, Walter Dean Fallen Angels
The story of a young man’s tour of duty in Vietnam.
Myers, Walter Dean The Glory Field
Follows five generations of an African-American family from slavery to the present.
Nolan, Han Dancing on the Edge
Miracle McCloy struggles to become a prodigy like her writer father and a psychic like her grandmother. In the process she has to discover who she really is and has to find truth in the midst of lies told by her family. (National Book Award)
Paterson, Katherine The Same Stuff as Stars
Eleven-year old Angel Morgan is in charge of her dysfunctional family. A mysterious stranger befriends Angel and teaches her about the stars and planets.
Peacock, Nancy Home Across the Road
China Redd, great-granddaughter of a slave named Cally, has cooked and cleaned for the white branch of the Redd family for nearly 50 years. This is the story of her family.
Pullman, Philip The Golden Compass (and series)
A fantasy story in which a girl tries to prevent her best friend and other kidnapped children from becoming subjects of gruesome science experiments in the far north.
Stevenson, Robert Louis Kidnapped
David Balfour’s evil uncle has him kidnapped and sold into slavery.
Stewart, Mary The Crystal Cave (and series)
A story of the early years of Merlin.
Taylor, Mildred Let the Circle Be Unbroken
In 1935 the Logan family watches as their black friend is charged with murder and tried by a hostile all-white jury.
Thornton, Yvonne S. The Ditchdigger’s Daughters
A prominent black physician writes about her amazing father, who insisted that his five children receive an education.
Voigt, Cynthia Izzy Willy-Nilly
A car accident causes 15-year old Izzy to lose one leg. She has to make major adjustments at school and in her personal life.
7th Grade
Betton Hills Preparatory School
Middle School Summer Reading Program
All incoming fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth grade students are to read the required books, listed by grade level. Follow the grade level requirements for reporting on the book. Please word process your essay or composition. The 8th grade reading journal may be hand written but must be double spaced. For the essays, staple the title page to your essay. Be prepared to discuss the books you read the first week of school. These essays and presentations are your first grades for the school year. Do your best and have a great summer.
Required summer readings for all incoming 7th Graders
Lee, Harper To Kill a Mockingbird
A child comes of age in the Depression, "Jim Crowe" South. A Pulitzer prize-winning story that threatens boundaries.
And
Another book from the suggested reading list.
Reporting Requirements:
Essay on To Kill a Mockingbird – see instructions below
Notecard on the additional book – see instructions below
Instructions for the five paragraph essay on To Kill a Mockingbird.
To Kill a Mockingbird
is the other required book to read. You will write a five-paragraph essay answering the question, what boundaries are threatened by the characters’ actions in To Kill a Mockingbird? Think of the boundaries of race, religion, and gender and the tolerance for all three. Does the book threaten one or all of the boundaries? How does the book explain and embrace/discuss all of these boundaries? Bring in various characters and discuss how they represent or support or break various boundaries. Do not use the pronouns "I, we, you, us." You will write an introduction, three body paragraphs and a conclusion. Please cite from the novel in defense of your thesis statement. Example of citation: "She said she was going to leave this world beholden to nothing or nobody" (127). Mrs. Dubose was addicted to pain medication and she did not want to "meet her maker" free of any medication. Even though Mrs. Dubose was dying, she showed her courage by trying to beat the addiction before she died. As Atticus later told Jem, " I wanted you to see what real courage is" (226). Notice where the periods are in a citation and how page numbers are cited.Essay
Your essay needs to be word-processed, double spaced in size 12 Times New Roman font. No other font is acceptable. Please proofread your paper for spelling, capitalization and grammatical errors before you submit it the first day of school.
Paragraph One:
Y
Paragraph Two:
This paragraph introduces and explains the thesis and relationships of the main
characters in the book you read. Try to describe each main character’s
relationship to your thesis completely.
Paragraph Three:
This paragraph explains the conflict(s) of the story. This is the problem and
how the problem is solved or dealt with. The events or plot of the book are also
referred to in this paragraph since that is where the conflict(s) occurs. Often
you can find the conflict by asking the following questions:
What is the goal of the main Character?
What gets in the way of the character's goal?
How does the character overcome this obstacle?
Do not merely state the conflict. Prove, through referring to events in the book, that this conflict really exists. It is not enough to say, the conflict is man versus society. Your claim must be proven through examples.
Paragraph Four:
This paragraph explains the theme of the book. The theme is different from what
the book is about. To find it, you need to ask yourself, what did the main
character(s) learn? This is the key to figuring out the theme. Theme is not
stated directly, but must be inferred by the reader. For example, a possible
theme for The Adventures of Tom Sawyer might be: The laws of society
don't often seem fair or even logical. If this is a valid theme, then the events
of the story will reinforce it as will the lesson(s) the main character learns.
It is this final paragraph that you will also give your opinion of this theme
and the book itself.
Turn in your essay on the first day of school.
Entries should be double spaced and either typed Times New Roman font size 12 or written neatly in ink. This will be your first grade for the quarter. In August there will also be a discussion and test on the required books.Reporting Instructions for 7th Grade
Students must make note cards for the additional which they read. This note card must be turned in on the first day of class. Do not make a note card for To Kill a Mockingbird. Any additional books you read from the list should be marked extra credit and will be used at the teacher’s discretion
Please follow the reporting instructions carefully.
ON THE FRONT OF THE CARD INCLUDE:
ON THE BACK OF THE CARD INCLUDE:
Additional titles for 7th grade:
Alcott, Louisa May An Old-fashioned Girl
Polly's friendship with a wealthy family in Boston teaches her the truth about the relationship between happiness and money.
Alexander, Lloyd The Black Cauldron
Taran, Assistant Pig-Keeper of Prydain, faces even more dangers as he seeks the magical Black Cauldron, the chief implement of the evil powers of Arawn, lord of the Land of Death.
Armstrong, Jennifer Steal Away
In 1855 two 13-year-old girls, one white and one black, run away from a southern farm and make the difficult journey north to freedom.
Asimov, Isaac Fantastic Voyage
Jan Benes lies in a coma. Locked in his brain is a secret vital to the survival of the Free World. A team of doctors, technicians and all their equipment are miniaturized and injected into Dr. Benes’ circulatory system to destroy his blood clot from the inside. One of the team is an enemy.
Banks, Lynn Reid One More River
Fourteen-year-old Lesley is upset when her parents abandon their comfortable life in Canada for a kibbutz in Israel prior to the 1967 war.
Blacker, Terence The Angel Factory
When Thomas opens a secret file on his father’s computer, he discovers that in his "perfect"futuristic world , nothing is what it seems.
Blackwood, Gary The Shakespeare Stealer
A young orphan boy is ordered by his master to infiltrate Shakespeare's acting troupe in order to steal the script of "Hamlet", but he discovers instead the meaning of friendship and loyalty.
Bloor, Edward Tangerine
A legally blind seventh-grader has always lived in the shadow of his older brother. Things change when the family moves to Tangerine County, where bizarre natural disasters occur.
Cleaver, Vera Where the Lilies Bloom
In the Great Smoky Mountains region, a fourteen-year-old girl struggles to keep her family together after their father dies.
Collins, Suzanne
Gregor the OverlanderFrom the laundry room of his building, Gregor falls into the dark Underland, where humans live side by side with spiders, rats and cockroaches.
Cooney, Caroline B. Burning Up
A young teen living in a New England town discovers a mystery based on hatred and bigotry.
Curtis, Christopher Paul The Watsons Go To Birmingham
The lives of the Watsons, an African American family living in Michigan, are drastically changed after they go to visit Grandma in Alabama in the summer of 1963.
Divakaruni, Chitra Bannerjee The Conch Bearer
In a dingy shack in the poor Indian neighborhood he calls home, twelve-year-old Anand is entrusted with a conch shell that possesses mystical powers. His task is to return the shell to its rightful home. His quest will take him farther from home than he's ever been and will teach him more than he ever imagined.
Fast, Howard April Morning
The story of one day in the life of a young American boy in colonial Lexington, the day on which he joined the militia and saw his father shot down by the British.
Filipovich, Zlata Zlata’s Diary
A young girl from Sarajevo writes her diary during the turmoil in her country.
Fletcher, Susan Shadow Spinner
A young storyteller in ancient Persia meets Queen Scheherazade and becomes involved in a dangerous mission.
Greene, Bette Summer of My German Soldier
A 12-year-old Jewish girl in Arkansas befriends an escaped German prisoner of war, and this friendship leads to tragic results.
Hahn, Mary Downing Promises to the Dead
A Civil War era story about the interrelationships of white owners, black slaves, and their offspring as told through the eyes of a 12- year old white boy.
Herriot, James All Creatures Great and Small (and others in series)
The true story of a veterinarian in rural England.
Hesse, Karen Out of the Dust
A 14-year-old girl describes the Oklahoma Dust Bowl (Newbery Award)
Heyerdahl, Thor Kon-Tiki
The true story of Heyerdahl and five companions, who crossed the Pacific on a primitive balsa-log raft.
Hinton, S.E. Taming the Star Runner
Travis, a city boy, develops an unusual friendship with a young horse trainer on his uncle’s ranch.
Hobbs, Will Downriver
Fifteen-year-old Jessie and the other rebellious teenage members of a wilderness survival school team abandon their adult leader, hijack his boats, and try to run the dangerous white water at the bottom of the Grand Canyon.
Holt, Kimberly Willis Dancing in Cadillac Light
In 1968, Jaynell's life in the town of Moon, Texas, is enlivened when her eccentric Grandpap comes to live with her family.
Le Guin,
Ursula K. The Wizard of EarthseaBefore Ged was the noblest sorcerer in Earthsea, he was known to all as a rowdy young man who sought absolute control. This is the story of the adventures of Ged and the difficult tests he must face before he can attempt to re-establish the balance of power in his world.
Lipsyte, Robert The Contender
A 17-year-old Harlem boy struggles to become a champion boxer.
Lisle, Janet Taylor The Art of Keeping Cool
In 1942 two Rhode Island boys become involved with a German artist who is suspected of being a spy.
London, Jack Call of the Wild
The classic survival story of a dog stolen from his California home and made to work as a sled dog during the Alaskan gold rush.
Lyons, Mary Letters From a Slave Girl
A collection of fictional letters vividly recreates the life and times of Harriet Ann Jacobs, a young slave girl who escaped to freedom in the 1840s and who became an author and abolitionist.
Myers, Walter Dean Hoops
A teenage basketball player from Harlem is befriended by a former professional player who, after being forced to quit because of a point shaving scandal, hopes to prevent other young athletes from repeating his mistake.
Napoli, Donna Jo Daughter of Venice
Fourteen-year-old Donata is a pampered member of a noble family in Renaissance Venice. Longing to experience the world outside her villa, Donata disguises herself in boys’ clothing and explores the city.
Napoli, Donna Jo Stones in Water
An Italian boy is captured by German soldiers during World War II.
Park, Linda Sue A Single Shard
Chronicles an orphan boy's transformation from apprentice to artist n 12th century Korea. (Newbery Medal 2002)
Paulsen, Gary Nightjohn
An adult slave named Nightjohn teaches 12-year-old Sarny, also a slave, how to read, in spite of the grim consequences that could result if they are discovered.
Peck, Richard A Year Down Yonder
A sequel to A Long Way From Chicago. In 1937, Joey goes off to work for the Civilian Conservation Corps. His 15-year-old sister Mary Alice has to stay with Grandma alone and becomes an accomplice in Grandma’s outrageous schemes to run the town.
Peck, Richard E. Something for Joey
The true story of pro football star John Cappelletti and his younger brother Joey, who was stricken with leukemia.
Pullman, Philip Ruby in the Smoke (and others in the series)
Sixteen-year-old Sally Lockhart must solve the mystery of her father’s death by venturing into the underworld of Victorian London.
Rawlings, Marjorie Kinnan The Yearling
A young boy living in the Florida backwoods is forced to decide the fate of a fawn he has lovingly raised as a pet.
Rinaldi, Ann A Stitch in Time (and other titles in Quilt Trilogy)
Shortly after the War of Independence, sixteen-year-old Hannah sees her family life changing as a result of old secrets and new opportunities.
Spinelli, Jerry Stargirl
A story about the perils of popularity, the courage of nonconformity, and the thrill of first love.
Sutcliff, Rosemary Black Ships Before Troy: The Story of the Illiad
Retells the story of the Trojan war, from the quarrel for the golden apple, and the flight of Helen with Paris, to the destruction of Troy.
Sutcliff, Rosemary The Wanderings of Odysseus
A master storyteller and an award-winning illustrator evoke the golden age of mythical Greece in this spirited retelling of The Odyssey.
Yolen, Jane Girl in a Cage
As English armies invade Scotland in 1306, eleven-year-old Princess Marjorie, daughter of the newly crowned Scottish king, Robert the Bruce, is captured and held in a cage on public display.
Zindel, Paul The Pigman
Two lonely high school students befriend a strange old man, Mr. Pignati.
Betton Hills Preparatory School
Middle School Summer Reading Program
All incoming fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth grade students are to read the required books, listed by grade level. Follow the grade level requirements for reporting on the book. Please word process your essay or composition. The 8th grade reading journal may be hand written but must be double spaced. For the essays, staple the title page to your essay. Be prepared to discuss the books you read the first week of school. These essays and presentations are your first grades for the school year. Do your best and have a great summer.
6th Grade
Required summer readings for all incoming 6th Graders
R
EQUIRED (2 books):1. Taylor, Theodore The Cay
During World War II, an adolescent boy and an old Black man are stranded on a tiny Caribbean island.
AND
2. Burnett, Frances Hodgson The Secret Garden
When orphaned Mary Lennox, lonely and sad, comes to live in her uncle’s great house on the Yorkshire moors, she finds it full of secrets.
Reporting Instructions for 6th Grade
You will write an essay on The Cay and write a note card on The Secret Garden. Instructions for both are given below. The note card must be turned in the first week of class.
1. The Cay
Book Report Outline for The Cay
Use the following outline to write your composition. Your report needs to be word-processed, and double spaced in size 12 Times New Roman font. Please proofread your paper for spelling, capitalization and grammatical errors before you submit it to your teacher.
Paragraph One:
This paragraph begins with an opening sentence that works as an "attention
getter" for the reader. This attention getter needs to be related to the book in
some way. For example, if reporting on The Adventure of Tom Sawyer, I
might begin with something like:
One of the most beloved characters of all literature is a
young boy
whom many adults might think needs some lessons in proper behavior.
In addition to your "attention getter", you will need to state the title and author of the book you read, the setting and a sentence that states what the book is about. For example: The novel, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain, is about the many mischievous events of a young boy and his friends as they learn some very important life lessons. These events occur in the late nineteen hundreds in the southern part of the United States. Finally, you will need a sentence that works to transition to the paragraph that follows this one.
Paragraph Two:
This paragraph introduces and explains the relationships of the main characters
in the book you read. Try to describe each main character completely, as if they
were someone I might meet. A good way to organize this paragraph is to introduce
the characters in order of importance.
Paragraph Three:
This paragraph explains the conflict(s) of the story. This is the problem and
how the problem is solved or dealt with. The events or plot of the book are also
referred to in this paragraph since that is where the conflict(s) occurs. Often
you can find the conflict by asking the following questions:
What is the goal of the main Character?
What gets in the way of the character's goal?
How does the character overcome this obstacle?
Do not merely state the conflict. Prove, through referring to events in the book, that this conflict really exists. It is not enough to say, the conflict is man versus society. Your claim must be proven through examples.
Paragraph Four:
This paragraph explains the theme of the book. The theme is different from what
the book is about. To find it, you need to ask yourself, what did the main
character(s) learn? This is the key to figuring out the theme. Theme is not
stated directly, but must be inferred by the reader. For example, a possible
theme for The Adventures of Tom Sawyer might be: The laws of society
don't often seem fair or even logical. If this is a valid theme, then the events
of the story will reinforce it as will the lesson(s) the main character learns.
Paragraph Five:
It is this final paragraph that you will also give your opinion of this theme and the book itself.
Your opinion of the book: Would you recommend it to your friends? Is the subject interesting? Would you want to read other books not just answer yes or no. by the same author? Explain your opinion.
2. The Secret Garden
Please follow the reporting instructions given below for The Secret Garden:
ON THE FRONT OF EACH CARD INCLUDE:
ON THE BACK OF THE CARD INCLUDE:
Additional titles for 6th grade:
Aiken, Joan -- The Wolves of Willoughby Chase
Bonnie and her cousin Sylvia are left in the care of an evil governess. They
escape and travel 400 miles to London with their friend Simon and his geese.
Avi -- Romeo and Juliet: Together and Alive at Last
Ed becomes a matchmaker when he casts two of his reluctant friends as leads in
the 8th grade production of Romeo and Juliet.
Banks, Lynn Reid -- Maura’s Angel
A 12-year-old Irish girl survives a bomb explosion in Belfast and finds her
guardian angel.
Barron, T.A. -- The Lost Years of Merlin (and series)
A young boy who has no memory of his past, washes ashore on the coast of Wales
and finds his true identity after a series of fantastic adventures.
Bellairs, John The Mummy, the Will, and the Crypt
While searching through a deserted mansion to find an eccentric tycoon’s will, Johnny accidentally discovers a mysterious and dangerous force.
Blackwood, Gary The Shakespeare Stealer
A young orphan boy is ordered by his master to infiltrate Shakespeare’s acting troupe in order to steal the script of Hamlet, but he discovers instead the meaning of friendship and loyalty.
Bloor, Edward Tangerine
A legally blind seventh-grader has always lived in the shadow of his older brother. Things change when the family moves to Tangerine County, where bizarre natural disasters occur.
Brooks, Polly Queen Eleanor
A biography of Eleanor of Aquitaine, an independent spirit of the Medieval world.
Bunting, Eve SOS Titanic
15-year-old Barry O'Neill, traveling from Ireland to America on the maiden voyage of the Titanic, finds his life endangered when the ship begins to sink.
Burnford, Sheila The Incredible Journey
Two dogs and a cat find their way home across the Canadian wilderness.
Cooper, Susan King of Shadows
A boy performing at London’s modern Globe theater is suddenly transported back time to 1599, where he meets Shakespeare and the original cast of A Midsummer Night’s Dream.
Creech, Sharon Ruby Holler
A book by the author of Chasing Redbird. Two orphans come to live in Ruby Holler, a beautiful, mysterious place, which will change their lives forever.
Danziger, Paula P.S. Longer Letter Later
Two girls keep their friendship alive through letters when one of them moves away.
Funke, Cornelia Inkheart
Meggie lives a quiet life alone with here father. But her father has a deep secret-- he possesses an extraordinary magical power. One day a mysterious stranger arrives from her father's past. Suddenly Meggie is involved in a breathless game of intrigue as her father's life is put in danger.
Garfield, Leon Smith
A 12-year old boy in Victorian London witnesses a murder and becomes a suspect himself.
Giff, Patricia Reilly Lily’s Crossing
During a summer spent at the beach in 1944, Lily’s friendship with a young Hungarian refugee causes her to see the war and her own world differently.
Gipson, Fred Old Yeller
The moving story of a farm boy’s relationship with his dog in the late 1860’s.
Hobbs, Will Jason’s Gold (and others by this author)
An adventure story of the Alaska gold rush. Jason rescues a husky from a cruel master and also meets the young Jack London.
Kinney, Jeff Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Roderick Rules
Very funny novel of a kid who is always in trouble. The book chronicles Greg's attempts to navigate the hazards of middle school.
Konigsburg, E.L. The View From Saturday
Four students develop a special bond and attract the attention of their teacher, a paraplegic, who chooses them to represent their sixth-grade class in the Academic Bowl competition. (Newbery )
Korman, Gordon No More Dead Dogs
For expressing his true views of a classic dog story, eighth-grade football hero Wallace earns a detention and is forced to attend the school play.
London Jack White Fang
Born in the north woods, White Fang grows up wary and smart. When food becomes scarce, he is forced to befriend some humans to survive.
Montgomery, Lucy Maud Anne of Green Gables (and series)
The story of a young orphan, who is adopted by a farm family in the small Canadian town of Avonlea.
Morris, Gerald The Squire’s Tale
The story of a 14-year-old boy, who serves as a knight’s squire in King Arthur’s time.
O'Dell, Scott Zia
A 14-year-old Native American girl sets out for a faraway island to rescue her aunt. A sequel to Island of the Blue Dolphins.
Park, Linda Sue A Single Shard
Chronicles an orphan boy’s transformation from apprentice to artist in 12th century Korea. (Newbery Medal 2002)
Paulsen, Gary Soldier’s Heart
Eager to enlist, fifteen-year-old Charley has a change of heart after experiencing both the physical horrors and mental anguish of Civil War combat.
Raskin, Ellen The Westing Game
The mysterious death of an eccentric millionaire brings together an unlikely assortment of 16 heirs. To their surprise, the will turns out to be a contest. (Newbery Medal)
Speare, Elizabeth George The Witch of Blackbird Pond
A high-spirited teenage girl rebels against the narrow-minded ways of Puritan
Connecticut.
Taylor, Mildred Roll of Thunder, Hear my Cry
An African American family living in the south during the 1930's is faced with prejudice and discrimination. (Newbery Medal)
Wartski, Maureen A Boat to Nowhere
Fleeing from agents of the new communist government in Vietnam, an old man and three children begin an endless struggle for survival as boat people.
Wells, H.G. The Time Machine
This classic novel follows the Time Traveler as he hurtles one million years into the future and encounters the childlike Eloi and the disgusting Morlocks.
Yep, Laurence Dragonwings (and other books by this author)
Moon Shadow is 8 years old when he sails from China to join his father in America. Together they endure prejudice and poverty in order to make their dreams come true.
Betton Hills Preparatory School
Middle School Summer Reading Program
All incoming fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth grade students are to read the required books, listed by grade level. Follow the grade level requirements for reporting on the book. Please word process your essay or composition. The 8th grade reading journal may be hand written but must be double spaced. For the essays, staple the title page to your essay. Be prepared to discuss the books you read the first week of school. These essays and presentations are your first grades for the school year. Do your best and have a great summer.
Incoming 5th Grade
Required Reading: The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain
When you return to school in August, you will turn in your book report and have a test on the book.
Instructions for the four paragraph book report are as follows:
Essay
Your essay needs to be word-processed or neatly written in ink. If it is typed please double space, using size 12 Times New Roman font. Please proofread your paper for spelling, capitalization and grammatical errors before you submit it the first day of school.
Paragraph One:
Y
Paragraph Two:
This paragraph introduces and the relationships of the main characters in the
book you read. Try to describe each main character’s relationship to your thesis
completely.
Paragraph Three:
This paragraph explains the conflict(s) of the story. This is the problem and
how the problem is solved or dealt with. The events or plot of the book are also
referred to in this paragraph since that is where the conflict(s) occurs. Often
you can find the conflict by asking the following questions:
What is the goal of the main Character?
What gets in the way of the character's goal?
How does the character overcome this obstacle?
Do not merely state the conflict. Prove, through referring to events in the book, that this conflict really exists. It is not enough to say, the conflict is girl versus nature. Your must be able to show it through examples.
Paragraph Four:
It is this final paragraph that you will also give your opinion of this book
itself.
For additional books that you read from the reading list, you may received extra credit. To do so, you must follow the reporting instructions below for each additional book you read.
Please follow the reporting instructions carefully:
ON THE FRONT OF EACH CARD INCLUDE:
ON THE BACK OF THE CARD INCLUDE:
Suggested Reading List
Balliet, Blue
Chasing Vermeer; The Wright 3; The Calder Game A famous Vermeer painting has disappeared. Two classmates at the University School in Chicago join forces to retrieve the painting when they discover that they have both been finding random clues related to the painter, the painting, and the theft. Two additional detective stories in this series are equally intriguing.
Bao, Bette In the Year of the Boar and Jackie Robinson
Shirley Temple Wong sails from China to America with a heart full of dreams.
Her new home is Brooklyn, New York. America is indeed a land full of wonders,
but Shirley doesn't know any English, so it's hard to make friends. Then a
miracle -- baseball -- happens. It is 1947, and Jackie Robinson, star of the
Brooklyn Dodgers, is everyone's hero. Jackie Robinson is proving that a black
man, the grandson of a slave, can make a difference in America. And for Shirley
as well, on the ball field and off, America becomes the land of opportunity.
Broach, Elise Shakespeare's Secret
Teased at her new school, Hero Netherfield makes friends with an elderly neighbor, who seems to know quite a bit about a mystery connected to the Netherfields' new house. According to local rumor, a former owner may have hidden a priceless diamond, linked to the true identity of Shakespeare, somewhere in the house. Is this all much to do about nothing, or as Hero hopes, is she just the person to discover the truth.
Cleary, Beverly Dear Mr. Henshaw
When fourth grader Leigh Botts asks Mr. Henshaw to write to him personally, he
gets more than he bargained for. Mr. Henshaw's letters are full of questions,
and Leigh is getting tired of answering them. But as he continues his
correspondence with his favorite author, he not only gets plenty of tips on
writing, but he also finds a wise and thoughtful friend to whom he can tell his
troubles.
Clements, Andrew Frindle
When he decides to turn his fifth-grade teacher's love of the dictionary around
on her, clever Nick Allen invents a new word and begins a chain of events that
quickly moves beyond his control.
Conrad, Pam My Daniel
Wandering through the Natural History Museum with her grandchildren, Julia
Creath feels the presence of her dead brother, Daniel. She remembers a time when
fossil fever hit everyone, old and young -- a time when people would even kill
for those old bones under the ground. Julia becomes the Nebraska farm girl she
once was, as she weaves together the story of the great dinosaur rush -- an
adventurous tale of love and treachery, but most of all the story of her own
childhood, and of the older brother she loved more than anything.
Dahl, Roald Matilda
Matilda Wormwood started reading books at the age of four, but her crooked
father and bingo-playing mother regard book reading as a waste of time -- and
much prefer watching TV. In fact, they take no notice of their genius daughter
at all! Only Miss Honey, Matilda's lovely and gentle teacher, recognizes her
special gifts. Yet Miss Honey has problems of her own: Her aunt is the
tyrannical Miss Trunchbull, an evil headmistress who bullies children and
parents alike. Can Matilda use her extraordinary talents to seek revenge?
Creech, Sharon Walk Two Moons
Thirteen-year-old Salamanca Tree Hiddle, proud of her country roots and the
"Indian-ness in her blood," travels from Ohio to Idaho with her eccentric
grandparents. Along the way, she tells of the story of Phoebe Winterbottom, who
received mysterious messages, who met a "potential lunatic," and whose mother
disappeared. This richly layered Newbery Medal-winning novel is in turn funny,
mysterious, and touching.
Creech, Sharon Chasing Redbird
Zinnia Taylor lives in Bybanks, Kentucky, with too many brothers and sisters --
a mess of "tadpoles" and "pumpkins" is what her uncle Nate calls them. When
Zinny discovers a mysterious, overgrown trail that begins on her family's farm,
she's determined to clear it, from start to finish. For she's finally found a
place of her own. CHASING REDBIRD is a powerful, beautifully crafted story about
a young girl discovering that life is a tangle of mysteries, surprises, and
everyday occurrences -- a journey that often needs unraveling and that sometimes
must be traveled alone.
DeClements, Barthe Nothing's fair in fifth grade
The award-winning national bestseller! When Elsie Edwards becomes the new girl
in the fifth grade, nothing seems fair--but lots of things are fun.
DiCamillo, Kate The tale of Despereaux : being the story of a
mouse, a princess, some soup, and a spool of thread
From the author of "Because of Winn-Dixie" comes a fairy tale full of
quirky, unforgettable characters, told with DiCamillo's trademark humor and
heartbreaking poignancy.
Fleischman, Sid The Whipping Boy
Fox, Helen Eager; Eager's Nephew
The Bell family robot, Grumps, is showing his age. His worn out timer causes little but annoying problems like making tomato soup for breakfast. A family friend gives them a new robot to try out. EGR3 is one of a kind and can actually think. Gavin takes to the perky little robot, but his sister Fleur would have preferred a BDC4 like the one her friend Marcia owns, despite sensing something very sinister about this line of robots from LifeCorps
Gardner, Sally I, Coriander
Coriander, the daughter of a wealthy English merchant and a fairy mother, lives during the dangerous times. The creativity and imagination her parents encourage are at odds with Oliver Cromwell's harsh rule. When her mother dies, and her father, before fleeing political enemies remarries a Puritan, a particularly harsh punishment sends Coriander to her mother's land. There she tries to acquire the powers that will make her home he own once more.
Funke, Cornelia Dragon Rider
Firedrake, a relatively young dragon, is on a quest to find the dragon homeland of myth and legend. His mission is to save his relatives from an evil dragon machine that is hunting down the world's silver dragons. An orphan named Ben, who is destined to become a dragon rider, and Sorrel, a grumpy brownie, accompany Firedrake on the adventurous journey which becomes a struggle for survival.
Lewis, C.S. The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe by
Konigsburg, E. L. From the Mixed-up Files of Mrs. Basil E.
Frankweiler
The enchanting story of the unappreciated Claudia Kincaid who runs away with
her little brother Jamie to live in the Metropolitan Museum, FILES is a
sentimental favorite with a remarkable heroine. Crammed with fascinating details
-- strategies for hiding in a museum, techniques for bathing in a fountain, the
smell of a 16th-century bed (musty), and tantalizing peeks at the Met and its
treasures -- it's a grand adventure. More important, FILES is the story of
Claudia's quest to define herself.
Konigsburg, E.L. The View from Saturday
It was a surprise to a lot of people when Mrs. Olinski's team won the
sixth-grade Academic Bowl contest at Epiphany Middle School. It was an even
bigger surprise when they beat the seventh grade and the eighth grade, too. And
when they went on to even greater victories, everyone began to ask: How did it
happen? Mrs. Olinski, returning to teaching after having been injured in an
automobile accident, found that her Academic Bowl team became her answer to
finding confidence and success. What she did not know, at least at first, was
that her team knew better than she did the answer to why they had been chosen.
This is a tale about a team, a class, a school, a series of contests and, set in
the midst of this, four jewel-like short stories -- one for each of the team
members -- that ask questions and demonstrate surprising answers.
Farmer, Nancy The Warm Place
When Ruva, a young giraffe, is captured and sent to a zoo in San Francisco, she
calls upon two rats, a street-smart chameleon, a runaway boy, and all the
magical powers of the animal world to return to "the warm place" that is home.
Hahn, Mary Downing Wait Till Helen Comes, A Ghost
Story
Molly and Michael dislike their spooky new stepsister Heather but realize
that they must try to save her when she seems ready to follow a ghost child to
her doom.
Lowry, Lois Number the Stars
Ten-year-old Annemarie Johansen and her best friend Ellen Rosen often think
about life before the war. But it's now 1943, and their life in Copenhagen is
filled with school, food shortages, and the Nazi soldiers marching in their
town. When the Nazis begin "relocating" the Jews of Denmark, Ellen moves in with
the Johansens and pretends to be part of the family. And as Annemarie helps
shelter her Jewish friend from the Nazis and embarks on a dangerous mission, she
learns how to be brave and courageous -- to save her best friend's life.
O'Dell, Scott Island of the Blue Dolphins
In the Pacific there is an island that looks like a big fish sunning itself in
the sea. Around it, blue dolphins swim, otters play, and sea elephants and sea
birds abound. Once, Indians also lived on the island. And when they left and
sailed to the east, one young girl was left behind. Year after year, she watched
one season pass into another and waited for a ship to take her away. But while
she waited, she kept herself alive by building a shelter, making weapons,
finding food, and fighting her enemies, the wild dogs.
O'Brien, Robert C. Mrs. Frisby and the rats of Nimh
Mrs. Frisby, a widowed mouse with four small children, must move her family to
their summer quarters immediately, or face almost certain death. But her
youngest son, Timothy, lies ill with pneumonia and must not be moved.
Fortunately, she encounters the rats of NIMH, an extraordinary breed of highly
intelligent
North, Sterling Rascal
Naylor, Phyllis Reynolds Shiloh
Eleven-year-old Marty Preston comes across something different on the road just
past the old Shiloh schoolhouses -- a young beagle -- and the trouble begins.
What do you do when a dog you suspect is being mistreated runs away and comes to
you? Marty puts his courage on the line and discovers in the process that it is
not always easy to separate right from wrong. Sometimes, however, you'll do
almost anything to save a dog you love.
Park, Barbara Mick Harte Was Here
How could someone like Mick die? He was the kid who freaked out his mom by
putting a ceramic eye in a defrosted chicken, the kid who did a wild dance in
front of the whole school -- and the kid who, if only he had worn his bicycle
helmet, would still be alive today. But now Phoebe Harte's 12-year-old brother
is gone, and Phoebe's world has turned upside down. With her trademark candor
and compassion, beloved middle-grade writer Barbara Park tells how Phoebe copes
with her painful loss in this story filled with sadness, humor -- and hope.
Sachar, Louis Holes
As further evidence of his family's bad fortune, Stanley Yelnats is sent to
a hellish boys' juvenile detention center in the Texas desert. As punishment,
the boys here must each dig a hole every day, five feet deep and five feet
across. Ultimately, Stanley "digs up the truth" -- and through his experience,
finds his first real friend, a treasure, and a new sense of himself.