Roslyn Middle School

English Department

Summer Reading

2008

For students entering Grade 8

Dear Student,

Reading is both enjoyable and important, and the summer months often provide a more relaxed opportunity to pursue some worthwhile titles.

As a student about to enter the English 8 class in September, you are required to read one selection from the following list. Of course, given the many wonderful selections in this booklet, we encourage you to read as many additional titles as you wish.

During the month of September, you will be asked to respond to an in-class assignment based on your book. You will receive a grade which will be part of your first-quarter average.

Sincerely,

Eighth Grade English Teachers

* Please note: Some books on this list may not be available in paperback.

KEY:

G = General Fiction A = Adventure *C* = Classic

H = Historical Fiction M/S = Mystery/Suspense *M* = Mature Themes

F = Fantasy S = Sports

SF = Science Fiction NF = Non-Fiction

Please log onto Barnes and Noble’s website to get synopses and reviews: www.barnesandnoble.com/

Agatha, Christie And Then There Were None (M/S)

Albom, Mitch For One More Day (G, M)

Armstrong, Lance It's Not About the Bike: My Journey Back to Life (NF)

Bauer, Joan Rules of the Road (G)

Boukreev, Anatoli  Climb: Tragic Ambitions on Everest (NF)

Bradbury, Ray Fahrenheit 451 (SF)

Bradbury, Ray Something Wicked This Way Comes (M/S, F)

Dessen, Sarah The Truth About Forever (G) *M*

Donnelly, Jennifer Northern Light (H, M/S)

Fusco, Kimberley Tending to Grace (G)

Goodman, Allegra Kaaterskill Falls (G)

Greene, Betty Summer of My German Soldier (H)

Hamilton, Bethany Soul Surfer: A True Story of Faith, Family, (NF)

and Fighting to Get Back on the Board

Hurwin, Davida Wills A Time for Dancing (G) *M*

Jacques, Brian Redwall (F)

Kipling, Rudyard Captains Courageous (A) *C*

Knowles, John A Separate Peace (G) *C*

Lasky, Kathryn Beyond the Burning Time (H)

LeGuin, Ursula The Lathe of Heaven (SF)

Lowry, Lois Gathering Blue (SF)

Lupica, Mike Travel Team (S)

McKernan, Victoria Shackleton’s Stowaway (H)

Philbrick, Nathaniel In the Heart of the Sea:

The Tragedy of the Whaleship Essex (NF)

Potok, Chaim Chosen (G)

Stevenson, Robert Louis Treasure Island (A) *C*

Twain, Mark The Adventures of Tom Sawyer (G) *C*

When I look back, I am so impressed again with the life-giving power of literature. If I were a young person today, trying to gain a sense of myself in the world, I would do that again by reading, just as I did when I was young.
~ Maya Angelou ~