So that you continue to develop your reading life this summer, we expect that you read a minimum of five books, in at least two different genres during July and August.
As an eighth grader, one new and exciting way you are going to be stretching out and challenging yourself as a reader is through a genre challenge. Up until now you have worked to meet a goal of how many books you can read each year, but this year you’ll also be working to meet goals of what kind of books you read. We are so excited for you to start this challenge with your summer reading!
For your written assignment about your summer reading, you will write a book review for two out of the five books you read. This will help us start the year with some peer reading recommendations and 8th grade reading “wish lists.”
Recommended Reading List for 8th grade 2018 These titles were selected either by your 8th grade teachers or librarians at Brooklyn Public Library, NY Public Library, Queens Library, and the NYC Department of Education School Library Services, and are available at any public library. Realistic Fiction
Greatest Zombie Movie Ever by Jeff Strand: Justin struggles to turn a bad script, dream
girl, and no budget into film success.
Simon vs the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli: A classmate threatens to out Simon and
his profoundly private online boyfriend.
Dumplin’ by Julie Murphy: Self-proclaimed fat girl Willowdean reclaims her confidence with her misfit friends when she enters her Texas town’s beauty pageant.
Tiny Pretty Things by Sona Charaipotra & Dhonielle Clayton: Ballerinas backstab, sacrifice, and manipulate to be the best.
Charlie, Presumed Dead by Anne Heltzel: Two girls discover Charlie’s betrayal at his funeral and together search for answers.
Sci-Fi/Fantasy
Scorpion Rules by Erin Bow: Greta questions her role as a Child of Peace and the artificial intelligence that uses hostages to maintain world order.
Bone Gap by Laura Ruby: Finn was the only person to see Roza’s abduction, but no one believes him.
Otherbound by Corinne Duyvis: When Nolan closes his eyes he is drawn into Amara’s mind and her dangerous world.
Memoir/Autobiography/Biography
X: A Novel by Illyasah Shabazz & Kekla Magoon: The story of how Malcolm Little became Malcolm X.
Diary of a Tokyo Teen by Christine Mari Inzer: A Japanese-American girl travels to the land of trendy fashion, high-tech toilets and maid cafes.
It’s Kind of a Funny Story by Ned Vizzini: “Everybody has problems. Some people just hide their crap better than others.” A semi-autobiographical coming-of-age novel, the author himself spent some time in a psychiatric hospital as a young person which might explain the humor and empathy he brings to what could be a very grim setting.
Classics
Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie: Belgian detective Hercule Poirot investigates the curious murder of millionaire Samuel Edward Ratchett in a locked compartment aboard the Orient Express while the train is stranded by a snowdrift. He must find the murderer before he decides to strike again.
The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton: Ponyboy Curtis, a member of a gang called the “Greasers”, is leaving a movie theater when groups of “Socs” (short for "Socials”) the Greasers’ rival gang, jump him. The rest is, well, classic!
The Raven and Other Poems by Edgar Allen Poe: The Raven . . . Annabel Lee . . . Ulalume . . . these are some of the spookiest poems ever written, now collected in this one chilling volume.
Informational Nonfiction
Beyond Magenta by Susan Kuklin: Six candid glimpses into the lives of transgender and gender-nonconforming teens.
Friday Night Lights: A Town, A Team, and a Dream by H.G. Bissinger: Odessa is not known to be a town big on dreams, but the Panthers help keep the hopes and dreams of this small, dusty town going.
Legends, Icons & Rebels: Music That Changed the World by Robbie Robertson: Short profiles chronicle personal stories and achievements of extraordinarily talented artists whose innovations changed the landscape of music for generations to come.
Recommended Series
Black Top by LJ Alonge
Seven Realms by Cinda Williams Chima
Gotham Academy by Becky Cloonan
Princess Jellyfish by Akiko Higashimura
March by Johnn Lewis
Jackaby by William Ritter
Princeless by Jeremy Whitely
Book Review (write a review for two of the books you read this summer)
Write three paragraphs about the book
Retell the book in your own words.
What did you think of the book? Did you like it? Why or why not? Who was your favorite character? Why? What was the best part of the book?
To whom would you recommend the book? Why? How many stars would you give the book (out of five stars)?
You may write or type your reviews. You will be responsible to hand in the reviews on the first day of school .