Summer Reading 2015 – 8th Grade
Purpose of Summer Reading:
 Encourage leisure reading & promote free choice reading to develop life-long readers
 Reduce summer learning loss
 Prerequisite for a successful school year
Requirements:
 Read TWO books, not previously read. Select titles from the student’s 2015-16 grade lists.

Students who wish to read more are encouraged to do so! Students may take quizzes on all books
read during this summer. Additional books are not limited to the grade level lists.

Students will verify that they have COMPLETELY READ their books by taking Reading Counts quizzes
and scoring a 70% or higher.

RC quizzes will count as quiz grades for either their English or Reading class.
NEW: Selected titles will also count as credit in other appropriate courses. Those titles and subjects
are noted on the grade level lists.

NEW: Students who score slightly below 70% on the RC quiz must produce evidence of ACTIVE
READING to receive a reading response form that may be completed to raise their grade.

Active reading includes writing notes in the book, underlining important passages and vocabulary
words, and using sticky notes to summarize chapters. If reading eBooks or library books keep a
reading journal of characters, important details, and chapter summaries. Bring books/journals to
the quiz dates.

Take quiz AS SOON AS POSSIBLE after completely reading the book.

Summer Testing Dates: Librarians will be available in the library to administer RC quizzes on
Tuesday, June 30, 2015 and Tuesday, July 14, 2015 from 9 a.m. - 12 noon.

FINAL Testing Date: Deadline for summer reading quizzes will be check-in day, Monday, August 10
anytime during check-in hours.
Free Choice Reading Tips:

Make wise title selections. Read blurbs on books by clicking on the blue hyperlink titles. Read about
several titles before making a selection. Use ARHS Library Catalog or amazon.com for more detailed
summaries and reviews.

Choose books on themes or topics that make interesting and enjoyable reads.

If not enjoying the read or if experiencing difficulty with the book, put it down and choose another.

Parents, please allow your sons to read titles that they will enjoy.

Academic Honesty Policy: ARHS students and parents are required to sign and uphold the
Academic Honesty Policy that includes the following Reading Counts issues:
--Select RC books that have not been read previously.
--Complete entire book before taking the RC quiz.
--Cliff Notes, Spark Notes, movies, etc. are not a substitute for reading a book.
Quizzes have been movie proofed.
Title Selection Criteria for Summer Reading books:
 Newbery winners, Best Books for Adolescent Readers, Best Books for Young Adults, Books for the
College Bound, English AP suggested readings, and other award winning book lists
 Titles suggested by teachers, students, & librarians that have received positive reviews
 Titles popular among adolescent readers
Adolescent literature:
 Speaks to teenagers through the realism of the language and situations with which the readers can
readily identify. Adolescent readers will quickly reject books that do not ring true.
 Attempts to subtly teach positive lessons to its readers.
 Detailed summaries and reviews of the summer titles can be found online at the ARHS Library
Catalog or at amazon.com .
Where to Obtain Books:
 Borrow from the local public libraries or from friends.
 Purchased from commercial bookstores or used bookstores.
Questions may be directed to the school librarian through email [email protected].
GRADE LEVEL LIST FOLLOWS:
ALL incoming 8th Grade 2015 – 2016 - Click on blue hyperlink title for information on the book.
Read TWO books NOT read previously. Reading books that have been read will violate the AHP.
Fiction:
Series – Read in order. Start with first one not
previously read.
Code Talker: A Novel about the Navajo...– Bruchac
(English plus social studies credit)
The Warriors – Bruchac
Blackwater – Bunting
(English plus religion credit)
Bud Not Buddy - Curtis *
Michael Vey: Prisoner of Cell 25 – Evans
(English plus religion or science credit)
Last Shot: A Final Four Mystery – Feinstein
The Graveyard Book – Gaiman*
The Outsiders - Hinton **
Shadow Children series - Haddix
Among the Hidden, Among the Impostors, etc.
Brian's Series:
Hatchet* or The River or Brian’s Winter – Paulsen
Heroes of Olympus: - Riordan (English plus Latin credit)
The Lost Hero, Son of Neptune, Mark of Athena
House of Hades, Blood of Olympus
Kane Chronicles - Riordan
The Red Pyramid, Throne of Fire, The Serpent’s Shadow
Teachers’ Favorites & Recommendations:
That Was Then This is Now – Hinton
Stormbreaker: An Alex Rider Adventure – Horowitz
Schooled - Korman
Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel –Scott.
The Alchemyst, The Magician, The Sorceress,
Necromancer, The Warlock, The Enchantress
Silver Kiss – Klass
(Mrs. Weiss & Ms. Lobrano)
Silent to the Bone – Konigsburg
Chains or Forge – Anderson (Ms. Rasmussen)
(English plus social studies credit)
QB 1 - Lupica
Heat - Lupica
Maze Runner Series– Dashner (Ms. Lee & Coach Andry)
Hoops - Myers*
A Day No Pigs Would Die – Peck
I, Robot – Asimov (Mr. Stout)
(English plus Science credit)
Non-fiction:
Seventh Son – Orson Scott Card (Mr. Stout)
Is It Still Cheating If I Don’t Get Caught?- Weinstein
(English plus religion credit)
The Outsiders - Hinton (Ms. Lobrano)
Simeon's Story: An Eyewitness Account Of The Kidnapping
Of Emmett Till – Wright (English plus social studies credit)
*Award Winners **Student favorite
NEW: Remember to interact with the book while reading. This includes writing notes in the book, underlining
important passages and vocabulary words, and using sticky notes to summarize chapters. If reading library books or
eBooks keep a reading journal of characters, important details, and chapter summaries. Bring books/journals to the
quiz dates
Look up information on books in the ARHS Library Catalog. Click on Archbishop Rummel High School from ARCHNO
page. Login to Rummel catalog using ID: rufusraider PW: rummel for longer summaries under TitlePeek`