SUMMER READING LISTS AND PROJECT OPTIONS

For students entering Grade 8

PURPOSE OF PROGRAM:
The Las Pias City National Science High School offers a Summer Reading
Program to students in grades 8 through 10. This program is designed to encourage
students to continue to read while on summer vacation and to enjoy leisure time reading
activities. In addition, the program is designed to provide additional marking period grade
incentives for students who wish to participate in this optional reading program.
The optional Summer Reading Program is designed to positively impact the first
marking period grade for students who choose to participate, and it does not negatively
impact the grade for a student who chooses not to participate. Students in each grade will
receive a summer reading list which includes titles ranging from fiction to non-fiction,
mystery, action/adventure, science fiction and many others.
GRADE INCENTIVES:
Students who participate in the optional Summer Reading Program must
demonstrate to their English teacher that they have read the chosen book. Students have
the opportunity to choose both the book and the manner in which it will be assessed.
Assessments must be turned in to English teachers on the last day of the Summer
Reading Program. Any project deemed to be plagiarized will not be accepted. Students
who plagiarize will be subject to disciplinary action according to school policy.
ASSESSMENTS:
Students who choose to participate in the Summer Reading Program must demonstrate to
their English teacher that they have read the chosen book. Students are cautioned to
submit original work only; teachers will check written work carefully to ascertain that
submitted works are not plagiarized. Students may choose from the following assessment
opportunities:
A. ESSAY:
Submitted essays must be 1-2 pages in length for students entering 7th and 8th
grade. All essays are to be double-spaced and word processed in 12 point font.
The essay must demonstrate that the student has read the book and must
include the following components: a summary of the plot, a description of the
setting, a description of the main characters and an explanation of the theme.
The concluding paragraph should include the students personal opinion of the
book.

B. CREATIVE WRITING RESPONSES:

The written response must be 1-2 pages in length for middle school students,
double-spaced and word processed in 12 point font. Students may choose from
the following list:
Write an interview with one of the main characters;
Write a prologue to the book;
Write an alternative ending to the book;
Write a newspaper article describing a major incident in the book; or,
Add a new character to the story and give his/her observations about the
other characters
C. ORAL PRESENTATIONS:
Students may choose to make an oral presentation to their English class. The
oral presentation must be three to five minutes in length and include the
following components: a summary of the plot, a description of the setting, a
description of the main characters and an explanation of the theme. The
conclusion must include the students personal opinion of the book. Students
must submit a written outline of the presentation to the teacher three days prior
to the scheduled presentation. Students must make arrangements with the
English teacher to schedule a date and time for this oral presentation. Students
may use Power Point slides with appropriate graphics as part of their oral
presentation.
D. TECHNOLOGY/MEDIA PRESENTATIONS:
Students may choose to make a presentation through the use of technology and
other available media. Students may complete a videotaped presentation and
submit it to their English teacher. A video presentation must be three to five
minutes in length and include the following components: a summary of the
plot, a description of the setting, a description of the main characters and an
explanation of the theme. The conclusion must include the students personal
opinion of the book.
E. ARTISTIC REPRESENTATIONS:
Students may choose to demonstrate their understanding of the book through
artistic representations. Students may choose to write or record a song, create a
collage/poster or create a tri-fold brochure. Artistic representations must
include the following components: a summary of the plot, a description of the
setting, a description of the main characters and an explanation of the theme.
Students must include a written paragraph which tells their personal opinion of
the book.

8th GRADE SUMMER READING OPTIONS

TITLE
Among the Hidden
The Barn
When Zachary Beaver Came to
Town
Because of Winn-Dixie
A Year Down Yonder
Eragon
Homeless Bird
Hatchet
Al Capone Does My Shirts
Fever 1793
Babe Didrikson Zaharias: The
Making of a Champion
I Know Why the Caged Bird
Sings
Gathering Blue

AUTHOR
Margaret Peterson Haddix
Avi
Kimberly Willis Holt

YEAR
1998
1994
1999

DESCRIPTION
Fantasy
Family
Teenagers

Kate DiCamillo
Richard Peck
Christopher Paolini
Gloria Whelan
Gary Paulsen
Gennifer Choldenko
Laurie Halse Anderson
Russell Freedman

2000
2000
2003
2000
1987
2004
2000
1999

Dogs
Contemporary Problems
Fantasy
India
Survival
Humor
Colonial Life
Sports-Women-Biography

Maya Angelou

1969

Autobiography

Lois Lowry

2000

Science Fiction

The Hobbit

J.R.R. Tolkein

1977

Fantasy

Travels with Charley

John Steinbeck

1962

Travel

Jacob Have I Loved

Katherine Paterson

1980

Fiction

Hiroshima

John Hersey

1960

History

Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants

Ann Brashares

2001

Fiction

Artemis Fowl

Eoin Colfer

2001

Humor

Loser

Jerry Spinelli

2002

Family

Jayhawker

Patricia Beatty

1991

Historical Fiction-Civil War

Into Thin Air: A Personal

Account of the Mt. Everest
Disaster

Jon Krakauer

1997

Survival-Non-Fiction

SUMMER READING LISTS AND PROJECT OPTIONS

For students entering Grade 9
PURPOSE OF PROGRAM:
The Las Pias City National Science High School offers a Summer Reading
Program to students in grades 8 through 10. This program is designed to encourage
students to continue to read while on summer vacation and to enjoy leisure time reading
activities. In addition, the program is designed to provide additional marking period grade
incentives for students who wish to participate in this optional reading program.
The optional Summer Reading Program is designed to positively impact the first
marking period grade for students who choose to participate, and it does not negatively
impact the grade for a student who chooses not to participate. Students in each grade will
receive a summer reading list which includes titles ranging from fiction to non-fiction,
mystery, action/adventure, science fiction and many others.
GRADE INCENTIVES:
Students who participate in the optional Summer Reading Program must
demonstrate to their English teacher that they have read the chosen book. Students have
the opportunity to choose both the book and the manner in which it will be assessed.
Assessments must be turned in to English teachers on the last day of the Summer
Reading Program. Any project deemed to be plagiarized will not be accepted. Students
who plagiarize will be subject to disciplinary action according to school policy.
ASSESSMENTS:
Students who choose to participate in the Summer Reading Program must demonstrate to
their English teacher that they have read the chosen book. Students are cautioned to
submit original work only; teachers will check written work carefully to ascertain that
submitted works are not plagiarized. Students may choose from the following assessment
opportunities:
A. ESSAY:
Submitted essays must be 1-2 pages in length for students entering 7th and 8th
grade. All essays are to be double-spaced and word processed in 12 point font.
The essay must demonstrate that the student has read the book and must
include the following components: a summary of the plot, a description of the
setting, a description of the main characters and an explanation of the theme.
The concluding paragraph should include the students personal opinion of the
book.

B. CREATIVE WRITING RESPONSES:

The written response must be 1-2 pages in length for middle school students,
double-spaced and word processed in 12 point font. Students may choose from
the following list:
Write an interview with one of the main characters;
Write a prologue to the book;
Write an alternative ending to the book;
Write a newspaper article describing a major incident in the book; or,
Add a new character to the story and give his/her observations about the
other characters
C. ORAL PRESENTATIONS:
Students may choose to make an oral presentation to their English class. The
oral presentation must be three to five minutes in length and include the
following components: a summary of the plot, a description of the setting, a
description of the main characters and an explanation of the theme. The
conclusion must include the students personal opinion of the book. Students
must submit a written outline of the presentation to the teacher three days prior
to the scheduled presentation. Students must make arrangements with the
English teacher to schedule a date and time for this oral presentation. Students
may use Power Point slides with appropriate graphics as part of their oral
presentation.
D. TECHNOLOGY/MEDIA PRESENTATIONS:
Students may choose to make a presentation through the use of technology and
other available media. Students may complete a videotaped presentation and
submit it to their English teacher. A video presentation must be three to five
minutes in length and include the following components: a summary of the
plot, a description of the setting, a description of the main characters and an
explanation of the theme. The conclusion must include the students personal
opinion of the book.
E. ARTISTIC REPRESENTATIONS:
Students may choose to demonstrate their understanding of the book through
artistic representations. Students may choose to write or record a song, create a
collage/poster or create a tri-fold brochure. Artistic representations must
include the following components: a summary of the plot, a description of the
setting, a description of the main characters and an explanation of the theme.
Students must include a written paragraph which tells their personal opinion of
the book.

9th GRADE SUMMER READING OPTIONS

TITLE
The Adventures of Tom Sawyer
Ironman
The Car
Cold Sassy Tree
A Door Near Here
Childhoods End
47
Big Mouth and Ugly Girl
Speak

AUTHOR
Mark Twain
Chris Crutcher
Gary Paulsen
Olive Ann Burns
Heather Quarles
Arthur C. Clarke
Walter Mosley
Joyce Carol Oates
Laurie Halse Anderson

YEAR
1876
1995
1994
1984
1998
1953
2005
2002
1999

A Lesson Before Dying

Frankenstein

Ernest J. Gaines
Mary Shelley

1993
1818

Bleachers
Cats Cradle
Empire Falls
Life of Pi
The Old Man and the Sea
The Lovely Bones
The Maltese Falcon
The Bell Jar
On Writing: A Memoir of the
Craft

John Grisham
Kurt Vonnegut
Richard Russo
Yann Martel
Ernest Hemingway
Alice Sebold
Dashiell Hammett
Sylvia Plath
Stephen King

2004
1963
2001
2001
1952
2002
1929
1971
2000

DESCRIPTION
Classic
Family
Self-Discovery
The South
Alcoholism
Science Fiction
Slavery
Teenagers
High School
Diversity
Science FictionMonsters
Sports
Science Fiction
Family
Survival
Classic
Murder
Crime
Mental Illness
Non-fiction

SUMMER READING LISTS AND PROJECT OPTIONS

For students entering Grade 10
PURPOSE OF PROGRAM:
The Las Pias City National Science High School offers a Summer Reading
Program to students in grades 8 through 10. This program is designed to encourage
students to continue to read while on summer vacation and to enjoy leisure time reading
activities. In addition, the program is designed to provide additional marking period grade
incentives for students who wish to participate in this optional reading program.
The optional Summer Reading Program is designed to positively impact the first
marking period grade for students who choose to participate, and it does not negatively
impact the grade for a student who chooses not to participate. Students in each grade will
receive a summer reading list which includes titles ranging from fiction to non-fiction,
mystery, action/adventure, science fiction and many others.
GRADE INCENTIVES:
Students who participate in the optional Summer Reading Program must
demonstrate to their English teacher that they have read the chosen book. Students have
the opportunity to choose both the book and the manner in which it will be assessed.
Assessments must be turned in to English teachers on the last day of the Summer
Reading Program. Any project deemed to be plagiarized will not be accepted. Students
who plagiarize will be subject to disciplinary action according to school policy.
ASSESSMENTS:
Students who choose to participate in the Summer Reading Program must demonstrate to
their English teacher that they have read the chosen book. Students are cautioned to
submit original work only; teachers will check written work carefully to ascertain that
submitted works are not plagiarized. Students may choose from the following assessment
opportunities:
A. ESSAY:
Submitted essays must be 1-2 pages in length for students entering 7th and 8th
grade. All essays are to be double-spaced and word processed in 12 point font.
The essay must demonstrate that the student has read the book and must
include the following components: a summary of the plot, a description of the
setting, a description of the main characters and an explanation of the theme.

The concluding paragraph should include the students personal opinion of the
book.
B. CREATIVE WRITING RESPONSES:
The written response must be 1-2 pages in length for middle school students,
double-spaced and word processed in 12 point font. Students may choose from
the following list:
Write an interview with one of the main characters;
Write a prologue to the book;
Write an alternative ending to the book;
Write a newspaper article describing a major incident in the book; or,
Add a new character to the story and give his/her observations about the
other characters
C. ORAL PRESENTATIONS:
Students may choose to make an oral presentation to their English class. The
oral presentation must be three to five minutes in length and include the
following components: a summary of the plot, a description of the setting, a
description of the main characters and an explanation of the theme. The
conclusion must include the students personal opinion of the book. Students
must submit a written outline of the presentation to the teacher three days prior
to the scheduled presentation. Students must make arrangements with the
English teacher to schedule a date and time for this oral presentation. Students
may use Power Point slides with appropriate graphics as part of their oral
presentation.
D. TECHNOLOGY/MEDIA PRESENTATIONS:
Students may choose to make a presentation through the use of technology and
other available media. Students may complete a videotaped presentation and
submit it to their English teacher. A video presentation must be three to five
minutes in length and include the following components: a summary of the
plot, a description of the setting, a description of the main characters and an
explanation of the theme. The conclusion must include the students personal
opinion of the book.
E. ARTISTIC REPRESENTATIONS:
Students may choose to demonstrate their understanding of the book through
artistic representations. Students may choose to write or record a song, create a
collage/poster or create a tri-fold brochure. Artistic representations must
include the following components: a summary of the plot, a description of the
setting, a description of the main characters and an explanation of the theme.

Students must include a written paragraph which tells their personal opinion of
the book.
TITLE
The Five People You
Meet in Heaven
Prom

AUTHOR
Mitch Albom

YEAR
2003

DESCRIPTION
Life Lessons

Laurie Hulse
Anderson
Barbara
Kingsolver

2005

Teenagers

1998

This Boys Life

My Antonia
If I Die in a Combat
Zone
Narrative of the Life
of Frederick
Douglass
The Wedding
The Kite Runner

Tobias Wolff
Willa Cather
Tim OBrien

1952
1954
1969

African
Missionaries
(adult content)
Biography
Classic
Vietnam

Frederick
Douglas

Ca. 1800s

Slave Narrative

Nicholas Sparks
Khaled Hosseini

2005
2003

TITLE
The Joy Luck Club

AUTHOR
Amy Tan

YEAR
1989

The Secret Life of

Bees
Bless Me Ultima
Angelas Ashes
Brave New World
The No. 1 Ladies
Detective Agency

Sue Monk Kid

2002

Romance
Afghanistan
(contains
violence)
DESCRIPTION
ChineseAmerican
American South

1972
1996
1969
2002

Hispanic
Ireland
Future
Africa Mystery

1967
1988

Family
Hispanics

Fever Pitch

Rudolpho Anaya
Frank McCourt
Aldous Huxley
Alexander
McCall Smith
Chiam Potok
Gabriel Garcia
Marquez
Nick Hornby

1998

District and Circle

Seamus Heaney

2006

Sports
Autobiography
Poetry

The Poisonwood
Bible

The Chosen
Love in the Time of
Cholera

SUMMER READING OPTIONS

10th
GRADE