Dartmouth Middle School Summer Reading ProgramGrades 7 and 8

The Dartmouth Middle School Summer Reading Program requirement is ONE book of your choice from the following list. You will then complete a book talk proposal form that will prepare you to present a booktalk for your classmates when you return to school in September.

You will receive one book FREE thanks to the Dartmouth Public Schools, Dartmouth Middle School PTO, and Barnes & Noble.

*EXTRA CREDIT is available if you read TWO books and compare them in your book talk OR get creative with your booktalk (ex: dress up as a character, create a multimedia project, create a visual aide, etc.)

The purpose of summer reading is to maintain your comprehension level over the summer and read for fun! We hope you will decide to read more than two books so your class can have a rich discussion during booktalk time. *Most of these books are available on audio from the public library if you want to listen while you read. Just call the library to ask!

All Dartmouth Middle School students must turn in their booktalk proposal by Tuesday, September 11 to satisfy the summer reading requirement. Any booktalk proposal turned in late will be assessed a 25% penalty.

When I read about _________, I thought….The scene where _________ reminded me of a time when…The character _________ reminds me of _______________ because…I would have made a different choice than ______________ because…

What is a booktalk?A booktalk is the sharing and recommendation of a book you have read to your peers. It consists of an introduction (including a quote from the book), a short (2 – 3 sentence) summary, your opinion, a statement about if it is an easy, just right or challenging book and who might enjoy it most (fashion divas, sports-lovers, anyone who likes a good mystery). Your booktalk proposal form is in this packet.

**Since it is possible that several students in your class will do the same book for their booktalk, you are encouraged to have an original take on the book. You must really know the book!**

Booktalk Rubric

Criteria 4 3 2 1Introduction to presentation

Way to start with abang! Included a quote from the book, the title, author and genre and a creative/interesting intro.

Good introduction, but lacks spark of excitement.

Missing required details, but did try to introduce it.

No intro. Needs a lot of work.

Summary Well organized andinformative. Provided lots of interesting informationabout the book’s mainevents/ideas & someimportant details.

Mostly organized &informative. Youprovided lots ofdetailed informationabout the book.

Somewhatorganized. Lacksdetailed information.Book’s level wassomewhatinappropriate foryour reading ability.

Incomplete. Not evident that student read the book.

Opinion Clear, detailed explanation of opinion with ample support. Shared great examples of who would be interested.

Includes some detailsin the explanation withsome support. Shared who would be interested.

Includes basic detailsin the explanationwith little support

Confusing or incomplete recommendation.

Presentation Prepared, organized, calm & made eye contact!

Pretty good job. Need to prepare a bit more. Sufficient eye contact.

Lacking preparation. Pleasepractice next time.Limited eye contact.

Student is completely unprepared and makes no eye contact.

Voice Good pace, loud enough & enthusiastic.

Pace & volume weremostly good. Someenthusiasm detected

Pace & volume couldbe improved.

Couldn’t hearyou! Too fast(or too slow!)

Dartmouth Middle SchoolSummer Reading List of Choices for 7th and 8th

Mysteries and SuspenseI’d Tell You I Love You, But Then I’d Have to Kill You series by Ally CarterFound (The Missing series) by Margaret Peterson HaddixWhen You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead (Newbery winner 2010)Scat or Hoot by Carl Hiaasen

Look at Life Mockingbird by Katherine Erskine (National Book Award winner 2010)Rules by Cynthia LordSo B. It by Sarah WeeksGym Candy or Payback Time by Carl DeukerOut of my Mind by Sharon Draper

Fantasy/Sci-FiGregor the Overlander series by Suzanne CollinsThe Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman (Newbery winner 2009)Life as We Knew it series by Susan Beth PfefferPowerless by Matthew CodyElsewhere by Gabrielle Zevin

Historical FictionFire from the Rock by Sharon DraperIncantation by Alice HoffmanWoods Runner by Gary PaulsenChains series by Laurie Halse Anderson (National Book Award finalist 2008)The Wednesday Wars by Gary D. Schmidt (Newbery honor 2008)

In addition to the specific titles mentioned above, you may wish to choose other books written by those authors OR books written by the following authors:

Avi Elise Broach Susan CooperRobert Cormier Christopher Paul Curtis Sharon CreechChris Crutcher Shannon Hale Kevin HenkesKaren Hesse Cynthia Kadohata Gail Carson LevineC.S. Lewis Lois Lowry Ann M. MartinWalter Dean Myers Donna Jo Napoli Garth NixGary Paulsen Richard Peck Louis SacharRoland Smith Jordan Sonnenblick Jerry SpinelliScott Westerfeld

Name: _____________________ Date: ________________

Booktalk Prep Form

Title: ______________________________ Author: ________________ Genre: _________

2 – 3 sentence summary of book:

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

I liked this book because…__________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

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Other readers will find the book easy just right challenging

The type of student who might enjoy this book is…______________________________

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Meaningful quote from the book to introduce it: _______________________________________

____________________________________________________________________ (page ___)

Cite the book below using MLA format:

Book

__________________, _________________. ______________________________.Author’s last name Author’s first name Title (in italics or underlined)

___________________: _________________, _______________. Print.

City of publication Publishing Company Year of publication