Atascocita Middle School 8 th Grade Summer Reading On Level CHOOSE ONE BOOK: Falling Over Sideways by Jordan Sonnenblick

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1 CHOOSE ONE BOOK: Atascocita Middle School 8 th Grade Summer Reading On Level Falling Over Sideways by Jordan Sonnenblick Harassed at her middle school, not taken seriously at home, and with a "perfect" older brother, Matthew, to live up to, thirteen-year-old Claire has always felt like her life was cursed--then one morning, when she are her beloved father are talking at breakfast, her father suddenly falls over with a stroke, and suddenly everything changes. Code of Honor by Alan Gratz When Iranian-American Kamran Smith learns that his big brother, Darius, has been labelled a terrorist, he sets out to piece together the codes and clues that will save his brother's life and his country from a deadly terrorist attack. The Smell of Other People s Houses by Bonnie-Sue Hitchcock Growing up in Alaska in the 1970s isn't like growing up anywhere else: Don't think life is going to be easy. Know your place. And never talk about yourself. Four vivid voices tell intertwining stories of hardship, tragedy, wild luck, and salvation. Fire & Flood by Victoria Scott Tella's brother Cody is sick and getting worse, so when she finds instructions on how to become a contender in the dangerous Brimstone Bleed race where she can win a cure for him, she jumps at the chance--but there is no guarantee that she will win, or even survive. ANNOTATE AS YOU GO: Why Annotate? Annotate any text that you must know well, in detail, and from which you might need to produce evidence that supports your knowledge or reading, such as a book on which you will be tested. When you annotate effectively, you can recall the key information in the book with reasonable thoroughness in a 15- to 30-minute review of your notes and the text, even six weeks after you first read it. Tools: Highlighter, Pencil, Sticky Notes/Tabs, and Your Own Text As you read, section by section, chapter by chapter, use sticky notes or tabs to identify the following: 1. Examples of conflict, theme, and symbolism (see next page for further definitions). 2. Title each chapter or section as soon as you finish it, especially if the text does not provide headings for chapters or sections. 3. Make a list of vocabulary words on a back page or the inside back cover. Possible ideas for lists include the author's special jargon and new, unknown, or otherwise interesting words.

2 COMPLETE THE CHART AS YOU READ NAME TITLE (please underline) AUTHOR S NAME CHRONOLOGY OF MAJOR EVENTS Consider Freytag s Pyramid for stages of plot: exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, and denouement. Highlight the box that represents the story s climax. The climax refers to a decisive moment or a turning point in the plot at which the rising action turns into falling action. The situation for the protagonist often shifts at this point THEMES PRESENT A THEME IS a central idea present in a work of literature. A novel can have more than one theme. A THEME IS NOT a topic i.e. love. Rather, ask yourself what the author is saying about the topic THAT IS A THEME. Consider the author s social/political/psychological/ philosophical beliefs. Example: Sometimes a sacrifice is necessary for the good of others - Where the Red Fern Grows PROTAGONIST Refers to the character facing a problem or an obstacle (person or thing) that needs to be solved/overcome. Decide who the protagonist is, describe him or her, and identify the problem or obstacle he or she is facing. ANTAGONIST Refers to the character who gets in the protagonist s way, making it difficult for the protagonist to reach some goal. Decide who or what the antagonist is, describe the antagonist, and identify specific ways the antagonist interferes with the protagonist. SETTING The setting of a literary work includes its time period, location, and general atmosphere. CONFLICT Refers to struggles between opposing forces. Consider internal and external conflicts.

3 POINT OF VIEW Refers to the mode of narration an author employs and includes: First- Person, Second-Person, Third- Person Objective, Third-Person Limited, Third Person Omniscient, and Stream of Consciousness. Research these definitions to correctly identify your novel s POV. Identify any shifts (changes) in POV. LITERARY TECHNIQUES Literary techniques vary from writer to writer. They are used to convey themes in literary works. LITERARY TECHNIQUE TEXT-BASED EVIDENCE W/CITATION SIGNIFICANCE/EFFECT Allusion a brief and indirect reference to a person, place, thing, or idea of historical, cultural, literary, or political significance Diction style of speaking or writing determined by the choice of words a speaker or author employs Foreshadowing the author s use of clues to hint at what the outcome is Imagery descriptive words that appeal to one or more of the senses: sight, taste, touch, smell, sound Irony (verbal, situational, dramatic) used to emphasize the contrast between reality and expectation. VI is used when what one says is not what he means. SI is when the outcome of a situation is contrary to what is expected. DI is when the audience/readers know something the characters do not.

4 LITERARY TECHNIQUE TEXT-BASED EVIDENCE W/CITATION SIGNIFICANCE/EFFECT Symbolism the use of symbols to represent ideas or qualities that extend beyond their literal sense EX: American flag represents freedom and patriotism Tone the attitude of the writer towards the subject matter S Write down quotes that are important to the plot or emphasize the main traits of the chartacters. Document the page number at the end of your quote in parentheses (12). Sample quote from THE THINGS THEY CARRIED by Tim O Brien -they carried like freight trains; they carried it on their backs and shoulders-and for all the ambiguities of Vietnam, all the mysteries and unknowns, there was at least the single abiding certainty that they would never be at a loss for things to carry. Consider the author s intended effect/purpose behind the quote. Does the quote represent a recurring idea/theme/etc.? How does the quote contribute to the plot? O brien chooses to end the first section of the novel with this sentence. He provides excellent visual details of what each solider in Vietnam would carry for day-to-day fighting. He makes you feel the physical weight of what soldiers have to carry for simple survival. When you combine the emotional weight of loved ones at home, the fear of death, and the responsibility for the men you fight with, with this physical weight, you start to understand what soldiers in Vietnam dealt with every day.

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