2016 8th Grade Summer Reading Assignments Lake Highland Preparatory School 1. Summer Reading Assignment #1: Jungle of Bones by Ben Mikaelsen a. Text: Jungle of Bones by Ben Mikaelson; This book is a required text for all 7th and 8th Grade students on the Charles Clayton Campus. b. Reading Notes: Students should read, but do not need to answer, the following guided reading questions, as they read the story. These questions will be discussed in class upon return from summer break. c. Assignment: Students must complete a series of written responses to be turned in on the first day of school (instructions below). 2. Summer Reading Assignment #2: Seeing Red by Kathryn Erskine a. Text: This is the rising 8th grade specific summer reading book. b. Reading Notes: Students will be quizzed on the book during the first week of school. It would be wise to read this book towards the end of the summer. Making notes about characters and key events would be an excellent strategy to use while reading. c. Assignment (2 Parts): Students will conduct an interview with someone who was a teenager or older during the early 1970s and create a collage the represents the early 1970s to be turned in on the first day of school (instructions below). 3. Summer Reading Assignment #3: Non-Fiction Articles a. Text: This is the non-fiction summer reading assignment for rising 8th Graders. b. Reading Notes: Students must read a series of articles and discuss them with their parents. c. Assignment: Students must record their conversations, in the included template, to prompts to be turned in on the first day of school (instructions below).

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8th Grade English Summer Reading Assignment #1 DIRECTIONS: 1. All rising 8th Graders must read Jungle of Bones by Ben Mikaelson before returning from summer break. 2. Students should read the following “Guided Reading and Discussion Questions” to help them think deeply about the story as they read. These questions DO NOT need to be answered. These questions will be discussed as a class upon returning from break and beginning 8th grade year. 3. Students should complete the “Novel Analysis and Written Response” question assignment that DOES need to be completed and written over break to be turned in on the first day of school in English class.

Jungle of Bones Guided Reading & Discussion Questions (Read Only) These questions are meant to help guide your reading of the story; you do NOT need to have any written response. These questions will be discussed in English class at the start of the new year. 1. Chapter One: a. How would you describe Dylan? b. Why do you think he acts the way he does? c. What are some examples of the ways he rebels? d. Have you ever spoken to one of your parents the way Dylan does with his mom? How did they react? 2. Chapter Two: a. Do you think Dylan deserved his punishment (jail)? b. What happened to Dylan’s dad? c. How would you describe Dylan’s uncle Todd? d. Had you ever heard of PNG before? 2 | LHPS 8 t h G r a d e S u m m e r R e a d i n g 2 0 1 6 - 1 7

e. What do you think of Uncle Todd’s plan to search for his father, Henry’s, plane? f. What do you think of the journal entries? g. How would you react if you were in Henry’s shoes? 3. Chapter Three: a. Uncle Todd says, “I worked my butt off earning every penny I ever had. That’s what makes it so great now. People who have things given to them never appreciate it.” Do you agree or disagree with this statement? Why? b. Have you ever had to work hard to earn something? What? Did you feel more accomplished for having to work for it? 4. Chapter Four: a. What does Uncle Todd take Dylan to do? What is he trying to teach Dylan? b. Why do you think Uncle Todd encourages Dylan to drive illegally, even though that’s what he got in trouble for doing before? 5. Chapter Five: a. Who is Frank Bower and why do they go to visit him? What are some of the things Frank talks about? b. When Dylan asks why Frank went, even though he knew it would be dangerous, he responds that he joined the army because it was “patriotic”. What does patriotic mean? Why do you think it’s important to be patriotic? 6. Chapter Six: a. Why does Dylan keep spitting out his malaria pills? Do you think that is a good decision? b. Describe Dylan’s relationship with his uncle. Why do you think he makes him run so much? c. Pick one of the following quotes from the journal to explain/ respond to: “I am not sure which is worse, being bombed or bombing someone else.” OR “Freedom is never free. I believe now that freedom’s worst enemy is indifference and apathy.” 7. Chapter Seven: a. Dylan thinks “Why did he want to go halfway around the world looking for a plane wreck?” (81). Why do you think Uncle Todd wants to find the plane? b. How are some of the things Uncle Todd has said to him changing him (p. 81)? 3 | LHPS 8 t h G r a d e S u m m e r R e a d i n g 2 0 1 6 - 1 7

c. What do you think of the quote, “Dylan had an ominous feeling. He was stepping out of a world he recognized into a world he didn’t even understand?” (83). What are some of the ways that PNG is different from the USA? 8. Chapter Eight: a. Why and how does Quentin get on Dylan’s nerves? b. Where is the furthest place you have traveled? How does your experience compare with Dylan’s in PNG? c. Why is Quentin afraid of water? d. Analyze the following quote from the end of the chapter: “These people are so backward,” he said. “Or maybe more advanced,” Gene Cooper commented. “What do you mean?” Dylan asked. The big man scratched his bald head as he talked. “Einstein once said, ‘I do not know with what weapons World War III will be fought, but World War IV will be fought with sticks and stones.’ If you think of humanity that way, perhaps cavemen were once the most advanced civilization to inhabit the planet. Maybe these people were once advanced millennia ahead of us” (102-103). 9. Chapter Nine: a. Describe Swagup. What are betel nuts? What do they do to people’s mouths? b. What is some of the survival advice that Allen gives (p. 107)? c. What is Dylan’s father’s favorite saying (p. 110)? 10. Chapter Ten: a. “I want you to look through your survival kit… it may save your life” (113-114). Do you think Uncle Todd was right to bring Dylan on such a dangerous trip? b. Why did Dylan walk away from the group? c. Explain how Dylan managed to get separated and lost. 11. Chapter Eleven: a. Do you think Dylan is to blame for his predicament? Why or why not? b. What could he have done differently? c. “Why did he always have to do things without thinking?” he asks himself (124-125). What are some examples of that? d. Why is Dylan so sick? What do you think he might have?

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12. Chapter Twelve: a. What are some of the measures Dylan resorts to in order to survive? What are some smart techniques he uses? b. What does Dylan see flying overhead in the jungle? c. How does Grandfather Henry inspire Dylan? d. P. 139-140 is the same as the prologue. Why do you think the author did this? 13. Chapter Thirteen: a. Who is Kanzi and why was Dylan scared of her at first? Describe Kanzi and her upbringing. b. At first, Dylan is upset that Kanzi called him a “little lost white boy,” but after he sees how she handles herself alone in the jungle he says, “Maybe there was nothing dumb or simple about Kanzi. Maybe she knew more about how to survive in the world than every kid in Dylan’s school combined. Maybe the latest clothes he wore from the mall, his smartphone and computer games, maybe those weren’t the right measure of how intelligent and educated people were. Around this young, mouthy native girl, he felt really stupid” (147). What do you think of this observation? c. What important thing does Kanzi say that she has found, but tells Dylan to stay away from at the end of the chapter? 14. Chapter Fourteen: a. What are some of the ideas and opinions that Kanzi has about “white people”? Do you think those observations are fair or unfair? b. Why do you think, even though Kanzi seems to be mad at white people, she helps Dylan? c. What are some observations that Kanzi makes about Dylan specifically (p. 152-153). Do you think it’s fair for her to make those observations and comments? d. Dylan seems to complain a lot and blame everyone but himself for the situations he finds himself in. Why do you think he does that? What would you do in his situation? e. What do Kanzi and Dylan find at the end of the chapter? 15. Chapter Fifteen: a. Describe the Second Ace. If you were in Dylan’s position, stuck in the jungle with the Second Ace as your “new home”, how would you feel? b. “Waves of chills came over Dylan, and without thinking, he unfolded the small American flag and pulled it over his chest” (160). Why is this moment important? Where have we seen that American flag before? Who had it? 5 | LHPS 8 t h G r a d e S u m m e r R e a d i n g 2 0 1 6 - 1 7

c. On page 160, it says the rain “sounded like the steady tattoo of a drum” – What does that mean? What does tattoo mean (definition) in this context? d. What is Dylan’s nightmare/ hallucination about? Why do you think it is important (especially the end about “respect”)? 16. Chapter Sixteen: a. What are some of the thoughts Dylan has while stuck on the Second Ace? How do these quiet moments alone change him? b. The book keeps bringing up “genocide” and talks specifically about Darfur. What is genocide and what are some examples in history? c. Again, Dylan has more dreams/ hallucinations. What is this one about and why is it important, especially the part about “The image in the mirror had been his own, Dylan Barstow. What did that mean? Had he also changed?” (167). d. How was Dylan found? e. What revelation do we discover about Kanzi at the end of the chapter? What do you make of this? f. The name of the village that Kanzi spoke of was “Maswa” which means “dreams”. What is the role of dreams (vs. reality) in this story? g. Even though Quintin’s constant chatter normally bothered Dylan, why did Dylan tell him “Please keep talking” (174)? 17. Chapter Seventeen: a. “He had come over here afraid of cannibals and headhunters, thinking everybody was backward and uncivilized. What he had found was kindness” (180). What does it mean to be “civilized”? How does Dylan’s impression of the people and land of PNG change over the course of the story? b. How does Dylan react when he’s told that he had gangrene? How does Uncle Todd respond? How would you react in that situation? c. Dylan seems to wish for death a lot in this section, yet he continues to push on for his survival. What do you make of his mixed emotions? 18. Chapter Eighteen: a. Uncle Todd asks Dylan after he wakes up from the surgery, “What’s so important about that flag?” (187). Dylan responds that he’s not exactly sure… What do you think? b. What message does Uncle Todd give about respecting the elderly? Why do you think it’s important to respect your elders? What important knowledge and lessons can they teach us? c. Why does Dylan want to give Frank Bower the flag? 6 | LHPS 8 t h G r a d e S u m m e r R e a d i n g 2 0 1 6 - 1 7

d. Dylan keeps saying “I’m done being stupid,” but do you think he’s really changed? Why or why not? If you were his mother, would you believe him based on his past? 19. Chapter Nineteen: a. Why do you think Uncle Todd is being so cold toward Dylan? Do you think it’s fair for him to feel that way? b. “So now who was Dylan Barstow?” (198). Compare the Dylan from the beginning of the story to now. What’s changed? c. Dylan thinks about his father’s death a lot in this story. His feelings about his father change after his time in PNG. Have you ever lost someone close to you? Did it affect you the way it has Dylan? d. Why do Dylan and Uncle Todd fight when they get to the nursing home? At the end of the chapter, what do we find out happened to Frank Bower? 20. Chapter Twenty: a. How does Dylan react to the news of Frank Bower’s death? b. Who is John Taylor? Why does Dylan help him? c. The phrase “freedom is never free” comes up repeatedly throughout this story. How is freedom and patriotism a key element of this story? d. What does the final conversation between Uncle Todd and Dylan say about how both of their opinions of Dylan have changed? Do you believe that everyone deserves a second…third…fourth…or fifth chance? At what point do we stop giving people chances, or should we always give them another chance to prove themselves?

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Jungle of Bones: Novel Analysis & Written Response For each of the following, respond by writing a paragraph of 6-8 sentences. Each paragraph response should answer all of the contained questions. Further, the paragraph response should be insightful, typed and well-edited in terms of mechanics, usage, grammar and spelling. Example Question Summer can be a time to reconnect with family and friends. How are you planning to reconnect with your family during summer vacation? How do you use the summer to prepare for the next school year? Example Answer In an effort to reconnect with family every summer my family visits my Grandparents in Ashville, North Carolina. My father grew up there, so we all rent a cabin and spend a week in the mountains where we do all sorts of outside activities including hiking, zip lining, water rafting, and horseback riding. My parents still have to work during the summer so we try to use our weekends to travel to the beach. Since my parents are busy at work I attend different sport camps and visit with friends. In order to prepare for the school year I try and get most of my summer assignments out of the way. By late July my mother is helping us get uniforms purchased and always has us do a deep clean in our rooms. The best thing I can do to prepare for the school year is appreciate my days off so that I am ready to work hard in August. 1. FREEDOM/ PATRIOTISM (theme): How and why is war important to this story

(setting, plot, etc.)? Why do you think Uncle Todd is so patriotic? How do Dylan’s opinions of soldiers and veterans change throughout the story? Is patriotism lost on young people today? Explain why or why not?

2. SURVIVAL (theme): “Here he had energy and time for only one simple

focus: survival” (167). Define survival in your own words. Why is survival a multi-faceted theme in the story? Which characters in this story might you consider “survivors”?

3. SECOND ACE (symbol): Why do you think it is so important to Uncle Todd

to find Second Ace? What might the plane (and finding it) represent for him? What does the plane represent for Dylan?

4. THE AMERICAN FLAG & PNG (symbols): What is the significance of the

American Flag in this story? What connection does it show between Henry 8 | LHPS 8 t h G r a d e S u m m e r R e a d i n g 2 0 1 6 - 1 7

and Dylan? What does Papua New Guinea symbolize for Dylan? What does the country symbolize for those who once fought there? 5. APPLICATION (opinion): Will Dylan's new found perspective last or will it

wear off after being back in the United States? Respond to that question by predicting what his life will look like moving forward. Consider his relationships with his mother and uncle, his career field, his societal impact, his role as a father, etc as you write.

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8th Grade English Summer Reading Assignment #2 – Seeing Red Directions: 1. All rising 8th graders read the story Seeing Red, by Kathryn Erskine, before returning from summer break. 2. Students should be prepared to take a reading comprehension quiz on the story at the start of the school year. 3. Students should complete the TWO assignments for Seeing Red (below) over break to be turned in on the first day of school in English class: The Interview & The Collage.

Seeing Red Part One: The Interview Directions: You need to select someone who was 13 years or older in the year, 1972. Please conduct your interview using the questions below. You interview can be turned in two different ways: (1) Written: answers need to be written in COMPLETE sentences with an MLA heading and use Times New Roman 12-point font OR (2) Recorded: provide a video recording of the interview to email your teacher on the first day of school. MLA Heading: Place the following information in the top left hand corner of your page (double-spaced): Name Teacher Class (English H or English CP) Due Date

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Interview Strategy Suggestion: If you plan on writing your answers, take some notes or record the interview. Then answer the questions afterward. This will allow you to concentrate on the conversation rather than the elements of your sentence structure. Interview Questions: • Can you please tell me your name and explain how you know me? • How old were you in 1972? • Where did you grow up? • How would you describe the area you grew up in? • What did you and your friends do for fun? • What was a popular TV show during this time? • Do you remember who your favorite music artist was? • What were some of the world events that had happened during this time? • Who was president during this time? • Can you name some things that are different about life today compared to life back then? • How were people of other races treated in your town? • Did you ever witness anything that showed racism towards another race? • Tell me something positive that has changed in society since the early 70s. Create 3 of your own questions that relate to the book Seeing Red that you can ask them: •

1)

•

2)

•

3)

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Seeing Red Part Two: The Collage Directons: • Create a collage with ten (10) pictures that represent themes and topics found in the novel. o Picture Ideas: historical pictures, political pictures, artistic pictures, or pictures that are symbolic of the time o Theme Ideas: friendship, civil rights movement, 1970s pop culture, racism, conflict, etc • Include three quotes from the book somewhere on your collage that tie into or connect with the pictures you chose. • With the collage (it can be on the back or the next page), please write a sentence or two explaining each of the pictures you chose and include the URL/ HTML Internet link where you found them. • Your collage can either be digital or printed, but make sure your name is somewhere on it. • You can be as creative as you like! Feel free to make it your own. • You need to have the collage complete and ready to hand in by the first day of school.

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8th Grade English Summer Reading Assignment #3 – Non-Fiction Articles Directions: 1. All rising 8th grade students will read FOUR print or online news articles during the course of the summer. The students must choose articles to read from the categories: (1) National News (2) Local News (3) Politics (4) Human Interest (5) Business (6) Technology. The student may not read more than two articles from any category. 2. The student will have a conversation with an adult pertaining to the issues highlighted article. 3. Upon returning to school, the student will hand in the four “Article Conversation Guides” that were completed as he or she discussed the article with an adult.

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Article Conversation Guide #1 Source/Date

Title/Headline

Writer

Category

Three Topics for the Conversation 1. 2. 3.

I discussed my article with ____________________________. On what did the conversation actually focus? What were the highlights? ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________

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Article Conversation Guide #2 Source/Date

Title/Headline

Writer

Category

Three Topics for the Conversation 1. 2. 3.

I discussed my article with ____________________________. On what did the conversation actually focus? What were the highlights? ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________

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Article Conversation Guide #3 Source/Date

Title/Headline

Writer

Category

Three Topics for the Conversation 1. 2. 3.

I discussed my article with ____________________________. On what did the conversation actually focus? What were the highlights? ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________

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Article Conversation Guide #4 Source/Date

Title/Headline

Writer

Category

Three Topics for the Conversation 1. 2. 3.

I discussed my article with ____________________________. On what did the conversation actually focus? What were the highlights? ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________

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