Circleville Middle School and Crispell Middle School
Grade 8 Suggested Summer Reading – Extra Credit
The objective of summer reading for students is to assist them in cultivating skills that have been built throughout their academic careers. It is the hope that summer reading will strengthen and reinforce skills that are vital to all aspects of academics and beyond.
Students may choose one of the following book options to read this summer and can complete the writing task below to earn extra credit in the first quarter of the school year. To earn extra credit, the paragraph is due on Monday, Sept. 15.
Book Options
- Fever 1793 by Laurie Halse Anderson
- The Crossover (verse edition) by Kwame Alexander
- As Brave As You by Jason Reynolds
- Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli
- Ghost by Jason Reynolds
- The Red Pencil by Andrea Davis Pinkney
Summer Reading Constructed Response (Due Date: 9/15/25)
Directions: Think about the protagonist in the book you read for your summer reading assignment. Use the CER (claim, evidence, reasoning) strategy to write a constructed response to the following question:
What can be inferred about the protagonist of the book you read based on their words, thoughts, and actions? (We’re looking for a personality trait, not a physical trait.) Select ONE character trait to describe the protagonist, back up your claim with one piece of evidence from the text, and be sure to analyze the text evidence with a detailed and thorough explanation.
- Write your response in the space below.
- Be sure to cite your text evidence correctly.
- Be sure to use proper spelling and grammar
Resources to find the text
A video explaining how to access online reading and audiobooks: SORA Instructions
- CVMS Library: https://sites.google.com/pinebushschools.org/cvms-library/home
- Crispell Library : https://sites.google.com/pinebushschools.org/libraryatcrispell/home
- Pine Bush Area Public Library– 223-227 Maple Ave, Pine Bush, NY https://pinebusharealibrary.org/
- Middletown Thrall Library– 12 Depot Street, Middletown, NY https://www.thrall.org/WelcomeHome.html
- Mamakating Library– 128 Sullivan Street, Wurstboro, NY https://mamakatinglibrary.org