Grade 8

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Summer Reading
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O N M A R T H A’ S V I N E YA R D
For Students Entering 8th Grade
New Favorites
Here are some of our newest
favorites for 8th grade!
“The beautiful thing about learning is that no one can take it
away from you.” -- B.B. King
Dear Eighth Graders,
!
Masterminds (series)
by Gordon Korman
Summer vacation is here (Yahoo!) but it is also a wonderful
time to READ! It is important that you read books that are
not too hard and not too easy, but are right at for your level.
The five finger test is a great way to determine if a book is
just right -- if you can count five words on a page that you
don’t understand, it isn’t a good fit for you.
Summerlost
byAlly Condie
Summer is also the perfect time for you to explore books
that interests you. Here are some summer reading tips for
you:
Salt to the Sea
by Ruta Sepetys
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Orbiting Jupiter
by Gary Schmidt
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Echoes
by Pam Munoz Ryan
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Josh Baxter Levels Up
by Gavin Brown
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Soar
by Joan Bauer
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Home Run
by Tim Green
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• Set aside regular reading time,
• Visit the local library -- they have great collections for
Young Adults!
• Pack a book wherever you go!
• Try listening to an audiobook.
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REQUIRED READING
Mrs. Leuenberger is requiring all incoming 8th graders to read
2 books from this list or one she has provided (check her
webpage.) See her packet for instructions in order to come
prepared on the first day of school.
Created May 2015 by Ms. Cole, Librarian at the Edgartown School on Martha’s
Vineyard in Massachusetts. It is based on an earlier version created by Ms. Lambacher
and influenced by ideas from the staff at the Edgartown School.
Happy reading!
Books About 8th Grade
No More Dead Dogs
The Cheat
by Gordon Korman
by Amy Koss
Eighth-grade football hero
Wallace Wallace is sentenced
to detention attending
rehearsals of the school play
where, in spite of himself, he
becomes wrapped up in the
production.
When Sarah gets her hands
on the answers to the eighthgrade geography midterm
and decides to share them
with some other students, the
consequences are farranging.
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Freak the Mighty
Million-Dollar Throw
by Rodman Philbrick
At the beginning of eighth
grade, learning disabled Max
and his new friend Freak,
whose birth defect has
affected his body but not his
brilliant mind, find that when
they combine forces they
make a powerful team.
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The Encyclopedia of Me
by Karen Rivers
As Tink Aaron-Martin writes
an encyclopedia of her life,
she also tells the story of the
summer leading into her
eighth-grade year.
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by Mike Lupica
Eighth-grade star quarterback
Nate gets a chance to win a
million dollars if he can
complete a pass during the
halftime of a New England
Patriot's game, but he is
overwhelmed by the pressure
to succeed.
!!
Eighth Grade is Making Me
Sick: Ginny Davis’ year in
Stuff *
by Jennifer Holm
Eighth grade turns out to be
an eventful year for Ginny
and her family, as notes, lists,
report cards, doctor bills, and
other "stuff" reveal that the
family moves to a big new
house, Brian starts to be
more than just a friend,
Ginny's mother has a baby,
and her stepfather loses his
job.
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Eighth Grade Bites (The
Chronicles of Vladimir Tod
series)
by Heather Brewer
Thirteen-year-old Vlad has
trouble with bullies and girls,
but his biggest secret is that
he’s a vampire. When his
favorite teacher goes missing,
he goes in search of the truth
-- but can he find it before his
secret is revealed to the
entire school?
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After Ever After
by Jordan Sonnenblick
Although Jeff and Tad,
encouraged by a new friend,
Lindsey, make a deal to help
one another overcome
aftereffects of their cancer
treatments in preparation for
eighth-grade graduation, Jeff
still craves advice from his
older brother Stephen, who is
studying drums in Africa.
Realistic Fiction
Stargirl
by Jerry Spinelli
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The Summer I Turned
Pretty by Jenny Han
Petey by Ben Michaelson
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After Ever After
by Jordan Sonnenblick
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Operation Oleander by
Valerie O. Patterson
Footer Davis is Probably
Crazy by Susan Vaught
Rain Reign by Anne M. Martin
Rules of the Road by Joan
Bauer
The Schwa Was Here
by Neil Schusterman
Tangerine by Edward Bloor
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The Fault in Our Stars by
John Green
Racing in the Rain: My Life
as a Dog by Garth Stein
Also Known as Elvis by
James Howe
Baseball Great by Tim Green
Rules by Cynthia Lord
Fantasy League by Mike
Lupica
Pinch Hit by Tim Green
Red Pencil by Andrea Davis
Pinkney
13 Reasons Why by Jay
Asher
It’s Kind of a Funny Story
by Ned Vizzini
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Historical Fiction
The Secret School by Avi
Dovey Coe
by Frances O’Roark Dowell
Climbing the Stairs
by Padma Venkatraman
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Phantoms in the Snow by
Kathleen Benner Duble
Chains (series) by Laurie
Halse Anderson
Fallout by Todd Strasser
Never Fall Down by Patricia
McCormick
Catherine, Called Birdy by
Karen Cushman
Cracker! The Best Dog in
Vietnam by Cynthia Kadohata
Code Talkers by Joseph
Bruchac
Kaleidoscope Eyes
by Jen Bryant
Woodsrunner
by Gary Paulsen
My Brother Sam is Dead by
James Collier
Summer of My German
Soldier by Bette Green
Between Shades of Gray by
Ruta Sepetys
Johnny Tremain by Esther
Forbes
Countdown and Revolution
by Deborah Wiles
Fever, 1793 by Laurie Halse
Anderson
Mystery
The Rivalry: Mystery at the
Army-Navy Game by John
Feinstein
Ransom by Lois Duncan
Never Trust a Dead Man
by Vivian Vande Velde
Shelter
by Harlan Coben
Behind the Curtain by Peter
Abrahams
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And Then There Were None
by Agatha Christie
Don’t Look Behind You by
Lois Duncan
Cover-up by John Feinstein
Heist Society (series)
by Ally Carter
I,Q: Independence Hall* by
Roland Smith
Stranger With My Face by
Lois Duncan
Paper Towns by John Green
Miss Perrigrine’s Home for
Peculiar Children by
Ransom Riggs
Sasquatch in the Paint
by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Something Upstairs* by Avi
Fantasy
Super Human (series)
by Michael Carroll
The Phantom Tollbooth
by Norton Juster
Glass Sentence
by S. E. Grove
The Awakening (series)
by Michael Carroll
Creature of Moonlight
by Rebecca Hahn
Ranger’s Apprentice (series)
by John Flanagan
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Pendragon (series)
by D.J. MacHale
The Looking Glass Wars
by Frank Beddor
Obsidian Mirror
by Catherine Fisher
The Golden Compass
(series) by Philip Pullman
Book of a Thousand Days
by Shannon Hale
Dealing With Dragons
(series) by Patricia C. Wrede
The Ropemaker by Peter
Dickinson
Powerless by Matthew Cody
Hero by Mike Lupica
The Grey King (series) by
Susan Cooper
Maze Runner (series) by
James Dashner
The Lord of the Rings by
J.R.R. Tolkien
Witch & Wizard* (series) by
James Patterson
Thickety (series) by J. A.
White
Science Fiction
Alien Game by
Catherine Dexter
Leviathan (series)
by Scott Westerfeld
The House of the Scorpion
by Nancy Farmer
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The Other Side of the
Island by Allegra Goodman
The Always War by Margaret
Peterson Haddix
Dark Life (series)
by Kat Falls
Legend* by Marie Lu
The Limit
by Kristen Landon
The Giver* by Lois Lowry
The Eleventh Plague
by Jeff Hirsch
Code Orange
by Caroline B. Cooney
I Am Number Four (series)
by Pittacus Lore
Uglies (series) by Scott
Westerfeld
Tessla’s Attic (series)
by Neal Shusterman
Smek for President
by Adam Rex
Space Case
by Stuart Gibbs
Action/Adventure
Crossing the Wire by Will
Hobbs
Quarantine
by Lex Thomas
Soldier’s Heart by Gary
Paulsen
Touching Spirit Bear by Ben
Mikaelsen
The Raft by S. A. Bodeen
Purple Heart by Patricia
Cormick
Stormbreaker (series) by
Anthony Horowitz
The Roar (series)
by Emma Clayton
Surviving Bear Island
byPaul Greci
Elephant Run by Roland
Smith
Skink: No Surrender
by Carl Hiaasen
Escape Under the Forever
Sky by Eve Yahalem
Ship Breaker by by Paolo
Bacigalupi
Peak
by Roland Smith
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Tunnels (series) by Roderick
Gordon
Newbery and King Awards
The One and Only Ivan by
Katherine Applegate
Inside Out and Back Again
by Thanhha Lai
Bud, Not Buddy by
Christopher Paul Curtis
Kira-Kira
by Cynthia Kadohata
Heart of a Samurai
by Margi Preus
Number the Stars by Lois
Lowry
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Rumble Fish by S.E. Hinton
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One Crazy Summer
by Rita Williams-Garcia
Monster by Walter Dean
Myers
The Call of the Wild by Jack
London
Dicey’s Song
by Cynthia Voigt
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Milkweed by Jerry Spinelli
Hope Was Here by Joan
Bauer
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Brown Girl Dreaming by
Jacqueline Woodson
Three Times Lucky by Sheila
Turnage
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The Westing Game by Ellen
Raskin
The Crossover by Alexander
Kwame
Moon Over Manifest by
Clare Vanderpool
Little Women by Louisa May
Alcott
Humorous Fiction
All American Girl
by Meg Cabot
Once Upon a Marigold
by Jean Ferris
From Norvelt to Nowhere
by Jack Gantos
I Am a Genius of Unspeakable
Evil and I Want to Be Your
Class President by Josh Lieb
The Falcon Malteser:
a Diamond Brothers Mystery
by Anthony Horowi-
Ungifted
by Gordon Korman
Spells and Sleeping Bags
by Sarah Mlynowski
No More Dead Dogs
by Gordon Korman
I Funny (series)
by James Patterson
Classics
Alice in Wonderland
by Lewis Carroll
Anne of Green Gables
by L.M. Montgomery
Treasure Island
by Robert Louis Stevenson
Sherlock Holmes
by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
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Heidi by Johanna Spyri
The Call of the Wild by Jack London
The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe
by C.. S. Lewis
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Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
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The Time Machine by H. G. Wells
The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson
Kidnapped by Robert Louis Stevenson
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Recommendations from former
8th graders
Game Changers
Behind Enemy Lines
We Were Liars
Never Fall down
Maze Runner
Make Lemonade
Skink: No Surrender
Hush Hush
Paper Towns
The Fault in Our Stars
Legend
Want to Go Private
Ouiji
Fourth Bear
Everyday
Eleanor and Park
Bone
Burn for Burn
The Perks of Being
a Wallflower
It’s Kind of a Funny
Story
Why We Broke Up
Before I Fall
Six Months Later
Ten
13 Reasons Why
Stupid Fast
The Crossover
If I Stay
Unwind
Dorothy Must Die
The Alchemist
Sasquatch in the Paint
The Vampire Diaries
Sure Signs of Crazy
Unbroken
Outsiders
All the Light We
Cannot See
Peak
Counting by 7s
The Raft
the Opposite of
Loneliness
The Watch That Ends
the Night
Beyond
Salt to the Sea
Stargirl
Fallout
Finest Hours
Ungifted
Between Shades of
Gray
Favorite Series
Sisterhood of the Traveling
Pants by Ann Brashares
Maximum Ride by James
Patterson
Guys Read by various authors
The Summer I Turned
Pretty by Jenny Han
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Beautiful Creatures by Kami
Garcia
Gone by Michael Grant
The Fourth Stall by Chris
Rylander
ILLUSTRATORS
Laurie Halse
Anderson
Suzanne Collins
Ally Carter
Sarah Dessen
Michael Grant
Tim Green
John Green
Lisi Harrison
Robert Holland
D.J. MacHale
Lauren Myracle
James Patterson
Gary Paulsen
Jerry Spinelli
Scott Westerfeld
Jacqueline Woodson
The Hunger Games by
Suzanne Collins
Matched by Ally Condie
The Last Apprentice* by
Joseph Delaney
Eragon by Christopher Paolini
The Recruit (Cherub) by
Robert Muchamore
I’d Tell You I Love You, But
Then I’d Have to Kill You by
Ally Carter
TTYL by Lauren Myracle
A Great and Terrible Beauty
by Libba Bray
FAVORITE
AUTHORS/
Divergent by Veronica Roth
Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer
Warriors by Erin Hunter
Non-fiction
Bomb: the Race to Build -- and
Steal -- the World’s Most
Dangerous Weapon
by Steve Sheinkin
Examines the history of the atomic
bomb, the race to build the bomb,
and the impact of the weapon on
societies around the world.
(Newbery Honor Book)
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Popular
by Maya Van Wagenen
Presents a memoir of a one year
social experiment in which teen
author Maya Van Wagenen followed
a 1950's popularity guide, written
by former teen model Betty Cornell.
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I Am Malala
by Malala Yousafzai
Malala Yousafzai's describes her
fight for education for girls under
Taliban rule, the support she
received from her parents to
pursue an education, and how the
Taliban retaliated against her by
trying to kill her.
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Can I See Your I.D.? True
Stories of False Identities
by Chris Barton
Discusses the skills and training
needed to become a spy, spying
techniques and different types of
surveillance.
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Unbroken: An Olympian’s
Journey From Airman to
Castaway to Captive
by Laura Hillenbrand
Biography of Olympic runner and
World War II bombardier, Louis
Zamperini, who had been
rambunctious in childhood before
succeeding in track and eventually
serving in the military, which led to
being forced to find a way to
survive in the open ocean after
being shot down.
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At the Edge: Daring Acts in
Desperate Times
by Larry Verstraete
Collects more than twenty true
stories of people facing critical life
or death decisions, including a man
saving someone in the path of an
oncoming train, a tragic mountain
climbing accident, and a family
caught in a tsunami.
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Outcasts United: the Story of a
Refugee Soccer Team That
Changed a Town
by Warren St. John
A youth soccer team is founded
comprised of children from all over
the world in the refugee settlement
town of Clarkston, Georgia,
bringing the children together to
discover common bonds as they
adjust to life in a new homeland.