Catholic School

St Mary Star of the Sea Catholic School

Catholic Education and Values for a Lifetime

Located in Beverly, MA on Boston's North Shore
Accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges

Summer School Work:  Grade 6,7, and 8

Summer Book Reports: Grades 6, 7, and 8

Two Book Reports are due on the first day of school, books must be from the list on the back for your grade level.  Each should be typed, all sections should be on one page (do not make a separate page for each section) and both should be stapled together.  They will be graded!
  1. Title: Include the Title (which is underlined), Author, illustrator (if there is one), the copyright date, and the number of pages in the book. 
  2. Characters: First list all of the characters.  In complete sentences tell about each main or important character in some detail.  I would like you to give me your insight into the characters and their motivations for their actions. (This should be at least one paragraph, 4-5 well written sentences, after the list).
  3. Setting: Determine its importance to the story.  Discuss time and place. (At least one paragraph with much description)
  4. Plot: Please summarize the plot to give the reader a general idea of the story.  This section should have an introduction, body, and conclusion and be 3-5 paragraphs in length.  This should tell the main action, the problem the main character(s) face(s), and the solution or outcome.  Just the important details, do not rewrite the book.
  5. Opinion:  Include your opinion or reaction to the book.  Give specific examples from the story to illustrate your points. Again one paragraph answer.  Do not just say “I liked this book.”  Give clear and specific examples of what you “liked”.
Please be sure to edit all punctuation, spelling, and grammatical errors.

Saint Mary Star of the Sea School Middle School Summer Reading List 2008

Pick two titles from the list below for your appropriate grade level and follow format on the back of this page.  

Entering 6th grade

  • A Wrinkle in Time by Madeline L’Engle  
  • Mosque by David Macauley  
  • Hatchet by Gary Paulson  
  • Esperanza Rising by Pam Munoz Ryan  
  • The Secret School by Avi    

Entering 7th grade

  • Helen Keller’s Teacher by Margaret Davidson  
  • The Afterlife by Gary Soto  
  • Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer  
  • Crispin: The Cross of Lead by Avi  
  • Profiles in Courage by John F. Kennedy  
  • The Sword and the Circle: King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table by Rosemary Sutcliff    

Entering 8th grade

  • Revenge of the Whale: The True Story of the Whaleship Essex by Nathaniel Philbrick  
  • Black Beauty by Anna Sewell  
  • The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton  
  • The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett  
  • The Story of My Life by Helen Keller   The Giver by Lois Lowry
St. Mary Star of the Sea School
13 Chapman Street
Beverly, MA 01915
Tel: 978-927-3259

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