2020 SUMMER READING FOR INCOMING 8th GRADERS As readers, we often turn to pieces of literature that speak to us in some profound way. We can empathize with the protagonist’s challenging life, we can envision ourselves as the adventurous hero, or we can lose ourselves in the magic of the protagonist’s world. One of the reasons that contemporary young adult fiction is so powerful today is its focus on identity. The protagonists in today’s books struggle with identity just as much as today’s teens, making literature a strong reflection of the world in which we live. As you read, you will engage in a character study by examining how your protagonist grapples with identity. For your summer reading assignment, you will read ONE of following books: Ghost by Jason Reynolds Book Talk Summerlost by Ally Condie Book Talk *There Will Be Lies by Nick Lake Author Interview Book Trailer Projekt 1065 by Alan Gratz Book Trailer The Lie Tree by Frances Hardinge Author’s Inspiration *The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness Book Talk *For students entering the English Self-Select Honors program
Transcript
2020 SUMMER READING FOR INCOMING 8th GRADERS As readers, we often turn to pieces of literature that speak to us in some profound way. We can
empathize with the protagonist’s challenging life, we can envision ourselves as the adventurous
hero, or we can lose ourselves in the magic of the protagonist’s world.
One of the reasons that contemporary young adult fiction is so powerful today is its focus on
identity. The protagonists in today’s books struggle with identity just as much as today’s teens,
making literature a strong reflection of the world in which we live.
As you read, you will engage in a character study by examining how your protagonist
grapples with identity.
For your summer reading assignment, you will read ONE of following books:
Ghost by Jason Reynolds
Book Talk
Summerlost by Ally Condie
Book Talk
*There Will Be Lies by Nick Lake
Author Interview
Book Trailer
Projekt 1065 by Alan Gratz
Book Trailer
The Lie Tree by Frances Hardinge
Author’s Inspiration
*The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness
Book Talk
*For students entering the English Self-Select Honors program
Lens #1: Identity Is a (Complicated) Choice In many YA novels, protagonists learn that they can decide who they want to be – which sounds fantastic, until they realize how difficult that decision is. Maybe the character wants to exhibit a quality they admire- like compassion, physical strength, or honesty- but they find it challenging to do so. Or, maybe they’ve made poor decisions in the past and now strive to be a better person. Yet as the protagonists watch adults or other teens coming to terms with their individual identities, they realize how complex and ever-changing one’s sense of self can be.
Lens #2: Learning to Accept Who You Are Self-acceptance can be a difficult battle for many teens and YA characters. Their circumstances at home, in school, or in certain relationships can make it difficult for them to share their tragic pasts, sexual orientation, or gender identity with others. Protagonists who suffer from depression, social anxiety, and other mental health disorders may also isolate themselves for fear of rejection even though they want to be socially accepted. These characters aren’t hiding who they are. Rather, their stories are about seeking acceptance from others as well as themselves and learning to be comfortable with who they are.
Lens #3: Caught in an Identity Crisis Some YA novels explore what happens when the protagonist is torn between who they are and who others want them to be. Sometimes their situation dictates the role they must play at that moment. Other times, supporting characters or society at large may force the character to conform in ways that make them feel uncomfortable – because those actions or behaviors aren’t aligned with their own beliefs. What often results is a painful internal conflict peppered with questions like “Am I a good person?” and “Why can’t I be who I really am?”
Taken from https://diymfa.com/writing/identity-theme-ya-literature. Accessed April 22,
Lens #4: Hiding Your True Identity (SELF SELECT OPTION) In YA novels, protagonists may often feel driven to hide elements of their identity. Especially in YA fantasy and historical fiction, girls may dress and act as boys to receive education, training, and other privileges they wouldn’t normally receive because of their gender. In other cases, characters may lie about their name, country of birth, choice of religion, and other aspects of their identity to avoid persecution or to protect themselves and their loved ones. Regardless, these characters are forced to suppress a part of themselves that society deems unacceptable. This further complicates their journey to understanding or accepting who they are and can lead to feelings of isolation and fear of rejection or being exposed.
Lens #5: The Fantastical Twist on Identity (SELF SELECT OPTION) YA authors who write fantasy, alternate history, and other speculative genres sometimes put a creative twist on the theme of identity. They often take one of the previously mentioned angles, then incorporate magic or aspects of otherworldly creatures to complicate matters for the protagonist. For example, the heroine of Rachel Hartman’s Seraphina is half-dragon and half-human. Because the humans in her country fear dragons, Seraphina must hide her heritage and cover most of her skin, which has patches of dragon scales. And, in Ryan Graudin’s Wolf By Wolf, the protagonist Yael has the ability to skinshift after years of experimentation at a Nazi death camp. As a result of “wearing” different identities for most of her life, she no longer remembers her original appearance.
Taken from https://diymfa.com/writing/identity-theme-ya-literature. Accessed April 22,
2018.
Written Assessment is Attached
All Work Will be Completed on the Following Document
Summer Reading 2020 - Summative Response & Annotations English 8 Due: September 2020 Materials due Friday, September 4th In-class assessment: Wednesday, September 9th The Assignment As readers, we often turn to pieces of literature that speak to us in some profound way. We can empathize with the protagonist’s challenging life, we can envision ourselves as the adventurous hero, or we can lose ourselves in the magic of the protagonist’s world. One of the reasons that contemporary young adult fiction is so powerful today is its focus on identity. The protagonists in today’s books struggle with identity just as much as today’s teens, making literature a strong reflection of the world in which we live.
Step One: Annotate the article(s). The article should be printed and annotated. Highlight and annotate any information that connects to the prompt. Step Two: After you annotate the article(s), you must write a 5-7 sentence paragraph summarizing the reading about identity. Use textual evidence in your response. You will write your summary below.
Step 3: Use your new understanding of identity and one of the lenses below to examine how the protagonist in your chosen novel comes to better understand his/her own identity. PART TWO: Choose a LENS then complete the dialectical (double entry) journal. Complete Step One- Step Four Step One: Choose ONE lens for interpreting identity formation to better frame your reading. (Self Select: You must choose either Lens #4 or Lens #5 for your annotations.)
Lens #1: Identity Is a (Complicated) Choice
Lens #2: Learning to Accept Who
You Are
Lens #3: Caught in an Identity Crisis
Lens #4: Hiding Your True Identity (SELF SELECT OPTION)
Lens #5: The Fantastical Twist on Identity (SELF SELECT OPTION)
Write Your Lens Below: ____________________________________________________________ Step Two & Step Three:
● Collect TEN pieces of textual evidence that address your character’s journey to better understanding himself/herself. Be sure to think about how the author is commenting on this journey by paying close attention to: characterization, secondary characters, tone, and author’s craft (e.g., imagery, personification, internal thinking, metaphors, similes, etc.).
● For each piece of textual evidence, provide a 5-7 sentence explanation that
connects the text to either the online text provided or the lens of identity you have chosen.
● You will record your annotations in the chart below.
Annotation: Place any significant lines or passages that relate to your chosen lens. Make sure to note page numbers of these passages.
Analysis: For each piece of textual evidence, provide a 5-7 sentence explanation that connects the text to either the online text provided or the lens of identity you have chosen. Analysis must reflect deep thinking about your novel. You must show a high level of understanding, comprehension, and reasoning towards your annotation. The analysis you provide must be written in full sentences and must use proper PACTS.
Annotation #1:
page #_____
Annotation #2:
page #_____
Annotation: Place any significant lines or passages that relate to your chosen lens. Make sure to note page numbers of these passages.
Analysis: For each piece of textual evidence, provide a 5-7 sentence explanation that connects the text to either the online text provided or the lens of identity you have chosen. Analysis must reflect deep thinking about your novel. You must show a high level of understanding, comprehension, and reasoning towards your annotation. The analysis you provide must be written in full sentences and must use proper PACTS.
Annotation #3:
page # _____
Annotation #4:
page # _____
Annotation: Place any significant lines or passages that relate to your chosen lens. Make sure to note page numbers of these passages.
Analysis: For each piece of textual evidence, provide a 5-7 sentence explanation that connects the text to either the online text provided or the lens of identity you have chosen. Analysis must reflect deep thinking about your novel. You must show a high level of understanding, comprehension, and reasoning towards your annotation. The analysis you provide must be written in full sentences and must use proper PACTS.
Annotation #5:
page #_____
Annotation #6:
page #_____
Annotation: Place any significant lines or passages that relate to your chosen lens. Make sure to note page numbers of these passages.
Analysis: For each piece of textual evidence, provide a 5-7 sentence explanation that connects the text to either the online text provided or the lens of identity you have chosen. Analysis must reflect deep thinking about your novel. You must show a high level of understanding, comprehension, and reasoning towards your annotation. The analysis you provide must be written in full sentences and must use proper PACTS.
Annotation #7:
page #_____
Annotation #8:
page #_____
Annotation: Place any significant lines or passages that relate to your chosen lens. Make sure to note page numbers of these passages.
Analysis: For each piece of textual evidence, provide a 5-7 sentence explanation that connects the text to either the online text provided or the lens of identity you have chosen. Analysis must reflect deep thinking about your novel. You must show a high level of understanding, comprehension, and reasoning towards your annotation. The analysis you provide must be written in full sentences and must use proper PACTS.
