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Peekskill City School District:
Summer Reading and Book Review Assignment for Entering 7th & 8th Graders

Task: Read two (2) books from the Reading List over the summer. The list is posted online and was distributed during class. Write one (1) Book Review.

Purpose: The purpose of a book review is to persuade the audience to read the book; similar to a commercial on television advertising a particular product.

When a writer reviews a book, he or she tries to give readers an idea of what happens in a story. Readers want to know a little bit about the plot of a book as well as about the setting and characters. However, the writer doesn't want to spoil the suspense for the reader by giving away major plot elements. Your review should include story elements, which are important to the story (i.e. plot, setting, characters, conflict, and theme) as well as your recommendation. You may include quotes from the book, pose questions to the audience or refer to other books written by the same author.

This Assignment is Due the First Day of Class, September 2010

Below is an Example of a Book Review:

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone J.K. Rowling

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone is J.K. Rowling's first book about Harry. Harry lives in a place that seems in some ways like modern-day Great Britain. Harry has problems like real kids. His parents died when he was a baby. He doesn't get along with the aunt and uncle he lives with. His cousin is a spoiled brat and a bully. Harry's family is more like the wicked stepmother and stepsisters of "Cinderella" then the strict parents of realistic stories. For example, Harry's aunt and uncle give Dudley two bedrooms: one to sleep in and one to keep his extra toys in. Harry has no toys and must sleep in the cupboard.

Harry has magical powers and some very unusual adults on his side. He has Hagrid, a giant twice as tall as normal men, who steps in to help Harry when his aunt and uncle keep him from receiving important mail.

Harry finally escapes his awful aunt and uncle and is sent by friends of his parents to a school called Hogwarts, a school with unusual classes involving magic. However, it also includes strict rules and competition among students that real kids experience. The most popular game at Hogwarts is Quidditch, a kind of hockey played on broomsticks. Kids will root for Harry, who is brave and smart but not perfect. Will Harry find the Sorcerer's Stone? Will his team win at Quidditch? Most importantly, will the headmaster, Albus Dumbledore, tell Harry what really happened to his parents? Kids will love the fantasy world they enter in this book.

Susan Read, Grade 7

Peekskill Middle School

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