Dear 8th graders and families,

I am delighted to be your teacher for your final year here at Saint Francis of Assisi.  You will cross many milestones in your life over the next year, and I am happy to be there to offer all the support and guidance that you might need.

Over the summer, I want you to read four books – two that are fiction and two that are nonfiction.  Choose from the list of suggested authors that you were given in class. One non-fiction must be a biography about any figure in American history from the Civil War era until now and the other must be about an event that influenced American history from that era until now.  The person may be a politician, an inventor, an industrialist, an educator or religious leader.  Please do not do persons in the art’s or sport’s field. If you have any question about a title, email me at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it   and I’ll let you know.