The New York Times Summer Reading Contest - Every Friday starting on June 9, we'll post a fresh version of the question, What got your attention in The Times this week? Students can then choose any New York Times article, essay, image, graph, video or podcast episode that sparked their interest and write a short response telling us why. At the end of the week, judges from the Times newsroom will pick their favorites and we'll publish the top response.

1. Identify a passage from the book that is full of descriptive details, especially one that uses imagery or sensory language. Be sure to use quotation marks and include the page number. What do you like about this passage? What does it make you think of?

2. Try writing your own detailed descriptive passage or poem that includes imagery and sensory language (at least one paragraph or one stanza).

1. Choose a line from the book that stands out to you. Be sure to use quotation marks and include the page number. What do you like about this line? What does it make you think of?

2. Use that line to inspire your own journal writing.

1. Choose five words from the book. Be sure to include the page number. Why did you choose each word? How did the author use each word?

2. Write a poem using all five words.

1. Choose five words that you don't know from the book. Write down the definition for each word and the line that it was used in. Be sure to use quotation marks and include the page number for the line from the book.

2. Use these five words in your journal writing (feel free to write in any style or genre).

1. Choose a passage from the book that involves a particular theme. Be sure to use quotation marks and include the page number. What theme does this passage explore? Explain in detail.

2. Write anything you want (your thoughts, a poem, a story, an essay) inspired by this theme.

1. Choose a character/person from the book. Who is this character/person? What is this character's/person's relationship to the other characters/people? What stands out to you about this character/person? Why?

2. Write something inspired by a person. It can be a real or imagined person, someone you know, someone famous, someone from history, or even someone from the news. Feel free to explore any genre or style of writing.

1. Choose a place from the book and include a passage that describes or reflects this place. What is the significance of this place in the book? What are your thoughts about this place?

2. Write something inspired by a place. It can be a real or imagined place, a place you have been to, a place that inspires you, a place you would like to visit, or even a place that has a special significance in history or current events. Feel free to explore any genre or style of writing.

1. Choose a moment or time period in which the book takes place and include a passage that describes or reflects this moment or time period. What is the significance of this moment or time period in the book? What are your thoughts about this moment or time?

2. Write something inspired by a moment or a time period. It can be a real or imagined moment, a moment you have experienced, a moment that has impacted you, a moment you would like to experience, or even a moment that has a special significance in history or in current events. Feel free to explore any genre or style of writing.

1. Identify a passage from the book that includes a metaphor. Be sure to use quotation marks and include the page number. What is this metaphor comparing? How does this metaphor influence meaning in the passage?

2. Try writing your own detailed passage or poem that includes or explores a metaphor (at least one paragraph or one stanza).

1. Identify a passage from the book that references a symbol. A symbol is something that represents an idea; it can be an object, but it can also be a person, a place, or even an action. Be sure to use quotation marks and include the page number. What does this symbol represent in the passage? How does this symbol influence meaning in the passage?

2. Try writing your own detailed passage or poem that includes or explores a symbol (at least one paragraph or one stanza).

1. Identify a passage from the book that explores a contrast or juxtaposition (when the contrast between two things is emphasized because they are close together). Be sure to use quotation marks and include the page number. What contrast do you notice? How does this contrast influence meaning in the passage?

2. Try writing your own detailed passage or poem that includes or explores a contrast (at least one paragraph or one stanza).

Your cover page should include:

• The title and author of the book

• Your Name

• The summer and year (for example, Summer 2023)

• A one-paragraph introduction to your journal entries. Your introduction should address the following questions:

  • What ideas did you explore in your writing?

  • What techniques and styles did you try?

  • What did you learn?

  • What does it inspire in you?