Suggested Reading
Books That May Interest Your Middle School Reader:
Parents sometimes ask about books to match to their students' interests and reading abilities. Below are some reading recommendations for Grade 6-8. These are a few new ones available from Mrs. Angelo's small library,, as well as from the public library.
Amal, Unbound, by Aisha Saeed: Amal, Unbound takes place in Pakistan in the present day. Amal insults the son of the Khan family, rulers of her village, and must work for them for free (as an indentured servant) as punishment. Amal must adjust to this new, difficult life. Along the way, she learns just how far the Khans will go to keep all of their power over the village. The risks Amal takes and how she works to defeat the Khans make this an exciting book, perfect for students who liked Malala and/or The Breadwinner. Genre: Realistic fiction, Penguin, 2018, 226 pages, 600L.
The Oregon Trail: Race to Chimney Rock - Choose Your Own Adventure!, by HMH IP company: This book is perfect for those who want to do more than just read a book. You choose an action and then deal with the consequences! In this choose your own adventure book, set during the non-fictional wagon train journeys to Oregon and California in the mid-1800s, there are many obstacles between getting you and your family through the many dangers along the Oregon Trail. Will your decisions result in success or failure? It’s like having 20+ different books in one! Genre: Historical fiction, Houghton-Mifflin, 2018, 150 pages, 690L.
Teen Trailblazers: 30 Fearless Girls Who Changed the World Before They Were 20, by Jennifer Calvert: This book is about more than young women who have done different things; it is also about what it means to be brave, to take risks, and to create change. Divided into sections focusing on each trailblazer, quotes from people as diverse as Mother Theresa and Cleopatra, drawings, short colorful text, and exciting stories make this book easy and fun to read. Genre: Non-fiction, St. Martin’s Press, 2018, 128 pages, age 8-12.
Grade 7:
Percy Jackson: The Trials of Apollo - The Hidden Oracle, by Rick Riordan: Novels about mythology are guaranteed to be exciting, and this one is no exception. This is Book One in Riordan's Apollo series. Camp Halfblood is the place to look for help when Apollo is sent to Earth by Zeus in disgrace. Banished to Earth in the form of a human boy named Lester, Apollo has to complete a quest in order to be able to return to Mount Olympus. Unfortunately, Apollo has many enemies on Earth who would like Lester to fail - Percy Jackson to the rescue! This book is exciting and surprisingly funny. It is full of information about Apollo and the other gods and demigods of Greek mythology. Genre: Fantasy, Hyperion, 2016, 373 pages (including a glossary of “Apollo-Speak”). 680L.
The Explorer, by Katherine Rundell: A plane crashes in the Amazon and the only survivors are three teens and a child. They must figure out ways to survive with few resources to help them. As if that’s not bad enough, there is a mysterious city nearby with only one inhabitant: A half-crazy man who might be their only chance at survival. The characters are interesting, especially the way that each meets the challenges they encounter in the story. This book is full of non-stop adventure and action. Genre: Survival, fiction, Simon & Schuster, 2017, 324 pages, age 10-14.
Start Now! You Can Make a Difference, by Chelsea Clinton: Organized into 5 chapters, including an index, this book includes many ways for students to learn how to take care of themselves, the environment, and each other. For example, a chapter about hunger has information under sub-headings about food, vitamins, famines, and ways to protect humanity's food sources, and includes ways for preteens and teens to make a difference in the world. Genre: Non-fiction, Philomel, 2018, 116 pages, 1050L.
Grade 8:
Bubble, by Stewart Foster: Joe is an 11-year-old boy who must live in a climate controlled, germ free “bubble” in a hospital in order to survive an immune system that doesn’t function properly. He copes with loneliness by developing relationships with his nurses and doctors, but they come and go often. He also becomes friends on-ine with a boy in Philadelphia who lives with the same condition. Both boys long to experience life outside of their bubbles, and, one day, Joe has a chance, thanks to a mysterious nurse. The decision, however, could have fatal consequences. The author writes so clearly about what life is like for Joe that it seems as though he must have had first-hand experience with this condition. Genre: Realistic fiction, Simon & Schuster, 2017, 346 pages, 560L.
Posted, by John David Anderson: A middle school completely bans cell phones, so students begin using Post-It notes to message each other instead. This leads to unexpected consequences. A group of four friends tries to stand up for each other, but will they be able to continue to be friends after all that happens? Genre: Realistic fiction, Walden Pond Press, 2017, 365 pages, 750L.
The Children of Willesden Lane: A True Story of Hope and Survival During WW2, by Mona Golabek and Lee Cohen: Mona Golabek is the daughter of a Holocaust survivor, and this is her story. Lisa Jura was 14, a talented pianist, and was living in a town in France when the Germans came. She was sent by “kindertrain” to live in England until the threat passed, but she was forced to leave her family behind. Her adjustment to the neighborhood of Willesden Lane, her constant search for her parents and her sisters, and her ability to give hope to others is both heartbreaking and inspirational. Genre: Non-fiction, Little, Brown & Company, 2017, 208 pages, 860L.
Poetry (All Ages):
Everything on It, by Shel Silverstein: If you like silly and sometimes thoughtful poems and drawings, this book is for you. Shel Silverstein has things to say about most things! This collection was published after his death, and includes poems that wouldn’t fit into his other books. It is the 4th book of Shel’s poetry. Harper Collins, 2011, 208 pages.
Book Selection Tips:
Following are suggestions for selecting books to read:
Think of your interests. What do you like to do? What types of stories do you like? What types of movies do you like to watch? Your interests are a key to the types of books you will enjoy.
If you read and enjoyed a particular type of book, look for books similar to it. Often in the back of the book, especially paperbacks, the titles of similar books are listed. You might find these interesting.
If an author whose book you enjoyed has written other books, you might like these titles as well.
Check book reviews in newspapers and magazines. The Sunday New York TImes Book Review section is an excellent source. Most major newspapers contain book review sections. Online services may also offer book reviews under the keyword “Literature”. The internet is also an excellent place to get book suggestions.
Browse for books in bookstores and in the library.
Ask librarians, English and reading teachers, and bookstore employees about books. Such people often have a wealth of knowledge about books that they are willing to share.
If you’ve seen a movie you really like, watch the closing credits. Some movies are based on books and you may discover an author whose writing will interest you.
When considering a book, look at its cover and title, as they can give you a clue about the book’s contents. Also, read the back cover. Although the back flap seldom provides a complete summary of the book, it usually offers details of what you will find inside. Open the book, look through the table of contents, and read a few samples from different sections. After all this, you should have a good idea whether you’d like to read this book.