10 Novels Every Middle Schooler Should Read
by Jessica Ashley
1. The Phantom Tollbooth by
Norton Juster
"I cry every time I read it," Meghan Robison, a middle-school
classroom teacher for 13 years who is now a magnet school integration
specialist, says of her favorite classroom read. "There is so much in this
book, that every time I read it, I catch something new."
It follows a boy named Milo as he travels in an electric car to places like
Dictionopolis, a land of words, and Digitopolis, a land of numbers. Robison
says the literary techniques and word plays will engage students at different
stages. And while it is centered on the love of numbers and words, she says
"it also teaches bravery, determination and friendship." Robison
advises saving this "beautiful story" first published in 1961 to wrap
up the school year.
2. Wringer by
Jerry Spinelli
When boys in Palmer's town turn ten, they are expected to become
"wringers" by ending the life of pigeons wounded in a town event. At
the far edge of age nine, Palmer not only abhors the tradition, he is hiding a
pigeon in his room. Powerful themes of bullying, peer pressure and courage make
this a moving story for older middle-school students.
Robison counts this book among the Hunger Games genre and has found that male
students particularly connect to the themes of boy friendships and pressures.
Newberry Award-winning author Jerry Spinelli offers a unique style of writing
that is compelling, notes retired fourth- and fifth-grade teacher and
differentiation coach Debbie Brown.
3. Bud, Not Buddy by Christopher
Paul Curtis
The author of oft-taught Newberry Honor-winner The Watsons Go to Birmingham
unfolds a new story of an eight-year old on a Depression-era trek to find the
man he believes to be his father. With only his scrappiness and a poster that
created a stir with his mother before she died, Bud (not Buddy) sets out from a
foster home in Flint, Michigan in search of a mysterious upright-bass player.
"The author has a gift for dealing with important issues with great style
and humor," Baldwin offers. "His books can be loved by kids as young
as fourth grade. Older students would gain a deeper understanding of the real
world events and appreciation of the author's craft."
Teacher Ashley Stockdale Dennis of Tennessee concurs.
"This book hits all the literature standards," Stockdale Dennis
shared with us via Facebook, "but also pulls in history, math and science.
Plus, my students love the story!"
4. Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine
Paterson
Two competitive fifth graders develop an extraordinary bond by creating an
imaginary sanctuary in the woods called Terabithia in this story about
acceptance, imagination and freedom. Jess and Leslie's tale is packed full of
humor, intense emotion and even grief after an accident changes everything for
them. Much-lauded author Katherine Paterson, who twice won Newberry Medals and
National Book Awards among other honors, creates a world within a world that
pulls intently at the heartstrings of readers.
5. The
Wish Giver: Three Tales of Coven Tree by Bill Brittain
This Newberry Honoree depicts three children's misadventures in getting what
they asked for when a stranger visits the Coven Tree church and offers to make
wishes come true for those who believe in magic. Consider the character studies
the three tales prompt, Robison offers, and how read-alouds using different
voices can be incorporated into the book unit.
6. The
Wednesday Wars by Gary Schmidt
Holling Hoodhood is a seventh grader in the school year of 1967-1968. While the
Vietnam War consumes his father's attention, Holling is locked into Wednesday
lessons with a teacher who insists he read the plays of Shakespeare. The
Newberry Award-winning book gets high marks for wit and making a complex
sociopolitical era accessible for present-day middle-schoolers.
Drawing on pop culture, politics and daily news that defined the time, Kitty
Palmer says the cross-curricular opportunities — including English, social
studies, music and government — are packed into this book.
7. The
Witch of Blackbird Pond by Elizabeth George Speare
It is colonial Connecticut 1867 and the headstrong Kit Tyler has just been
uprooted from tropical Barbados to live with a her aunt and uncle in a Puritan
home. Displaced and wanting to belong, Kit befriends a widow who is accused of
witchcraft, causing more upheaval for her and the community.
"[It] is a wonderful introduction into colonial America and issues about
religious freedom, superstitions and life in that time of our history,"
notes Baldwin of the book that used to be standard fifth-grade reading.
"The story also has romance, adventure and suspense. I loved reading it as
a student and teaching it early in my career. I hope it doesn't fall by the
wayside. It's worth the effort to read."
Teacher Robbie Lyles Shehane agrees, adding that it offers opportunity for rich
hands-on projects.
"I used [this book] to teach history to fifth graders," she shared
with our Facebook community. "We learned to make candles and soap. We used
the stockade concept to explore punishment fitting the crime."
Students can relate to the period text by focusing on prejudicial themes, Lyles
Shehane said, and how society treats people who seem different.
8. Walk
Two Moons by Sharon Creech
Salamanca "Sal" Tree Hiddle's mother is missing. She sets out on road
trip with her grandparents to follow her mother's steps in hopes of finding
her.
Not only does this standout book center on a girl (and one with strong Native
American ancestry) on a quest, but also because of the beautiful heartbreak and
literary technique. Baldwin says it took her several reads to fully embrace the
ending — and that the investment was worth it.
"[It is] funny, sad, touching, extremely well-written. I didn't want to
believe the ending," Baldwin explains. "After reading it the second
time, I found all the foreshadowing. This is an amazing road-trip story with
the girl's quirky grandparents."
9. The
Watsons Go to Birmingham by Christopher Paul Curtis
"I love utilizing multicultural books so children are reading books with
characters that look like and have a similar background as themselves, their
classmates, and their neighbors and friends," says literacy specialist and
children's author Kathryn Starke.
She chooses The Watsons Go to Birmingham to enhance social studies units on the
Civil Rights Movement and in studying Martin Luther King, Jr.
"I find this book is best for students from fourth to sixth grade since
they understand the historical significance and can engage in conversations
regarding past to present and making connections from family stories or
experiences," she advises. "Children are both honest and curious,
which leads to great questions, thoughts, and expressions."
10. The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank
The journal of the two years diarist Anne Frank and her Dutch Jewish family
were in hiding has become a classic student read. But when pop singer Justin Bieber recently visited her landmark home
and scribbled in the guest book that he hoped teenaged Frank would have been
"a Belieber", the questions she privately posed nearly 70 years ago
about self-centeredness, awareness and compassion have resurfaced for a new
generation. Using the timely Twitter controversy that ensued as an entree,
Frank's diary is a timeless look at one girl's curtained perspective on a world
at war, on people and on hope for a freer life.