Best Middle School Novels
 

What are your favorite novels to teach in middle school? Why do you continue to love them year after year?

Novels for 6th
 

Oh my! I have sooooo many titles!

The Lightning Thief - such a rich novel and lots of different focuses to choose from (mythology, archetype hero story, being different, coming of age,...)

Hoot - have an AMAZING teacher resource book on it that really digs into all the literary skills

We've Got a Job - spent 9 weeks on this book! Seriously great! non-fiction, high instructional level, but the kids developed such an appreciation for the Civil Rights Movement. Great for close reading, citing evidence, etc.

Old Yeller - an oldie but goodie. Coming of age, figurative language, history, geography, we research rabies, the vet visits our class as does the county extension agent to tell us about branding and the historical significance of branding.

Crash - an easier read, but valuable for sixth graders and bully education. Spinelli does a great job. I use it frequently with my lower performing classes as many of them seem to be developing that bully persona in order to elevate themselves in a way they cannot educationally.

Summer of the Monkeys - Along the lines of Old Yeller (I do one or the other in a year). Rich language, coming of age, we can delve into the historical era.

A Wrinkle in Time - I begin with the Big Question of "Is this fantasy or is this science fiction?" (That was why it had been rejected by so many publishing houses - they didn't know under what genre to put it!) and we go from there. At the end, we debate, and cite our evidence during arguments. Powerful.

Watsons go to Birmingham - wanted to do this after We've Got a Job, for the two synch well, but ran out of time.

So many books, so little time!

My List
 

Holes
The Giver
The Maze Runner
Among the Hidden
You Don't Know Me
Messed Up
Bluford High series

By the way, we no longer teach a novel. Kids do independent reading now. I loved teaching novels though but in my school, those days are gone. It is all "choice" now.

I love teaching Ayn Rand's Anthem alongside The Giver. Kids love both stories and how they show the importance of avoiding groupthink. They also love the fact that two books are near copies of one another in so many ways.

8th grade novels
 

When I was teaching 8th grade lit I usually started with Animal Farm and in the winter we read And Then There Were None.

I was also their social studies teacher so I was able to teach about the Russian Revolution and Communism.

The students liked And Then, even though it was an older book. We then watched the movie - which was so different and tried to be funny.

Good luck!

Beach Glass and MsHope
 

Thanks for the book lists. Are any/all of these appropriate to use w 7th grade?