book reviews for grade 8

Best Books for 8th Graders

Uncover the best reading material for 8th graders with this list sourced from prominent book blogs and publications. these books have earned their place as top suggestions for young adults..

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8th grade reading books for children aged 13-14

Grade 8 books – this list of suggested reading books has been carefully selected by educators and librarians for junior high and middle school students aged 13-14. There is a range of exciting and thought-provoking books to suit all abilities in the 8th grade and over the course of a year, these titles should inspire both those who are reluctant to read, and also challenge high achieving pupils. This list of 8th grade reading recommendations includes titles by Gerald Durrell, J.R.R. Tolkien, Sharon Creech,Angie Thomas, Malala Yousafzai, Mark Twain and Mary Shelley.

Books for Grade 8 – our recommendations

Northwind by gary paulsen.

When a plague forces Leif, an orphan, to flee for his life in a canoe with barely any food, he embraces his newfound freedom and grows to love the wide open seas and the Norwegian coast. Learning to forage, and live off the land and sea, he feels at home amongst the wildlife. It’s a gripping story of resilience, determination and survival. Highly recommended.

All Summer Long by Hope Larson

When Austin returns from summer soccer camp everything is different. 13-year-old Bina cannot understand it – they used to do everything together. Will they be able to work things out, or will Bina’s new friendship with Austin’s sister change their relationship? A thought-provoking insight into the complex teen mind, growing up, and how people change. The graphic novel format and relatable characters will appeal to less confident readers.

As Long as the Lemon Trees Grow by Zoulfa Katouh

Salama’s normal teenage life seems long ago as she finds herself helping in a hospital in wartorn Syria. Will she stay to help those in need, or will she flee to ensure her survival? Dealing with unimaginable fear Salama is an inspirational character and As Long as the Lemon Trees Grow is a brilliantly written, life-affirming, and heartbreaking story that is perfect for book club discussion.

Hope Was Here by Joan Bauer

Ideal for middle-grade readers, this book has won numerous awards. Hope finds herself helping her aunt to run a diner in rural Wisconsin – a long way from lively New York. Her friendship with G.T. Stoop, the diner’s owner, develops into a coming of age story of trust and truth.

My Family and Other Animals by Gerald Durrell

The first in the ‘Corfu Trilogy’, this book tells the story of Gerald Durrell’s childhood experiences for five years on the island of Corfu and the wildlife and animals he keeps. His larger than life relatives and the colorful characters encountered make this a funny novel bound to appeal to middle graders interested in nature and unconventional family life.

Animal Farm by George Orwell

In this classic allegory, the animals take over the farm. They tried to create a perfect world where everybody is valued and treated equally however things don’t go entirely to plan. Written as an antithesis to controlling totalitarianism this is a book every teenager should read.

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie

An evocative and humorous story based on the author’s own life. When Junior, a talented artist, realizes that he wants to follow his dream, his life changes completely when he joins a new high school where he is the only Indian on the campus. A modern classic. A good book for 8th grade reading group discussion.

Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain

A rollercoaster of a story about the life of young Huckleberry Finn and his friend Tom Sawyer and the shenanigans they get up to on the banks of the Mississippi River. This book features some controversial themes including his father’s alcoholism and the treatment of Miss Watson slave, Jim. A story, that once read, will never be forgotten.

Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank

Collated by her father Otto, after the second world war, this is the diary of Anne Frank who, aged between 13 and 16 wrote about being in hiding from the Nazis and Amsterdam. Poignant and moving, this is a book that should be on every high school curriculum. Arguably one of the most important books written in the 20th century.

The Serpent King by Jeff Zentner

A gripping and moving story about a misfit and awkward teen, Dill, who lives in a small community Bible belt Tennessee. When deals father becomes a hated figure, Dill cannot cope and relies on the support of his two best friends. A heart-rending and powerful story about forgiveness and redemption.

The Hate you Give by Angie Thomas

A multi-award-winning novel about Starr Carter, a teenager who has one foot in the exclusive preppy world of her school and the other foot in the deprived neighborhood of her home. When her best friend is shot by a police officer, she is the only person who knows what really happened. A startlingly powerful young adult novel. A great book to discuss in 8th grade reading clubs.

Go Tell It on the Mountain by James Baldwin

A powerful psychological and unrelenting study of growing up in an abusive environment. When the protagonist, a 14-year-old boy, realizes that his family is not all that it seems, he starts to rebel against his self-righteous preacher stepfather in this gritty landmark first novel set in Harlem.

2001 by Arthur C Clarke

When a scientist discovers a mysterious object on the Moon, mankind embarks on an expedition to the furthest reaches of space in search of an alien civilization. However, the voyage is a slowly building battle between man and computer, heading towards an inevitable catastrophe.

Lord Jim by Joseph Conrad

A disgraced naval officer redeems himself by protecting villagers from a local bandit. Written as a series of manuscripts told by a third party, using time shifts, this is a great book for eighth-graders to study.

Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor

A unique and genre-defying young adult novel that is perfectly suited to grade 8 book clubs. Set in the “Elsewhere”, a world where angels battle mythical creatures, Karou and Akiva are drawn, as if by magic, from the opposite sides of the conflict into a love story – and perhaps the only hope for peace.

Life of Pi by Yann Martel

A more challenging read for grade 8 students, Life of Pi chronicles 16-year-old Pi, the only survivor of a shipwreck. His only companions in the lifeboat are a hyena, and orangutan, and a huge tiger. Memorable, and beautifully written.

I Am Malala by Malala Yousafzai

Destined to become an important work in the 21st century, Malala’s autobiographical story takes her from a victim of Taliban in 2012 to becoming the youngest ever recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize. An inspirational and motivating book which is bound to appeal to middle school and junior high school students in grade 8.

Twilight by Stephanie Meyer

Isabella’s new life in Forks, Washington takes an unexpected turn when a boy she is attracted to turns out to be a vampire. Extremely readable and popular, this five volume set is a great way to reignite the fire of reading in disenchanted teenagers.

Nimona by ND Stevenson

This is no ordinary historical story about dragons and heroes. Nimona is a classic graphic novel in the making – peppered with ironic observations and quick, pointed humor that will appeal to 8th grader readers. Stunningly illustrated.

The Other Side of Truth by Beverley Naidoo

When Sadie and Femi’s journalist father refuses to keep quiet about corruption among the military rulers in Nigeria, their mother is suddenly killed, and they have to flee to London. This study of what it is to be displaced and a refugee is a modern classic. This is a book that will stimulate discussion and debate in 8th grade reading groups.

Parrot in the Oven by Victor Martinez

14-year-old Manny wants respect, he wants to prove himself and he wants to kiss a girl. This multi-award-winning novel follows his journey in the face of discrimination and poverty. Poignant and memorable.

Deep Blue by Jennifer Donnelly

In a world of nightmares, magic dreams and demons, mermaid Seraphina has to fight for peace between warring nations. She is also set on avenging her parents and wooing a prince. Teen drama and adventure on a grand and underwater scale.

Frankenstein by Mary Shelley

When alchemist and scientist Victor Frankenstein misguidedly attempts to reanimate a creature from dead body parts, he creates a monster that threatens his very existence. An accessible classic gothic horror with a lightning-quick pace that will appeal to teen readers.

Mosquitoland by David Arnold

Teenage Mim is forced to move across the state to live with her father after a nasty divorce. But when she learns her mother is ill, she boards a greyhound and throws caution to the wind in this epic coming of age YA drama. An ideal book for 8th grade reading groups.

The 5th Wave by Rick Yancey

A collection of science-fiction page-turners that will prove popular with reluctant 8th-grade readers. A survivor of a crippling alien attack, Cassie is desperate to save her missing brother. She is so desperate that she is willing to go to extreme lengths to find him.

Lord of the Rings by JRR Tolkien

A quest for a magic ring that grants the wearer huge power dominates this epic high fantasy tale of good vs evil. Popular amongst teens, this novel was recently turned into a series of blockbuster movies.

The One and Future King by TH White

An epic and spellbinding retelling of the legend of King Arthur told in five parts – King Arthur and Camelot; Merlin and Owl and Guinevere, beasts who talk and men who fly and tales of knights, wizardry, and war. Great for students interested in history, myth, and legend.

The Boys Who Challenged Hitler by Phillip Hoose

A fascinating and inspirational story about a group of brave middle grade aged children and their acts of defiance in Denmark during World War Two. Based on a true story.

The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas

A classic tale of betrayal, imprisonment and slow, beautiful revenge. Originally written for weekly serialization, this book is gripping and pacy and it might well be the first 100,000 plus story your teen will be captivated by. It’s also fantastic to listen to as an audiobook.

Absolutely Normal Chaos by Sharon Creech

The prequel to Walk Two Moons, Absolutely Normal Chaos follows 13-year-old Mary Lou’s summer vacation – an unforgettable summer of adventure, gossip, and burgeoning romance. A page-turner that is ideal for more mature 8th graders.

The Rig by Joe Ducie

When serial prison escapee and 15-year-old Will gets sent to The Rig, he thinks finding a way out will be easy. That’s until he realizes The Rig is in the middle of the Arctic Ocean. No one has ever come close to breaking out. Gripping and pacy, this is a perfect book for reluctant readers in grade 8.

Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card

Facing a seemingly unbeatable and ruthless alien invader, Earth needs a military genius. Teenaged boy Ender is chosen from thousands to lead the fight – but is he being manipulated? Recently made into a blockbuster movie, this book is a great easy reader for 8th graders.

The Chess Queen Enigma by Colleen Gleason

When the sister of Stoker and the niece of Holmes get together, uncovering vampire crime mysteries are a regular day’s work. This is a gripping and atmospheric drama set in a fantasy London of the past.

Beautiful Swimmers by William Warner

An evocative and interesting study of blue crabs in the Chesapeake Bay. Brilliantly written – this is a more challenging book for grade 8 readers interested in science and natural history.

Finding Wonders by Jeannine Atkins

This is an engaging set of three biographical stories of women who changed the world. Maria Merian – who documented metamorphosis, Mary Anning, who survived a lightning strike and discovered fossils, and Maria Mitchell, who found a new comet. Presented as poems, these stories are an ideal starting point for 8th-grade writing activities.

Click the buttons below to purchase all of the books in this 8th grade book list, as well as classroom sets of any of these books and many more, from Bookshop.org. Or buy the 20 most popular titles from this list from Amazon – ideal for gifts or stocking your school library. If you are ordering from outside the US, have a look at our ‘worldwide orders’ page which makes this process easy.

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25 Captivating Books for 8th Graders

Alison Doherty

Alison Doherty is a writing teacher and part time assistant professor living in Brooklyn, New York. She has an MFA from The New School in writing for children and teenagers. She loves writing about books on the Internet, listening to audiobooks on the subway, and reading anything with a twisty plot or a happily ever after.

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Finding books for eighth graders can be a tricky tightrope to walk. Some 8th graders are already immersed in adult books. Others might not love reading or still might be struggling to read with ease. Both of these are normal. And between middle grade fantasy , classics, romances, and graphic novels , I tried to pick 25 books that will appeal to all kinds of 8th grade readers.

With a mixture of books from middle grade, young adult, and adult categories, I searched through reviews to make sure these were all considered appropriate for 13- and 14-year-old readers. Many are also suggestions I’ve gotten from 8th grade students where I teach. Without further stalling, here are 25 books for all kinds of 8th grade readers.

Best New Books for 8th Graders

When you were everything by ashley woodfolk.

Cleo and Layla used to be best friends. But in Sophomore year, everything changes. The two drift apart until their friendship dramatically ends. Cleo is still trying to make sense of what happens as she tries to move forward making new friends, listening to jazz and reading her beloved Shakespeare. Told in two timelines, before and after, Cleo’s story of grieving for a lost friendship will be relevant for many 8th graders trying to process past middle school friend drama and looking forward to high school.

The Kingdom of Back by Marie Lu

This is a historical fantasy novel based on Mozart’s older sister, Maria, that came out in March. Maria Anna is a musical prodigy in her own right. She travelled around Europe with her brother performing throughout her childhood. This story mixes the 18th century world they lived in with the fantasy world of Back, which the real Mozart siblings invented on their travels as children. Throughout the story Maria Anna must straddle the worlds: one full of magical fairy friends who may or may not have her best interest at heart and another where her brother’s gender means he will achieve musical accolades she can only dream of.

The Extraordinaries by TJ Klune

A queer superhero story full of suspense, action, and romance. Nick Bell doesn’t have any super powers. But he writes super popular fan fiction about the heroes who do. And after a chance encounter with his favorite figure, Shadow Star, he begins a quest to turn his ordinary life into something more.

Infinity Son by Adam Silvera

Emil and Brighton are brothers living in a speculative version of New York City, where people can be born with special powers and abilities and Spell Walkers fight the specters who want to take those powers away. When Emil discovers his own powers and Brighton uploads a video of him, both brothers’ futures and their relationships are tested in a story of jealousy, loyalty, and adventure. This is a science fiction/fantasy hybrid story that came out earlier this year. It’s almost guaranteed to keep 8th grade readers turning pages.

Clap When You Land by Elizabeth Acevedo

Camino Rios lives in the Dominican Republic. Yahaira Rio lives in New York City. They don’t know about each other, or even know they have a sister, until their beloved Papi unexpectedly dies in an airplane crash, flying from New York to the Dominican Republic to visit Camino. As both grieve, they learn about each other and unravel the web of secrets their family kept from them. Told in dual perspectives, through the beautiful verse of each girl’s poetry, the Rios sisters try to figure out how to keep pursuing their dreams even when tragedy strikes.

Classic Books for 8th Graders

The house on mango street by sandra cisneros.

This 1984 novel by Mexican American writer Sandra Cisneros uses vignettes to tell the story of Esperanza Cordero. Esperanza is a middle school girl growing up in the Hispanic quarter of Chicago. Living in a poor neighborhood, she dreams of moving somewhere else. But the book explores the culture around her, both celebrating her Mexican American culture and exposing the sexist influences in her life that Esperanza tries to overcome throughout the story.

The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien

This familiar fantasy story is a precursor to the longer and more challenging Lord of the Rings Trilogy. It’s a contained adventure story in an epic fantasy world. With dwarves, hobbits, sword fights, wizards, and dragons, the book’s plot and humor have stood the test of time. There is a reason this book has been popular with children and adult readers for more than eighty years!

The Hound of the Baskervilles by Arthur Conan Doyle

For budding mystery readers, introduce them to a classic whodunnit. The famous detective Sherlock Holmes and his companion Watson set out to investigate a new case in Dartmoor, England. A man is dead with enormous dog pawprints leading to his body. Some believe it is a coincidence. Others believe in a family curse and a local legend of a supernatural dog, able to frighten people to death. Holmes and Watson arrive in Dartmoor to find several unexplainable occurrences and clues. Together, they start to unravel a puzzle that defined mystery and detective fiction ever since this book was published.

Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe

This is a classic that’s great to read at almost any age. I read this in middle school and again in college. It was published in 1959 and has become a rare African book accepted into the academic cannon. The fascinating novel follows the character Okonkwo, who’s living in an Igbo village in Nigeria. His life dramatically changes as white missionaries and colonialism influence the world around him. Despite a bleak subject, the story is infused with lyrical writing and moments of humor.

Award-Winning Books for 8th Graders

Brown girl dreaming by jacqueline woodson.

Winner of the National Book Award, the Coretta Scott King Award, and a Newberry Honor Book, Brown Girl Dreaming  uses poetry for the author to tell her true story of growing up Black in the 1960s and 1970s. Woodson’s beautiful, sparse language explores big ideas, while describing her family, her growing awareness of race and the Civil Rights movement, and her life split between South Carolina and New York City.

I’ll Give You the Sun by Jandy Nelson

This book won the Printz Award and is a Stonewall Honor Book. It follows twins Noah and Jude, alternating between their perspectives and two different periods of time. One, when they are 13, inseparable, their mother is still alive, and Noah is falling in love for the first time with their new neighbor Brian. The second is when the twins are 16, barely speaking, and without their mother. Along with powerful, lyrical prose, the book explores what it means to be an artist, what it means to be a family, and what it means to grow up.

Scythe by Neal Shusterman

This book won the Printz award and gained several other honors and smaller awards as well. In a dystopian (or perhaps utopian) future, technological advances have eliminated death by natural causes. Society has created a new roll “Scythes” who kill people to keep the population under control. Two teenagers, Rowan and Citra, are training to become Scythes. But in the course of their training, they uncover massive corruption within the Scythe system. The secrets they uncover and their relationship with each other will change both their destinies and the course of society at large.

The Field Guide to the North American Teenager by Ben Philippe

This book is the 2020 winner the Morris Award, which honors new writers making their young adult debut. In it, Norris a Black French Canadian teenager who must acclimate to a new life in Austin, Texas. He observes and categorizes everyone around him and longs to go home to Canada. And sometimes—just sometimes—Norris learns to see past his assumptions and categorizations to make friends or, at least, understand the individual people around him more clearly.

 Challenging Books for 8th Graders

The interpreter of maladies by jhumpa lahiri.

This Pulitzer Prize–winning short story collection explores the lives of Indian and Indian American characters who feel caught between the cultures of both countries. The immigrant experience is portrayed through lyrical prose and intense character study. This book does touch on adult themes, such as death, grief, and sexuality, but appears on some middle school and 9th grade curriculums. The Interpreter of Maladies will be a challenging book for advanced and mature 8th graders to read.

The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

With multiple perspectives, sophisticated setting descriptions, and a complicated magic system, this novel could be a good “reach” book for 8th graders. Two young magicians, Celia and Marcus, have been training for a magical duel their whole lives. The duel involves one upping each other in the creation of a magical circus. But when they meet and have feelings for each other, the competition is put at risk. But in love or not, the game keeps demanding more and more from each magician. Neither wants to lose the game or each other.

The Fire Next Time by James Baldwin

This nonfiction book addresses racism in America and describes Baldwin’s early life growing up in Harlem. The book consists of two essays: “My Dungeon Shook—Letter to my Nephew on the One Hundredth Anniversary of the Emancipation” and “Down at the Cross—Letter From a Region of My Mind.” They were written in the 1960s, but function as both a historical read and one that is unfortunately still relevant in America today. The essays were written for an adult reader, but are appropriate for mature 8th grade readers and sure to spark important discussions.

Fantasy Books for 8th Graders 

Nocturna by maya motayne.

In a Latinx inspired fantasy world, Finn is a thief with the magical ability to change her appearance and Alfie is prince with magical powers of his own. Their paths cross when Alfie unleashes a powerful dark magic in the hopes of bringing back his dead older brother. Finn just happens to be in the palace, attempting to steal a mystical cloak of invisibility. They’re pasts and personalities couldn’t be more different. But they have to work together, or their world will be destroyed forever.

Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky by Kwame Mbalia

Eighth graders who love mythology and Rick Riordan books (AKA pretty much every eighth grader I’ve ever taught who likes reading) will devour this new fantasy series. While spending the summer at his grandparents’ farm in Alabama, Tristan accidentally opens—punches—a portal to the magical and scary world of MidPass. MidPass weaves together African American and West African gods. To return home, Tristan must convince the trickster god Anansi to seal the hole he created in the sky. But first, Anansi asks for a dangerous favor in return.

Mechanica by Betsy Cornwell

Steampunk, science-forward Cinderella retelling. Do I need to say more to convince 8th grade readers to pick up this book? I doubt it, but I’ll keep going. Nic is called Mechanica by her cruel stepsisters. They think it’s an insult, but being an inventor is one of her proudest accomplishment. She’s created impressive technology to do all the chores her stepmother pushes on her. And instead of a ball, Nic is preparing for the royal science exposition in hopes of finding funders to gain her independence. There is a prince. He is dreamy. But he is also not the only way for Nic to get the future she dreams of for herself.

Akata Witch by Nnedi Okorafor

Sunny was born in New York but now lives in Alba, Nigeria. This and the fact that she’s albino make her feel like an outsider. But when she’s 12, she makes friends with  Orlu and Chichi and is thrust into the magical world of the Leopard People. In this world, she learns how to perform her own magic and harness her power. She must keep it a secret from her family, but also gives her a sense of belonging. But the stakes are raised when Sunny and her friends are tasked with finding Black Hat Otokoto, a Leopard man responsible for kidnapping and hurting many children.

Romance Books for 8th Graders

I wanna be where you are by kristina forest.

Eighth graders will love looking ahead to high school in this road trip ballet romcom. Chloe’s dream is to dance at a ballet conservatory in New York City. Her mom, however, won’t let her audition. But when her mom goes on vacation, Chloe road trips down to Washington, D.C., to try out. The only problem is her ex–best frenemy and neighbor Eli finds out and blackmails her into taking him and his smelly dog Geezer along. Eli is trying to figure out his future as well. If he’ll go to the school his dad wants or follow his own dream to study art. Along the way, both characters learn lessons, gain confidence, and sparks fly between them.

The Gravity of Us by Phil Stamper

Cal and Leon are both the sons of astronauts and meet when their fathers are preparing for a new NASA mission to Mars. For publicity, they become involved in a space-themed reality TV show. Both must deal with being thrust into the national spotlight as they figure out their romantic attraction and connection. But when Cal finds out secrets about the space program, he feels torn. He wants to world to know the truth. But he doesn’t want to hurt the people he loves.

All the Things We Never Knew by Liara Tamani

A first love story that unfolds against the backdrop of the basketball court. When basketball players Carli and Rex meet, they fall for each other fast. But is love for each other enough when secrets, uncertain futures, and self-doubt enter the relationship? Equal parts hilarious and emotional, this book is always Romantic with a capital R. Prepare to swoon, 8th grade readers!

Graphic Novels for 8th Graders

New kid by jerry craft.

An own voices graphic novel about following your passions and fitting in. Jordan wants to go to art school, but his parents enroll him in a fancy private school where is one of the only kids of color. He appreciates the education and starts making friends, but feels like he is being split between two worlds. And he realizes that neither his neighborhood self or his school self feel like real, authentic versions of him.

The Prince and the Dressmaker by Jen Wang

Prince Sebastian’s parents want him to find a bride. But he is hiding a key part of his identity from everyone: At night, he wears the most fashionable dresses and charms the Parisian social scene as Lady Crystallia. Only his best friend and dressmaker, Frances, knows his secret. But Frances has her own ambitions beyond making dresses for just the prince. This is a romantic fairytale that embraces the power of true friendship and the truth that boys can wear dresses.

I hope there’s something here for almost every 8th grade reader, spanning interests and reading level. But of course, there are hundreds and hundreds of other wonderful books for 8th graders to fall in love with. After going through these one, this list of 100 must-read middle school books should be next on your list!

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25 New Books for 8th Graders to Add to Your Classroom Library

I’m buying all of these! For my students, of course! I definitely don’t want them just for me.

Eighth graders are awesome. Complicated, but awesome. Some days, they’re ready for high school. They want to discuss more grown-up concepts, and they wonder (and worry!) about the world around them. Other times, they’re still very much the children we met at the start of the school year. They want to laugh and play and be silly. That’s why we’re excited to share this list of new books for 8th graders with you. Many of them deal with the complex ideas and struggles your students are facing in their own lives and seeing in the world. Others are fun adventures, full of laughs and silliness. We know you’re going to find more than a few to add to your classroom library or next book talk.

(Just a heads up, WeAreTeachers may collect a share of sales from the links on this page. We only recommend items our team loves!)

1. The Gilded Ones by Namina Forna

The first in an action-packed fantasy trilogy, this novel has it all: A fierce, female protagonist faced with tremendous challenges as she chooses to leave everything she knows behind to join an elite army of young women like her. A unique setting and plot to hook even the most reluctant reader. And the promise of a great story being carried over into two more novels. It’s the perfect novel to share with your class to introduce them to a new genre and author.

Buy it: The Gilded Ones at Amazon

2. Freestyle: A Graphic Novel by Gale Galligan

Many of our students struggle to balance their extracurricular activities with their schoolwork and social lives. Cory, the main character in this graphic novel, is dealing with the same issues. His dance team is practicing for their final competition before high school, his parents are on him to improve his grades, and the tutor they hired can do absolutely amazing tricks with a yo-yo that Cory wants to learn. How will he balance all of his interests and responsibilities? This is one of the fun, relatable books for 8th graders that’s perfect for reluctant readers.

Buy it: Freestyle: A Graphic Novel at Amazon

3. We Are Not Free by by Traci Chee

One of the most powerful aspects of historical fiction is its ability to help us connect to important events from the past. In this award-winning novel, your students will be introduced to 14 teens. They are Nisei—second-generation Japanese Americans—whose lives are turned upside down when they and their families are taken from their homes and placed in an internment camp during World War II. This would make a powerful addition to any discussion or learning unit about this period in American history.

Buy it: We Are Not Free at Amazon

4. Glimpsed by G.F. Miller

Everyone loves a good twist on a story we’ve all heard before, and this novel does it with style. Charity, the main character, is a fairy godmother. That’s right, she can grant wishes! And she does, until everything starts to go wrong and she has to work together with Noah, a classmate who is less than thrilled with her wish-giving talents. Part fantasy, part rom-com, and all fun, your students will be absolutely charmed with this one.

Buy it: Glimpsed at Amazon

5. The Inheritance Games by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

Perfect for our students who love puzzles, brain-teasers, and riddles. When Tobias Hawthorne dies, he leaves his entire fortune to Avery Grambs, a high schooler who has never even heard of Hawthorne. The only catch? She must move into his sprawling and mysterious mansion filled with secret passages and the furious relatives who thought they would be the ones to inherit the mysterious billionaire’s fortune. Avery will have to use all of her wits to solve the riddle of why Hawthorne chose her before it’s too late.

Buy it: The Inheritance Games at Amazon

6. Home Is Not a Country by Safia Elhillo

Nima is a first-generation immigrant. She feels caught between the Islamic world she grew up in and the post-9/11 suburban world where she’s now living. As she tries to get through each day, she grapples with the question of what home means to someone like her.

Buy it: Home Is Not a Country at Amazon

7. Instructions for Dancing by Nicola Yoon

Some 8th graders are ready for a fun, lighthearted romance, and this one is just the ticket. It’s not too surprising that 17-year-old Evie Thomas is disillusioned by love. She has the unique ability to see how all relationships will eventually break up, after all. But when she finds herself learning to fox-trot, waltz, and tango with an adventurous boy named X, she begins to wonder if she has made up her mind about love too soon.

Buy it: Instructions for Dancing by Amazon

8. Before Takeoff by Adi Alsaid

James and Michelle meet in the Atlanta airport during a layover. They discover a bright-green blinking button, and they push it. What could possibly go wrong? Snowstorms in Terminal B, a jungle in Terminal C, and earthquakes splitting the group are just a few of the Jumanji- esque adventures that follow as these two teens try to find their families and end the chaos before it’s too late.

Buy it: Before Takeoff at Amazon

9. The First to Die at the End by Adam Silvera

The prequel to the award-winning They Both Die at the End , this novel follows two young men as they come to grips with a new technology that has just become available. Death-Cast, as it’s called, can accurately tell you when you will die. In fact, it will give you a polite phone call on the day it’s going to happen. Both young men sign up for the service, but on the first day only one receives the call. The rest of the novel follows them as they decide to spend that last day together. Heartbreaking and uplifting, the story celebrates that life is worth living to it’s fullest.

Buy it: The First to Die at the End at Amazon

10. I Must Betray You by Ruta Sepetys

Have any history buffs in your classroom? Hand them this historical-fiction novel and let them learn about a time and place they’ve probably never thought of before. Seventeen-year-old Cristian Florescu wants to become a writer, but in Romania in 1989, his chances of becoming one are slim. Because of the tyrannical dictatorship of his country’s leader, Nicolae Ceaușescu, Romanians are not free to follow their dreams. Blackmailed by the secret police to become an informer, Cristian is left with only two choices: betray his loved ones and his country, or use his position to creatively undermine the dictator who’s destroying everything he believes in.

Buy it: I Must Betray You at Amazon

11. Take Me With You When You Go by David Levithan and Jennifer Niven

Fifteen-year-old Ezra wakes up to find his 18-year-old sister, Bea, gone. She’s left no clues to where she has gone except for an email address, hidden someplace only Ezra would find. As Ezra reaches out to Bea via email, the two attempt to piece together their fractured family.

Buy it: Take Me With You When You Go at Amazon

12. One of the Good Ones by Maika Moulite and Maritza Moulite

When her sister is killed mysteriously at a social justice rally, Happi and her family are left reeling. As the community turns her sister into a martyr in the fight against police brutality, Happi wonders why only some people are deemed “worthy” of idealizing in this way. Her search for answers into what really happened and, ultimately, who her sister truly was will change everything Happi thought she knew about prejudice, sisterhood, and what it truly means to be an ally.

Buy it: One of the Good Ones at Amazon

13. These Deadly Games by Diana Urban

Perfect for your students who have already seen all the scary movies and love anything dark and spooky. Protagonist Crystal decides to try out a new app only to wind up playing a game she can’t walk away from. An anonymous kidnapper has her younger sister, and if Crystal wants her to stay alive, she’ll have to do the tasks the kidnapper requests of her. They seem harmless enough at first—baking brownies, making a prank call, stealing a test—but she quickly realizes that they all are targeting people in Crystal’s group of friends. The kidnapper knows something about the group’s past and wants to use Crystal to take their revenge.

Buy it: These Deadly Games at Amazon

14. One for All by Lillie Lainoff

A swashbuckling reimagining of  The Three Musketeers,  this story introduces students to Tania, a girl who refuses to let an illness that leaves her feeling dizzy all the time slow her down. She wants to be strong, independent, and a good fighter, just like her father was. He was a former Musketeer, and his dying wish was for Tania to attend finishing school. When she arrives at school, however, she realizes it’s not just a finishing school but a secret training academy for young Musketeers. It’s an exciting novel with a unique protagonist that will capture your students’ hearts and imaginations.

Buy it: One for All at Amazon

15. Highly Suspicious and Unfairly Cute by Talia Hibbert

One of the great books for 8th graders as they prepare to head to high school, this story is about two students who used to be friends until high school life got in the way. Bradley and Celine were inseparable in middle school, but in high school Bradley become Mr. Popular and suddenly Celine wasn’t cool enough to hang out with anymore. The two are thrown together again when they both sign up for a survival course in the woods. Will they be able to overcome their past to work together on the adventure or has too much time passed?

Buy it: Highly Suspicious and Unfairly Cute at Amazon

16. The Island by Natasha Preston

For all of our students who think they’re going to be the next big social media influencer, this thriller is ready to show them that it might not be all it’s cracked up to be. The story follows six teen influencers who are invited to tour a private island theme park and resort before it opens. When they arrive, everything is perfect. The hotel is luxurious and the rides are intense, but they soon discover that the only thing not on the itinerary is them leaving the island. Ever.

Buy it: The Island at Amazon

17. Gabe in the After by Shannon Doleski

Two years after a global pandemic, a group of children have relocated to a small island off the coast of Maine where they live together in a large mansion. There, they have school, grow their own food, and search the shore every day for other survivors. When Gabe finds Relle alone in the woods, he brings her back to the mansion, but he isn’t quite sure what to make of her. She is hopeful and optimistic and breathes life and laughter into the sad home the children have created for themselves. She encourages all of them to not give up on believing that there are more survivors—and maybe even a normal life—out there somewhere.

Buy it: Gabe in the After at Amazon

18. Muddle School by Dave Whamond

One of the perfect graphic novels for 8th graders when they’ve had a bad day, a terrible week, or just need a good laugh. Dave had high hopes for his new middle school, but then everything went wrong. He’s about to give up and accept that he’s just going to spend middle school as a dork, but then he gets an idea: He’ll build a time machine for the school science fair, travel back to the first day of middle school, and redo all the embarrassing mistakes he made. This is a great book for 8th graders to relate to.

Buy it: Muddle School at Amazon

19. The Girls I’ve Been by Tess Sharpe

During a visit to the bank, 18-year-old Nora O’Malley finds herself in a hostage situation alongside her girlfriend and ex-boyfriend. To help everyone survive, she taps into the various personas she developed as the child of a con artist.

Buy it: The Girls I’ve Been at Amazon

20. The Lake by Natasha Preston

Esme and Kayla were 8-year-old campers at Camp Pine Lake when something terrible happened, and they both swore never to tell anyone about it ever. Nine years later, they’re back at Camp Pine Lake as counselors-in-training … and the secret they’ve kept for all these years is coming back to haunt them.

Buy it: The Lake at Amazon

21. The Taking of Jake Livingston by Ryan Douglass

As if life as one of the only Black students in a predominantly white prep school weren’t tough enough, Jake Livingston can also see dead people. Most of them are harmless, and he doesn’t mind helping them settle their affairs so they can move on. But one powerful, vengeful ghost has plans for Jake, and he has to hope that he can escape the ghost’s clutches.

Buy it: The Taking of Jake Livingston at Amazon

22. Lightlark by Alex Aster

Every 100 years, the island of Lightlark appears to host the Centennial, a deadly game that only the rulers of six realms are invited to play. The Centennial offers the six rulers one final chance to break the curses that have plagued their realms for centuries. Each ruler has something to hide. Each realm’s curse is uniquely wicked. To destroy the curses, one ruler must die. One of the perfect fantasy books for 8th graders who have already read The Hunger Games , Divergent , and all the other dystopian fantasy you could find for them!

Buy it: Lightlark at Amazon

23. Hotel Magnifique by Emily J. Taylor

Orphaned sisters 17-year-old Jani and 13-year-old Zosa find themselves suddenly employed at the Hotel Magnifique after most of their childhood was spent barely scraping by. Not only is the hotel magnificent, but it’s staffed by magicians who move the hotel to a new location, anywhere in the world, every midnight. Of course, things are almost never what they seem, and when Jani decides it’s time for her and Zosa to leave the hotel, she learns that the hotel might not be ready to let them leave. Ever.

Buy it: Hotel Magnifique at Amazon

24. Kings of B’more by R. Eric Thomas

When he finds out that his best friend, Linus, is moving the summer before their junior year, Harrison can’t believe it. They were supposed to do all the important stuff together—standardized testing, applying for college, everything. With the countdown to Linus leaving looming, Harrison decides to embark on one last adventure together with his best friend. From their very first Pride festival to a rooftop dance party, the two vow to do everything that scares them—even saying goodbye to someone they love.

Buy it: Kings of B’more at Amazon

25. Does My Body Offend You? by Mayra Cuevas and Marie Marquardt

Neither Malena nor Ruby expected to be the leaders of the school’s dress code rebellion. But the girls will have to face their own insecurities, biases, and privileges, and the ups and downs in their newfound friendship, if they want to stand up for their ideals and, ultimately, for themselves.

Buy it: Does My Body Offend You? at Amazon

Love these books for 8th graders? Check out our big list of 50 Refreshing and Relatable Books to Teach in Middle School for even more great books for 8th graders to add to your classroom library.

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25 Best New Books for 7th Graders

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Best Books That 8th Graders Should Read

We will unravel the top book picks for 8th graders. From contemporary realism to historical fiction, sci-fi to poetry, we have something for everyone. These books have been widely recommended for middle school students due to both their language and vocabulary as well as the introduction of more mature themes students should start thinking about.

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By no means is this a definitive list, it’s just a high level overview to help you get started. We suggest checking multiple “best book” lists because each one always seems to have a few gems in them that students love.

Anyways, let’s get started:

‘Mary Underwater’ by Shannon Doleski

‘Mary Underwater’ by Shannon Doleski is a heartwarming coming-of-age story that follows a young girl navigating family issues and discovering herself. Set in a small town in Maryland, the book transports readers to the picturesque setting of the Chesapeake Bay through vivid descriptions. With relatable themes of friendship, family, and self-discovery, this book is perfect for middle schoolers.

Shannon Doleski’s engaging and immersive writing style keeps readers hooked from start to finish. ‘Mary Underwater’ offers excellent entertainment and depth, making it an ideal choice for summer reading.

‘The Epic Fail of Arturo Zamora’ by Pablo Cartaya

‘The Epic Fail of Arturo Zamora’ by Pablo Cartaya is a heartwarming tale that revolves around the themes of family, community, and food. Set in Florida, the story follows the journey of Arturo Zamora, a 13-year-old boy, as he navigates life’s challenges.

With its exploration of gentrification, cultural identity, and friendship, this book offers young adult readers a captivating narrative perfect for summer reading.

‘The Epic Fail of Arturo Zamora’ has received praise from readers for its relatable characters and engaging storyline. It is a great choice for 8th graders looking for an impactful and enjoyable read.

‘Taking Up Space’ by Alyson Gerber

‘Taking Up Space’ by Alyson Gerber is a thought-provoking novel that delves into the struggles of a girl with dyslexia. Through the story of protagonist Sarah, readers are taken on a journey of self-acceptance and discovering one’s voice. As Sarah navigates the challenges of middle school, her learning differences become integral to her experience.

This honest and heartfelt portrayal offers a fresh perspective on academic and life success. ‘Taking Up Space’ is a must-read for anyone seeking insight into the hurdles faced by those with dyslexia, making it a valuable addition to any reading list.

‘Beverly, Right Here’ by Kate DiCamillo

‘Beverly, Right Here’ by Kate DiCamillo is a heartwarming coming-of-age story set in Florida. The novel follows Beverly, a brave and resilient young girl who runs away from home to find herself.

Along her journey, Beverly encounters an intriguing cast of characters, including an elderly woman and a friendly dog. Kate DiCamillo, a Newbery Medal-winning author, showcases her talent for poignant and relatable storytelling in this book.

‘Beverly, Right Here’ is perfect for readers who enjoy self-discovery, friendship, and adventure stories. It offers a captivating narrative that will resonate with middle school readers and leave a lasting impact.

‘Nikki on the Line’ by Barbara Carroll Roberts

“Nikki on the Line” by Barbara Carroll Roberts is a relatable and inspiring story of teamwork, friendship, and perseverance. This middle-grade novel takes readers on the journey of an eighth-grade girl as she navigates through her school’s basketball team tryouts.

With themes of self-discovery, family dynamics, and overcoming challenges, the book beautifully captures the emotions and experiences of adolescence. It is a must-read for sports enthusiasts, fans of realistic fiction, and those looking for diverse characters.

Get ready to be inspired by Nikki’s determination and resilience as she tackles on-court challenges and personal growth.

‘Refugee’ by Alan Gratz

‘Refugee’ by Alan Gratz follows the lives of three refugee families from different periods, exploring themes of survival, hope, and resilience in the face of adversity. Gratz’s storytelling style is accessible and engaging for readers of all ages, while the historical context provides an educational component to the book’s entertainment value.

‘Refugee’ has received critical acclaim and is a New York Times bestseller. This powerful and captivating novel is an excellent addition to any 8th-grade summer reading list, offering a unique perspective on the experiences of refugees throughout history.

‘Good Enough’ by Jen Petro-Roy

‘Good Enough’ by Jen Petro-Roy delves into the story of a young girl grappling with an eating disorder, highlighting the significance of self-acceptance and mental health. The book provides valuable insights into the complexities of eating disorders, making it an essential read for those seeking understanding and empathy.

Additionally, ‘Good Enough’ is an excellent starting point for parents and educators to engage in conversations about mental health with young adults. Petro-Roy’s engaging writing style ensures the book is informative and accessible, offering an insightful exploration of this challenging topic.

‘Animal Farm’ by George Orwell

‘Animal Farm’ by George Orwell is a political allegory that cleverly uses animals to represent different aspects of the Russian Revolution. The novel is a critique of totalitarianism and the abuse of power. Orwell’s engaging and accessible writing style makes it an excellent choice for middle schoolers.

The book’s themes remain relevant today, sparking discussions about current events. ‘Animal Farm’ is considered a classic and should be read at least once by every student in their academic career. Its thought-provoking narrative and timeless lessons make it a must-read for young readers and adults alike.

‘The Other Side of Truth by Beverley Naidoo

Beverley Naidoo’s ‘The Other Side of Truth’ delves into profound family, truth, and justice themes. This captivating novel takes readers on a gripping journey across Nigeria and London as two siblings escape political persecution. Naidoo fearlessly explores challenging topics such as corruption and violence, making this book poignant and enlightening for mature readers.

With her engaging and thought-provoking writing style, Naidoo prompts readers to reflect on their beliefs and values. ‘The Other Side of Truth’ is a powerful and impactful read that lingers in readers’ minds long after they turn the final page.

‘Nimona’ by Noelle Stevenson

‘Nimona’ by Noelle Stevenson is a captivating graphic novel that follows the adventures of a shape-shifting teenage girl. This award-winning book, recognized with the National Book Award and Eisner Award, explores themes of friendship, identity, and morality in a fun and engaging way.

With its stunning illustrations and captivating storytelling style, ‘Nimona’ appeals to readers of all ages. It is especially recommended for those who enjoy fantasy and graphic novels. So, if you’re looking for a high-quality book to add to your 8th-grade summer reading list, ‘Nimona’ is worth checking out.

‘The 5th Wave’ by Rick Yancey

“The 5th Wave” by Rick Yancey is a gripping science fiction novel about an alien invasion. The story follows Cassie, a survivor on a desperate mission to find her younger brother amidst the chaos and destruction caused by the extraterrestrial beings.

It explores themes of survival, trust, and humanity in the face of dire circumstances. Yancey’s writing style captivates readers, making it difficult to put the book down. With its action-packed plot and a touch of romance, “The 5th Wave” is an excellent choice for young adults looking for an exciting summer read.

‘Frankenstein’ by Mary Shelley

Mary Shelley’s ‘Frankenstein’ is a timeless classic that delves into the themes of creation and responsibility. The novel follows the ambitious Victor Frankenstein as he attempts to bring life to his own design, only to face the devastating consequences of his actions.

With its Gothic elements and supernatural occurrences, Shelley creates an eerie ambiance that intrigues the story. The multiple perspectives and complex characters make ‘Frankenstein’ an excellent choice for critical analysis.

This thought-provoking novel remains relevant today, as it explores the ethical implications of playing God and the effects of technological advancements on humanity.

‘Lord of the Rings by JRR Tolkien

“Lord of the Rings” by JRR Tolkien is a beloved and timeless classic that has captivated readers for generations. This epic fantasy novel takes readers on a thrilling journey alongside hobbit Frodo Baggins as he embarks on a quest to destroy the One Ring and save Middle-earth. With its masterful world-building and richly developed characters, this book is a must-read for any fan of the fantasy genre.

The themes of friendship, sacrifice, and the eternal battle between good and evil resonate with readers of all ages. Even today, Lord of the Rings inspires and influences popular culture in various mediums, from movies to video games.

‘The Count of Monte Cristo’ by Alexandre Dumas

‘The Count of Monte Cristo’ by Alexandre Dumas is a classic tale set in 19th century France, filled with revenge, love, and betrayal themes. The story follows Edmond Dantès, who is wrongfully imprisoned and seeks vengeance against those who betrayed him. With its complex characters, intricate plots, and unexpected twists, this novel is thought-provoking and engaging for 8th graders.

Though challenging in length and vocabulary, the timeless themes make it a must-read for young readers. ‘The Count of Monte Cristo’ offers a captivating journey through justice, morality, and redemption.

‘Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card

‘Ender’s Game’ by Orson Scott Card is a popular science fiction novel set in a futuristic world. The story revolves around Ender Wiggin, a young genius recruited to attend a military school in space. There, Ender undergoes intense training in combat and strategy, with the ultimate goal of defeating an alien race that threatens Earth.

This thought-provoking book delves into themes of leadership, morality, and the consequences of war. It has garnered numerous awards and has even been adapted into a film and video game. ‘Ender’s Game’ is a thrilling read that will captivate young readers who enjoy sci-fi and action-packed stories.

‘Deep Blue by Jennifer Donnelly

‘Deep Blue’ by Jennifer Donnelly is a captivating fantasy adventure book that follows the journey of six mermaids as they embark on a quest to save their underwater kingdoms. Written by Jennifer Donnelly, a bestselling author known for her historical fiction novels, ‘Deep Blue’ combines action, suspense, and magical creatures to keep readers engaged.

This book is perfect for middle schoolers who enjoy fantasy and adventure stories, and it also explores important themes such as friendship, courage, and perseverance. Dive into the enchanting world of ‘Deep Blue’ and join these brave mermaids on their thrilling adventure.

Why should 8th graders read ‘The Hate You Give’ by Angie Thomas?

‘The Hate You Give’ by Angie Thomas tackles pressing social issues such as police brutality and racial injustice. It offers a unique perspective that helps young readers understand the struggles faced by marginalized communities. 8th graders can develop critical thinking skills and empathy towards others by reading this book. The acclaimed novel has received numerous awards, making it a must-read for young adults.

Engaging with Poetry

Poetry is a powerful medium that fosters critical thinking and language skills in 8th graders. By introducing them to diverse voices and styles of poetry, their perspectives can be broadened. Two highly recommended titles for middle schoolers are “The Crossover” by Kwame Alexander and “Brown Girl Dreaming” by Jacqueline Woodson.

Encouraging students to write their own poetry develops their creativity and self-expression and nurtures a deeper appreciation for the art form. Engaging with poetry during the summer can be a fun and rewarding activity for young readers.

Exploring Poetry for 8th Graders

Poetry offers a powerful means of self-expression and emotional exploration, making it an excellent addition to an 8th-grade reading list. Students can enhance their critical thinking and language skills by reading and analyzing poems. Introducing students to diverse poets and styles is crucial to broaden their literary horizons. Incorporating poetry into class discussions and assignments can make learning more interactive and engaging for 8th graders.

Additionally, encouraging students to write their own poetry fosters creativity and boosts confidence in their writing abilities.

Exploring Various Genres

During the summer, students must continue reading and exploring various genres. Fiction lovers can delve into classic literature, young adult novels, and captivating mystery stories. Non-fiction enthusiasts can be captivated by biographies, memoirs, and informative history books. Poetry enthusiasts can indulge in diverse collections by contemporary poets, immersing themselves in beautiful language and thought-provoking themes. For those who prefer visual storytelling, graphic novels provide entertaining and visually stimulating narratives.

Whether escaping into a world of imagination or delving into real-life stories, exploring different genres is a great way for 8th graders to expand their horizons and enhance their literacy skills.

Contemporary Realism for 8th Graders

Contemporary realism is a genre that focuses on realistic depictions of modern-day life, addressing relevant social issues and promoting empathy and understanding. Angie Thomas’ “The Hate U Give” explores police brutality and racism, while Laurie Halse Anderson’s “Speak” tackles sexual assault. Other recommended titles include “Wonder” by R.J. Palacio and “Refugee” by Alan Gratz.

These books offer compelling narratives that resonate with 8th graders, encouraging critical thinking and a deeper understanding of the world around them. By immersing themselves in contemporary realism, young readers can gain valuable insights into society and cultivate empathy for others.

Diving into Fantasy and Sci-Fi

Fantasy and sci-fi genres transport readers to imaginative realms and alternate realities. Suzanne Collins’ “The Hunger Games” is a gripping sci-fi novel that delves into themes of survival and rebellion. Christopher Paolini’s “Eragon” takes readers on an epic fantasy adventure alongside a young dragon rider. Lois Lowry’s “The Giver” challenges the concept of a perfect society in a dystopian setting. Frank Herbert’s “Dune” delves into political intrigue and the consequences of ecological disaster. These books offer 8th graders a thrilling escape and broaden their literary horizons.

Reliving the Past with Historical Fiction

Historical fiction books can transport readers to different periods and cultures, providing a unique perspective on the past. These novels often incorporate historical events into their storylines, offering insights into how we got to where we are today.

For 8th graders, popular historical fiction books like “Code Name Verity” and “The Boy in the Striped Pajamas” can be educational and engaging. By reading historical fiction, students can also improve their critical thinking skills by evaluating sources and considering different perspectives. It’s an excellent way for young readers to relive the past and gain a deeper understanding of history.

Impact of Reading on Young Minds

Reading has a profound impact on young minds, offering numerous benefits. It is crucial in improving vocabulary and language skills, helping students expand their knowledge and communication abilities. Additionally, reading stimulates imagination and creativity, allowing young readers to explore different worlds and ideas.

Moreover, it fosters empathy and understanding by exposing readers to diverse perspectives and experiences. Alongside these cognitive benefits, reading also promotes mental health and relaxation, providing a welcome escape from the stresses of daily life. Summer reading lists further enhance these advantages, enabling students to discover new genres and authors, and broadening their literary horizons.

The Power and Influence of Books

Reading has a profound impact on the development of young people, fostering cognitive and emotional growth. Books can mold young minds and shape their perspectives on the world. Summer reading lists are an excellent way to introduce middle school students to new genres, authors, and ideas.

Engaging in reading can enhance vocabulary, comprehension, and critical thinking skills. Encouraging tweens to read can ignite a lifelong passion for learning and curiosity. Books can transport readers to different periods, cultures, and even supernatural realms, providing a gateway to explore new worlds and broaden horizons.

In conclusion, reading can transport us to different worlds, evoke emotions, and expand our horizons. It is an essential tool for young minds to develop empathy, critical thinking, and imagination.

The recommended books on this 8th-grade summer reading list offer diverse genres and themes, allowing students to explore new perspectives and ideas. Whether it’s a contemporary realistic fiction, a fantasy adventure, or a historical novel, each book can potentially leave a lasting impact on young readers.

Encouraging 8th graders to read ‘The Hate You Give’ by Angie Thomas can spark meaningful conversations about social issues and promote empathy and understanding. So grab a book, dive into its pages, and embark on a journey of discovery and growth through reading.

Editorial Staff

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10 Must-Read Books for 8th Graders

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By the time kids reach the 8th grade, they tend to vary a lot in their reading ability and maturity development. Some thirteen to fourteen year olds are avid readers who are already enjoying adult novels, while others might still struggle with reading or prefer to play video games rather than sitting down with a good book. 

AT A Glance: Our Top 5 Picks for Books for 8th Graders

• Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell – Our Top Pick
• The Lord of the Rings series by J.R.R. Tolkien
• The Fault in Our Stars by John Green
• The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams
• To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

That’s why I’ve put together this varied list of book ideas for 8th graders. I’ve tried to include a wide selection of different styles, genres, and reading levels, so there should be something to suit every teen. There’s fantasy , sci-fi ,  romance , and some classics, as well as some books that will appeal to even the most reluctant readers. So, in no particular order, here are my top ten must read books for 8th graders.

Table of Contents

The 10 Best Books for 8th Graders

1. Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell  

Cath has been plagued by anxiety throughout her teenage years, and now, as she heads off to college, her mental health takes another nosedive. Her identical twin sister and best friend, Wren, has abandoned her. While she’s out partying, making friends, and embracing college life, Cath’s social anxiety forces her to hide herself away. 

She spends hours writing fan fiction, and to her delight, she starts to receive recognition online for her work. But there’s no running away from her real life problems, and as much as she’d love to hide out online and work on her writing forever, she’s forced to face her fears all too often. 

As the semesters tick by, Cath is faced with a lot of challenges; Wren is hospitalized after an alcohol overdose, her estranged mother shows up out of the blue, asking for redemption, and her father is involuntarily committed to a psychiatric ward after suffering a bipolar episode. 

This thought provoking book is a character driven coming of age story that refuses to gloss over the challenges and hurdles that life often throws at young people.

2. The Lord of the Rings series by J.R.R. Tolkien  

Middle Earth has enjoyed living in relative peace for centuries now, but something is starting to shift. The Dark Lord Sauron is waking up from his slumber, and only one thing stands between him and his plans on ultimate domination; a powerful, mysterious, and evil ring. If Sauron gets his hands on it, the whole of Middle Earth will be plunged into darkness and destroyed forever. 

The task of protecting this powerful ring falls to some unsuspecting hobbits. Along with the help of an eclectic group of friends, they must deliver the ring to the fiery underbelly of Mount Doom, where it will be destroyed once and for all, rendering Sauron powerless. But this dangerous quest was never going to be easy. 

This classic trilogy might be a little challenging for some readers, but if your 8th grader loves epic battles involving mystical creatures and already has a love of reading, then you can’t go wrong with the Lord of The Rings trilogy. 

3. The Fault in Our Stars by John Green  

Hazel knows that she’s dying of cancer. Despite doctors miraculously shrinking her tumor and buying her a few extra years, there’s only one fate in her future. But when she meets the handsome and charming Augustus Waters at her children’s cancer support group, everything changes. 

She’s no longer consumed by fear, dread, and hopelessness. Now, she’s in love. This modern classic explores the heartbreaking yet electrifying journey of two teens who face real life challenges beyond imagination. It’s a true tear-jerker and an absolute must-read not only for 8th graders but for everyone who enjoys a thought-provoking and emotional read. 

4. The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams  

Arthur Dent lives a boring, average, and predictable life, until one day, out of the blue, the Earth is destroyed to make space for an intergalactic freeway. Luckily, his best friend Ford Prefect had some inside information, and he rescued Arthur right before the planet was blasted into oblivion. It turns out that Ford is a researcher for The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy, and now the pair are about to embark on an epic adventure through space and time. 

First released in 1979, this hilarious sci-fi story is a cult classic. Any 8th grader who likes satirical humor or a good space adventure will love this book. 

5. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee  

Scout and Jem Finch live a sheltered, happy life in 1930s small-town Alabama, under the care of their father, a lawyer named Atticus Finch. They spend their days playing games with their friend Dill and spying on their strange, solitary neighbor, a mysterious man named Boo Radley. 

But their innocent small town world comes crashing down after Atticus decides to defend a black man who is wrongly accused of raping a white woman. The children must now come face to face with a dark reality of insidious racism, prejudice, and hatred that exists just below the surface of their seemingly idyllic homeland. 

This classic tale is loved by teens and adults worldwide. It’s on many a school syllabus not just because it’s a classic piece of literature but also to spark interesting and necessary discussions about segregation, racism, and the darker side of American history. 

6. Divergent by Veronica Roth  

Beatrice Prior lives in a dark, dystopian Chicago, where society is divided up into so called ‘virtuous’ factions. There’s Candor (the honest), Abnegation (the selfless), Dauntless (the brave), Erudite (the intelligent), and Amity (the peaceful). One day each year, all the sixteen year olds in society must choose which faction they will join, but there’s a catch; they will have to devote the rest of their lives to it, and there’s no going back. 

As Beatrice’s turn to decide her faction draws near, she’s torn. On the one hand, she feels she should stay with her family, but on the other, she knows she doesn’t belong there. When the day comes to make her decision, she surprises everyone, including herself. 

What follows is a grueling initiation period, where she takes on a new name; Tris. Day after day, Tris and her fellow initiates must undergo brutal physical and mental tests that push them to their very limits. As they all struggle to accept their new identities, Tris carries a secret with her. It’s a secret she knows she can never share; if anyone ever found out, it could lead to her death. But in order to save those she loves, she might just have to. 

7. Just Ella by Margaret Peterson Haddix

We’re all familiar with the fairy tale Cinderella, where she meets Prince Charming, they get married, and they both live happily ever after. But this edgy rework by Margaret Peterson Haddix is grounded firmly in reality, a reality where being a princess isn’t always sunshine and roses. For starters, the prince isn’t the slightest bit charming or even remotely interesting. 

And Ella quickly realizes that she’s not exactly princess material either. Acting like a “lady” is harder than it looks, and in the days leading up to their wedding, she’s having second thoughts about the whole thing. 

She doesn’t want to be married to a man she doesn’t love, and to make matters worse, there’s another boy in the palace that catching her attention much more than her supposed perfect match. 

Now, Ella must escape a life she doesn’t belong to before it’s too late.

8. The Girl Who Drank the Moon by Kelly Barnhill  

There’s a witch who lives in the forest just outside of town, and each year, the people of the Protectorate choose a baby and leave it for the witch as a kind of sacrifice. They hope that this annual act will keep her evil ways at bay. 

But what they don’t know is that this witch isn’t so evil, after all. Her name is Xan, and she’s gentle and kind. She rescues these absconded children and nourishes them with magical starlight. She then delivers them to loving families on the other side of the forest, where they can live happy, healthy lives. 

But one year, after receiving another child from the misguided Protectorate, Xan accidentally feeds them moonlight rather than starlight. Moonlight contains a power unlike any other, and so Xan decides to raise this baby girl, who she names Luna, herself, in order to protect her from the powerful magic she holds. Xan casts a spell to lock up Luna’s magic and keep her safe throughout her childhood. 

But as her thirteenth birthday approaches, this magic is slowly starting to return. And elsewhere, on the other side of the forest, the Protectorate is hatching a plan to kill the ‘evil’ witch once and for all. Now, Luna must protect the person who has kept her safe all these years, but will she be able to contain the power that is slowly reigniting inside of her? 

9. Sold by Patricia McCormick

Thirteen year old Lakshmi lives in a tiny hut with her family in the soaring Nepalese mountains. Despite being desperately poor, Lakshmi lives a happy life, full of love, wonder, and adventure. But one day, the torrential monsoon rains arrive with a vengeance, and they destroy the last of the family’s already dwindling crops. Now there’s no food to eat, and the family is thrown into desperate circumstances. 

Lakshmi’s stepfather tells her she must leave her family home and go out to work in order to save them from certain starvation. He takes her to meet a glamourous stranger who offers her a job as a maid in the big city, working for a wealthy woman. After just a few months, Lakshmi will be able to save enough money to ensure that her family is well-fed, and this nightmare will be over. 

After a long journey to India, she arrives at “Happiness House” ready to start work, but she soon discovers the terrifying truth; she’s been sold into prostitution. 

Lakshmi enters a living nightmare that seems like it will never end, until one day, she has the opportunity to reclaim her life and her family. This is a wonderfully written, powerful novel about a tough topic, but it’s handled with sensitivity and care, making it perfect for curious teen readers. 

10. Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys  

Growing up in 1940s Lithuania, fifteen year old Lina is like any other girl her age. She loves painting and drawing, and she and her friends talk about all the boys they’d like to kiss. But one night, her happy life is ripped apart when Soviet officers tear into her home. They separate her from her father and force Lina, her mother, and her younger brother onto a cramped and dirty train. Before they have the chance to blink, they’re heading north, where they will eventually arrive in the brutally cold conditions of remote Siberia. 

Under Stalin’s orders, she, her family, and others like them are forced to work under the most inhumane conditions, and every day is a struggle to survive. 

Lina risks her potential death to escape into her art; she documents everything that happens to them, drawing secret pictures and hoping that maybe one day, these messages will reach her father, and he’ll know they’re still alive. 

Lina’s journey is full of pain, fear, and sadness, but it’s also one of incredible love, strength, and hope. It’s a captivating read for any mature 8th grader. 

No matter what kind of stories your 8th grader enjoys, there’s something out there that will  encourage their love of reading . Do you have any suggestions for great titles that 8th graders will enjoy? Drop a comment below! 

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10 Great Urban Fantasy Books of All-Time

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8 Must-Read Young Adult Mystery Books and Thrillers

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10 Best Books for 8th Graders

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Are you looking for the best books for 8th graders? Do you have a reluctant reader in 8th grade or upper middle school? Sometimes these kids have not yet met the right book. Here are some possible page-turners for your 8th grade readers! Everything from true stories to thought-provoking realistic fiction is on this list that straddles upper middle grade and young adult books .

Who am I to tell you the best books for 8th graders? I’m a middle school reading teacher who teaches struggling readers. My 8th graders have gravitated toward the books on this list, which I also have read and also love, so I’m sharing them with you.

Now you have a book list approved by real readers. And with this list, you can recommend even more good books to your 8th graders!

Remember, these reviews are subjective based on my students and my experiences, as well as our reading preferences. Use your best judgment if they’re right for your 8th grade readers.

But what age is 8th grade?

In the United States, 8th grade is around age 13 and turning 14 years old. Not always, but you can expect that most 8th graders are ages 13 and 14.

Best Books for 8th Graders

What About Will by Ellen Hopkins Trace’s older brother (Will) recently suffered a severe concussion. The change in Will is dramatic and stresses the family. Trace senses the changes, but above all, he wants his brother back to how he was before the concussion. This book explores the effect on family members when someone in the family undergoes a dramatic change.

Invisible by Christina Diaz Gonzalez A graphic novel can tackle some tough subjects.  Invisible deals with five students Spanish speaker students. They get in trouble and must do service hours in the school cafeteria where they learn about each other and the world, like the homeless mom they see living in her van. The world assumes many things about immigrants and sometimes those assumptions are just wrong.

Michael Vey and the Prisoner of Cell 25 by Richard Paul Evans Michael Vey is a typical high school freshman living in Meridian, Idaho. He is not typical because he has extra electricity flowing through him and must learn to control it. He doesn’t know people are searching for him. Action and adventure await as his life takes an unexpected turn. This is book 1 of 8 in a science fiction series. The 8th was just published in September 2022.

This is My America by Kimberly Jones Tracy has watched the clock tick down on her father’s time on death row for a crime he didn’t commit. She writes to law firms who help in similar situations. When someone finally responds back to her, she opens stories about the past others thought were put to rest. Tracy discovers racism is still alive and well in her community.

The Other Talk by Brendan Kiely In this nonfiction book, Brendan shares about his younger life. This book reflects his conversations with people of color and their upbringing. Their discussions are about subjects such as how to not be suspicious, what to do in police presence, and other potentially dangerous scenarios. Brendan wonders if white people should have talks with their kids to let them know the world is not always equitable. Through discussions such as these, the world may become a more equitable place.

Red, White, and Whole by Rajani LaRocca Reha wants to honor the traditions of her parents and their Indian culture. However, at school, she wants nothing more than to be like her other American friends. Her somewhat rebellious nature changes when her mother becomes very ill. Reha changes her focus to research which could help her mother get better. (Newbery Award Honor Winner!)

Fat Chance, Charlie Vega by Crystal Maldonado Charlie is a curvy girl who accepts her fate as a large girl. However, her athletic and popular friend Amelia sometimes makes her feel bigger. Charlie’s mom also puts pressure on her to lose weight. Because of this, Charlie is very sure that no boy will ever like her. In this coming-of-age story, Charlie rides the ups and downs of adolescence to learn what she really wants and who she is.

Need by Joelle Charbonneau Kaylee and Nate stumble upon a website only for students of Nottawa High School. When students enter a need, they must do a task to get their need. Before long, the whole community is being torn apart by what kids think they “need.” This cast of characters shows the dangers social media can create.

One of Us is Lying by Karen McManus (Or anything by this author!) Five students (Simon, Bronwyn, Addie, Cooper, and Nate) are all in after-school detention. Simon goes into anaphylactic shock and dies. The other four are the main suspects. Especially when it’s revealed that Simon ran an app telling secrets of his classmates. Each of the students in detention narrates part of the story. Was it one—or all— of the students? Or something more sinister?

They Both Die at the End by Adam Silvera In this dystopian- style, award-winning queer book, Rufus and Mateo both receive their notice from Death Cast that today is their death date. Through the Last Friend app, they connect and help each other through their final day. As they try to tie up loose ends and say goodbyes to those they love, they also try to have some fun. Neither wants to be the first to die or finish life alone.

Happy Reading!

KEEP READING

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Kimberly Kuhlman holds a MA.Ed. in literacy education grades K-12. She has spent her almost 20 years of teaching at the middle school level as a reading teacher and reading specialist. She has even presented at reading conferences sharing her passion for engaging adolescent readers. In addition, she is an avid reader, mom of two grown and flown boys, and currently lives in Pennsylvania with her husband.

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The Best Book-Report Books for Middle Schoolers

No need to dread a book report! When kids find titles that are engaging, interesting, and thought-provoking, they're hooked. If it's fiction, students can dissect plot, theme, and characters. If it's nonfiction, they can plunge into a subject that fascinates them or learn a lot about something they've never heard of before. Here's a list of surefire selections for students in sixth, seventh, and eighth grades. For even more ideas, check out 50 Books All Kids Should Read Before They're 12 .

Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl

Inspiring wartime journal reveals teen's inner life.

The Apothecary, Book 1

Cold War kids use magic to save world in brilliant novel.

Everything Sad Is Untrue: (A True Story)

Young refugee's story is told in memories, myths, fables.

Goodbye Stranger

Bittersweet, lovely story of friendship and social media.

Genesis Begins Again

Teen learns to love herself in uplifting tale of misfits.

Hold on tight for an intense tale of survival.

A Long Walk to Water

Touching take on Lost Boys of Sudan, based on true story.

One Crazy Summer

A gem, with strong girl characters, '60s black history.

Poverty, being unhoused explored in hopeful tale.

The Port Chicago 50: Disaster, Mutiny, and the Fight for Civil Rights

Little-known disaster gets overdue, in-depth treatment.

The Red Badge of Courage

Compelling Civil War novel questions morality of battle.

Uglies: Uglies Quartet, Book 1

Thoughtful sci-fi about the price of beauty.

Interned girl, Native boy find common ground in moving tale.

All-American Muslim Girl

Captivating coming-of-age tale explores identity, racism.

American Ace

Moving, fast-paced novel-in-verse; great for teen boys.

Bomb: The Race to Build -- and Steal -- the World's Most Dangerous Weapon

Complex, suspenseful story of developing The Bomb.

The Boys Who Challenged Hitler: Knud Pedersen and the Churchill Club

Thrilling true story of teenagers who stood up to the Nazis.

Enchanted Air: Two Cultures, Two Wings

Poignant memoir-in-verse recalls Cuban American's childhood.

Long Way Down

Gripping, unnerving story of teen boy contemplating revenge.

My Name Is Not Easy

Fascinating story of Alaskan kids growing up in the 1960s.

Other great lists from our editors

• Coming-of-Age Books
• Books to Help Your Kid Survive Middle School
• How to Raise a Reader
• Help Your Kids Find Books with Diverse Characters
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The Best Books for Your 8th Grade Summer Reading List (2023)

Send your 8th graders off to summer with this summer reading book. Full of a variety of books that will keep your middle schoolers reading and ready for high school in the fall.

This list is curated by a librarian and includes middle grade books from a variety of genres, including a few graphic novels that are written for middle grades.

Your students will learn lessons from these books, develop their literacy skills, but mostly they will have fun reading this collection. Help your eighth graders spend some time away from video games and screen time by giving them this list of book recommendations.

1. Everything Sad is Untrue * by Daniel Nayeri

Genre : Biography

At the front of a middle school classroom in Oklahoma, a boy named Khosrou (whom everyone calls “Daniel”) stands, trying to tell a story. His story. But no one believes a word he says. To them he is a dark-skinned, hairy-armed boy with a big butt whose lunch smells funny; who makes things up and talks about poop too much.

But Khosrou’s stories, stretching back years, and decades, and centuries, are beautiful, and terrifying.

Author Daniel Nayeri weaves a tale of Khosrou trying to save his own life: to stake his claim to the truth.

2. The Elephant Girl by James Patterson and Ellen Banda-Aaku

Genre : Realistic Fiction

Clever, sensitive Jama likes elephants better than people. While her classmates gossip—especially about the new boy, Leku—twelve-year-old Jama takes refuge at the watering hole outside her village. Where a baby elephant becomes her best friend. When Mbegu’s mother, frightened by poachers, stampedes, Jama and Mgebu are blamed for two deaths—one elephant and one human. Now Leku, whose mysterious and imposing father is head ranger at the conservancy, may be their only lifeline. Inspired by true events, The Elephant Girl is a great book about the bonds between creatures and the power of belonging.

3. The Ogress and the Orphans by Kelly Barnhill

Genre : Fantasy

Stone-in-the-Glen has fallen on hard times. The people put their faith in the Mayor, a dazzling fellow who promises he alone can help. After all, he is a famous dragon slayer. Only the clever children of the Orphan House and the kindly Ogress at the edge of town can see how dire the town’s problems are.

When a child goes missing, all eyes turn to the Ogress. The Orphans know this can’t be.

But how can the Orphans tell the story of the Ogress’s goodness to people who refuse to listen? And how can they make their deluded neighbors see the real villain in their midst?

4. Finally Seen by Kelly Yang

My sister got to grow up with my parents. Me? I grew up with postcards from my parents.

When ten-year-old Lina Gao steps off the plane in Los Angeles, it’s her first time in America and the first time seeing her parents and her little sister in five years! She’s been waiting for this moment every day while she lived with her grandmother in Beijing, getting teased by kids at school who called her “left behind girl.” Finally , her parents are ready for her to join their fabulous life in America! Except, it’s not exactly like in the postcards. A good book for every middle schooler to read about the difficulties of immigrating to another country.

5. The Pennymores and the Curse of the Invisible Quill by Eric Koester

When her brother vanishes in the night, along with all she thought to be true of magic, Parker Pennymore must unmask family secrets, travel far beyond the castle walls, and convince her sisters Quinn and Aven to break a few laws along the way – but what’s a hero’s journey without a little rebellion?

Created first as a bedtime story, The Pennymores explores a world where all writing has been banned for centuries. But when an unstoppable enemy returns threatening the destroy their world, the Pennymores must set off on a quest taking them inside hidden mystical realms, confronting ancient challenges, and forcing them to step closer to the heroes they are destined to be.

6. Amari and the Night Brothers by B. B. Alston

Quinton Peters was the golden boy of the Rosewood low-income housing projects, receiving full scholarship offers to two different Ivy League schools. When he mysteriously goes missing, his little sister, 13-year-old Amari Peters, can’t understand why it’s not a bigger deal. Why isn’t his story all over the news? And why do the police automatically assume he was into something illegal?

Then Amari discovers a ticking briefcase in her brother’s old closet. A briefcase meant for her eyes only. There was far more to Quinton, it seems, than she ever knew. He’s left her a nomination for a summer tryout at the secretive Bureau of Supernatural Affairs.

7. Ground Zero by Alan Gratz

Genre : Historical Fiction

It’s September 11, 2001. Brandon, a 9-year-old boy, goes to work for the day with his dad . . . at the World Trade Center in New York City. When two planes hit the towers, Brandon and his father are trapped inside a fiery nightmare as terror and confusion swirl around them. Can they escape — and what will the world be like when they do?

In present-day Afghanistan, Reshmina dreams of peace and unity. When she ends up harboring a wounded young American soldier, she and her entire family are put in mortal danger. But Reshmina also learns something surprising about the roots of this endless war.

8. When You Wish Upon a Star by Elizabeth Lim

“Starlight, star bright, first star I see tonight . . . ” so begins the wish that changes everything—for Geppetto, for the Blue Fairy, and for a little puppet named Pinocchio. The Blue Fairy isn’t supposed to grant wishes in the small village of Pariva, but something about this one awakens some long-buried flicker within. Perhaps it’s the hope she senses beneath the old man’s loneliness.

Or maybe it’s the fact that long ago, before she was the Blue Fairy, she was a young woman named Chiara from this very village, one with a simple wish: to help others find happiness.

9. Bea Wolf by Zach Weinersmith

Genre : Classic, Graphic Novel

Listen! Hear a tale of mallow-munchers and warriors who answer candy’s clarion call!

Somewhere in a generic suburb stands Treeheart, a kid-forged sanctuary. One day, these brave warriors find their fun cut short by their nefarious neighbor Grindle.

As the guardian of gloom lays siege to Treeheart, scores of kids suddenly find themselves transformed into pimply teenagers and sullen adults! The survivors of the onslaught cry out for a savior.

They call for Bea Wolf.

10. The Firefly Summer by Morgan Matson

For as long as Ryanna Stuart can remember, her summers have been spent with her father and his new wife. Just the three of them, structured, planned, and quiet. But this summer is different. This summer, she’s received a letter from her grandparents—grandparents neither she nor her dad have spoken to since her mom’s death—inviting her to stay with them at an old summer camp in the Poconos.

Over the course of one unforgettable summer—filled with s’mores and swimming, adventure and fun, and even a decades-old mystery to solve—Ryanna discovers a whole new side of herself and that, sometimes, the last place you expected to be is the place where you really belong.

11. Grounded by Aisha Saeed, S. K. Ali, Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow, and Huda Al-Marashi

Genre : Realistic Fiction, Graphic Novel

When a thunderstorm grounds all flights following a huge Muslim convention, four unlikely kids are thrown together. Feek is stuck babysitting his younger sister, but he’d rather be writing a poem that’s good enough for his dad, a famous poet and rapper. Hanna is intent on finding a lost cat in the airport—and also on avoiding a conversation with her dad about him possibly remarrying. Sami is struggling with his anxiety and worried that he’ll miss the karate tournament that he’s trained so hard for. And Nora has to deal with the pressure of being the daughter of a prominent congresswoman, when all she really wants to do is make fun NokNok videos. These kids don’t seem to have much in common—yet.

Told in alternating points of view, Grounded tells the story of one unexpected night that will change these kids forever.

12. Not An Easy Win by Chrystal D. Giles

Nothing’s gone right for Lawrence since he had to move from Charlotte to Larenville, North Carolina, to live with his granny. When Lawrence ends up in one too many fights at his new school, he gets expelled. The fight wasn’t his fault, but since his pop’s been gone, it feels like no one listens to what Lawrence has to say.

Instead of going to school, Lawrence starts spending his days at the rec center, helping out a neighbor who runs a chess program.

Lawrence doesn’t know anything about chess, but something about the center—and the kids there—feels right.

Summer Reading in Your Classroom

You may not have much control over assignments for your soon-to-be future or upcoming students. But that doesn’t mean you can’t make the idea of a summer reading list fun. Head over to our Teachers Pay Teachers store to grab our free Summer Reading BINGO to encourage reading this summer. Or have them create book lists with their own books as a final activity.

Acacia is passionate about literacy and believes literacy should be at the core of every lesson. She is currently a college librarian and mom. She worked for 10+ years as an English teacher and teacher-librarian.

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Book Review Writing

Introduction.

If you love to read, at some point you will want to share a book you love with others. You may already do this by talking about books with friends. If you want to share your ideas with more people than your circle of friends, the way you do that is by writing a review. By publishing the reviews you write, you can share your ideas about books with other readers around the world.

It's natural for young readers to confuse book reviews with book reports, yet writing a book review is a very different process from writing a book report. Book reports focus on the plot of the book. Frequently, the purpose of book reports is to demonstrate that the books were read, and they are often done for an assignment.

A book review is a totally different task. A book review's purpose is to help people decide whether or not the book would interest them enough to read it. Reviews are a sneak peek at a book, not a summary. Like wonderful smells wafting from a kitchen, book reviews lure readers to want to taste the book themselves.

This guide is designed to help you become a strong book reviewer, a reader who can read a book and then cook up a review designed to whet the reading appetites of other book lovers.

Form: What should the review look like?

How long should it be.

The first question we usually ask when writing something is "How long should it be?" The best answer is "As long as it takes," but that's a frustrating answer. A general guideline is that the longer the book, the longer the review, and a review shouldn't be fewer than 100 words or so. For a long book, the review may be 500 words or even more.

If a review is too short, the review may not be able to fulfill its purpose. Too long, and the review may stray into too much plot summary or lose the reader's interest.

The best guide is to focus less on how long to write and more on fulfilling the purpose of the review.

How Do You Create A Title?

The title of the review should convey your overall impression and not be overly general. Strong titles include these examples:

• "Full of action and complex characters"
• "A nail-biter that will keep you up all night"
• "Beautiful illustrations with a story to match"
• "Perfect for animal lovers"

Weak titles may look like this:

• "Really good book"
• "Three stars"
• "Pretty good"
• "Quick read"

How Should It Begin?

Although many reviews begin with a short summary of the book (This book is about…), there are other options as well, so feel free to vary the way you begin your reviews.

In an introductory summary, be careful not to tell too much. If you retell the entire story, the reader won't feel the need to read it him/herself, and no one appreciates a spoiler (telling the end). Here are some examples of summaries reviewers from The New York Times have written:

"A new picture book tells a magically simple tale of a lonely boy, a stranded whale and a dad who rises to the occasion."

"In this middle-grade novel, a girl finds a way forward after the loss of her mother."

"Reared by ghosts, werewolves and other residents of the hillside cemetery he calls home, an orphan named Nobody Owens wonders how he will manage to survive among the living having learned all his lessons from the dead. And the man Jack — who killed the rest of Nobody's family — is itching to finish the job."

"In vivid poems that reflect the joy of finding her voice through writing stories, an award-winning author shares what it was like to grow up in the 1960s and 1970s in both the North and the South." Other ways to begin a review include:

• Quote: A striking quote from the book ("It was a bright cold day in April, and the clocks were striking thirteen.") can make for a powerful beginning. This quote begins George Orwell's novel 1984 .
• Background: What makes this book important or interesting? Is the author famous? Is it a series? This is This is how Amazon introduces Divergent : "This first book in Veronica Roth's #1 New York Times bestselling Divergent trilogy is the novel the inspired the major motion picture."
• Interesting Fact: For nonfiction books in particular, an interesting fact from the book may create a powerful opening for a review. In this review of The Middle East by Philip Steele, Zander H. of Mid-America Mensa asks, "Did you know that the Saudi Arabia's Rub' al-Khali desert reaches temperatures of 140 degrees Fahrenheit in the day and plummets to the freezing point at night?"
• Explanation of a term: If a word or phrase in the book or title is confusing or vitally important to understand, you may wish to begin the review explaining that term.

Process: What should I write about?

Deciding what to say about the book can be challenging. Use the following ideas as a guide, but remember that you should not put all of this into a single review — that would make for a very long review! Choose the things that fit this particular book best.

General Information What the reader ought to know

• What kind of book is it? (Picture book? Historical fiction? Nonfiction? Fantasy? Adventure?)
• Does the book belong to a series?
• How long is the book? Is it an easy or a challenging read?
• Is there anything that would be helpful for the reader to know about the author? For instance, is the author an expert in the field, the author of other popular books, or a first-time author?
• How does the book compare to other books on the same topic or in the same genre?
• Is the book written in a formal or informal style? Is the language remarkable in any way?
• What ages is the book geared to?
• Is the book written in normal prose? If it is written in poetic form, does it rhyme?

Plot What happens?

Writing about the plot is the trickiest part of a review because you want to give the reader a feel for what the book is about without spoiling the book for future readers. The most important thing to remember is that you must never give away the ending. No one likes a spoiler.

One possibility for doing this is to set up the premise (A brother and a sister find themselves lost in the woods at the mercy of an evil witch. Will they be able to outsmart her and escape?). Another possibility is to set up the major conflict in the book and leave it unresolved (Sometimes the waiting is the hardest part or He didn't know what he stood to lose or Finding your purpose in life can be as easy as finding a true friend.)

Try to avoid using the tired phrase "This book is about…" Instead, just jump right in (The stuffed rabbit wanted more than anything to live in the big old house with the wild oak trees.)

Characters Who lives in the book?

Reviews should answer questions about the characters in fiction books or non-fiction books about people. Some possible questions to answer include:

• Who are the main characters? Include the protagonist and antagonist.
• What makes them interesting?
• Do they act like real people act or are they too good or too evil to be believable?
• Are they human?
• What conflicts do they face?
• Are they likeable or understandable?
• How do they connect with each other?
• Do they appear in other books?
• Could you relate to any of the characters in the story?
• What problems did the main characters face?
• Who was your favorite character, and why?
• We learn about characters from things they do and say, as well as things other characters say about them. You may wish to include examples of these things.

Theme What is the book about at its heart?

What is the book really about? This isn't the plot, but rather the ideas behind the story. Is it about the triumph of good over evil or friendship or love or hope? Some common themes include: change, desire to escape, facing a challenge, heroism, the quest for power, and human weaknesses.

Sometimes a book will have a moral — a lesson to learn. If so, the theme is usually connected to that moral. As you write about the theme, try to identify what makes the book worth reading. What will the reader think about long after the book is finished? Ask yourself if there any particular lines in the book that strike you as meaningful.

Setting Where are we?

The setting is the time and place the story occurs. When you write about the setting in a review, include more than just the location. Some things to consider:

• Is the book set in the past, present or future?
• Is it set in the world we know or is it a fantastical world?
• Is it mostly realistic with elements of fantasy (animals that can talk, for example)?
• Is the setting unclear and fuzzy, or can you easily make the movie in your mind?
• How much does the author draw you into the setting and how does s/he accomplish that?

Opinion & Analysis What do you really think?

This is where the reviewer shares his/her reactions to the book that go beyond the essential points described above. You may spend half of the review on this section. Some possible questions to address include:

• Why do you think other readers would enjoy it? Why did you enjoy it (if you did) or why didn't you (if you didn't).
• What ages or types of readers do you think would like the book?
• How does it compare with other books that are in the same genre or by the same author?
• Does the book engage your emotions? If a book made you laugh or cry or think about it for days, be sure to include that.
• What do you like or dislike about the author's writing style? Is it funny? Is it hard to follow? Is it engaging and conversational in tone?
• How well do you think the author achieved what s/he was going for in the writing of the book? Do you think you felt what the author was hoping you would feel?
• Did the book feel complete, or did it feel as though key elements were left out?
• How does the book compare to other books like it you've read?

Are there parts that are simply not believable, even allowing for the reader's understanding that it is fiction or even fantasy?

• Are there mistakes?
• Would you describe the book as for entertainment, self-improvement, or information?
• What was your favorite part of the book?
• Would you have done anything differently had you been the author?
• Would any reader enjoy this book? If not, to what ages or type of reader would it appeal?

Special situations: Nonfiction and young reviewers

Some of the tips and ideas above work best for fiction, and some of it is a little too complicated for very young reviewers.

Nonfiction What to do if it's real

When reviewing a book of nonfiction, you will want to consider these questions:

• What was the author's purpose in writing the book? Did the author accomplish that purpose?
• Who is the target audience for the book?
• What do you think is the book's greatest value? What makes it special or worthwhile?
• Are the facts shared accurate?
• Is the book interesting and hold your attention?
• Would it be a useful addition to a school or public library?
• If the book is a biography or autobiography, how sympathetic is the subject?
• Is it easy to understand the ideas?
• Are there extra features that add to the enjoyment of the book, such as maps, indexes, glossaries, or other materials?
• Are the illustrations helpful?

Young Reviewers Keeping it simple

Reviewing a book can be fun, and it's not hard at all. Just ask yourself these questions:

• What is the book about? You don't need to tell the whole story over — just give an idea of what it's about.
• Do you think other people would like it?
• Did you think it was funny or sad?
• Did you learn something from the book?
• l Did you think it was interesting?
• Would you want to read it again?
• Would you want to read other books by the same author or about the same subject?
• What was your favorite part?
• Did you like the pictures?

Remember! Don't give away the ending. Let's keep that a surprise.

General Tips & Ideas

Use a few quotes or phrases (keep them short) from the book to illustrate the points you make about the book. If there are illustrations, be sure to comment on those. Are they well done? Has the illustrator done other well-known books?

Make sure you include a conclusion to the review — don't leave it hanging. The conclusion can be just one sentence (Overall, this book is a terrific choice for those who…).

You can use the transition word handout at the end of the Writer's Toolbox to find ideas for words to connect the ideas in your review. If you would like to read some well-written reviews, look for reviews of books for young people at The New York Times or National Public Radio .

Rating Books How to award stars?

Most places you post reviews ask you to rate the book using a star system, typically in a range of from one to five stars. In your rating, you should consider how the book compares to other books like it. Don't compare a long novel to a short poetry book — that's not a valid comparison.

It's important to remember that it's not asking you to only give five stars to the very best books ever written.

• 5 Stars: I'm glad I read it or I loved it (this doesn't mean it was your favorite book ever).
• 4 Stars: I like it. It's worth reading.
• 3 Stars: It wasn't very good.
• 2 Stars: I don't like it at all.
• 1 Star: I hate it.

How to Write a Book Review: The Ultimate Guide

WHAT IS A BOOK REVIEW?

Traditionally, book reviews are evaluations of a recently published book in any genre. Usually, around the 500 to 700-word mark, they briefly describe a text’s main elements while appraising the work’s strengths and weaknesses. Published book reviews can appear in newspapers, magazines, and academic journals. They provide the reader with an overview of the book itself and indicate whether or not the reviewer would recommend the book to the reader.

WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF A BOOK REVIEW?

There was a time when book reviews were a regular appearance in every quality newspaper and many periodicals. They were essential elements in whether or not a book would sell well. A review from a heavyweight critic could often be the deciding factor in whether a book became a bestseller or a damp squib. In the last few decades, however, the book review’s influence has waned considerably, with many potential book buyers preferring to consult customer reviews on Amazon, or sites like Goodreads, before buying. As a result, book review’s appearance in newspapers, journals, and digital media has become less frequent.

WHY BOTHER TEACHING STUDENTS TO WRITE BOOK REVIEWS AT ALL?

Even in the heyday of the book review’s influence, few students who learned the craft of writing a book review became literary critics! The real value of crafting a well-written book review for a student does not lie in their ability to impact book sales. Understanding how to produce a well-written book review helps students to:

●     Engage critically with a text

●     Critically evaluate a text

●     Respond personally to a range of different writing genres

●     Improve their own reading, writing, and thinking skills.

Not to Be Confused with a Book Report!

WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A BOOK REVIEW AND A BOOK REPORT?

While the terms are often used interchangeably, there are clear differences in both the purpose and the format of the two genres. Generally speaking, book reports aim to give a more detailed outline of what occurs in a book. A book report on a work of fiction will tend to give a comprehensive account of the characters, major plot lines, and themes in the book. Book reports are usually written around the K-12 age range, while book reviews tend not to be undertaken by those at the younger end of this age range due to the need for the higher-level critical skills required in writing them. At their highest expression, book reviews are written at the college level and by professional critics.

Learn how to write a book review step by step with our complete guide for students and teachers by familiarizing yourself with the structure and features.

BOOK REVIEW STRUCTURE

ANALYZE Evaluate the book with a critical mind.

THOROUGHNESS The whole is greater than the sum of all its parts. Review the book as a WHOLE.

COMPARE Where appropriate compare to similar texts and genres.

THUMBS UP OR DOWN? You are going to have to inevitably recommend or reject this book to potential readers.

BE CONSISTENT Take a stance and stick with it throughout your review.

FEATURES OF A BOOK REVIEW

PAST TENSE You are writing about a book you have already read.

EMOTIVE LANGUAGE Whatever your stance or opinion be passionate about it. Your audience will thank you for it.

VOICE Both active and passive voice are used in recounts.

A COMPLETE UNIT ON REVIEW AND ANALYSIS OF TEXTS

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This collection of  21 INDEPENDENT TASKS  and  GRAPHIC ORGANIZERS  takes students beyond the hype, special effects and trailers to look at visual literacy from several perspectives offering DEEP LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES by watching a  SERIES, DOCUMENTARY, FILM, and even  VIDEO GAMES.

ELEMENTS OF A BOOK REVIEW

As with any of the writing genres we teach our students, a book review can be helpfully explained in terms of criteria. While there is much to the ‘art’ of writing, there is also, thankfully, a lot of the nuts and bolts that can be listed too. Have students consider the following elements before writing:

●     Title: Often, the title of the book review will correspond to the title of the text itself, but there may also be some examination of the title’s relevance. How does it fit into the purpose of the work as a whole? Does it convey a message or reveal larger themes explored within the work?

●     Author: Within the book review, there may be some discussion of who the author is and what they have written before, especially if it relates to the current work being reviewed. There may be some mention of the author’s style and what they are best known for. If the author has received any awards or prizes, this may also be mentioned within the body of the review.

●     Genre: A book review will identify the genre that the book belongs to, whether fiction or nonfiction, poetry, romance, science-fiction, history etc. The genre will likely tie in, too with who the intended audience for the book is and what the overall purpose of the work is.

●     Book Jacket / Cover: Often, a book’s cover will contain artwork that is worthy of comment. It may contain interesting details related to the text that contribute to, or detract from, the work as a whole.

●     Structure: The book’s structure will often be heavily informed by its genre. Have students examine how the book is organized before writing their review. Does it contain a preface from a guest editor, for example? Is it written in sections or chapters? Does it have a table of contents, index, glossary etc.? While all these details may not make it into the review itself, looking at how the book is structured may reveal some interesting aspects.

●     Publisher and Price: A book review will usually contain details of who publishes the book and its cost. A review will often provide details of where the book is available too.

BOOK REVIEW KEY ELEMENTS

As students read and engage with the work they will review, they will develop a sense of the shape their review will take. This will begin with the summary. Encourage students to take notes during the reading of the work that will help them in writing the summary that will form an essential part of their review. Aspects of the book they may wish to take notes on in a work of fiction may include:

●     Characters: Who are the main characters? What are their motivations? Are they convincingly drawn? Or are they empathetic characters?

●     Themes: What are the main themes of the work? Are there recurring motifs in the work? Is the exploration of the themes deep or surface only?

●     Style: What are the key aspects of the writer’s style? How does it fit into the wider literary world?

●     Plot: What is the story’s main catalyst? What happens in the rising action? What are the story’s subplots? 

A book review will generally begin with a short summary of the work itself. However, it is important not to give too much away, remind students – no spoilers, please! For nonfiction works, this may be a summary of the main arguments of the work, again, without giving too much detail away. In a work of fiction, a book review will often summarise up to the rising action of the piece without going beyond to reveal too much!

The summary should also provide some orientation for the reader. Given the nature of the purpose of a review, it is important that students’ consider their intended audience in the writing of their review. Readers will most likely not have read the book in question and will require some orientation. This is often achieved through introductions to the main characters, themes, primary arguments etc. This will help the reader to gauge whether or not the book is of interest to them.

Once your student has summarized the work, it is time to ‘review’ in earnest. At this point, the student should begin to detail their own opinion of the book. To do this well they should:

i. Make It Personal

Often when teaching essay writing we will talk to our students about the importance of climbing up and down the ladder of abstraction. Just as it is helpful to explore large, more abstract concepts in an essay by bringing it down to Earth, in a book review, it is important that students can relate the characters, themes, ideas etc to their own lives.

Book reviews are meant to be subjective. They are opinion pieces, and opinions grow out of our experiences of life. Encourage students to link the work they are writing about to their own personal life within the body of the review. By making this personal connection to the work, students contextualize their opinions for the readers and help them to understand whether the book will be of interest to them or not in the process.

ii. Make It Universal

Just as it is important to climb down the ladder of abstraction to show how the work relates to individual life, it is important to climb upwards on the ladder too. Students should endeavor to show how the ideas explored in the book relate to the wider world. The may be in the form of the universality of the underlying themes in a work of fiction or, for example, the international implications for arguments expressed in a work of nonfiction.

iii. Support Opinions with Evidence

A book review is a subjective piece of writing by its very nature. However, just because it is subjective does not mean that opinions do not need to be justified. Make sure students understand how to back up their opinions with various forms of evidence, for example, quotations, statistics, and the use of primary and secondary sources.

EDIT AND REVISE YOUR BOOK REVIEW

As with any writing genre, encourage students to polish things up with review and revision at the end. Encourage them to proofread and check for accurate spelling throughout, with particular attention to the author’s name, character names, publisher etc. 

It is good practice too for students to double-check their use of evidence. Are statements supported? Are the statistics used correctly? Are the quotations from the text accurate? Mistakes such as these uncorrected can do great damage to the value of a book review as they can undermine the reader’s confidence in the writer’s judgement.

The discipline of writing book reviews offers students opportunities to develop their writing skills and exercise their critical faculties. Book reviews can be valuable standalone activities or serve as a part of a series of activities engaging with a central text. They can also serve as an effective springboard into later discussion work based on the ideas and issues explored in a particular book. Though the book review does not hold the sway it once did in the mind’s of the reading public, it still serves as an effective teaching tool in our classrooms today.

Teaching Resources

Use our resources and tools to improve your student’s writing skills through proven teaching strategies.

BOOK REVIEW GRAPHIC ORGANIZER (TEMPLATE)

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Book and Movie review writing examples (Student Writing Samples)

Below are a collection of student writing samples of book reviews.  Click on the image to enlarge and explore them in greater detail.  Please take a moment to both read the movie or book review in detail but also the teacher and student guides which highlight some of the key elements of writing a text review

Please understand these student writing samples are not intended to be perfect examples for each age or grade level but a piece of writing for students and teachers to explore together to critically analyze to improve student writing skills and deepen their understanding of book review writing.

We would recommend reading the example either a year above and below, as well as the grade you are currently working with to gain a broader appreciation of this text type .

BOOK REVIEW VIDEO TUTORIALS

OTHER GREAT ARTICLES RELATED TO BOOK REVIEWS

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Good Books for Kids to Read: How to Find Them

• By Sheila Seifert
• August 10, 2019

. My kids liked to choose their own books at the library, but not because they were excited to explore the stacks. They did it because they were afraid they’d have to read a thick, dusty book that I chose, something good for them, much like spinach or asparagus.  

I knew how to find books to read to them , but not books they wanted to read independently. Over the years, I learned to find books they considered good reading. To do this, I had to figure out the genres that most interested them by watching the types of books that held their attention.

I also paid attention to their favorite movies, and categorized them as adventure, fantasy, mystery, or another genre. These clues, when put together with their personalities and their likes and dislikes, helped me find my kids’ genre preferences, which went a long way in guiding me to choose books they wanted to read and motivated them to read .

If you’ve studied your children, you may know some of the genres your kids prefer too. Here’s what you can do with that information. Go to https://www.pluggedin.com/book-reviews . Next to the words “Book Reviews‚” is a drop-down menu beneath the word “Filter.” If you click on the arrow, you can find a specific genre that your child likes to read. Click on it and on the “Submit” button to receive a list of books that have been reviewed in that genre. By glancing through the reviews, you’ll be able to tell fairly quickly whether the book is appropriate for your child’s age, stage or interests.

If that sounds too daunting, I’ve listed a number of books by their genres as a place for you to begin

Good books for kids: 4- to 7-year-old readers

Read these book reviews for parents, to verify that a book is good for your kids. 

Adventure books

The Bears on Hemlock Mountain Review  

Jonathan wonders if there might be bears on Hemlock Mountain as he travels over it to borrow a pot for his Ma. If your kids read this book, you can get parent-child  discussion questions  to talk with them about it.

The Legend of the 10-Gallon Sam and the Perilous Mine Review  

Sam learns a valuable lesson about pride when he receives a new ten-gallon hat, in this allegory about Samson. If your kids read this book, you can get parent-child  discussion questions  to talk with them about it.

Animal stories

The Bravest Dog Ever: The True Story of Balto Review  

Balto was the lead dog of one of the 21 brave dogsled teams who brought diphtheria medicine to Nome, Alaska. If your kids read this book, you can get parent-child  discussion questions  to talk with them about it.

Ot ter B Kind

Kids can learn more about the godly trait of kindness in this delightful “Otter B” book, which is the second in the “Otter B” series.

Even more animal stories:

• The Berenstain Bears Get the Job Done!
• Frog and Toad Together
• Frog and Toad Are Friends
• Henry and Mudge: The First Book Review  
• Hi! Fly Guy
•   Otter B Honest
• Otter B Brave
• Otter B Trustworthy
• Otter B Taking Turns
• Otter B Helpful
• Poppleton in Winter

Contemporary books

First Day Jitters Review  

Sarah is nervous because she’s ready to begin classes at her new school. If your kids read this book, you can get parent-child  discussion questions  to talk with them about it.

Freckle Juice Review  

Andrew wishes he had freckles like Nicky. Then a classmate offers him a a freckle-producing drink. If your kids read this book, you can get parent-child  discussion questions  to talk with them about it.

Historical fiction books

Voyage With the Vikings  

Cousins Patrick and Beth travel back in time to Viking-occupied Greenland and encounter a less-than-friendly Viking.  If your kids read this book, you can get parent-child  discussion questions  to talk with them about it.

Don’t Forget Winona  

Winona and her family move west by traveling on Route 66. If your kids read this book, you can get parent-child  discussion questions  to talk with them about it.

Even more historical stories:

• The Beginner’s Bible: David and the Giant

Humor books

Amelia Bedelia

Amelia Bedelia takes her employers’ instructions literally, oblivious to the Rogers’ true intentions. If your kids read this book, you can get parent-child  discussion questions  to talk with them about it.

Cowgirl Kate and Cocoa

Kate gets a cow horse named Cocoa. The two become fast friends. If your kids read this book, you can get parent-child  discussion questions  to talk with them about it.

Mystery books

Nate the Great

When Annie’s painting goes missing, she calls detective Nate the Great to discover the reason. If your kids read this book, you can get parent-child  discussion questions  to talk with them about it.

The Crazy Christmas Angel Mystery

Eric can’t believe it when his neighbor’s Christmas angel comes to life. If your kids read this book, you can get parent-child  discussion questions  to talk with them about it.

Good books for kids: 8- to 11-year-olds

Bible Kidventures: Stories of Danger and Courage

Kids remain engaged as you read them four Bible stories in this choose-your-own Kidventure. If your kids read this book, you can get parent-child  discussion questions  to talk with them about it.

This gripping story places a boy and his dog against an impossible task. If your kids read this book, you can get parent-child  discussion questions  to talk with them about it.

Even more adventure stories:

• By the Great Horn Spoon!
• Bible Kidventures New Testament Stories
• Bible Kidventures Old Testament Stories

When a long-missing bear named C.J. sends a distress call, Growly, a bear cub, vows to rescue him. If your kids read this book, you can get parent-child discussion questions  to talk with them about it.

Tumtum and Nutmeg

Mice Tumtum and Nutmeg protect the children of Rose Cottage from their absent-minded dad’s neglect. If your kids read this book, you can get parent-child discussion questions  to talk with them about it.

Even animal stories:

• Squirreled Away 

Classic books

Little Britches: Father and I Were Ranchers

A young boy and his father start life on the Colorado frontier. If your kids read this book, you can get parent-child  discussion questions  to talk with them about it.

Treasure Island

When sea captain Billy Bones dies at an Inn, young Jim finds the pirate’s map and embarks on a perilous journey. If your kids read this book, you can get parent-child  discussion questions  to talk with them about it.

Even more classic stories:

• Anne of Green Gables
• Black Beauty
• Little House in the Big Woods
• Little House on the Prairie

Opening Moves

Councilman Philip Glossman and his evil boss, Regis Blackgaard, scheme against Whit in the town of Odyssey. If your kids read this book, you can get parent-child  discussion questions  to talk with them about it.

Can one word change an entire town? Nick Allen is going to find out, and he’s using the word frindle to do it. If your kids read this book, you can get parent-child  discussion questions  to talk with them about it.

Even more contemporary stories:

• Cross Check
• The World According to Humphrey

Fantasy books

The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe

Four siblings find their way into a magical land in need of deliverance from evil. If your kids read this book, you can get parent-child  discussion questions  to talk with them about it.

The Mouse With the Question Mark Tail

A tiny mouse travels around Buckingham Palace in search of answers. If your kids read this book, you can get parent-child  discussion questions  to talk with them about it.

Even more fantasy stories:

• Captain Absolutely
• Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland
• Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
• The Chocolate Touch
• The Mad Dash for Cash
• “The Wilderking” series No. 1: The Bark of the Bog Owl
• “The Wilderking” series No. 2: The Secret of the Swamp King

• #23 – Terror in the Tunnel

Beth and Patrick travel with Abraham Lincoln to his first inauguration, but a band of assassins plot his demise. If your kids read this book, you can get parent-child  discussion questions  to talk with them about it.

Raiders From the Sea

Briana O’Toole and her brother are kidnapped by Viking marauders. Will God help them escape? If your kids read this book, you can get parent-child  discussion questions  to talk with them about it.

Even more historical fiction stories:

• #2 – Attack at the Arena   
• #3 – Peril in the Palace    
• #4 – Revenge of the Red Knight    
• #5 – Showdown With the Shepherd    
• #6 – Problems in Plymouth
• #7 – Secret of the Prince’s Tomb
• #8 – Battle for Cannibal Island
• #9 – Escape to the Hiding Place
• #10 – Challenge on the Hill of Fire
• #11 – Hunt for the Devil’s Dragon
• #12 – Danger on a Silent Night
• #13 – The Redcoats Are Coming
• #14 – Captured on the High Seas
• #15 – Surprise at Yorktown
• #16 – Doomsday in Pompeii
• #17 – In Fear of the Spear
• #18 – Trouble on the Orphan Train
• #19 – Light in the Lion’s Den
• #20 – Inferno in Tokyo
• #21 – Madman in Manhattan
• #22 – Freedom at the Falls
• The Boxcar Children
• A Lion to Guard Us
• Sarah, Plain and Tall
• Strawberry Girl
• The Wheel on the School

Young Whit & the Traitor’s Treasure

Confederate gold has been missing since the end of the Civil War. Did one of Johnny’s ancestors steal it? If your kids read this book, you can get parent-child  discussion questions  to talk with them about it.

Theodore Boone: Kid Lawyer

Theo has plans of being a lawyer and must defend himself much earlier than expected.  If your kids read this book, you can get parent-child  discussion questions  to talk with them about it.

Even more mystery stories:

• Jones & Parker Case Files
• Young Whit & The Shroud of Secrecy

Good books for kids: 12- to 14-year-olds

Read these book reviews for parents, to verify that a book is good for your kids.

The Great Turkey Walk

In 1860, 15-year-old Simon Green tries to herd turkeys 1,000 miles to sell them out West in Denver. If your kids read this book, you can get parent-child  discussion questions  to talk with them about it.

Jump Into the Sky

A young African-American named Levi travels through the Jim Crow South looking for his father. If your kids read this book, you can get parent-child  discussion questions  to talk with them about it.

• My Side of the Mountain
• The Princess and the Goblin

Biography/Diary books

Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl

Anne Frank, a Jewish girl, kept a diary of her experiences in  the Netherlands, after the Nazis took control during World War II. If your kids read this book, you can get parent-child discussion questions  to talk with them about it.

The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind

William Kamkwamba is a young man from Malawi, a small nation in southeastern Africa, doesn’t let hard times get him down. If your kids read this book, you can get parent-child  discussion questions  to talk with them about it.

Even more biography/diary stories:

• Charles Mulli: We are family

Oliver Twist

An orphan boy becomes a pickpocket in London and eventually finds his way home. If your kid reads this book, you can get parent-child  discussion questions  to talk with your children about it.

Carry on Mr. Bowditch

Nathaniel Bowditch grows up in the sailing community of Salem. If your kid reads this book, you can get parent-child  discussion questions  to talk with your children about it.

• Call It Courage
• Hans Brinker, or the Silver Skates
• The Jungle Book: Mowgli’s Story

Pitcher’s Duel

Chip pitches in the state tournament while he also fights to defend his coach. If your kids read this book, you can get parent-child  discussion questions  to talk with them about it.

The Christy Miller Collection_Volume 1

Nathaniel Bowditch grows up in the sailing community of Salem. If your kids read this book, you can get parent-child  discussion questions  to talk with them about it.

• Asking for Trouble
• Losers, Inc.

The Fellowship of the Ring

Nine unlikely travel companions must journey to Mt. Doom and destroy Sauron’s enchanted ring. If your kids read this book, you can get parent-child  discussion questions  to talk with them about it.

Ki ngdom’s Dawn

An allegory that includes knights and medieval battles that teach about God and His kingdom. If your kids read this book, you can get parent-child discussion questions  to talk with them about it.

• The Dark Is Rising

Elijah of Buxton

Elijah is the first free-born child of the runaway slave community of Buxton in Canada. As he helps a friend, he faces the horrors of slavery. If your kids read this book, you can get parent-child  discussion questions  to talk with them about it.

Little Women

The March sisters struggle to improve themselves daily by following the advice of their parents learning how to love each other better. If your kids read this book, you can get parent-child discussion questions to talk with them about it.

• The Door in the Wall
• Hattie Big Sky
• Journey to Jo’burg
• Life Behind the Wall
• The Marus Manuscripts: Books 1-3
• The Marus Manuscripts: Books 4-6
• Miracles on Maple Hill
• Race for Freedom
• Snow Treasure

Good books for kids: Teens

Read these book reviews for parents, to verify that a book is good for your older kids to read. If your teens read one of these books, you can get discussion questions  to talk with them about it.  

Classic stories

• 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea
• The Bronze Bow
• Les Miserables
• Pilgrim’s Progress
• The Scarlet Pimpernel
• A Tale of Two Cities
• To Kill a Mockingbird
• Uncle Tom’s Cabin

Creative Nonfiction

• Roughing It
• Among the Hidden
• The Princess Bride

Historical fiction

• Across Five Aprils
• The Hiding Place
• Iqbal: A Novel

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Books for Pre-K and Elementary School Grades

Find literature kids age 4 to 8 will love.

Reading Middle Grade

Books for Kids and Grown Ups

Books for 8th Graders Who Don’t Like to Read

Kids who profess to hate reading can befuddle parents and educators who LOVE reading (what do you mean “reading is boring?!), but it’s the way they feel. While we can’t make every child a voracious reader , we can help them occasionally find an enjoyable read. That’s the goal of this list of books for 8th graders who hate reading. Since there’s no one-size-fits-all for recommending books, I’ve collected high-interest books for kids with different interests and reading preferences. Hopefully, this is a great jump-off point for you when recommending books for 8th graders who don’t like to read.

Want a printable version?  Join  our Patreon community  to get access to printable versions of all our posts.

Great Books for 8th Graders Who Don’t Like to Read

Here are some fast-paced, mostly short, high-interest books for 8th graders who don’t like to read:

If They Like Realistic Fiction

Published: January 24, 2023

After his stepdad goes to jail for violating his parole and hitting his mom, Trev feels like he needs to get bigger and stronger to protect them when his stepdad is released. But is fighting back the best way? This is a slim, poignant look at what life is like for some kids and why it’s easy to feel like throwing hands is the most effective way to stay safe. The author shows that with community and education, there can be more far-reaching positive effects.

The Crossover

Published: March 18, 2014

This is an utterly moving verse novel about brothers, basketball, and family. It flies by so quickly and has such an engaging writing style.

Published:  June 28, 2022

Four eighth-grade buddies and a new tag-along (whom they’re reluctant to include) discover a posh underground bunker in the wake of a hurricane in their small town. CJ, Evan, Jason, Mitchell, and Ricky quickly begin to hang out at the fort for different reasons. One of the boys is escaping an abusive step-parent, another is dodging his big brother and his bully of a friend, yet another loves to study there, while one just wants to stop hiding the hideout from his new girlfriend. When things get intense for the boys, their safe space becomes at risk of exposure — but maybe that’s the only way they can stay safe? This is a realistic, suspense-filled, and heartwarming middle grade book about male friendships, history, and domestic violence.

Published:  August 30, 2016

This book is about Castle Crenshaw (aka Ghost), who has PTSD from a dad who tried to fire a gun at him as a child. When he meets Coach and the rest of the team, he can finally harness his talent as a sprinter and stop running away from his problems. I love how powerful these kids’ stories are (in the  Track  series) and that they’re super short — this one is only 185 pages long.

For Romance Fans

Bubble Trouble

Published: July 18, 2023

Since her mom died during the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s been just Chloe and her dad. She worries about their finances, so when she has the chance to go on a school trip to Broadway, she’s hesitant to tell him. On a good note, there’s a boy she maybe likes? He works at a boba tea place in her neighborhood, and things are going well until an altercation at the shop ends with Chloe being banned from the boba tea place. What unfolds is a string of chaotic, surprising, and satisfying events, including a boba-making business, two lost lovers reuniting, and a new furry family member. Bubble Trouble  is a lighthearted, feel-good middle grade romance — the exact kind constantly sought out by kids in this age group.

Lunar New Year Love Story

Published: January 9, 2024

The art in this book about a girl with a tortured family history where love is concerned is phenomenal, and it is also a sweet YA romance. I loved the plot and found it engaging despite how long this book is. It’s my first time reading this author, so if you love his work, you’ll probably enjoy this. Eighth grade readers who love romance, fantasy, and the graphic novel format will enjoy this book as it tackles several important themes (parental abandonment, identity, alcoholism) sensitively.

Keeping Pace

Published: April 9, 2024

This 5-star romance about two overachieving rivals is perfect for tweens and young teens. Grace feels like being smart is all she has. She doesn’t seem to good at social situations and can’t figure out fashion and styling like her friends. So she holds on to book smarts and finds worth in her grades — and in competing with her former best friend, Jonah. Their friendship exploded after his dad’s sudden illness and death. Now, it’s the end of 8th grade, and Jonah’s won the coveted top scholar spot, leaving Grace with no raison d’etre. She decides to compete in a half marathon that she finds out Jonah is training for, so she has one last chance to beat him, and she ends up learning a lot about what really matters in life. The romance is sweet and swoony, and Grace and Jonah’s dialogue is so authentic and left me an adult with heart eyes while feeling age-appropriate.

If They Like Mysteries, Thrillers & True Crime

A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder

Published: February 4, 2020

British teen Pippa Fitz-Amobi has decided to do her senior capstone project on a local murder case that was closed 5 years ago. Five years ago, high schooler Andie Bell went missing, and her boyfriend Sal Singh sent his father a text admitting to the crime, after which he was found in what seemed like an apparent suicide. But Pip doesn’t buy it. With the help of Sal’s younger brother, Ravi, she investigates the events surrounding Andie’s disappearance and Sal’s murder. This is a thrilling teen murder mystery free of language and sexual content, with a clever, likable protagonist. I’d feel comfortable handing this to readers 13 and up.

The Liars Society

Published: February 6, 2024

Weatherby is a new kid to the Boston School on a sailing scholarship: Old school phone booths, friends with kids who go to the country club, a famed school secret society… and a boy, Jack, who seems to hate her guts. When Jack, Weatherby and three of their friends are contacted via an anonymous message, they think they’re getting invited to the famed Liars Society, only to unravel a deep secret about the Hunt family that involves Weatherby. Plenty of of character setup and worldbuilding make for a slightly slower start but Gerber’s writing is engaging as always and the second half of the book is wonderfully fast-paced. Middle schoolers looking for a tightly plotted mystery with characters to root for will love this one.

Averil Offline

Published: February 13, 2024

Averil’s mom and several parents of kids in her school and neighborhood use an app called Ruby Slippers to track their kids’ location, request video and photos from them on demand, and generally monitor their behavior and actions all day and Averil and her classmate Max are sick of it. Especially when they find out that the app will be updated soon to let parents remotely turn on their kids’ cameras at will. Both kids make a plot to ditch a camping trip and find the original app developer, Rider Wollybeck, in hopes of asking him to rescind the update. This hijinks-filled story is reminiscent of classic stories where kids run away to save the day as Max and Averil stay on their town’s college campus, eating at the cafeteria and sleeping in the library for the 2-3 days needed to accomplish their plan. I love the gentle mystery, STEM angle, and theme of childhood autonomy this book explores. I think it has major kid appeal — and it’s only 208 pages long!

For Nonfiction Fans

Born a Crime (Young Readers Edition)

Published: April 9, 2019

Trevor Noah’s life so far has been an adventure. This book is a brilliant way to tell his story and that of his mother, from his years as a mischief-making child to his woes in the love department and then his survival of abuse at home. Any 8th grader who loves Trevor Noah, comedy, and memoirs will enjoy this young readers’ adaptation.

If They Enjoy Graphic Novels & Memoirs

Published: August 2, 2022

Five different students have yet to complete their community service for a school offense and must explain why (as well as what they did) to their principal. Thus, these five seemingly socially invisible kids each share from their perspectives how they got in trouble — and readers are definitely in for a ride. There’s George, the smart kid who is Latino but can’t speak Spanish; Sara, the loner; Dayara, the tough kid, Miguel, the baseball player; and Nico, the rich kid. The story is told in Spanish and English. Invisible  is a powerful, heartwarming graphic novel about immigration, homelessness, racism, and finding your tribe.

Dragon Hoops

Published: March 17, 2020

But Gene doesn’t get sports. As a kid, his friends called him “Stick” and every basketball game he played ended in pain. He lost interest in basketball long ago, but at the high school where he now teaches, it’s all anyone can talk about. The men’s varsity team, the Dragons, is having a phenomenal season that’s been decades in the making. Each victory brings them closer to their ultimate goal: the California State Championships. Once Gene gets to know these young all-stars, he realizes that their story is just as thrilling as anything he’s seen on a comic book page. He knows he has to follow this epic to its end. What he doesn’t know yet is that this season is not only going to change the Dragons’s lives, but his own life as well.

For Survival & Dystopia Fans

Published: January 12, 2021

Alone  is Megan E. Freeman’s debut survival middle-grade novel in verse. It follows 12-year-old Maddie, who gets abandoned by some twist of fate when her entire town is mysteriously evacuated. Left alone with no human in sight, she bonds with a Rottweiler named George, who is one of many abandoned pets. Soon after, they lose power and then water, and Maddie has to fend for herself using a variety of ingenious means and the town resources at her disposal, including an empty library, grocery store, neighbors’ homes — you get the picture. This is a well-written middle-grade survival novel with a tenacious protagonist and engaging plot. I would definitely recommend this to fans of adventure and survival stories, as well as those who enjoy a good verse novel.

The Hunger Games

Published: October 1, 2024

I loved following Katniss, Peeta, and Gale through all three books in this series. It’s set in a dystopian world ruled by The Capitol. Each year, The Hunger Games are held where one raffle-drawn contestant from each of the surrounding poorer districts competes (fights through life-threatening challenges) to win a prize. The only problem is that losing means death. Book one kicks off with 16-year-old Katniss volunteering to take her little sister’s place in the Games. I was HOOKED to this book and the other two in the series when I read it.

Published: May 2, 2011

Beatrice Prior’s society is divided into five factions—Candor (the honest), Abnegation (the selfless), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful), and Erudite (the intelligent). Beatrice must choose between staying with her Abnegation family and transferring factions. Her choice will shock her community and herself. But the newly christened Tris also has a secret, one she’s determined to keep hidden, because in this world, what makes you different makes you dangerous.

Just Keep Walking

Published: March 5, 2024

Jo is still reeling from her parents’ divorce and her father’s decision to leave them for his girlfriend and her family. To prove that she and her mom can handle life without him, Jo and her mom embark on the 100-mile Lake Superior hike with their backpacks, dehydrated food, tents, and a book (for Jo). As the two weather hilly terrain, minor injuries, wild animals, new friendships, disappointments, and adverse weather, they find the inner strength to move on and to forgive Tim, Jo’s father. I really enjoyed this book. It made me want to pack up and go hiking or camping. Downing writes authentically from personal experience about the highs and mishaps of the outdoors, celebrating the solitude, inner strength, and perseverance that being on a hike can foster. Jo’s emotional struggles and humor bring a richness and levity that make this one an enjoyable pageturner.

There they are: 17 books to entice 8th graders who say they don’t like to read. Which other books do you recommend for this group of kids? I’d love to know.

More Books for 8th Graders

• Romance books for 8th graders
• Best books for 8th graders
• Realistic fiction for 8th graders

Don't Forget to Share!

• About Afoma Umesi

Afoma Umesi is the founder and editor of Reading Middle Grade where she curates book lists and writes book reviews for kids of all ages. Her favorite genre to read is contemporary realistic fiction and she'll never say no to a graphic novel.

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10 underrated kids books from the 80s that are worth reading today.

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1 Of The Most Popular YA Book Series Of The 80s Has A Surprising Backstory

10 classic kids books from the 90s that are still worth reading, 8 incredible sci-fi books that are more science than fiction.

• Homecoming by Cynthia Voigt is the start of the Tillerman Cycle and a precursor to the award-winning Dicey's Song.
• Locked in Time by Lois Duncan is a spooky, supernatural tale for young adult readers that serves as a gateway to horror.
• The Girls of Canby Hall by Emily Chase is a lesser-known series about teenage friends attending a prestigious boarding school.

The influence of the most beloved classic children's and YA books of the 1980s has lived on into the present time, but t here are a few truly underrated books of the '80s that deserve to be read today. Most people know the classic children's books of the 1980s , such as Matilda, Hatchet , or the Ramona Quimby books. Other series, such as the Sweet Valley High series, weren't literary juggernauts but were wildly popular nonetheless.

While it's true that some once-popular 1980s kids' books have aged poorly , there are many more from the decade that haven't gotten their proper due. Sometimes it's because they were lesser-known books from the huge names of the era, their light overshadowed by the authors' truly iconic works. At other times, they were books from authors who didn't quite reach the heights of prestige of their contemporaries. Either way, the books on this list are 1980s books for kids of all ages that are well worth a read today.

It's not rare for pulpy book series to be handled by multiple writers, but one 1980s YA series took the idea to the extreme & found success doing it.

10 The Saddle Club

Bonnie bryant.

Everyone knew at least one horse girl in school; perhaps those reading this were horse girls themselves. There's something about living horses that comes as a rite of passage for certain girls , and Bonnie Bryant's The Saddle Club series knows this. Like many long-running children's and teen book series of that era, The Saddle Club had several different ghostwriters writing it over the years, though Bryant wrote over 100 of the books herself.

The Saddle Club series had a simple premise. Three best friends - Carole, Stevie, and Lisa - grow up together loving horses and riding, and they encounter all the usual problems that preteen and young teen girls have. Naturally, it's through their unshakable friendship and love of horses that their problems are resolved while teaching the reader about horses because, after all, horses solve everything. They may be simple and sweet, but they make the perfect stories for preteens, especially fellow horse girls.

9 Homecoming

Cynthia voigt.

Cynthia Voigt was and is a prolific writer of children's and YA literature, with her gaining particular praise for her Tillerman Cycle series. While the second story in the Tillerman Cycle, Dicey's Song , is the one that tends to get the most recognition (and won the Newbery in 1983) the first book, Homecoming , deserves just as much praise. It's a long book at well over 400 pages, but worth the read.

Homecoming kicks off the story of the Tillerman children, who are abandoned by their mother in a shopping mall on their way to visit their Aunt Cilla. As the oldest, 13-year-old Dicey decides to continue on their journey and find their aunt in the first half of the book while the second details what happens after they find her. The book does a great job of underscoring Dicey's resilience and the necessity of growing up fast. Any kids who find themselves having to become adults too soon or dealing with neglectful parents will find much to relate to in Homecoming .

8 Locked in Time

Lois duncan.

Lois Duncan and her books were beloved by teenagers in the 80s and 90s (and beyond), with her focus on suspense, thrillers, and Gothic horror making her a queen of supernatural stories for young people. Multiple books by Duncan have been adapted as movies, such as Summer of Fear , which Wes Craven adapted in 1978. Her most well-known work, thanks to the movies it spawned, is I Know What You Did Last Summer .

Though Locked in Time is not one of Duncan's best-known novels, it's an underrated supernatural gem in her bibliography. It tells the story of teenager Nore Roberts, who is still grieving the death of her mother when she leaves boarding school and travels to Louisiana to visit her dad and his new bride. She soon notices that things are off with her new family - they never age and haven't for generations. It's a spooky read steeped in the Gothic South. A recent 2011 republish updated parts of it for a modern audience, making it just as fun and relevant for modern teens as it was in the '80s and '90s.

The 1990s saw the publication of enduring works of literature that remain classics to this day based on their popularity and notoriety.

7 Girls of Canby Hall

Emily chase.

Emily Chase wasn't quite as well-known as other contemporaries of her era, but her books are beloved by those who have read them. That said, the reason for her not being quite as well known is because she doesn't exist. Instead, "Emily Chase" was a pseudonym used by a number of writers to ghostwrite "Emily Chase's" most famous series, The Girls of Canby Hall.

The Girls of Canby Hall uses the usual trappings of that era: a group of teen friends and the trials and tribulations they face. The girls are students at a private boarding school, the titular Canby Hall. At first, Shelley, Faith, and Dana butt heads as roommates due to their different personalities. They eventually become best friends and overcome challenges together while growing up. The books are simple and not always deep, but the characterization and most of the writing still hold up today , making for stories that are still an entertaining read for young teens.

Stephen Cosgrove

Stephen Cosgrove's work was beloved by children of the '70s and '80s, particularly for his Serendipity series. Cosgrove was strongly influenced by Aesop's Fables and nature, and his books all tend to center around animal protagonists. Some of those animals are entirely fictional creatures, such as Morgan the unicorn and Serendipity the dragon, while others are real animals, like mice and bears.

One of those real creatures is Trapper, a baby harp seal whose life is upended when a strange monster (spoilers: it's a human) captures all the other seals. As with many Stephen Cosgrove books, there is a strong theme of environmental responsibility told in a gentle way. In the end, of course, little Trapper teaches the human a valuable lesson about not being greedy and respecting nature. It's geared toward younger readers, but Trapper and the entire Serendipity series are great starter books to get kids thinking about responsibility, conscientiousness, and the creatures we interact with.

5 The Dollhouse Murders

Betty ren wright.

The 1980s were a time ripe with suspense and horror books for YA readers, especially teen girls, and Betty Ren Wright was right in the thick of it. While other writers leaned more into the realm of psychological thriller or Gothic suspense, Wright firmly planted her flag in the supernatural, with most of her books for young adults revolving around ghosts and spirits. Though she wasn't a big award winner, her ghost stories were well-loved and served as the gateway for many young readers to spookier stuff.

Of her books, The Dollhouse Murders is one of her better known. Teenager Amy finds an old dollhouse in her aunt's house that is the exact replica of the house itself. It soon exhibits a strange phenomenon of the dolls moving by themselves, reenacting the horrific murder of Amy's great-grandparents decades before. Amy, her intellectually disabled sister, Louann, and her best friend, Ellen, become obsessed with solving the murder and laying the spirits of their family members to rest. Wright pulls no punches: The Dollhouse Murders is taut and suspenseful, threaded through with familial drama and relationships.

4 Just As Long As We're Together

Few writers are comparable to Judy Blume, who is renowned and beloved for her classic children's and young adult books. The author of 30 books ranging from children's books to books for adults, Judy Blume is about as celebrated as they come, winning almost 100 awards, including three lifetime achievement awards, being named to the Library of Congress' Living Legends list, and being awarded the National Book Foundation's Distinguished Contribution to American Letters Medal.

While Are You There, God? It's Me, Margaret is undoubtedly her most famous book among many famous books, Just As Long As We're Together holds up against any of them. The companion piece to the later book Here's to You, Rachel Robinson , Just As Long As We're Together establishes the friendship between Rachel and narrator Stephanie Hirsch. Thirteen-year-old Stephanie's life is thrown into turmoil when her parents separate, she moves to a new school, her period starts, and she discovers boys. The challenges she deals with are ones that any young teen can understand.

3 Wait Till Helen Comes

Mary downing hahn.

Like other writers on this list, Mary Downing Hahn is known for her supernatural and gothic works of fiction. Hahn is a prolific writer who is still publishing well into her 80s; her most recent book, The Ghost of Fulton Arms , was published just this year. Her work has been awarded at the state and national level thanks to her blending of the supernatural with deeper, darker human themes. Wait Till Helen Comes is one of her most haunting stories – literally and figuratively.

Twelve-year-old Molly and her younger brother Michael suddenly find themselves thrust into an uncomfortable new life when their mother, Jean, remarries Dave. Dave's seven-year-old daughter, Heather, resents her new stepsiblings and soon turns to Helen, the spirit of a young girl she befriends. Helen starts carrying out malicious acts against Molly and Michael, but Molly soon discovers the tortured ghost may have sinister intentions for Heather. The story gets quite dark as it also grapples with themes of death, guilt, and suicide, making it a gripping and poignant read.

2 Nothing's Fair in Fifth Grade

Barthe declements.

Over her multi-decade career, Barthe DeClements has written over a dozen books for young readers. Like Emily Chase, she didn't quite reach the heights of other children's authors of the era, but her books still won several awards. Most were aimed squarely at middle-grade readers and the pre-teen years, and her stories are still in publication today.

Of her stories, Nothing's Fair in Fifth Grade is arguably her most celebrated and well-loved book. Published in 1981, it's also her first. The story follows young Elsie, who is awkward and overweight, tries to fit in with her fifth-grade peers. Her awkwardness and troubled home life, however, create a challenging journey to find acceptance. Like others on this list, Nothing's Fair in Fifth Grade has recently gotten an update, but the themes of bullying, being ostracized, and traumatic family problems are timeless. Any kid who feels awkward, and even those who don't, can see a bit of themselves in Elsie.

1 Taming the Star Runner

S.e. hinton.

S.E. Hinton put herself on the map in the late 60s with the classic book The Outsiders , and her novels after that were all equally celebrated. Her last young adult novel, Taming the Star Runner , doesn't have nearly the recognition of her previous YA books, which is also why it's the only one that has never been adapted as a movie. Even so, Taming the Star Runner is still well worth a read.

The 1988 book follows 16-year-old Travis, whose borderline delinquent ways get him sent to live with his uncle in rural Oklahoma. He gets a job at a nearby horse ranch and falls for an older, more emotionally mature young woman. While there, Travis figures some things out about his abusive home life and himself in the only one of Hinton's books to be written in the third person. It's a quietly simple coming-of-age story, sharing a number of the same themes as The Outsiders , but with the more layered, mature perspective that only time can provide.