Hi all! So, I was originally toying around with the idea of composing a post about making meaning in Independent Reading by adding a social component. I still might dive deep into that idea in the new year, but I just kept coming back to this original thought, and, well, I couldn't resist.
I thought that, since we're already winding down to the end of 2019 (and the 2010s in general, yeesh!), that I'd pull together a list of my top 10 books that I believe should be in the hands of all middle schoolers. These are books that I have encountered through my own personal experience (and I am always looking to add more to that). At the very least, I have read all of the books on this list. I've also taught many of them, and, in some cases, I've had these books taught to me.
But first: parameters. This list is not constructed in any particular order. The first post is not the book I consider "best" or vice versa. I maintain that all of the books included on this list are valuable and engaging in their own specific way.
Additionally, going alongside my school's outline, I consider a "Middle Schooler" a student who is in the 5th-8th Grade. Not that these books cannot (and should not) be enjoyed by anyone outside of that rigid mold, just that this group, these four years, is where my mind started when I was putting together this list.
That being said, I will include, alongside my overview, a tag of where I think each book falls in terms of initial appeal (is it more suited towards younger students, or are there some themes that maybe would be better broached by older students?). I'll also provide my experience with the book, when I first read it, my reaction or the reaction of my students (if applicable) and so forth.
One last thing I would like to mention before getting right down to it: while I recommend previewing any book before giving it to your child or a student to read, I grew up with near unlimited access to any material I found interesting, and I believe that this freedom was critical in fostering my love of literature. Some of my fondest childhood memories are going to Borders or our local library and having (near) free run of the place. My parents always knew what I was reading, and they stepped in if a book was outright inappropriate for my age, but we really never bumped up against the lines of what I was "allowed" to read. Comic books and graphic novels? Sure. Agatha Christie? Why not? Fairytale books that were technically aimed at children four or five years younger than I was at the time? Go for it.
My point is, I was raised in an environment where reading was never synonymous with rules. And, because of that, I learned to and continue to love reading so much that it's a personal aspiration of mine to someday live in a library. Not a house "with" a library; a home that effectively "is" a library.
All right, now that all that's out of the way, let's get started!
1. Wonder, by R.J. Palacio
Well, we're starting off with a high note!
"Wonder" is the critically acclaimed and universally praised story of Auggie Pullman, a wise, funny, and smart Fifth Grade student with Treacher Collins Syndrome, as he transitions from home to mainstream schooling. What can I say about "Wonder" that hasn't already been covered? It doesn't neglect anyone's perspective. It is grounded and real. It shows the life you stand to lead by choosing (or not choosing) "kind." It is a must read for anyone age 10 and up.
In BIS, our 5th Grade students read "Wonder" as one of their core novels. This is exceptionally special, not only because such a "wonder"ful book is being spread to all of our students, but because it also provides the basis for a shared experience that transcends all grades within our school. Every kid in BIS has read "Wonder" (unless they transferred in after 5th Grade, in which case the book is still available in so many of our classroom libraries). And, more importantly, so many of the students I talk to remember "Wonder." I have 8th Graders who can name every beat of the plot, who were so excited when they learned there was going to be a theatrical adaption, and who are genuinely thrilled to sit down and have a conversation with a 5th Grader about a story they both share. The story of "Wonder" is spectacular, and being able to build a connection between our oldest and youngest grades (and everyone in between) is truly wonderful.
2. Confessions of an Imaginary Friend, by Michelle Cuevas
This is by far my favorite book that I have had the pleasure to teach. Our main character, Jacques Papier, starts off the book as a mildly dissatisfied (and slightly dramatic) 8 year old. Why is he dissatisfied, you ask? Well, because nobody notices him, of course! Or, as Jacques will tell you, nobody, beyond his Mother, his Father, and his twin sister Fleur, notices him. That all changes when he meets a Roller-Skating Cowgirl one day in the park; the two strike up a fast friendship, but Jacques life is throw into further disarray when, spoiler alert, the Cowgirl tells him that there's a very good reason Jacques is so frequently ignored: he's actually Fleur's imaginary friend, not her twin brother. What follows is the most heartfelt journey or personal identity and worth, what it means to love and lose someone, and the boundaries between "real" and "unreal."
I've taught this book several times, and I still get misty eyed every time I reach the end with my class. This book is geared more towards younger readers (5th and 6th Grade), but it's so entertainingly written and includes a surprisingly complex vocabulary that would appeal to anyone older (I myself am Exhibit A in this scenario). I also really appreciate that this book doesn't talk down to its readers while still maintaining a totally believable atmosphere of childlike wonder. Jacques himself has a surprisingly deep and complex character arc, and the book is loaded down with riveting themes just waiting to be explored.
3. A Long Walk to Water, by Linda Sue Park
"A Long Walk to Water" is the most interesting blend of fiction and nonfiction that I've ever come across in a YA novel. Recounting the harrowing story of real-life Salva Dut, one of the "Lost Boys" of South Sudan, the story takes place across two parallel timelines: one in the 1980s and 90s during the Second Sudanese Civil War, and one in Southern Sudan circa 2008. Split between Salva's struggle to survive and find his family and the fictional Nya's day-to-day duties in a life where access to clean water is limited, this novel presents challenges, hardship, and strife against the backdrop of community, perseverance, and a want and willingness to make things better than they are.
As soon as a reader of "A Long Walk to Water" realizes that Salva's journey really happened, they're absolutely hooked. It can be jarring, to say the least, to come to terms with the perils Salva faced day-to-day for years after effectively being thrown out into the wild on his own. For that reason, I would recommend presenting this book to older readers (7th and 8th Grade). This book also serves as an amazing entry point into the world of activism, as Salva Dut is still quite active with his charity, Water for South Sudan.
4. Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief (Percy Jackson Series), by Rick Riordan
Greek mythology, high action, and well-rounded, emotionally-developed characters? What more can you ask for? To be honest, I didn't expect to like Percy Jackson as much as I did. I suppose that's partly due to my impression of the book being colored by the movie adaptation (which I saw first), and, even though I'm honestly usually pretty split in the movie vs. book category, I have to say, with this story, it's no contest. The book's better. Way better. Percy feels like a genuine, good-natured kid; he's not a flat and boringly perfect "hero," nor is he stuffed to the brim with hashtag "relatable" traits. Percy is a kid who's forced to handle a lot more than any 12 year old should be asked to take on, and, honestly, that's what resonated with me above all else.
Fighting Minotaurs and tracking down stolen lightning bolts may not be stuff a real life kid's likely to contend with, but feelings over missing parents, struggling in school, and wanting to find a place where you can just relax and fit in definitely are. "Percy Jackson" doesn't dismiss these issues as secondary, nor does it dwell on them to the point of obsession. At the end of the day, Percy may be the son of a Greek God (read the book to find out which one), but he's still just a kid doing his best. And that's a truly heroic thing to be.
5. Refugee, by Alan Gratz
If you're a Global Read Aloud member, you likely already know about this one. This is a book that got the kids in my school talking. Students went home and bought or borrowed copies. They went on to read more of Alan Gratz's work. They always wanted to read one more chapter in class (actually, three more, since the plot rotates between three protagonists). Set in three distinct, but surprisingly similar timelines, 1938 Berlin, 1994 Cuba, and 2015 Syria, the novel follows the story of Josef, Isabel, and Mahmoud, children from radically different backgrounds who are all forced into a shared experience: that of the life of a refugee.
This book is a masterpiece. I can't tell you how many times the word "connection" came up during our read of it. The students celebrated the high points right alongside the characters, and there was never a more somber and solemn class than when we read through the lows. Most importantly, this book brought up a question that, by the end, all of the students were asking: why does this keep happening? Why haven't we figured out anything new from 1938 (and before that) to now? Even as we thrillingly watch characters settle into their new lives at the end of the story, that question of "why" still sticks and hangs out. What can we do to help when or if this happens again? How do we stop it when or if it does?
6. Among the Hidden (Among the Hidden Series), by Margaret Peterson Haddix
This one is a special one to me. I was first introduced to "Among the Hidden" when my 6th Grade class read the book (shout out to Mrs. Fitzpatrick, Von E. Mauger Middle School!). Years later, I would have the opportunity to teach this same text to my own class of 6th Graders. And they, like me, loved it. I've had students who've claimed to "hate" reading (daggers to my heart) read the entire 7-book series. On their own. I've had kids get annoyed because I didn't have enough copies of whichever book they were on to lend out (public libraries are great!).
So, what makes this book so great? I'd say the way you're so organically introduced to Luke's (the protagonist) very small world. I can still picture what every room in his house must've looked like, not because the author spent a ton of time going through each and every detail, but because Luke's life, at the start of the story, is positively tiny. Luke is a "Shadow Child," an illegal 3rd Child in a time when parents are only allowed to have up to 2 children. He's spent his entire life hiding, and, due to a recent property development happening around his house, his already microscopic world is shrinking. All that changes when he meets Jen, another Shadow Child, but from a wealthy family and brought up with radically different views.
I can remember, when reading at the time and rereading now, the amazing push-pull Haddix does between the Population Law and the Shadow Children. Luke really struggles with whether or not he deserves to be alive. His parents broke the law, a law that was, supposedly, put into place after a series of famines to help prevent mass starvation. At the same time, we learn that high-ranking officials in the Government are abusing their power and position and taking advantage of the situation. There is no clear way out, and that's why Among the Hidden is so good at drawing readers in.
7. Uglies (Uglies Series), by Scott Westerfeld
This is another one that's so good, it's stood the test of time since my childhood (so much so, the author just released another one in the series a few years back). Uglies covers it all: appearance, intelligence, self-worth, who to trust, and how we can sometimes subtly be guided away from our best interests. "Uglies" is also a great gateway into "dystopian" literature. What I love about "Uglies" is that the problems with this futuristic society aren't presented as problems until you're pretty well acclimated into the book. Yes, everyone in Tally's (the protagonist) age group thinks their ugly and hyper fixates on appearance. But so what? Everyone is going to get an operation to turn them Pretty once they turn 16. Sure, the operation might also involve some brain surgery, rewire your personality a bit, make you more docile, compliant, and bubble-headed (I love the future slang in this book!), but isn't that okay? I mean, everything you could ever need is provided for you, and your caretakers will make sure that you're happy. Who needs more than that?
Like "Among the Hidden," "Uglies" does such a great job of walking that line between what a character wants, what they "should" want, and what they don't want. And I love that there are moments where all Tally wants to do is give in to temptation, to be ignorant and happy and somehow free. This whole series covers more ground than I would've thought possible. Slight tangent: Extras, the 4th book in the series, is set in a world where your social media status literally dictates your place in society. The whole series is just still so amazingly relevant, refreshing, and real.
8. Fish in a Tree, by Lynda Mullaly Hunt
Fish in a Tree centers around Ally, an artistic, smart, witty, funny, and kind 6th Grader who starts off the book feeling like she's none of those things. All because she can't read. Born into a military family, Ally's bounced around a lot in schools, and has gotten very good at hiding her academic struggles, usually through behavior issues or isolation. Ally's convinced herself that "dumb can't be fixed," and that it's better to keep pretending rather than risk disappointing anyone by telling the truth.
And this just broke my heart. The early chapters of the book go into vivid detail about how struggling in this one area of school (never mind being crazy gifted in Math and Art) weighs Ally down everywhere she goes. There's one point where she describes Sunday nights as "feeling heavy," because she doesn't know how she's going to scrounge up the energy to make it through another week of school. Things soon improve for Ally with the arrival of a new teacher, and by the end of the book she's able to recognize all the stupendous qualities she had inside her all along. But, for me, the opening chapters of this book are always the most impactful. I never, ever want to miss a student who may be feeling the way Ally does at the start.
9. Pax, by Sarah Pennypacker
Pax has something for everyone. Adorable animals, betrayal, war, love, and the idea of striving for what's right and striving to fix what you've done wrong. I don't want to spoil too much of the overall story (this is one of those ones that I think needs to just be enjoyed on its own), but I challenge anyone to read this book and not come away with a character they liked.
10. The Prince and the Dressmaker, by Jen Wang
Okay. So. I'm gonna be upfront and say that this one might be better aimed at a high school crowd, but I felt I'd be remiss not including it on this list. For one, this is a beautifully illustrated graphic novel, and, for two, this book directly deals with gender and class expectations, being forced into an identity you haven't chosen for yourself, and how secrets can both bring people together and restrict their autonomy. I only read this book last year, and I loved it. As a graphic novel, the plot tends to move at a quick pace, but that doesn't lessen the overall impact of it's core messages. And the artwork is just gorgeous.
The main reason I would put this at a high school level is the very, very occasional usage of mild no-school terms like the h-word and the occasional reference to alcohol. I also think that the plot requires some degree of maturity to fully absorb, so I'd be hesitant presenting it to a younger crowd (there is also a romantic subplot younger readers may not be interested in). None of this detracts from the overwhelming love, friendship, and message about accepting yourself as you really are.
There you have it! Let me know what books would be on your top 10 list!
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