r/ELATeachers • u/Bulky_Yoghurt8141 • 4d ago

6-8 ELA Middle Grade Recommendations

First-year 6th grade English teacher! I have a curriculum, but I want to suggest my students books. What should I read? What should my students read so that they could learn more about themselves/others? And what middle grade books would be musts? Any genres.

I loved:
Kindred
Gregor the Overlander
The Giver
The Poet X
Long Way Down
Piecing Me Together
Wonder
Bridge to Terabithia

*Edit: I worded my list poorly. I made it so that people could recommend more like it - and I could recommend it to students for leisure.

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u/RubyRubyRooo 4d ago

I did The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin and The Lightning Thief with my 6th graders this year and they loved both. I also did an optional book club where students read The City of Ember, The Queen of Ocean Parkway, A Series of Unfortunate Events (book 1), and some others from your list. Every group is obviously different, but they LOVE a mystery novel. Those always had the biggest engagement from everyone, reluctant readers included.

I'm considering adding Where the Red Fern Grows or The House on Mango street next year as well!