good books to do a book report on 8th grade

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.

View All posts by Alison Doherty

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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83 Brilliant Books For 8th Grade Readers

November 8, 2023 //  by  Lauren Du Plessis

It’s no secret that trying to motivate middle school students to read can be a tough challenge, even for the most experienced teacher. Thankfully, our collection of 83 carefully curated books for 8th graders will captivate even your most reluctant readers! These high-interest choices include everything from the classics to cozy mysteries and globe-trekking adventure stories. Your students are sure to find a winner! Read on to find the next 8th grade ‘bestseller’ for your classroom library!

1. The Boy in the Striped Pajamas by John Boyne

This powerful novel is reminiscent of The Diary of Anne Frank and grapples with the same tough issues. Despite the serious subject matter, your eighth graders will enjoy getting to know two young boys who become the most unsuspecting of friends in this moving novel set during the Holocaust. With a devastating end, this truly is a remarkably written book.

2. A Long Walk to Water by Linda Sue Park

A Long Walk to Water illustrates the lives of two Sudanese children. The novel sees Nya and Salva face many dangers in a feat to improve their lives and the lives of those around them. Your students will benefit from thought-provoking discussions that are sure to arise from this gripping story.

3. The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

Set in Nazi Germany, your kiddies will learn how Liesel Meminger, a foster child discovers a blissful world between the spines of books – away from constant bombing raids. Reading becomes her escape, and students will learn about its power to transport readers like Liesel to magical worlds.

4. The Giver by Lois Lowry

Your readers will be captivated by twelve-year-old Jonas who has his life turned upside down when he receives his life assignment – taking on the role of The Giver. After the world’s memories have been bestowed upon him, Jonas soon learns that his seemingly ideal world isn’t as wonderful as he once thought.

5. Shadow Jumper by J.M. Forster

For your eighth graders who love a mystery adventure story, Shadow Jumper is sure to be a winner! Jack Phillips is on a mission to find his missing scientist father, but will his rare allergic condition interfere with his search? Jump into the action to find out! 

6. The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton

The Outsiders is a powerful coming-of-age classic that is sure to be relatable to your 8th graders! Ponyboy and his gang of close-knit friends stand up to a gang of snooty rich kids in this timeless tale about bravery and friendship.

7. The Finest Hours by Michael J. Tougias & Casey Sherman

The true story of a shipwreck and dramatic rescue in The Finest Hours will captivate your non-fiction buffs! Explore the heart-rending tale of a shipwreck and the four brave men who managed to save the stranded sailors. Your students will also love comparing the book and movie versions of this harrowing story!

8. Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds

Long Way Down is the gripping story of fifteen-year-old Will who is grappling with the murder of his brother. This is a good choice for your readers ready to tackle the serious issue of gun violence. Journey with Will as he considers whether or not to avenge his brother’s death.

9. The Cruel Prince by Holly Black

The Cruel Prince is a wondrous book about a mortal girl who finds herself entangled in the tribulations of a mysterious and enchanted land, the High Court of Faerie. Your eighth graders will love following Jude as she battles the wicked Prince Cardan and fights to save her sisters.

10. I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter by Erika L. Sánchez

This New York Times Bestseller and National Book Award Finalist will grab the attention of your kids who enjoy stories about complex characters. After losing her seemingly perfect older sister, rambunctious Julia learns to navigate life outside of her sister’s shadow – all while uncovering shocking secrets about her sister’s past.

11. We’ll Always Have Summer by Jenny Han

The final book in ‘The Summer I Turned Pretty’ trilogy, We’ll Always Have Summer, continues the theme of young love and is perfect for eighth graders who enjoy a romantic read.  Will Conrad have the courage to tell Belly his feelings, or will he lose her to Jeremiah forever?

12. You Have a Match by Emma Lord

Your readers will love this wild ride with Abby who signs up for a DNA service and discovers that she has an Instagram-famous sister that she knew nothing about! Eager to know more, Abby decides to meet her sister, Savannah, at camp and uncover the secret of Savannah’s adoption.

13. We Are Not From Here by Jenny Torres Sanchez

The touching stories in We Are Not from Here are inspired by the experiences of migrants. Your readers ready for more serious issues will enjoy following the journey of three teens who escape the dangers of their hometowns only to face more challenges on their way to the US-Mexico border.

14. I’ll Give You the Sun by Jandy Nelson

For your eighth-grade readers who love stories that pull on the heartstrings, I’ll Give You the Sun is a humorous yet tear-jerking read. It follows the tale of two twins, Jude and Noah, who were once extremely close, but who have now been torn apart because of an unsuspected disaster.

15. Homecoming by Cynthia Voigt

Have your readers embark on the journey of a lifetime with the four Tillerman children after their mother abandons them in a Connecticut parking lot. Follow the children as they try to make their way to their Great Aunt Cilla’s house, but will they make it?

16. House of Hollow by Krystal Sutherland

For your readers who love the supernatural, this magical read stars the uniquely beautiful seventeen-year-old, Iris, who yearns to belong. When her sister, Grey, mysteriously goes missing, Iris and her other sister, Vivi, discover the secrets of their past and learn that not everything is as it seems.

17. Echo by Pam Muñoz Ryan

Echo is a well-crafted and heart-warming read that revolves around a harmonica, a prophecy, and a long-standing promise. Let your kiddos dive into this tale of finding friendship, overcoming life’s challenges, and pursuing your rightful destiny.

18. The Maze Runner by James Dashner

Your eighth-grade readers looking for adventure will love this heart-racing read about a group of memory-wiped strangers who must escape from the center of an ever-changing maze. Their only hope for survival is to devise a plan of escape after receiving a message that reads, ‘Remember. Survive. Run’. 

19. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

This gripping read inspired by a dystopian-like world is sure to be a hit with your class! The Hunger Games is an annual event held in a metropolis of wealth called the Capitol of Panem-. Twelve representatives from outlying districts fight to the death until only one victor remains.

20. Downriver by Will Hobbs

If your eighth graders love wild adventure stories, this read is sure to deliver! At Discovery Unlimited, an outdoor education program, seven teenagers borrow the company’s rafting gear and face nerve-wracking consequences as they make their way downriver and through the Grand Canyon. 

21. Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl: The Definitive Edition by Anne Frank

For more serious eighth graders, The Diary of a Young Girl is Anne Frank’s account of living in a secret annex while hiding from the Gestapo. For two years, Anne and her family faced the fear of being found and the challenges of hunger and living so closely together.

22. A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle

Your kids will continue to be enthralled by this timeless classic about siblings on a quest to find their missing scientist father. Meg Murry and her brother Charles Wallace are joined by the most popular boy in high school as they explore new worlds and uncover their father’s whereabouts! 

23. The Breadwinner by Deborah Ellis

Let your readers discover the courage of 11-year-old Parvana in this story set during Taliban rule in Kabul, Afghanistan.  After her father is forced to stop working, Parvana saves her family by disguising herself as a boy so that she can work and become the family’s breadwinner! 

24. All the Bright Places by Jennifer Niven

All the Bright Places will remind your eighth graders of the beauty of life. This book tells the story of the chance encounter of two teenagers who meet on the ledge of a tower. Despite different outlooks on life, they fall in love while marveling at the adventure of life.

25. A Cuban Girl’s Guide to Tea and Tomorrow by Laura Taylor Namey

Send your readers on a transatlantic journey with this heartwarming read! When nothing goes right, Lila’s parents send her off to live in Winchester, England. She meets a teashop clerk named Orion Maxwell and begins to realize England might not be too bad after all. 

26. You Should See Me in a Crown by Leah Johnson

Striving to be accepted to the prestigious college of Pennington, there isn’t anything Liz Lighty won’t do to make her dream come true. In need of financial aid, she decides to run for prom queen in hopes of landing her school’s scholarship. Your readers will enjoy this spirited protagonist!  

27. Felix Ever After by Kacen Callender

Felix Ever After is a beautiful read about Felix and his journey to self-discovery and authentic identity. This coming-of-age story has a strong message that will inspire your eighth-grade readers to take a stand for themselves and never accept anything less than they deserve!

28. They Both Die at the End by Adam Silvera

With this title, your students are guaranteed to be curious! Mateo and Rufus wake up only to be told they only have one day to live. The author narrates a special day for these two strangers- who bond over trying to live their final 24 hours to the fullest!

29. Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas

Introduce your kids to Yadriel, a transgender high school student. Yadriel accidentally summons his ghost of a cousin, Julien, for help to share his true gender with his parents. As time goes on, the cousins become close, and eventually, Yadriel doesn’t want his cousin to leave.

30. The Henna Wars by Adiba Jaigirdar

With themes of friendship, identity, and courage, this book is sure to strike a chord with your kiddos. Flávia and Nishat must navigate their relationship in a way like never before. Nishat risks not being accepted by her family, but she must make a choice about whether to share her true feelings for Flávia.

31. Not My Problem by Ciara Smyth

Not My Problem will make your readers pause and consider their interactions with and influence on others. In this brilliant coming-of-age novel, Aideen helps fellow classmates solve their personal issues in unwitting ways, but she struggles to solve any of her own problems! 

32. The Voting Booth by Brandy Colbert

This novel is the perfect choice for your eighth graders who are passionate about social justice! When Duke Crenshaw is turned away at the voting booth, Marva Sheridan makes it her mission to ensure that Duke’s right to vote is upheld. On a path to help shape democracy, Duke and Marva find unexpected love.

33. Juliet Takes a Breath by Gabby Rivera

This is a novel that was written for your students who like to live life a little on the wild side! Juliet feels more alive and free than ever. After she comes out to her parents, she sets off for a summer of motorcycling, love, and partying while also finding a place for herself in the world.

34. Only Mostly Devastated by Sophie Gonzales

Told with humor, Only Mostly Devastated is a book for your eighth graders who would enjoy a story about a boy-meets-boy teenage romance. Will and Ollie must navigate the shaky waters of their relationship and learn to trust again. They’re sure to love this super relatable tale about the trials and tribulations of teenage life!

35. Perfect on Paper by Sophie Gonzales

Your students will love the drama of this super enjoyable read. Darcy secretly offers love advice to her classmates until her anonymity is threatened when the grade’s jock catches her collecting letters from a locker! She is then forced into helping him get back together with his girlfriend.

36. We Are Not Free by Traci Chee

This award-winning read will appeal to your readers interested in history and social justice. After their lives are forever changed by the mass U.S. incarcerations of World War II, fourteen teenagers rally together in a fight against injustice and blatant racism. In doing so, the teens become closer than ever as they create a community for themselves.

37. Hot Dog Girl by Jennifer Dugan

Hot Dog Girl spans both humor and romance and is sure to delight your readers! Elouise works as a hot dog girl at her local fair and finds herself pining over Nick the pirate. The only problem is that Nick has a girlfriend and hardly seems to notice poor Elouise!

38. With the Fire on High by Elizabeth Acevedo

This novel from acclaimed author Elizabeth Acevedo belongs in your eighth-grade library! Acevedo tells the story of a teenager who reclaims her power after having a child during her freshman year. Follow Emoni as she graduates, discovers a new passion for cooking, and becomes a chef!

39. The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo

Your kiddies are sure to relate to teenager, Xiomara, who has so much to get off her chest, but has no way to vent! To find a creative outlet, she decides to join the school’s poetry society but must keep this a secret from her rather strict Mami.

40. Internment by Samira Ahmed

Your readers will be intrigued and inspired by courageous seventeen-year-old Layla Amin who is forced into a Muslim-American internment camp with her parents. In a bid to fight for her freedom, she leads a revolt against the guards and the camp director.

41. Don’t Ask Me Where I’m From by Jennifer De Leon

Follow Liliana as she fights to stay true to herself amidst a world of wealthy privilege! Proud of her LatinX heritage, Liliana must be courageous as she grapples with the divide between her new suburban high school and the inner-city home of her Boston neighborhood. Your class will be rooting for her the whole way through this great read!

42. Let Me Hear a Rhyme by Tiffany D. Jackson

Transport your readers to 1998 Brooklyn! In this fantastic story, three teens plan to promote the rap music of their deceased friend by pretending he’s still alive. How long can this rambunctious group keep up their lie when tensions start brewing and secrets begin to be revealed?

43. Can’t Take That Away by Steven Salvatore

Passionate readers who fiercely support equal rights will find a friend in Carey Parker, the protagonist at the center of this tender yet powerful novel. Fed up with the discrimination faced at high school, this queer teen stands up for what is right and invites others to do the same!

44. The Sky Blues by Robbie Couch

Sky Baker plans to ask his crush, Ali, to prom in just 30 days at the annual beach party! Sky’s plans are ruined when a homophobic hacker releases an email detailing his plan. Your techies will be hooked as the next 30 days quickly turn into a mission to expose the hacker.

45. It Goes Like This by Miel Moreland

Your students will relate to the trials of friendship explored in this fantastic novel. Members of a queer pop band formed in middle school must reconcile with the past when a tragic storm in their hometown brings them together for one last show. Find out if their friendship will stand the test of time! 

46. Love & Other Natural Disasters by Misa Sugiura

Your eighth-grade rom-com fans will enjoy Love & Other Natural Disasters . In this queer romance, Nozomi is eager to pose as the girlfriend of gorgeous Willow. But not everything goes according to plan in this plot to make Willow’s ex jealous when Nozomi finds herself falling unexpectedly in love.

47. The Fascinators by Andrew Eliopulos

The Fascinators is sure to charm your kiddos with its magical plot! Despite living in a place that shuns magic, Sam, Delia, and James bond over their participation in the school’s magic club, but soon find that even magic can’t fix the obstacles they are about to face!  

48. House in the Cerulean Sea by T.J. Klune

Lovers of adventure stories will enjoy this fascinating tale about Linus, the caretaker of an orphanage who is summoned on a mission that will take him to a magical island. Your students will enjoy the twists and turns of Linus’s journey and appreciate the messages this novel offers its readers. 

49. The Marvelous by Claire Kann

Your gamers and readers alike will be thrilled by The Marvelous ! They’ll follow six teenagers who are gathered together by famed heiress, Jewel, in a competition to win a life-changing prize. The players quickly learn that more than money is at stake as they go head to head in a game spanning Jewel’s entire estate!

50. Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Sáenz

Your readers who are ready to tackle themes of identity, friendship, and family will soak up the beautiful story of Aristotle and Dante. These two lonely boys form an unforgettable friendship after meeting at a public swimming pool. This tale eloquently depicts the importance of friendship in discovering your own self.

51. Rules For Being a Girl by Candace Bushnell & Katie Cotugno

This empowering tale is all about Marin who reclaims her power after being sexually assaulted by her English teacher. When no one believes her story, she decides to take it to the school newspaper – an act that starts an inspiring feminist club! This read is perfect for your kids who are ready for a more sophisticated story.

52. The Inexplicable Logic of My Life by Benjamin Alire Sáenz

Sal, once a confident, secure teenager, is suddenly questioning everything about life, his identity, and his place in the world. Your students will connect with relatable, humorous, and comforting characters while journeying with Sal as he navigates the universal questions of life. 

53. The Infinite Noise by Lauren Shippen

Your eighth graders will be fascinated by star running back Caleb’s plight to navigate a  special ability allowing him to be extremely empathetic. Caleb’s empathy leads to a new friendship with his classmate, Adam, and the realization that his new ability to connect with others might also be dangerous. 

54. Me, Frida, and the Secret of the Peacock Ring by Angela Cervantes

Have your kiddies join Paloma Marquez on her search to connect with her late father and his Mexican roots. While traveling in Mexico, she relives her father’s memory and helps two siblings hunt for Frida Kahlo’s missing ring – a find that could lead to a reward and the adoration of all of Mexico!

55. Greenglass House by Kate Milford

This Edgar Award for Best Juvenile Mystery winner is perfect for your readers who love a cozy mystery. On a wintry night, Milo, the inn owner’s son, greets the arrival of guests who hold secrets about Greenglass House’s past. The story ends with a twist that is sure to leave your kiddos wanting more!

56. When You Trap a Tiger by Tae Keller

When Lily moves in with her sick grandmother, the family’s Korean folktales come to life. The magical tigers of the stories have a history with Lily’s grandmother and demand retribution for her past actions. Will Lily make a deal with the tiger or find another way to right the wrongs of the past? Let your 8th graders read to find out!

57 . Kira-Kira by Cynthia Kadohata

Kira-Kira is an excellent choice for drama lovers. Readers follow Katie Tekeshima and her sister, Lynn, as they move from a Japanese community in Iowa to the unfamiliar Deep South of Georgia. Your readers will be hooked as the family navigates difficulties and finds hope in the future through the idea of ‘glittering’ or kira-kira.  

58. Ancestor Approved: Intertribal Stories for Kids by Cynthia Leitich Smith

Your kiddos will love this book all about the strength of community and Native pride. This collection of unique stories highlights the experiences of young Native people from the perspective of new and established First Nation writers. The stories take root at a large Michigan powwow where Native families gather to celebrate their heritage and honor their traditions. 

59. No Fixed Address by Susin Nielsen

Dive into this powerful story about poverty, homelessness, and family life with your class. No Fixed Address is a story about Felix, a teenager living out of a car with his mom who enters a game show competition to win a cash prize. This novel is perfect for a read-aloud that is guaranteed to lead to rich discussions.

60. Girl of the Southern Sea by Michelle Kadarusman

Girl of the Southern Sea is the choice for those longing for an adventurous and faraway setting. Your readers will meet Nia who dreams of a life beyond the slums of Jakarta. She devises a plan to change her circumstances, but how will she reach her dreams while facing ongoing obstacles? 

61. As Long as the Lemon Trees Grow by Zoulfa Katouh

This novel is a moving story about a teenager living and working in war-torn Syria. Her choice of whether to stay or flee for a new chance at life elsewhere is made all the more difficult when Khawf – the physical manifestation of her fears – adds pressure to her decision.

62. The Bridge Home by Padma Venkatraman

Let your students follow the inspirational story of sisters, Viji and Rukuu, who escape from an abusive father. While their new, temporary home under a bridge is not easy, it provides the sisters with new relationships, independence, and the confidence that they can care for themselves and each other.

63. Julie of the Wolves by Jean Craighead George

When Julie’s family life becomes untenable, she leaves her Alaskan village in search of better things. However, when she becomes lost in the icy tundra, she has to rely on a curious wolf pack to survive. Julie of the Wolves is an excellent addition to your middle school classroom for your readers who love survival stories!

64. Out of My Mind by Sharon M. Draper

Out of My Mind is a classic coming-of-age story that is sure to resonate with your kiddies. They’ll follow the story of a brilliant young girl with a photographic memory who is also navigating preteen life with cerebral palsy. Her world dramatically changes when she acquires a machine that helps her express her complex thoughts and feelings to her family and friends.

65. Counting by 7s by Holly Goldberg Sloan

Have your more serious readers, check out Counting by 7s ! It’s an emotional but uplifting read about a young girl who quiets her anxious mind through routines like counting by 7s. When she loses her parents, she must face her fears and learn to form connections with others.

66. Look Both Ways by Jason Reynolds

Look Both Ways consists of ten short stories that diverge to detail the lives of individual teenagers and converge again upon a sudden shared experience (a falling school bus!). Add this novel to your eighth-grade reading list to inject a little humor into your reading time!

67. Goodbye Stranger by Rebecca Stead

Let your kids lose themselves in this bestselling commentary on the growing pains of preteen friendship. Bridge, Emily, and Tab must learn to navigate the new stresses of seventh grade, with personal traumas, budding romances, and strained loyalties that are all battling to take precedence over their friendship.

68. Queen of the Tiles by Hanna Alkaf

Who knew Scrabble could be this tense? In this teen thriller that’s centered around a Scrabble competition, Najwa Bakri is mourning the death of her best friend. But when her friend’s Instagram suddenly begins posting again, Najwa begins to wonder if her friend’s death may not have been an accident.

69. A Break with Charity: A Story about the Salem Witch Trials by Ann Rinaldi

This is the perfect choice for your historical fiction lovers! A Break with Charity is a compelling read about the time of the Salem Witch Trials. The main character, Susanna, has to determine how to protect her own family from the lies and accusations being thrown around. It’s a “must-have” for your eighth-grade reading list!

70. The Rig by Joe Ducie

Will is a highly intelligent but troubled young man whose criminal activities have landed him on the Rig, a high-security facility that is supposedly impossible to escape. Supernatural elements soon come into play in this science fiction book as the true nature of the prison is revealed. Your 8th graders will love this interesting and mysterious read!

71. A Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket

This series may not be the most challenging for your 8th graders, but A Series of Unfortunate Events is a captivating tale certain to pique the interest of even the most reluctant readers. Follow the unlucky adventures of three orphaned siblings as they search for answers about their parents’ untimely and suspicious deaths. 

72. Mortal Instruments by Cassandra Clare

Jump into these thrilling fantasy offerings from Cassandra Clare! In this gripping series, Clary enters an alternate world of mythical creatures in order to find her missing mom. She’s soon pulled deep into the drama of this mysterious place, linking up with the warrior Shadowhunters and fighting against demons who want her eliminated.

73. The Fifth Wave by Rick Yancey

Introduce your kiddos to Cassie, in this dystopian novel of survival. She is one of the few remaining humans on planet Earth after apocalyptic waves of destruction wreak havoc on Earth and dangerous beings arrive to wipe out humanity. When she meets Evan, another survivor, she must decide whether to take a new chance at life by learning to trust others again.

74. Mistborn by Brandon Sanderson

The first book in a fantasy trilogy follows the escapades of Kelsier, a rebel who fights against a tyrannical ruler in a kingdom perpetually full of ash. Magical metals, compelling characters, and vivid imagery make this novel and series a favorite among YA fantasy readers. They’ll love the fact that there are another two books waiting for them once they’ve finished this first read!

75. The Selection by Kiera Cass

This YA romance series follows the Bachelor-esque “Selection,” where 35 girls compete for a chance at love with Prince Maxon. Contestant America, however, wishes that she had never been selected; that is until she actually meets the prince! This dramatic series is perfect for any of your readers who love a bit of fairy tale and romance!

76. Entwined by Heather Dixon

Based on Grimm’s Fairytale of the “Twelve Dancing Princesses,” Entwined follows Azalea, whose family tragedy spurs a deal with the mysterious Keeper. When Keeper’s promise turns out to be a trap, Azalea must find a way to save her family. This is perfect for your 8th graders who love fantasy!

77. Uglies by Scott Westerfeld

Use this post-apocalyptic series to explore themes of vanity and loyalty with your class. Tally is set to undergo a mandatory surgery to turn her into a “Pretty” on her 16th birthday when she discovers that there is more behind the surgery than aesthetics.

78. Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbit

Tuck Everlasting is definitely one to add to your middle-grade book lists! Winnie must decide whether to live life as a mere mortal or join the Tucks, who have found immortality in a magical nearby spring. This heartwarming tale is sure to be one that your kids will love!

79. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice will stretch your advanced readers’ minds by exposing them to the twists and turns of classic literature. This novel also provides an opportunity for your kiddos to compare a classic version of Elizabeth and Darcy’s epic love story with contemporary retellings. 

80. Slider by Pete Hautman

Slider is a coming-of-age story about David, a 14-year-old caught in a serious bind! When an accidental credit card charge sets in motion a series of events involving a competitive eating competition, he must win the grand prize. This humorous and touching novel will delight your readers.  

81. A First Time for Everything by Dan Santat

Your class will love this sweet novel detailing the life and middle school trials of Dan, an awkward but quintessential ‘good kid’, that is based on the author’s own experiences. Thrust from his comfortable family life to a class trip to Europe where he is on his own, Dan experiences several life-changing “firsts”. 

82. A Tree Grows in Brooklyn

A Tree Grows in Brooklyn is a delightful and beautifully written story about a family’s day-to-day life in a NYC borough. From the beginning of this novel and through every dramatic turn, Francie’s determination and wit make her a lovable character that your readers will champion.

83. Anne of Green Gables

Anne of Green Gables is a timeless classic, yet even your contemporary readers will adore the spunk and tenacity of the protagonist, Anne. On a deeper level, this book explores the themes of belonging, friendship, and the quest to find oneself amidst the throes of young adulthood. 

Instill a love for reading in your 8th grade students by encouraging independent reading. Reading allows children to learn about the experiences of others and therefore foster better empathy. Furthermore, they gain valuable knowledge and expand their vocabulary as well as explore more imaginative and creative thought patterns.

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A Beginner's Guide to Writing a Book Report (with Examples)

Last Updated: March 13, 2024 Fact Checked

• Researching
• Drafting the Report
• Reviewing & Revising

Sample Book Reports & Summaries

Expert q&a.

This article was co-authored by Jake Adams and by wikiHow staff writer, Raven Minyard, BA . Jake Adams is an academic tutor and the owner of Simplifi EDU, a Santa Monica, California based online tutoring business offering learning resources and online tutors for academic subjects K-College, SAT & ACT prep, and college admissions applications. With over 14 years of professional tutoring experience, Jake is dedicated to providing his clients the very best online tutoring experience and access to a network of excellent undergraduate and graduate-level tutors from top colleges all over the nation. Jake holds a BS in International Business and Marketing from Pepperdine University. There are 9 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 1,410,747 times.

A book report is a short essay that summarizes and analyzes a work of fiction or nonfiction. Writing a book report may not seem fun at first, but it gives you a great chance to fully understand a work and its author. In this article, we’ll teach you everything you need to know about how to write a book report, from choosing a book and outlining to drafting and editing your final paper.

Things You Should Know

• Read the entire book and take notes on important themes, characters, and events. Use your notes to create an outline with evidence that supports your analysis.
• Include the title and author in your intro, then summarize the plot, main characters, and setting of the book.
• Analyze the author’s writing style, as well as the main themes and arguments of the book. Include quotes and examples to support your statements.

Researching Your Book Report

• For example, find out if your teacher wants you to include citations, such as page numbers from the book, in your report.
• Ask your teacher how much of your paper to devote to summary versus analysis. Most book reports are direct summaries with objective analysis rather than your personal opinions. In contrast, a book review or commentary is more opinion-driven.

• Some popular books for book reports include To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, Animal Farm by George Orwell, and The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. Choose a book at your grade level.

• Author: Who wrote the book? Do you know any other works by this author?
• Genre: Is the book fiction or nonfiction? If it’s fiction, is it historical, fantasy, horror, etc.? If it’s nonfiction, is it a biography, memoir, science, etc.?
• Audience: Who would find this book appealing? Is it intended for a specific age range or gender? Do you typically enjoy books like this?
• Title: Does the title catch your interest? Does it fit well with the book’s content?
• Book Cover/Illustrations: What does the book cover convey and does it accurately represent the book? How do you feel when you look at it? If the book has illustrations, what are they and do they hold your interest?

• Take breaks while reading to keep your attention sharp. Try to find a pace that is comfortable for you. If you get distracted after 15 minutes, read in 15-minute intervals. If you can go an hour, read for an hour at a time.
• Give yourself enough time to read the entire book. It’s very difficult to write a book report if you’ve just skimmed over everything. Don’t procrastinate!
• Don’t trust online book summaries. You can’t guarantee that they are accurate or true to the text.

• For example, look for a sentence that clearly describes a main setting in the book, such as “The castle was gloomy and made out of large black stones.”

Outlining Your Book Report

• Introduction: Introduce the title, author, and publication information. Include a brief overview of the book’s genre and main theme, and state your purpose for writing the report.
• Summary: Concisely summarize the plot or central idea, highlighting main events, characters, and conflicts. Focus on important aspects while avoiding spoilers.
• Analysis and Evaluation: Evaluate the author’s writing style and use of literary devices, like foreshadowing, metaphors, imagery, etc. Discuss the strengths and weaknesses of the book and use quotes and examples from the text.
• Themes and Messages: Identify the book’s main themes or messages and how they develop through the course of the book. Provide specific quotes and examples.
• Character Analysis: Analyze the main characters in the book, their development, and their relationships. Explain their motivations, personalities, and significance to the story. Provide examples and quotes to support your analysis.
• Personal Reflection: Depending on your teacher’s instructions, you might share your personal opinions and discuss what you liked and disliked about the book. Reflect on how the book relates to broader themes or issues.
• Conclusion: Summarize your main points and conclude with your final thoughts or reflections on the book.
• Bibliography: If required, include a works cited page or bibliography listing all the sources you used to write your book report.
• Outlining takes time, but it saves you more time once you reach the editing stage.
• Some people prefer to outline with pen and paper, while others just type up a list on the computer. Choose the method that works best for you.

• Be careful not to overuse quotes. If it seems like every other line is a quote, try to dial back. Aim to include a maximum of one quotation per paragraph. Quotes and examples should still take a backseat to your summary.

• For example, you’ll likely need to focus primarily on discussing the most important characters or the characters that appear most frequently in the text.
• When you are finished with your outline, go back through it to see if it makes sense. If the paragraphs don’t flow into one another, move them around or add/delete new ones until they do.
• Also, check to see if your outline covers all of the major elements of the book, such as the plot, characters, and setting.

Writing Your Book Report

• For example, a sentence summary might state, “This book is about the main character’s journey to Africa and what she learns on her travels.”
• Don’t take up too much space with your introduction. In general, an introduction should be 3-6 sentences long, though in rare cases, they may be longer or shorter.

• Use vivid language when you can and include plenty of details. For example, you might write, “The farm was surrounded by rolling hills.”

• For instance, if the main character moves to Africa, you might describe what happens before the move, how the move goes, and how they settle in once they arrive.

• For example, you might write that the main character is “a middle-aged woman who enjoys the finer things in life, such as designer clothes.” Then, connect this description to the plot summary by describing how her views change after her travels, if they do.
• Expect to introduce the characters in the same sentences and paragraphs as the plot introduction.

• You might write, “The author argues that travel gives you a new perspective. That is why her main characters all seem happier and more grounded after visiting new places.”
• For fiction, determine if the author is using the story to pass along a certain moral or lesson. For example, a book about an underdog athlete could encourage readers to take chances to pursue their dreams.

• For example, an author who uses lots of slang terms is probably going for a hip, approachable style.

• Some teachers require, or strongly suggest, that you include the author’s name and the book title in your concluding paragraph.
• When writing a conclusion , don’t introduce any new thoughts. Any important points should be made in your body paragraphs. Save the space for your recap.

Reviewing and Revising Your Book Report

• Before you submit your paper, make sure that you’ve spelled the author’s name and any character names correctly.
• Don’t trust your computer’s spell check to catch all the errors for you. Spell check can be helpful, but it isn’t perfect and can make mistakes.

• If you’re nervous about asking, try saying something like “It would be great if you could go over my book report and make sure that it reads smoothly.”
• Remember, no one’s first draft is perfect, so don’t get upset if someone suggests you do something differently. They want to help make your report the best it can be, so don’t take constructive criticism personally.

• For example, double-check that you are using the correct font, font size, and margins.
• Once you've finished proofreading, revising, and checking that you've addressed all the requirements, you're ready to submit your book report!

• Even though your book report is your own work, avoid using “I” too much. It can make your writing feel choppy. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
• It might be tempting to watch the movie or read the online notes instead of reading the book. Resist this urge! Your teacher will be able to tell the difference. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0

Tips from our Readers

• Calm down and walk around if you get too frustrated while writing. If you write a book report while angry, you're more likely to misspell things!
• Choose a unique book. Harry Potter or Percy Jackson is an absolute no. Everyone chooses those. Try something different!
• Write when anything comes to mind! You don't want to lose your ideas!

• Give yourself plenty of time to write your report. Don’t wait until the last minute or you may feel rushed. Thanks Helpful 1 Not Helpful 0
• Stealing or using another person’s work is considered plagiarism and academic dishonesty. Make sure that the work you submit is all your own. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0

You Might Also Like

• ↑ https://www.aresearchguide.com/write-book-report.html
• ↑ Jake Adams. Academic Tutor & Test Prep Specialist. Expert Interview. 24 July 2020.
• ↑ https://grammark.org/how-to-write-a-book-report/
• ↑ https://library.valleycollege.edu/elements_of_book_report.pdf
• ↑ https://takelessons.com/blog/steps-to-writing-a-book-report
• ↑ https://www.infoplease.com/homework-help/homework-center-writing-book-report
• ↑ https://liberalarts.oregonstate.edu/wlf/what-setting
• ↑ https://www.tcc.edu/wp-content/uploads/archive/writing-center-handouts/essay-types-plot-summary.pdf
• ↑ https://www.cornerstone.edu/blog-post/six-steps-to-really-edit-your-paper/

About This Article

To write a book report, start by introducing the author and the name of the book and then briefly summarizing the story. Next, discuss the main themes and point out what you think the author is trying to suggest to the reader. Finally, write about the author’s style of writing, paying particular attention to word choice and the overall tone of the book. For tips on editing and polishing your paper before turning it in, keep reading! Did this summary help you? Yes No

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50 Must-Read​ Books for Eighth Graders

by AuthorAmy

Welcome to Amy’s Bookshelf! Here, teachers will find carefully curated book lists for each grade level from kindergarten to twelfth grade. Moving forward, new lists filled with book recommendations will be published weekly. Sometimes, these lists will be organized around a specific theme, like a holiday or seasonal event. Other times, they will feature rockstar books – books practically guaranteed to get your students reading. 

Before jumping into reading recommendations, a few words about how books are selected.

First, it is so important that teachers prioritize reading interest over reading level. Students will often choose to read well above or below their reading level if they are particularly interested in a book or topic. Teachers only hurt students by limiting them to a specific selection of titles grouped according to an arbitrary number or level. Think of the books on these lists as starting places for you and your students, but if a student wants to read up (or down), that is a-ok.

Also, please note that these lists lean heavily toward modern selections as opposed to the classics many teachers are familiar with. A true renaissance is happening in children’s literature today, and the books coming out are truly exciting. One of the factors that makes this such an exciting time for kid lit is how diverse the selections are in terms of genre, characters and subject matter. These lists will feature fiction and nonfiction selection as well as graphic novels, novels written in verse, and more.

Any book list or classroom library worth its salt includes books featuring LGBTQIA+ characters, racially diverse characters, characters with disabilities, characters in the foster care system, characters from a wide variety of socioeconomic and religious backgrounds, and so on. Importantly, the diversity of the characters doesn’t always need to be the focus of the literature – in other words, a book featuring a black character or gay character doesn’t need to be about those individuals exploring their blackness or their gayness; those characters can have kid problems that apply to all children regardless of their race or sexual orientation. Similarly, students should be encouraged to read stories featuring people of diversity all year long – not just during a month set aside to celebrate a specific heritage.

One final note: today’s children’s literature does not shy away from frank discussions of gender, race, sex, sexuality, abuse, mental illness, and more – nor should it. I will not censor books from these lists based on these controversial areas. What books you recommend will depend on the specific district you work in and your clientele. I encourage you and your students to read widely without fear.

Eighth Grade

Eighth grade students are on the cusp of high school, so the books on this list are reflective of their level of increasing maturity. Many of the books on this list are appropriate for middle school and high school students.

Just so you know, Bored Teachers may get a small share of the sales made through the Amazon affiliate links on this page.

by Alan Gratz

Refugee is one of those “everyone must read this book” books. It span ages and is equally powerful as a middle school or high school text. This is the journey of three children, all refugees, fleeing from a terror regime. Josef lives in Germany and flees from the Nazis with his family; Isabel tries to escape Cuba for American shores, and Mahmoud is a modern-day Syrian refugee. Though they are from different times in history, their stories intersect in surprising ways. 

2. Ready Player One

by Ernest Cline

In a dystopian world where the economy has crashed, people around the world log into the Oasis, a virtual reality platform. The creator of the Oasis, an eccentric billionaire, has died and left his fortune buried somewhere within the game. This story follows teenager Wade as he gets closer and closer to the treasure, a dangerous game when so many want what he is close to having. 

3. Journey by Aaron Becker

This is a wordless picture book that is about a girl who, using a magic marker, draws herself an escape from the ordinary into the extraordinary. It’s sort of a Harold’s Purple Crayon for adolescents and adults, with a more nuanced story and theme. 

4. Peter and the Starcatchers

by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson

Humor authors Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson imagine an origin story for Peter Pan. How did Peter end up in Neverland and what happened to his parents? Why is Hook afraid of crocodiles? Where did Tinkerbell come from, and who are the lost boys? All these questions and more are answered, and this book is both a page-turner and laugh-out-loud funny. 

5. Keeper of the Night

by Kimberley Willis Holt

Keeper of the Night takes place in Guam, and the story is richly populated with details enough to make the reader feel like they’ve stepped into Isabel’s world. Isabel’s mother has died, leaving her family reeling. Isabel wants to piece her family back together, and this is the story of how she does so. 

6. The Graveyard Book

by Neil Gaiman

Nobody Owens, or Bod, is a toddler who inadvertently escapes from Jack, who murders his family. Bod winds up in the local graveyard and is raised by ghosts. When Bod reaches adolscence, however, he wants to stretch his legs and explore away from his ghost family, a proposition that could prove very dangerous to him, indeed. 

7. Science Verse

by Jon Scieszka and Lane Smith

Science is delivered here in raucous poetic form. The author and illustrator combine to create an inna t e dance through science, from the food chain to the creation of a black hole. 

8. Moonshot

by Brian Floca

Moonshot is Brian Floca’s retelling of the Apollo 11 moon landing in picture book form. Floca is well-known for creating picture books about the machines that humans take journeys in, and as with his other works, this one is marvelous. 

9. Al Capone Does My Shirts

by Gennifer Choldenko

Moose Flanagan lives on Alcatraz in the 1930s, when the prison housed the likes of Al Capone. Moose is one of 23 children living on the island because their parents work as prison guards or cooks or doctors. The kids get into all sorts of trouble on the small island, and this is a highly engaging story about those anctics. There are three other Alcatraz books after this one. 

10. Flying Lessons and Other Stories

edited by Ellen Oh

This short story collection is a compendium of stories from today’s top teen authors, and there’s something for everyone, including a short story in verse. 

11. Touching Spirit Bear

by Ben Mikaelsen

Instead of going to juvey, Cole Matthews is sent to the remote, Alaskan Circle Justice, a rehabilitation program for juvenile offenders like himself. Cole is attacked by a white bear, what is sometimes called a spirit bear, and left for dead. The attack changes Cole’s outlook and this is ultimately a story of redemption. 

12. Some Writer! The Story of E.B. White

by Melissa Sweet

American icon E.B. White is perhaps best known for Charlotte’s Web, but he was a prolific writer who wrote essays, contributed to the New Yorker, and published many other children’s books, too. This book is a lengthier picture book biography of White that includes many letters and other family artifacts that give readers an insight into this iconic American writer. 

13. Calling All Minds: How to Think and Create Like an Inventor

by Temple Grandin

Temple Grandin, the renowned spokesperson for autism, shares her insight into the various ways a person can solve a problem. The message of this book is that there is more than one way to look at the world, to think about things, to use your imagination and to arrive at a new idea. Grandin does this by looking at inventions and the thought process behind them.

14. The Night Diary

by Veera Hiranandani

Nisha watches her home country of India divide into India and Pakistan in 1947, and suddenly, Muslims and Hindus are being killed crossing the new border. Nisha’s family decides they, too, must cross, and she fears for her life during the long journey. 

15. Zen Shorts

by Jon J. Muth

A giant panda moves into the neighborhood and begins telling children ancient Zen tales in this picture book. Author/illustrator Jon Muth followed up the popular Zen Shorts with a number of other Zen tales (including Zen Ghosts and Zen Ties ) which are all worth reading. 

16. Bound by Ice

by Sandra Neil Wallace and Rich Wallace

The ship Jeannette sets sail for the Arctic from San Francisco, looking for a route to the North Pole. The ship becomes locked inside Arctic ice and sinks after two years adrift. The crew escape on lifeboats and make a harrowing journey back to civilization that not all survice. 

17. Super Women: Six Scientists Who Changed the World

by Laurie Lawlor

Six mini biographies are included in this book. Each paints a portrait of a lesser-known woman scientist who relentlessly pursued her studies despite obstacles in her path, many of which were gender-based. The biographies are accompanied by photographs, and the whole package is an engaging read. 

18. Out of Wonder: Poems Celebrating Poets

by Kwame Alexander, Chris Colderley, and Marjory Wentworth

Three of today’s well-known poets, Kwame Alexander, Chris Colderley and Marjory Wentworth, write poems in honor of their favorite poets. 

19. Stormy Seas: Stories of young boat refugees

by Mary Beth Leatherdale and Eleanor Shakespeare

Contrasted with Refugee , at the start of this list, this book is a collection of five true stories about refugees who boarded a boat in search of a better life. Many infographics are included alongside the stories with more historical informatin. 

20. Strong Inside

(Young Readers Edition) by Andrew Maraniss

Perry Wallace was the first black man to play college basketball in the Southeastern Conference. He accepted an offer to play ball at Vanderbilt and crossed into a world where hatred and racism were deeply entrenched. This is his story. 

21. The Magician and the Spirits: Harry Houdini

by Deborah Noyes

Harry Houdini, in addition to being a magician and stage performer, had a fascination for the occult. He spent much time investigating whether or not accounts of contact with “the other side” were real or just stage illusions like his own. 

22. Ender’s Game

by Orson Scott Card

Set in the near future, the earth has been attacked by aliens called buggers. The earth must mount a resistance force before the aliens come back, and the military turns to elite child genuises. Andrew “Ender” Wiggin is the best of the best and he is taken from his family and trained to be the military general that will lead the fight against the aliens. 

23. The Hobbit

by J.R.R. Tolkien

A band of dwarves plus the unlikely companion of hobbit Bilbo Baggins set out to steal back treasure from the dangerous dragon Smaug. This classic novel is a prequel to the longer Lord of the Rings trilogy. 

24. Better Nate Than Ever

by Tim Federle

Nate Foster wants to star in a broadway show more than he wants anything else in life, but he knows he will never get close if he remains in his homestate of Pennslyvania. He learns that there is an open casting call for a musical and makes a daring trip to New York City to be there for it. 

25. Not your Sidekick by C.B. Lee

Jessica’s parents are superheroes, but Jessica is not. She just wants to get an internship to help her get into a good college. The internship she ends up getting is in the employ of her parents’ arch enemies but allows Jessica to work alongside Abby, who she has a secret crush on. 

26. The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate

by Jacqueline Kelly

Calpurnia’s grandfather is a naturalist, and the two of them bond when she asks him some scientific questions about grasshoppers. Their relationship grows, as does Calpurnia’s interest in science. 

27. The House of the Scorpion

by Nancy Farmer

Matt is a clone of El Patrón, who divided his cells in a test tube and then placed his developing embroyo in the uterus of a cow. The world sees Matt as an abomination but Matt didn’t ask to be created, and now that he’s here, he’s grappling with his identity and navigating the dangerous world occupied by El Patrón.

28. Enchanted Air: Two Cultures, Two Wings: A Memoir

by Margarita Engle

Margarita lives in Los Angeles, except when she lives in Cuba during the summer with her mother. Margarita loves Cuba and lives for those summer months. But the United States is trapped in the Cold War, and when Cuba becomes a central part of the conflict, Margarita’s two sides are suddenly at war. 

29. Forget Me Not

by Ellie Terry

Calliope has never felt like she fits in, which is perhaps why she turns to the night skies. She loves astronomy, and the stars do not judge her for having Tourettes like the kids at school do. It’s only when Calliope’s mom moves her to another new school that she finally starts to make friends. 

30. The Outsiders

by S.E. Hinton

It’s the Socs versus the Greasers in this iconic novel about Ponyboy and his buddies. The boys live on the outskirts of society and sometimes scuffles break out between the two groups. One night, things go too far. 

31. The Earth, My Butt, and Other Big Round Things

by Carolyn Mackler

Virginia is a plus-sized teenager, which makes everything about being a teenager harder. She feels pathetic next to her perfect family, especially her perfect brother. But then a serious accusation is levied against her brother, and the family’s world is rocked to its core. 

32. Monster by Walter Dean Myers

Steve Harmon is 16 and is being tried for murder after he was the lookout in the shooting of a drugstore owner. Steve, prior to the murder trial, was an amateur filmmaker so he transcribes his experiences, and Monster is the result. 

33. Lucky Broken Girl

by Ruth Behar

Ruthie Mizrahi’s family has moved to the United States from Cuba. Here, she suffers a horrific accident that leaves her in a full body cast for an entire year. Because Ruthie can’t move, the book is mostly her inner monologue, which grows over the bedridden year.

34. The First Rule of Punk

by Celia C. Perez

Malú learns the first rule of punk from her dad, and it’s “be yourself.” Which is all fine until Malú colossally messes up her first day of school. She decides to try her dad’s advice and assembles a punk band of misfits, finding herself along the way. 

35. Breakout

by Kate Messner

Nora’s summer vacation plans are majorly messed up when the nearby prison experiences a high-profile prison break. Suddenly, the neighborhood is on house arrest. This is a multi-genre novel told in many formats including comics, poems, and letters. 

36. Flowers for Algernon

by Daniel Keyes

Algernon is a lab mouse who has undergone surgery to increase his IQ, and soon this surgery is applied to Charlie Gordon. The operation successfully increases Charlie’s intelligence, but only temporarily, and he is forced to watch himself regress.  It’s a book both heartbreaking and important. 

37. The Alchemist: The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel

by Michael Scott

This is the first in a six-book fantasy series. This particular installment is about Nicholas Flamel, the famed alychemist. Legend has it, he did not die in 1418, as his tomb states, but that he lives on today making the elixir that keeps him immortal. But when a modern day villian sets out to steal Flamel’s magic book, two kids step in to stop him. 

38. The Westing Game

by Ellen Raskin

Millionaire Samuel W. Westing dies at the beginning of the book and the tenants in his building are named as heirs in his will. The tenants are paired off and told the first team to solve the puzzle contained in the will will inherit Westing’s entire fortune. 

39. A Monster Calls

by Patrick Ness

At the beginning of the book, protagonist Conor is fighting a number of monsters – bullies at school, a monster in his nightmares, and the grief associated with an ill family member. Then a real monster shows up and Conor is forced to face some truths within himself. 

40. Fallen Angels

by Walter Dean Myers

Perry volunteers for the Vietnam War, and he is sent to the front lines where he must face the horrors of war. 

41. When You Reach Me

by Rebecca Stead

Miranda receives mysterious notes that predict the future. So, when the notes instruct her to write a letter, she feels she must do as she is told. There is a nice mystery woven in, and some time travel to boot. 

42. Mortal Engines

by Philip Reeve

In this fascinating and creative futuristic world, cities have been turned into rolling behemoths that hunt down and tear apart other cities. This is the first book in a four-part series. There is lots of world-building and some excellent character development. 

43. The Book of Boy

by Catherine Gilbert Murdock

A protagonist known as Boy is bullied for his hump and so spends his time along in the woods communing with the animals. He is found by a man named Secondus who hires Boy as a servant. Secondus has a mission, which involves thieving ancient relics with Boy’s help. 

44. Willa of the Wood

by Robert Beatty

Willa is a night spirit, and she hates humans for the havoc the wreak on nature. She steals from humans as revenge, but one day winds up hurt, leaving her vulnerable during daylight hours. 

45. Grenade

Grenade is the story of two young men. Hideki, who is in the Japanese army during WWII, and Ray, an American soldier in Japan. The two collide with orders to kill each other and they each must make a choice. 

46. Olivia Twist

by Lorie Langdon

In this spin on Oliver Twist, Olivia is raised among Long street thieves until her uncle takes her into high society after a thieving episode goes wrong. But even though she is allowed to live a life of comfort, she cannot forget the London orphans and so sneaks away to offer her help. 

47. The Seventh Most Important Thing

by Shelley Pearsall

Arthur finds himself facing a judge after he threw a brick at a garbage truck and hit the Junk Man in the arm. The Junk Man offers to let Arthur do community service with him, who sets Arthur to combing through trash searching for a list of seven important things. 

48. The Thing About Jellyfish

by Ali Benjamin

Suzy’s best friend dies in a drowning accident, but Suzy is convinced the accident was caused by a jellyfish sting. In her grief, she retreats into her imagination and comes up with a plan to prove her theory correct. 

49. Summer of the Gypsy Moths

by Sara Pennypacker

Aunt Louise has taken in her niece Stella, and Stella loves living with her aunt. Until that is, Louise opens her home to another foster child, Angel, who Stella does not get along with. Aunt Louise dies and the two girls decide not to tell anyone. 

50. Lily and Dunkin by Donna Gephart

Lily and Dunkin are both dealing with heavy situations. Lily was born a boy but knows she’s a girl, whereas Dunkin has bipolar disorder. The two become friends and help each other cope. 

Other book lists from Amy’s bookshelf you’ll love: 

• 50 Must-Read Books for Kindergarteners
• 50 Must-Read Books For First Graders
• 50 Must-Read Books for Second Graders
• 50 Must-Read Books For Third Graders
• 50 Must-Read Books for Fourth Graders
• 50 Must-Read Books For Fifth Graders
• 50 Must-Read Books For Sixth Graders
• 50 Must-Read Books for Seventh Graders

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How to Write a Book Report

Use the links below to jump directly to any section of this guide:

Book Report Fundamentals

Preparing to write, an overview of the book report format, how to write the main body of a book report, how to write a conclusion to a book report, reading comprehension and book reports, book report resources for teachers .

Book reports remain a key educational assessment tool from elementary school through college. Sitting down to close read and critique texts for their content and form is a lifelong skill, one that benefits all of us well beyond our school years. With the help of this guide, you’ll develop your reading comprehension and note-taking skills. You’ll also find resources to guide you through the process of writing a book report, step-by-step, from choosing a book and reading actively to revising your work. Resources for teachers are also included, from creative assignment ideas to sample rubrics.

Book reports follow general rules for composition, yet are distinct from other types of writing assignments. Central to book reports are plot summaries, analyses of characters and themes, and concluding opinions. This format differs from an argumentative essay or critical research paper, in which impartiality and objectivity is encouraged. Differences also exist between book reports and book reviews, who do not share the same intent and audience. Here, you’ll learn the basics of what a book report is and is not.

What Is a Book Report?

"Book Report" ( ThoughtCo )

This article, written by a professor emeritus of rhetoric and English, describes the defining characteristics of book reports and offers observations on how they are composed.

"Writing a Book Report" (Purdue OWL)

Purdue’s Online Writing Lab outlines the steps in writing a book report, from keeping track of major characters as you read to providing adequate summary material.

"How to Write a Book Report" ( Your Dictionary )

This article provides another helpful guide to writing a book report, offering suggestions on taking notes and writing an outline before drafting. 

"How to Write a Successful Book Report" ( ThoughtCo )

Another post from ThoughtCo., this article highlights the ten steps for book report success. It was written by an academic advisor and college enrollment counselor.

What’s the Difference Between a Book Report and an Essay?

"Differences Between a Book Report & Essay Writing" ( Classroom)

In this article from the education resource Classroom,  you'll learn the differences and similarities between book reports and essay writing.

"Differences Between a Book Report and Essay Writing" (SeattlePi.com)

In this post from a Seattle newspaper's website, memoirist Christopher Cascio highlights how book report and essay writing differ.

"The Difference Between Essays and Reports" (Solent Online Learning)

This PDF from Southampton Solent University includes a chart demonstrating the differences between essays and reports. Though it is geared toward university students, it will help students of all levels understand the differing purposes of reports and analytical essays.

What’s the Difference Between a Book Report and a Book Review?

"How to Write a Book Review and a Book Report" (Concordia Univ.)

The library at Concordia University offers this helpful guide to writing book report and book reviews. It defines differences between the two, then presents components that both forms share.

"Book Reviews" (Univ. of North Carolina)

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s writing guide shows the step-by-step process of writing book reviews, offering a contrast to the composition of book reports.

Active reading and thoughtful preparation before you begin your book report are necessary components of crafting a successful piece of writing. Here, you’ll find tips and resources to help you learn how to select the right book, decide which format is best for your report, and outline your main points.

Selecting and Finding a Book

"30 Best Books for Elementary Readers" (Education.com)

This article from Education.com lists 30 engaging books for students from kindergarten through fifth grade. It was written by Esme Raji Codell, a teacher, author, and children's literature specialist.

"How to Choose a Good Book for a Report (Middle School)" (WikiHow)

This WikiHow article offers suggestions for middle schoolers on how to choose the right book for a report, from getting started early on the search process to making sure you understand the assignment's requirements.

"Best Book-Report Books for Middle Schoolers" (Common Sense Media)

Common Sense Media has compiled this list of 25 of the best books for middle school book reports. For younger students, the article suggests you check out the site's "50 Books All Kids Should Read Before They're 12."

"50 Books to Read in High School" (Lexington Public Library)

The Lexington, Kentucky Public Library has prepared this list to inspire high school students to choose the right book. It includes both classics and more modern favorites.

The Online Computer Library Center's catalogue helps you locate books in libraries near you, having itemized the collections of 72,000 libraries in 170 countries.

Formats of Book Reports

"Format for Writing a Book Report" ( Your Dictionary )

Here, Your Dictionary supplies guidelines for the basic book report format. It describes what you'll want to include in the heading, and what information to include in the introductory paragraph. Be sure to check these guidelines against your teacher's requirements.

"The Good Old Book Report" (Scholastic)

Nancy Barile’s blog post for Scholastic lists the questions students from middle through high school should address in their book reports.

How to Write an Outline

"Writer’s Web: Creating Outlines" (Univ. of Richmond)

The University of Richmond’s Writing Center shows how you can make use of micro and macro outlines to organize your argument.

"Why and How to Create a Useful Outline" (Purdue OWL)

Purdue’s Online Writing Lab demonstrates how outlines can help you organize your report, then teaches you how to create outlines.

"Creating an Outline" (EasyBib)

EasyBib, a website that generates bibliographies, offers sample outlines and tips for creating your own. The article encourages you to think about transitions and grouping your notes.

"How to Write an Outline: 4 Ways to Organize Your Thoughts" (Grammarly)

This blog post from a professional writer explains the advantages of using an outline, and presents different ways to gather your thoughts before writing.

In this section, you’ll find resources that offer an overview of how to write a book report, including first steps in preparing the introduction. A good book report's introduction hooks the reader with strong opening sentences and provides a preview of where the report is going.

"Step-by-Step Outline for a Book Report" ( Classroom )

This article from Classroom furnishes students with a guide to the stages of writing a book report, from writing the rough draft to revising.

"Your Roadmap to a Better Book Report" ( Time4Writing )

Time4Writing offers tips for outlining your book report, and describes all of the information that the introduction, body, and conclusion should include.

"How to Start a Book Report" ( ThoughtCo)

This ThoughtCo. post, another by academic advisor and college enrollment counselor Grace Fleming, demonstrates how to write a pithy introduction to your book report.

"How to Write an Introduction for a Book Report" ( Classroom )

This brief but helpful post from Classroom  details what makes a good book report introduction, down to the level of individual sentences.

The body paragraphs of your book report accomplish several goals: they describe the plot, delve more deeply into the characters and themes that make the book unique, and include quotations and examples from the book. Below are some resources to help you succeed in summarizing and analyzing your chosen text.

Plot Summary and Description

"How Do You Write a Plot Summary?" ( Reference )

This short article presents the goals of writing a plot summary, and suggests a word limit. It emphasizes that you should stick to the main points and avoid including too many specific details, such as what a particular character wears.

"How to Write a Plot for a Book Report" ( The Pen & The Pad )

In this article from a resource website for writers, Patricia Harrelson outlines what information to include in a plot summary for a book report. 

"How to Write a Book Summary" (WikiHow)

Using Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone as an example, this WikiHow article demonstrates how to write a plot summary one step at a time.

Analyzing Characters and Themes

"How to Write a Character Analysis Book Report" ( The Pen & The Pad )

Kristine Tucker shows how to write a book report focusing on character. You can take her suggestions as they are, or consider  incorporating them into the more traditional book report format.

"How to Write a Character Analysis" (YouTube)

The SixMinuteScholar Channel utilizes analysis of the film  Finding Nemo to show you how to delve deeply into character, prioritizing inference over judgment.

"How to Define Theme" ( The Editor's Blog )

Fiction editor Beth Hill contributes an extended definition of theme. She also provides examples of common themes, such as "life is fragile."

"How to Find the Theme of a Book or Short Story" ( ThoughtCo )

This blog post from ThoughtCo. clarifies the definition of theme in relation to symbolism, plot, and moral. It also offers examples of themes in literature, such as love, death, and good vs. evil.

Selecting and Integrating Quotations

"How to Choose and Use Quotations" (Santa Barbara City College)

This guide from a college writing center will help you choose which quotations to use in your book report, and how to blend quotations with your own words.

"Guidelines for Incorporating Quotes" (Ashford Univ.)

This PDF from Ashford University's Writing Center introduces the ICE method for incorporating quotations: introduce, cite, explain.

"Quote Integration" (YouTube)

This video from The Write Way YouTube channel illustrates how to integrate quotations into writing, and also explains how to cite those quotations.

"Using Literary Quotations" (Univ. of Wisconsin-Madison)

This guide from the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s Writing Center helps you emphasize your analysis of a quotation, and explains how to incorporate quotations into your text.

Conclusions to any type of paper are notoriously tricky to write. Here, you’ll learn some creative ways to tie up loose ends in your report and express your own opinion of the book you read. This open space for sharing opinions that are not grounded in critical research is an element that often distinguishes book reports from other types of writing.

"How to Write a Conclusion for a Book Report" ( Classroom )

This brief article from the education resource  Classroom illustrates the essential points you should make in a book report conclusion.

"Conclusions" (Univ. of North Carolina)

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s Writing Center lays out strategies for writing effective conclusions. Though the article is geared toward analytical essay conclusions, the tips offered here will also help you write a strong book report.

"Ending the Essay: Conclusions" (Harvard College Writing Center)

Pat Bellanca’s article for Harvard University’s Writing Center presents ways to conclude essays, along with tips. Again, these are suggestions for concluding analytical essays that can also be used to tie up a book report's loose ends.

Reading closely and in an engaged manner is the strong foundation upon which all good book reports are built. The resources below will give you a picture of what active reading looks like, and offer strategies to assess and improve your reading comprehension. Further, you’ll learn how to take notes—or “annotate” your text—making it easier to find important information as you write.

How to Be an Active Reader

"Active Reading Strategies: Remember and Analyze What You Read" (Princeton Univ.)

Princeton University’s McGraw Center for Teaching and Learning recommends ten strategies for active reading, and includes sample diagrams.

"Active Reading" (Open Univ.)

The Open University offers these techniques for reading actively alongside video examples. The author emphasizes that you should read for comprehension—not simply to finish the book as quickly as possible.

"7 Active Reading Strategies for Students" ( ThoughtCo )

In this post, Grace Fleming outlines seven methods for active reading. Her suggestions include identifying unfamiliar words and finding the main idea. 

"5 Active Reading Strategies for Textbook Assignments" (YouTube)

Thomas Frank’s seven-minute video demonstrates how you can retain the most important information from long and dense reading material.

Assessing Your Reading Comprehension

"Macmillan Readers Level Test" (MacMillan)

Take this online, interactive test from a publishing company to find out your reading level. You'll be asked a number of questions related to grammar and vocabulary.

"Reading Comprehension Practice Test" (ACCUPLACER)

ACCUPLACER is a placement test from The College Board. This 20-question practice test will help you see what information you retain after reading short passages.

"Reading Comprehension" ( English Maven )

The English Maven site has aggregated exercises and tests at various reading levels so you can quiz your reading comprehension skills.

How to Improve Your Reading Comprehension

"5 Tips for Improving Reading Comprehension" ( ThoughtCo )

ThoughtCo. recommends five tips to increase your reading comprehension ability, including reading with tools such as highlighters, and developing new vocabulary.

"How to Improve Reading Comprehension: 8 Expert Tips" (PrepScholar)

This blog post from PrepScholar provides ideas for improving your reading comprehension, from expanding your vocabulary to discussing texts with friends.

CrashCourse video: "Reading Assignments" (YouTube)

This CrashCourse video equips you with tools to read more effectively. It will help you determine how much material you need to read, and what strategies you can use to absorb what you read.

"Improving Reading Comprehension" ( Education Corner )

From a pre-reading survey through post-reading review, Education Corner  walks you through steps to improve reading comprehension.

Methods of In-text Annotation

"The Writing Process: Annotating a Text" (Hunter College)

This article from Hunter College’s Rockowitz Writing Center outlines how to take notes on a text and provides samples of annotation.

"How To Annotate Text While Reading" (YouTube)

This video from the SchoolHabits YouTube channel presents eleven annotation techniques you can use for better reading comprehension.

"5 Ways To Annotate Your Books" ( Book Riot )

This article from the Book Riot  blog highlights five efficient annotation methods that will save you time and protect your books from becoming cluttered with unnecessary markings.

"How Do You Annotate Your Books?" ( Epic Reads )

This post from Epic Reads highlights how different annotation methods work for different people, and showcases classic methods from sticky notes to keeping a reading notebook.

Students at every grade level can benefit from writing book reports, which sharpen critical reading skills. Here, we've aggregated sources to help you plan book report assignments and develop rubrics for written and oral book reports. You’ll also find alternative book report assessment ideas that move beyond the traditional formats.

Teaching Elementary School Students How to Write Book Reports

"Book Reports" ( Unique Teaching Resources )

These reading templates courtesy of Unique Teaching Resources make great visual aids for elementary school students writing their first book reports.

"Elementary Level Book Report Template" ( Teach Beside Me )

This   printable book report template from a teacher-turned-homeschooler is simple, classic, and effective. It asks basic questions, such as "who are the main characters?" and "how did you feel about the main characters?"

"Book Reports" ( ABC Teach )

ABC Teach ’s resource directory includes printables for book reports on various subjects at different grade levels, such as a middle school biography book report form and a "retelling a story" elementary book report template.

"Reading Worksheets" ( Busy Teacher's Cafe )

This page from Busy Teachers’ Cafe contains book report templates alongside reading comprehension and other language arts worksheets.

Teaching Middle School and High School Students How to Write Book Reports

"How to Write a Book Report: Middle and High School Level" ( Fact Monster)

Fact Monster ’s Homework Center discusses each section of a book report, and explains how to evaluate and analyze books based on genre for students in middle and high school.

"Middle School Outline Template for Book Report" (Trinity Catholic School)

This PDF outline template breaks the book report down into manageable sections for seventh and eighth graders by asking for specific information in each paragraph.

"Forms for Writing a Book Report for High School" ( Classroom )

In this article for Classroom,  Elizabeth Thomas describes what content high schoolers should focus on when writing their book reports.

"Forms for Writing a Book Report for High School" ( The Pen & The Pad )

Kori Morgan outlines techniques for adapting the book report assignment to the high school level in this post for The Pen & The Pad .

"High School Book Lists and Report Guidelines" (Highland Hall Waldorf School)

These sample report formats, grading paradigms, and tips are collected by Highland Hall Waldorf School. Attached are book lists by high school grade level.

Sample Rubrics

"Book Review Rubric Editable" (Teachers Pay Teachers)

This free resource from Teachers Pay Teachers allows you to edit your book report rubric to the specifications of your assignment and the grade level you teach.

"Book Review Rubric" (Winton Woods)

This PDF rubric from a city school district includes directions to take the assignment long-term, with follow-up exercises through school quarters.

"Multimedia Book Report Rubric" ( Midlink Magazine )

Perfect for oral book reports, this PDF rubric from North Carolina State University's Midlink Magazine  will help you evaluate your students’ spoken presentations.

Creative Book Report Assignments

"25 Book Report Alternatives" (Scholastic)

This article from the Scholastic website lists creative alternatives to the standard book report for pre-kindergarteners through high schoolers.

"Fresh Ideas for Creative Book Reports" ( Education World )

Education World offers nearly 50 alternative book report ideas in this article, from a book report sandwich to a character trait diagram.

"A Dozen Ways to Make Amazingly Creative Book Reports" ( We Are Teachers )

This post from We Are Teachers puts the spotlight on integrating visual arts into literary study through multimedia book report ideas.

"More Ideas Than You’ll Ever Use for Book Reports" (Teachnet.com)

This list from Teachnet.com includes over 300 ideas for book report assignments, from "interviewing" a character to preparing a travel brochure to the location in which the book is set.

"Fifty Alternatives to the Book Report" (National Council of Teachers of English)

In this PDF resource from the NCTE's  English Journal,  Diana Mitchell offers assignment ideas ranging from character astrology signs to a character alphabet.

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How to Write a Killer Book Report

By melissa taylor.

Book reports (also called book reviews or critiques) check for a student’s reading comprehension skills and ability to express his or her thoughts about the book in writing.

Depending on the grade level and the teacher’s specific assignment, a book report can be from one to five or more paragraphs. But no matter the length, book reports need to include these essential elements:

Book Report Checklist

_____   title and author.

Always include the book’s title and the author’s name. If you’re writing an essay, this goes in the first sentence or first paragraph.

_____   Summary

Fiction : Summaries can be challenging. So here’s how to pare down everything that happened in the book.

Remember doing story maps? If your book is fiction, start with a story map to jot down the story elements: setting; beginning, middle, and end (or problem and resolution); and main characters. You can find story map examples here . Take the information from the story map and combine it into sentences to form a concise summary.

Fiction summary example: A blond girl entered a house in the woods where she broke furniture, ate cereal, and took a nap. When the bear homeowners returned, the little girl ran away.

Another way to summarize is to use the “ somebody-wanted-but-so-then ” method . For each word (i.e. somebod y), write the story element. For example: Somebody = the aliens, wanted = underpants, but = mom came outside to get laundry, so then = they zoomed back to space. Put this all together and you have a short and sweet summary: The aliens wanted underpants but the mom came outside to get the laundry so they zoomed back to space .

Nonfiction: If your book is nonfiction, instead of a story map, start with a graphic organizer or thinking map  to organize the most important information. Use this information to write your summary.

Nonfiction summary example: Each strata of the rainforest is home to diverse animals, from the upper canopy to the lower forest floor.

Adapt the “ somebody-wanted-but-so-then ” method for nonfiction using this formula: “ something-happened-and-then ”. Here’s an example: The hurricane destroyed the small village and made it difficult for residents to get clean water and shelter.

Reminder: Don’t put in any of those oh-so-interesting details in your summary. We don’t need to know that the main character stubbed her toe or her favorite band is The Rolling Stones. Only include the most important information.

_____   Analysis

Your teacher wants to know what you thought about the book and why. Depending on your grade level, she’ll want either your most basic thoughts ( What made it good or not good and why?) or a more complex analysis ( What was the book’s theme?) .

Here are questions to consider  when you write your analysis: (Remember to always justify your reasons with an explanation. In other words, always answer WHY after you state your thoughts.)

• Did you like this book?
• Could you relate to something in the character’s life?
• Did the book teach you anything?
• What made the book difficult or interesting?
• What surprised you and why?
• What do you know now that you didn’t know before?
• Would you read another book by this author?
• What motivated the main character?
• How did the main character change throughout the story?
• Talk about author’s craft. What about the writing was notable?
• What was the symbolism in the book?
• What wisdom did older characters impart to younger ones?

_____   Examples from the Text

Most teachers require citations, or specific examples, to support analysis, especially after a close reading . You’ll have two choices: paraphrase the part in the book in your own words or quote directly from the text.

When using a direct quote, elementary students are required to put quotation marks around the passage as well as indicate the page where the quote is found. Example: “ But wherever these friends of mine are — that’s my home. ” (480)

For middle and high school students, teachers require MLA or APA style citations. MLA citations are (last name page number) while APA citations are (last name, publication year). For more specifics, visit this helpful tutorial .

Book reports are important for a student’s academic success.  An Anchor Common Core Standard for Reading confirms this , saying that students should be able to: “Read closely to determine what the text says explicitly and to make logical inferences from it; cite specific textual evidence when writing or speaking to support conclusions drawn from the text.”

If you or your kiddos need a bit of book report inspiration, and a laugh or two along the way, check out this classic “Peanuts” video .

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The Best Books for Eighth Graders

Eighth grade readers have a lot to gain through books, both academically and in their personal development. Thought-provoking titles at this age will help develop your reader’s abstract thinking; they’ll approach complex moral issues and discover diverse perspectives they might not typically encounter. 

Other forms of entertainment may offer a window to the world, but books reign supreme when it comes to challenging eighth graders to think critically. The best titles don’t just entertain—they support adolescents in their path to forming personal viewpoints. Readers can synthesize information found in fiction and nonfiction stories and apply it to real-life situations, while expanding their empathy and understanding of the world around them. 

Middle grade fiction, activity books, graphic novels, and young adult fiction can all be part of a balanced eighth grade reading diet. To lead your reader towards the most enriching stories, Literati has named its top picks. Here are a few of the best titles for your eighth grade reader:

By Jarod Shusterman and Neal Shusterman

In this captivating survival story, one teen must make crucial decisions for her family in order to survive a devastating drought. Readers won’t be able to take their eyes off of this vivid, near-future dystopia as they’re challenged to understand the reasoning and motivation behind certain characters’ reactions. Full of tension and pulse-pounding suspense, Dry is a distressing reminder of our current climate reality and a gripping “what if” exercise for your eighth grader.

Burn After Writing Teen

By Rhiannon Shove

The made-for-teens edition of Rhiannon Shove’s ultra-engaging personal journal, Burn After Writing , will get your eighth grader thinking about big questions and looking inward for answers. The fun, thought-provoking prompts throughout this book provide an outlet for some complicated thinking—the kind that eighth graders aren’t always sure how to approach. Journaling is a fantastic form of self-care, but sitting down in front of a blank page can be a little daunting (even for adults). This book provides the perfect safe space for teens—unlike that math test next period, there are no wrong answers here!

Blood Metal Bone

By Lindsay Cummings

After being wrongly accused of her brother’s murder, Sonara gets a second chance at uncovering the truth. A clever blend of sci-fi and fantasy elements allows readers to get in touch with more specific genre preferences. With an expansive world to explore and a wide cast of characters, your eighth grader’s memory and comprehension will be adequately challenged, while they stay completely immersed in a total page-turner.

Knowledge Genius! A Quiz Encyclopedia to Boost Your Brain

by DK Publishing

Do you have a future Jeopardy contestant on your hands? You might after you get this fact-packed book in front of them. First, readers will dive into a whole slew of “general knowledge” subjects. Then, they can quiz themselves and find out just how much they’ve learned! Other than the obvious educational value of a brain-boosting encyclopedia, the self-testing format found in this book is incredibly impactful. When students quiz themselves on information, they’re more likely to encode it deeply and recall it later. That’s right—this book can actually help teach your eighth grader how to study effectively!

By Amanada Patnitch

Survival stories are popular among eighth and ninth graders as readers can jump into super high-stakes scenarios, relate to teen characters, and watch them grow into heroic versions of themselves. In Gone Dark , the country’s power grid is suddenly compromised, leaving Zara to make an impossible choice in order to survive. Eighth graders will find a strong message about resilience and facing one’s past with confidence while following along for the adventure.

The best books for eighth graders feature captivating plots, immersive settings, and challenges that feel relevant to the eighth grade experience. Even if your reader chooses to escape into a fantasy world, the best books will encourage them to think deeply and find lessons they can bring back to reality.

Sometimes, finding those perfect titles is easier said than done: all eighth graders are different, after all. No matter what kind of story excites your reader—even if they don’t know it yet—Literati is here to help them build reading habits that stick. 

When you join Literati book clubs, your reader will receive a personalized box of books curated just for them. They’ll go deeper into their existing interests, and find new ones, and solidify a passion for literature with stories that are perfectly matched to their reading level. Start with Literati’s personalization quiz and get your first box of books today.

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How to Write a Book Report (+ Book Report Example) 

Download for free, specific tips for writing effective book reports..

Write better book reports using the tips, examples, and outlines presented here. This resource covers three types of effective book reports: plot summaries, character analyses, and theme analyses. It also features a specific book report example for students.

How to write a book report (+ book report example) 

Whether you're a student looking to show your comprehension of a novel, or simply a book lover wanting to share your thoughts, writing a book report can be a rewarding experience. This guide, filled with tips, tricks, and a book report example, will help you craft a report that effectively communicates your understanding and analysis of your chosen book.

Looking for a printable resource on book reports? See our Printable Book Report Outlines and Examples

What is a book report? 

Book reports can take on many different forms. Writing a book review helps you practice giving your opinion about different aspects of a book, such as an author's use of description or dialogue.

You can write book reports of any type, from fiction to non-fiction research papers, or essay writing; however, there are a few basic elements you need to include to convey why the book you read was interesting when writing a good book report.

Types of book reports 

Three types of effective book reports are plot summaries, character analyses, and theme analyses. Each type focuses on different aspects of the book and requires a unique approach. These three types of book reports will help you demonstrate your understanding of the book in different ways.

Plot summary

When you are writing a plot summary for your book report you don't want to simply summarize the story. You need to explain what your opinion is of the story and why you feel the plot is so compelling, unrealistic, or sappy. It is the way you analyze the plot that will make this a good report. Make sure that you use plenty of examples from the book to support your opinions.

Try starting the report with a sentence similar to the following:

The plot of I Married a Sea Captain , by Monica Hubbard, is interesting because it gives the reader a realistic sense of what it was like to be the wife of a whaling captain and live on Nantucket during the 19th century.

Character analysis

If you choose to write a character analysis, you can explore the physical and personality traits of different characters and the way their actions affect the plot of the book.

• Explore the way a character dresses and what impression that leaves with the reader.
• What positive characteristics does the character possess?
• Does the character have a "fatal flaw" that gets him/her into trouble frequently?
• Try taking examples of dialogue and analyzing the way a character speaks. Discuss the words he/she chooses and the way his/her words affect other characters.
• Finally, tie all of your observations together by explaining the way the characters make the plot move forward.

In the novel Charlotte's Web , by E. B. White, Templeton the rat may seem like an unnecessary character but his constant quest for food moves the plot forward in many ways.

Theme analyses

Exploring the themes (or big ideas that run throughout the story) in a book can be a great way to write a book report because picking a theme that you care about can make the report easier to write. Try bringing some of your thoughts and feelings as a reader into the report as a way to show the power of a theme. Before you discuss your own thoughts, however, be sure to establish what the theme is and how it appears in the story.

• Explain  exactly  what theme you will be exploring in your book report.
• Use as many examples and quotations from the book as possible to prove that the theme is important to the story.
• Make sure that you talk about each example or quotation you've included. Make a direct connection between the theme and the example from the book.
• After you have established the theme and thoroughly examined the way it affects the book, include a few sentences about the impact the theme had upon you and why it made the book more or less enjoyable to read.

In the novel Roll of Thunder Hear My Cry , by Mildred Taylor, the theme of racial prejudice is a major catalyst in the story.

How to write a book report

1. Thoroughly read the book

Immerse yourself in the book, taking the time to read it in its entirety. As you read, jot down notes on important aspects such as key points, themes, and character developments.

2. Identify the main elements of the book

Scrutinize the book's primary components, including its main themes, characters, setting, and plot. These elements will form the basis of your report.

3. Formulate a thesis statement

Compose a thesis statement that encapsulates your personal perspective about the book. This should be a concise statement that will guide your analysis and give your report a clear focus.

4. Create a detailed outline

Plan the structure of your book report. This outline should include an introduction, body paragraphs each focusing on a different aspect of the book, and a conclusion.

5. Craft the introduction

The introduction should provide basic information such as the book's title and author, and present your thesis statement. It should engage the reader and make them interested in your analysis.

6. Write the body of the report

In the body of your report, discuss in detail the book's main elements that you identified in step 3. Use specific examples from the text to support your analysis and to prove your thesis statement.

7. Write a strong conclusion

Your conclusion should summarize your analysis, reaffirm your thesis, and provide a closing thought or reflection on the overall book.

8. Review and edit your report

After writing, take the time to revise your report for clarity and coherence. Check for and correct any grammar or spelling errors. Ensure that your report clearly communicates your understanding and analysis of the book.

9. Include citations

If you have used direct quotes or specific ideas from the book, make sure to include proper citations . This is crucial in academic writing and helps avoid plagiarism.

10. Proofread

Finally, proofread your work. Look for any missed errors and make sure that the report is the best it can be before submitting it.

Book report example 

Below is a book report example on the novel To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee.

In  To Kill a Mockingbird , Harper Lee presents a thoughtful exploration of racial prejudice, morality, and the loss of innocence. Set in the small, fictional town of Maycomb, Alabama, during the Great Depression, the book centers around the Finch family - young Scout, her older brother Jem, and their widowed father, Atticus. Scout's character provides a fresh perspective as she narrates her experiences and observations of the unjust racial prejudice in her town. Her honesty and curiosity, coupled with her father's teachings, allow her to grow from innocence to a more profound understanding of her society's inequalities. The plot revolves around Atticus Finch, a respected lawyer, defending a black man, Tom Robinson, unjustly accused of raping a white woman. As the trial progresses, it becomes clear that Robinson is innocent, and the accusation was a product of racial prejudice. Despite compelling evidence in Robinson's favor, he is convicted, symbolizing the power of bias over truth. The theme of racial prejudice is a significant part of the book. Lee uses the trial and its unjust outcome to critique the racial prejudice prevalent in society. For example, despite Atticus's solid defense, the jury's racial bias leads them to find Robinson guilty. This instance highlights how deeply ingrained prejudice can subvert justice. The book also explores the theme of the loss of innocence. Scout and Jem's experiences with prejudice and injustice lead to their loss of innocence and a better understanding of the world's complexities. For example, Scout's realization of her town's unfair treatment of Robinson demonstrates her loss of innocence and her understanding of societal biases. Overall,  To Kill a Mockingbird  is a compelling exploration of the harsh realities of prejudice and the loss of innocence. Harper Lee's intricate characters and vivid storytelling have made this book a classic.

The above is an excellent book report example for several reasons. First, it provides a clear, concise summary of the plot without giving away the entire story. Second, it analyzes the main characters, their roles, and their impacts on the story. Third, it discusses the major themes of the book - racial prejudice and loss of innocence - and supports these themes with evidence from the text. Finally, it presents a personal perspective on the book's impact and overall message, demonstrating a deep understanding of the book's significance.

Book report checklist

Always  include the following elements in any book report:

• The type of book report you are writing
• The book's title
• The author of the book
• The time when the story takes place
• The location where the story takes place
• The names and a  brief  description of each of the characters you will be discussing
• Many quotations and examples from the book to support your opinions
• A thesis statement
• The point of view of the narrator
• Summary of the book
• The main points or themes discussed in the work of fiction or non-fiction
• The first paragraph (introductory paragraph), body paragraphs, and final paragraph
• The writing styles of the author
• A critical analysis of the fiction or non-fiction book

Don't forget! 

No matter what type of book report you decide to write, ensure it includes basic information about the main characters, and make sure that your writing is clear and expressive so that it’s easy for audiences in middle school, high school, college-level, or any grade level to understand. Also, include examples from the book to support your opinions. Afterward, conduct thorough proofreading to complete the writing process. Book reports may seem disconnected from your other schoolwork, but they help you learn to summarize, compare and contrast, make predictions and connections, and consider different perspectives & skills you'll need throughout your life.

Looking for more writing resources? You can find them in our creative writing center .

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How to Write an Eighth Grade Book Report

How to Start a Good Book Report

Book reports are essential to the critical reading process. They are used as a device for the reader to take a closer look at what she has read and gain a better understanding of its meaning. In the eighth grade, you may be required to write book reports for several of your classes, including language arts and social studies. To write the best book report you can, there are some simple guidelines you should follow.

Make notes in the margins of the book or on a separate sheet of paper as you read. If a certain quote or plot point seems important to you, underline it. If you don't understand a word, circle it and look up its definition in a dictionary. If you have any questions, make note as you go along. A few simple notes will help focus your book report.

Summarize the plot of the book. When writing your summary, it is important to know your audience. You may want to ask the assigning teacher if you should write to a reader who has never read the book or to someone who is familiar with the text. Either way, you should include a brief summary that introduces the setting and plot as well as a description of the main characters.

Create a thesis for your book report. This is essential to all successful essay writing. You may want to focus your report on an argument. For instance, if the report is on Charles Dickens's "Great Expectations," you may write about how setting is portrayed in the lives of the characters. Your book report does not have to be persuasive, however. It can be a thorough summary, a detailed character map or even a personal response to some aspect of the text.

Put yourself in the mind of the author. What would the author want you to take away from reading this book? Support your report with evidence that you have actively engaged with the text. Use quotes or descriptions from the text to prove your point or show your understanding.

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How to write an informal report.

Liza Hollis has been writing for print and online publications since 2003. Her work has appeared on various digital properties, including USAToday.com. Hollis earned a degree in English Literature from the University of Florida.

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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.

For more articles like this one, plus tips, tricks, and ideas for teachers,  sign up for our free newsletters ., you might also like.

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The 57 Best Chapter Books For 8th Graders To Read (In 2022)

When you pick books for 8th graders, it can be challenging to walk the line between middle-grade and young adult books. Not to mention, eighth graders can vary in their reading levels, with some well into their young adult book phases and others struggling to finish a book.

So, how do you challenge avid readers and motivate reluctant ones? The secret is a mix of upper middle-grade novels, younger YA picks, modern classics, and accessible classics. And we’ll give you tons of recommendations for your 8th-grade reading list.

1. I’ll Give You The Sun

“I’ll Give You the Sun” by Jandy Nelson. This modern classic is one of our favorite coming-of-age stories, and it’ll make eighth-graders and adult readers laugh and cry.

In it, we follow the perspectives of the twins, Jude and Noah. When tragedy strikes, it flips their world upside down.

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2. The Diary Of A Young Girl

It’s a powerful story that teen readers will learn a lot from.

3. The Hate You Give

Her poor neighborhood and her fancy prep school. When a police officer shoots her best friend, she’s the only one who knows what went down. This BLM-inspired novel is a must-read for 8th-grade kids.

4. Clap When You Land

The National Book Award-winning and New York Times Bestselling author Elizabeth Acevedo takes our breath away with her novel-in-verse, “Clap When You Land.”

Let your eighth grader see how grief brings Yahaira, from New York, and Camino, from the Dominican Republic, together.

5. The Hobbit4

If you’re looking for a challenging book, Tolkien’s “The Hobbit” is one of the best books for eighth-grade avid readers. Those who love fantasy books will love the epic adventure that Bilbo Baggins, a hobbit, goes on.

6. Brown Girl Dreaming

Jacqueline Woodson’s “Brown Girl Dreaming” is a multi-award winning book. This powerful own voices story, told in verse, depicts Woodson’s childhood, her experience as an African American in the 1960s and 1970s, and her awareness of the Civil Rights movement.

One of the best eighth-grade books set in a dystopian world is “Scythe” by Neal Shusterman.

So, to keep the population under control, “Scythes” are appointed to kill people.

Your middle school kids follow two teenagers as they train to become scythes. What happens when they discover the system’s corruption?

8. The Night Circus

Erin Morgenstern’s “The Night Circus” is an atmospheric fantasy novel.

Celia and Marco, who duel in a bigger game than they can imagine. The complex magic system and detailed setting descriptions make this an enticing challenge for eighth-graders.

Jerry Craft brings us the perfect story for tween readers, an own voices graphic novel.

And Jordan doesn’t feel like he can fit in his new school or even his neighborhood. So, can he juggle both worlds, make friends, and stay true to himself?

10. A Long Walk To Water

Based on a true story, “A Long Walk to Water” is about two Sudanese children and the dangers they face to create better lives for themselves and others. Linda Sue Park’s moving story showcases the value of perseverance and hope, so your middle school kids will undoubtedly get something out of it.

11. The Book Thief

She steals them and transports herself and others away from the bombing raids. Markus Zusak’s masterpiece, “The Book Thief,” is one of the best 8th-grade books, but it’s also excellent for parents and older kids.

12. The Giver

He learns the memories and secrets of his community, so what happens when the blind goes off? That’s what Lois Lowry explores in “The Giver.” After reading it, you can have a movie night with your 8th-grade kids and watch the adaptation!

13. The Outsiders

We follow Ponyboy from the Greasers, who seems to have it all figured out. But when his friend shoots a member of their rival gang, the Socs, everything is turned upside down. Some readers think this novel is too violent to be a middle-grade novel, but we’ll leave that to your judgment.

14. Long Way Down

Jason Reynolds brings us a more modern story about teenage gun violence. Fifteen-year-old Will is about to avenge his dead brother. He gets on an elevator with a gun, and several people step in on his way down. Do they influence his decision?

15. The Cruel Prince

In it, Jude, a mortal, is desperately trying to fit in the High Court of Faerie. But, then, she gets involved in a web of royal faerie intrigue, which isn’t made easy by Prince Cardan who hates mortals!

16. I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter

After her older sister, Olga, passes away, Julia is constantly reminded that she’ll never be the perfect daughter Olga was. But was she really that perfect? Julia’s determined to find that out with her best friend, Lorena, and first love, Connor.

17. The Maze Runner

James Dashner’s “The Maze Runner” is one of the most famous 8th-grade chapter books.

Their only hope is this message: “Remember. Survive. Run.”

18. The Hunger Games

Some consider this series too violent for middle school, so keep that in mind. In it, 12 representatives from the districts fight till death on live TV while the wealthy Capitol’s people watch.

19. A Wrinkle In Time

Meg’s father was a scientist who disappeared while working on a secret program for the government. So, Meg, her younger brother Charles, and a popular jock called Calvin O’Keefe go on a journey to find him.

20. The Voting Booth

Marva Sheridan has always dreamed of making a difference. So, when Duke Crenshaw is turned away from the polling place, she’s determined to do everything in her power to get him to vote.

21. With The Fire On High

“With the Fire on High” by the bestselling and beloved author Elizabeth Acevedo tells the story of Emoni Santiago.

However, this book does have some mature conversations, so you can decide if they’re appropriate for your tweens or not.

22. The Poet X

Our heroine, the Afro-Latina Xiomara Batista, joins the school’s slam poetry club to make her voice heard. Acevedo’s debut is one of the best books for eighth-graders to examine identity, religion, societal expectations, and more.

23. Let Me Hear A Rhyme

To do that, they pretend he’s alive, but how long will it be before the lies catch up to them? Your 8th graders will want to know!

24. House In The Cerulean Sea

Our main character, Linus Baker, is a caseworker at the Department in Charge of Magical Youth. When he’s summoned to an orphanage with six “troubled” kids, Linus uncovers numerous secrets and has to make a difficult decision.

25. Harbor Me

Once a week, six children meet for a chat without parents or adults! They open up about issues that touch them, from racial profiling to deportation of immigrants and more.

26. Animal Farm

Do you want your kids to develop a more realistic worldview? Why don’t you pick George Orwell’s “Animal Farm” for your middle school children to read?

Orwell’s timeless allegory satirizes totalitarianism.

27. Adventures Of Huckleberry Finn

So, let your kids join Huckleberry Finn and Tom Sawyer on their boyhood adventures along the Mississippi River.

28. Daughter Of Smoke And Bone

In its world, angels and mythical creatures are at war. So, what happens when fate brings Karou and Akiva, who are on opposite sides of this war, together?

29. Life Of Pi

This book tells the story of 16-year-old Pi, the only person who survives a shipwreck.

Pi finds himself on a boat with an orangutan, a hyena, a wounded zebra, and a huge tiger as his only companions. After reading the book, you can watch the movie with your class and compare!

30. I Am Malala

It showcases how she turned her life around, standing up to the Taliban’s regime, fighting for girls’ education, and earning a Nobel Peace Prize!

31. Frankenstein

Mary Shelley’s “Frankenstein” chronicles scientist Victor Frankenstein’s attempt at making a creature from dead body parts. If you believe your kids are old enough for horror, “Frankenstein” will inspire such deep philosophical discussions.

32. The 5th Wave

Get your children to fall in love with reading by assigning them Rick Yancey’s “The 5th Wave.”

With her brother missing, is there anything Cassie won’t do to find him?

33. Goodbye Stranger

The new school year brings tons of changes, so will our three best friends, Bridge, Tab, and Emily, be able to keep the pact they made a long time ago not to fight? As Valentine’s Day approaches, these friends reconsider the bonds and limits of friendships in “Goodbye Stranger” by Rebecca Stead.

Are you looking for a heart-warming tale about friendship and perseverance? “Echo” by Pam Muñoz Ryan might be it.

How cool is that?

35. To Kill A Mockingbird

It’s the 1930s in Alabama, and Jem and Scout are living their best lives, playing with Dill, their neighbor, and getting into all sorts of shenanigans.

But when their lawyer father decides to defend a black man in a trial against a white woman whom he’s accused of raping, we witness the segregated South’s racism through the eyes of these children. Harper Lee’s “To Kill a Mockingbird” is a poignant story, but note that it contains some racially charged language and descriptions of sexual violence.

36. Catching Fire

If you’ve put “The Hunger Games” by Suzanne Collins on your syllabus, who not follow it up with the sequel “Catching Fire”? Better yet, you can assign it to your 8th graders as independent reading.

So, how do they handle the Capitol’s anger and the masses’ hopes for them?

37. The Lion, The Witch And The Wardrobe

“The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe” by C. S. Lewis is a whimsical story and the first book in “The Chronicles of Narnia.” In it, Lucy and her siblings enter a magical world called Narnia through a wardrobe door!

38. Artemis Fowl

He kidnaps a fairy, but the only problem is that this isn’t the kind of fairy that leaves money under your pillow; she’s lethal!

39. The Fault In Our Stars

“The Fault in Our Stars” is the perfect tearjerker and John Green’s masterpiece. If you don’t mind your 8th graders reading about heavy topics, this story is both heartbreaking and uplifting in its depiction of cancer.

Our main character, Hazel Grace, knows she’s dying of cancer. So, when she meets Augustus Waters at her cancer support group, she tries not to get too close to him. But what does the universe has in store for them?

40. The Perks Of Being A Wallflower

Stephen Chbosby’s “The Perks of Being a Wallflower” is a modern classic. The novel depicts issues that many high school students face. Not to mention, its unique format sets it apart, as it’s composed of letters from our main character.

Be sure to check out the content warnings before choosing this novel.

41. Lord Of The Rings

It’s, of course, a more challenging read, so make sure your eighth graders are ready for it. Also, the movies can make these books a lot less intimidating.

42. Miss Peregrine’s Home For Peculiar Children

If your 8th-grade students hate reading, why not give them a novel with tons of vintage, eerie photographs to spike their interest?

In “Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children” by Ransom Riggs, we follow 16-year-old Jacob, who sets off on a journey to learn about his family history. But he sure isn’t ready for what he finds … a mysterious island, an abandoned orphanage, peculiar children, and more.

43. I Know Why The Caged Birds Sing

“I Know Why the Caged Birds Sing” is a coming-of-age memoir by Maya Angelou. It tells the story of African-American Maya during the Great Depression.

44. Little Women

Their stories weave happiness, tragedy, hope, ambition, and more seamlessly. So, you can expect your 8th graders to enjoy the book and the 2019 movie adaptation as well!

45. The Master Puppeteer

Its mystery revolves around Sabura, a bandit who steals from the rich to help the poor.

46. Rebecca

Daphne Du Maurier’s “Rebecca” is one exciting mystery for your 8th-grade students. In it, the second Mrs. Maxim de Winter decides to unravel the dark truth about her husband’s first wife, the late Rebecca. Are these secrets better kept under wraps?

47. Walk Two Moons

On the road trip from Ohio to Idaho, she shares several interesting stories that’ll keep your kids hooked!

48. Wringer

When Palmer turns ten, he’s supposed to become a wringer; however, he wants anything but that. When an unexpected visitor comes into the picture, Palmer knows he must learn to stand up for what he believes in.

49. Go Tell It On The Mountain

Which can inspire important conversations in class. The main character of “Go Tell It on the Mountain” is a 14-year-old boy who discovers the terms of his identity, living with his stepfather, a self-righteous preacher.

50. When You Were Everything

In Sophomore year, two best friends, Cleo and Layla, cut ties.

They can learn something from how Cleo comes to terms with this and makes friends.

51. Almost American Girl

In it, Robin travels with her mom from Seoul, Korea to Alabama for a vacation. Then, her mom announces she’s getting married.

Now, Robin has to go to a school where she doesn’t speak the language and where there are no friends close by. Is there a light at the end of the tunnel?

52. Ender’s Game

“Ender’s Game” by Orson Scott Card is an easy and fun read for 8th graders.

But is Ender really the military genius that can rise to this challenge, or is he just a puppet?

In Megan E. Freeman’s “Alone,” twelve-year-old Maddie has a plan to have a sleepover with her two best friends, except she wakes up alone in an evacuated and abandoned town.

Not to mention, she has no contact with the outside world. She only has George, a Rottweiler, and an endless supply of books. Now, what will Maddy do in the face of looters, wild animals, and natural disasters? And how will she combat her loneliness?

54. Nikki On The Line

With friendship drama, school stress, and babysitting duties, can Nikki pull her weight on the basketball court? Let your kids find out in “Nikki on the Line” by Barbara Carroll Roberts.

55. The Many Meanings Of Meilan

She struggles with her identity as a Chinese American girl, becoming many Meilans. Your students will benefit from watching her find a home in herself and make a new friend along the way.

56. You Have A Match

So, she decides she must see her Instagram-famous sister, learn more about her, and understand why her parents gave her up for adoption.

57. All The Bright Places

Jennifer Niven’s “All the Bright Places” follows two teenagers, Theodore and Violet.

Your 8th graders will love this compelling, honest, and heartbreaking story about love and life.

Jump In : Make your 8th-grade students better at reading, writing, and expressing their thoughts by providing them with my list of 11 Free 8th Grade Reading Fluency Passages for Your Class !

Overall, we hope this collection of classic, contemporary, young adult, and middle-grade novels has helped you put together your 8th-grade book list. And remember that the key is to create a balance between literary merit, social issues, and tremendous fun!

Last Updated on July 24, 2022 by Emily

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Emily is an active mother of two and a dedicated elementary school teacher. She believes the latest technology has made a huge impact on the quality of early learning and has worked hard to upgrade her classroom and her own children’s learning experience through technology.

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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! 

Check out these other great posts!

10 Great Urban Fantasy Books of All-Time

The 8 Best Young Adult Romance Books

7 of The Best Young Adult Horror Books

8 Must-Read Young Adult Mystery Books and Thrillers

Top 9 Best E-Readers – Buyer’s Guide and Reviews

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K-12 School Reading List

Recommended reading books for elementary, middle & high school students

Home » Reading lists for High School students » 9th grade reading books for teens aged 14-15

9th grade reading books for teens aged 14-15

Grade 9 books – this recommended reading list has been curated and compiled by teachers and librarians for final year middle school / junior high and freshman high school students in the 9th Grade, aged 14-15. There is a range of exciting and thought-provoking books to suit all abilities, including easy readers and more difficult texts. This list of 9th grade reading recommendations contains titles by Jeff Zentner, Jason Reynolds, Liz Kessler, Adam Silvera, Victoria Aveyard, William Golding, Rick Yancey, Marjorie Rawlings, and more.

Books for Grade 9 – our recommendations

In the wild light by jeff zentner.

Cash’s world is about to change when his best friend Delaney gets them both full-ride scholarships to an elite school. He’ll be able to leave behind a life dominated by his father’s ill health and his late mother’s drug addiction. But can he bear to move away from his grandparents and hometown? This award-winning novel is an emotional engrossing read.

The First to Die at the End by Adam Silvera

Does the Death Cast predict someone’s time of death, or is it all just fake news? Orion Pagan and Valentino Prince are two very different characters who are both about to find out after their lives unexpectedly intertwine. This dystopian page-turner prequel to ‘They Both Die at the End’ melds emotion, conflict, and cliffhangers. It’s a gripping read.

Ain’t Burned All the Bright by Jason Reynolds

This unique mixed media words and art mash-up explores the meaning of the very oxygen we breathe. Part poetry, part cut up, and part art project Ain’t Burned All the Bright takes a look at life for a black family during the COVID pandemic in America. It’s an exceptional and engaging book to spark discussion in book clubs and to inspire less confident teens to read critically.

Amos Fortune, Free Man by Elizabeth Yates

Based on a true story: a young African prince, Amos, was sold into slavery, aged 15. Transported to Massachusetts, he was auctioned and began 45 years as a slave. Courageous, and retaining his dignity, he never stopped dreaming of freedom – and finally, his hopes were realized.

Nothing by Janne Teller

A modern masterpiece that has won awards worldwide. Teen Pierre Anton decides that nothing matters in life and climbs into a tree. He will not move, in spite of all the efforts of his fellow students to prove him wrong. A challenging read that asks questions teens will relate to. Controversial, thought-provoking and at times disturbing.

Lord of the Flies by William Golding

A group of boys is marooned on a deserted island and left to fend for themselves. What could possibly go wrong? An ideal book to study in 9th grade literature classes.

Catch-22 by Joseph Heller

A reluctant airman in WW2 gets closer and closer to achieving enough flights to go home but is thwarted every time in this absurdist portrayal of power and bureaucracy. This book is excellent for studying time shifts and narrative plotting.

Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds

A highly rated and award-winning book. Written in hard-hitting and sharply crafted verse, it tells a cautionary tale of revenge. 15-year-old Will, gun at the ready and ready to kill, is forced to face the potential consequences of his actions as he descends the elevator of his building. This book is a harsh expose of the peer pressures felt by young men.

Brave New World by Aldous Huxley

In a dystopian world where humans are bred and controlled, can one man bring normal life back to society? A challenging read for students in grade 9.

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

In this classic Pulitzer Prize winning story of prejudice, a white lawyer represents a black man accused of the most heinous of crimes in the South. Voted the best novel of the 20th century by American librarians.

The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger

Disillusioned with school, 16-year-old Holden Caulfield escapes to New York for three days where the reader finds out more about Holden’s life and Holden finds out more about how ‘phony’ the people and the world are. A classic coming-of-age story.

Looking for Alaska by John Green

The gripping multi-award-winning debut novel by John Green follows teenage Miles Halter as he leaves boarding school in search of “The Great Perhaps”. A great coming-of-age story, and a good novel to study and compare with The Catcher in the Rye.

The 5th Wave by Rick Yancey

The first book in a quintet of science fiction stories about human survival after a devastating alien invasion. Gripping and fast-paced, this series of novels will appeal to reluctant readers.

Monster by Walter Dean Meyers

The intelligent and distinctive story of Steve Harmon, charged with being the lookout in a homicide drug store robbery gone wrong is presented as a strangely detached screenplay written by Steve as a way of coping with the system and situation he finds himself trapped inside.

The Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard

In a dystopian society divided by blood, regular people serve the rich and powerful and the silver-blooded rule with superpowers, Mare Barrow finds out she has a power, a power that changes her life forever. Dark and poignant, this is an epic thriller.

Taking Hold by Francisco Jiménez

A beautifully written autobiography that charts Franciso’s journey from growing up in California and moving to Columbia University in New York. A great story of resilience.

Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck

Two unlikely friends, George – small, quick-witted and sharp, and Lennie, large, and childlike find themselves enveloped in injustice and inevitable danger. Will they find a way to escape?

Every Day by David Levithan

A unique story about a teenager, A, who wakes up in a different life and different body each day. In many ways, A has come to terms with this – until A meets Rhiannon whom he wants to stay with every day. A great book for studying character and plot in the 9th grade. A great class reader for 9th grade students.

Under the Bridge by Michael Harman

When hotshot skateboarder Indy drops out of school after a family argument, his brother Tate tries everything to save him from a rapid descent into a life of crime. Gritty and powerful, this book will appeal to reluctant readers.

American Born Chinese by Gene Luen Yang

A clever and thought-provoking graphic novel about Jin Wang who struggles to fit in at his new High School. When a visiting cousin ruins his hard-earned reputation, where will he turn? A great story of isolation and rejection and an ideal format for reluctant readers.

March by John Lewis

This graphic novel masterpiece which features vivid artwork chronicles the life of Congressman John Lewis during the civil rights movement. Widely praised, this book is a Coretta Scott King Honor book.

The Serpent King by Jeff Zentner

When Dill’s father becomes the town pariah, he soon starts to feel the heat. Travis and Lydia are the only friends he has left, but can they help see him through to the end of school and graduation day? This book offers a harsh look at growing up in a small town in the Bible Belt and is useful to provoke discussion.

Wolf by Wolf by Ryan Graudin

An intriguing story that blends science fiction, alternative realities, and superheroes into a gripping and pacey thriller. Yael, a death camp prisoner who can shapeshift, plans to impersonate a famous motorcycle racer to assassinate an ageing Hitler in a reimagined 1956. But can she escape the attention of Luka and Felix long enough to maintain her disguise? Ideal for reluctant readers, this novel features a stunning climax. A startling read for teens in the 9th grade.

I Am the Messenger by Markus Zusak

When Ed Kennedy inadvertently stops a bank robbery, he finds himself thrust into a strange and unpredictable world where he delivers messages and makes problems vanish. But who is sending him the messages and orchestrating everything he does and what is the bigger picture? A clever mystery, peppered with plot devices and clues and written in a less formal style – this book will appeal to the more reluctant reader in grade 9.

Shadowmancer by GP Taylor

Obadiah Demurral is the epitome of evil, trying to take over not just the world, but the universe with magic and spells. Raphah, Kate, and Thomas are perhaps the only ones who can stop him. Packed with atmospheric descriptions of smuggling and ancient magic – this is a gripping read for middle graders or reluctant teen readers in grade 9 who enjoy fantasy and magic.

This One Summer by Mariko Tamaki

When Rosie’s parents start arguing and yelling non-stop, she goes off with her friend Windy in search of excitement and escape. This summer, however, they find much more than they bargained for. This is a powerful graphic novel page-turner and coming-of-age story.

Haunt Me by Liz Kessler

A love story with a difference. Joe is a ghost who lives in his old house after his family moves on. When a new family arrives, Erin, a lonely and bullied teenager, shares Joe’s space. A relationship develops and complications abound.

Hound of the Baskervilles by Arthur Conan Doyle

A classic tale of mystery, murder, and bumps in the night. Sherlock Holmes investigates the curse of the Baskervilles and the legend of a gigantic hound that roams the bleak, marsh-infested moors. Full of peculiar suspects and strange phenomena. A gripping read for 9th grade teens who enjoy mysteries and adventures.

The House of the Scorpion by Nancy Farmer

An award-winning science-fiction novel, set in Opium, a country between Mexico and the United States. A complex story of drugs, power, treachery, and cloning; this fast-moving text follows the adventures of Matt, his allies, and his foes. A good book to discuss in 9th grade literature classes.

I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou

A powerful autobiography from Maya Angelou. Living with her grandmother, Maya and her brother feel abandoned and despised by the local community. Back with their mother in St. Louis, eight-year-old Maya is attacked by a man and is left traumatized. Many years later, kindness, her strength of character and her love of literature allow her to feel free.

Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut

Regarded as one of the hundred best novels of all time, this classic book is an enduring anti-war polemic. Elements of science fiction and time travel combine with WW2 experiences. A must-read.

The Yearling by Marjorie Rawlings

Jody Baxter is a young boy who lives in the 1870s with his impoverished family in the Florida backwoods. The story revolves around a fawn called Flag which Jody adopts and grows up with. In this coming-of-age tale, Jody lives through hunger, fear, and loneliness; anger and rejection – but ultimately finds peace through the love of his family.

Bury My Heart At Wounded Knee by Dee Brown

A classic best-selling book that was described by The New York Times as ‘original, remarkable, and finally heartbreaking … impossible to put down.’ An account, in their own words, of the battles, broken treaties and massacres that left the American Indians landless and defeated.

The Sun Is Also a Star by Nicola Yoon

In this complicated love story, Natasha has to fight deportation back to Jamaica, and Daniel is being pushed by his Korean parents to get on with his life. These two young people, with nothing in common and different ambitions, meet, and this sets off a sequence of events that will change their lives.

Revolutionary Summer by Joseph Ellis

A brilliant examination of the people, the politics and the military battles in the summer of 1776 in America. The actions of both sides are brought together into a single story explaining how British actions provoked an American response and vice versa. A more challenging read for 9th grade students.

Magisterium by Jeff Hirsch

The Magisterium draws the reader into an alternative world. Glenn and Kevin have lived next to The Rift for 16 years – but they have never been allowed to cross to the other side. Events conspire and when they are forced to leave home, there is only one way to go – across the Rift and into the unknown. A gripping and compelling read.

The Odyssey by Homer

The classic Greek poem about Odysseus and his ten-year journey home after the fall of Troy. The contemporary slant and lyricism capture the scale of Homer’s epic poetry in an absorbing retelling of the mythical legend.

A Separate Peace by John Knowles

A classic novel that has been a bestseller for over 30 years. Set in a New England boarding school for boys during WW2, the relationship between Gene and Phineas is tested, stretched and altered forever. Innocence is lost and the world changed. A great book for students in grade 9.

Merriam-Webster’s School Dictionary

With over 100,000 word definitions and 28,000 usage explanations this dictionary for students aged 14+ has been specifically designed for high school grades. It also includes synonyms, etymology, illustrations, and a Handbook of Style, making this an ideal resource for college preparation and personal statement writing.

Click the buttons below to purchase all of the books in this 9th 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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How to Write a Book Report (+ a FREE Step-by-Step Printable for Your Kids)

Just so you know, this post contains affiliate links. That means if you use them to make a purchase, I may earn a commission. You can read my full affiliate disclosure  HERE .

We read a lot of books (homeschool moms, can you relate?). Right now, we are reading the Harry Potter series together as a family, and as my kids have grown, it’s been fun to see them become more interested in reading for fun. As part of our homeschooling this year, we have been learning how to write a book report, which has been a great way for me to evaluate how well my kids are understanding what they read.

My son is in 3rd grade this year and recently had a book report as one of his assignments in English. While there were a couple of steps given to him, he struggled with the process and actually putting the book report together. So I decided to create a step-by-step book report printable to help him learn how to write a book report.

I hope these printables will be a big help to your kids, too! They will walk your kids through the steps of organizing their book report, writing a draft, revising and proofreading, and writing a final copy. Plus, I’ve included a rubric for you that you can use to give helpful feedback if you’d like.

Not only will this template help your kids learn how to write a book report, but they will be fun to add to your homeschool portfolio and look back on in the future.

Why Should You Use Book Reports in Your Homeschool?

Writing a book report or using an organizer to respond to what they have read is a great way to help your kids with their reading comprehension . It’s also fun to see their unique writing styles come to light and learn what they think about the books they have read.

Plus, I have found that incorporating book reports into our homeschool is a fun way for my kids to practice their writing skills because they get to write about a book they have loved. My son doesn’t necessarily love to write, so making the writing topic interesting is really important in our current season.

They also will obviously get to practice their handwriting, and you can include an oral presentation component if you’d like to as well!

Teach Your Kids How to Write a Book Report

A book report is just what it sounds like – a detailed report your kids will write after reading a book. In the report, they will give a summary of the book and share some of the important plot points, as well as share their opinion of the book.

When my son first attempted to do his book report from his English assignment, he struggled with what to write, and how to pull it all together in one cohesive report. I wanted to really lay out the process for him, to break it down into manageable steps .

If your child is new to writing book reports, I would recommend doing the first one together . Choose a book you have been reading aloud as a family (or a new one to read together), so you can then walk through the template and process with them.

If you are reading the book together, model how to take notes of important characters and plot points as you read . These notes will be great to reference later when writing the report.

Once you are finished reading and taking notes, grab your book report template and work through the process of putting together the report ( this printable makes it so easy! ).

My Book Report Template for Kids

There are many options out there with ideas for creative and different styles of book reports (I love these ideas from We Are Teachers), but if you are looking for a simple way for your elementary-aged student to organize their thoughts into a basic book report, these are for you.

The pages include:

• 2 Book Report Planning Pages where your kids will organize their thoughts about the main characters, important plot events, and what they learned and liked about the book. They will also have space to draw out their favorite scene from the story.
• First Draft Pages where they will write a rough draft. These sheets also include checklists that will walk them through the revision and proofreading process.
• My Book Report Pages where your kids will write their final copy of their book report.
• Book Report Rubric which is a sheet you can use to offer comments and suggestions on their work, if desired.
• Reading Log page that your kids can use to keep track of what they are reading (great for your homeschool record keeping as well!)

Using a template like this will help your kids organize their thoughts in the planning pages, so it’s easier for them to put the final review together. They will see all of the important parts that need to go into their book reports, which will help them learn how to write effective reviews and recommendations.

Printable Book Report Template

I’d love for this book report template to be a blessing to you and your family as well! Grab it below when you join my subscriber list – I love to send out freebies, homeschool tips, inspiration and more as I go through my own homeschooling journey.

Grab your FREE Book Report Printables!

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Please check your email for your Book Report Printables.

And if you love all of those, take a peek at my shop where I share some other helpful printables I’ve created for your home and homeschool.

Drop a comment below and let me know – what are some of your kid’s favorite books they have read, or what are they reading now?

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Realistic Fiction Books for 8th Graders

Eighth graders can be a tough crowd to choose books for. They’re still middle schoolers but their taste in books is probably somewhere in between middle grade books and young adult novels. Therefore, this list of realistic fiction books for 8th graders includes a mix of middle grade and YA books! Whether your 8th graders like historical fiction, clean romance, K-dramas, thrillers, graphic novels, or verse novels, there’s a book for them on this list!

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20 Best Realistic Fiction Books for 8th Graders

Here are 20 of my favorite realistic fiction books for 8th graders:

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?

The Noh Family

Published: May 3, 2022

Chloe Chang lives a boring life in Oklahoma — with her busy single mom and her two best friends — where she loves watching K-dramas. But when her best friends gift her a 23-and-me test kit for her birthday, things take a dramatic turn. She finds out that her father was a son of the Noh family, a prestigious family in Seoul, South Korea and before she knows it, she’s off to meet them for the first time. Unfortunately, she’s thrust into a web of lies as she realizes that the family might have ulterior motives for reaching out to her.

My Sister’s Big Fat Indian Wedding

Published: April 19, 2022

If your 8th grader likes wholesome young adult stories featuring big families and all the associated drama, this is one to have on your radar. Zurika Damani plays the violin with a sprinkle of hip hop and has just been rejected by Julliard. Her current options are to go to college for pre-law or compete in a contest judged by major college scouts (including Julliard scouts). The only problem is that the contest is during her big sister’s week-long Indian wedding.

Thankfully, her cousins band together to help her disappear during the ceremony without being discovered. But things get complicated when Zurika finds out that the group South African cousin is a fellow contestant. This is a rambunctious, chaotic story with plenty of family, music, and a swoony enemies-to-lovers romance.

The Liars Society

Published: February 6, 2024

Weatherby is a new kid to a Boston private school. She’s at the school on a sailing scholarship and immediately is thrust into a world she knew nothing about. Old school phone booths, scrambled phone service at school, friends with kids who go to the country club, and a boy who seems to hate her guts.

Jack is a rich kid at the school who is also on the sailing team who is constantly pressured by his father to be the best. When the money for a famed school trip is stolen, Jack, Weatherby, and some of their friends are invited to play a high-stakes secret game that leads to the revelation of shocking family secrets. This suspenseful mystery told from Jack’s and Weatherby’s perspectives is fast paced and high-stakes, perfect for the upper middle grade crowd.

Match Point

Published: September 19, 2023

Rosie’s dad wants her to play racquetball even though she says she wants no part and has no interest. He used to love it when he was a kid and he pushes Rosie to improve by constantly critiquing her game. But Rosie has a bad attitude about the sport because of the pressure he puts on her.

Blair is a new student with a warm family who are all into racquetball and Rosie wants her to compete in her behalf. But as Rosie hangs out with Blair’s family away from her father’s harsh supervision, she realizes what it means to play for fun.

10 Blind Dates

Published: October 1, 2019

Sophie is looking forward to getting time away from her parents for the holidays. They’re visiting her heavily pregnant sister over the holidays. But she’s especially happy because she’s looking forward to spend time with her boyfriend, Griffin. So she’s thrown for a loop when she overhears Griffin discussing his desire to break up with her — and then of course, she breaks up with him.

Sophie’s large family is very happy to have her with them for the holidays, particularly her cousins Olivia and Charlie whom she’s closest to. The family wants Sophie to enjoy the holidays and decide they will set her up on a date every day for the last 10 days of the year. 10 family members get to choose a different date — location, person, and all — for each day. She has the ability to decline one date.

In the midst of all the chaos, Sophie begins to rediscover her connection with Charlie’s friend, Wes.

The Many Meanings of Meilan

Published: August 17, 2021

After Meilan Hua’s Nai Nai dies, her extended family is split apart by a family feud with Meilan’s parents leaving Boston’s Chinatown to Redbud Ohio with her grieving grandfather. In Redbud, Meilan’s principal changes her name to Melanie, causing Meilan to delve into what her real name really means. As Meilan comes to value her name and all its meanings, she also dodges middle school bullies and works on a project than unites her and her grandfather. This is a unique story rich in connections to Chinese folktales and highlighting the importance of valuing one’s identity and fighting back against prejudice.

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. This is a lighthearted, fun story that I think many kids are constantly looking for. It has many realistic elements but is ultimately a feel-good story with lots of information about making boba, being a good friend, and giving romance a chance.

The Davenports

Published: January 31, 2023

This is a full-on historical romance for teens, BUT it’s squeaky clean in terms of language and features four Black sisters who stumble into love in different ways. It’s also about the Davenport family business and features side characters who are dealing with compelling issues, like a maid trying to start a business and a best friend whose parents are forcing her to form a relationship with the Davenport’s only son. The Davenports is an exhilarating romance that manages to still be appropriate for older teens ages 12+

It’s 1998 in Colombo, Sri Lanka. In the middle of the Sri Lankan Civil War, Kavi is dealing with her own personal upheavals. Her mother has remarried her father’s best friend after his death and is expecting a new baby. Meanwhile Kavi is getting sent to the city on a scholarship to an elite private school. There, she starts telling lies of a life of wealth and grandeur– small at first, then bigger and bigger — to fit in with the rich kids, until she begins to lose herself.

I really liked this debut verse novel. The Sri Lankan setting was rich and full of history—especially one I’ve so rarely seen in middle grade literature. Readers will see that often life goes on in the midst of war. I also liked seeing Kavi’s growth as she came to understand her mother and stepfather.

We Still Belong

Published: August 1, 2023

We Still Belong  follows young Wesley on one special Indigenous People’s Day, on which she plans to ask her crush to the Tolo dance. She’s also expecting the publication of her poem about Indigenous pride in the school newspaper. But suddenly, the day is not going to plan. Instead of her crush, she has a new lab partner, her English teacher doesn’t think her poem is all that great, and things may be changing at home.

The Queens of New York

Published: June 6, 2023

Jia, Everett, and Ariel are high school besties whose summer plans could not be any more different. Jia is a Chinese-American helping out at her family’s restaurant in Chinatown while looking after her little sister and grandmother. Everett is a Vietnamese-American off to theater camp in Ohio, while Ariel, the genius Korean-American is in pre-college grieving the death of her older sister months before.

As the summer progresses, all three girls will need their friendship to anchor them through the waves of grief, first loves, and standing up for yourself. I LOVED the depiction of friendship in this book and the way the author brings cities and characters to life. This YA book is free of profanity and other mature content, so it’s perfect for younger readers.

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.

Maddie is alone for months and has to safeguard herself from wild animals, terrible weather, and dangerous intruders, on top of the fear and loneliness of being all by herself.

The Lost Year

Published: December 27, 2022

It’s 2020, and Matthew is sick of being inside with the pandemic raging outside. While reluctantly helping his great-grandmother sort through her belongings, he finds a picture of two girls. As she shares her experience during the Ukrainian famine, the story alternates between three narrators: Matthew, Helena, and Mila. A powerful, unforgettable account of historical events.

Control Freaks

Published: June 13, 2023

As the kids in Benjamin Banneker College Prep compete in their STEAM contest, two of the boys navigate complicated familial changes. Doug and T.W. are sorta brothers. Doug’s dad is T.W.’s stepfather, and Doug has a stepdad of his own too. Both boys will need to build a relationship on their own even as Doug learns to balance having two different kinds of dads. This book offers not just strong STEAM depictions, but a heartwarming examination of the challenges some blended families face.

Barely Floating

Published: August 29, 2023

Nat is a chubby 12-year-old with major swimming skills and a fiery temper. After spotting The LA Mermaids, a synchronized swimming group at a neighborhood pool, Nat is convinced that it’s the sport for her. Her parents aren’t so sure. So Nat auditions for and joins the team behind their backs, getting her older cousin to take her to practice.

This book is compulsively readable, and Nat is a well-drawn, rarely represented type of female character with many flaws and a lot of confidence. She learns how to be a good friend and why it’s important to be honest. The author also delves into discourse about body image. Readers may also want to know that a side character is disowned by her parents after coming out as gay.

The Labors of Hercules Beal

Published: May 23, 2023

Herc Beal is the smallest kid in his class and has recently lost both parents in a car accident. His older brother is now his legal guardian after moving back home to take over their family business. Hercules is feeling particularly lost when he gets into a new middle school. So when his homeroom teacher at his new middle school gives him the assignment of duplicating the mythical Hercules’s amazing feats in real life, he’s skeptical. After all, there are no Nemean Lions on Cape Cod—and not a single Hydra in sight.

Missing his parents terribly and wishing his older brother wasn’t working all the time, Herc figures out how to take his first steps along the road that the great Hercules himself once walked. Soon, new friends, human and animal, are helping him. And though his mythical role model performed his twelve labors by himself, Herc begins to see that he may not have to go it alone.

Ultraviolet

Published: April 2, 2024

This is a 2024 verse novel that captured my heart from the first page. It’s about 8th grader Elio Solis who’s in the midst of his first real relationship with his girlfriend Camelia. His Pops is always reminding him to man up but when he gets into a fight for Camelia’s honor, he gets an unexpected lesson in consent, masculinity, and what it means to be a man. Pegged as Judy Blume for boys, I’m excited to see more readers experience this story.

What Happened to Rachel Riley?

Published: January 10, 2023

When Anna Hunt moves from Chicago to Wisconsin for her mother’s new job, she soon realizes that something’s off about her new eighth-grade class. One student, Rachel Riley, who was once popular is now treated as a social pariah. So when their English teacher assigns them an un-essay — which is an exploration of a topic in any other format besides an essay — Anna decides to investigate the question: What happened to Rachel Riley? Of course, the teacher rejects Anna’s topic despite her lawyer mom’s protests. But with some hesitant help from Rachel and some other schoolmates, Anna pieces together the mystery.

Give Me a Sign

Published: July 11, 2023

In  Give Me a Sign , Lilah is a teen with hearing loss but who isn’t profoundly deaf. So she has always felt caught in the middle — not deaf enough to be part of the Deaf community and not fully hearing to fit in completely there either. But when she becomes a counselor at a summer camp for deaf and blind kids, her experiences (and the boy she falls in love with) change the way the views her disability.

There they are: 20 of the best realistic fiction books for 8th graders! Which of these have you read and loved? What did I miss?

More Books for 8th Graders

• 60 great books for 8th graders
• The best books for 13 year olds
• Great book series for 13 year olds

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• 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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35 Best 7th Grade Books in a Series

L ooking for the best 7th grade books in a series for your 12-year-old middle school kids or students in 7th grade? Find the most amazing middle-grade and YA books that will keep your kids hooked on reading good books.

These are not book series that start great and lose quality by the 2nd or 3rd book — these are the best book series that STAY good throughout the entire series. Trust me. That’s my pet peeve, too.

That being said, I realize there are many more fantasy and sci-fi books than in other genres, so I will continue to add to this 7th grade reading list as I find more exceptional books in other genres. I think part of the issue is coming of age, realistic books generally are one-and-done. Book series are not as common for the upper middle school reading choices as they are for younger middle-grade choices.

What do you think? Which of these books would your seventh grader want to read first?

Go HERE to find all of my book recommendations for 12-year-olds.

Go HERE to see book series ideas for 6th graders.

Want a free printable pdf download of this book list? Get it here!

Best 7th Grade Books in a Series

Lockwood & Co The Screaming Staircase  by Jonathan Stroud

GHOST ADVENTURE

Dangerous ghosts and spirits appear everywhere in London, but only certain kids can see them and therefore, erradicate them.  Teens Lucy, Anthony, and George badly need money for their ghost-hunting agency, Lockwood & Co., so they take a perilous job that may just be their last if the ghosts have their way. This mesmerizing series is also a  now a Netflix show !

Cinder (Lunar Chronicles)

This is a great 7th grade book series for 7th graders who are transitioning from middle grade books to YA books. When Prince Kai asks Cinder, a human with cyborg parts, to fix something for him, she becomes entangled in a plot that puts her life at risk and the entire country’s fate is hanging in the balance. And, it turns out she’s not who she thinks she is. Based on fairy tales like Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, and Red Riding Hood, this is a well-written, excellent series. BOX SET 

Rain Rising  by Courtne Comrie

RAIN RISING is a multilayered story about mental health, racism, family, friendship, and self-love — with a main character that you’ll cheer on through her tricky and beautiful growing-up journey.  Rain’s older brother Xander always has taken good care of her; he helps her on her saddest days, especially after their dad left and their mom is gone at work most of the time. But, when Xander gets brutally attacked, he’s a shell of himself and barely speaks…and Rain can barely cope. In an after-school group, she starts to make new friends, and slowly finds her way back to health through the group and therapy. I LOVE this book. ( Sensitive readers: this story contains cutting. )

Magic and color are closely linked in her world. Only Alice has no color in her skin or hair. And her father has been missing for years, making her even sadder. Alice and a boy named Oliver search for her father in a different magical land in order to hopefully rescue him. But the rules are wildly different, and the inhabitants eat people for their magic. Even though Oliver and Alice start their quest at odds, the many challenges join them in a solid friendship. Furthermore is a creative plot and a unique world!

Get ready for a wild ride of suspense, action, adventure, science fiction, and coolness!! Bloom tells the story of three kids who are not affected by the strange-looking plants that appear out of nowhere and take over land all over the world, covering houses and streets, swallowing animals and people but doing nothing to these kids. Scientists figure out that the plants are an alien invasion…and think these kids may be the only chance they have to stop them.

Ali Cross by James Patterson

If you want an enthralling adventure & mystery that you can’t put down, read this one next. It’s Christmas Eve and Ali’s friend Gabe is missing, his FBI-agent dad is falsely accused of murdering an old man, and someone broke into their house while they were at church and stole his dad’s service weapon. Ali knows he has to try to fix things, starting by finding his friend Gabe. Don’t miss book two, Like Father, Like Son .

The Prisoner of Cell 25 (Michael Vey #1) 

SCI-FIIf you like fast-paced adventure and science fiction, you’ll love this fantastic series about a boy with electrical powers and an evil group who wants to control him and others like him. It’s an addictive series for kids who enjoy action, suspense, and adventure. BOX SET Add this series to your reading lists!

Escape from Atlantis  by Kate O’Hearn

Don’t miss this wildly inventive, exciting, and thought-provoking adventure.  Riley, her dad, her cousin, and her aunt are sailing in the Bermuda Triangle when they’re attacked by a leviathan. Riley and her unpleasant cousin, Alfie, wake up on an island with overly friendly, rule-centered people including half-animal people. They soon learn the sinister truth of the rule-centric community and are determined to escape. What a great book for 7th graders!

The Maze Runner

What a wild ride! Middle school students especially 7th and 8th graders can’t put these books down. In this dystopian world, kids are either killed or must kill to survive. There are tons of plot twists which will keep your kids surprised and entertained. Boxed Set HERE .

Dorothy Must Die

In this Wizard of Oz remix, Dorothy is evil and Amy Gunn, the other girl from Kansas, is recruited to help the freedom fighters to fix and free all of Oz. Great writing plus an unexpected plot make this hard to put down 7th grade book series!

Unwanteds   by Lissa McMann

FANTASY / DYSTOPIAN

Alex is labeled an Unwanted and sent to die. But instead of death, he’s rescued by a magician with a secret haven for the Unwanteds where they live and train with magic skills. Because Alex misses his twin brother, a Wanted, and he convinces himself that his twin also misses him. (Hint: he doesn’t.) Alex risks the safety of his new home to see his twin in the old world. And the secret world is discovered, war breaks out, and more secrets are revealed!!!

FANTASY/GRAPHIC NOVEL

In an Asian-influenced series about an occupied city, we meet two kids from different clans and backgrounds who become unlikely friends. Kaidu is a Dao and new to the Nameless City where he’s studying to be a soldier. Rat is a street girl who teaches Kaidu how to survive in the city. Together they save the city’s leader from an assassination plot. The action and characters are compelling and complex, appropriate for middle schoolers in 7th grade.

The Ruins of Gorlan: Ranger’s Apprentice

Will is apprenticed to become a Ranger, a job he’s unsure about. But as he develops a relationship with his master and learns what being a Ranger is all about (spying for the kingdom,) and comes to embrace his new life. When an old enemy of the kingdom sends out dangerous beasts to attack Will’s master, Will is instrumental in getting help and killing the creatures. Action, fantasy, adventure, friendship, excellent writing — this 7th grade book has it all! Ranger’s Apprentice is a must-read, mesmerizing epic fantasy series for middle school readers. BOXED SET

Morrigan escapes her birthday’s death curse when she’s whisked away to another realm by a mysterious man named Jupiter North to compete in four trials to join the Wundrous Society. Morrigan is worried because she doesn’t have a magical “nack” like the hundreds of other kids. She befriends a mischievous boy named Hawthorne whose nack is flying dragons. Between the trials, they figure out if Mr. Jones is connected to the dangerous Wundersmith Ezra Squall.

Edge of Extinction The Ark Plan by Laura Martin

DYSTOPIAN / ADVENTURE

Cloned dinosaurs have taken over the world so Sky and her fellow humans live below ground in safety with Noah as their supreme ruler. Sky leaves the underground city to find her missing dad. Barely outside a day, she and her friend Shawn are rescued from hungry dinosaurs by a boy who lives in a treetop enclave. When his enclave is attacked by Noah’s soldiers looking for her, Sky realizes that everything she believes about Noah is wrong and she is even more determined to find her father.

HISTORICAL / FANTASY

Part historical (ancient Rome) and part fantasy, Elias and Laia live in a world that enslaves them both in different ways — Elias with fighting and Laia with serving and spying. This is an epic page-turning series with lots of mystery, action, and a hint of romance. It’s SO good that it’s one of the most popular YA books.

Dark Life by Kat Falls

When the oceans swallowed much of the earth, humans either moved into stacked cities or the ocean floor. Ty lives in the ocean but his way of life is threatened by murderous outlaws who steal and kill. He befriends a Topside girl named Gemma who is looking for her brother undersea. They learn that her brother is the leader of the outlaws, was a former medical experiment, and has Dark gifts just like Ty. This is action and intrigue from the get-go and your 7th graders will love every minute of it. (Next in the series is Rip Tide .)

Steelheart  by Brandon Sanderson

I love this YA book series’ unique world and so will your 7th graders. Epics are super-powerful, evil god-like creatures who control the world’s cities. Because David’s father was killed by Chicago’s Epic named Steelheart, David wants revenge. He joins the rebel group, the Reckoners, to learn how to assassinate Steelheart– a next-to-impossible feat for a regular human like him. This is a page-turning, mesmerizing series. BOX SET

Above World

Modified humans live in tech-dependent, animal-morphed groups (mer people, snake people, centaur, bird people) in different climates and the groups have mostly remained separate from each other. The main character, Aluna, a Kampii (mer), leaves her clan in order to discover why her clan is dying. In Mirage, she and her unique group of friends try to convince the Equian colonies that the evil Karl Strand is trying to take over all of Above World.

The Sisters Club  by Megan McDonald

Meet the Sisters Club: twelve-year-old Alex, an aspiring actress and born drama queen; eight-year-old Joey, homework lover, and pioneer wannabe; and smack in the middle, ten-year-old Stevie, the glue that holds them together — through dinner disasters, disputes over stolen lucky sweaters, and Alex’s going gaga over her leading man. Great for 12-year-old girls.

House of the Scorpion

This Newbery winner grabs your 7th graders’ attention immediately with an unbelievable (but kind-of believable) story of a boy named Matt who is a clone of the leader of Opium, El Patrón. He realizes that he’s not the first El Patrón clone and learns of a sinister reason why he’s the only Patron clone still alive. Next in the series is: The Lord of Opium .

by Jeff Guns

After Jack is attacked by monsters more than once, he learns he’s a Monster Hunter and fair game to be hunted. It’s not as scary as it sounds; it is more of an adventure with monsters which happens to include zombies. 

The Ghost Network: Activate

Jack and his friend are hackers who get taken to a top-secret tech school where dangerous secrets are hidden behind the STEM school facade. Not only are the kids in danger but there also seems to be a computer implanted inside their brains telling them what to do! The story intrigued me from the get-go and the pacing and suspense just keeps growing. Great for 7th graders who love STEM.

Wereworld   by Curtis Jobling

Drew is raised on a farm and knows little about the world around. He’s ill-prepared to live on the run, which he must do when he unexpectedly develops were/shifter powers. Fortunately, he meets the other WereLords, including a WereBear Lord who fought with Drew’s father and is willing to help him. Kidnappings, revenge, murder, and a prophecy — this book series has all the elements 7th graders want in a fantasy adventure.

Outlaws of Time: The Legend of Sam Miracle  by N.D. Wilson

By the same author as 100 Cupboards , this is a creative, thrilling, action-packed time-traveling adventure. Sam Miracle is a foster kid with two bad arms. He sees things that no one else can — things in a parallel world. With the help of a wise Native American healer, a Native American priest, the two personality-filled snakes that have become his arms, maybe, Sam can survive and save the world.

Barren Grounds: The Misewa Saga  by David A. Robertson

FANTASY /  INDIGENOUS CULTURE

Foster  kids with Indigenous heritage , Morgan and Eli, discover a portal in the attic leading to a magical world of Cree language and mythology.  It’s a world with talking animals who need their help. Ochek, the Fischer, asks the kids to help solve the starving community’s forever winter by finding the human man who stole all the birds and summer. Their dangerous quest triggers Morgan’s memories of her mother and a new perspective on who she is.

Winterhouse  by Ben Guterson, illustrated by Chloe Bristol

Elizabeth, an orphan, is unexpectedly sent to a large, stately hotel with a kind, grandfatherly proprietor for Christmas vacation. There,  she discovers a magical book, a sinister couple, a family mystery , and a new friend who loves puzzles as much as she does. The writing is mesmerizing, the mystery is fascinating, and the characters are enchanting.

The Van Gogh Deception  by Deron Hicks

MYSTERY  /  ADVENTURE

One of the best edge-of-your-seat mystery books for middle grade.  A boy with no memory is found at the National Gallery staring at a Degas sculpture. Strangely, this boy does know a great deal about art and artists. Soon we learn a team of professional bad guys is hunting him. The boy, Art, and his foster sister escape from several kidnapping attempts and begin to unravel who he is and what’s going on. Exceptional!

Pretty  by Justin Sayre

REALISTIC  / COMING OF AGE

Hiding her mom’s alcohol addiction affects everything, even Sophie’s schoolwork.  When her mother leaves for a “trip,” her aunt moves in and gently helps Sophie learn about being a strong, beautiful, biracial woman. Sophie blossoms with the love and kindness of her aunt. Soon, Sophie must decide what she’ll do next — move with her aunt or stay with her mother who eventually returns home from rehab.

The School for Good and Evil   by Soman Chainani

Two girls are selected to attend the school for villains and school for heroes. Only all your stereotypes will be blown out of the water with which girl goes where.  This book series for 12 year olds will make you think deeply about what makes someone good, friendship, and love.    Boxed Set HERE .

Deep Blue  by Jennifer Donnelly

If you like  strong girl power books  for teens, you’ll love this  story of five mermaids who journey to find each other and the sea witches.  An ancient evil is being unleashed and is not just trying to kill the girls but also planning on enslaving or killing their communities. Very entertaining.

Mark of the Thief   by Jennifer A. Nielsen

Set in historical Rome we follow the life of a slave abandoned by his mother in the mines.  After he accidentally discovers Julius Cesar’s magical amulet and its protector griffin, he’s in constant danger. It’s an exciting adventure with an unexpected revelation that will have you eager for the next book.

Beneath  by Roland Smith

Pat’s parents are checked out and his brother is missing.  Pat sneaks off to spend his Christmas vacation tracking his brother, Coop’s, last movements. His search leads him to an underground community but Coop isn’t there anymore, he’s gone deeper under the ground. And he is in terrible danger. One of the more popular books for 7th graders.

The London Eye Mystery  by Siobhan Dowd

This middle-grade book for 12-year-olds is a puzzling mystery that only the boy named Ted who seems to be on the spectrum (his brain is different but not explained) can solve. How did his cousin disappear from a closed pod on the London Eye? The enjoyable action and intrigue will keep your attention throughout — and you’ll wonder why you didn’t guess the ending before Ted.

You Might Also Like:

Chapter Books About Life in Middle School

Read Aloud Books for 7th and 8th Grade

BOOK SERIES LISTS

>  1st Grade Books (Age 6)

>  2nd Grade Books (Age 7)

>  3rd Grade Books (Age 8)

>  4th Grade Books (Age 9)

>  5th Grade Books (Age 10)

>  6th Grade Books (Age 11)

>  7th Grade Books (Age 12)

The post 35 Best 7th Grade Books in a Series appeared first on Imagination Soup .

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What the Data Says About Pandemic School Closures, Four Years Later

The more time students spent in remote instruction, the further they fell behind. And, experts say, extended closures did little to stop the spread of Covid.

By Sarah Mervosh ,  Claire Cain Miller and Francesca Paris

Four years ago this month, schools nationwide began to shut down, igniting one of the most polarizing and partisan debates of the pandemic.

Some schools, often in Republican-led states and rural areas, reopened by fall 2020. Others, typically in large cities and states led by Democrats, would not fully reopen for another year.

A variety of data — about children’s academic outcomes and about the spread of Covid-19 — has accumulated in the time since. Today, there is broad acknowledgment among many public health and education experts that extended school closures did not significantly stop the spread of Covid, while the academic harms for children have been large and long-lasting.

While poverty and other factors also played a role, remote learning was a key driver of academic declines during the pandemic, research shows — a finding that held true across income levels.

Source: Fahle, Kane, Patterson, Reardon, Staiger and Stuart, “ School District and Community Factors Associated With Learning Loss During the COVID-19 Pandemic .” Score changes are measured from 2019 to 2022. In-person means a district offered traditional in-person learning, even if not all students were in-person.

“There’s fairly good consensus that, in general, as a society, we probably kept kids out of school longer than we should have,” said Dr. Sean O’Leary, a pediatric infectious disease specialist who helped write guidance for the American Academy of Pediatrics, which recommended in June 2020 that schools reopen with safety measures in place.

There were no easy decisions at the time. Officials had to weigh the risks of an emerging virus against the academic and mental health consequences of closing schools. And even schools that reopened quickly, by the fall of 2020, have seen lasting effects.

But as experts plan for the next public health emergency, whatever it may be, a growing body of research shows that pandemic school closures came at a steep cost to students.

The longer schools were closed, the more students fell behind.

At the state level, more time spent in remote or hybrid instruction in the 2020-21 school year was associated with larger drops in test scores, according to a New York Times analysis of school closure data and results from the National Assessment of Educational Progress , an authoritative exam administered to a national sample of fourth- and eighth-grade students.

At the school district level, that finding also holds, according to an analysis of test scores from third through eighth grade in thousands of U.S. districts, led by researchers at Stanford and Harvard. In districts where students spent most of the 2020-21 school year learning remotely, they fell more than half a grade behind in math on average, while in districts that spent most of the year in person they lost just over a third of a grade.

( A separate study of nearly 10,000 schools found similar results.)

Such losses can be hard to overcome, without significant interventions. The most recent test scores, from spring 2023, show that students, overall, are not caught up from their pandemic losses , with larger gaps remaining among students that lost the most ground to begin with. Students in districts that were remote or hybrid the longest — at least 90 percent of the 2020-21 school year — still had almost double the ground to make up compared with students in districts that allowed students back for most of the year.

Some time in person was better than no time.

As districts shifted toward in-person learning as the year went on, students that were offered a hybrid schedule (a few hours or days a week in person, with the rest online) did better, on average, than those in places where school was fully remote, but worse than those in places that had school fully in person.

Students in hybrid or remote learning, 2020-21

80% of students

Some schools return online, as Covid-19 cases surge. Vaccinations start for high-priority groups.

Teachers are eligible for the Covid vaccine in more than half of states.

Most districts end the year in-person or hybrid.

Source: Burbio audit of more than 1,200 school districts representing 47 percent of U.S. K-12 enrollment. Note: Learning mode was defined based on the most in-person option available to students.

Income and family background also made a big difference.

A second factor associated with academic declines during the pandemic was a community’s poverty level. Comparing districts with similar remote learning policies, poorer districts had steeper losses.

But in-person learning still mattered: Looking at districts with similar poverty levels, remote learning was associated with greater declines.

A community’s poverty rate and the length of school closures had a “roughly equal” effect on student outcomes, said Sean F. Reardon, a professor of poverty and inequality in education at Stanford, who led a district-level analysis with Thomas J. Kane, an economist at Harvard.

Score changes are measured from 2019 to 2022. Poorest and richest are the top and bottom 20% of districts by percent of students on free/reduced lunch. Mostly in-person and mostly remote are districts that offered traditional in-person learning for more than 90 percent or less than 10 percent of the 2020-21 year.

But the combination — poverty and remote learning — was particularly harmful. For each week spent remote, students in poor districts experienced steeper losses in math than peers in richer districts.

That is notable, because poor districts were also more likely to stay remote for longer .

Some of the country’s largest poor districts are in Democratic-leaning cities that took a more cautious approach to the virus. Poor areas, and Black and Hispanic communities , also suffered higher Covid death rates, making many families and teachers in those districts hesitant to return.

“We wanted to survive,” said Sarah Carpenter, the executive director of Memphis Lift, a parent advocacy group in Memphis, where schools were closed until spring 2021 .

“But I also think, man, looking back, I wish our kids could have gone back to school much quicker,” she added, citing the academic effects.

Other things were also associated with worse student outcomes, including increased anxiety and depression among adults in children’s lives, and the overall restriction of social activity in a community, according to the Stanford and Harvard research .

Even short closures had long-term consequences for children.

While being in school was on average better for academic outcomes, it wasn’t a guarantee. Some districts that opened early, like those in Cherokee County, Ga., a suburb of Atlanta, and Hanover County, Va., lost significant learning and remain behind.

At the same time, many schools are seeing more anxiety and behavioral outbursts among students. And chronic absenteeism from school has surged across demographic groups .

These are signs, experts say, that even short-term closures, and the pandemic more broadly, had lasting effects on the culture of education.

“There was almost, in the Covid era, a sense of, ‘We give up, we’re just trying to keep body and soul together,’ and I think that was corrosive to the higher expectations of schools,” said Margaret Spellings, an education secretary under President George W. Bush who is now chief executive of the Bipartisan Policy Center.

Closing schools did not appear to significantly slow Covid’s spread.

Perhaps the biggest question that hung over school reopenings: Was it safe?

That was largely unknown in the spring of 2020, when schools first shut down. But several experts said that had changed by the fall of 2020, when there were initial signs that children were less likely to become seriously ill, and growing evidence from Europe and parts of the United States that opening schools, with safety measures, did not lead to significantly more transmission.

“Infectious disease leaders have generally agreed that school closures were not an important strategy in stemming the spread of Covid,” said Dr. Jeanne Noble, who directed the Covid response at the U.C.S.F. Parnassus emergency department.

Politically, though, there remains some disagreement about when, exactly, it was safe to reopen school.

Republican governors who pushed to open schools sooner have claimed credit for their approach, while Democrats and teachers’ unions have emphasized their commitment to safety and their investment in helping students recover.

“I do believe it was the right decision,” said Jerry T. Jordan, president of the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers, which resisted returning to school in person over concerns about the availability of vaccines and poor ventilation in school buildings. Philadelphia schools waited to partially reopen until the spring of 2021 , a decision Mr. Jordan believes saved lives.

“It doesn’t matter what is going on in the building and how much people are learning if people are getting the virus and running the potential of dying,” he said.

Pandemic school closures offer lessons for the future.

Though the next health crisis may have different particulars, with different risk calculations, the consequences of closing schools are now well established, experts say.

In the future, infectious disease experts said, they hoped decisions would be guided more by epidemiological data as it emerged, taking into account the trade-offs.

“Could we have used data to better guide our decision making? Yes,” said Dr. Uzma N. Hasan, division chief of pediatric infectious diseases at RWJBarnabas Health in Livingston, N.J. “Fear should not guide our decision making.”

Source: Fahle, Kane, Patterson, Reardon, Staiger and Stuart, “ School District and Community Factors Associated With Learning Loss During the Covid-19 Pandemic. ”

The study used estimates of learning loss from the Stanford Education Data Archive . For closure lengths, the study averaged district-level estimates of time spent in remote and hybrid learning compiled by the Covid-19 School Data Hub (C.S.D.H.) and American Enterprise Institute (A.E.I.) . The A.E.I. data defines remote status by whether there was an in-person or hybrid option, even if some students chose to remain virtual. In the C.S.D.H. data set, districts are defined as remote if “all or most” students were virtual.

An earlier version of this article misstated a job description of Dr. Jeanne Noble. She directed the Covid response at the U.C.S.F. Parnassus emergency department. She did not direct the Covid response for the University of California, San Francisco health system.

How we handle corrections

Sarah Mervosh covers education for The Times, focusing on K-12 schools. More about Sarah Mervosh

Claire Cain Miller writes about gender, families and the future of work for The Upshot. She joined The Times in 2008 and was part of a team that won a Pulitzer Prize in 2018 for public service for reporting on workplace sexual harassment issues. More about Claire Cain Miller

Francesca Paris is a Times reporter working with data and graphics for The Upshot. More about Francesca Paris