Wow, I have SO MANY incredible books to share with you! If you like adventure, don’t miss The Hacker’s Key and The Canyon’s Edge. If you love animals, you’ll want to read A Whale in the Wild and The Endangereds. If you like amazing, real-life books, you’ll want to read Tune It Out, Fighting Words, and The Brave. Full disclosure, I […]
Continue ReadingGood Books for Middle School
If you're looking for good chapter books and nonfiction books reviews, lists, and recommendations for kids in middle school, you've come to the right place.
Parents, teachers, and librarians, I hope to save you time by reading books that you don't have time to read, giving you reviews and recommendations, to help you build your classroom and home libraries. And for you to find the best books on any topic or theme.
In addition, you'll find some learning and literacy ideas, activities, games, and gift suggestions for middle school ages which span from tween to teen, 11 or 12 to 13.
Here are some quick links to get you started. And if you keep scrolling, you can read the most current blog posts.
Book Suggestions by Age:
Best Books for 11-Year Olds (6th Grade)
Best Books for 12-Year Olds (7th Grade)
Read Aloud Book Ideas for Middle School:
Read Aloud Books for 6th Grade
Read Aloud Books for 7th and 8th Grades
Short Story Books for Middle-Grade Readers (Ages 9 – 12)
A reader wrote to ask me for a list of books with short stories for middle-grade readers, ages 9 – 12. Interestingly, short story anthologies are not in abundance for tweens but even still, there are some good options to keep kids reading. Short stories offer students an alternative to a long chapter book and […]
Continue ReadingThe Ultimate Parent Guide: Starting a Book Clubs for Kids
Updated: 8/2020 Parents, if you’re looking for directions on starting a book club for kids, get ideas for set-up, discussions, food, and activities here. The purpose of starting a book club for kids is for kids to get social time with friends AND for kids to read lots of books. But book clubs accomplish even […]
Continue Reading21 Children’s Books About the Immigrant Experience
SPONSORED: This post is sponsored by NILC and Resilience Force for #ImmigrantsAreEssential. Immigrants contribute to our society and community today just as much now as they have in the past. Which, unless you’re Native American, you are like me, a descendant of an immigrant. My ancestors came from northern Europe. Where did yours come from? […]
Continue ReadingNew Middle Grade Chapter Books, August 2020
Facing racism while growing up. Magic-filled forests. A harrowing escape from North Korea. This book list features a range of topics and genres, all with powerful, memorable, and entertaining writing. New Middle-Grade Chapter Books, August 2020 Not Your All America Girl by Wendy Wan-Long Shang and Madelyn Rosenberg COMING OF AGE / RACISM / […]
Continue ReadingPersonal Narrative Mentor Texts for Teaching Writing
In my Imagination Soup Writers Homeschool Writing Curriculum, growing writers will be starting out writing personal narratives using children’s books as examples. Personal narratives allow children to speak with experience and authority because they’re stories based on their real lives. In my curriculum, as I did when I taught writing workshops in the school system, […]
Continue ReadingMentor Texts for Teaching Small Moments Writing
If you’re looking for new picture books that capture small moments, here’s a list of current picture books to get you started. I about to launch the Imagination Soup Writers Homeschool Curriculum which will start with personal narratives and small moments. The goal with this homeschool curriculum is to teach kids writing craft moves using […]
Continue ReadingBack to School Shopping Is Still an Important Ritual
Even though I have one child 100% virtual and one 100% in person, they both get to pick out new school supplies and a new school outfit. Why? Because it’s a tradition that sets that excited, anticipatory feeling for going back to school. And, because my college freshman’s dorm room is her bedroom, I’m letting […]
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