6th-8th Grade Back To School Reading List

Response

I’d say that there are hundreds, if not thousands of schools across the country with school reading lists that mirror this reading list posted on Twitter by the Florida Department of Education. The list of titles includes a majority of authors that are, for a lack of a better way to say it, white and dead, leaning heavily on classics and books that most likely won’t appeal to 21st-century tweens.

But, this list wasn’t created 30+ years ago as part of the curriculum. It was created in 2019 with the intent, “to stretch the reader’s mind and are books that they won’t be able to put down.” I would argue that there are hundreds of books written over the past five years that can stretch a reader’s mind and that I can guarantee kids will love. I’m going to focus mainly on the 6th-8th Grade Back To School Reading List, as middle grade fiction is what I love to read.

What makes me shake my head is that this list is supposedly “Over 100 Books Make Up the Best Student Reading List in the Nation.” And I and many educators, librarians, and authors would heartily disagree. Now, before you jump down my throat about dismissing classic literature – it has its place, but if this list was really created to “have all students vying to dive into books this school year” then they have missed the mark entirely. First, kids have to want to read, then we focus on introducing kids to classic literature and English assignments with the help of a teacher to guide their learning. (I won’t even get started on student choice in the classroom, that’s another issue entirely).

Solution

So rather than just complaining about this reading list, as is the way of the world. I wanted to at least provide some alternative titles that are contemporary, diverse and accessible to kids in school today. I focused just on the 6th-8th grade list, again, as that’s what I love to read. Can you get every type of diversity into one reading list? No way. But, you can be more aware of what you’re selecting and why it might be important to the kids you serve. I wanted to focus on kids from diverse backgrounds. But, also select some titles specifically because the setting is in Florida allowing kids to see themselves in the books they read. And these books teach kids empathy, understanding, and the power of standing up for one’s self and the people around you in the face of adversity.

Even More Suggestions

If you’re looking for even more titles, check out my 30 Modern, Middle Grade Classics list with even more titles recently published from diverse authors for middle grade readers. Or check out my Top Ten Tuesday: Modern Titles to Pair with Classics which provides a classic piece of literature and a contemporary title.

• All of Me by Chris Baron
• Aru Shah and the End of Time by Roshani Chokshi
• Awkward by Svetlana Chmakova
• The Benefits of Being an Octopus by Ann Braden
• Crossover by Kwame Alexander
• The Epic Fail of Arturo Zamora by Pablo Cartaya
• The First Rule of Punk by Celia C. Pérez
• Front Desk by Kelly Yang
• Ghost by Jason Reynolds
• Harbor Me by Jacqueline Woodson
• Hurricane Child by Kheryn Callender
• The Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus by Dusti Bowling
• The Jumbies by Trace Baptiste
• Merci Suárez Changes Gears by Meg Medina
• The Mighty Heart of Sunny St. James by Ashley Herring Blake
• New Kid by Jerry Craft
• No Fixed Address by Susin Nielsen
• The Parker Inheritance by Varian Johnson
• Refugee by Alan Gratz
• Roller Girl by Victoria Jamieson
• Sal & Gabi Break the Universe by Carlos Hernandez
• The Science of Breakable Things by Tae Keller
• The Stars Beneath My Feet by David Barclay Moore
• Tight by Torrey Maldonado
• Turtle in Paradise by Jennifer L. Holm