It can be challenging to find books for relunctant and struggling readers at both the middle school and high school level. Books that are of interest to them might be too difficult to read causing them to abandon the book and give up on reading.
If students want to read a novel that I think might be too challenging and cause them to shut down and turn away from reading, I always suggest pairing the text with an audiobook. This allows students to get extra support without anyone knowing what they are listening to on their phone.
If you are interested in adding to your classroom or school library the following list is a great starting place to find novels that are highly engaging for students, but won’t cause them stress while reading.
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Engaging Books for Reluctant and Struggling Readers
- Dive Series by Gordon Korman
- Kidnapped Series by Gordon Korman
- Island Series Series by Gordon Korman
- On the Run Series by Gordon Korman
- Titanic Series by Gordon Korman
- House Arrest Series by K.A. Holt
Favourite Middle School Authors for Struggling Readers
- Sharon Draper Books
- Kwame Alexander Books
- James Patterson (Middle School Series)
- Jeff Kinney Books
Favourite Middle School Graphic Novels for Struggling Readers
- Raina Telgemeir Books
- Amulet Series Books
High School Series for Struggling Readers
Favourite High School Books for Struggling Readers
Book Publishers
- ORCA Publisher (look for their Hi-Lo lists)
- I Survived Scholastic Series (Non-Fiction)
- HIP Publisher
Help Your Students Love Reading with Lit Launch
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In just three hours, this online workshop equips teachers with strategies to connect with their middle school readers, ideas for classroom management challenges and shares high-impact lesson ideas.
Workshop Includes:
- 3 Hours of Professional Development Videos
- 145 Page Workbook
- 10 Reading Resources
- Professional Development Certificate
- Supporting Resource Links
- Reading Interest Inventory
In this self-paced workshop, teachers will get actionable ideas and lessons they can implement in their classrooms.
Learn more about Lit Launch on Teachers Pay Teachers USD or Shopify CAD.
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For more great middle school books, check out this blog post – Best Middle School Book Recommendations. Also, check out some fantastic YA books in this blog post – High School Book Recommendations.
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