Teachers love to find must-read books for middle school readers. There is a huge selection of books for this age range, so being able to narrow it down can be helpful for teachers to select reads for their students.
In many middle school books, a common theme runs throughout – the power of storytelling to inspire, educate, and connect young readers with diverse experiences and perspectives. This is one of the reasons middle school readers need to read a variety of books, including memoirs, biographies, historical fiction, and more.
When middle school readers read memoirs and biographies, they look at life differently, gaining insight into different experiences, cultures, and perspectives. They are also able to see the varying challenges people have had to face throughout history. These stories focus on personal growth and can be inspiring for young readers to help cultivate their own self-awareness.
These books and historical fiction stories will help students gain a historical understanding as they learn about historical events and important people in history through engaging and exciting stories. If your students love these stories, check out the link at the end of this post for more great book recommendations.
This blog post will cover seven memoir, biography, and historical fiction must-read books for middle school readers that your students will surely enjoy.
7 Must-Read Books for Middle School Readers
Through the pages of these books, students will encounter themes of identity, resilience, friendship, social justice, and the power of dreams. They will witness characters overcoming obstacles, finding their voice, and positively impacting the world around them.
Whether exploring the early years of a legendary athlete, discovering the untold stories of unsung heroes, or going on magical adventures that blend history and fantasy, these must-read books for middle school readers will captivate young readers and leave a lasting impression.
Memoir & Biography
When Stars Are Scattered by Victoria Jamieson and Omar Mohamed
This graphic novel follows Omar and his brother, Hassan, as they navigate life in a refugee camp. It has themes of heartbreak, hope, family, and resilience, offering an intimate and eye-opening glimpse into the daily struggles of refugees and the power of creating a sense of home in the face of adversity.
Becoming Muhammad Ali by James Patterson and Kwame Alexander
This collaboration between Kwame Alexander and James Patterson vividly portrays the early life of Cassius Clay before he became the iconic Muhammad Ali. Through prose and verse, the book dives into Cassius’ childhood struggles, his encounters with racism, his passion for boxing, and his journey toward becoming a legendary sports figure.
Historical Fiction
The Unsung Hero of Birdsong, USA by Brenda Woods
A young white boy named Gabriel forms a friendship with a Black WWII veteran, Meriwether, who faces the harsh realities of the unwelcoming Jim Crow South. As Gabriel learns about Meriwether’s heroic past, he becomes determined to protect his friend when danger looms.
Finding Junie Kim by Ellen Oh
In this book, Junie Kim grapples with the desire to fit in and the challenges of racism in her middle school. When faced with a choice between staying silent or speaking out against injustice, Junie finds inspiration in her grandparents’ remarkable stories of resilience and compassion during the war, giving her the courage to find her voice and stand up for what is right in the face of adversity.
Red, White, and Whole by Rajani LaRocca
Reha is an Indian American girl torn between her family’s expectations and her desire to find her own path. When Reha’s mother falls seriously ill, Reha is determined to become the perfect daughter, even if it means overcoming her own fears and reservations.
The Book of Boy by Catherine Gilbert Murdock
This is the story of an outcast named Boy, who is mocked and mistreated due to his physical appearance and abilities. When a pilgrim named Secondus recruits Boy as his servant for a journey across Europe to collect sacred relics, Boy realizes their mission is not as innocent as it seems. Boy navigates a dangerous adventure, forming unexpected friendships along the way.
Queen of the Sea by Dylan Meconis
Queen of the Sea is a reimagining of history, loosely inspired by the exile of Queen Elizabeth I by her sister, Queen Mary. Queen Eleanor of Albion finds herself banished to a secluded island where a convent resides, and her arrival disrupts the life of Margaret, an orphan girl. As Margaret forms a bond with Eleanor, she uncovers the island’s dark secrets and confronts her own mysterious past.
I hope this list of must-read books for middle school readers helped you find something your students will enjoy. Learning about historical events through memoirs, biographies, and historical fiction is a great way to help your students understand the history and important people who have made a difference in the world.
For more must-read books for middle school readers, 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.
Biography Symbolism Assignment
If your students love reading biographies and memoirs, extend their learning by having them select an important and/or influential person to learn about. They can then complete this Biography Symbolism Assignment to showcase their learning to the class.
With this assignment, students will read a biography, memoir or autobiography and then create a life map outlining the important events in their chosen person’s life. After creating the life map, students will provide a written explanation and oral presentation of their life map.
This assignment includes:
- assignment sheet
- graphic organizers
- differentiated and engaging activities
- individual PDFs of student pages for uploading to Google Classroom or other online learning portals
- Google Slides graphic organizers for 1 to 1 technology classrooms
- detailed lesson plan and teacher directions
- assessment rubrics (levels or points)
You can grab the Biography Symbolism Assignment on Shopify CAD or Teachers Pay Teachers USD.
Help Your Students Love Reading with Lit Launch
Are you ready to share your passion for reading and inspire your students?
Lit Launch: Middle School Reading Professional Development is for teachers looking to create meaningful reading engagement in their classrooms.
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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