Book Choices for My 7th Grader

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We have finally finalized the 7th-grade booklist for my son’s literature course this year. My children are typically assigned one book a month for deeper study in addition to our general family read-aloud titles.

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This year a friend and I are creating our own literature course for our middle school boys. Each month we plan to read and discuss one novel while focusing on a literary or plot element. We will explore ideas such as setting, characterization, satire, and conflict each month.

In addition to our novel selection, each month we will read and discuss a short story, essay, and poem. We plan to do these shorter selections at teatime at the start of class.

Resources:

The Poem of the Month PDF is a free guide offered by Learning Through Literature. I’ll use these just as they are. It’s quick and easy and fun.

Breakfast on Mars and 37 other Delectable Essays: Your Favorite Authors Take a Stab at the Dreaded Essay Assignment by Brad Wolfe and Rebecca Stearn. Best. Essays. Ever. I highly recommend this one for teens. We’ll read an essay each month and see if we can identify the thesis and main points among these creative examples.

Less is More: Teaching Literature with Short Texts by Kimberly Hill Campbell. This one allows me to find short stories based on literary elements that are clear in the plot. There are also teaching ideas for various elements and stories.

Middle School Booklist – 7th Grade

September: The Wednesday Wars by Gary D. Schmidt

October: They Called Us Enemy by George Takei, Justin Eisinger, Steven Scott, and Harmony Becker (Graphic Novel)

November: The Witch of Blackbird Pond by Elizabeth George Speare

December: The Best Christmas Pageant Ever by Barbara Robinson

**Our class doesn’t meet in December, so we’ll be reading and enjoying this one as a family.

January: The Importance of Being Earnest (a play) by Oscar Wilde

February: The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman

March: The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

April: The Book Scavenger by Chambliss Bertman, Jennifer

May: Shackles From the Deep by Michael Cottman

Almost every book on this list is new to me as well as my son. I can’t wait to dive in and read them with him.

More Booklists:

Graphic Novels for Middle School
Graphic Novels for Elementary School
7th/8th Grade Booklist
Haiku Books for Kids
10 Children’s Poets Your Kids Will Love
Ultimate Guide to Poetry Collections for Kids
Booklist for 5th and 6th Grade

Book Club Ideas:

Book Clubs for Kids: Poppy by Avi
Book Clubs for Kids: The Green Ember
Book Clubs for Kids: Anne of Green Gables
Book Clubs for Kids: Mysterious Benedict Society
Book Clubs for Kids: Love That Dog
Ultimate Collection of Book Clubs for Kids

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Mary Wilson

Mary is a writer and mother to four kids ranging from elementary to high school.

She believes that creativity, laughter, and fun are the backbone for engaging and inspiring homeschools. You can find her encouragement and tips on this blog, Mary Hanna Wilson.

She is an enneagram 7 and an extrovert. She enjoys traveling, tea (iced or hot), good conversations, and books. You can connect with her on Instagram and Facebook.

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