Top 16 Classic Books For Middle Schoolers Updated 04 /2024

Some books have stood the test of time because they allow young readers to envision themselves on the pages of the books. It's possible that the characters in these middle school classics do not have learning and mental disabilities. However, these stories have the potential to resonate with children who do not have similar experiences.

Tuck Everlasting, by Natalie Babbitt

Who hasn't desired that their circumstances were significantly different? Winnie, a ten-year-old girl, most certainly does. Her world appears to be narrow and uninteresting. Then she meets the Tucks, who become her new family. In the strictest sense, they kidnap her. However, as she discovers that they have discovered a Fountain of Youth, she begins to feel at ease with the Tucks' enchantment. Ultimately, Winnie becomes embroiled in a decision—and a crime—that will alter the course of her life forever.

Tuck Everlasting's remarks about feeling mistreated may be of particular interest to children with learning and thinking difficulties. Also, its distinct approaches to life may appeal to them as well.

A Wrinkle in Time, by Madeleine L’Engle

A Wrinkle in Time has been hailed as a superb introduction to science fiction since it was first published in 1962, and for good reason. Meg and her brother Charles Wallace join forces in order to locate and rescue their father, who has become lost in time. They journey through space with their companion Calvin, discover strange creatures, and work to restore order both at home and throughout the cosmos.

The idiosyncrasies of the brothers may be appealing to children who have learning and thinking problems. Meg has a hard time keeping her emotions under control. Charles Wallace is intelligent, but he exclusively communicates with his immediate relatives. Although the author never explicitly states that they are twice outstanding, children may derive that conclusion. (The new graphic novel version of the book may be appealing to reluctant readers.)

Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry, by Mildred D. Taylor

When life seems to be filled with sadness, it can be difficult to maintain optimism. Cassie, a 10-year-old girl who lives in Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry, a truly poignant tale about prejudice, loss, and courage, goes through something similar. A year in the life of Cassie's African-American family in Mississippi during the height of the Great Depression is chronicled in this novel. They are fighting to maintain their land while being subjected to horrific discrimination in the process.

Cassie's ongoing strength and self-awareness in the midst of the problems she experiences are qualities that children with learning and thinking differences may respect.

Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret, by Judy Blume

Moms may recall a day when God, are you there with us? In terms of being a classic coming-of-age tale, It's Me, Margaret is excellent. Margaret, a twelve-year-old girl from New York City, has recently relocated to the suburbs. She becomes friends with a group of girls, and together they face the challenges of adolescence, such as their first periods, bras, and male affection. Margaret is likewise having difficulties determining her spiritual identity. Her mother is a Christian, while her father is a Jew, and she was raised as such. As a result, Margaret engages in nighttime prayer to gain a better understanding of her own religious convictions.

Margaret's desire to be accepted by her peers may be appealing to children with learning and thinking disabilities.

Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl, by Anne Frank

This Holocaust book, which is sometimes referred to simply as "Anne Frank's Diary," is harrowingly compelling. Anne, a 13-year-old girl, and her family flee to the Netherlands to avoid being captured by the Nazis who have taken over the country. They have been living together in a small secret room for more than two years. This traumatic period is chronicled in Anne's diary, which displays her very sympathetic adolescent frustrations and longings.

Children who have learning and thinking difficulties may appreciate Anne's ability to maintain her optimism in the face of overwhelming adversity. (It should be noted that her final death in a concentration camp may have an impact on sensitive readers.) Parents should be prepared to go through the tragedy with their children.)

Holes, by Louis Sachar

Camp Green Lake does not have a lake of its own. There's also no enjoyment to be had on the "camp" timetable. However, there is where Stanley's parents take him once he is suspected of stealing and is sentenced to prison. The camp, on the other hand, begins to feel more like a jail as he discovers that he will be digging holes all day every day. Holes is a favorite among many middle-schoolers because it is funny, suspenseful, and full of creative twists and turns.

Children who have learning and thinking difficulties may appreciate the following: the difficult friendships that grow between characters who are quite different from one another. In addition, the boys "think differently" in ways that assist them in problem-solving. There are several behavioral concerns among the campers, including one who has ADHD.)

The Giver, by Lois Lowry

In the film, Jonas is 12 years old when he receives the employment assignment that will last the rest of his life. He will take over as the new Receiver of Memory, which is the highest position in his community, after he retires. However, the present Receiver—whom Jonas refers to as The Giver—teaches him certain painful facts about the past of his seemingly ideal society, which Jonas finds upsetting. Because of this information, Jonas is forced to make decisions that he thinks will influence the course of their lives as a whole.

Following Jonas' world of uniformity, children with learning and thinking variances may appreciate: their own individuality after witnessing such sameness. The Giver is also a current film, which children may find interesting to watch after finishing the novel.

Uncle Tom’s Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe

This is a book that everyone should read since, given the subject matter, it is likely to be out of print within the next decade. There is some sexual stuff in this film that may be a little mature for some viewers.

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