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I think the hardest age for summer reading is middle school, don’t you? Try these good 7th grade books for ages 12 and 13 for summer reading. I think they’ll entice your middle schoolers to read throughout the dog days of summer.
Who am I to suggest these middle grade and YA books?
Besides being a former teacher and parent of two, I read hundreds of books every month to find the best books for you and your readers. I’ve read and reviewed all of these books. If you want to read more about each book, visit this list of book reviews for 7th graders .
Are your 7th graders reading on a device? My daughter does. At least most of the time. And I like that she’s reading, so I don’t care if she reads on a Kindle, an iPad, a paper book, or phone. Just that she’s reading is good. Without too much nagging… So, consider adding technology to your 7th grader’s summer reading.
Give your reader a choice of books to read.
Give your 7th graders books — lots of books — whether library books or store-bought books!
Help your 7th grader find blocks of time to read.
Remember that audiobooks count as reading! (See: audiobooks for tweens & audiobooks for teens .)
SHOP THIS LIST.
All books for 7th graders
Summer reading lists by grade level
6th Grade Summer Reading List (age 11 – 12)
8th Grade Summer Reading List (age 13 and up / teen)
Download the free printable of this summer reading list. NOTE: If you don’t see the printable sign-up below, please clear your cache and try again.
Fantasy & science fiction 7th grade list.
If you like fantasy, paranormal, & sci-fi books , you’ll love:
If you like realistic books , you’ll love:
If you like adventure , try these books:
Love historical fiction ? Try a book from this list:
Try a nonfiction book ! Here are incredible choices you won’t be able to put down:
KEEP READING
Best 7th Grade Book Series
Best Read Aloud Books for 7th and 8th Grades
Summer Reading Lists for Kids
Melissa Taylor, MA, is the creator of Imagination Soup. She's a mother, former teacher & literacy trainer, and freelance education writer. She writes Imagination Soup and freelances for publications online and in print, including Penguin Random House's Brightly website, USA Today Health, Adobe Education, Colorado Parent, and Parenting. She is passionate about matching kids with books that they'll love.
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I love this site as a book hoarder and reading teacher I am constantly looking for books to recommend and read to share with kids. I teach IDS and wanted to get aprintable copy of the 7th and 8th grade reading list, but can’t find a link.
Thanks for your support and enthusiasm on your page.
rhonda lawson
Thank you so much!
Here are the links: https://imaginationsoup.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/7th-grade-summer-reading-list.pdf https://imaginationsoup.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/Teen-8th-grade-summer-reading-list.pdf
Hi! I’m going into the 7th grade and will definitely try this list.
Happy reading!
Check out the standout books for 7th graders, aggregated from top literary sources. these selections are the most mentioned and recommended across respected publications..
A book’s total score is based on multiple factors, including the number of people who have voted for it and how highly those voters ranked the book.
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Here’s a list of books I want my seventh grader to read in our homeschool this year. There’s a heavy emphasis on historical fiction (because: #learning) and fantasy (one of her favorite genres).
The plan is for her to read about two books off of this list each month, that should be pretty easy for her.
Prairie lotus.
This book will give you Little House on the Prairie vibes but with a half-Chinese main character who has to deal with a lot of racism due to her skin color.
If you have suggestions for books that you think she would like, please leave them in the comments below!
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Finding 7th grade books can feel overwhelming. That’s because seventh grade is a pivotal year for students. They are no longer kids, but they are not quite teenagers yet. They’re trying to figure out who they are and what they want to be. They are also working hard in school and starting to think about their future. While we all know there are many benefits to reading literature , this period is time is especially critical for helping students problem solve and develop a sense of self. This is why it is important to give them a reading list that will challenge and engage them in critical thinking. To help, I’ve put together a 7th grade reading list with 20 of the best books for this age group so you can quickly and easily plan novel studies or grab some new reads for the school year.
Whether you’re a middle school teacher or homeschooling your seventh grader, I’m sure you’ll find a good book on this list that will capture your reader’s attention. These 7th grade books cover so many important themes and genres there’s something for everyone!
If you’re creating book lists for your readers this year, you’ll likely want to include a mix of classic books, historical fiction novels, Newbery honor books, and more. Here are some of my top picks for the best books for seventh-grade readers:
Rebecca Stead’s When You Reach Me is a complex puzzle that plays with time and space. The story centers around Miranda, a 12-year-old living in New York City in the late 1970s. Her mother is trying to get on the $20,000 Pyramid, her best friend has been beaten up by a bully, and some weird things are happening to Miranda—anonymous notes are coming in from the future telling her not to trust someone. It’s hard to give you much more than that without giving away spoilers—but it’s one of those books that you won’t be able to put down until you’ve finished it.
Details about When You Reach Me :
When it comes to 7th grade books, this one will make kids laugh out loud. This comedy is about a boy who is not gifted and talented at school, but has somehow ended up in middle school for the “gifted and talented.” In fact, he’s so bad at school that his mom takes him to a psychiatrist because she thinks something must be wrong with him. In order to get out of school, he starts a rumor that there are poisonous black widow spiders living in the toilet paper dispensers. Needless to say, this doesn’t go over well with any of the teachers or parents. With hilarious consequences, the plot revolves around how the main character deals with this problem…and eventually gets out of it. (Spoiler alert: it ends happily.)
For students who loved books like Diary of a Wimpy Kid and Captain Underpants in their younger years, Death by Toilet Paper will not disappoint!
Details about Death by Toilet Paper :
A powerful and harrowing story, Diary of Anne Frank is a must-read for all students as it gives a firsthand account of the fear and hardship faced by the Jewish people in Nazi Germany. The diary entries span from June 12, 1942 to August 1944. In them, Anne (aged 13 at the time) documents her life while in hiding from the Nazi regime during World War II.
Through her writing, Anne shares her hopes and dreams, as well as her fears and frustrations.
The diary ends abruptly when the family is discovered and Anne is sent to a concentration camp. However, students will be moved by her story and inspired by her strength in the face of adversity.
After cell phones are banned from Branton Middle School, the students start using notes to communicate. Eighth-grader, Parker, starts passing sticky notes to a girl he likes. eighth-grader Margot begins receiving threatening notes from someone who knows all her secrets. Seventh-grader Simon gets drafted into being the middleman for the entire school.
Both heartwarming and lesson-packed, this book is an easier read that offers many great opportunities to discuss the impact of our words on others.
The main character in Ungifted is a middle schooler named Donovan Curtis. He’s not exactly a bad kid, but he’s not the best student either—which is why he ends up in the gifted and talented program at his school. The only problem is that Donovan isn’t gifted or talented… he just ended up in the wrong class. This book is great because it shows how being “ungifted” can actually be an asset sometimes. You can count on Donovan to find a way to get things done that no one else would even think of!
Boys who are reluctant readers will especially enjoy this book, which has short chapters in large print, and will have your son reading nonstop to find out what happens next! For boys who are starting to like reading chapter books for fun, Ungifted by Gordon Korman is a good choice for 7th grade. It’s about 300 pages long and funny enough that kids will want to read it from start to finish!
Details about Ungifted :
Ideal for middle schools, Touching Spirit Bear by Ben Mikaelsen is a powerful and thought-provoking story about a troubled teenager named Cole Matthews. The novel demonstrates how people can make terrible choices, but that everyone deserves a second chance.
Cole Matthews has been in trouble for most of his life because of his anger issues. He made one mistake that changed the course of his life and it led him to an Alaskan wilderness camp as part of the Circle Justice program. The program allowed him to face himself and heal from the past so he could move forward in a positive direction. His journey is told through flashbacks that reveal more about Cole’s past mistakes and how they shaped who he was in the present time.
It’s not until Cole has to face himself, and almost lose his own life, that he’s able to find peace with what happened in the past so he can move forward with his future. A favorite of 6th grade and 7th grade readers, you’ll definitely want to give this title a look.
The protagonist, a young Eskimo girl named Miyax, is living with her father and grandfather in the harsh, cold climate of the Arctic tundra. She is independent and has learned to survive in this environment, but she does not feel any real connection to her family. When her father leaves for San Francisco and her grandfather dies, Miyax runs away from home to find him. After a harrowing journey through Alaska’s wilderness, she adopts a pack of wolves as her new family and they help keep each other alive until she can return home in safety.
Like Touching Spirit Bear , Julie of the Wolves focuses on the harmony between humanity and nature. Miyax quickly learned that if she wanted to survive alone in Alaska’s vast expanse of wilderness, she would have to live by its own set of rules. This meant everyone was treated as an equal—no matter what species or gender they were—and no one made decisions based on greed or vanity like humans so often do.
Despite being full of suspenseful moments that make you feel your heart racing inside your chest as you read them, these characters will make you wish you really could join their den for a while. This is one of my favorite winter novels , but it is a great read any time of year.
Details about Julie of the Wolves :
The Ninth Ward by Jewell Parker Rhodes is a beautifully written and eye-opening story about Hurricane Katrina and its aftermath through the eyes of a young girl named Lanesha. A great historical fiction book for 7th graders, it is the story of Lanesha’s life in New Orleans’ Ninth Ward with her Mama Ya-Ya, who has raised her since she was orphaned as a baby. When Hurricane Katrina hits, Mama Ya-Ya does everything she can to protect Lanesha but the storm is too powerful and they are forced to evacuate.
After the hurricane, Lanesha is sent to live with her estranged father in Houston. She struggles to adjust to this new environment and finds it hard to trust anyone after what she’s been through. But with the help of her new friend, Kaya, Lanesha starts to heal and eventually finds the courage to return to New Orleans and face her fears.
When considering 7th grade books, you should find a mix of relatable texts and those that can foster discussion and thought. The Ninth Ward is perfect for this because it is an important story that highlights the strength and resilience of the human spirit. It’s also a reminder that natural disasters can happen anywhere at any time, and we must be prepared for them.
Hana’s Suitcase is a true story about the Holocaust told through the lens of two children living half a world apart. In Tokyo, Japan, a young boy named Fumiko Ishioka is working on a school project about WWII and the Holocaust. She becomes interested in the story of a Jewish girl named Hana Brady who was sent to a concentration camp in Czechoslovakia.
Fumiko begins writing letters to Hana’s surviving brother, George, who now lives in Toronto, Canada. Through their correspondence, Fumiko and George piece together the story of Hana’s life and how she perished in the Holocaust.
Hana’s Suitcase is an important book for children to read because it shows the power of human connection and the importance of remembering the past. It is a reminder that we must never forget what happened during the Holocaust, and that we must stand up against hatred and bigotry in all forms.
Details about Hana’s Suitcase:
This Newbery Medal-winning book is the perfect choice for young readers who are looking for an adventure story with a strong message of courage and perseverance.
The novel follows the story of Mafatu, a young boy from an island tribe in Polynesia. Mafatu is different from the other boys in his tribe because he’s afraid of the sea. He’s constantly ridiculed and made to feel like an outcast because of his fear, but he decides that he’s going to prove everyone wrong.
Mafatu sets out on a journey by himself in a small canoe, determined to catch fish and prove that he is just as brave as the other boys in his tribe. But when a big storm hits and his canoe is overturned, Mafatu has to face his biggest fear head-on. He’s forced to swim for his life in the middle of the raging sea.
This story is an inspiring tale of courage and determination, and it shows that anyone can overcome their fears if they set their mind to it.
Details about Call It Courage :
No 7th grade book list would be complete without at least a few of the classics. Louisa May Alcott’s Little Women is a coming-of-age tale set during the American Civil War. The novel follows the lives of four sisters, Jo March, Beth March, Meg March and Amy March as they grow up in Concord, Massachusetts. If you enjoy reading about history or historical fiction this is a great book for you to read.
The family struggles to maintain their lifestyle because their father is off fighting in the war. The girls have to learn how to manage the home on their own and come up with ways of making money when times are tough. This book will teach you about women’s roles during this time period as well as give you an insight into what life was like during wartime. It also tackles issues such as discrimination, feminism, and classism during this era of American history.
Graphic novels can be great additions when you’re considering 7th grade books. This coming-of-age graphic novel is perfect for middle schoolers who are looking for a relatable story about growing up.
The book follows the story of a girl in middle school who is trying to find her place in the world. She’s dealing with all the usual things that come with being a teenager, like boys, bullies, and braces. But when she gets hit in the face with a baseball and has to get surgery, things start to get really complicated.
She has to learn how to deal with her new appearance, which includes metal wires holding her teeth together. She also has to deal with mean girls at school who make fun of her. But through it all, she learns that being yourself is the best thing you can do.
I love Raina Telegemeier’s books, and you’ll find more of them on my list of Halloween books .
The 1961 novel follows the adventures of a young boy named Billy Coleman and his two Redbone Coonhound hunting dogs in the Ozark Mountains. Set during the Great Depression, Billy spends every cent he can to purchase and train his hounds. After several years of training, they become renowned hunters and win many ribbons at competitions.
This story is mostly appreciated by readers ages 11-14 but it is well-known by people of all ages. Though it’s an easy read, “Where The Red Fern Grows” will make anyone cry at some point during their reading adventure.
Details about Where the Red Fern Grows :
A Long Walk to Water is based on the true story of Salva Dut, a Sudanese boy who was forced to flee his home during the Second Sudanese Civil War. When he was just 11 years old, Salva was separated from his family and sent on a dangerous journey to Ethiopia. He spent several months walking through the desert, and when he finally arrived in Ethiopia, he was placed in a refugee camp.
The story then jumps to present day, where Salva is now an adult living in America. He works for an organization that builds wells in Sudan, and he is able to return to his home country to help others who are facing the same struggles that he once faced.
This is a powerful story that will stay with you long after you finish reading it.
Details about A Long Walk to Water :
In a future society where pain, disease, war, and poverty have been eradicated, 12-year-old Jonas is selected to become the Receiver of Memory. This means that he will be responsible for carrying all of the memories of the world, both the good and the bad.
As Jonas begins to learn about the history of his society, he starts to question the rules that have been put in place. He wonders why people are not allowed to express their emotions, why they are not allowed to see colors, and why everyone must take a drug that makes them forget their memories.
Eventually, Jonas decides that the rules of his society are wrong and he starts to rebel against them. This leads to a series of events that will change his life forever.
Details about The Giver :
The Invention of Hugo Cabret is a story told through pictures and words. It’s the story of a young orphan living in London who survives by stealing food and living in the walls of a train station.
Hugo’s life changes when he meets a young girl named Isabelle, who helps him try to solve the mystery of his late father’s clockwork machine. Along the way, they learn about film history and the invention of the motion picture camera.
This is a beautiful and unique story that will appeal to readers of all ages, but it is one of my favorite 7th grade books.
Chase does not remember what happened the day he fell off the roof and hit his head. He only knows that he somehow ended up in the hospital with a concussion. But as Chase starts to piece together what happened, he realizes something about the person he was before his accident.
Chase was a bully. He would pick on other kids, make fun of them, and even steal from them. But after his accident, Chase is determined to change. He wants to be a better person and he does not want to go back to the way he was before.
But it is not going to be easy. Change is never easy. And as Chase starts to realize that, he also realizes that he might not be able to do it on his own.
Details about Restart :
In 1793, Philadelphia is gripped by a deadly fever. When Mattie Cook’s mother and grandfather fall ill, she has to take over the family business. But as the disease starts to spread, Mattie must find a way to save her family and herself.
This is a historical fiction novel that is based on the real-life events of the 1793 yellow fever epidemic in Philadelphia.
Details about Fever 1793 :
The Outsiders is a classic novel about two rival gangs, the Socs and the Greasers. The story is told from the perspective of Ponyboy, a member of the Greasers. Great for advanced seventh or eighth graders, the story is a must-read for all students.
Ponyboy’s world is turned upside down when his best friend, Johnny, kills a Soc in self-defense. The boys are forced to go on the run, and they must learn to trust each other if they want to survive.
Details about The Outsiders :
Josh and Jordan are twin brothers who love basketball. They are also dealing with the loss of their father, who died suddenly from a heart attack.
As they try to cope with their grief, they turn to basketball as a way to connect with their dad. They start to play street ball and soon they are known as the “twin towers” of the court.
But when Josh’s game starts to suffer, he wonders if he will ever be able to play the game the way his father did.
Details about The Crossover :
In this funny and heartwarming book, Ellie’s scientist grandfather has discovered the secret to eternal youth. Now a teenager, he must figure out how to connect with his granddaughter, who is going through her own awkward phase. At the same time, he needs her help to get the formula for his discovery out to the world.
The Fourteenth Goldfish is a great book for kids who are interested in science, as it offers a look at some real-world scientific concepts. It’s also perfect for kids who are dealing with their own changes and growing up.
Details about The Fourteenth Goldfish:
Georgina’s family has fallen on hard times. They have lost their house and they are living in their car.
Desperate to help her family, Georgina comes up with a plan to steal a dog. She knows that if she can find the right dog, she can surely find a rich owner who will pay big money to get it back.
But as Georgina starts to execute her plan, she realized that stealing a dog is not as easy as it seems. And she also begins to realize that the real value of a dog is not in the money, but in the love and companionship they provide.
Details about How to Steal a Dog:
Every year, the people of the Protectorate offer a baby as a sacrifice to the witch who lives in the forest. But one year, they accidentally offer up Luna, a foundling who has been raised by a loving couple.
The witch, who is not really a witch at all, takes Luna in and decides to raise her as her own. But when Luna’s magical powers start to grow, the witch realizes that she may not be able to protect her from the dangers of the world.
This is a great book to introduce in October, as it has some spooky elements that make it a great Halloween read for older students. However, your students will enjoy it anytime!
By seventh grade, many students have read Paulsen’s popular book Hatchet. However, many don’t realize the book has a number of great sequels that are just as fantastic and still offer great learning opportunities for 7th-grade readers.
In this companion novel to Hatchet, Brian is stranded in the wilderness once again. But this time, it is winter and he is not prepared. Brian must find a way to survive the cold and the dangers of the forest if he wants to make it through the winter.
Details about Brian’s Winter :
The Watsons are a black family living in Flint, Michigan, in the 1960s. When their youngest son, Kenny, gets into trouble at school, they decide to send him down to Birmingham, Alabama, to live with his grandparents. But when they get there, they realize that Birmingham is not the safe haven they thought it would be.
The Watsons Go to Birmingham, 1963 is a powerful story about family, friendship, and the fight for civil rights.
Details about The Watsons Go to Birmingham, 1963 :
A classic I discovered in sixth grade, The Cay by Theodore Taylor is a constant on the best seventh grade reading list. Set during World War II, the novel follows Phillip, a young boy who gets shipwrecked and stranded with an elderly Black man named Timothy. Forced to help each other survive against a harsh landscape and terrifying predators, Phillip learns about courage and friendship as he helps his newly blind companion navigate the wilderness.
Despite being written for younger audiences, this coming-of-age tale will capture the hearts of readers of all ages as they see how far one person can go to protect another. Themes like trust and acceptance are also included in this beautifully written story that aims to inspire young people with its page-turning plot.
A Wrinkle in Time is a classic science fiction novel that has been captivating young readers for generations. The story follows Meg, who must travel through time and space to save her father from the evil forces that have captured him.
With its complex plot and themes of good vs. evil, A Wrinkle in Time is a great choice for seventh-grade readers. It is also a great choice for discussions about family, loyalty, and friendship.
Details about A Wrinkle in Time :
Seventh graders are in the midst of a period where they’re exploring their beliefs and how they align with those of the people around them. Amal Unbound is a powerful story about a young girl’s fight for freedom. Amal lives in Pakistan, where she is forced to work as a servant in her own home after her father incurs a debt to the wealthy landlord.
Determined to get an education so she can one day become a lawyer and help others like her, Amal risks everything to go to school. But when the landlord’s son takes an interest in her, Amal must decide how far she is willing to go to get the education she needs.
This historical fiction novel is based on the true story of the founding of James Town, Virginia. The story follows Samuel Collier, a young boy who is indentured to English captain John Smith and must go to America to work off his debt.
Once in America, Samuel finds himself in the middle of a conflict between the English and the Native Americans. When the English start to starve, Samuel must make a decision: should he help the Native Americans who have been so kind to him, or should he help his own people?
Blood on the River is a great choice for seventh-grade readers who are interested in history and want to learn more about the early days of America.
Details about Blood on the River:
This is a true story about the author’s brother, Ali Fadhil, who was living in Baghdad during the Gulf War. When Saddam Hussein invaded Kuwait, Ali’s family was forced to flee to America.
While they are in America, the Gulf War starts and Ali is glued to the television, watching as his home country is bombed. He is also playing a lot of video games, including Atari, which he is very good at.
One day, Saddam Hussein appears on television playing the same game that Ali has been playing. This leads Ali to believe that if he can beat Saddam at the game, maybe he can stop the war.
Playing Atari with Saddam Hussein is a great choice for seventh-grade readers who are interested in history, the Middle East, or video games.
This hilarious novel is perfect for seventh-grade readers who are looking for a laugh. The story follows Ben, Frank, Oliver, and Bean, a group of middle school students who start a prank club. But when their pranks start to get out of hand, the boys must figure out how to stop before they get into serious trouble.
PICKLE is one of those 7th grade books that will make students laugh and is a great choice for readers who are looking for a funny and light-hearted read. It is also a great choice for discussions about bullying, peer pressure, and making good choices.
Details about PICKLE :
This is a heartwarming story about Mia Tang, who moves to America from China with her parents. Mia’s family runs a motel, and Mia does everything she can to help, even though she is only nine years old.
Mia struggles to adjust to life in America, but she quickly makes new friends with the other kids who live at the motel. Together, they start a secret business to help the guests at the motel and to stand up to the mean manager.
Front Desk is a great choice for seventh-grade readers who are looking for a feel-good story about friendship, determination, and standing up for what’s right.
Details about Front Desk :
This is the story of a young boy named Misha who lives on the streets of Warsaw during World War II. Misha is a member of the resistance movement, and he helps smuggle Jewish children out of the ghetto.
But when Misha is caught by the Nazis, he must use all his strength and courage to survive. Milkweed is a great choice for seventh-grade readers who are interested in history or in stories about the Holocaust.
Details about Milkweed:
This coming-of-age story centers on a 16-year-old girl named Apple. Despite being half Native American and half white, a formative experience on the playground as a child left Apple unsure just where she belongs.
When her father drops her offer with her Native American relatives one summer on the Turtle Mountain Indian reservation in North Dakota, Apple experiences a new way of life and learns about her heritage. Ultimately, what felt foreign at first begins to feel like home, as Apple discovers her place in the world.
Apple in the Middle is a great choice for seventh-grade readers who are looking for a story about identity, family, and belonging.
Details about Apple in the Middle:
These are just a few of the great books that seventh-grade readers will enjoy. For more book recommendations, be sure to check out our other blog posts or contact your local librarian.
While you’re here, grab my free novel study planning roadmap to get step-by-step support to plan a high-quality literature unit for your seventh-grade students whether you’re in the classroom or homeschooling. Whether you’re planning your first novel study or just looking for new ideas, you’ll love this great tool.
It’s so important for kids to love to read. After all, reading is the key that unlocks the door to understanding everything else in school. Reading is also crucial for making and keeping friends, and being a good friend helps kids manage stress and anxiety.
If you’ve got a broad range of reading levels or are trying to diversify your classroom library without spending a ton of money , here are some of my favorite books for other reading levels.
If you’ve already filled your book list for 7th grade, don’t worry! I’ve got you covered. Click a grade level below to access more great novels.
This list 7th grade reading list gives fiction and nonfiction books for a wide variety of reading levels and topics.
Some of the links below are affiliate links. This means that, at zero cost to you, we will earn an affiliate commission if you click the link and make a purchase. We appreciate your support!
Middle school readers can handle longer books and more complex topics. This opens up so many more options for a 7th grade reading list. Suddenly, book choices are less about grade level and more about personal interest.
Young adults face new issues and emotional changes in 6th grade and 7th grade. They can find a lot of comfort in reading about characters experiencing similar things. Anything from different family dynamics to addiction issues to changes in friendships to questions about identity.
Middle schoolers also become more independent and may not look to parents for answers to their every thought and question. Recommending a good book here and there can be a subtle way for parents to guide 7th graders or teach them things about history or the world.
If you’re looking for books for other tweens, see our 4th grade reading list , 5th grade reading list or 6th grade reading list .
For seventh grade readers who appreciate artwork or just like images when they read, these graphic novels tell a great story in both words and pictures. Graphic novels are also great for reluctant readers.
Hey, Kiddo by Jarrett Krosoczka In this graphic memoir, Jarrett talks about growing up with a drug-addicted mother, a missing father and grandparents with strong opinions.
Real Friends by Shannon Hale A book about good friends, and why they’re worth all of the hard work.
Compass South by Hope Larson This New York Times best seller offers pirates and adventure as 12-year-old twins escape one danger just to find the next.
The Girl Who Owned a City by O.T. Nelson In a dangerous world, children on Grand Avenue need to work together to find food, shelter and protection. But how long can they keep themselves safe, and what will they have to do.
Nathan Hale’s Hazardous Tales by Nathan Hale These graphic novels tell true stories from American history. An addition to any 7th grade reading list that will entertain and teach readers.
Awkward by Svetlana Chmakova A story about surviving life at a new middle school and what rules are really worth keeping.
Estranged by Ethan M. Aldridge Full of magic, drama and adventure, Estranged has hundreds of pages of beautiful watercolor paintings.
Lots of the best chapter book options for 7th grade readers fall in the realistic fiction category. Fill your 7th grade reading list with any of the options below and your young reader won’t be disappointed.
Pair a book from this list with a game for a great gift (we have a list of the best board games for tweens and teens ).
The Crossover and Booked by Kwame Alexander For 7th grader readers who love sports, this award-winning series is a must-read. In Crossover, twin brothers learn about life and brotherhood through basketball. Booked follows 12-year-old Nick as he faces problems at home and learns about soccer, family, love and friendship. Alexander also wrote a prequel Rebound .
The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise by Dan Gemeinhart After she loses her mom and two sisters in a car accident, Coyote and her dad start a new life on the road in an old school bus. She wants to get back to her hometown to retrieve a memory box she and her sisters buried. She and her dad pick up some other travelers during the 3,000-mile journey home. Maybe her hardest journey yet.
Shouting at the Rain by Lynda Mullaly Hunt Middle schooler Deslie lives with her Grammy and loves tracking the weather. But she finds herself wishing for a more typical family and wondering why a best friend suddenly doesn’t want to be friends any more. She learns she can weather any kind of storm.
All the Broken Pieces by Ann E Burg Trying to forget his memories of war-torn Vietnam, Matt Pin now has a new home with an adoptive family in the United States. He has to confront his past and choose whether to blame or forgive.
The Only R oad by Alexandra Diaz When Jaime’s small town in Guatemala is overrun by a powerful gang, he and his cousin leave to find a better life with his older brother in New Mexico. This book is inspired by true events.
Flipped by Wendelin Van Draanen This rom-com for junior high readers is a comedy of errors told by two voices in alternating chapters. Others by this author might be better for high school readers.
Forget Me Not by Ellie Terry When Calliope June starts at her new school, she tries to hide her Tourette syndrome. Kids begin to notice and she wonders whether her neighbor and friend will be willing to risk his popularity to show the school she’s an interesting person and that they’re true friends.
Ghost by Jason Reynolds A group of kids from very different backgrounds come together to compete on an elite track team. The best-selling first book in the series is a National Book Award finalist and a parent-recommended addition to any 7th grade reading list .
My Seventh-Grade Life in Tights by Brooks Benjamin Dillon’s dad wants him to play football, but he wants to be a dancer. Things aren’t simple with his freestyle dance crew either. Dillon wants to go after a summer scholarship but his crew says dance studios are only for sellouts.
House Arrest by K.A. Holt Timothy is a good kid, but he screwed up and now he has a year of house arrest. Can he stay out of trouble and still help his struggling family?
The Unteachables by Gordon Korman A superintendent decides to assign a classroom of misfits and delinquents to the most burned-out teacher in the school. It might be a disaster, but then again, it might mean redemption.
I Will Always Write Back by Liz Welch An American girl and a boy from Zimbabwe become pen-pals through a class assignment. It began an exchange that changed both their lives.
Paradise on Fire by Jewell Parker Rhodes Rhodes makes all of my middle school must-read book lists. She’s a powerful storyteller who talks about important things in a way that really works for middle school readers. In Paradise on Fire, Addy loses her parents and goes to live with a grandmother. Years later she joins five other Black city kids at a summer wilderness program and faces a devastating forest fire.
The Science of Breakable Things by Tae Keller Natalie’s science teacher encourages her to enter an egg drop competition. She decides to go after the prize money to try to help her mother, who is suffering from depression. This story follows her uplifting journey about both science and love.
Genesis Begins Again by Alicia Williams Genesis has a father with gambling and alcohol addictions. Her family also looks down on her and her father’s darker skin. This award-winner follows a young woman dealing with real-world issues.
Those Kids from Fawn Creek by Erin Entrada Kelly The 12 seventh graders at Fawn Creek Middle School have grown up together and know all of each other’s secrets. When one kid moves away and another moves in, dynamics shift and the seventh grade class has to explore important lessons in friendship and being true to yourself. This author also wrote Newbery Medal winner Hello, Universe and Newbery Honor Book We Dream of Space .
The Shadow Children by Margaret Peterson Haddix In a world where families are only allowed two children, illegal third children must live in the shadows. This bestselling series has seven books.
Fast Break by MIke Lupica After his mom dies, 12-year-old Jayson avoids social services and the foster care system until he’s caught stealing a pair of basketball shoes. Basketball and the family in his new foster home set him on a new journey.
Middle school readers rave about Mike Lupica, who also wrote:
Encourage seventh graders to try out different genres. Don’t listen even if they’re “sure” they’ll hate it. Put together a 7th grade summer reading list with a few books in each genre and ask that they choose at least one in each category.
Spirit Hunters by Ellen Oh A chilling story for middle school readers about Harper Raine, a seventh grader in a new city hearing rumors that the Raine family’s new house is haunted. She doesn’t believe it until she finds herself facing down the dangerous ghosts that haunt her younger brother.
Roald Dahl’s Book of Ghost Stories Seventh grade readers who want to try out a riveting ghost story can start with this collection of spooky tales and great stories by an author they likely recognize (he wrote James and the Giant Peach and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory).
Uglies by Scott Westerfeld A dystopian world where turning 16 means surgery to become amazingly pretty. And about the not-so-pretty side of this “pretty” world.
Michael Vey by Richard Paul Evans A seven-book series about a 14-year-old with Tourette’s syndrome who tries to take down an evil organization seeking world domination.
Eragon by Christopher Paolini My son said these were his favorite books of all time as a middle school reader. They’re long and the language can be a little daunting, but they’re also magical if you have a book lover.
The Giver by Lois Lowry Each of the four books in this series follows a different character until they all weave back together. It kicks off with the story of 12-year-old Jonas. His community and world seem perfect until he starts seeing more than the leaders want him to know. My son’s middle school English teacher told him this was a great choice for a 7th grade reading list.
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins This series is a must-read for older kids who are mature enough for a plotline that involves sending children to participate in an annual Hunger Games that involves a fight to the death on live TV. It is set in a dystopian world where a shining Capitol keeps its 12 surrounding districts in line by forcing them to provide one boy and one girl ages 12 to 18 each year for the games. Katniss Everdeen finds a way to play the game by her own rules.
Divergent by Veronica Roth This is the first in a four-book series about a dystopian world where 16-year-olds must choose a community where they will spend the rest of their lives. Do they choose to live with the honest, the selfless, the brave, the peaceful or the intelligent? Or is there another choice altogether?
Harry Potter by J.K. Rawling By 7th grade, the length of the Harry Potter series look less daunting. These books and movies are not just for readers who know they love fantasy. They have captivated audiences of many ages and genres. That’s the mark of some of history’s best books.
The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings , by J.R.R. Tolkien Seventh grade readers can follow Bilbo Baggins from The Hobbit into the Lords of the Rings trilogy.
Ender’s Game (The Ender Saga) by Orson Scott Card This is an Amazon Teacher’s Pick series. Government agencies are creating child geniuses and training them as soldiers to protect against potential alien attacks. Siblings Peter and Valentine don’t make the final cut as soldiers. But they might still be the key to saving the world.
Percy Jackson & the Olympians by Rick Riordan This Rick Riordan series is a favorite among middle school readers. Percy Jackson has trouble in school and doesn’t get good grades. But then he learns he’s the son of Poseidon and his life changes as he goes to live at a camp with the other children of Greek gods and goddesses. Percy’s adventures continue in the five books of The Heroes of Olympus series .
95 Best Gifts for Tween & Teen Boys [2022 Gift Guide]
Nonfiction books transport young readers to different time periods. Reading about kids living during the Depression might shift perspectives – create more positive attitudes. Memoirs might offer different ways of thinking or doing things in a way that really gets through to young readers. Any 7th grade reading list should include some non-fiction options.
Trapped: How the World Rescued 33 Miners from 2,000 Feet Below Chilean Dessert by Marc Aronson The 2010 story of 33 miners trapped for 69 days with limited resources after a Chilean mine collapses.
Hidden Figures Young Readers’ Edition by Margot Lee Shetterly The story of four African-American female mathematicians at NASA who help achieve important things in the space program. Read the book and then watch the movie.
The Making of America: Susan B. Anthony by Teri Kanefield Seventh grade readers will learn about the life of Susan B. Anthony, a famous American suffragette. The Making of America series features other historical figures like Alexander Hamilton and Abraham Lincoln.
Girl CEO by Katherine Ellison A collection of mini-biographies from top female entrepreneurs such as Oprah to Sheryl Sandberg. They share their stories and the lessons in life and leadership they learned along the way.
Escape from Alcatraz by Eric Braun Two men escaped from Alcatraz in 1962 and were never found. This book details theories of what happened to them and facts provided first-hand by people who were involved with the men and this case.
The Boys in the Boat by Daniel James Brown Seventh grade readers can likely handle the original version of this book, but there is an adapted version for younger readers as well. Set in the Great Depression, this is the true story of nine working-class American boys who fight their way to the 1936 Olympics.
Becoming: Adapted for Young Readers by Michelle Obama This memoir of Michelle Obama shares her journey from a modest childhood in Chicago to being the First Lady of the United States.
The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind by William Kamkwamba (young readers edition) A boy saves his village by building a windmill from scrap metal that provides electricity and water.
Trevor Noah Born a Crime : Stories from South African Childhood (adapted for young readers) by Trevor Noah Trevor Noah, host of The Daily Show on Comedy Central, tells his story growing up with a black South African mother and a white European father. The ornery Trevor used his keen smarts and humor to navigate a harsh life under a racist government.
75 Best Gifts for Tween & Teen Girls [2022 Gift Guide]
Mary teaches communication at the university level and wrangles two sons and a spitfire of a daughter at home. She's outside or traveling every chance she gets, unapologetically fueled by coffee and Diet Coke.
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My favorite books for 7th graders.
One of the best parts of being an ELA teacher? Getting to read young adult literature (especially with students). There is no better feeling than a lively classroom discussion or socratic seminar about a class novel. That’s why I wanted to share some books for 7th graders that always result in passionate classroom discussions!
You can use this book list to find new books for your 7th grade reading curriculum or to add books to your classroom library.
Max is a slow learner inside the body of a teenage giant. Kevin is a tiny genius in leg braces. Together, they make an unlikely and powerful duo. This is a story of overcoming shame and loss, and embracing imperfection.
When I read this book in class, you could hear a pin drop! My students are zoned in and completely immersed in the novel. Of course, that’s followed by a lively discussion as we dive into this novel. My students always have a lot to say about this book. If you want help leading discussions and socratic seminars for Freak the Mighty , check out the novel study .
Chase has lost all of his memories. He doesn’t even know his name. When Chase wakes up from a coma, he must start over. But who exactly is Chase? When he goes back to school, he begins to discover that the person he was, may not be the person he wants to be.
Okay, I’m a sucker for any book with a great theme. This explores bullying, fitting in, and the dynamics of school. This book works really well in literature circles or book clubs because students can lead independent discussion with these topics.
It’s the summer of 1793, and mosquitos are invading Philadelphia. People are becoming sick with fever. At first, Polly is happy that her family business is growing as people visit her coffeehouse, far from the mosquito-infested river. But then the fever strikes closer to home…
This is a fictional story about the yellow fever epidemic. Not only is this a good book, but I enjoy being able to pair nonfiction passages with the novel. We also make connections to the world (even more relevant in our COVID world). I have a full novel study for Fever 1793 here!
Jaqueline Woodson grew up in the 1960s and 1970s during a pivotal time in America. As an African American girl, she watched the Civil Rights movement spark to life. This novel, which details her childhood, shows Jaqueline searching for her place in the world.
This novel is really powerful. This is another book that works well for pairing. I like to bring in primary sources and news articles to read along with the text. You can also dive into characterization with Brown Girl Dreaming . I created a full novel unit , which hits every single nonfiction ELA standard!
Jarrett has a complicated family. His mom is an addict, constantly in and out of rehab. His dad is a mystery. Jarrett lives with his loud, loving grandparents. Jarrett begins to express himself through art, and grapples with his complicated family.
Anytime I add a new graphic novel to my library, I know it will be checked out almost instantly. There is always a wait list for this book in my class because word gets around quickly about how good it is. This book contains some older themes, which I think makes it even more appealing to 7th graders. But it discusses everything in an age appropriate way.
Billie Jo is fourteen years old and living through some of the darkest times. As the Oklahoma dust storms rage through Billie’s family farm, she chronicles the emotional and environmental turmoil that comes with it.
If you are looking for another addition to your poetry unit or something to pair with The Dust Bowl, this is the novel for your class. This book can be a tough one because the emotion is easily felt. I think it makes for great discussion on diction and the power of poetry. Of course, I have a novel unit for Out of the Dust , which includes discussion questions, lesson plans, and PowerPoints to make teaching simple.
Chicago has been divided into five factions each dedicated to a different value. Beatrice must make a choice between her family and being true to herself. The faction she chooses surprises everyone, and the events that come after put Beatrice through more challenges than she could have imagined.
I always like to include books in my library that have been turned into movies. For lots of my reluctant and struggling readers, this often motivates them to read! Divergent is one of those easily recognizable books, and enough students have read it that I can always find a student willing to booktalk it for the class!
Thomas wakes up in a strange place with no memories. The same thing has happened to every single boy in this strange place – they woke up with no memories. And now, they are trapped in a changing maze. That is until one day, a girl arrives in the maze and the message she delivers startles them all.
I have lots of 7th grade students who love action and suspense, so this ends up being one of their favorite class novels every year! I have created a super in-depth novel unit for The Maze Runner , containing 28 lesson plans. By the end, I think your students will be obsessed with this book as mine were! If you want more books for 7th graders, I have more novel units available . Because sometimes you just want to enjoy reading with your 7th graders, instead of worrying about all the pesky planning!
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17 book review examples to help you write the perfect review.
It’s an exciting time to be a book reviewer. Once confined to print newspapers and journals, reviews now dot many corridors of the Internet — forever helping others discover their next great read. That said, every book reviewer will face a familiar panic: how can you do justice to a great book in just a thousand words?
As you know, the best way to learn how to do something is by immersing yourself in it. Luckily, the Internet (i.e. Goodreads and other review sites , in particular) has made book reviews more accessible than ever — which means that there are a lot of book reviews examples out there for you to view!
In this post, we compiled 17 prototypical book review examples in multiple genres to help you figure out how to write the perfect review . If you want to jump straight to the examples, you can skip the next section. Otherwise, let’s first check out what makes up a good review.
Are you interested in becoming a book reviewer? We recommend you check out Reedsy Discovery , where you can earn money for writing reviews — and are guaranteed people will read your reviews! To register as a book reviewer, sign up here.
Pro-tip : But wait! How are you sure if you should become a book reviewer in the first place? If you're on the fence, or curious about your match with a book reviewing career, take our quick quiz:
Find out the answer. Takes 30 seconds!
Like all works of art, no two book reviews will be identical. But fear not: there are a few guidelines for any aspiring book reviewer to follow. Most book reviews, for instance, are less than 1,500 words long, with the sweet spot hitting somewhere around the 1,000-word mark. (However, this may vary depending on the platform on which you’re writing, as we’ll see later.)
In addition, all reviews share some universal elements, as shown in our book review templates . These include:
If these are the basic ingredients that make up a book review, it’s the tone and style with which the book reviewer writes that brings the extra panache. This will differ from platform to platform, of course. A book review on Goodreads, for instance, will be much more informal and personal than a book review on Kirkus Reviews, as it is catering to a different audience. However, at the end of the day, the goal of all book reviews is to give the audience the tools to determine whether or not they’d like to read the book themselves.
Keeping that in mind, let’s proceed to some book review examples to put all of this in action.
Find out here, once and for all. Takes 30 seconds!
Since story is king in the world of fiction, it probably won’t come as any surprise to learn that a book review for a novel will concentrate on how well the story was told .
That said, book reviews in all genres follow the same basic formula that we discussed earlier. In these examples, you’ll be able to see how book reviewers on different platforms expertly intertwine the plot summary and their personal opinions of the book to produce a clear, informative, and concise review.
Note: Some of the book review examples run very long. If a book review is truncated in this post, we’ve indicated by including a […] at the end, but you can always read the entire review if you click on the link provided.
Kirkus Reviews reviews Ralph Ellison’s The Invisible Man :
An extremely powerful story of a young Southern Negro, from his late high school days through three years of college to his life in Harlem.
His early training prepared him for a life of humility before white men, but through injustices- large and small, he came to realize that he was an "invisible man". People saw in him only a reflection of their preconceived ideas of what he was, denied his individuality, and ultimately did not see him at all. This theme, which has implications far beyond the obvious racial parallel, is skillfully handled. The incidents of the story are wholly absorbing. The boy's dismissal from college because of an innocent mistake, his shocked reaction to the anonymity of the North and to Harlem, his nightmare experiences on a one-day job in a paint factory and in the hospital, his lightning success as the Harlem leader of a communistic organization known as the Brotherhood, his involvement in black versus white and black versus black clashes and his disillusion and understanding of his invisibility- all climax naturally in scenes of violence and riot, followed by a retreat which is both literal and figurative. Parts of this experience may have been told before, but never with such freshness, intensity and power.
This is Ellison's first novel, but he has complete control of his story and his style. Watch it.
Lyndsey reviews George Orwell’s 1984 on Goodreads:
YOU. ARE. THE. DEAD. Oh my God. I got the chills so many times toward the end of this book. It completely blew my mind. It managed to surpass my high expectations AND be nothing at all like I expected. Or in Newspeak "Double Plus Good." Let me preface this with an apology. If I sound stunningly inarticulate at times in this review, I can't help it. My mind is completely fried.
This book is like the dystopian Lord of the Rings, with its richly developed culture and economics, not to mention a fully developed language called Newspeak, or rather more of the anti-language, whose purpose is to limit speech and understanding instead of to enhance and expand it. The world-building is so fully fleshed out and spine-tinglingly terrifying that it's almost as if George travelled to such a place, escaped from it, and then just wrote it all down.
I read Fahrenheit 451 over ten years ago in my early teens. At the time, I remember really wanting to read 1984, although I never managed to get my hands on it. I'm almost glad I didn't. Though I would not have admitted it at the time, it would have gone over my head. Or at the very least, I wouldn't have been able to appreciate it fully. […]
The New York Times reviews Lisa Halliday’s Asymmetry :
Three-quarters of the way through Lisa Halliday’s debut novel, “Asymmetry,” a British foreign correspondent named Alistair is spending Christmas on a compound outside of Baghdad. His fellow revelers include cameramen, defense contractors, United Nations employees and aid workers. Someone’s mother has FedExed a HoneyBaked ham from Maine; people are smoking by the swimming pool. It is 2003, just days after Saddam Hussein’s capture, and though the mood is optimistic, Alistair is worrying aloud about the ethics of his chosen profession, wondering if reporting on violence doesn’t indirectly abet violence and questioning why he’d rather be in a combat zone than reading a picture book to his son. But every time he returns to London, he begins to “spin out.” He can’t go home. “You observe what people do with their freedom — what they don’t do — and it’s impossible not to judge them for it,” he says.
The line, embedded unceremoniously in the middle of a page-long paragraph, doubles, like so many others in “Asymmetry,” as literary criticism. Halliday’s novel is so strange and startlingly smart that its mere existence seems like commentary on the state of fiction. One finishes “Asymmetry” for the first or second (or like this reader, third) time and is left wondering what other writers are not doing with their freedom — and, like Alistair, judging them for it.
Despite its title, “Asymmetry” comprises two seemingly unrelated sections of equal length, appended by a slim and quietly shocking coda. Halliday’s prose is clean and lean, almost reportorial in the style of W. G. Sebald, and like the murmurings of a shy person at a cocktail party, often comic only in single clauses. It’s a first novel that reads like the work of an author who has published many books over many years. […]
Emily W. Thompson reviews Michael Doane's The Crossing on Reedsy Discovery :
In Doane’s debut novel, a young man embarks on a journey of self-discovery with surprising results.
An unnamed protagonist (The Narrator) is dealing with heartbreak. His love, determined to see the world, sets out for Portland, Oregon. But he’s a small-town boy who hasn’t traveled much. So, the Narrator mourns her loss and hides from life, throwing himself into rehabbing an old motorcycle. Until one day, he takes a leap; he packs his bike and a few belongings and heads out to find the Girl.
Following in the footsteps of Jack Kerouac and William Least Heat-Moon, Doane offers a coming of age story about a man finding himself on the backroads of America. Doane’s a gifted writer with fluid prose and insightful observations, using The Narrator’s personal interactions to illuminate the diversity of the United States.
The Narrator initially sticks to the highways, trying to make it to the West Coast as quickly as possible. But a hitchhiker named Duke convinces him to get off the beaten path and enjoy the ride. “There’s not a place that’s like any other,” [39] Dukes contends, and The Narrator realizes he’s right. Suddenly, the trip is about the journey, not just the destination. The Narrator ditches his truck and traverses the deserts and mountains on his bike. He destroys his phone, cutting off ties with his past and living only in the moment.
As he crosses the country, The Narrator connects with several unique personalities whose experiences and views deeply impact his own. Duke, the complicated cowboy and drifter, who opens The Narrator’s eyes to a larger world. Zooey, the waitress in Colorado who opens his heart and reminds him that love can be found in this big world. And Rosie, The Narrator’s sweet landlady in Portland, who helps piece him back together both physically and emotionally.
This supporting cast of characters is excellent. Duke, in particular, is wonderfully nuanced and complicated. He’s a throwback to another time, a man without a cell phone who reads Sartre and sleeps under the stars. Yet he’s also a grifter with a “love ‘em and leave ‘em” attitude that harms those around him. It’s fascinating to watch The Narrator wrestle with Duke’s behavior, trying to determine which to model and which to discard.
Doane creates a relatable protagonist in The Narrator, whose personal growth doesn’t erase his faults. His willingness to hit the road with few resources is admirable, and he’s prescient enough to recognize the jealousy of those who cannot or will not take the leap. His encounters with new foods, places, and people broaden his horizons. Yet his immaturity and selfishness persist. He tells Rosie she’s been a good mother to him but chooses to ignore the continuing concern from his own parents as he effectively disappears from his old life.
Despite his flaws, it’s a pleasure to accompany The Narrator on his physical and emotional journey. The unexpected ending is a fitting denouement to an epic and memorable road trip.
The Book Smugglers review Anissa Gray’s The Care and Feeding of Ravenously Hungry Girls :
I am still dipping my toes into the literally fiction pool, finding what works for me and what doesn’t. Books like The Care and Feeding of Ravenously Hungry Girls by Anissa Gray are definitely my cup of tea.
Althea and Proctor Cochran had been pillars of their economically disadvantaged community for years – with their local restaurant/small market and their charity drives. Until they are found guilty of fraud for stealing and keeping most of the money they raised and sent to jail. Now disgraced, their entire family is suffering the consequences, specially their twin teenage daughters Baby Vi and Kim. To complicate matters even more: Kim was actually the one to call the police on her parents after yet another fight with her mother. […]
The Book Hookup reviews Angie Thomas’ The Hate U Give :
♥ Quick Thoughts and Rating: 5 stars! I can’t imagine how challenging it would be to tackle the voice of a movement like Black Lives Matter, but I do know that Thomas did it with a finesse only a talented author like herself possibly could. With an unapologetically realistic delivery packed with emotion, The Hate U Give is a crucially important portrayal of the difficulties minorities face in our country every single day. I have no doubt that this book will be met with resistance by some (possibly many) and slapped with a “controversial” label, but if you’ve ever wondered what it was like to walk in a POC’s shoes, then I feel like this is an unflinchingly honest place to start.
In Angie Thomas’s debut novel, Starr Carter bursts on to the YA scene with both heart-wrecking and heartwarming sincerity. This author is definitely one to watch.
♥ Review: The hype around this book has been unquestionable and, admittedly, that made me both eager to get my hands on it and terrified to read it. I mean, what if I was to be the one person that didn’t love it as much as others? (That seems silly now because of how truly mesmerizing THUG was in the most heartbreakingly realistic way.) However, with the relevancy of its summary in regards to the unjust predicaments POC currently face in the US, I knew this one was a must-read, so I was ready to set my fears aside and dive in. That said, I had an altogether more personal, ulterior motive for wanting to read this book. […]
The New York Times reviews Melissa Albert’s The Hazel Wood :
Alice Crewe (a last name she’s chosen for herself) is a fairy tale legacy: the granddaughter of Althea Proserpine, author of a collection of dark-as-night fairy tales called “Tales From the Hinterland.” The book has a cult following, and though Alice has never met her grandmother, she’s learned a little about her through internet research. She hasn’t read the stories, because her mother, Ella Proserpine, forbids it.
Alice and Ella have moved from place to place in an attempt to avoid the “bad luck” that seems to follow them. Weird things have happened. As a child, Alice was kidnapped by a man who took her on a road trip to find her grandmother; he was stopped by the police before they did so. When at 17 she sees that man again, unchanged despite the years, Alice panics. Then Ella goes missing, and Alice turns to Ellery Finch, a schoolmate who’s an Althea Proserpine superfan, for help in tracking down her mother. Not only has Finch read every fairy tale in the collection, but handily, he remembers them, sharing them with Alice as they journey to the mysterious Hazel Wood, the estate of her now-dead grandmother, where they hope to find Ella.
“The Hazel Wood” starts out strange and gets stranger, in the best way possible. (The fairy stories Finch relays, which Albert includes as their own chapters, are as creepy and evocative as you’d hope.) Albert seamlessly combines contemporary realism with fantasy, blurring the edges in a way that highlights that place where stories and real life convene, where magic contains truth and the world as it appears is false, where just about anything can happen, particularly in the pages of a very good book. It’s a captivating debut. […]
James reviews Margaret Wise Brown’s Goodnight, Moon on Goodreads:
Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown is one of the books that followers of my blog voted as a must-read for our Children's Book August 2018 Readathon. Come check it out and join the next few weeks!
This picture book was such a delight. I hadn't remembered reading it when I was a child, but it might have been read to me... either way, it was like a whole new experience! It's always so difficult to convince a child to fall asleep at night. I don't have kids, but I do have a 5-month-old puppy who whines for 5 minutes every night when he goes in his cage/crate (hopefully he'll be fully housebroken soon so he can roam around when he wants). I can only imagine! I babysat a lot as a teenager and I have tons of younger cousins, nieces, and nephews, so I've been through it before, too. This was a believable experience, and it really helps show kids how to relax and just let go when it's time to sleep.
The bunny's are adorable. The rhymes are exquisite. I found it pretty fun, but possibly a little dated given many of those things aren't normal routines anymore. But the lessons to take from it are still powerful. Loved it! I want to sample some more books by this fine author and her illustrators.
Publishers Weekly reviews Elizabeth Lilly’s Geraldine :
This funny, thoroughly accomplished debut opens with two words: “I’m moving.” They’re spoken by the title character while she swoons across her family’s ottoman, and because Geraldine is a giraffe, her full-on melancholy mode is quite a spectacle. But while Geraldine may be a drama queen (even her mother says so), it won’t take readers long to warm up to her. The move takes Geraldine from Giraffe City, where everyone is like her, to a new school, where everyone else is human. Suddenly, the former extrovert becomes “That Giraffe Girl,” and all she wants to do is hide, which is pretty much impossible. “Even my voice tries to hide,” she says, in the book’s most poignant moment. “It’s gotten quiet and whispery.” Then she meets Cassie, who, though human, is also an outlier (“I’m that girl who wears glasses and likes MATH and always organizes her food”), and things begin to look up.
Lilly’s watercolor-and-ink drawings are as vividly comic and emotionally astute as her writing; just when readers think there are no more ways for Geraldine to contort her long neck, this highly promising talent comes up with something new.
Karlyn P reviews Nora Roberts’ Dark Witch , a paranormal romance novel , on Goodreads:
4 stars. Great world-building, weak romance, but still worth the read.
I hesitate to describe this book as a 'romance' novel simply because the book spent little time actually exploring the romance between Iona and Boyle. Sure, there IS a romance in this novel. Sprinkled throughout the book are a few scenes where Iona and Boyle meet, chat, wink at each, flirt some more, sleep together, have a misunderstanding, make up, and then profess their undying love. Very formulaic stuff, and all woven around the more important parts of this book.
The meat of this book is far more focused on the story of the Dark witch and her magically-gifted descendants living in Ireland. Despite being weak on the romance, I really enjoyed it. I think the book is probably better for it, because the romance itself was pretty lackluster stuff.
I absolutely plan to stick with this series as I enjoyed the world building, loved the Ireland setting, and was intrigued by all of the secondary characters. However, If you read Nora Roberts strictly for the romance scenes, this one might disappoint. But if you enjoy a solid background story with some dark magic and prophesies, you might enjoy it as much as I did.
I listened to this one on audio, and felt the narration was excellent.
Emily May reviews R.F. Kuang’s The Poppy Wars , an epic fantasy novel , on Goodreads:
“But I warn you, little warrior. The price of power is pain.”
Holy hell, what did I just read??
➽ A fantasy military school
➽ A rich world based on modern Chinese history
➽ Shamans and gods
➽ Detailed characterization leading to unforgettable characters
➽ Adorable, opium-smoking mentors
That's a basic list, but this book is all of that and SO MUCH MORE. I know 100% that The Poppy War will be one of my best reads of 2018.
Isn't it just so great when you find one of those books that completely drags you in, makes you fall in love with the characters, and demands that you sit on the edge of your seat for every horrific, nail-biting moment of it? This is one of those books for me. And I must issue a serious content warning: this book explores some very dark themes. Proceed with caution (or not at all) if you are particularly sensitive to scenes of war, drug use and addiction, genocide, racism, sexism, ableism, self-harm, torture, and rape (off-page but extremely horrific).
Because, despite the fairly innocuous first 200 pages, the title speaks the truth: this is a book about war. All of its horrors and atrocities. It is not sugar-coated, and it is often graphic. The "poppy" aspect refers to opium, which is a big part of this book. It is a fantasy, but the book draws inspiration from the Second Sino-Japanese War and the Rape of Nanking.
Crime Fiction Lover reviews Jessica Barry’s Freefall , a crime novel:
In some crime novels, the wrongdoing hits you between the eyes from page one. With others it’s a more subtle process, and that’s OK too. So where does Freefall fit into the sliding scale?
In truth, it’s not clear. This is a novel with a thrilling concept at its core. A woman survives plane crash, then runs for her life. However, it is the subtleties at play that will draw you in like a spider beckoning to an unwitting fly.
Like the heroine in Sharon Bolton’s Dead Woman Walking, Allison is lucky to be alive. She was the only passenger in a private plane, belonging to her fiancé, Ben, who was piloting the expensive aircraft, when it came down in woodlands in the Colorado Rockies. Ally is also the only survivor, but rather than sitting back and waiting for rescue, she is soon pulling together items that may help her survive a little longer – first aid kit, energy bars, warm clothes, trainers – before fleeing the scene. If you’re hearing the faint sound of alarm bells ringing, get used to it. There’s much, much more to learn about Ally before this tale is over.
Kirkus Reviews reviews Ernest Cline’s Ready Player One , a science-fiction novel :
Video-game players embrace the quest of a lifetime in a virtual world; screenwriter Cline’s first novel is old wine in new bottles.
The real world, in 2045, is the usual dystopian horror story. So who can blame Wade, our narrator, if he spends most of his time in a virtual world? The 18-year-old, orphaned at 11, has no friends in his vertical trailer park in Oklahoma City, while the OASIS has captivating bells and whistles, and it’s free. Its creator, the legendary billionaire James Halliday, left a curious will. He had devised an elaborate online game, a hunt for a hidden Easter egg. The finder would inherit his estate. Old-fashioned riddles lead to three keys and three gates. Wade, or rather his avatar Parzival, is the first gunter (egg-hunter) to win the Copper Key, first of three.
Halliday was obsessed with the pop culture of the 1980s, primarily the arcade games, so the novel is as much retro as futurist. Parzival’s great strength is that he has absorbed all Halliday’s obsessions; he knows by heart three essential movies, crossing the line from geek to freak. His most formidable competitors are the Sixers, contract gunters working for the evil conglomerate IOI, whose goal is to acquire the OASIS. Cline’s narrative is straightforward but loaded with exposition. It takes a while to reach a scene that crackles with excitement: the meeting between Parzival (now world famous as the lead contender) and Sorrento, the head of IOI. The latter tries to recruit Parzival; when he fails, he issues and executes a death threat. Wade’s trailer is demolished, his relatives killed; luckily Wade was not at home. Too bad this is the dramatic high point. Parzival threads his way between more ’80s games and movies to gain the other keys; it’s clever but not exciting. Even a romance with another avatar and the ultimate “epic throwdown” fail to stir the blood.
Too much puzzle-solving, not enough suspense.
Nonfiction books are generally written to inform readers about a certain topic. As such, the focus of a nonfiction book review will be on the clarity and effectiveness of this communication . In carrying this out, a book review may analyze the author’s source materials and assess the thesis in order to determine whether or not the book meets expectations.
Again, we’ve included abbreviated versions of long reviews here, so feel free to click on the link to read the entire piece!
The Washington Post reviews David Grann’s Killers of the Flower Moon :
The arc of David Grann’s career reminds one of a software whiz-kid or a latest-thing talk-show host — certainly not an investigative reporter, even if he is one of the best in the business. The newly released movie of his first book, “The Lost City of Z,” is generating all kinds of Oscar talk, and now comes the release of his second book, “Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI,” the film rights to which have already been sold for $5 million in what one industry journal called the “biggest and wildest book rights auction in memory.”
Grann deserves the attention. He’s canny about the stories he chases, he’s willing to go anywhere to chase them, and he’s a maestro in his ability to parcel out information at just the right clip: a hint here, a shading of meaning there, a smartly paced buildup of multiple possibilities followed by an inevitable reversal of readerly expectations or, in some cases, by a thrilling and dislocating pull of the entire narrative rug.
All of these strengths are on display in “Killers of the Flower Moon.” Around the turn of the 20th century, oil was discovered underneath Osage lands in the Oklahoma Territory, lands that were soon to become part of the state of Oklahoma. Through foresight and legal maneuvering, the Osage found a way to permanently attach that oil to themselves and shield it from the prying hands of white interlopers; this mechanism was known as “headrights,” which forbade the outright sale of oil rights and granted each full member of the tribe — and, supposedly, no one else — a share in the proceeds from any lease arrangement. For a while, the fail-safes did their job, and the Osage got rich — diamond-ring and chauffeured-car and imported-French-fashion rich — following which quite a large group of white men started to work like devils to separate the Osage from their money. And soon enough, and predictably enough, this work involved murder. Here in Jazz Age America’s most isolated of locales, dozens or even hundreds of Osage in possession of great fortunes — and of the potential for even greater fortunes in the future — were dispatched by poison, by gunshot and by dynamite. […]
Stacked Books reviews Malcolm Gladwell’s Outliers :
I’ve heard a lot of great things about Malcolm Gladwell’s writing. Friends and co-workers tell me that his subjects are interesting and his writing style is easy to follow without talking down to the reader. I wasn’t disappointed with Outliers. In it, Gladwell tackles the subject of success – how people obtain it and what contributes to extraordinary success as opposed to everyday success.
The thesis – that our success depends much more on circumstances out of our control than any effort we put forth – isn’t exactly revolutionary. Most of us know it to be true. However, I don’t think I’m lying when I say that most of us also believe that we if we just try that much harder and develop our talent that much further, it will be enough to become wildly successful, despite bad or just mediocre beginnings. Not so, says Gladwell.
Most of the evidence Gladwell gives us is anecdotal, which is my favorite kind to read. I can’t really speak to how scientifically valid it is, but it sure makes for engrossing listening. For example, did you know that successful hockey players are almost all born in January, February, or March? Kids born during these months are older than the others kids when they start playing in the youth leagues, which means they’re already better at the game (because they’re bigger). Thus, they get more play time, which means their skill increases at a faster rate, and it compounds as time goes by. Within a few years, they’re much, much better than the kids born just a few months later in the year. Basically, these kids’ birthdates are a huge factor in their success as adults – and it’s nothing they can do anything about. If anyone could make hockey interesting to a Texan who only grudgingly admits the sport even exists, it’s Gladwell. […]
Quill and Quire reviews Rick Prashaw’s Soar, Adam, Soar :
Ten years ago, I read a book called Almost Perfect. The young-adult novel by Brian Katcher won some awards and was held up as a powerful, nuanced portrayal of a young trans person. But the reality did not live up to the book’s billing. Instead, it turned out to be a one-dimensional and highly fetishized portrait of a trans person’s life, one that was nevertheless repeatedly dubbed “realistic” and “affecting” by non-transgender readers possessing only a vague, mass-market understanding of trans experiences.
In the intervening decade, trans narratives have emerged further into the literary spotlight, but those authored by trans people ourselves – and by trans men in particular – have seemed to fall under the shadow of cisgender sensationalized imaginings. Two current Canadian releases – Soar, Adam, Soar and This One Looks Like a Boy – provide a pointed object lesson into why trans-authored work about transgender experiences remains critical.
To be fair, Soar, Adam, Soar isn’t just a story about a trans man. It’s also a story about epilepsy, the medical establishment, and coming of age as seen through a grieving father’s eyes. Adam, Prashaw’s trans son, died unexpectedly at age 22. Woven through the elder Prashaw’s narrative are excerpts from Adam’s social media posts, giving us glimpses into the young man’s interior life as he traverses his late teens and early 20s. […]
Book Geeks reviews Elizabeth Gilbert’s Eat, Pray, Love :
WRITING STYLE: 3.5/5
SUBJECT: 4/5
CANDIDNESS: 4.5/5
RELEVANCE: 3.5/5
ENTERTAINMENT QUOTIENT: 3.5/5
“Eat Pray Love” is so popular that it is almost impossible to not read it. Having felt ashamed many times on my not having read this book, I quietly ordered the book (before I saw the movie) from amazon.in and sat down to read it. I don’t remember what I expected it to be – maybe more like a chick lit thing but it turned out quite different. The book is a real story and is a short journal from the time when its writer went travelling to three different countries in pursuit of three different things – Italy (Pleasure), India (Spirituality), Bali (Balance) and this is what corresponds to the book’s name – EAT (in Italy), PRAY (in India) and LOVE (in Bali, Indonesia). These are also the three Is – ITALY, INDIA, INDONESIA.
Though she had everything a middle-aged American woman can aspire for – MONEY, CAREER, FRIENDS, HUSBAND; Elizabeth was not happy in her life, she wasn’t happy in her marriage. Having suffered a terrible divorce and terrible breakup soon after, Elizabeth was shattered. She didn’t know where to go and what to do – all she knew was that she wanted to run away. So she set out on a weird adventure – she will go to three countries in a year and see if she can find out what she was looking for in life. This book is about that life changing journey that she takes for one whole year. […]
Emily May reviews Michelle Obama’s Becoming on Goodreads:
Look, I'm not a happy crier. I might cry at songs about leaving and missing someone; I might cry at books where things don't work out; I might cry at movies where someone dies. I've just never really understood why people get all choked up over happy, inspirational things. But Michelle Obama's kindness and empathy changed that. This book had me in tears for all the right reasons.
This is not really a book about politics, though political experiences obviously do come into it. It's a shame that some will dismiss this book because of a difference in political opinion, when it is really about a woman's life. About growing up poor and black on the South Side of Chicago; about getting married and struggling to maintain that marriage; about motherhood; about being thrown into an amazing and terrifying position.
I hate words like "inspirational" because they've become so overdone and cheesy, but I just have to say it-- Michelle Obama is an inspiration. I had the privilege of seeing her speak at The Forum in Inglewood, and she is one of the warmest, funniest, smartest, down-to-earth people I have ever seen in this world.
And yes, I know we present what we want the world to see, but I truly do think it's genuine. I think she is someone who really cares about people - especially kids - and wants to give them better lives and opportunities.
She's obviously intelligent, but she also doesn't gussy up her words. She talks straight, with an openness and honesty rarely seen. She's been one of the most powerful women in the world, she's been a graduate of Princeton and Harvard Law School, she's had her own successful career, and yet she has remained throughout that same girl - Michelle Robinson - from a working class family in Chicago.
I don't think there's anyone who wouldn't benefit from reading this book.
Hopefully, this post has given you a better idea of how to write a book review. You might be wondering how to put all of this knowledge into action now! Many book reviewers start out by setting up a book blog. If you don’t have time to research the intricacies of HTML, check out Reedsy Discovery — where you can read indie books for free and review them without going through the hassle of creating a blog. To register as a book reviewer , go here .
And if you’d like to see even more book review examples, simply go to this directory of book review blogs and click on any one of them to see a wealth of good book reviews. Beyond that, it's up to you to pick up a book and pen — and start reviewing!
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Teenagers are often outspoken and opinionated. Writing reviews of the literature they read gives them a chance to express their ideas while developing style and voice. This lesson uses discussion of student opinions about yesterday's lunch or a popular TV show serves as an introduction to the genre of reviews. Students then read and analyze conflicting reviews. After examining samples of movie, music, restaurant, and book reviews, students devise guidelines for writing interesting and informative reviews. They then produce their own reviews of the literature they're reading in class. Finally, students compare their ideas and their pieces with published reviews of the same piece of literature. Though this lesson is illustrated with examples from student and professional reviews of Raymond Carver's writing, the techniques can be used with whatever literature students are reading.
Components of a Review : This handout gives an overview of what is normally included in a critical review.
Review Guidelines : Students can use these guidelines when writing their own critical reviews.
While it's important for students to learn to read and evaluate critical commentary, "Each reader has a right-and even a responsibility-to form his or her own opinions, based on that reader's reading and understanding of a piece of literature, and to be able to support those opinions with solid reasons" (97).
When students express ideas on an author's work that are also noted by critics, "it presents a perfect opportunity to introduce critical commentary naturally into class discussion in order to promote a deeper understanding of the literature" (100).
Further Reading
This resource has been aligned to the Common Core State Standards for states in which they have been adopted. If a state does not appear in the drop-down, CCSS alignments are forthcoming.
This lesson has been aligned to standards in the following states. If a state does not appear in the drop-down, standard alignments are not currently available for that state.
Students will
NOTE: Older students tend to get the style and tone of a review quite quickly, while younger students often produce something more like a book report in the early drafts. Writing instruction should be geared to the ability of each class.
The interactive Printing Press is designed to assist students in creating newspapers, brochures, and flyers.
Traditionally, book reviews are evaluations of a recently published book in any genre. Usually, around the 500 to 700-word mark, they briefly describe a text’s main elements while appraising the work’s strengths and weaknesses. Published book reviews can appear in newspapers, magazines, and academic journals. They provide the reader with an overview of the book itself and indicate whether or not the reviewer would recommend the book to the reader.
There was a time when book reviews were a regular appearance in every quality newspaper and many periodicals. They were essential elements in whether or not a book would sell well. A review from a heavyweight critic could often be the deciding factor in whether a book became a bestseller or a damp squib. In the last few decades, however, the book review’s influence has waned considerably, with many potential book buyers preferring to consult customer reviews on Amazon, or sites like Goodreads, before buying. As a result, book review’s appearance in newspapers, journals, and digital media has become less frequent.
Even in the heyday of the book review’s influence, few students who learned the craft of writing a book review became literary critics! The real value of crafting a well-written book review for a student does not lie in their ability to impact book sales. Understanding how to produce a well-written book review helps students to:
● Engage critically with a text
● Critically evaluate a text
● Respond personally to a range of different writing genres
● Improve their own reading, writing, and thinking skills.
Not to Be Confused with a Book Report!
While the terms are often used interchangeably, there are clear differences in both the purpose and the format of the two genres. Generally speaking, book reports aim to give a more detailed outline of what occurs in a book. A book report on a work of fiction will tend to give a comprehensive account of the characters, major plot lines, and themes in the book. Book reports are usually written around the K-12 age range, while book reviews tend not to be undertaken by those at the younger end of this age range due to the need for the higher-level critical skills required in writing them. At their highest expression, book reviews are written at the college level and by professional critics.
Learn how to write a book review step by step with our complete guide for students and teachers by familiarizing yourself with the structure and features.
ANALYZE Evaluate the book with a critical mind.
THOROUGHNESS The whole is greater than the sum of all its parts. Review the book as a WHOLE.
COMPARE Where appropriate compare to similar texts and genres.
THUMBS UP OR DOWN? You are going to have to inevitably recommend or reject this book to potential readers.
BE CONSISTENT Take a stance and stick with it throughout your review.
PAST TENSE You are writing about a book you have already read.
EMOTIVE LANGUAGE Whatever your stance or opinion be passionate about it. Your audience will thank you for it.
VOICE Both active and passive voice are used in recounts.
⭐ Make MOVIES A MEANINGFUL PART OF YOUR CURRICULUM with this engaging collection of tasks and tools your students will love. ⭐ All the hard work is done for you with NO PREPARATION REQUIRED.
This collection of 21 INDEPENDENT TASKS and GRAPHIC ORGANIZERS takes students beyond the hype, special effects and trailers to look at visual literacy from several perspectives offering DEEP LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES by watching a SERIES, DOCUMENTARY, FILM, and even VIDEO GAMES.
As with any of the writing genres we teach our students, a book review can be helpfully explained in terms of criteria. While there is much to the ‘art’ of writing, there is also, thankfully, a lot of the nuts and bolts that can be listed too. Have students consider the following elements before writing:
● Title: Often, the title of the book review will correspond to the title of the text itself, but there may also be some examination of the title’s relevance. How does it fit into the purpose of the work as a whole? Does it convey a message or reveal larger themes explored within the work?
● Author: Within the book review, there may be some discussion of who the author is and what they have written before, especially if it relates to the current work being reviewed. There may be some mention of the author’s style and what they are best known for. If the author has received any awards or prizes, this may also be mentioned within the body of the review.
● Genre: A book review will identify the genre that the book belongs to, whether fiction or nonfiction, poetry, romance, science-fiction, history etc. The genre will likely tie in, too with who the intended audience for the book is and what the overall purpose of the work is.
● Book Jacket / Cover: Often, a book’s cover will contain artwork that is worthy of comment. It may contain interesting details related to the text that contribute to, or detract from, the work as a whole.
● Structure: The book’s structure will often be heavily informed by its genre. Have students examine how the book is organized before writing their review. Does it contain a preface from a guest editor, for example? Is it written in sections or chapters? Does it have a table of contents, index, glossary etc.? While all these details may not make it into the review itself, looking at how the book is structured may reveal some interesting aspects.
● Publisher and Price: A book review will usually contain details of who publishes the book and its cost. A review will often provide details of where the book is available too.
As students read and engage with the work they will review, they will develop a sense of the shape their review will take. This will begin with the summary. Encourage students to take notes during the reading of the work that will help them in writing the summary that will form an essential part of their review. Aspects of the book they may wish to take notes on in a work of fiction may include:
● Characters: Who are the main characters? What are their motivations? Are they convincingly drawn? Or are they empathetic characters?
● Themes: What are the main themes of the work? Are there recurring motifs in the work? Is the exploration of the themes deep or surface only?
● Style: What are the key aspects of the writer’s style? How does it fit into the wider literary world?
● Plot: What is the story’s main catalyst? What happens in the rising action? What are the story’s subplots?
A book review will generally begin with a short summary of the work itself. However, it is important not to give too much away, remind students – no spoilers, please! For nonfiction works, this may be a summary of the main arguments of the work, again, without giving too much detail away. In a work of fiction, a book review will often summarise up to the rising action of the piece without going beyond to reveal too much!
The summary should also provide some orientation for the reader. Given the nature of the purpose of a review, it is important that students’ consider their intended audience in the writing of their review. Readers will most likely not have read the book in question and will require some orientation. This is often achieved through introductions to the main characters, themes, primary arguments etc. This will help the reader to gauge whether or not the book is of interest to them.
Once your student has summarized the work, it is time to ‘review’ in earnest. At this point, the student should begin to detail their own opinion of the book. To do this well they should:
i. Make It Personal
Often when teaching essay writing we will talk to our students about the importance of climbing up and down the ladder of abstraction. Just as it is helpful to explore large, more abstract concepts in an essay by bringing it down to Earth, in a book review, it is important that students can relate the characters, themes, ideas etc to their own lives.
Book reviews are meant to be subjective. They are opinion pieces, and opinions grow out of our experiences of life. Encourage students to link the work they are writing about to their own personal life within the body of the review. By making this personal connection to the work, students contextualize their opinions for the readers and help them to understand whether the book will be of interest to them or not in the process.
ii. Make It Universal
Just as it is important to climb down the ladder of abstraction to show how the work relates to individual life, it is important to climb upwards on the ladder too. Students should endeavor to show how the ideas explored in the book relate to the wider world. The may be in the form of the universality of the underlying themes in a work of fiction or, for example, the international implications for arguments expressed in a work of nonfiction.
iii. Support Opinions with Evidence
A book review is a subjective piece of writing by its very nature. However, just because it is subjective does not mean that opinions do not need to be justified. Make sure students understand how to back up their opinions with various forms of evidence, for example, quotations, statistics, and the use of primary and secondary sources.
As with any writing genre, encourage students to polish things up with review and revision at the end. Encourage them to proofread and check for accurate spelling throughout, with particular attention to the author’s name, character names, publisher etc.
It is good practice too for students to double-check their use of evidence. Are statements supported? Are the statistics used correctly? Are the quotations from the text accurate? Mistakes such as these uncorrected can do great damage to the value of a book review as they can undermine the reader’s confidence in the writer’s judgement.
The discipline of writing book reviews offers students opportunities to develop their writing skills and exercise their critical faculties. Book reviews can be valuable standalone activities or serve as a part of a series of activities engaging with a central text. They can also serve as an effective springboard into later discussion work based on the ideas and issues explored in a particular book. Though the book review does not hold the sway it once did in the mind’s of the reading public, it still serves as an effective teaching tool in our classrooms today.
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Below are a collection of student writing samples of book reviews. Click on the image to enlarge and explore them in greater detail. Please take a moment to both read the movie or book review in detail but also the teacher and student guides which highlight some of the key elements of writing a text review
Please understand these student writing samples are not intended to be perfect examples for each age or grade level but a piece of writing for students and teachers to explore together to critically analyze to improve student writing skills and deepen their understanding of book review writing.
We would recommend reading the example either a year above and below, as well as the grade you are currently working with to gain a broader appreciation of this text type .
Introduction.
If you love to read, at some point you will want to share a book you love with others. You may already do this by talking about books with friends. If you want to share your ideas with more people than your circle of friends, the way you do that is by writing a review. By publishing the reviews you write, you can share your ideas about books with other readers around the world.
It's natural for young readers to confuse book reviews with book reports, yet writing a book review is a very different process from writing a book report. Book reports focus on the plot of the book. Frequently, the purpose of book reports is to demonstrate that the books were read, and they are often done for an assignment.
A book review is a totally different task. A book review's purpose is to help people decide whether or not the book would interest them enough to read it. Reviews are a sneak peek at a book, not a summary. Like wonderful smells wafting from a kitchen, book reviews lure readers to want to taste the book themselves.
This guide is designed to help you become a strong book reviewer, a reader who can read a book and then cook up a review designed to whet the reading appetites of other book lovers.
How long should it be.
The first question we usually ask when writing something is "How long should it be?" The best answer is "As long as it takes," but that's a frustrating answer. A general guideline is that the longer the book, the longer the review, and a review shouldn't be fewer than 100 words or so. For a long book, the review may be 500 words or even more.
If a review is too short, the review may not be able to fulfill its purpose. Too long, and the review may stray into too much plot summary or lose the reader's interest.
The best guide is to focus less on how long to write and more on fulfilling the purpose of the review.
The title of the review should convey your overall impression and not be overly general. Strong titles include these examples:
Weak titles may look like this:
Although many reviews begin with a short summary of the book (This book is about…), there are other options as well, so feel free to vary the way you begin your reviews.
In an introductory summary, be careful not to tell too much. If you retell the entire story, the reader won't feel the need to read it him/herself, and no one appreciates a spoiler (telling the end). Here are some examples of summaries reviewers from The New York Times have written:
"A new picture book tells a magically simple tale of a lonely boy, a stranded whale and a dad who rises to the occasion."
"In this middle-grade novel, a girl finds a way forward after the loss of her mother."
"Reared by ghosts, werewolves and other residents of the hillside cemetery he calls home, an orphan named Nobody Owens wonders how he will manage to survive among the living having learned all his lessons from the dead. And the man Jack — who killed the rest of Nobody's family — is itching to finish the job."
"In vivid poems that reflect the joy of finding her voice through writing stories, an award-winning author shares what it was like to grow up in the 1960s and 1970s in both the North and the South." Other ways to begin a review include:
Deciding what to say about the book can be challenging. Use the following ideas as a guide, but remember that you should not put all of this into a single review — that would make for a very long review! Choose the things that fit this particular book best.
Writing about the plot is the trickiest part of a review because you want to give the reader a feel for what the book is about without spoiling the book for future readers. The most important thing to remember is that you must never give away the ending. No one likes a spoiler.
One possibility for doing this is to set up the premise (A brother and a sister find themselves lost in the woods at the mercy of an evil witch. Will they be able to outsmart her and escape?). Another possibility is to set up the major conflict in the book and leave it unresolved (Sometimes the waiting is the hardest part or He didn't know what he stood to lose or Finding your purpose in life can be as easy as finding a true friend.)
Try to avoid using the tired phrase "This book is about…" Instead, just jump right in (The stuffed rabbit wanted more than anything to live in the big old house with the wild oak trees.)
Reviews should answer questions about the characters in fiction books or non-fiction books about people. Some possible questions to answer include:
What is the book really about? This isn't the plot, but rather the ideas behind the story. Is it about the triumph of good over evil or friendship or love or hope? Some common themes include: change, desire to escape, facing a challenge, heroism, the quest for power, and human weaknesses.
Sometimes a book will have a moral — a lesson to learn. If so, the theme is usually connected to that moral. As you write about the theme, try to identify what makes the book worth reading. What will the reader think about long after the book is finished? Ask yourself if there any particular lines in the book that strike you as meaningful.
The setting is the time and place the story occurs. When you write about the setting in a review, include more than just the location. Some things to consider:
This is where the reviewer shares his/her reactions to the book that go beyond the essential points described above. You may spend half of the review on this section. Some possible questions to address include:
Are there parts that are simply not believable, even allowing for the reader's understanding that it is fiction or even fantasy?
Some of the tips and ideas above work best for fiction, and some of it is a little too complicated for very young reviewers.
When reviewing a book of nonfiction, you will want to consider these questions:
Reviewing a book can be fun, and it's not hard at all. Just ask yourself these questions:
Remember! Don't give away the ending. Let's keep that a surprise.
Use a few quotes or phrases (keep them short) from the book to illustrate the points you make about the book. If there are illustrations, be sure to comment on those. Are they well done? Has the illustrator done other well-known books?
Make sure you include a conclusion to the review — don't leave it hanging. The conclusion can be just one sentence (Overall, this book is a terrific choice for those who…).
You can use the transition word handout at the end of the Writer's Toolbox to find ideas for words to connect the ideas in your review. If you would like to read some well-written reviews, look for reviews of books for young people at The New York Times or National Public Radio .
Most places you post reviews ask you to rate the book using a star system, typically in a range of from one to five stars. In your rating, you should consider how the book compares to other books like it. Don't compare a long novel to a short poetry book — that's not a valid comparison.
It's important to remember that it's not asking you to only give five stars to the very best books ever written.
Book Review
Book Review Examples
Last updated on: Nov 20, 2023
By: Nova A.
Reviewed By: Chris H.
Published on: Mar 30, 2021
A book review is a common assignment that allows the students to demonstrate the author’s intentions in the book. It also provides them with the chance not only to criticize but also to give constructive criticism on how they can make improvements.
The purpose of writing a book review is to come up with your opinion about the author’s ideas presented in the book. On the other hand, a book analysis is completely based on opinions that are relevant to the book.
Writing a review is something that can be done with any book that you read. However, some genres are harder to write. But with a proper plan, you can easily write a great review on any book.
Read some short book review examples in this guide. They will help you understand the key elements of writing a great review in no time.
On this Page
If you are assigned to write a book review, referring to some examples will be of great help. In addition, reading examples before starting the writing process will help you understand what elements are needed for a great book review. There are also many review sites online you can get help from.
Academic book reviews follow a fairly simple structure. It usually includes an introduction, middle paragraphs, and a conclusion that sums up all the ideas.
For a great book review, here are the things you need to focus on during the writing process.
Have a look at the following book review examples for kids before beginning the writing process.
Book Review Examples for Middle School Students
Book Review Example For Kids
Book Review Examples for High School Students
Paper Due? Why Suffer? That's our Job!
Book Review Examples for College Students
Book Review Examples for University Students
If you don’t know how to write a book review, look at the following steps.
The first step is to plan and create an outline that includes all the points that you will have to cover in the review. Don’t forget to include all the information about the characters, plot information, and some other parts of the chosen book.
The three parts of a book review are:
1. Provide a Summary
What is the book about? Write about the main characters and what is the conflict that is discussed in the book.
2. Provide Your Evaluation
Share your thoughts about the book and what elements work best.
3. Rate the Book
Rate and recommend the book to others who will enjoy reading this book.
If you need to submit a book review soon, we suggest you start reading some book reviews online. Here you can also find some good book review writing examples to understand how to craft each section of a book review.
Book Review Introduction Examples
Thesis Statement Book Review Examples
Tough Essay Due? Hire Tough Writers!
Book Review Conclusion Examples
Critical Book Review Examples
A book review is a critical evaluation of the book, movie, or any other literary work. It has two goals: the first is to inform the readers about the content of the book, and the second is to evaluate your judgment about the book.
A book review is more than a book report. A review is basically a critical essay that evaluates the merits of a literary work. The purpose of writing a book review is not to prove that you have read a book but to show that you think critically about the chosen book.
When you are asked to write a critical book review, you need to identify, summarize and evaluate the ideas of the author. In simpler words, you will be examining and evaluating another person’s work from your point of view.
Science Book Review Examples
A scientific book review will contain the same elements as writing a review for a fiction book; some elements might vary. When you are reviewing a scientific text, you need to pay attention to the writing style and the validity of the content.
Most students turn to non-fictional sources of information. It is important to make sure the information you provide in your review is factual and scientific.
Book review writing can be difficult if you don’t know how to follow the standard protocols. That’s where our reliable book review writing service aims to provide the necessary help.
No matter what your academic level is, we can provide you with the best book review writing help. This type of writing assignment can be tricky and time-consuming. So, if you don’t know how to crack this task, better get professional help.
We at 5StarEssays.com provide exceptional book review writing help. Not only book reviews, but we also provide the best ‘ write an essay for me ’ help to students. Moreover, we also have an AI essay writer to help you with tight deadlines, give it a try now!
How do you write a book review example.
Here are some steps that will help you to write a book review example.
Thesis, Law
As a Digital Content Strategist, Nova Allison has eight years of experience in writing both technical and scientific content. With a focus on developing online content plans that engage audiences, Nova strives to write pieces that are not only informative but captivating as well.
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A book review is an individual’s critique about what the book is about and what another reader can expect from it. In short, it is an individual’s thoughts on the book. It is written after you have read a book. It is a great way of letting fellow readers know about the book — let your readers know if the book is exciting or boring. Whether writing on social media or on your personal blog, try to make it informative and helpful to the readers.
To help you write a good book review, we have provided a few tips. Read the article and try writing a book review on your own.
Topic or hook, essential information about the book, basic summary, praise and critiques, recommendations, tips for writing a book review, frequently asked questions on how to write a book review, what to include in a book review.
To write a review of a book and grab the audience’s attention, you will have to add the important points listed below.
While writing a book review, keep in mind that the added information must be your own. It must be your personal opinion and review of the book.
A topic or a hook can be added in the very first sentence of the book review. It is like an introduction, which must be attention-grabbing and must sound interesting. The first sentence or the hook makes the readers want to read the review instead of scrolling past it. The hook can be a statement or a question that creates curiosity in the reader’s mind.
Mentioning the details of the book, like the name of the author, the title, the year of publication, etc. is essential. Keep in mind to add only the important details of the book rather than adding all the information. Do not forget to mention if the book is a part of any series, and whether they should read the other series before reading this book.
Share a storyline synopsis with your audience so they can get a sense of what the story is about. To prevent spoiling the suspense of the story for your audience, it’s best to leave out the book’s climax or finale, and avoid giving out spoilers. Remember that it is not a complete summary, so make sure you just give a short outline to the story and not the entire story.
For example, it is always better to just state that the plot has an unexpected twist instead of revealing the name of the villain or any such spoilers.
Summarising a book or a topic is easy but criticising the book is the most crucial part. You can say if the book was a good read or a bad read but that alone is not very helpful. You will have to mention the valid reasons why you would or would not recommend the book. Sharing your own thoughts and opinions will help your audience decide if they wish to read the book or not.
After you have shared your critiques, you can give your recommendation to people if they should read the book or not. Remember that your recommendations must have some valid reasons to prove that your recommendations are valid.
Your ratings shall matter to a lot of people. Nowadays, we all check the ratings of a particular product before buying it. Similarly, a lot of people check the ratings of a book before buying it. So before rating it, make sure to provide the rationale for the same.
A book review is an individual’s critique about what the book is about and what another reader can expect from it. In short, it is an individual’s thoughts on the book.
A book review is essential for the audience to know the ratings of a book. It lets the audience know if the book can be recommended to someone or not. The reader can get a brief idea of what the book is about.
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Books for Kids and Grown Ups
Looking for historical fiction books for 7th graders? Whether you’re teaching a history lesson, have a student who can’t get enough of historical fiction, or need some suggestions to interest your 7th grader, I have some great recommendations for you!
It goes without saying that no two 7th graders are the same, so each of these books will appeal to different kinds of readers. You’ll find a graphic novel about women’s basketball in the 1970s, a grandmother-grandaughter jaunt inspired by Amelia Earhart, a story about the Ukrainian Holodomor, and a story set against the background of Loving vs. Virginia .
As a reader who isn’t a huge historical fiction fan, I’m very selective about which ones catch my interest. So you can rest assured that these are some engaging picks.
📚 Disclaimer in the books: Just so you know, Reading Middle Grade uses affiliate links. This means that when you shop via the links in our posts, we may earn a cent or two at no extra cost to you. Thanks for adding to our book buying fund.
Get a printable of this list to take to your library. Just pop your email in the box below and it’ll come right to you!
Here are 20 immersive historical fiction books for 7th graders:
Published: September 5, 2023
1960, Cuba. Cousins Victoria and Jackie love living in their island country with their large family. When when Fidel Castro’s communist government takes hold, things change swiftly, leading Victoria’s father to relocate his family to Miami, leaving Jackie and her family behind.
As Victoria adapts to life in the US, Jackie and her family struggle in Cuba—until the family decides to send Jackie over to the States with Operation Peter Pan. But will Jackie ever see her family again? Both girls band together to bring the rest of their family to America. This book transports readers to Fidel Castro’s Cuba with an accessible look at American schools and education in the 1960s.
Published: September 19, 2023
It’s 1998 in Colombo, Sri Lanka. In the middle of the Sri Lankan Civil War, Kavi is dealing with her own personal upheavals. Her mother has remarried her father’s best friend after his death and is expecting a new baby.
Meanwhile, Kavi is getting sent to the city on a scholarship to an elite private school. There, she starts telling lies of a life of wealth and grandeur– small at first, then bigger and bigger — to fit in with the rich kids until she begins to lose herself. I really enjoyed this debut verse novel, and readers looking for books set outside the US will love it.
Published: January 17, 2023
It’s 2020, and Matthew is sick of being inside with the pandemic raging outside. While reluctantly helping his great-grandmother sort through her belongings, he finds a picture of two girls. As she shares her experience during the Ukrainian famine, the story alternates between three narrators: Matthew, Helena, and Mila. A powerful, unforgettable account of historical events.
Published: March 29, 2022
Ava likes to write poetry and sing (she’s getting to sing in the school choir soon), but her mom, who’s a doctor, wants Ava to consider that career path. She persuades her to volunteer at the hospital, but Ava would rather be surfing or engaging in her other hobbies. She gets even more upset when she breaks her leg while volunteering. Amidst all the drama, Phoenix’s lymphoma returns aggressively, and he doesn’t want to pursue treatment anymore. Can Ava convince him to keep trying?
This verse novel is sad at times with the death of a close friend, but also includes some lighter moments that kids who enjoy surfing and music will appreciate.
Published: September 7, 2021
Yusuf Azeem is not a hero like his dad, who talked down a gunman in their small-town A-Z Dollar Store. But his dad’s heroism doesn’t prevent him from getting worsening hateful notes in his locker telling him to “Go Home.” Yusuf and his friend Danial had expected that this would be their year — their entry into middle school and a chance to compete in a robotics contest. However, when some of the townspeople, including a group called the Patriot Sons, try to stop the construction of their town’s mosque and begin to target Yusuf and other Muslims in the community, they are forced to take a stand.
Published: October 1, 2000
This book is such a joy! Esperanza and her mama are forced to flee their large home (read mansion) in Mexico after a tragedy. They work as farm hands in California during the Great Depression. During this time, Esperanza has to adjust from being the daughter of a wealthy landowner to being a peasant.
Pam Muñoz Ryan covers many themes, from racial and class prejudice to the importance of family and empathy. I also enjoyed the use of Spanish and the historical context of the novel. I’m so excited to teach this book! From a middle grade standpoint, the vocabulary is excellent and the story will certainly generate a curiosity for history and empathy for others.
Published: March 6, 2018
This is a heartbreaking middle grade book about a girl’s experience during the partition of India. Nisha is caught between her Hindu-Indian and Muslim-Indian sides. She’s also dealing with the loss of her mother. So when her country starts to split in two, her search for identity becomes even more meaningful. There’s a reason why this one is a Newbery Honor book.
If your kids loved this book, here’s a list of more books like The Night Diary .
Published: September 14, 2021
How to Find What You’re Not Looking For is a poignant, moving, and brilliantly written middle grade novel about family, identity, and love. This book follows 12-year-old Ariel whose life is upturned when her big sister (the best of them all), Leah, elopes with her Indian-American boyfriend after the Loving vs. Virginia ruling. Ariel’s parents are upset, Ariel is struggling with being able to write well at school, and she can’t stop thinking about her sister and everything happening in the world.
Published: February 2, 2021
Red, White, and Whole is Rajani LaRocca’s newest middle-grade verse novel. The year is 1983 and 13-year-old Reha is caught between two cultures: her Indian family and community at home; and the all-American experience at school and with her white “school best friend.” But it’s not all rosy. Her mother doesn’t approve of Reha acting more American than Indian. She makes all of Reha’s clothes herself, and is upset when Reha says she would like to go to the school dance.
Reha is understandably frustrated at her mother’s lack of understanding, but she’s about to have more problems. Her mom is diagnosed with leukemia, and Reha’s life is turned upside down. Between school, family issues, and navigating her affection for a boy in her neighborhood, Reha has her plate full.
Published: July 7, 2020
Lauren is Jewish and Chinese. It’s the 1980s, and Lauren and her best friend — who’s blonde with blue eyes — do everything together. So when they don’t have any sixth-grade classes together, they’re bummed! They decide that they will audition for their school’s musical so that they can at least have that time together. Lauren’s audition goes swimmingly, and she’s obviously the better singer than Tara (even better than any of the other kids), but when the cast list is released, Lauren is only part of the ensemble, and Tara is cast as the lead. Upon confronting the director, she explains that Lauren’s half-Jewish, half-Chinese looks don’t match the role of “all-American girl” in the “all-American town” depicted in their musical.
This encounter opens Lauren’s eyes to several microaggressions and brings to the fore her issues with being biracial and looking different from others at her predominantly white school. Looking for a relatable figure, she begins to nurture a love for the singer Patsy Cline whom she mistakenly assumes is also Jewish. There are also changes at home, with her mother looking to enter law school, which would make her even less available to Lauren. With the help of her family and two grandmothers, Lauren learns to find her place while keeping her friendship with Tara.
Published: September 10, 2019
Shirli Berman has her eyes set on a role in her school’s play. It’s 2002, just after the Twin Towers and the death of Shirli’s grandmother (Bubie). Even though she doesn’t eventually score her desired role, she ends up playing another one of the key roles anyway. To add to it, her stage husband is Ben Morgan, the most popular boy in school.
At the same time, Shirli is also learning about her family’s history from her grandfather (Zayde) who has been silent on the matter his entire adult life. When she’s in the attic looking for costumes and props for the play, she stumbles on some of her grandfather’s personal items that raise many questions in her mind about his past and may explain some of his present behavior, like why he doesn’t let anyone sing in the house, for example.
It is 1913, and twelve-year-old Petra Luna’s mama has died while the Revolution rages in Mexico. Before her papa is dragged away by soldiers, Petra vows to him that she will care for the family she has left—her abuelita, little sister Amelia, and baby brother Luisito—until they can be reunited. They flee north through the unforgiving desert as their town burns, searching for safe harbor in a world that offers none.
Each night when Petra closes her eyes, she holds her dreams close, especially her long-held desire to learn to read. Abuelita calls these barefoot dreams: “They’re like us barefoot peasants and indios—they’re not meant to go far.” But Petra refuses to listen. Through battlefields and deserts, hunger and fear, Petra will stop at nothing to keep her family safe and lead them to a better life across the U.S. border—a life where her barefoot dreams could finally become reality.
Published: May 1, 2018
Imani knows exactly what she wants as her big bat mitzvah gift: to find her birth parents. She loves her family and her Jewish community in Baltimore, but she has always wondered where she came from, especially since she’s black and almost everyone she knows is white. Then her mom’s grandmother–Imani’s great-grandma Anna–passes away, and Imani discovers an old journal among her books. It’s Anna’s diary from 1941, the year she was twelve and fled Nazi-occupied Luxembourg alone, sent by her parents to seek refuge in Brooklyn, New York. Anna’s diary records her journey to America and her new life with an adoptive family of her own. And as Imani reads the diary, she begins to see her family, and her place in it, in a whole new way
Published: March 20, 2018
It’s 1967 and twelve-year-old Bea is in need of some adventure. Her mother is off in San Francisco, while her father has just gotten remarried in Los Angeles. Bea has gained a younger stepsister, and she’s not thrilled about her blended family. So when her ailing grandmother, Pidge, moves to an Orange County senior-living community and asks if Bea would spend the summer helping her get settled, Bea is happy for any excuse to get away.
Published: September 24, 2019
The Long Ride by Marina Budhos is the story of three mixed-race girls in the 1970’s. Francesca, Jamila, and Josie are chosen to be part of a trial desegregated school experience.
All three girls live in a mostly white Queens neighborhood and have parents who’ve worked hard to get them into great schools in mostly white neighborhoods. Naturally, the parents worry about switching their daughters’ schools to one in a “bad” (read, mostly Black) neighborhood. Francesca’s parents reject the opportunity and move her to a private school instead. This leaves Josie and Jamila alone at the new school.
The girls soon realize that they’re out of their comfort zones. Josie and Jamila grow distant when Josie doesn’t make it into the same gifted kids program. The former becomes closer to the Spanish girls in her class. Then Jamila forms a new friendship with a Black boy, John, but because she’s half Black and half white, their burgeoning relationship must remain at school.
Published: March 14, 2023
It’s the 1970s, and Judi loves to shoot hoops in the driveway with her brother and his friends. She hopes she can join a basketball team someday, but her school doesn’t have a female team. So when she gets to high school, she chooses the next best thing: cheerleading with her best friend Stacey. But one day, the school announces that they’re starting a team for the girls because of the Title IX ruling.
Unfortunately, as willing as the girls who sign up are (Judi inclusive), there’s little to no funding for their team. They have to DIY their jerseys and practice only when the boys’ team isn’t using the court. On top of that, Stacey is upset that Judi has left cheerleading to play ball, and some girls want to quit because they’re so frustrated. Can Judi and the team make it work?
Published: July 12, 2022
When bright and spirited Norvia moves from the country to the city, she has to live by one new rule: Never let anyone know you’re Ojibwe. Growing up on Beaver Island, Norvia was proud of her Ojibwe heritage.
Things are different in the city. Here, Norvia’s mother forces her to pretend she’s not Native at all—even to Mr. Ward, Ma’s new husband, and to Vernon, Norvia’s irritating new stepbrother. Despite the move, the upheaval, and the looming threat of world war, Norvia and her siblings—all five of them—are determined to make 1914 their best year ever. Norvia is certain that her future depends upon it… and upon her discretion.
But how can she have the best year ever if she has to hide who she truly is?
Published: March 22, 2022
Fitch and Bird are twins who are now in the same grade as their older brother, Cash — because Cash was held back in the seventh grade. Bird is a space aficionado and dreams of being an astronaut. Fitch has anger issues and hates that he’s getting crushed on by a girl he doesn’t like — and whom his best friends consider unattractive. Cash feels lost and cannot seem to find his place anywhere. It doesn’t help that the situation at home is tense, with parents who are constantly bickering and a family that cannot seem to make time to talk as a unit or nurture their children.
This character-driven slice-of-life novel shows how different families can be, addresses the struggles of navigating sibling relationships, and highlights what difference an enthusiastic teacher can make. More importantly, it is an ode to the Challenger Shuttle Disaster of 1986, and middle-grade historical fiction like this can teach not just history but also a lot of empathy.
Published: June 15, 2021
The Magical Imperfect is a middle grade verse novel about a boy named Etan. Etan develops selective mutism after his mom has to go to a treatment facility for a mental disorder in 1980’s San Francisco. Around that time, mini-earthquakes are frequent and Etan tries to keep up his daily schedule, which is basically school and then time with his grandfather. Sometimes, he helps an older shopkeeper in the neighborhood walk her dog and run errands. It is while he is on one of those errands that he meets Malia, a Filipina-American girl with severe eczema.
Etan and Malia become fast friends and he gets a closer look at how debilitating her eczema is. He also realizes that Malia loves singing and has a beautiful singing voice. Etan wants to take Malia’s suffering away, and he thinks his grandfather’s Dead Sea clay can make a difference — perhaps even heal Malia’s eczema. He also suggests that she sing in the community’s talent show. But will the clay work? And will Malia and Etan’s friendship survive the challenges it faces?
Published: September 21, 2021
When the failed Bay of Pigs invasion in 1961 solidifies Castro’s power in Cuba, twelve-year-old Cumba’s family makes the difficult decision to send him to Florida alone. Faced with the prospect of living in another country by himself, Cumba tries to remember the sound of his father’s clarinet, the smell of his mother’s lavender perfume.
Life in the United States presents a whole new set of challenges. Lost in a sea of English speakers, Cumba has to navigate a new city, a new school, and new freedom all on his own. With each day, Cumba feels more confident in his new surroundings, but he continues to wonder: Will his family ever be whole again? Or will they remain just out of reach, ninety miles across the sea?
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There they are: 20 of the best historical fiction books for 7th graders! Which of these books have you read and loved? Which ones did I miss?
Afoma Umesi is the founder and editor of Reading Middle Grade where she curates book lists and writes book reviews for kids of all ages. Her favorite genre to read is contemporary realistic fiction and she'll never say no to a graphic novel.
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September 13, 2023 at 2:51 pm
I’ve loved Refugee by Alan Gratz for this age!
Sharing the best middle grade (and adult) book recommendations @ whatafomareads
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FILE - Former Norman High School English teacher Summer Boismier holds up a T-shirt with a QR code link to the Brooklyn Public Library at the Green Feather Book Company in Norman, Okla., on Oct. 6, 2022. (AP Photo/Sean Murphy, File)
Oklahoma’s education board has revoked the license of a former teacher who drew national attention during surging book-ban efforts across the U.S. in 2022 when she covered part of her classroom bookshelf in red tape with the words “Books the state didn’t want you to read.”
The decision Thursday went against a judge who had advised the Oklahoma Board of Education not to revoke the license of Summer Boismier, who had also put in her high school classroom a QR code of the Brooklyn Public Library’s catalogue of banned books.
An attorney for Boismier, who now works at the Brooklyn Public Library in New York City, told reporters after the board meeting that they would seek to overturn the decision.
“I will not apologize for sharing publicly available information about library access with my students,” the former teacher posted on X. “My livelihood will never be as important as someone’s life or right to read what they want.”
Brady Henderson, Boismier’s attorney, and the office of Oklahoma State Superintendent Ryan Walters did not immediately respond to phone messages seeking comment Friday.
Boismier, a fervent reader with a passion for fantasy novels, had been teaching English for nine years when she was involuntarily thrust into the center of Walters’ campaign for statewide office in August 2022. She received threats on social media and was accused of being part of a broader movement led by teachers to influence children’s political beliefs. Boismier resigned soon after.
She said at the time that she had hoped to spark a discussion about Oklahoma legislators’ book restrictions and a new law prohibiting lessons on critical race theory and other concepts about race and gender. Instead, she was summoned to a meeting with school administrators after a parent complained.
Walters, who was a candidate for Oklahoma’s top education office when Boismier was teaching, had called on the board in 2022 to revoke her teaching license in a letter he shared on social media.
“There is no place for a teacher with a liberal political agenda in the classroom,” Walters had wrote. He accused her of providing “banned and pornographic material” to students.
Walters said at Thursday’s meeting that Boismier violated rules that prohibit instruction on topics related to race and gender. He told reporters that she “broke the law.”
Boismier has maintained that she did nothing wrong.
Teachers in public schools across the country continue to face scrutiny at the local and state level as lawmakers in Republican-led statehouses push forward with book bans and restrict curriculum on issues related to race, gender, and sexuality such as in Iowa and Utah .
Lathan is a corps member for The Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues.
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Published: May 5, 2020. Siblings Cash, Fitch, and Bird move through the daily trials of pre-teen life in the 1980's. Fitch and Bird are twins who are now in the same grade as their older brother, Cash — because Cash was held back in the seventh grade. Bird is a space aficionado and dreams of being an astronaut.
Best Coming of Age Books for 7th Grade Boys and Girls. How to Stay Invisible by Maggie C. Rudd. The Probability of Everything by Sarah Everett. The Fire, The Water, and Maudie McGinn by Sally J. Pla. Rain Rising by Courtne Comrie. A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness.
Seventh Grade. Seventh grade is a time of growing pains for many students, a time of growing up and sometimes growing apart from friends. It's a time of forging one's own path and finding your own way in the world. Middle grade fiction, especially novels, tends to reflect this transition time in children's lives. 1. Sisters . by Raina ...
This book, called "the resistance novel for our times" by the New York Times, will hook your 7th graders from the first chapter. Buy it: The Lost Year on Amazon. 5. The Town With No Mirrors by Christina Collins. At first glance, the town of Gladder Hill seems like a utopia.
The top 19 books, all appearing on 3 or more, "Best 7th Grade" book lists, are ranked below by how many times they appear. The books include images, descriptions, and links. The remaining 500+ books, as well as the lists we used, are in alphabetical order on the bottom of the page. For more Best School Year book lists, check below! The Best ...
ADVENTURE & MYSTERY 7th Grade Books Summer Reading List. If you like adventure, try these books: City Spies by James Ponti. Charlie Thorne and the Last Equation by Stuart Gibb. 96 Miles by J.L. Esplin. Whale of the Wild by Rosanne Parry. The Van Gogh Deception by Deron Hicks. Scar Island by Dan Gemeinhart. Beneath by Roland Smith.
The Unwanteds by Lisa McMann. Front Desk by Kelly Yang. The Maze Runner by James Dashner. ← Explore other reading lists like this one. Check out the standout books for 7th graders, aggregated from top literary sources. These selections are the most mentioned and recommended across respected publications.
A lot of these books include real life events, some are more difficult to read, some are easier. A lot of these books also have characters in the 11-14 year old range, so kids can relate to them. 131 books based on 40 votes: The Eighth Day by Dianne K. Salerni, The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins, Hatchet by Gary Paulsen, Divergent by Veronica ...
The book is shot through with humor, both laugh-out-loud and subtle." —New York Times Book Review From National Book Award finalist and Printz Award winner Laura Ruby comes an epic alternate history series about three kids who try to solve the greatest mystery of the modern world: a puzzle and treasure hunt laid…
#2: The Boy in the Striped Pajamas #3: Island of the Blue Dolphins #4: The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time #5: A Separate Peace
Here are some of my top picks for the best books for seventh-grade readers: 1. When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead. Rebecca Stead's When You Reach Me is a complex puzzle that plays with time and space. The story centers around Miranda, a 12-year-old living in New York City in the late 1970s.
Published: August 2, 2022. Invisible is a powerful, heartwarming graphic novel about immigration, homelessness, racism, and finding your tribe. Five different students have yet to complete their community service for a school offense and must explain why (as well as what they did) to their principal.
By Paula Chase. Published: September 15, 2020. THEMES: Ballet and body image, sexual harassment, evolving friendships. This book focuses on Monique (Mo) and Rasheeda (Sheeda)'s friendship and how it changes over a summer when both girls are drawn into different pursuits.
Examples: Learn from the efforts of others. Learning how to write strong reviews takes time and not a little effort. Reading the reviews others have done can help you get a feel for the flow and flavor of reviews. This book was about a bird who didn't yet know how to fly. The bird has to decide if it will try to fly, but it was not sure if it ...
Nathan Hale's Hazardous Tales by Nathan Hale. These graphic novels tell true stories from American history. An addition to any 7th grade reading list that will entertain and teach readers. Awkward by Svetlana Chmakova. A story about surviving life at a new middle school and what rules are really worth keeping.
Freak the Mighty - Realistic Fiction. Max is a slow learner inside the body of a teenage giant. Kevin is a tiny genius in leg braces. Together, they make an unlikely and powerful duo. This is a story of overcoming shame and loss, and embracing imperfection. When I read this book in class, you could hear a pin drop!
It is a fantasy, but the book draws inspiration from the Second Sino-Japanese War and the Rape of Nanking. Crime Fiction Lover reviews Jessica Barry's Freefall, a crime novel: In some crime novels, the wrongdoing hits you between the eyes from page one. With others it's a more subtle process, and that's OK too.
Overview. Teenagers are often outspoken and opinionated. Writing reviews of the literature they read gives them a chance to express their ideas while developing style and voice. This lesson uses discussion of student opinions about yesterday's lunch or a popular TV show serves as an introduction to the genre of reviews.
The real value of crafting a well-written book review for a student does not lie in their ability to impact book sales. Understanding how to produce a well-written book review helps students to: Engage critically with a text. Critically evaluate a text. Respond personally to a range of different writing genres.
A general guideline is that the longer the book, the longer the review, and a review shouldn't be fewer than 100 words or so. For a long book, the review may be 500 words or even more. If a review is too short, the review may not be able to fulfill its purpose. Too long, and the review may stray into too much plot summary or lose the reader's ...
The first step is to plan and create an outline that includes all the points that you will have to cover in the review. Don't forget to include all the information about the characters, plot information, and some other parts of the chosen book. The three parts of a book review are: 1. Provide a Summary.
Tips for Writing a Book Review. Keeping the Review Short and Crisp: A review is written to make the book understandable to the readers. Therefore, the length of the review is a matter of concern. Writing lengthy reviews can make it sound confusing to the audience. Proofreading and Editing: Make certain that your spelling and punctuation are ...
Buy on Amazon. Published: February 2, 2021. Red, White, and Whole is Rajani LaRocca's newest middle-grade verse novel. The year is 1983 and 13-year-old Reha is caught between two cultures: her Indian family and community at home; and the all-American experience at school and with her white "school best friend.".
Oklahoma's education board has revoked the license of a former teacher who drew national attention during surging book-ban efforts across the U.S. in 2022 when she covered part of her classroom bookshelf in red tape with the words "Books the state didn't want you to read.". The decision Thursday went against a judge who had advised the Oklahoma Board of Education not to revoke the ...