I usually post here the books that my students will be reading each semester. I’ve changed things up a bit, which means a lot of extra (and fun) reading for me. We focus on middle-grade books, for children ages 8 to 12.

We start with fairy tales. All students must read Charles Perrault’s “Cinderella” and the Grimm brothers’ “Aschenputtel”. Then, they choose two versions of one other fairy tale to read.

Everyone is required to read The Wizard of Oz by L.Frank Baum.

Next, students choose one book from each genre:

Modern Fantasy:

Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White

The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan

The BFG by Roald Dahl

Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine

Among the Hidden by Margaret Peterson Haddix

One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate

Historical Fiction:

Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson

Esperanza Rising by Pam Munoz Ryan

Bud Not Buddy by Christopher Paul Curtis

Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O’Dell

Al Capone Does My Shirts by Gennifer Choldenko

Contemporary / Realistic Fiction:

The Lemonade War by Jacqueline Davies

Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing by Judy Blume

Ungifted by Gordon Korman

Rules by Cynthia Lord

Novel-in-Verse

Love that Dog by Sharon Creech

Out of the Dust by Karen Hesse

I usually re-read every book I assign before the literature circles meet. I’ve got some work cut out for this semester. It’s great to have a job that requires me to read and re-read great books. I’m so lucky!