This week I’m featuring a list of ten books that I recommend for high school (and some middle-grade) students. (content warnings apply in some cases) All books I recommend for students, adults will likely also enjoy and appreciate. I have read each one of these. If you have content concerns or questions, I will answer them in the comments.
10 Books I Recommend For Students
I’m linking up today with That Artsy Reader Girl for Top Ten Tuesday. We are supposed to be writing about books we were assigned in school. Honestly, this was a long, long time ago for me! LOL So, I’m spinning the topic to list 10 Books I WISH I could recommend for today’s young adult readers.
***This post contains Amazon affiliate links.
(In no particular order)
The Only Plane in the Sky: An Oral History of 9/11 by Garret M. Graff
Build knowledge of U.S. History with this nonfiction first-person account of 9/11. I would love to require this for every person (high school through adult). An interesting follow-up and companion read might be The Day the World Came to Town by Jim Defede (followed by streaming the Broadway musical Come From Away).
Refugee by Alan Gratz
Build compassion by reading this poignant story of three refugee families from three different locations. (mature MG and YA)
I Must Betray You by Ruta Sepety
Build understanding of life under a Romanian Communist regime through the eyes of a tender-hearted and astute adolescent boy. (mature MG and YA)
Born a Crime (YA Version) by Trevor Noah
During Black History Month, build an understanding of Apartheid in South Africa through the eyes of a real-life popular comedian. I read the adult version (review and Amazon link here), but I recommend the young reader version for middle-grade readers. High school students might be able to handle the adult read but you know your child best. My grandson read the adult version in high school.
Wonder by R. J. Palacio
Build kindness by reading this poignant story. Follow up with the movie! (MG)
The Glass Castle by Jeanette Walls
Build compassion and understanding for homelessness by reading this memoir. I first encountered this book when it was recommended to me by my high school grandson! He loved it and pressed it into my hands. There is also a (very watered down) movie. (YA) A MG book on the subject of homelessness is Crenshaw by Katherine Applegate.
Out of the Dust by Karen Hesse
Build an understanding of The Dust Bowl by reading this (very sad) story. (novel in free verse) My Goodreads review here. (YA)
The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
Read this unique story narrated by Death to build an understanding of the conditions for Jewish people in Germany during WWII. There is also a well-done movie. (YA)
Paper Hearts by Meg Wiviott
Be inspired by themes of friendship in a concentration camp in this WWII story. (YA novel in free verse)
Ghost Boys by Jewell Parker Rhodes
Build understanding of what young black boys face in dealing with the police. (a MG version of The Hate U Give). (mature MG and YA) Content warning apply.
QOTD:
What is one book you wish you could recommend to students?
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Born a Crime was such a good read.
Memorable in so many ways!
I’ve only read two on here and I agree with both Born A Crime and Wonder. Wonder was so good—I remember how moved I was by it and I definitely shed my share of tears reading it! 😂 I have I Must Betray You on my TBR but I’m keen to read it cos Sepetys never misses. Great list of recs!
Thanks Dini! I Must Betray You is now my fav Sepetys!
EXCELLENT list. Such valuable lessons. I Must Betray You needs to be assigned today, right this second, all over the USA
Yes! Time to replace some of the dusty classics!
Interesting list. I wonder how many of them are on the banned list in American schools? That list seems to get longer every year.
Lol! I thought about the banned lists as I was curating the list!
First of all, this is such a good spin on the topic. I haven’t read many of these books, but I really loved Wonder. I think I would recommend The Secret Garden, it’s one of my favorite classics and makes me feel so warm inside every time I read it 🙂
If you’d like to visit, here’s my TTT: https://thebooklorefairy.blogspot.com/2024/10/top-ten-tuesday-books-i-was-assigned-in-school.html
So many wonderful books! Thanks for the rec! Hopping over to your post now.
Both of my girls read Wonder in school, but I’ve yet to read it.
Pam @ Read! Bake! Create!
https://readbakecreate.com/books-i-think-they-should-discuss-in-school/
Read it and then watch the movie together! 🙌
Great idea for a list! I’ve read five of these and, I agree, they would all be great reads for students. I MUST BETRAY YOU is one that has really stayed with me. It was so atmospheric that I really FELT the suffocation and oppression of that communist regime. Today’s kids can definitely benefit from learning about that kind of life and government.
Happy TTT!
Susan
http://www.blogginboutbooks.com
Thanks! Betray You is memorable for so many reasons! Hopping over to read your post!
If I had to make kids read something, it would be Marcus Aurelius’ Meditations for increasing their inner resiliency.
Oh that sounds great! Thanks for the rec! If fact, I saw a headline today that links success with resiliency!
My daughter read The Glass Castle in school, and I remember her telling me about it. It made a real impression on her.
It’s memorable for many reasons! Has she seen the (kinder and gentler) movie adaptation?
Not sure. She read it when she was in high school, and I remember her telling me about it back then (around 2012?).
I wonder if it’s still on Netflix?
Out of the Dust is a good choice! Here is our Top Ten Tuesday. Thank you!
One of the saddest books I’ve ever read. I’m hopping over to read your post!
This is a great list! I wish some of these had been available back in my student days!!
Thanks! It’s time to create some new classics!
The Only Plane in the Sky is high on my TBR list. Thank you for giving me another nudge!
Read it for nonfiction November! Follow it up with the lighter and inspirational The Day the World Came to Town…..then watch the steaming version of Come From Away! 🙌
I like your twist on the topic. I’d originally wanted to do something similar, but when I sat down to do it, I drew a blank on more contemporary books with good reasons they should be assigned reading. I hope you have a great weekend.
Here’s my TTT if you wish to visit – https://justanothergirlandherbooks.blogspot.com/2024/10/top-ten-tuesday-books-i-was-assigned-to.html
Thanks! It was fun to curate a list of contemporary books! I’m hopping over to read your post.
Great twist, Carol. I haven’t read all of these, but for the ones I have read, I totally agree.
I wish schools would retire some of the dusty old classics!
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