Social media sites have revolutionized the way we communicate. Zoom has now radically altered meetings and classroom time. In this week’s post, we take it back to one of the transformative technological innovations of all time: the book. As we head into week two of the Smarter Summers program, we’ve put together a few reading recommendations —just the greatest hits — for students in middle and high school, so that your students can take up this time-tested tool for escape and education.
Middle School
The Seeds of America trilogy, by Laurie Halse Anderson is a captivating work of historical fiction. Chains, the first book in the series, follows Isabel and Curzon, as they navigate Revolutionary war-era New York City, struggling for their freedom and the freedom of an emerging nation.
Beloved children’s author Jerry Spinelli has a couple of tried and true classics for the middle school age group: Star Girl and Maniac Magee. Both are deceptively profound stories of kids amongst themselves, with important lessons for any reader.
And for students interested in a well-told tale full of adventure, fantasy, and clever plot, we recommend the Artemis Fowl series, by Eoin Colfer (which has just been the subject of a so-so film adaptation), and the Percy Jackson series, by Rick Riordan. Both offer the chance to dig into an exciting world that extends across multiple books, to keep kids reading all summer long.
High School
Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury is a classic of dystopian literature, and a great read; if you’re looking for more bite-sized and engaging stories, Bradbury has written a treasure trove of them, many of which are set in summertime. Check out classic collections like Dandelion Wine, The Illustrated Man, and The Martian Chronicles.
Everyone should read the Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck. This tale of a family adapting to survive as they migrate west to California has important resonance with our current moment. And like Bradbury, Steinbeck was a prolific author with several works worth digging into: East of Eden, The Pearl, Of Mice and Men, and more.
A Wizard of Earthsea by Ursula K. Leguin is perfect for the high schooler interested in fantasy, who is ready to graduate from the usual middle school fodder -- this book is often cited as LeGuin’s greatest, and her work remains groundbreaking and relevant today.