How do you choose "just right" books?
If you were to walk into any room on the fourth floor, you would see that middle school students are surrounded by books. Whether it be historical fiction, memoir, realistic fiction, or fantasy, middle school students are immersed in an environment that encourages them to read and explore new things.
As part of literacy instruction in the middle school, students are expected to complete high volume, wide reading by choosing a book each week to read independently. This means that students in grades 6-8 are reading thirty or more books in a single year. In order to facilitate student choice while also directing middle school students to read books that are just right for them to read independently, the middle school literacy team works together to create a reading list for each term. Students are required to choose some of their Independent Reading books from this list, and they are allowed to make a number of their Independent Reading books free choice.
In the middle school, we are a community that reads often and that reads a lot!
Yet all this reading begs the question: what books should middle school students be reading?
Even with a reading list that relates to themes and genres studied in reading workshop, students and parents sometimes find that choosing books that are just right is a challenge. Some books, while they are technically readable for middle school students, might not actually be just right because they contain themes that are too mature or they may lack substance. Unfortunately, there is no perfect system for choosing books that are just right. Much of this requires students, parents, and teachers to understand a teen’s individual interests and maturity. However, there are some strategies that families may use to determine if a book is just right.
Take interest into consideration:
When recommending books to my students, I find it helpful to ask my students what they like and what they are interested in. In the same way that teens choose movies or video games that they are interested in or curious about, my students often find that certain plot lines, characters, themes, or settings attract their interest and hold their attention better than others. Many of my students are avid fantasy readers who are adept at understanding genre-specific vocabulary, unusual characters, and imaginary worlds because they like these kinds of stories and they have learned to read this genre well. If I know that a student loves fantasy and has a strong foundational knowledge of the genre, I can recommend books in increasing difficulty because I know that student is interested in fantasy and will rise to the challenge.
Use reading to start meaningful conversations:
Eighth grade students are currently reading O Pioneers! by Willa Cather while also studying people of faith for their Service and Leadership Exhibition. Eighth graders are learning about Old Testament individuals and Civil Rights activists who led lives of faith even though they faced many obstacles. This is a conversation that will continue in the context of our reading of O Pioneers! as eighth graders study fictional characters who also face obstacles that raise questions of forgiveness, love, and morality.
For families that are thinking about Independent Reading and choosing books, it is helpful to consider using books as a means of starting conversations about difficult topics. When we choose class reads, the literacy team always considers a text’s content and maturity level. For example, in the fall term, grades 6-8 used To Kill a Mockingbird and select texts about the Civil Rights movement to facilitate discussions about equality, justice, and love. As a community, we had to work together to speak and to write about our reading in a productive, compassionate manner. For middle school students, who are learning how to ask questions about themselves, about the world, and about what they believe, books can provide them with the language to express what they are thinking and feeling. Books, even fiction, can serve as a starting point for families to discuss issues that are relevant and complex. Middle school students have a lot to say and are at a point in their lives where they are deciding what kind of individuals they want to be. Often, they want to read books that they connect with and that they relate to. Families can talk about these stories together and use reading to begin conversations that might be difficult or awkward to start.
Read together:
It is important for families to read together. Whether it is a short story or a multi-volume series, time spent reading together is valuable.
I recommend that parents try reading contemporary young adult fiction that their teen is interested in. By reading books that my students love, I have learned a lot about what matters to them and what they want to know more about. Many of my students loved The Fault in Our Stars, and some have even re-read it because they felt such a strong connection to the story and the characters. After reading The Fault in Our Stars, my students have gone on to discover more of John Green’s books and authors who are similar to him.
It is also helpful to keep an open mind when reading books together as a family. Sometimes my students are surprised to find that they like a book that was published many years ago or that is not in their favorite genre. Sometimes my students recommend books that matter to them but that I might not have chosen on my own. However, we are a reading community, and that means we are sometimes surprised by the books that we enjoy.
Surround yourselves with books:
The cost of buying new books every week can add up, but buying brand new books is not the only way to acquire fascinating texts. I have found a number of used book stores in New York City, Hoboken, and the surrounding area which are stocked with an array of high-quality used books from many genres. I also strongly recommend that middle school students get a library card and find a favorite library to visit each week. Some libraries even allow you to request books from other branches and have them delivered to your local branch.
Regardless of where you look for books, it is helpful to try to have interesting books and magazines around the house that are readily available for teens to pick up and read.
These are just a few strategies for families that are thinking about the best way to choose books that are just right. While there is no single strategy that works for every family, choosing books and reading books is a process that families can work on together. The most important goal is that middle school students are becoming life-long readers who know how to choose books that are right for them and that are both substantive and enjoyable.
For additional reading about choosing books: