Let’s talk about great children’s and young adult books for book reports!!
I will do my best to increase this list to 20 options by the end of 2012.
Also, I see that I’ve picked up a few subscribers who are teachers or people who work for a school district. Welcome librarians, parents, and students!!
I will be creating book lists of great titles for book reports. If your son or daughter is in 5th, 6th, 7th, or 8th grade – subscribe. I plan to read a lot of books and post about them.
If you need some options for high school – 9th, 10th, 11th, and 12th grade – I will post books for those students as well.
I plan to post content detail on the books I read, not to ban or censor the book, but to help teachers and parents pick an age appropriate novel for their class or book reports. Some titles come in at a lower reading level, but contain a fight scene, hint at drugs or drinking, talk of death… But how much? How detailed is it? How far did the author go? No idea!
Teachers may also pass up a novel because they think it will be full of scary scenes, drugs, bad language, or contains some sexual references – but the story is free of all these things. That would be a shame.
I’m here to help.
Great Novels for Book Reports
The links will bring you to another page of this blog where I have outlined the following for each title I read:
- Link to author’s website or bio
- Setting and number of pages
- Reading Level and Accelerated Reader information (when available)
- Gender of main character and info on side characters
- A listing content detail such as violence, swearing, sexual tones, etc.
- My thoughts on the book
- A listing of themes within the storyline such as: friendship, dealing with death, choices, poverty, accepting others, etc.
- I will also beef up the post by listing similar titles – ones that have the same themes and/or reading levels
What else would you like to know?
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Take a peek at what I’ve read so far. The ages are subjective. Use your best judgement.
For Ages 10 and Older
Mockingbird – a girl with Asperger’s Syndrome deals with color and the death of her brother.
Define Normal - two middle grade girls are forced to spend time together in peer counseling. Outward appearances are not what they seem.
Bud, Not Buddy – (read – write up coming soon) 10-year-old Bud decides to hit the road to find his father. Nothing with stop him.
A Tinfoil Sky - (read – write up coming soon) Mel is living on the streets with her mother. Will she find a place to call home? A wonderful story told from the perspective of a 12-year-old girl.
For Ages 12 and Older
The Outsiders - a classic about friendship, belonging, and making choices. Are you wondering how much swearing is in this title? Click and find out.
Trash – a young adult book in one of the most unique settings I’ve ever encountered.
For Ages 14 and Older
Jumpstart the World - a high school level book that some people are trying to get banned from school libraries due to a transgender character.
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Remember, you can subscribe to receive JennaScribbles by e-mail. Don’t miss it.
Titles I am considering:
Following Fake Man - a boy wants to learn about his father, but his mother refuses to talk. So he sets off to solve the mystery on his own.
Warriors Don’t Cry – Drawn from Melba Beals’s personal diaries in 1957 when she was one of nine black students chosen to integrate into an all white high school
Monster – A multi award winning novel about a boy falsely accused of a crime.
11 Birthdays – Amanda’s birthday seems to be repeating itself. What’s going on and how can she fix it?
A Day No Pigs Would Die – a 13-year-old boy needs to take on the responsibilities of a man.
** Do you have a great middle grade or high school level book to suggest? Some young adult titles that you or your child/student enjoyed? Let me know and I will add it to my list!
Subscribe to my blog. Also check out the posts I’ve created regarding Struggling Readers.
Would you like to contribute to this list by doing a write up? Contact me.
Thanks for stopping!
~ Jenna
