When it comes to literature, teaching the classics is important. But it's a good idea to add contemporary titles to your curriculum, too, especially if your students sometimes have trouble connecting with older texts.
That’s why we created the Discovering Literature collection, a curated selection of noteworthy books that are capturing the attention of teachers and students across the country.
Teaching middle schoolers this year? This month’s Discovering Literature Digest is for you! Add variety to your classroom library with these four incredible stories perfect for readers ages 8-12. Ranging in subject matter, genre, and tone, these books all provide powerful lessons on resilience, identity, and personal growth.
The Barren Grounds: The Misewa Saga, Book One
After being taken away from their families and communities, Morgan and Eli, two Indigenous children, are sent to the same foster home in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Struggling to adapt to this new life, the two find solace in the attic, away from their foster parents. One day, a magical portal opens on the attic wall, transporting Morgan and Eli to a world called Askí. In this frozen landscape, they meet Ochek, an animal-like hunter trying to save his starving community, Misewa. In the quest for food, Morgan, Eli, and Ochek embark on a dangerous mission, racing against the icy grip of winter. Inspired by The Chronicles of Narnia and Indigenous legends of the sky and stars, The Barren Grounds deserves a place on any middle-grade fantasy shelf.
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Stand Up, Yumi Chung!
Middle-grade readers will adore this humorous story of mistaken identity by Jessica Kim. The shy Yumi Chung dreams of becoming a stand-up comedian, but her parents would rather have her focus on her studies. Because of financial troubles at the family’s Korean restaurant, they enroll Yumi in test-prep tutoring to qualify for a private school scholarship. One day after class, Yumi stumbles into a comedy camp for kids and starts secretly attending using another student’s name. But as her double life begins unraveling, Yumi must learn to confront her fears and embrace being her true self.
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A Wolf Called Wander
Inspired by the true story of a wolf named OR-7, also known as Journey, A Wolf Called Wander is a gripping tale of survival for middle-grade readers. A wolf cub named Swift lives in the mountains with his pack, learning to hunt alongside his brothers and sisters. One day, a rival pack attacks, forcing Swift and his family to scatter. In search of a new home, Swift embarks on a thousand-mile journey alone through the Pacific Northwest, encountering hunger, hunters, highways, and other dangers along the way. Illustrations by Mónica Armiño and a map of Swift’s trek accompany the narrative.
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Clean Getaway
Without his dad’s permission, eleven-year-old William “Scoob” Lamar and his grandmother “G’ma” embark on an impromptu road trip across the American South. For Scoob, it’s an escape from his dad’s strict rules. For G’ma, it’s a chance to finish a trip she and “G’pop” attempted in the 1960s. As they travel to key civil rights landmarks, G’ma reveals more about her past, including the hardships she and G’pop faced as an interracial couple. But when G’ma starts behaving strangely, Scoob suspects there’s more to this trip than he originally believed. Part history lesson, part family mystery, this fast-paced story makes an excellent addition to any middle-grade reading list.
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Find even more exciting books in the Discovering Literature collection!