I’m currently in the process of making final decisions on the novels I’ll be navigating with an 8th grade class this year.  Since English is their second language (technically EFL since I live in South America), I’m trying to walk that precarious line between challenging and engaging.  (So far, I’ve decided on Louis Sachar’s Holes and Konigsburg’s From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler.) I’d be curious to hear suggestions from fellow book-lovers (especially those with any sort of education background).  What would you have loved to read in middle school?

Here are some suggestions from my mother-in-choice, who was a middle-school librarian:

“I’ve thought of a few books that might be good.  One is The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle by Avi.  It’s a mystery/adventure story with a female main character, but it would appeal to boys as well.  The Pigman by Paul Zindel is not a new book, but I’ve used it with eighth graders (many years ago) and it was well received.  Another book by Avi is Nothing But the Truth.  If she’s looking for books for independent reading, there’s a series by Ann M. Martin and Paula Danziger that begins with P.S. Longer Letter Later.  This would appeal to girls.  Sports books by Thomas Dygard are good choices too.  I’ll keep thinking, but I thought I’d send these off to you.  Hope the information is helpful.”

I don’t know if this is too young for middle school, but Elvira Woodruff’s “The Ravenmaster’s Secret” is a pretty exciting read. It’s set in the Tower of London, and the main character (12) keeps watch over the Scottish prisoners but finds himself in a position where he could save a prisoner’s life. His best friend is an endentured slave owned by a cruel chimney sweep. Lots of British history and hangings.

Do you think the Madeleine L’Engle books (especially A WRINKLE IN TIME, et al ) are too “young” for your students?

I loved them many years ago, and still do.  Also what about Harper Lee’s TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD...? 

I gave Ernest (?) Gaines’ A LESSON BEFORE DYING to a friend who was turning 13 a few years ago.  When I read it, I could not put it down.

Thanks everyone!  These are excellent suggestions.  I’m off to read them and hope to report back soon.

Keeper by Mal Peet (set in South America, as a matter of fact) would be a great, high-interest (about football) middle-grade book.

The other great middle-grade books I read last year are:
Millicent Min, Girl Genius and its companion, Stanford Wong Flunks Big-time both by Lisa Yee

Minerva Clark Gets a Clue by Karen Karbo
Down the Rabbit Hole by Peter Abrahams
Shakespeare’s Secret by Elise Broach
(all of the above are mysteries)

Have you considered some darker, horror-oriented things like Darren Shan’s work or Neal Shusterman’s Dark Fusion series? 

Some of these seem a bit young for eighth-graders, but I think they might like the football one especially.  Good luck!