Grade 8 reading books
Recommended reading books for middle school children in Eighth Grade ages 13-14
By Eighth Grade students have acquired all of the foundational elements of English language arts such as sentence structure, parts of speech, and narrative structure.
Yet, even with these basics under their belts, many are just beginning to explore their full potential as writers. Through regular reading, students get to see writing techniques in action—how precise verbs create vivid and precise imagery, how varying sentence lengths can build rhythm, and how tone shapes the reader's experience.
These books have been selected to stimulate continued reading and for the quality writing which Eighth Graders can draw from to refine their English language skills.
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Skyward
Brandon Sanderson
Skyward is a the first book of an action-packed science fiction series centered around Spensa Nightshade, a determined 17-year-old girl living on planet where humanity has been forced underground by hostile aliens. To resit the aliens, Spensa decides to become a pilot. However her path is complicated by stigma and prejudice, with many questioning her abilities and motives.
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​With high-stakes action, immersive world-building, and strong character development, Skyward is one of the most memorable recent YA sci-fi titles. It explores themes of courage, identity, and resilience, with unique characters and humor which offer depth and appeal throughout the series.
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Adventure, Self-Discovery, Friendships
To All the Boys I've Loved Before
Jenny Han
Popularized by the Netflix film, To All the Boys I've Loved Before is an early YA novel told through the perspective of a sixteen-year-old girl navigating love, friendship, and family life. Lara Jean keeps a hidden box containing several love letters—one for each of the boy's she's ever loved. But one day, she discovers that these secret letters have been mailed to all her crushes, and this unexpected action sets in motion a chaotic series of events.
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Best for teens who can relate to (the sometimes single-minded focus that comes along with) crushes, relationship conflicts and heartbreak.
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Relationships, Relatable
Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children
Ransom Riggs
Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children is a fascinating paranormal fantasy novel following sixteen-year-old Jacob who sets out to uncover a mystery which has been with him since he was young. As a child, Jacob had listened in awe to his grandfather's stories of his time living in an orphanage with other peculiar children who possessed supposed unnatural abilities. Now years later, Jacob finds himself at the ruined site of the remote orphanage.
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Eerie vintage photographs which seemingly corroborate the mysterious tales—passed on to Jacob and the reader—add an appeal for readers who favor visual elements in their stories.
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Imagination, Illustrations
Six of Crows
Leigh Bardugo
Taking place in the fictional Grishaverse—where crime, magic and politics intertwine—Six of Crows is among the most notable modern fantasy series titles for teens. 17-year-old Kaz Brekker is offered a reward to break into the Ice Court and kidnap a scientist. To pull off the heist Kaz recruits five other crew members with diverse backgrounds and skills
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Six of Crows is a standalone series that takes place after and in the same universe as the Shadow and Bones series. Six of Crows in particular is expertly told—with the memorable and complex characters, and camaraderie between them—but both feature excellent plot and world-building.
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Adventure, Imagination, Friendships
The Martian
Andy Weir
In the science fiction novel The Martian astronaut Mark Watney is accidentally left behind and stranded on Mars following a dust storm. Alone but resourceful, dejected but optimistic, Mark summons his survival skills in all manners possible.
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The Martian is narrated from the point of view of Mark—whose ingenuity, perseverance, and witty commentary make his struggles feel incredibly personal—and also from NASA scientists on earth who begin working on a plan to bring him home once they realize Mark is still alive. Together they offer a uniquely realistic account of the technical challenges he faces and underlying science.
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Ingenuity, STEM, Humor, Language Building