Literature Circles Archives - The Musical Librarian

📚 Linked by Gordon Korman: A Powerful Classroom Read That Sparked Real Conversations

5 Star, Book Reviews, Classroom Library, Grade, Grade 6, Grade 7, Grade 8, Highschool, Literature Circles, Read Aloud, Teaching / Margaret

Every so often, a book comes along that doesn’t just engage students—it changes the conversation in your classroom.For us, that book was Linked by Gordon Korman. I added Linked to our classroom library after hearing strong recommendations from other teachers—and I’m so glad I did. What started as just another reading option quickly turned into […]

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Why MiNRS Is a Must-Have for Middle Grade Literature Circles

4 Star, Book Reviews, Classroom Library, Grade, Grade 7, Grade 8, Literature Circles, Teaching / Margaret

Every now and then, a book hits your classroom like a tidal wave—MiNRS by Kevin Sylvester was that book for us. I introduced MiNRS as one of several options during our literature circles unit, unsure how many students would gravitate toward a sci-fi survival story set on a distant planet. To my surprise, it quickly

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Sadia by Colleen Nelson – A Powerful YA Novel About Identity, Sports, and Social Justice

4 Star, Book Reviews, Classroom Library, Grade, Grade 6, Grade 7, Grade 8, Highschool, Literature Circles, Teaching / Margaret

I recently read Sadia by Colleen Nelson and immediately knew it needed a place on every middle school classroom bookshelf. This award-winning Canadian novel is an excellent example of inclusive young adult fiction. It explores themes of identity, friendship, belonging, and standing up for what’s right—all through the eyes of a determined teen girl navigating

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The Misfits by James Howe: A Relatable and Heartfelt Middle School Story

4 Star, Book Reviews, Classroom Library, Grade 7, Grade 8, Literature Circles, Teaching / Margaret

The Misfits by James Howe is an incredible book that perfectly captures the middle school experience. Told through the eyes of Bobby, the novel follows a tight-knit group of friends as they navigate seventh grade and take on student council elections. This story resonates deeply with young readers, offering relatable characters and heartfelt lessons. Relatable

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The House of Scorpion by N Farmer

4 Star, Book Reviews, Classroom Library, Grade, Grade 6, Grade 7, Grade 8, Literature Circles, Teaching / Margaret

Discover Nancy Farmer’s The House of the Scorpion, a thought-provoking dystopian novel for middle school readers. Explore themes of identity, ethics, and power in a futuristic world of clones and “eejits.” Perfect for classroom discussions on complex topics like morality, technology, and societal structures.

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Monster – W. Myers

4 Star, Book Reviews, Classroom Library, Grade, Grade 7, Grade 8, Literature Circles, Teaching / Margaret

Exploring Monster by Walter Dean Myers: A Screenplay-Style Novel for Middle School Classrooms When I picked up Monster by Walter Dean Myers, I was drawn to its unconventional format and powerful themes. This award-winning novel, written in the unique style of a screenplay, provides a fresh narrative perspective that engages readers while exploring critical societal

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Uglies – S. Westerfield

4 Star, Book Reviews, Classroom Library, Grade, Grade 7, Literature Circles, Teaching / Margaret

Returning to a childhood favorite, I recently revisited a novel I adored in grades 6/7. After discovering it at a sale, I was thrilled to find multiple copies at my school, paving the way for a reading group! The story unravels around Tally, a 15-year-old living in a futuristic, post-apocalyptic setting. Here, a milestone awaits

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Restart by G. Korman

5 Star, Book Reviews, Classroom Library, Grade, Grade 7, Grade 8, Literature Circles, Read Aloud, Teaching / Margaret

Hello Everyone! I have an amazing book to share with you today – Restart by Gordon Korman. I was struggling to find a read aloud for my class this year – it is my first time teaching grade 78 and pretty much everything I wanted to read either didn’t feel appropriate for this particular mix

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Mare’s War

5 Star, Black Authors, Book Reviews, Grade 8, Literature Circles, Read Aloud, Teaching / Margaret

Mare’s War by Tanita Davis 5 stars An amazing book by an amazing author! Mare’s War was nominated for the 2010 NAACP Image Award in Outstanding Literary Work (In the Youth/Teen category). It even won the Coretta Scott King Honour Award the same year, and I can see why! The story of Mare is such

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The Boy in the Black Suit by J Reynolds

4 Star, Black Authors, Book Reviews, Classroom Library, Grade 6, Grade 7, Grade 8, Literature Circles, Read Aloud, Teaching / Margaret

This story is one of a few i’m going to be reading to educate myself more on black lives, history, and stories. I realize that while i’ve always tried to offer a variance in my classroom library, it can be hard to find good books for tweens by black authors or about black characters; so

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