3 Novel Units with Back-to-School Themes!

If you are looking for a few book ideas that align with the idea of fresh beginnings and a new school year, check out the novel study units I have featured below. These are 3 of my favorite novels for middle school, and your students will literally cheer for the characters as they read along! 

Wonder by R.J. Palacio

Auggie Pullman's mother had homeschooled him through elementary school due to all of his medical treatments, but the story picks up with him joining his classmates in the 5th grade. Auggie and five other narrators share the story of his start of the school year at Beecher Prep and the challenges faced because he doesn’t look “ordinary” like everyone else he encounters.

Freak the Mighty

Freak the Mighty by Rodman Philbrick is an amazing story about the power of friendship and how it can transform even the hardest life situations. Your middle school students will love reading about how Maxwell and Kevin go from being outcasts due to scenarios out of their control to the dynamic duo known as Freak the Mighty. It is a great back-to-school novel to teach about the theme of friendship and what it truly means to be a good friend.

Crash by Jerry Spinelli

Crash is a great book to start the school year with since the characters are beginning their school year as well. The story begins with the narrator, John Coogan, explaining through flashback how he got his nickname, Crash. Flash forward to the first day of seventh grade, and the story takes off for student readers.

Whether you read these novels together as a whole class or add them to a student-selected reading list, I promise your BIG KIDS will be highly engaged with the characters and storylines! 

Erin Beers

Mrs. Beers ELA Classroom

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