The Best Book-Report Books for Middle Schoolers

No need to dread a book report! When kids find titles that are engaging, interesting, and thought-provoking, they're hooked. If it's fiction, students can dissect plot, theme, and characters. If it's nonfiction, they can plunge into a subject that fascinates them or learn a lot about something they've never heard of before. Here's a list of surefire selections for students in sixth, seventh, and eighth grades. For even more ideas, check out 50 Books All Kids Should Read Before They're 12.

Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl Poster Image
BOOK

Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl

age 11+

Inspiring wartime journal reveals teen's inner life.

By: Anne Frank (1947)
The Apothecary, Book 1 Poster Image
BOOK

The Apothecary, Book 1

age 11+

Cold War kids use magic to save world in brilliant novel.

By: Maile Meloy (2011)
Everything Sad Is Untrue: (A True Story) Poster Image
BOOK

Everything Sad Is Untrue: (A True Story)

age 11+

Young refugee's story is told in memories, myths, fables.

By: Daniel Nayeri (2020)
Goodbye Stranger Poster Image
BOOK

Goodbye Stranger

age 11+

Bittersweet, lovely story of friendship and social media.

By: Rebecca Stead (2015)
Genesis Begins Again Poster Image
BOOK

Genesis Begins Again

age 11+

Teen learns to love herself in uplifting tale of misfits.

By: Alicia D. Williams (2019)
Hatchet Poster Image
BOOK

Hatchet

age 11+

Hold on tight for an intense tale of survival.

By: Gary Paulsen (1987)
A Long Walk to Water Poster Image
BOOK

A Long Walk to Water

age 11+

Touching take on Lost Boys of Sudan, based on true story.

By: Linda Sue Park (2010)
One Crazy Summer Poster Image
BOOK

One Crazy Summer

age 11+

A gem, with strong girl characters, '60s black history.

Parked Poster Image
BOOK

Parked

age 11+

Poverty, being unhoused explored in hopeful tale.

By: Danielle Svetcov (2020)
The Port Chicago 50: Disaster, Mutiny, and the Fight for Civil Rights Poster Image
BOOK

The Port Chicago 50: Disaster, Mutiny, and the Fight for Civil Rights

age 11+

Little-known disaster gets overdue, in-depth treatment.

By: Steve Sheinkin (2014)
The Red Badge of Courage Poster Image
BOOK

The Red Badge of Courage

age 11+

Compelling Civil War novel questions morality of battle.

By: Stephen Crane (1895)
Uglies: Uglies Quartet, Book 1 Poster Image
BOOK

Uglies: Uglies Quartet, Book 1

age 11+

Thoughtful sci-fi about the price of beauty.

By: Scott Westerfeld (2006)
Weedflower Poster Image
BOOK

Weedflower

age 11+

Interned girl, Native boy find common ground in moving tale.

By: Cynthia Kadohata (2009)
All-American Muslim Girl Poster Image
BOOK

All-American Muslim Girl

age 12+

Captivating coming-of-age tale explores identity, racism.

American Ace Poster Image
BOOK

American Ace

age 12+

Moving, fast-paced novel-in-verse; great for teen boys.

By: Marilyn Nelson (2015)
Bomb: The Race to Build -- and Steal -- the World's Most Dangerous Weapon Poster Image
BOOK

Bomb: The Race to Build -- and Steal -- the World's Most Dangerous Weapon

age 12+

Complex, suspenseful story of developing The Bomb.

By: Steve Sheinkin (2012)
The Boys Who Challenged Hitler: Knud Pedersen and the Churchill Club Poster Image
BOOK

The Boys Who Challenged Hitler: Knud Pedersen and the Churchill Club

age 12+

Thrilling true story of teenagers who stood up to the Nazis.

By: Phillip M. Hoose (2015)
Enchanted Air: Two Cultures, Two Wings Poster Image
BOOK

Enchanted Air: Two Cultures, Two Wings

age 12+

Poignant memoir-in-verse recalls Cuban American's childhood.

By: Margarita Engle (2015)
Long Way Down Poster Image
BOOK

Long Way Down

age 12+

Gripping, unnerving story of teen boy contemplating revenge.

By: Jason Reynolds (2017)
My Name Is Not Easy Poster Image
BOOK

My Name Is Not Easy

age 12+

Fascinating story of Alaskan kids growing up in the 1960s.