Book Recommendations for Spring Break

“Courage. Kindness. Friendship. Character. These are the qualities that define us as human beings, and propel us, on occasion, to greatness.”― R.J. Palacio, Wonder

During spring break, students deserve a well-earned respite from homework and school responsibilities but the break will come and go and in time, students will be returning to the classroom. To best prepare them for a seamless transition back to school, academic skills such as reading and analyzing literature should be kept en pointe. Spring break is the ideal time for students to sit down to a great book they will enjoy reading while keeping their comprehension skills strong.

In R. J. Palacio’s Wonder, the protagonist, August Pullman, is a ten-year-old boy who was born with a terrible genetic abnormality that causes him to suffer from very noticeable facial deformities. In an attempt to safeguard and protect Auggie from the potential perils and threats of the outside world, his parents have home-schooled him his entire life. However, despite his unique experiences, Auggie is just an ordinary young boy who loves eating ice cream and playing on his Xbox. Among a cast of first-person narrators, Palacio captures the voices of the young characters and invites readers to experience multiple points of view throughout the narrative arch. Through Auggie’s unique perspective, the reader begins to understand how a young boy comes to terms with himself when bridging the gap between how he feels on the inside and how he is perceived by others on the outside. August feels like an “ordinary” middle school boy, yet, when he attends a school for the first time, he is confronted with newfound fears of loneliness, isolation, and bullying. Yet, all he hopes for is to be accepted by his new peers.

Palacio’s Wonder teaches young readers important lessons about courage and bravery in the face of adversity, and accepting others based on the content of their character rather than strictly on their physical appearance.

If your student has not read this novel, make sure you add it to their book list. For those who find Wonder a great read, below is a list of other highly acclaimed books for middle school students:

Realistic Fiction:

Flipped by Wendelin Van Draanen

Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli

Rules by Cynthia Lord

Mockingbird by Kathryn Erskine

Walk Two Moons by Sharon Creech

 

Middle School Must-Reads:

The Giver by Lois Lowry

Holes by Louis Sachar

The Outsiders by S. E. Hinton

Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson

Number the Stars by Lois Lowry

Matilda by Roald Dahl

The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by C. S. Lewis

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O’Dell

 

At Mill Creek Academy, we LOVE to read. Stay tuned for NEWS about our MCA’s Book Club designed for your avid reader.