Book recommendations for 7/8 grade slow readers?

Question

Does anyone have any book recommendations for 7th or 8th graders who read at a 4-6 grade level? Most of them have a short attention span and "hate" to read. Any help?

Answer 1

Recorded Books has books on tape that are read at a slower speed so lower readers have an easier time following along and comprehending.  Sometimes public and school libraries have them, and when they're used correctly, books on tape or CD can be terrific resources.

Here are some excellent books/authors/resources for reluctant readers:

Jerry Spinelli (Maniac Magee, Wringer)

Bruce Coville (My Teacher is an Alien series, Jeremy Thatcher, Dragon Hatcher, etc.)

A Child Called It (available on CD, intense subject matter, preview and possibly get permission first) - this book is so popular among kids we had to replace it every year due to wear and tear and being stolen.

Janet Allen has excellent teacher books about reading that give lists of books for reluctant readers as well as rationale and instructions for using books on tape.

Walter Dean Myers (Monster, Handbook for Boys, etc.)

Anything that has been or is being made into a movie, such as Holes, Hoot, I Know What You Did Last Summer, Jumanji, etc.

Comic books, newspapers, magazines

Love that Dog by Sharon Creech

Sharon Draper (Tears of a Tiger, Forged by Fire, etc.)

For girls The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants series

For boys and sports lovers anything by Mike Lupica

Also look at a few series by Jamestown Publishers.  The Critical Reading Series, Wild Side, and Outer Edge are all excellent nonfiction short stories for kids.  They love them, and they are so easy to use in the classroom.

Good luck!

http://www.glencoe.com/gln/jamestown/rea...

www.recordedbooks.com

http://www.janetallen.org/

Answer 2

The Watsons Go to Birmingham - 1968 by Christopher Paul Curtis

Letters from Rifka by Karen Hesse

Hatchet, Woodsong,  Brian's Return or Soldier's Heart by Gary Paulsen

Hoot by Carl Hiassen

Answer 3

The Giver or The Outsiders.

I think those are sort of easy read, and they're pretty good books, and not too long.  Plus, they're classics.

Answer 4

You need to find something they would like to read.  My brother was never a reader until he discovered war stories - anything military related he devoured.  Talk to your students about the things they like to do and them help them find books on the subject.  7th & 8th graders are probably looking for books about sports figures so try biographies of sports stars.  

Let them determine whether it is too hard or too easy of a book.

Here's a link to one libraries suggestions:

http://www.santaclaracountylib.org/kids/...