Good books for eighth grade girls?

Question

I am homeschooling, and they are from a Christian family. I want books that are good for that age group without having any content their parents would object to.

Answer 1

Well, I am not sure what content you would find objectionable.  There are many good books that have content that is not fairy tale, Brady Bunch stuff.

For example, the Bible, it has a lot of violence, stories of rape, stories of incest, people stealing, lying, worshiping idols and sacrificing their children to the idols.  Of course, the bad elements are not put their for entertainment, and the overall tone is one that would lead someone to Christ and would uphold moral standards.

You find similar situations with other literature; "Anne Frank, Diary of a Young Girl".  I think what the n**i's were doing was very objectionable, but the book was good.  The book actually serves to show how wrong the n**i's were.

Uncle Toms Cabin, (too difficult for the average 8th grader, but I include it because it illustrates my point very well), in this story a very kind and faithful Christian slave is sold away from his wife and children, he is abused and passed on through 3 or 4 people and finally ends up in the hands of a horrible man who mistreats him so much that he kills him.  The book is full awful incidents of human selfishness and cruelty, but the book does not support that cruelty, rather it condemns it.

Since no one but you knows what you would object, my suggestion is to get a list of books suitable for 8th grade and then read them yourself if you are unsure.

In 8th grade my daughter read all of Walter Farley's horse books, plus these titles:

Adventures of Tom Sawyer

Alice in Wonderland

Anne Frank

The Screwtape Letters

The Call of the Wild

Anne of Green Gables

Treasure Island

Now some of those books had violence, Treasure Island had pirates so of course had drinking and killing and stealing.  Screwtape Letters has demons plotting how to ensnare a Christian.  We used these as springboards for discussion about the deceitfulness of sin, the choices we make, and the consequences.

Answer 2

im an eighth grade guy, and most girls at my school read:

speak

gossip girl

sleeping freshmen never lie(not s*x sleeping, but just sleeping... most reccomended for a christian family)

out of the dust(sad)

touching spirit bear

martian chronicles

an acquantince with darkness

the giver

hatchet

Answer 3

Parvana Series- Deborah Ellis

Holes- Louis Sachar

All Morris Gleitzman Books

Answer 4

I hate to sound negative about the topic, but I just wanted to write my opposing opinion.  I taught middle school (7th & 8th) for 10 years.  At that age group, kids do need to be exposed to topics that might be considered more adult-like in nature.

It allows students to think and form opinions, ask questions, write expressive responses, and want to learn more.

I taught in public school, but my big theme was that everything had to do with teaching tolerance.  During a Holocaust unit, I had kids glued to reading The Diary of Anne Frank or Number the Stars.  I had dozens of books my students would read about the Holocaust.  I also taught about the Japanese Internment camps, and we read Journey to Topaz & Journey Home.  During the Great Dust Bowl unit, we read Out of the Dust, and I read excerpts from The Grapes of Wrath.   I taught Zlata's Diary, Animal Farm, and The Pearl.  I taught some novels that dealt with slavery.  To Kill A Mockingbird is one of the most controversial books out there-but when taught compassionately and with full comprehension, it is an amazing classic.  Everything tied into the theme of tolerance and acceptance.  Even when I taught a Titanic unit, the novels we read (A Night to Remember and others) showed the differences between the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd classes.  Kids do need to be protected, but not sheltered from history.  Books teach so much of our history.  

I might suggest you google a search of a generic  8th grade reading list.  Check out a few of these novels form the library, and chat with the librian too.  Ask his/her opinion on some of the novels you think might work.  But also communicate with the parents.  If they want their children to read feel-good fuzzy-inside novels, that's their wish.  But it doesn't actually 'teach'.

All the best to you!

Answer 5

I don't know what you consider "content their parents would object to", but I wouldn't rule out books because of topics, vulgar language, etc. I'm senior at a Catholic school and as a freshman, I read books like "The Education of Little Tree", "The Miracle Worker", "Animal Farm", The Odessy", and more. I know this next year, the freshman will be reading "Catcher in the Rye" for one of their summer reading books. Although their is questionable content, it is a great book that, I believe, everyone should be exposed to. It's literature and it contains many great topics for debate. Overall, I don't think you should rule out a lot of books because of a few questionable scenes and vulgar language; the kids are going to be exposed to it eventually.

Answer 6

Most parents are too ashamed to talk of the priority issues in today's day in age such as sexuality, drugs, teen pregnacy, STD and violence. I would give them books that covers those topics. Why place them in the dark? It's in the Bible about adultery and fornication. The best book for any person would be the Bible. Speak of God's words. They do have children's Bibles so check it out.

Answer 7

I suggest talking to the parents.

There are always things that people object to and it can be quite hard to predict. I know people who have no problem with their children reading about (age appropriately presented) s*x, but are horrified by any mention of guns or hunting, while others have no problem with detailed explanations of butchering an animal recently shot by a main character, but don't even want a kiss in the book.

Ask the parents what their absolute 'no-nos' are, then let them know what you are thinking of teaching. If there is a book that they are concerned about, talk to them about why you want to teach it, addressing their concerns (e.g. Yes, Mr. Smith, I know there is death in this book, but it is presented in an age-appropriate way and it gives real meaning to the sacrifices made by the other characters).

Good luck!