Other forms of entertainment may offer a window to the world, but books reign supreme when it comes to challenging eighth graders to think critically. The best titles don’t just entertain—they support adolescents in their path to forming personal viewpoints. Readers can synthesize information found in fiction and nonfiction stories and apply it to real-life situations, while expanding their empathy and understanding of the world around them. 

Middle grade fiction, activity books, graphic novels, and young adult fiction can all be part of a balanced eighth grade reading diet. To lead your reader towards the most enriching stories, Literati has named its top picks. Here are a few of the best titles for your eighth grade reader:

Dry

By Jarod Shusterman and Neal Shusterman

In this captivating survival story, one teen must make crucial decisions for her family in order to survive a devastating drought. Readers won’t be able to take their eyes off of this vivid, near-future dystopia as they’re challenged to understand the reasoning and motivation behind certain characters’ reactions. Full of tension and pulse-pounding suspense, Dry is a distressing reminder of our current climate reality and a gripping “what if” exercise for your eighth grader.

Burn After Writing Teen

By Rhiannon Shove

The made-for-teens edition of Rhiannon Shove’s ultra-engaging personal journal, Burn After Writing, will get your eighth grader thinking about big questions and looking inward for answers. The fun, thought-provoking prompts throughout this book provide an outlet for some complicated thinking—the kind that eighth graders aren’t always sure how to approach. Journaling is a fantastic form of self-care, but sitting down in front of a blank page can be a little daunting (even for adults). This book provides the perfect safe space for teens—unlike that math test next period, there are no wrong answers here!

Blood Metal Bone

By Lindsay Cummings

After being wrongly accused of her brother’s murder, Sonara gets a second chance at uncovering the truth. A clever blend of sci-fi and fantasy elements allows readers to get in touch with more specific genre preferences. With an expansive world to explore and a wide cast of characters, your eighth grader’s memory and comprehension will be adequately challenged, while they stay completely immersed in a total page-turner.

Knowledge Genius! A Quiz Encyclopedia to Boost Your Brain

by DK Publishing

Do you have a future Jeopardy contestant on your hands? You might after you get this fact-packed book in front of them. First, readers will dive into a whole slew of “general knowledge” subjects. Then, they can quiz themselves and find out just how much they’ve learned! Other than the obvious educational value of a brain-boosting encyclopedia, the self-testing format found in this book is incredibly impactful. When students quiz themselves on information, they’re more likely to encode it deeply and recall it later. That’s right—this book can actually help teach your eighth grader how to study effectively!

Gone Dark

By Amanada Patnitch

Survival stories are popular among eighth and ninth graders as readers can jump into super high-stakes scenarios, relate to teen characters, and watch them grow into heroic versions of themselves. In Gone Dark, the country’s power grid is suddenly compromised, leaving Zara to make an impossible choice in order to survive. Eighth graders will find a strong message about resilience and facing one’s past with confidence while following along for the adventure.

The best books for eighth graders feature captivating plots, immersive settings, and challenges that feel relevant to the eighth grade experience. Even if your reader chooses to escape into a fantasy world, the best books will encourage them to think deeply and find lessons they can bring back to reality.

Sometimes, finding those perfect titles is easier said than done: all eighth graders are different, after all. No matter what kind of story excites your reader—even if they don’t know it yet—Literati is here to help them build reading habits that stick. 

When you join Literati book clubs, your reader will receive a personalized box of books curated just for them. They’ll go deeper into their existing interests, and find new ones, and solidify a passion for literature with stories that are perfectly matched to their reading level. Start with Literati’s personalization quiz and get your first box of books today.

The post The Best Books for Eighth Graders appeared first on Literati.

It’s official: like Poe and Tony Stark before them, your kid is ready for their very own robot sidekick… in the pages of their new favorite book, of course.

Autobots, roll out! to get your hands on the best science fiction books for middle graders—droid style.

The Last Human

By Lee Bacon

In a future where robots run the world without the messiness of humans, society runs smoothly… except for one problem: there’s one last human living—more accurately, hiding—amongst them. When the android narrator XR_935 finds 12-year-old Emma, he and his two robot pals go against the established rules to accompany her on a perilous journey for her survival.

This book is packed with great themes for middle graders around overcoming biases, forging unexpected relationships, and helping those in need. We also adore the narrator’s unique mix of human prose and robot-binary, which provides readers with an engaging introduction to coding.

The Homework Machine

by Dun Gutman

The D Squad’s homeworker-completing robot machine, nicknamed Belch, is solving all of their fifth grade problems. But before long, it’s creating problems too—suspicious adults, private pop quizzes, and eventually, a homework robot with a mind of its own (and the potential to create a serious mess for all of them).

The Homework Machine embraces a unique storytelling approach, and includes diverse characters for every middle schooler to relate to. It’s the perfect escape for every student that has ever dreaded doing homework, while serving as an almost life-or-death warning against cheating—parents, you’re welcome!

EngiNerd

By Jarrett Lerner

When Ken and his crew of super-smart EngiNerds find robots on their front porches, they have no idea that Dan, one of their own, has been secretly building and sending them to each member of their nerdy friend group. Robot companions? Awesome! Except that this dream-come-true quickly gets out of hand, with only the EngiNerds to turn things around.

For every so-called “nerd” out there, this novel shows that sometimes you get to be the hero of the story, too. EngiNerds is jam-packed with humorous quips, silly strategies, and affable antics from robots and humans alike, making it one of the best early chapter books for reluctant-to-read young boys.

Machines That Think!: Big Ideas That Changed The World #2

by Don Brown

What’s another word for “machines that think?” Oh, that’s right: robots!

This nonfiction deep dive into the riveting world of technology lets your middle-grade reader into the secrets behind the stories they love so much. From the earliest mathematical devices to the birth of computer programming to the first smartphones and eventually artificial intelligence, Machines That Think! covers the most important robot-related inventions in captivating graphic-novel form.

By infusing comprehensive historical accounts with humor, stunning illustrations, and a light, easy-to-follow narrative, author Dan Brown has created the perfect introduction to the wonderful world of robots. Your child won’t just learn about inventions—they might be ready to think up a few of their own.

The Future of Reading is Here!

Ken the EngiNerd doesn’t have to be the only kid getting exciting packages delivered to their door—your child can receive a kids book delivery through Literati’s personalized kids book clubs. 

Their box won’t contain a ferocious farting robot, but it will be smart enough to follow your reader’s progress as they grow. Start with the personalization quiz and Literati will send the best books to engage and challenge your child—stories that match their unique interests, and develop the right skills at the right time. 

From robot-run dystopias one box to outer space the next, and from sea creatures to ancient Egypt and back home again, your middle-grade reader will have no shortage of exciting content to spark their imagination and solidify their reading confidence.

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