Trending Secondary Classrooms 5 Free Texts that Get Middle Schoolers Excited About Reading
Getting middle schoolers excited about reading can be hard, but it doesn't take a magic trick, just a text that feels like one they'd pick themselves.
These five free texts from the CommonLit Text Library are a great place to start. There's a first-day crush, a dinner gone wrong, a science article that starts on your lunch tray, a crime with a twist, and a classroom on Venus. Each comes with guided reading questions, assessment questions, and answer keys, so the prep is already done.
New to CommonLit? These lessons are free with an educator account. Sign up for one here.
"Seventh Grade" by Gary Soto (6th Grade)
Victor has one goal for the first day of seventh grade: impress Teresa. So when his French teacher asks if anyone speaks French, Victor raises his hand. He doesn't speak French.
Middle schoolers will recognize every awkward second of this story, and that's what makes it so funny. Use it to analyze character emotions and point of view, then ask students why Mr. Bueller keeps Victor's secret.
"Fish Cheeks" by Amy Tan (6th Grade)
Amy has a crush on the minister's son, and her mother has invited his family over for Christmas Eve dinner. Amy spends the whole meal mortified by her family's chopsticks, double dipping, and burping. Afterward, her mother tells her something she won't understand until years later.
This short memoir is a natural fit for a unit on identity, especially the experiences of second-generation immigrants.
"Your food choices affect Earth's climate" by Janet Raloff (7th Grade)
Students eat lunch every day without thinking about its carbon footprint. This article changes that. Researchers found that meat-heavy diets produce more greenhouse gas emissions, but Raloff points out that every food carries an environmental cost worth weighing.
It's a strong pick for teaching how details support a central idea, and it gives students real science behind climate change. Have them trace one claim back to its evidence, then decide what, if anything, they'd change on their own plate.
"Lamb to the Slaughter" by Roald Dahl (8th Grade)
Mary Maloney is waiting happily for her husband to come home. Then he tells her he's leaving. What follows involves a frozen leg of lamb, a quick trip to the grocery store, and a police investigation that ends with one very ironic dinner.
Dahl's story is a strong pick for teaching how authors build suspense, since students will want to know whether Mary gets away with it. Once they finish, let them debate whether her actions were justified. Expect strong opinions!
"All Summer in a Day" by Ray Bradbury (8th Grade)
On Venus, it rains constantly and the sun comes out for a few hours once every seven years. Margot is the only child in her class who remembers the sun from Earth, and her classmates resent her for it. When the sun is about to appear, they lock her in a closet.
The story fits a unit on human nature and how fear, jealousy, and isolation shape behavior. Have students trace how the interactions between Margot and her classmates develop those themes, then give them time to talk about the moment the door opens.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are these texts free?
Yes. Every text in the CommonLit Text Library is free with an educator account, including reading questions, assessment questions, answer keys, and paired texts. Go to CommonLit.org, click "Sign Up," choose "I Am an Educator," and confirm your school email.
Can I print these lessons?
Yes. Each text can be downloaded as a PDF or assigned digitally to students.
What grade levels does the CommonLit Text Library cover?
The CommonLit Text Library includes lessons spanning grades 3-12. Once you log in to your free educator account, you can browse the 6-8 grade collection to find more texts like these.
Next Steps
All five texts are ready to assign. Create a free CommonLit teacher account to unlock reading questions, assessment questions, answer keys, and paired texts for every lesson.
