My son is in middle school and interested in reading classic novels. He specified that he wants to read the famous ones. There are so many books I could suggest that I'm not sure what to narrow it down to for him, so suggestions of what you consider the most famous (but also entertaining and appropriate for a middle schooler) classic novels. He normally reads middle grade fiction and some YA. So, you can suggest adult novels, but I'm not sure if he would find them too boring. (Though this discussion with him did start because we were at the library and he asked about Frankenstein.) Thanks!
by bookishshelly
23 Comments
I would peruse the list of [Great Illustrated Classics](https://www.greatillustratedclassics.com/). These are abridged versions, but any of these titles in their original form would probably work as well.
Journey to the Center of the Earth by Jules Verne
Most classics are safe for middle schoolers. There may occasionally be mild nudity or swearing but because society was different, the novels we consider classic reflected their society at that time.
What you will find instead of sex and swearing is latent misogyny and a surprising amount of casual prejudice. My teenager is awesome about this and we have had some great conversations about Sylvia Plath, George Orwell, Jane Austen and others.
Middle school is a great time to read classic novels. Frankenstein is excellent. Others that come to mind:
* Animal Farm
* To Kill a Mockingbird
* The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
* Moby Dick — wonderful, though definitely oddly rambling. (When a bit younger, one of my kids read an abridged version that seemed quite good.)
Definitely Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, and Lord of the Flies. To the Lighthouse would also be good. And Factotum, by Charles Bukowski.
Watership Down is a good one
A Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett
The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett
Pollyanna by Eleanor H. Porter
Pollyanna Grows Up by Eleanor H. Porter
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum
If he’s into mysteries, there’s plenty of classic detective fiction out there – Sherlock Holmes and anything by Agatha Christie being the obvious choices.
my 7th grader read 1984, fahrenheit 451, animal farm, cat’s cradle, huckleberry finn, and tom sawyer this year. dnf brave new world. also really enjoyed farmer boy and rascal last year.
The Fifteen year old Captain by Jules Verne
I read [The Catcher in the Rye](https://www.waterstones.com/book/the-catcher-in-the-rye/j-d-salinger/9780241950432) by J.D. Salinger when I was around 12/13 and loved it – one of those books I recommend reading at a specific time in life (i.e. as a teenager) to fully appreciate it. If he likes adventure novels then I’d recommend [Around the World in Eighty Days](https://www.waterstones.com/book/around-the-world-in-eighty-days/jules-verne/9780141035871) by Jules Verne 🙂
I got my niece *A Tree Grows in Brooklyn* when she was in middle school. She loved it. There are some mature themes for sure but I still believe it’s appropriate.
I read the three musketeers for the first time when I was approximately 12, and I loved it so much I spent most of my youth re-reading it like once a year.
The first classics I read were Treasure Island and Huckleberry Finn. I believe it was the original prose, but also had illustrations. Loved them. Probably geared more towards guys than gals.
The Outsiders
Alice in Wonderland
Peter Pan
*Don Quixote* by Miguel de Cervantes.
*Gulliver’s Travels* by Jonathan Swift.
*The Prince and the Pauper* by Mark Twain.
*A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court* by Mark Twain.
*Iliad* by Homer.
*Odyssey* by Homer.
*Oliver Twist* by Charles Dickens.
*A Christmas Carol* by Charles Dickens.
*Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland* by Lewis Carroll.
I always thought “Oliver Twist” and/or “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” were two great classics that are timeless and could still appeal to many of today’s young readers, especially male readers. But they have to be able to accept and understand the times in which these are written in and not be “shocked” by any words or inferences therein.
I’d look up a recommended reading list for middle school, then a reading prep list for college. Depending on what he likes, there are probably some common titles.
When I was that age, I read a ton of books that are considered classics! And I loved them. The language can take some getting used to sometimes, but if you love the books…
So I read Stevenson – Kidnapped, Treasure Island, Master of Ballantrae, Jekyll & Hyde
and Jack London— Call of the Wild and The Sea Wolf
Ivanhoe was chunky but I loved it!
All of Poe’s short stories, and all of the Sherlock Holmes books— especially Hound of the Baskervilles!
I also loved classic science fiction (which back then was just called science fiction)– Ray Bradbury’s work is really readable and appropriate for that age, The Martian Chronicles, R is for Rocket, S is for Space.
And like generations of girls before me I loved Jane Eyre, but I know sometimes boys prefer books with male main characters.
I also read some books that it turned out we read in high school – Lord of the Flies and Flowers for Algernon were both books I devoured.
And I LOVED Dracula!
Sounder also really worth a look, it is a classic children’s book but why not have your son read something with some nonwhite characters?
Frankenstein
Jane Eyre
Pride and Prejudice
The Diary of Anne Frank
To Kill a Mockingbird
Treasure Island
The Odyssey
I am surprised Call of the Wild has not come up.
Treasure Island for sure.
Give him a few modern classics, too. Lonsome Dove.
Hell, Stephen King’s early stuff is old enough to be considered classics.
I read every stephen king book published in the summer going into the 8th grade. That was like 20 books way back then.
Lord of the Rings. Perfect for a middle school boy. Maybe start with the Hobbit
“Old Yeller”
“Charlotte’s Web” by EB White
“Where The Red Fern Grows” by Wilson Rawls
Or, if you want an adventure with a happy ending, “Summer Of The Monkeys” by Wilson Rawls