I’m a student teacher at a special education high school and I need ideas for novel study.
The students are ages 14-18 and read at about a 3rd to 7th grade level (with help). They refuse anything that appears “childish” because they’re teenagers and want to be treated as such.
So, I’m looking for novels that are at their reading level but don’t look/act like children’s books.
Characters with special needs would awesome, but it’s not required. We’ve already tried Wonder but it was way too difficult.
by RickyLaFIeur
9 Comments
The Giver maybe?
Is James Patterson an option?
You might be better served with the pulp end of adult since the lower end hits 5th grade. Also, look at high-lo lists. Those are for adults that read at the level you are dealing with. Here is one from San Francisco public library https://sfpl.bibliocommons.com/list/share/380247022/394690047
T. Kingfisher for fantasy novels. In particular, A Wizard’s Guide to Defensive Baking is a book anyone would love. Illuminations and Minor Mage are about kids who are around 10, but they are a fun read even for adults
I loved Artemis Fowl at about that age. Percy Jackson is fun for everyone and the lot of them have ADHD.
Maniac McGee maybe? Or Freak the mighty/Max the Mighty?
Percy Jackson and the Olympians. Helped my little sister get into reading when she was struggling with it, the main characters all have ADHD + dyslexia.
The Giver
From the Mixed Up Files of Mrs. Basil E Frankweiler
The War that Saved my Life
Fish in a Tree
The Birchbark House
[Here’s an earlier post](https://www.reddit.com/r/suggestmeabook/comments/1do2lk2/books_for_18yearolds_with_a_secondgrade_reading/) asking a similar question that you might find useful.
YA books with low lexile score.
The Absolutely true diary of a part-time Indian – Sherman Alexie
Protag is fourteen and has medical issues.
Bystander – James Preller
Lots on the theme of bullying
Crunch – Leslie Connor
Gas runs out while the protags parents are away. He and his sister must run their suddenly extremely busy bike store while looking after their younger siblings.
The Wee Free Men!
Maybe try out Echo by Pam Muñoz Ryan?