Bridge to Terabithia — Recommended Reading for Middle School Students

YALSA and Walden Media have selected these books, which span a broad range of reading and maturity levels. We encourage adults to take an active role in helping students choose those books that are best for them and their families. YALSA is the world leader in selecting books, videos, and audiobooks for teens.

Cushman, Karen. The Loud Silence of Francine Green.
It’s 1949, and Francine Green is a quiet student at All Saints, where she does everything to avoid getting into trouble. Enter her neighbor, Sophie Bowman, and all heck breaks loose. Sophie speaks her mind repeatedly, usually in the form of questioning what most adults (and nuns) take for granted. Throughout the school year with Sophie, Francine comes to learn that her opinion does matter, and that she needs to speak up and find her voice.

Henkes, Kevin. Olive’s Ocean
Twelve-year-old Martha receives a page from the journal of a classmate, Olive, who has died in an accident. When Olive wrote about wanting to be Martha’s friend, to see the ocean, and to become a writer, Martha tries to fulfill those wishes for her and learns more about living life herself. 2003 Best Book For Young Adults selection.

Holt, Kimberly Willis. When Zachary Beaver Came to Town
When a sideshow comes to town, two 13-year-old boys are intrigued by the occupant of a small trailer—600-pound Zachary Beaver, who is described as the fattest boy in the world. 2000 Top 10 Best Books for Young Adults selection.

Howe, James. The Misfits
Sticks and stones may break our bones, but names will break our spirit unless we all join together for victory. 2005 Popular Paperbacks for Young Adults selection.

Lamb, Charles and Mary. Ten Tales from Shakespeare
This collection of the retelling of Shakespeare’s plays by the ubiquitous Charles and Mary Lamb includes Hamlet and is a timeless introduction for younger readers to some of the Bard’s best-known plays.

Lewis, C.S. The Voyage of the Dawn Treader
Discover for yourself why this beloved modern classic is so important to author Katherine Paterson and to her character Leslie Burke in Bridge to Terabithia. It’s the fifth book in the seven-book “Chronicles of Narnia” series.

Montgomery, L.M. Anne of Green Gables
Anne Shirley is adopted by a grumpy bachelor and his sister, makes new friends, and gets into all kinds of trouble stemming from her very active imagination. 1998 Popular Paperbacks for Young Adults selection.

For more lists of recommended reading, go to www.ala.org/yalsa/booklists.

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