Grade 8 Novel Study Books?

Hi. I just accepted a Grade 8 position. I am used to Grades 4-6. Can anyone please recommend novels that your students have enjoyed? Thanks so much!

 

The Giver
City of Ember
Walk Two Moons
The Outsiders

 

The Outsiders
Hope Was Here (by Joan Bauer)
Speak (topic is rape)

Here's a nice list from Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/shelf/show/8th-grade

 

-The Giver (Science Fiction)
-Girls, Drumsticks, and Dangerous Pie (address dealing with cancer)

 

I had Speak and Twisted at the same time. They are on the topic of rape from each perspective.

 

The Outsiders
The Book Thief
Stargirl

 

She is a great author. I didn't know that Twisted was from another perspective. I'll have to look into that. Speak just came out as a graphic novel, too.

 

I think Stargirl is more a 5th grade level, but would be good for low readers. So would The Giver and Walk Two Moons.

 

Yeah I wasn't sure about actual grade levels, but I know those are the three our 8th graders read. We did The Outsiders in 6th grade when I was in school, but it's still one of my favorites.

Our 7th graders do Harry Potter and the Sorceror's Stone, Number the Stars, and Romiette and Julio.

 

Sharon Draper-Tears of a Tiger, Forged by Fire, Julio&Romiette, The Pact, etc. . .

 

I used Number the Stars in 5th grade while we studied WWII. I used the book Lily's Crossing which told the story of a similar year with the same age girl but set in the U.S. It was wonderful for them to learn about the war from the perspective of children. I also read The Outsiders with 6th graders in tutoring and it worked well. I think it might be even better for 8th graders.