Are you looking for reading material for your 8th grader? This 8th grade reading list has numerous books to choose from. There is also at least one free lesson for each book included on the list. These lessons vary from book to book. Some are comprehensive unit studies or novel guides, while others are simply a set of discussion questions.

All of the lessons below are free, but you will need to obtain the corresponding books. You can buy used books, borrow them from the library, or click/tap on a book’s cover to purchase it on Amazon.

How I Created the List

When creating this 8th grade reading list, I looked at what books several different sources recommend for each grade. Often various curriculum providers and book lists will recommend a book for different grade levels. For this list, I used the average of the different recommended grade levels. Because of this, you’ll find that other sources may recommend some of the books on this list for another grade instead of 8th grade.

This 8th grade reading list does not include Shakespeare. Those resources can, instead, be found in the post Teaching Shakespeare With Free Resources.

Please note: As values, beliefs, and standards vary widely by family, I have not attempted to screen these books for appropriateness. I recommend that you read several reviews before choosing books for your child to read. The post How to Choose Age Appropriate Books lists several resources you can use to help ensure the books you pick are suitable for your family.

8th Grade Reading List

The books below are listed in alphabetical order by title. For additional book options, also check out our reading lists for other grades.

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Abraham Lincoln by Wilbur Fisk Gordy

The Good and the Beautiful offers the book and corresponding book study as part of their 8th grade language arts download.

The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain

The book is now in the public domain, so your child can read it for free at the Internet Archive.

Your child can listen to the audiobook at LibriVox.

Rise to Reading has comprehension questions for each chapter.

NovelWise offers section worksheets, discussion questions, and activities.

Animal Farm by George Orwell

This novel study made available by Clearbrook-Gonvick School includes comprehension questions, discussion questions, vocabulary words, worksheets, and other activities.

NovelWise provides worksheets, graphic organizers, discussion questions, and activity ideas.

The Call of the Wild by Jack London

The book is now in the public domain, so your child can read it for free at the Internet Archive.

Your child can listen to the audiobook at LibriVox.

Mercy for Marthas offers comprehension questions for each chapter.

NovelWise provides section worksheets, discussion questions, and activities for the book.

A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens

The book is now in the public domain, so your child can read it for free at the Internet Archive.

Your child can listen to the audiobook at LibriVox.

NovelWise provides section worksheets, discussion questions, and activities for the book.

This worksheet set was designed to be used in conjunction with IPA Productions’ A Christmas Carol performance; however, many of the pages will work well with the book or other productions of the play.

The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank

This teacher’s guide from Penguin Random House includes background information, historical context, and questions to use for discussion or writing assignments.

SoftSchools has created an online, multiple-choice quiz for the book.

At AnneFrank.org,  your child can take virtual tours of the Secret Annex and the Frank’s home they lived in before the Secret Annex. They can also read more about Anne Frank’s life and view pictures of the Frank family.

The Eagle of the Ninth by Rosemary Sutcliff

Macmillan Publishers made this teacher’s guide available. It includes discussion questions for several books written by Rosemary Sutcliff.

The Golden Goblet by Eloise Jarvis McGraw

Mercy for Marthas’ guide has comprehension questions for each chapter.

Heidi by Johanna Spyri

Heidi is now in the public domain, so your child can read the book for free at the Internet Archive.

Your child can listen to the audiobook at LibriVox.

This novel study, found on Teachers Pay Teachers, provides comprehension questions for the book.

Rise to Reading provides comprehension questions and writing prompts.

Homeschool Helper Online created this printable notebooking page that could be used for writing chapter summaries, character analysis, or copywork.

The Hiding Place by Corrie Ten Boom

LitLovers provides discussion questions for the book.

Rooted Ministry created a family discussion guide for the book.

This curriculum from Holocaust Museum Huston covers the thematic analysis of the book, the historical context, and more.

The Hobbit by J. R. R. Tolkien

Woo! Jr. Kids provides comprehension and vocabulary worksheets for the book.

This worksheet set found on Teachers Pay Teachers has short answer and discussion questions for each chapter.

Jo’s Boys by Louisa Mae Alcott

Jo’s Boys is now in the public domain, so your child can read the book for free at the Internet Archive.

Students can listen to an audiobook of Jo’s Boys at Librivox.

This literature guide, created by Mercy for Marthas, contains questions for each chapter.

Little Men by Louisa Mae Alcott

Little Men is now in the public domain, so your child can read the book for free at the Internet Archive.

Students can listen to an audiobook of Little Men at Librivox.

Mercy for Marthas’ literature guide provides questions for each chapter of the book.

Little Women by Louisa May Alcott

Little Women is now in the public domain, so your child can read the book for free at the Internet Archive.

Your child can listen to the audiobook at LibriVox.

Mercy for Marthas’ literature guide has comprehension questions for each chapter of the book.

Rise to Reading has comprehension questions, vocabulary words, and wiring prompts for the book.

This quiz, found on Teachers Pay Teachers, has 40 questions about the book.

 

Night by Elie Wiesel

NovelWise provides worksheets, graphic organizers, discussion questions, and activity ideas.

Facing History offers this teaching guide that includes discussion questions, history lessons, worksheets, a vocabulary glossary, and more. You will need to create a free account to download the materials.

 

Spring Tide by Mary Ray

Mercy for Marthas provides questions for each chapter in their literature guide.

 

The Story of My Life by Helen Keller

The Good and the Beautiful offers the book and corresponding book study as part of their 8th grade language arts download.

 

The Swiss Family Robinson by Johann David Wyss

The book is now in the public domain, so your child can read it for free at the Internet Archive.

Your child can listen to the audiobook at LibriVox.

Homeschool Helper Online offers activity suggestions for each chapter. They also have a printable unit study with worksheets for students to record what they learn. To download this, you’ll need to sign up to get access to their free resource library.

Bookroo has a short multiple-choice quiz for the book.

 

Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson

Treasure Island is now in the public domain, so your child can read it for free at the Internet Archive.

Your child can listen to the audiobook at LibriVox.

This literature study guide from Coyote Tale includes an overview for parents, discussion questions, and vocabulary exercises.

NovelWise offers worksheets, graphic organizers, discussion questions, and activity ideas.

A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith

This study guide from SparkNotes includes chapter summaries, information about the book’s characters and literary devices, quizzes, and suggested essay topics.

This novel study, made available by Buffalo Public Schools, includes chapter questions, vocabulary words, and other assignments.

This Reading Group Guide provides a set of discussion questions for the book.

 

Wild Like the Foxes by Anauta

The Good and the Beautiful offers the book and corresponding book study as part of their 8th grade language arts download.

The Yearling by Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings

The Yearling is now in the public domain, so your child can read the book for free at the Internet Archive.

NovelWise offers chapter worksheets, discussion questions, and activity ideas.

This lapbook printable from Homeschool Share covers characters, setting, vocabulary, and more.

I hope your child enjoys reading these books!

High School Reading List

When your child is ready, we also have a high school reading list. Like our 8th grade reading list, it includes at least one free novel study or lesson for each book.

More Free Reading Curriculum & Resources

Free Vintage Readers for Middle School– Download vintage graded readers for 6th, 7th, and 8th grades.

Free Book Guides– This page tells where to find book guides and novel studies for every grade.

Free Reading and Literature Curriculum– On this page, you’ll find many reading and literature curriculum options.

Free eBooks– This post tells where to find free eBooks for the entire family.

Free Audiobooks– This post shares where to find free audiobooks for all ages.

Note: This post was originally published on August 27, 2022, and has been updated for accuracy and comprehensiveness.