There are also short stories like 'The Lady, or the Tiger?' by Frank R. Stockton. This story is unique as it ends with a question, leaving the reader to decide the fate of the protagonist. It's a great story to get students thinking about moral dilemmas. And 'All Summer in a Day' by Ray Bradbury is also popular. It's set on Venus where it rains all the time except for one day in seven years, and it explores themes of jealousy among children.
They typically have relatively simple vocabulary. Words are not overly complex so that seventh - graders can understand them without too much difficulty. For example, they use common words that students at this level would have learned in school.
One seventh - grade reading story is 'Because of Winn - Dixie'. It's a heartwarming story about a girl named Opal who finds a dog, Winn - Dixie, at a supermarket. Through their adventures together, Opal makes new friends in a new town. 'Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry' is also suitable. It's set in the South during the Great Depression and shows the struggles of an African - American family against racism. And 'The Secret Garden' is a story about a girl who discovers a hidden, neglected garden and through taking care of it, she herself heals and grows.
There could also be a story about the friendships and rivalries in seventh grade. Maybe two friends have a falling out over a small thing like who gets to be the team leader in a group project, but then they learn the importance of forgiveness and friendship through some event like helping each other during a difficult exam.
One might find 'The Gift of the Magi' on the list. It's a beautiful short story about a young couple sacrificing for each other. Another could be 'The Necklace' which has a great moral about the consequences of vanity.
Check your school library. Look for sections labeled'seventh - grade reading' or 'juvenile literature'. There are likely to be anthologies that contain the short stories on the list. Also, some online educational platforms might have resources related to the seventh - grade reading list of short stories.
One common theme is friendship. In seventh grade, kids start to form deeper friendships, and short stories often explore the joys and challenges of these relationships. Another theme could be self - discovery. Seventh - graders are starting to figure out who they are, so stories might deal with characters finding their interests or identities. Also, school life is a big theme, like dealing with bullies, getting good grades, or participating in school activities.
Another wonderful short story could be 'The Necklace' by Guy de Maupassant. A woman borrows a diamond necklace for a ball, loses it, and then spends years in poverty trying to replace it. Only to find out in the end that the original necklace was fake. It's a story that shows the consequences of vanity and pride.
For the 11th grade reading list short stories, 'An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge' by Ambrose Bierce is a good one. It plays with time and perception in an interesting way. 'Young Goodman Brown' by Nathaniel Hawthorne is also worth reading. It delves into themes of faith, sin, and the human psyche. Additionally, 'The Story of an Hour' by Kate Chopin is a short but powerful story about a woman's reaction to news of her husband's death.
One great short story could be 'The Little Red Hen'. It teaches kids about the value of hard work as the hen does all the work to grow and make bread while the other animals refuse to help. Then, there's 'The Three Little Pigs'. It shows how planning and using the right materials can protect you from danger. Another is 'Stone Soup', which is about sharing and how a community can come together to create something wonderful.
One common short story could be 'The Tale of Peter Rabbit'. It's about a mischievous rabbit who ventures into Mr. McGregor's garden and gets into all sorts of trouble. Another might be 'Charlotte's Web', which tells the beautiful story of a pig named Wilbur and his friendship with a spider named Charlotte. And 'The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe' is also sometimes on the list. It takes readers into the magical world of Narnia through a wardrobe.