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Creating these homeschool high school literature suggestions for teens is more satisfying now that my teens graduated. Looking back, I know their love of reading came from being exposed to a variety of genre. Also, look at my page How to Homeschool High School.
Having a variety of genre to choose from is just one element of keeping teens reading into adulthood.
Beyond reading to fill a high school credit, use your time with your homeschooled teens to shape and develop their thinking.
Contrary to what some educators think, teens are still questioning beliefs. Their thinking is not fully matured. Issues raised in literature gives you the opportunity to analyze beliefs.
Too, high school and college courses require your teens to interpret literary terms and techniques.
I found this was best done by classic literature.
The point is whether your teen is reading American, British, or World literature he is gaining a greater understanding of the world.
That is something which will stick with him well into adulthood.
This high school literature list will give you a starting point in choosing the best literature for your family.
Moreover, don’t fret if your teen is still not loving to read.
Some of these books will ignite a fire and did I mention some are short?
Whether you have a teen who is a voracious reader or who is an unenthusiastic reader, I have some high school literature suggestions for all.
See, I had to learn the hard way that a teen should have a choice in what he reads.
I remember being in English class in middle school and reading about boring topics.
I was a good reader, but not an enthusiastic reader until I read The Raven by Edgar Allen Poe. He’s not an author I thought I would be drawn to as a teen.
However, his stories and poems invoked a love for reading detective stories along with his great storytelling. I loved everything about that poem, the figurative language, the dynamics, and the theme.
Homeschool High School Reading
The point is I would have never picked up his book on my own when evaluating my choices.
So your teen needs your help. It literally takes one book your teen can’t put down for your teen to look at reading differently.
Now as a parent, it is a learned balancing act when each teen got to the high school level.
I tried to find their interests and themes they loved to weave that with other genre they weren’t interested in or thought so at the time.
Also, another way to engage your high school kids is to learn through a theme.
We love history in our house and learning history through living literature has been one of our very favorite ways to learn history.
Why Some Homeschoolers Choose to Read Banned Literature
Next, I also had to decide how I wanted to talk to my teens about sensitive subjects.
A lot of homeschoolers, including myself, reject some modern reading lists.
However, the similarity stops there when choosing literature. Families and teens differ in how they want to handle sensitive topic.
When you research about banned books, the Washington Post stated, “The American Library Association launched Banned Books Week in 1982 to celebrate the freedom to read.”
However, every since then, the topic of banned books sparks controversy for any education.
You too have to decide if you’ll present these banned books to your teen.
It’s been my experience that the sensitive subjects in books allows me the chance to direct my children about mistakes of the past.
I didn’t want to cover up mistakes in history, but to expose them so we learn from them. Most important that we don’t repeat them in the future.
Children relate to everyday things and some kids lives have had painful turns they couldn’t control. Although my kids didn’t experience the sadness of divorce and death at the time, they had friends who did.
Homeschool High School Books
It helped my sons to form a compassion for their friends. Every child has a different maturing rate and I was sensitive to each teen’s emotions.
The point is that you are the only one to know whether you want your children to read banned books or not. Me? I will do the choosing for my family and determine the values; you probably feel the same way.
As you see from this quick list that the books reflect personal tastes of each teen. In the end, you want your child to enjoy reading.
I stressed way too much about balancing the genre when my focus should have been on the short time I had with each teen.
Besides being forced-fed never worked for any reader. So use this list to begin your list for your unique teen.
Lastly, this is by no stretch all that each kid read in high school.
As I pore over my huge amount of books, I’ll update this post for you.
The point today was to get this quick glance to you.
In the end what matters is creating a lifelong reader.
Remember what Francis Bacon said “Some books are to be tasted, others to be swallowed, and some few to be chewed and digested; that is, some books are to be read only in parts; others to be read, but not curiously; and some few are to be read wholly, and with diligence and attention.”
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Today, I’ve rounded up 35+ simple, but powerful US history homeschool curriculum and resources for kindergarten to high school.
Whether you’re trying to fill a state requirement, or you want your child to have a well-rounded view of U.S. history, I know you’ll love these resources.
First, because I have homeschooled for over 20+ years, I have some great tips for you.
Look at these 10 ways to teach U.S. history out of the box. Besides, not every kid responds to an all-in-one i.e. boxed curriculum.
US History Homeschool Curriculum Tips
Howto Teach U.S. History Out of the Box
Instead of trying to learn about all American History in one year, focus on one period through the eyes of a founding father or another historical colorful character. We did this when we examined the life of Wyatt Earp. Look atFree American History Lapbook – The Old West Through the Life of Wyatt Earp. This idea works for multiple ages because you can bring out much about the time period in American history and add fun hands-on activities too.
In addition, when my first son reached high school, we learned about the FBI. It was a fun way to focus on learning about American government based on a topic he was interested in. So, take a topic or key event which piques your teen’s interest and build a study around it. Look at my FBI unit study.
An especially fun way to bring meaning to history is to use a living book as a spine. A living book is a term used by Charlotte Mason to mean a book written in a story form which engages a reader as opposed to a boring textbook. Use a living book as a spine or the main book and add activities based on the reading. Toward the bottom of the article, I listed some living books which could work as a history spine.
Another engaging and fun way to learn about history is through cooking recipes from the different states. Kids of any age love learning what other kids’ eat and how they live. Look at my post makechili when doing a state study on Texas.
This last slant is to learn U.S. history through creating a timeline. Whether you want to focus on events or people, a timeline is a great visual of American history. Look at my post How to Teach With an Easy DIY American History Timeline.
Resources K to 12US History Homeschool Curriculum
Next, I’ve rounded up tons of resources to give you a variety of options.
For me every year was different when I taught American history. Some years we dived deeper, other years not so much.
There are a variety of resources below from audio to living books to lapbooks.
Also, the resources and books or literature are listed from easiest or for the youngest learner up to high school.
Of course, grade level is subjective. You’ll want to mix and match history resources to make learning American history meaningful.
Further, readers mature at different rates. What is sensitive to one family or reader you and I know will be different for another.
So be sure you check out the readers because where possible and best I can remember, I give you a heads up if something may be sensitive.
As always, you’re responsible for previewing resources beforehand. I know you will.
Kindergarten to Sixth Grade American History Resources
Beginning with kindergarten to sixth grade U.S. history resources, variety is key.
Especially for young kids like prek and kindergarten, reading aloud, coloring, creating crafts, and activities helps to lay a foundation for what is American history.
Do not forget that even older kids whose introduction to history has been boring could still benefit from activities, reading aloud, and games.
Look below for kindergarten to sixth grade American history resources roundup.
1. American History Dover Books for Coloring and Paper Crafts
Whether you have a younger or older child, Dover coloring pages have been a staple in our homeschool for years.
They’re not just ordinary coloring books, but coloring books that teach facts while having some creative fun.
This next series is a fun slant on American history.
American Kids in History series is a series that just doesn’t use text but games, activities, and recipes to learn about Americans.
One or two of these books would make for a great mini unit study.
3. Early American History by Beautiful Feet
This next curriculum which I loved and used when my kids were younger and all the way through high school is by Beautiful Feet Literature.
The Early American History Jumbo Primary pack for first to third grade introduced my kids to American history makers through beautiful literature as opposed to a boring text book.
4. Stories of Great Americans For Little Americans
Additionally, American Storyis a beautiful series which has been around for a long time and for reason. The literature and illustrations are beautiful.
It is a secular approach to history, but not anything you can’t tweak one way or the other to your worldview.
You’ll love all the titles in the series. Here are a few below.
But don’t let that stop you if you have kids a bit younger or older.
It’s a much loved series with so many topics and titles which makes it a great multiple age series of books to teach about important American history events and persons.
9. America First: One Hundred Stories From Our Own History by Lawton B. Evans
I haven’t put my hands on the series in a while, but from best I remember the older versions of the books have a non-fiction section at the back.
There are period crafts and recipes you can add for each theme.
12. Childhood of Famous Americans Series
Then,Childhood of Famous Americans Series was also another life saver for me when the kids were young. It’s a biography series that was originally written in the 1940s.
The series has grown and expanded through the years and reprinted.
Look at the resources which can be used for older kids.
14. Paradigm Accelerate Curriculum Worktexts
When I first looked at Paradigm Accelerated Curriculum, I wasn’t sure it would work for us. However, I was pleasantly surprised at how easy it helped my kids to cover some topics we were lacking.
First, PAC booklets are a worktext. A worktext is different from a workbook.
Unlike a workbook, worktext does some teaching right in the workbook. Worktext are great for teaching kids to be independent. You don’t have to do all the teaching.
Usually, some background information along with activities are all built into the lesson plan. It’s like having the textbook and workbook in one spot.
What kid or adult (me) wouldn’t love to read about traveling back in time? Historical fiction is a way to also revive a love of history by talking about time travel through history.
The Dear America series is for girls. The books are written like diaries looking at events in American history.
Although the book touts for a younger reader closer to a 10 year old girl, I find a few of the elements in some of the books are more suited for an older reader like 14 or 15 years old.
One book mentions something mysterious about a wedding night implying a sexual nature which is not necessary for a young reader.
You’ll have to purchase the books and the lesson plans are .pdf, but you can certainly combine kids with this unit study approach
.Also, if you’re trying to build a library this a great way to do it. Build your library is good if you’re trying to teach multiple children and want more of a general guide.
23. Notgrass History Christian Based
If you want a unabashedly Christian curriculum, then you’ll love Notgrass History.
Their history is told in a story form and you’ll love all the options for each grade.
24. U.S. History Secular Based By Blossom and Root
Blossom and Root has U.S. history for elementary and middle school kids. It is a complete secular history unit.
25. Memoria Press Uses a Classical Approach
Memoria Press has guides for first grade to high school and uses a classical approach to teaching U.S. history.
Using great books of the past they paired them with history guides to teach different topics of American history at each level.
Hillsdale offers courses from a faith-based approach. As stated on their website: “These free, not-for-credit courses are taught by Hillsdale College faculty and are patterned after the education offered on the Hillsdale College campus.”
27. Truthquest History Christian Based
Truthquest history is a literature-based curriculum which can be used for multiple ages.
Instead of having day to day lesson plans, you’re giving guides for each topic. Using real books, this history is more of a unit study approach. If you want to have a guide, but go down bunny trails this curriculum may work for you.
28. All American History Christian Based by Bright Ideas Press
From the site, it says American History is a complete year’s curriculum when combined with the Student Activity Book PDF and Teacher’s Guide. The first volume covers Exploration through 1840.
American History Spines
Living Books, Audio, Video, CD, Online Courses for American History Resources
Last, I’m sharing some other wonderful resources which helps kids with different learning styles and needs. Too, sometimes you need to mix and match as I talked about earlier.
Too, I want you to understand what is a history spine because it’s a fun, but very practical way to teach a content subject like U.S. History.
A spine is a resource you use as your main reference to teach a subject. A spine refers to a backbone. So it’s a resource which can be a living book or reference book which is the backbone of your course of study.
A spine has many advantages and is different than an all-in-one in many ways.
5 Advantages Of Using a History Spine
When you choose a history spine, you can narrow your focus. Instead of teaching all of American history in broad strokes, sometimes you need a few key events or people for a deeper study.
In addition, you may want to move quicker on topics if your goal is broad strokes. A general history spine instead of day to day laborious lesson plans may fit your needs this year.
A spine like a living book written in story format helps kids young kids to associate what could be abstract to concrete people and events.
In addition, a history spine can be tweaked to fit exactly the needs of your kids, i.e. rabbit trails.
There is no feeling of being behind when studying American history. You’re just at where you’re kids are at. Then you move on when you’re done.
With that being said, in this section, I have included
history living books;
audio books for those who want to listen and not so much read;
online free courses in video form;
and videos using public domain books.
Many years I preferred to use books that were classic and written pre politically correct.
History has the good, the bad, and the really ugly and I wanted to convey all those parts to my kids as I felt they could understand it.
I’d love to rewrite history in some places, but I can’t. So I explained to my kids how some people in the past and why some in the present may still feel one way.
Explaining point of views becomes important while using any history resource.
29. The Rainbow Book of American History by Earl Schenck Miers
Remember that vocabulary and terminology are different for that time; keep that in mind if you use a classic book.
DIY American History Resources
30. America: The Last Best Hope
America: The Last Best Hope is another series loved by homeschoolers for a spine, but I haven’t used it. But you recognize the name William J. Bennett for his book The Book of Virtues which is a compilation of moral stories.
31. My America Story Book Audio Using Public Domain Books
Well-educated heart has audio of stories from pre-1924 books in the public domain. Your child can listen or read, It’s free.
32. Drive Thru History Adventure Video/DVD Series
This is a fun twist on history. It’s a 12 part video series on history by “visiting” places. Too, it’s offered in DVD form because not everyone has a great internet connection.
He has different time periods, but the American: Columbus to the Constitution is for American history and the whole family can watch and learn.
33. This Country of Ours by H. E. Marshall
This Country of Ours is another timeless history keeper. We loved the story format of this book and this is one that you could use for multiple ages too. I feel it’s geared more toward elementary to middle school.
It’s a story format and I would use it for younger kids.
I do think an older kid would benefit from it if they haven’t had a good introduction to history.
Big List of U.S. History Curriculum
35. Jim Hodges American History Audio
This next resource is such a fun one.
Whether you want some help for all the reading aloud you’ve been doing or your child learns better by listening and loves stories, you’ll love Jim Hodges Audio Books.
When Khan Academy entered the homeschool world it was popular and have gained even more popularity through the years.
Although some teachers used Khan Academy as a stand alone curriculum a lot of homeschoolers supplement with it. Either way you have another option for your learners.
37. Crash Course Online Free Videos
Crash Courses are another favorite of homeschoolers. They too have been around for years with educational videos on many different subjects.
Crash Course has many different history topics you’ll love including the American history section.
This list is by no means the total list of all the resources I’ve been exposed to, but it’s a comprehensive list of homeschool favorites. Pssst! They work.
What US history homeschool curriculum do you like to use for teaching American history to your kids?
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Today in how to choose the best middle school literature I want to help you conquer the overwhelm by giving you a few seasoned homeschooler secrets.
Best Middle School Literature
When I approached the middle school years, there was no lack of middle school literature lists.
I loved having the lists, but I quickly learned that having tips on how to choose literature for my teen was better.
So first, look at these four questions asked and answered full of tips to help you decide which books are best for your family.
Four Middle School Literature Questions Asked and Answered
Question 1. Should I Read Every Book My Child Reads?
The answer is complicated. It’s both yes and no. The way you determine if it’s a yes or no is your purpose.
For example, if you’re wanting to use literature for analysis and to engage your child with understanding an author’s purpose it’s hard to do that unless you read the book.
Middle school is the time that most kids can do some introductory analysis. If you’re wanting to fill the literature requirement for just reading or for enjoyment, the answer is no.
I couldn’t read every book my kids chose, but focused on reading the few we would used for analysis. That secret tip helped me conquer the literature overwhelm in middle school.
In addition, this site for Banned and Challenged Books gives you an idea of the theme or worldview behind some books.
Question 2. How many books should my kid read each year?
That is another subjective answer. Some kids are voracious readers others not so much.
But if you’re using the literature to fill a credit (yes you can get high school credit in middle school), you’ll want to set your goal for a realistic amount.
Looking over some literature lists for middle schooled kids, I’ve seen some unreachable numbers.
Whatever the number of books you come up with lower it. It’s so much better to get through a handful of books with meaningful discussions than to overestimate and rush through them.
That is disheartening for both teacher and kid. Remember you can always add more literature for analysis anytime during the year.
I’ve had different requirements with each kid as my circumstances were different each year, but a good rule of thumb at this age was to analyze between 4 to 6 books or less.
Some years we did more, other years I struggled to get through three books, but it was still solid language arts.
The other books were pure pleasure and met my reading requirement.
Reading for Middle School
Again, this is NOT all your child will read, but it’s the amount you want him to read to help him with the critical thinking part of literature.
Question 3. Do I want my child to integrate other subjects or skills or to use literature as stand-alone?
My answer is to integrate as much as possible. My preference from the time I learned about how to integrate was to use this method for all literature.
Integrate means to combine several skills or to combine subjects. By integrating skills or subjects,
your child learns the practical application of grammar, vocabulary, or writing in a way that makes sense;
the areas of language arts that your child is weak at can be strengthened. For example, he sees the correct spelling of a word in literature and applies it to his writing;
your child can choose literature choices based on his interests or to cover a subject he may not like as well. Unlike public school, your child doesn’t have to follow arbitrary lists. Too, if he is not passionate about history, then well-written fiction prose can help him to fill a history credit. Literature can make a history time period come alive while filling both a literature and history requirement in a more fun way; and
one unexpected benefit was that my kids learned study skills and research skills.
Literature Analysis for Middle School
Question 4. Should I require my child to write book reports?
Although it’s not necessary for kids to write book reports, understanding the purpose of a book report lets you decide if it’s for your family.
Book reports, oral or written, are the blueprints for high school literary analysis.
The point is not whether you assign a book report or not, it’s that your child understands things like elements of fiction, genre, and figures of speech.
Whether you choose to do this orally, through a book report, a lapbook, or reading journal, it’s your choice. I have only one kid that loved book reports, but I orally reviewed with each kid the assigned books.
Next, look at this list of questions to include in a written book report or to go over them orally:
Was it better that . . . ?
What do you think . . . ?
In your opinion . . . ?
How would you change the character to . . . ?
How is ____ tied in or related to ____?
What choice would you have made ____?
Now that you have a quick overview of some of the general tips about how to choose middle school literature, look at this list of books.
Remember that you can choose classics, follow a history theme, favorite author or do a balance of genres. There are many genres to choose from.
Of course, if your child is college bound you will want to do a variety of genre even in junior high.
Reading for Middle School Homeschool
And one final thought there is a huge difference in maturity between sixth grade and eighth grade.
Keep that in mind in looking over this literature list as I provided options for different reading levels. This list below is a mix of literature that works well for this age, but you can always add to it.
Alternatively, you may want to use something besides just a reader or the literature.
Teacher Guides, Themed Guides and All-in-OneCurriculum
For my first time teaching literature at the middle school level I loved using teacher helps and many times I used them as life happened. Why reinvent the wheel?
You can choose a book along with a teacher guide to help you teach the important parts of the book or use an all-in-one guide or curriculum.
Look at some of your options below.
I love Lightning Literature and they’re perfect for the older grades because they have a schedule which helps when you’re first beginning to teach literature.
Still, I had the tendency to over teach literary analysis, but key to keeping it fun is to do a bit each day.
It is a Charlotte Mason gentle approach to literature and fits a lot of my likes; it takes an integrated approach which aligns with how I feel beautiful literature should be learned.
However, one of my VERY favorite resources for middle school kids was created by another homeschool mom.
You’ll love Literary Adventures for Kids which is online and self-paced. You choose the books and course and your child goes at his own pace. All the stress and prep for learning about literature was taken out.
If you’re looking for something that your child can do on his own, or you don’t have time to read every book, you’ll love Literary Adventures for Kids.
My kids can pick the book they want to read and we find the accompanying study guide. The guides cover background information, vocabulary, literary analysis, and more.
Covering history and literature simultaneously helped us to learn how to utilize our time and widen our reading diet.
If your child loves history, then integrating history and literature together makes practical use of your child’s time.
Did I mention that reading doesn’t become a chore, but becomes a time you and your child look forward to during the day?
Finally, paying attention to detail looks different for each book with each child, but that is the purpose of literature analysis. Too, our children can come to view each book loved as an artistic expression. It’s quite possible.
What books are you using for literature analysis for middle school kids?
Are you looking for engaging readers for your middle to upper elementary kids? It’s hard to find books that get reluctant readers interested and finding Geronimo Stilton books was like finding buried treasure in the library (Geronimo would really appreciate that simile).
It took me a while to find books that my son looked forward to reading without nagging or prodding from me.
When we stumbled upon them, I was thrilled to have found something that kept his attention and motivated him to read on his own.
It’s a big milestone when your kid finally grabs a book of their choice and plops down to read it. These were those books for us.
He plowed through them. In fact, these were the first books he asked to buy. One year his wish list was full of Geronimo Stiltontitles. How sweet, right?
What Reading Level is Geronimo Stilton
Recommended for ages 7-10, grades 2nd-5th, these chapter books are sure to please even the most reluctant reader.
They are the perfect introduction to chapter books and each one is filled with entertaining jokes and engaging illustrations.
About Geronimo Stilton
Geronimo Stilton is an editor in chief of The Rodent’s Gazette, the most “famous” newspaper in New Mouse City. He’s also the author of his own best-selling book series.
He’s a timid single guy afraid of new adventures yet finds himself reluctantly traveling the globe with his friends and family solving mysteries and completing research for his next big story.
Because Geronimo is always finding himself in the middle of adventure while traveling the globe, the series is perfect for adding to any unit study I have.
This first book in the series takes you through prehistory with the dinosaurs, and through Ancient Egypt and the Great Sphinx of Giza, and finally into Camelot.
In Geronimo Stilton No Time To Lose The Fifth Journey Through Time Geronimo jumps from Napoleon’s Time to the Vikings’ Time and finally to King Solomon’s time in the Whisker Wafter time machine.
I include World War II historical fiction books to teach middle school or stick only with nonfiction. I end up mixing both types of genre. Also, look at my unit study World War II Hands-On History – Make Ration Cakes for more ideas.
On one hand I don’t want to gloss over the ugly side of war at the middle school age, but on the other hand there is still so much time left in a child’s life to get the real facts.
With Mr. Senior 2013, I tended to swing to brutal and real when choosing books and only used nonfiction references.
But now, I realize that even at middle and high school level, a young adult is entitled to enjoy reading about history without having to read about all the cruel facts.
Besides, there is so much time as they are older to wrestle with all the issues.
Mixing both types of literature keeps learning about war topics balanced. Fiction can bring the time period alive while nonfiction reminds kids that this part of history is real.
Night CrossingThis book is about a girl living in Austria having to leave her home when the Nazis come and brings to life the feelings of those that had to leave their home with just what they could carry.
The Shadow Children A summer visit to his grandfather’s farm turns into an adventures staged during World War II. The charcoal drawings are beautiful which makes this book good for an art study.
Journey to America. A family fleeing Nazi Germany is reunited after being separated and enduring different trials along the way with some adventure.
Behind the Bedroom Wall. This one we haven’t read it, but sounds so fascinating because it’s from a different perspective. A local teen girl is part of the Nazi party thinking it’s going to be good for her community but her parents are part of the underground movement to protect Jews. Sounds great and we can’t wait to read it.
Stepping on the Cracks. Margaret’s brother is overseas fighting, but learns about a deserter in her midst. It’s a good book to teach about pacifism because teaching complex war issues can be hard.
Under a War-Torn Sky. When a nineteen year old pilot’s plane is shot down, he finds himself behind enemy lines.
I hope you find one or two to use as a history spine or just as a way to bring this time period alive.
I think you’ll also love this free unit study and World War II history unit study.
