The Saving Grace of Reading | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Student Life

The Saving Grace of Reading

Or Looking Back on How You Survived/Escaped Middle School

31
The Saving Grace of Reading
Google Images

"I do believe something very magical can happen when you read a good book," J.K. Rowling once said.

Anyone who grew up reading a good book in middle school will tell you likewise. Remember that fuzzy feeling you got when you curled up with a hooking story and rooted for the coming-of-age, young adult protagonist in middle school? The books we read then have a way of staying with us and bringing back tons of memories (some good, some bad). Here is a list of some of the books people are familiar with:

1. Shiloh by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor

Winner of the Newberry Medal, Shiloh is the first in the series of The Shiloh Quartet by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor. The novel details the life of a young boy, Marty Preston, who lives in Friendly, West Virginia and the title character, Shiloh, an abused beagle. After discovering that the dog belongs to his neighbor, Judd Travers, who drinks too much, owns a gun, and abuses his dogs, Marty resolves to hide Shiloh after he runs away from Judd, fabricating a series of lies to protect the dog. Within the course of the novel, the secret becomes hard to keep and once the theft is discovered, Marty buys Shiloh from Judd.

Weaving in themes of love, abuse, animal-human relationships, and ethics, Shiloh has been a treasure for everyone.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y7fGNsgCcHc

2. The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis

Dubbed by C.S. Lewis as a fantasy novel for children, The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe is set in Narnia, a land of talking animals and mythical creatures. Unfortunately, all are threated by a witch and a hundred years of winter but never Christmas. Imbibed with Christian mythology, middle-school readers of The Chronicles of Narnia will get a sense of nostalgia for the adventures of the Pevensie children, Tumnus, and Aslan (not to mention the old crappy version of the BBC proadcasting prior the 2005 version).

3. Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling

Harry Potter, the boy who lived, still holds the hearts of millions of children, even after the films and books came to a conclusion. The Sorcerer's Stone was the first gateway to Hogwarts School and Harry's crazy adventures with nutty professors, mixed potions, trolls, three-headed dogs based on classical mythology, tasks, and riddles and a double-headed man.

4. Sounder by William H. Armstrong

Detailing the story of an African-American boy living with his sharecropper family, the story explores hope in the face of slavery and discrimination. After stealing ham from work, the boy's father is arrested by the local sheriff and two of his deputies with their dog, Sounder, chasing after them. Unfortunately, Sounder ends up shot and missing. Winner of the Newberry Medal-winning prize, this classic shows the courage, love, and faith that bind an African American family together despite the racism and inhumanity of the day. Readers who enjoy timeless dog stories will adore this.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ulCdv0OMY1U

5. Holes by Louis Sachar

Another Newberry Medal winner! After being sent to a boys' detention center at Camp Green Lake (a place with no lake, only a lot of holes) Stanely Yelnats digs not only to build character but to uncover the truth of his family's curse. An inventive and darkly humorous tale of crime, punishment, and redemption.

6. Freak, the Mighty by Rodman Philbrick

Readers who fell in love with Freak, the Mighty will remember Maxwell Kane, a slow learner stuck in a teenage giant and Kevin Avery, the tiny yet physically handicapped Einstein. Together, they form to create a formidable human force against teenage angst. Freak, the Mighty strikes again!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NUm_Xg8ZuPo

7. Percy Jackson and the Olympians by Rick Riordan

Based on the greek gods and goddesses of classical myth, Rick Riordan brainstorms adventure and mythology into the modern world (before the films ruined it) with protagonist Percy Jackson and his friends at Camp Half-Blood.

8. The Pinballs by Betsy Byars

Three foster children, Harvey, Carlie, and Thomas J have been taken to the Jasons at a foster home. Carlie, the hostile of the three, compare the title characters to pinballs, controlled by external forces and at the whims of fate.

9. A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle



After her father, a government scientist, goes missing, Meg Murray goes on a journey with her brother to find him. The story covers adventures in space and time.

10. The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle by Avi

A historical fiction novel, The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle covers the evolution of title character, Charlotte Doyle, as she learns about life aboard a ship. The novel was well received and won several awards, including being named as a Newberry Honor book.

11. The Chronicles of Vladimir Tod by Zac Brewer

Vampire Vladimir Tod experiences life as an eighth grader. A very misunderstood child, Vlad lost his parents in a tragic house fire and searches for clues to find the killer. Credited for best writing.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Relationships

Power of Love Letters

I don't think I say it enough...

442358
Illistrated image of a letter with 2 red hearts
StableDiffusion

To My Loving Boyfriend,

  • Thank you for all that you do for me
  • Thank you for working through disagreements with me
  • Thank you for always supporting me
  • I appreciate you more than words can express
  • You have helped me grow and become a better person
  • I can't wait to see where life takes us next
  • I promise to cherish every moment with you
  • Thank you for being my best friend and confidante
  • I love you and everything you do

To start off, here's something I don't say nearly enough: thank you. Thank you, thank you, thank you from the bottom of my heart. You do so much for me that I can't even put into words how much I appreciate everything you do - and have done - for me over the course of our relationship so far. While every couple has their fair share of tiffs and disagreements, thank you for getting through all of them with me and making us a better couple at the other end. With any argument, we don't just throw in the towel and say we're done, but we work towards a solution that puts us in a greater place each day. Thank you for always working with me and never giving up on us.

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

11 Signs You Grew Up In Hauppauge, NY

Because no one ever really leaves.

15802
Map of Hauppauge, New York
Google

Ah, yes, good old Hauppauge. We are that town in the dead center of Long Island that barely anyone knows how to pronounce unless they're from the town itself or live in a nearby area. Hauppauge is home to people of all kinds. We always have new families joining the community but honestly, the majority of the town is filled with people who never leave (high school alumni) and elders who have raised their kids here. Around the town, there are some just some landmarks and places that only the people of Hauppauge will ever understand the importance or even the annoyance of.

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

Moana's Top 10 Life Tips

"Moana" is filled with life lessons that involve far more than finding true love as many other Disney movies do.

41155
Animated image of a woman with long dark hair and tattoos
StableDiffusion

1. It's easy to be fooled by shiny things.

Digital image of shiny gemstones in cased in gold. shiny things StableDiffusion

Tamatoa created a liar filled with shiny things simply for the purpose of tricking fish to enter and become his food. He too experiences a lesson in how easy it is to be tricked by shiny things when Moana distracts him by covering herself in glowing algae so Maui can grab his hook.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

7 Types Of Students You Will Meet In College

You wish you could be #5, but you know you're probably a #6.

21020
cool group of lazy college students in class
StableDiffusion

There are thousands of universities around the world, and each school boasts its own traditions and slogans. Some schools pride themselves on sports, while others emphasize their research facilities. While there is a myriad of differences among each and every school, there will always these seven types of students in class.

Keep Reading...Show less
Featured

15 Rhyme Without Reason Greek Life Function Ideas

When you have no ideas for what to wear to this date function

321421
A dog and a frog
Healthy Pets

I am going to a rhyme without reason date function and I have looked at so many different rhyming words and I figured there need to be a new list of words. At these functions, there are usually at least two rockers and boxers and an umpteenth amount of dogs and frogs. I have come up with a list of creative and unique ideas for these functions.

If you like what you see, get a shopping cart going with these costumes.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments