Being lost anywhere isn't fun, but being lost on Mars is probably the worst. In Andy Weir's The Martian, astronaut Mark Watney is caught in a fierce sandstorm on Mars and assumed dead. His crewmates leave to save their lives. Little do they know, he survived, and must use his wits, knowledge, and the super expensive equipment left behind to survive.
Written in first person through the medium of a journal, the novel is a true science fiction novel, which means its based on real science and research. As one can imagine, being stranded on Mars is stressful, so there is some adult language and suggestive statements. This may not be an appropriate read for your 8th grader, but any older scholars could enjoy this novel. I'd recommend it to any adult family member interested in sci-fi, space, and adventure novels. 4.65 out of 5 stars I do not have a copy of this novel in my classroom library, but it is available in multiple forms at many Charlotte Mecklenberg libraries. (check here for the closest location to you)
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Jack London writes The Call of the Wild through the eyes of Buck, a dog torn from his lavish home and forced to be a sled dog the Yukon during the Gold Rush in the 1890s. Written in 1903, this short novel tells of Buck's adventures and trials.
London's writing is somehow natural, even though one can assume he has never been a dog. His words and style give Buck a personality you could encounter in any human you meet, making the reader feel as if the character is strong and worth reading about. The language is complex for some 8th grade readers of this time, but its interesting to consider that this novel used to be standard in seventh grade classes less than 50 years ago. This novel is worth the read for 8th grade scholars who enjoy encountering new and unfamiliar vocabulary. 4 out of 5 stars I have multiple versions of this book in the classroom library. It is also available at multiple Charlotte Mecklenberg Library branches (click here for availability) |
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