Best Books for 9th Graders

This powerful book tells the story of two outsiders, George and Lennie, who are in search of work and a dream - a place to call their own. Set in California's Salinas Valley, they eventually find work but their hopes are quickly dashed. Full of universal themes such as friendship and giving voice to America's lonely and dispossessed, Of Mice and Men has become one of Steinbeck's most popular and successful works.

Embark on an epic journey with Homer's timeless tale of Odysseus and his struggle to return home after the Trojan War. In Robert Fagles' acclaimed translation, experience the poetic and mythic retelling of Odysseus' encounters with gods, monsters, and natural forces that test his wit and moral endurance. With a bold contemporary idiom, Fagles captures the energy and mastery of Homer's original work. Renowned classicist Bernard Knox's introduction and commentary offer new insights and background information that enrich the reading experience. A must-read for classicists and literature enthusiasts alike, this modern-verse translation is accessible and captivating for a new generation of readers.

This classic American novel tells the story of a young girl growing up in a sleepy Southern town and the moral crisis that shakes her community to its core. With universal themes of innocence and experience, love and hate, and kindness and cruelty, this Pulitzer Prize-winning book has sold over 18 million copies and been translated into forty languages. Harper Lee's simple love story is now regarded as a masterpiece of American literature.

Discover a heartwarming tale of selfless love and sacrifice in this classic short story. Follow a young couple who give up their most prized possessions to give each other the perfect Christmas gift. This Squid Ink edition includes MLA style citations for secondary sources, peer-reviewed journal articles, and critical essays, making it easy to incorporate into your research paper. Cut down on time-consuming source searching and focus on crafting a top-notch paper with Squid Ink Classics.

A heartwarming tale of a young boy's unlikely friendship with an orphaned fawn in the harsh and unforgiving Florida backwoods. Follow Jody and his family as they struggle to survive and protect their home from predators, all while forging unbreakable bonds with their animal companions. A timeless story of love, loss, and the beauty of nature that has inspired adaptations in film and music.

This poignant memoir follows Maya and her brother as they are sent to live with their grandmother in a small Southern town, facing abandonment and prejudice. After a traumatic incident and years of struggle, Maya learns to liberate herself through self-love, the support of others, and great literature. Poetic and powerful, this book is a timeless standout in the genre of memoir.

A group of schoolboys are stranded on an uncharted island with no adult supervision in the midst of a world war. Excited by their newfound freedom, they attempt to create their own society but fail in the face of terror, sin, and evil. As order collapses and fear reigns, the hope of adventure and rescue becomes more distant. Labeled a parable and allegory of the darkness in man's heart, this unforgettable novel can be enjoyed by all.

Escape to Awago Beach with Rose and her family for a summer of friendship, secrets, and growing up. As her parents' fighting escalates, Rose and her friend, Windy, navigate a new set of problems. In this stunning graphic novel, cousins Mariko and Jillian Tamaki tell a heartbreaking yet ultimately hopeful story about a girl on the cusp of her teenage years.

Explore the dark side of adolescence during World War II in this American classic that has been a bestseller for over thirty years. Set at a boys' boarding school, the harrowing and luminous parable delves into the lives of Gene, a lonely intellectual, and Phineas, a handsome and daring athlete, and the events that forever change their friendship and the innocence of their world. A Separate Peace is a timeless and undisputed classic.