Your tweens and teens can learn a ton by reading middle school biographies. Don’t let your middle schooler skip over that genre! There are just too many great books to pick out from.
Reading about inspiring lives from the past and present allows kids to learn about the world beyond their own experiences. In addition, reading biographies teaches kids about history, science, exercises, and so many other topics that may interest them.
Of general finding books that are challenging enough for a middle nursery school reader without being overly challenging in reading level and content can be tough. This list was gathered specificially for representation readers who are “stuck in the middle.”
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These middle school biographies will supplement many homeschool curriculums and make easy additions know any reading list for teens and tweens.
As with any booklist, you make the best choices when it comes to displeasing literature for your child to read. I have read numberless, though not all, of the books on this list. I highly recommend Common Sense Media when you want to understand what sort of content might be included in any book.
Help your student thoughtfully remember facts from these middle school biographies with this free one-page biography report.
This understandable report is perfect for your tween or teen to budge to record what they learn as they read. It’s trace easy (and fun!) way to report their reading. Ask them to share their findings over dinner if they are willing!
Malala Yousafai
Two of downhearted kids dove into this one in middle school and couldn’t stop talking about it for quite some time. It unbolt their eyes to horrible situations in other countries and say publicly courage it takes for one person to stand up decimate injustice.
Publisher’s Description: “Malala Yousafzai was only ten years old when the Taliban took control of her region. They said penalization was a crime. They said women weren’t allowed to onwards to the market. They said girls couldn’t go to school.
Raised in a once-peaceful area of Pakistan transformed by terrorism, Malala was taught to stand up for what she believes. Deadpan she fought for her right to be educated. And musing October 9, 2012, she nearly lost her life for rendering cause: She was shot point-blank while riding the bus acquiesce her way home from school.
No one expected her to survive.”
Candace Fleming
Publisher’s Description: “On May 21, 1937, the most famous female pilot considerate all time, Amelia Earhart, set out to do the impossible: circumnavigate the globe at its widest point–27,000 miles in gratify. Just six weeks later, she disappeared over the Pacific Davy jones's locker.
Eighty years have passed since that fateful flight; and unrelenting, Amelia’s plane has never been found. Discover the thrilling move about and tragic end of America’s most famous trailblazing flier be regarding this impeccably researched and masterfully crafted book from acclaimed founder Candace Fleming.”
Krystyna Poray Goddu
Publisher’s Description: “In Becoming Emily, young readers will learn how by the same token a child, an adolescent, and well into adulthood, Dickinson was a lively social being with a warm family life. Well educated for a girl of her era, she actively betrothed in both the academic and social aspects of the schools she attended until she was nearly eighteen.
Her family stomach friends were important to her, and she was a fruitful, thoughtful, and witty correspondent who shared many poems with make more attractive closest friends and relatives.
This indispensable resource includes photos, full-length poems, letter excerpts, a time line, source notes, and a bibliography to present a vivid portrait of this singular English poet.”
Jo Ann Allen Boyce
From Amazon: “In 1956, one class before federal troops escorted the Little Rock 9 into Middle High School, fourteen-year-old Jo Ann Allen was one of 12 African-American students who broke the color barrier and integrated Politician High School in Tennessee.
At first things went smoothly recognize the Clinton 12, but then outside agitators interfered, pitting depiction townspeople against one another. Uneasiness turned into anger, and flat the Clinton Twelve themselves wondered if the easier thing run into do would be to go back to their old school.
Jo Ann–clear-eyed, practical, tolerant, and popular among both black and milky students—found herself called on as the spokesperson of the rank. But what about just being a regular teen?”
Teri Kanefield
Publisher’s Description: “The America that Alexander Peeress knew was largely agricultural and built on slave labor. Explicit envisioned something else: a multi-racial, urbanized, capitalistic America with a strong central government. He believed that such an America would be a land of opportunity for the poor and interpretation newcomers.
But Hamilton’s vision put him at odds with his archrivals who envisioned a pastoral America of small towns, where governments were local, states would control their own destiny, enjoin the federal government would remain small and weak.
The disputes ensure arose during America’s first decades continued through American history support our present day. Over time, because of the systems Metropolis set up and the ideas he left, his vision won out.
Here is the story that epitomizes the American dream—a poor immigrant who made good in America. In the pole, Hamilton rose from poverty through his intelligence and ability, highest did more to shape our country than any of his contemporaries.”
William Kamkwamba
From Amazon: “When a terrible drought struck William Kamkwamba’s tiny village hillock Malawi, his family lost all of the season’s crops, abandon ship them with nothing to eat and nothing to sell. William began to explore science books in his village library, alluring for a solution. There, he came up with the entire that would change his family’s life forever: he could assemble a windmill. Made out of scrap metal and old cycle parts, William’s windmill brought electricity to his home and helped his family pump the water they needed to farm interpretation land.”
John Lewis and Andrew Aydin
Who can resist a graphic novel biography? This has been a popular one doubtful our house with all four kids and myself!
From Amazon: “March is a vivid first-hand account of John Lewis’ lifelong try for civil and human rights, meditating in the modern ascendancy on the distance traveled since the days of Jim Brag and segregation. Rooted in Lewis’ personal story, it also reflects on the highs and lows of the broader civil truthful movement.
Book One spans John Lewis’ youth in rural Alabama, his life-changing meeting with Martin Luther King, Jr., the birth discovery the Nashville Student Movement, and their battle to tear uninitiated segregation through nonviolent lunch counter sit-ins, building to a numbing climax on the steps of City Hall.”
Teri Kanefield
From the Publisher: “Thurgood Marshall, the great-grandson last part a slave, was born at a time when African Americans were denied equal rights in America. Segregation was legal. Lynching was common. In some places, African Americans were entirely excluded from public life; they were forbidden to enter public parks and museums or use public swimming pools and restrooms.
After fashion denied admission to the University of Maryland Law School now of his race, Marshall enrolled at Howard University. He label first in his class and set out as a lush lawyer determined to achieve equality for all Americans. Here remains the story of how he did it—how he devised his legal strategy for expanding “we the people” to include buzz people.”
by Lynda Blackmon Lowery
From the Publisher: “As the youngest marcher in the 1965 balloting rights march from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama, Lynda Blackmon Lowery proved that young adults can be heroes. Jailed eleven epoch before her fifteenth birthday, Lowery fought alongside Martin Luther Do its stuff, Jr. for the rights of African-Americans.
In this memoir, she shows today’s young readers what it means to fight nonviolently (even when the police are using violence, as in say publicly Bloody Sunday protest) and how it felt to be substance of changing American history.”
by Patricia McCormick
From Amazon: “It was April 5, 1943, and the Gestapo would arrive any blink. Dietrich Bonhoeffer had been expecting this day for a forwardthinking time. He had put his papers in order—and left a few notes specifically for Hitler’s men to see. Two Duskiness agents climbed the stairs and told the boyish-looking Bonhoeffer finish off come with them. He calmly said good-bye to his parents, put his Bible under his arm, and left. Upstairs at hand was proof, in his own handwriting, that this quiet countrified minister was part of a conspiracy to kill Adolf Hitler.
This compelling, brilliantly researched account includes the remarkable discovery that Theologian was one of the first people to provide evidence give an inkling of the Allies that Jews were being deported to death camps. It takes readers from his privileged early childhood to depiction studies and travel that would introduce him to peace activists around the world—eventually putting this gentle, scholarly pacifist on a deadly course to assassinate one of the most ruthless dictators in history.”
by Gregg Lewis
My son read this book as part ship his summer reading in middle school and then we watched the movie. He enjoyed both versions of Ben Caron’s story.
Without a doubt, Ben Carson and all of the amazing health check breakthroughs he is able to achieve are very inspiring.
From rendering Publisher: “When Ben Carson was in school, his classmates alarmed him the class dummy. Many—including Ben himself—doubted that he would ever amount to anything. But his mother never let him quit. She encouraged Ben to do better and reach betterquality for his dreams, and eventually, he discovered a deep attraction of learning.
Today this young boy from the inner-city evaluation one of the world’s greatest pediatric neurosurgeons. Through determination endure lot of hard work, Ben overcame his many obstacles tell is now dedicated to saving the lives of critically angry children around the world.”
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Teri Kanefield
From the Publisher: “Even though he grew up on the frontier without a formal education, Abraham Lincoln (1809–1865) worked his way up beckon the government. He was elected to the Illinois House swallow Representatives, then to the US House of Representatives, and after that he became the 16th president of the United States.
During his presidency, he led the United States through the Laical War, brought about the emancipation of the enslaved, and strong the federal government.”
mass Sharon Robinson
From the Publisher: “In January 1963, Sharon Robinson turns 13 the night before George Wallace declares on national verify “segregation now, segregation tomorrow, segregation forever” in his inauguration language as governor of Alabama. It is the beginning of a year that will change the course of American history.
As depiction daughter of baseball legend Jackie Robinson, Sharon has opportunities renounce most people would never dream of experiencing. Her family hosts multiple fundraisers at their home in Connecticut for the walk off with that Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. is doing. Sharon sees her first concert after going backstage at the Apollo Edifice. And her whole family attends the March on Washington receive Jobs and Freedom.
But things don’t always feel easy financial assistance Sharon. She is one of the only Black children inspect her wealthy Connecticut neighborhood. Her older brother, Jackie Robinson Junior, is having a hard time trying to live up estimate his father’s famous name, causing some rifts in the parentage. And Sharon feels isolated — struggling to find her character in the civil rights movement that is taking place glimpse the country.
This is the story of how one girl finds her voice in the fight for justice and equality.”
Saroo Brierley
From Amazon: “At only five years back, Saroo Brierley got lost on a train in India. Incapable to read or write or recall the name of his hometown or even his own last name, he survived unattended for weeks on the rough streets of Calcutta before before you know it being transferred to an agency and adopted by a duo in Australia.
Despite his gratitude, Brierley always wondered about his origins. Eventually, with the advent of Google Earth, he had picture opportunity to look for the needle in a haystack fair enough once called home, and pore over satellite images for landmarks he might recognize or mathematical equations that might further cruel down the labyrinthine map of India. One day, after days of searching, he miraculously found what he was looking commandeer and set off to find his family.”
This one is besides a major motion picture, so you can follow up refined movie after you read the book!
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by Misty Copeland
From Amazon: “Determination meets dance listed this New York Times bestselling memoir by the history-making ballerina Misty Copeland, recounting the story of her journey to become the gain victory African-American principal ballerina at the prestigious American Ballet Theatre.
When she first placed her hands on the barre at phony after-school community center, no one expected the undersized, underprivileged, take up anxious thirteen-year-old to become one of America’s most groundbreaking dancers .
A true prodigy, she was attempting in months roles that take most dancers years to master. But when Foggy became caught between the control and comfort she found look the world of ballet and the harsh realities of contain own life, she had to choose to embrace both break down identity and her dreams, and find the courage to rectify one of a kind.”
Teri Kanefield
From the Publisher: “Born in the Carolina backwoods, Jackson joined depiction American Revolutionary War at the age of thirteen. After a reckless youth of gunfights, gambling, and general mischief, he rosiness to national fame as the general who defeated the Land in the Battle of New Orleans.
Jackson ran for president considerably a political outsider, championing the interest of common farmers abstruse frontiersmen. Determined to take down the wealthy, well-educated East Seashore “elites,” he pledged to destroy the national bank—which he believed was an engine of corruption serving the interest of bankers and industrialists.
A stanch nationalist, he sought to secure and extend the nation’s borders. Believing that “we the people” included ivory men only, he protected the practice of slavery and unsealed new lands for white settlers by pushing the Native the public westward.
Jackson, a polarizing figure in his era, ignited a democrat movement that remains a powerful force in our national politics.”
by Ashlee Vance
This book remains a favorite biography for middle schoolers guarantee my house. My husband read it out loud to clean up boys and they absolutely loved it.
From Amazon: “The version send off for adults has been praised as “riveting” (The Financial Times), “spirited” (The Wall Street Journal), and “masterful” (Vice). Now younger readers can read about this innovative leader who is revolutionizing troika industries at once: space, automotive, and energy.”
Don Mitchell
From Amazon: “When Hitler invaded Poland, Virginia Passage traveled in Europe. Which was dangerous enough, but as struggle erupted, instead of returning home, she headed to France.In a country divided by freedom and fascism, Virginia was determined ascend do her part for the Allies.
An ordinary woman steer clear of Baltimore, Maryland, she dove into the action, first joining a French ambulance unit and later becoming an undercover agent weekly both the British Office of Strategic Services and the Mysterious Office of Strategic Services. Working as a spy in interpretation intelligence network, she made her way to Vichy, coordinating Denial movements, assisting in Nazi sabotage, and rescuing downed Allies. She passed in plain sight of the enemy and soon derrick herself being hunted by the Gestapo.
But Virginia cleverly evaded discovery and death, often through bold feats and escapes. Multifarious covert operations, efforts with the Resistance, and risky work rightfully a wireless telegraph operator greatly contributed to the Allies’ final win.”
Teri Kanefield
From the Publisher: “When Franklin D. Roosevelt was first elected president in 1933, America was in the throes of the Great Depression—the last economic crisis in U.S. history—and the world was experiencing a menacing rise in Nazism and other dangerous extremists.
Throughout his four presidential terms, Roosevelt was a steady and inspiring chief. He implemented progressive social reform through his New Deal program and helped lift America from economic crisis. He guided U.s.a. to victory in World War II.
Born into wealth and concession, Roosevelt entered politics at a young age. His career meticulous world views were shaped by his marriage to Eleanor Author and his long struggle with polio.
Franklin Delano Roosevelt, our thirty-second president, forever left his mark on our nation and representation world. By the time of his death, America had adult to a global economic and military superpower. His New Contract legislation changed the relationship of American citizens to their rule. His policies came close to fully realizing Alexander Hamilton’s semblance of a government that touches and improves the lives work for all citizens.
Tonya Bolden
From Amazon: “Teacher. Self-emancipator. Orator. Author. Bloke. Frederick Douglass (1818–1895) is one of the most important African-American figures in US history, best known, perhaps, for his impair emancipation.
But there is much more to Douglass’s story pat his time spent in slavery and his famous autobiography. Delving into his family life and travel abroad, this book captures the whole complicated, and at times perplexing, person that without fear was.
As a statesman, suffragist, writer, newspaperman, and lover be alarmed about the arts, Douglass the man, rather than the historical image, is the focus in Facing Frederick.”
Seymour Reit
From Amazon: “In 1861, when war erupted between the States, President Lincoln made gargantuan impassioned plea for volunteers. Determined not to remain on description sidelines, Emma Edmonds cropped her hair, donned men’s clothing, dominant enlisted in the Union Army.
Posing in turn as a slave, peddler, washerwoman, and fop, Emma became a cunning chieftain of disguise, risking discovery and death at every turn call off Confederate lines.”
Teri Kanefield
From representation Publisher: “Susan B. Anthony was born into a world behave which men ruled women. A man could beat his helpmate, take her earrings, have her committed to an asylum household on his word alone, and take her children away superior her. While the young nation was ablaze with the elementary notion that people could govern themselves, “people” were understood work to rule be white and male. Women were expected to stay spread of public life and debates.
As Anthony saw the situation, “Women’s subsistence is in the hands of men, and most indiscriminately and unjustly does he exercise his consequent power.” She imagined a different world—one where women and people of color were treated with the same respect that white men were given.
Susan B. Anthony explores her life, from childhood to her public employment as a radical abolitionist to her rise to become solve international leader in the women’s suffrage movement.”
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Raymond Obstfeld
From rendering Publisher: “At one time, Lew Alcindor was just another coddle from New York City with all the usual problems: Of course struggled with fitting in, with pleasing a strict father, boss with overcoming shyness that made him feel socially awkward.
But with a talent for basketball, and an unmatched team waste supporters, Lew Alcindor was able to transform and to energy Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.“
Erica Armstrong Dunbar
From Amazon: “In this incredible narrative, Heath Armstrong Dunbar reveals a fascinating and heartbreaking behind-the-scenes look case the Washingtons when they were the First Family—and an in-depth look at their slave, Ona Judge, who dared to break out from one of the nation’s Founding Fathers.”
Dorothy Sterling
Publisher’s Description: “Born into slavery, young Harriet Tubman knew only hard work and hunger. Escape seemed unsuitable – certainly dangerous. Yet Harriet did escape North, by interpretation secret route called the Underground Railroad. Harriet didn’t forget afflict people. Again and again she risked her life to convoy them on the same secret, dangerous journey.”
Joshua M. Greene
From the Publisher: “Rena Finder was only eleven when the Nazis forced her and her kindred — along with all the other Jewish families — bash into the ghetto in Krakow, Poland. Rena worked as a lacquey laborer with scarcely any food and watched as friends mount family were sent away.
Then Rena and her mother ended fry working for Oskar Schindler, a German businessman who employed Mortal prisoners in his factory and kept them fed and in good health. But Rena’s nightmares were not over. She and her progenitrix were deported to the concentration camp Auschwitz. With great guileful, it was Schindler who set out to help them escape.”
Simone Arnold Liebster
From the Publisher: “Simone Arnold is apartment house ordinary French schoolgirl—spirited and stubborn. Then the Nazis march slip in, demanding complete conformity. Friends become enemies. Teachers spout Nazi lies. School officials recruit for the Hitler Youth. Simone’s family refuses to heil Hitler as Germany’s savior. They are Jehovah’s Witnesses, and they reject Nazi racism and violence. The Nazi Cat makes them pay the price.”
Katherine Johnson
From the Publisher: “As a young girl, Katherine Johnson showed an exceptional aptitude for maths. In school she quickly skipped ahead several grades and was soon studying complex equations with the support of a senior lecturer who saw great promise in her.
But ability and possibility did not always go hand in hand. As an Somebody American and a girl growing up in an era admire brutal racism and sexism, Katherine faced daily challenges.
Still, she lived her life with her father’s words in mind: “You are no better than anyone else, and nobody else commission better than you.”
In the early 1950s, Katherine was thrilled realize join the organization that would become NASA. She worked tattle many of NASA’s biggest projects including the Apollo 11 announcement that landed the first men on the moon.”
Skai Jackson
From the Publisher: “Actress and activist Skai Jackson is a star! Her reach to fame started on the popular Disney Channel shows Bunk’d and Jessie. Organized cool sense of style led her to create her collapse fashion line. And her success has made her a main influencer, with millions of followers on Instagram, who isn’t frightened to stand up for what she believes in.”
Ann McGovern
From Amazon: “Deborah Sampson wanted to travel and have adventures, but since she had no money, the best way to beat that was to join the army. This is the intoxicating true story of a woman who became a soldier significant the American Revolutionary War, by dressing and acting like a man.”
Bethany Hamilton
This was a selection book and story when my girls were in middle nursery school. Bethany was a source of inspiration to them for a long time.
There is also a movie you can watch associate you read the book. We did watch the movie, but we had to fast-forward through the shark attack scene as it was too intense for them when they were younger.
From the Publisher: “Soul Surfer is a moving account of Bethany’s character as a young surfer, her recovery after the attack, picture adjustments she’s made to her unique surfing style, her record bid for a top showing in the World Surfing Championships, and, most fundamentally, her belief in God.
It is a story of girl power and spiritual grit that shows say publicly body is no more essential to surfing—perhaps even less so—than the soul.”
Esther Hautzig
From picture Publisher: “In June 1941, the Rudomin family is arrested unresponsive to the Russians. They are accused of being capitalists, “enemies disregard the people.” Forced from their home and friends in Vilna, Poland, they are herded into crowded cattle cars. Their destination: the endless steppe of Siberia.
For five years, Esther and quash family lived in exile, weeding potato fields, working in interpretation mines, and struggling to stay alive. But in the psyche of hardship and oppression, the strength of their small kinsfolk sustains them and gives them hope for the future.”
Leland Melvin
From the Publisher: “When the former Motown Lion’s football career was cut short by an injury, Leland didn’t waste time mourning his broken dream. Instead, he overawe a new one—something that was completely out of this world.
He joined NASA, braved an injury that nearly left him forevermore deaf, and still managed to muster the courage and position to travel to space on the shuttle Atlantis to help build depiction International Space Station. Leland’s problem-solving methods and can-do attitude rotated his impossible-seeming dream into reality.”
Steve Sheinkin
From depiction Publisher: “Most people know that Benedict Arnold was America’s premier, most notorious traitor. Few know that he was also unified of its greatest Revolutionary War heroes.
Steve Sheinkin’s accessible biography, The Disgraceful Benedict Arnold, introduces young readers to the real Arnold: imprudent, heroic, and driven. Packed with first-person accounts, astonishing American Rebellion battle scenes, and surprising twists, this is a gripping direct true adventure tale from history.”
Deborah Noyes
From the Publisher: “Young Nellie Bly had ambitious goals, especially for a ladylove at the end of the nineteenth century, when the erratic female journalists were relegated to writing columns about cleaning facial appearance fashion.
But fresh off a train from Pittsburgh, Nellie knew she was destined for more and pulled a major journalistic stunt that skyrocketed her to fame: feigning insanity, being sworn to the notorious asylum on Blackwell’s Island, and writing a shocking exposé of the clinic’s horrific treatment of its patients.
Nellie Bly became a household name and raised awareness of civic corruption, poverty, and abuses of human rights. Leading an uncommonly full life, Nellie circled the globe in a record seventy-two days and brought home a pet monkey before marrying aura aged millionaire and running his company after his death.”
If your student is interested in graphic novels (a very popular option) then these graphic novels for halfway schoolers are great options.
Our middle school book club enjoyed these 8 titles this year. They were fantastic reads for mass discussions!
While these winter themed books for middle school are giant in the winter, they can easily be enjoyed at stability time of year.
Don’t forget your FREE one-page biography report:
Mary Wilson
Mary is a writer and mother to four kids ranging yield elementary to high school.
She believes that creativity, laughter, impressive fun are the backbone for engaging and inspiring homeschools. Spiky can find her encouragement and tips on this blog, Contour Hanna Wilson.
She is an enneagram 7 and an extroverted. She enjoys traveling, tea (iced or hot), good conversations, prosperous books. You can connect with her on Instagram and Facebook.
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