A Classical Christian School’s Reading List: 6th-8th Grades

It’s taken me a lot longer than I could have imagined, but I’ve now published a reading list for grades 1-3, a reading list for grades 4-5, and now here below is a reading list for grades 6-8. These are from the lists provided by Calvary Classical School—a classical Christian school in Hampton, VA.

A couple of notes on the nomenclature below: “+” indicates that any title in that series would be acceptable.

Some titles also contain a label: L – Language, V – Violence, C – Coarse actions, M – Mature theme

Again, I hope this proves fruitful for many Christian families, schools, and homeschooling co-ops.

Sixth Grade Reading List

Read in class or assigned for outside reading:

Adams, Richard. Watership Down

Bishop, Claire. Twenty and Ten

Crane, Stephen. The Red Badge of Courage

Doyle, Arthur Conan. Sherlock Holmes (excerpts)

Lewis, C. S. The Magician’s Nephew

Lewis, C. S. The Last Battle

Orwell, George. Animal Farm

ten Boom, Corrie. The Hiding Place

Level 1

Alexander, Lloyd. The Prydain Chronicles +

Bradbury, Ray. The Martian Chronicles

Kjelgaard, James. Big Red +

Lester, Julius. The Tales of Uncle Remus

Rawlings, Marjorie. The Yearling

Sorensen, Virginia. Miracles on Maple Hill

Speare, Elizabeth. The Bronze Bow

Van Leeuwen, Jean. Bound for Oregon

Level 2

Baum, Frank L. The Wizard of Oz

Bradbury, Ray. Fahrenheit 451

Dickens, Charles. A Christmas Carol

Eareckson, Joni. Joni

Fisher, Dorothy. Understood Betsy

Irving, Washington. Rip Van Winkle

Irving, Washington. The Legend of Sleepy Hollow

Jacques, Brian. Marlfox +

London, Jack. White Fang

Marshall, Catherine. Christy

O’Hara, Mary. My Friend Flicka

Sterling, Dorothy. Freedom Train

Taylor, Theodore. The Cay

Trapp, Maria Augusta. The Story of Trapp Family Singers

Twain, Mark. The Adventures of Tom Sawyer

Twain, Mark. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn

Level 3

Field, Rachel. Hitty: Her First Hundred Years

Henty, G. H. By Right of Conquest

Henty, G. H. In the Reign of Terror

Kipling, Rudyard. The Jungle Book

London, Jack. The Call of the Wild

Orczy, Emmuska. The Scarlet Pimpernel

Stevenson, Robert Louis. Kidnapped

Taylor, Mildred. Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry

Tunnell, Michael. Candy Bomber

Twain, Mark. The Prince and the Pauper

Verne, Jules. Around the World in Eighty Days

Wells, H. G. War of the Worlds

Yates, Elizabeth. Amos Fortune, Free Man

Seventh Grade Reading List

Following is the list of adopted titles used for the seventh grade reading program. Although certain titles are assigned to specific grades, when necessary, teachers may use a list of titles above or below their grade. It is desired that at least 5 adopted books are read each year. Some books will be assigned and read in class, and others will be assigned for outside reading. Every effort has been made to pick the best available literature. As with everything, each book must be read with scripture as our final standard. All Landmark books are acceptable on the literature list.

Aldrich, Thomas. The Story of a Bad Boy

Brother Andrew. God’s Smuggler

Bunyan, John. The Pilgrim’s Progress (original)

DeJong, Meindert. The House of Sixty Fathers

DeKruif, Paul. Microbe Hunters

Dickens, Charles. Nicholas Nickleby

Dickens, Charles. Oliver Twist

Dumas, Alexandre. The Count of Monte Cristo

Dumas, Alexandre. The Three Musketeers

Eaton, Jeanette. David Livingstone, Foe of Darkness

Field, Rachel. Calico Bush

Forester, C. S. Horatio Hornblower

Freedman, Ben. Mrs. Mike

Grant, George. The Last Crusader

Henry, O. The Best Short Stories of O. Henry

Henty, G. A. By Pike and Dyke +

Henty, G. A. In Freedom’s Cause +

Hugo, Victor. Les Miserables

Kipling, Rudyard. Captains Courageous

Latham, Jean Lee. This Dear-Bought Land

Lewis, C. S. Out of the Silent Planet

Lewis, C. S. Perelandra

Lewis, C. S. That Hideous Strength

Little, Paul. Know What You Believe

Little, Paul. Know Why You Believe

MacDonald, George. The Baronet’s Song

O’Dell, Scott. Streams to the River, River to the Sea

O’Dell, Scott. The Hawk That Dare Not Hunt By Day

Orczy, Baroness. The Scarlet Pimpernel

Seredy, Kate. The Good Master

Speare, Elizabeth George. The Bronze Bow

Stevenson, Robert Louis. The Black Arrow

Stevenson, Robert Louis. Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde

Thomson, Andy. Morning Star of the Reformation

Seventh Grade History List

This year in history the students will be studying Explorers to 1815. Students will be reading numerous books from this time period in class. Outside reading is also encouraged, especially historical fiction which engages the imagination and makes the time period come alive. We encourage you to read aloud with your children from books that may be above their reading level. Suggestions for reading are offered below. We are endeavoring to purchase as many of these titles as possible for the classroom.

Four books must be read from the following list:

Bliven, Bruce. The American Revolution (Landmark) – H

Blos, Joan. A Gathering of Days: A New England Girl’s Journal – H, NN, YC

Bond, Douglas. Guns of Thunder

Bond, Douglas. Rebel’s Keep

Calabro, Marian. The Perilous Journey of the Donner Party - H, NN

Carter, Alice. The American Revolution

Collins, David. Noah Webster: Master of Words

Cousins, Margaret. Ben Franklin of Old Philadelphia (Landmark) – H

Cox, Clinton. Mark Twain – H, NN, YC

Cox, Clinton. Undying Glory: True Story of the Massachusetts 54th Regiment – H, NN

Dafoe, Daniel. Robinson Crusoe – H, NN, YC

Daugherty, James. Of Courage Undaunted – H, NN

Daugherty, James. The Landing of the Pilgrims – CCS, H

de Trevino, Elizabeth. I, Juan de Pareja – H, NN, YC

DK Eyewitness. North American Indian – NN

Forbes, Esther. Johnny Tremain – CCS, H, NN, YC

Forbes, Esther. Paul Revere and the World He Lived In – H, NN

Fenimore, James. The Last of the Mohicans – H, NN, YC

Foster, Genevieve. George Washington’s World – H

Freedman, Russell. Out of Darkness: The Story of Louis Braille – H, NN, YC

Fritz, Jean. The Double Life of Pocahontas – H, NN, YC

Fritz, Jean. Why Not, Lafayette? – H, NN, YC

Hamilton, Alexander, et al. The Federalist Papers – H, NN, YC

Haugaard, Erik. Cromwell’s Boy – H

Jackson, Shirley. The Witchcraft of Salem Village – H, YC

Lasky, Kathryn. Jahanara: Princess of Princesses – H, NN, YC

Lawton, Wendy. The Captive Princess

Lawton, Wendy. The Tinker’s Daughter – CCS

Mansfield, Stephen. Forgotten Founding Father: George Whitefield – CRPC

McPherson, Joyce. The Ocean of Truth: The Story of Isaac Newton

Murphy, Jim. A Young Patriot – H, NN, YC

Newman, Shirlee. The African Slave Trade – H, NN, YC

O’Dell, Scott. Streams to the River, River to the Sea – H, NN

Roosevelt, T. and Lodge, H. Hero Tales from American History

Savery, Constance. The Reb and the Redcoats

Schanzer, Rosalyn. How We Crossed the West – NN, YC

Severance, John. Thomas Jefferson: Architect of Democracy – H, NN

Speare, Elizabeth. George. The Witch of Blackbird Pond – CCS, H, NN, YC

Speare, Elizabeth George. Calico Captive – H, NN, YC

Speare, Elizabeth George. The Sign of the Beaver – CCS, H, NN, YC

Stevenson, Robert Louis. Kidnapped- H, NN, YC

Stevenson, Robert Louis. Treasure Island – H, NN, YC

Vaughn, David. Give Me Liberty – CRPC, YC

Yates, Elizabeth. Amos Fortune, Free Man – H, NN, YC

Eighth Grade Reading List

Following is the list of adopted titles used for the eighth grade reading program. Although certain titles are assigned to specific grades, when necessary, teachers may use a list of titles above or below their grade. It is desired that at least 5 adopted books are read each year. Some books will be assigned and read in class, and others will be assigned for outside reading. Every effort has been made to pick the best available literature. As with everything, each book must be read with Scripture as our final standard. All Landmark books are acceptable on the literature list.

Austen, Jane. Emma +

Austen, Jane. Northhanger Abbey +

Austen, Jane. Pride and Prejudice +

Braithwaite, Edward. To Sir, with Love

Chesterton, G. K. The Complete Father Brown

Chesterton, G. K. The Best of Father Brown

Colson, Charles. Born Again

Defoe, Daniel. Robinson Crusoe

DeKruif, Paul. Microbe Hunters

Dickens, Charles. A Tale of Two Cities +

Dickens, Charles. David Copperfield +

Douglas, Lloyd C. The Robe

Forester, C. S. Horatio Hornblower +

Gilbreth & Carey. Cheaper By the Dozen – L

Gilbreth & Carey. Bells on Their Toes – L

Henry, O. Best Short Stories of O. Henry

Herriot, James. All Creatures Great and Small – L

Herriot, James. All Things Bright and Beautiful – L

Herriot, James. All Things Wise and Wonderful – L

Lee, Harper. To Kill a Mockingbird – M

Lewis, C. S. The Screwtape Letters

Scott, Sir Walter. Ivanhoe

Shakespeare, William. Hamlet

Shakespeare, William. Julius Caesar

Shakespeare, William. Macbeth

Shakespeare, William. Much Ado About Nothing

Shakespeare, William. Othello

Shakespeare, William. Twelfth Night

Sheldon, Charles. In His Steps – C

Swift, Jonathan. Gulliver’s Travels

ten Boom, Corrie. The Hiding Place – V

Twain, Mark. A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court

Twain, Mark. The Adventures of Tom Sawyer – L

Twain, Mark. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn – L

Wallace, Lew. Ben Hur

White, T. H. The Sword in the Stone

Eighth Grade History List

This year in history the students will be studying 1815 to Present. Students will be reading numerous books from this time period in class. Outside reading is also encouraged, especially historical fiction which engages the imagination and makes the time period come alive. We encourage you to read aloud with your children from books that may be above their reading level. Suggestions for reading are offered below. We are endeavoring to purchase as many of these titles as possible for the classroom

Four books must be read from the following list:

Abernathy, Alta. Bud & Me: The True Adventure of the Abernathy Boys

Ambrose, Stephen. The Good Fight: How WWII Was Won – H, YC

Beatty, Patricia. Turn Homeward, Hannalee – H, YC

Bierman, Carol. Journey to Ellis Island – NN, YC

Bliven, Bruce. Invasion: The Story of D-Day – H

Bradley, James. Flags of Our Fathers – H, NN, YC

Brown, Dee. Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee – CCS classroom, H, NN, YC

Catton, Bruce. A Stillness At Appomattox – CCS classroom, H, NN, YC

Cornelissen, Cornelia. Soft Rain: A Story of the Cherokee Trail of Tears – NN, YC

Crockett, Davy. Davy Crockett: His Own Story

Derry, Joseph T. Story of the Confederate States – H, NN

De Vries, Anne. Journey Through the Night

Doswell, Paul. War Stories: True Stories from the First and Second World Wars

Frank, Anne. The Diary of a Young Girl: The Definitive Edition – H, NN, YC

Freedman, Russell. Immigrant Kids – H, NN

Grant, George. Carry a Big Stick: The Uncommon Heroism of T. Roosevelt – CPRC

Hemingway, Ernest. The Old Man and the Sea – H, NN, YC

Henty, G. A. With Lee in Virginia

Hersey, John. Hiroshima – H, NN, YC

Hunt, Irene. Across Five Aprils – H, NN, YC

Ingold, Jeanette. Hitch – NN, YC

Irwin, James. Destination: Moon

Kantor, MacKinlay. Gettysburg – H

Lester, Julius. To Be A Slave – H, NN

Levitin, Sonia. Journey to America – H, YC

Linnea, Sharon. Raoul Wallenberg: The Man Who Stopped Death – NN

Mansfield, Stephen. Never Give In: The Extraordinary Character of Winston Churchill

Marrin, Albert. The Yanks Are Coming – H, YC

Marrin, Albert. Stalin: Russia’s Man of Steel – NN

Marrin, Albert. Hitler – H, NN

Marrin, Albert. America and Vietnam: The Elephant and the Tiger – H, NN

McMurdie, Jean McAnlis. Land of the Morning

McMurdie, William. Hey, Mac!

Murphy, Jim. The Boys’ War: Confederate & Union Soldiers Talk About the Civil War – H, NN, YC

Nolan, Peggy. The Spy Who Came in from the Sea

O’Grady, Captain Scott. Basher Five-two – NN, YC

Prins, Piet. The Lonely Sentinel (The Shadow Series) +

Raven, Margot. Theis Mercedes and the Chocolate Pilot – H, NN, YC

Reynolds, Quentin. The Wright Brothers – H, NN

Serraillier, Ian. Escape From Warsaw

Sperry, Armstrong. All Sail Set – H

Steele, William. We Were There on the Oregon Trail – NN

Steele, William. We Were There with the Pony Express

Taylor, Theodore. Air Raid—Pearl Harbor! – H, NN

Taylor, Mildred. Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry- H, NN, YC

ten Boom, Corrie. The Hiding Place- CRPC, CCS, H, NN, YC

Trapp, Maria Augusta. The Story of Trapp Family Singers – H, NN, YC

Van Leeuwen, Jean. Bound for Oregon – YC

Velde, Vivian. A Coming Evil

Wilkins, J. Steven. Call of Duty: The Sterling Nobility of Robert E. Lee

Winik, Jay. April 1865: The Month That Saved America – H, NN, YC

York, Alvin. Sergeant York and the Great War — CCS