What are some good books for teaching fiction and nonfiction?

One great book is 'The Outsiders' by S.E. Hinton. It's a classic in realistic fiction, dealing with themes like class differences, friendship, and growing up. Another is 'To Kill a Mockingbird' by Harper Lee. It shows the reality of racial inequality through the eyes of a young girl. And 'Bridge to Terabithia' is also excellent. It touches on friendship, loss, and the power of imagination in a realistic setting.

In middle school, for fiction, 'Bridge to Terabithia' is a beautiful story that can be used to teach about friendship, loss, and imagination. When it comes to nonfiction, 'A Long Walk to Water' by Linda Sue Park is a good book to teach about the water crisis in Sudan and perseverance. 'Weird But True! 6' from National Geographic is also a great nonfiction resource. It has a lot of strange and interesting facts that can engage middle - school students and help them develop an interest in nonfiction reading.

One great option could be 'Teaching Realistic Fiction: A Guide for Teachers'. It offers practical strategies and examples for teaching this genre. Another is 'Realistic Fiction in the Classroom: Engaging Students'. It focuses on how to make the teaching of realistic fiction interesting for students. And 'The Teacher's Guide to Realistic Fiction Literature' is also a good choice as it provides in - depth analysis of various realistic fiction works.

A great pairing is 'A Brief History of Time' (nonfiction) with 'The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy' (fiction). 'A Brief History of Time' by Stephen Hawking delves into complex scientific concepts about the universe. 'The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy' is a humorous science - fiction story set in space. They can be paired as they both make you think about the cosmos, although in very different ways.

One example could be 'In Cold Blood' by Truman Capote. It tells a true crime story (nonfiction part) but is written in a narrative style that has elements of fiction, like character development and a suspenseful plot. Another is 'The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks' which is based on the true story of Henrietta Lacks and her cells, yet it's written in a way that reads like a fictional story at times, engaging the reader on an emotional level. And 'Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil' also blends real - life events and characters in Savannah with fictionalized accounts to create a unique reading experience.

One example is 'The Diary of a Young Girl' by Anne Frank (nonfiction) paired with 'Number the Stars' by Lois Lowry (fiction). 'The Diary of a Young Girl' is a real account of Anne Frank's experiences during the Holocaust. 'Number the Stars' is a fictional story about a family helping Jews during the same period. Another pair could be 'Into the Wild' (nonfiction) and 'The Call of the Wild' (fiction). The former is about a real - life adventure, and the latter is a fictional adventure story about a dog.

One pair could be 'The Hunger Games' (fiction) and 'Surviving in the Wilderness' (nonfiction). The Hunger Games shows a fictional, dystopian world where survival is key, while 'Surviving in the Wilderness' gives real - life tips on how to endure in tough environments.

For fiction, 'Charlotte's Web' is a classic. It tells the beautiful story of a pig named Wilbur and his friendship with a spider named Charlotte. In nonfiction, 'The Magic School Bus' series is great. It takes kids on exciting scientific adventures, making learning fun.

Well, in the realm of fiction, 'The Great Gatsby' is a must - read. F. Scott Fitzgerald's work is a poignant look at the American Dream. As for nonfiction, 'The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks' by Rebecca Skloot is remarkable. It tells the story of Henrietta Lacks and the impact of her cells on medical research in a very engaging way. These are just a few of the best books in both categories.

A great one is 'The Grapes of Wrath' by Steinbeck. It gives a powerful portrayal of the Dust Bowl era in the United States. The characters' struggles, their journey, and the social and economic conditions are all presented in a way that can be used to teach students about that historical period in the context of historical fiction.