Stop Guessing, Start Recommending: Why Every Middle School Reading Teacher Needs The Big Book List Spreadsheet
You know the moment. The one where a student tosses another book into the return bin. “I didn’t like it.” This wouldn’t be a problem, except it’s the fourth book your student has abandoned this month.
It’s time for you to make a tailored, home-run book recommendation, but you’re panicked because, what will they like?? You’ve already tried the few go-to titles you know. You need more options that will actually hook this kid, on this day, with these interests.
After more than ten years in a middle school reading classroom, I've lived that moment hundreds of times. And I built something to solve it.
Introducing The Big Book List Spreadsheet
The Big Book List is a searchable, ever-growing spreadsheet of 125+ hand-curated book recommendations for grades 5–9, organized exactly the way a teacher's brain works.
Every single title I included has been through a filter that no algorithm or bestseller list uses: Will a real middle schooler actually want to read this?
That question matters more than you think.
Why I Built This (And Why It Matters)
Here's something no one tells you when you start teaching reading: the books that get rave reviews online are not always the books kids will read. I've watched many 5-star rated titles sit untouched on classroom shelves for years. Meanwhile, some quieter, lesser-known books get passed from student to student like contraband.
As a reading teacher who has worked extensively with struggling and reluctant readers, every book recommendation I made was high stakes. A wrong recommendation could mean a student swears off reading for the rest of the year. The right one could change everything.
That's why this list isn't just a dump of popular middle grade titles. Every book I included earned its spot through real classroom experience and my expertise as a middle school teacher who knows the way reluctant reader brains operate.
What Makes This Spreadsheet Different
125+ Titles — And Growing Weekly
The list already includes over 125 carefully vetted titles, and here's the best part: new books are added every single week. When you purchase the spreadsheet, you get all future updates for free. That means your resource keeps growing without you spending a single extra dollar.
Organized the Way Teachers and Parents Need
Stop scrolling through generic lists of books hoping something jumps out. Every title in this spreadsheet is categorized by:
Grade Level (5/6+, 6+, 7+, 7/8+, and beyond)
Genre (Realistic Fiction, Mystery, Thriller, Romance, and more)
Format (Graphic Novel, Novel in Verse, traditional prose)
Topics & Prominent Themes (Poverty, Disability, Immigration, Survival, Mental Health, Race, and dozens more)
This means in thirty seconds, you can filter to find a realistic fiction sports novel in verse, perfect for your 6th grader who claims they "hate reading long books."
Fully Searchable
The spreadsheet format means you can search by any keyword — genre, theme, grade level, you name it. Type "survival" and instantly surface every book on the list that fits. No more Googling "good books for 7th graders who like adventure" and hoping for the best (been there).
⭐ The Reluctant Reader-Approved Label
This is my favorite feature, and the one I'm most proud of.
As someone who has spent years working with students who resist reading with every fiber of their being, I know that not every "great book" is a great book for them. So I've added a special Reluctant Reader-Approved label to titles that are proven home runs with even the most unwilling readers.
These are the books you reach for when a student says they hate reading. The ones with the pacing, the hook, and the engagement level to break through the resistance. When you need to make a match that counts, this label is your shortcut.
Who This Resource Is For
This spreadsheet was made for you if:
You're a middle school reading, ELA, or English teacher, (or parent!!) who wants a reliable, organized go-to list of book recommendations
You're a school librarian trying to stock your shelves with titles students will actually check out
You simply don't have time to read everything but still want to make confident, personalized recommendations
You have reluctant or struggling readers and need proven titles that will meet them where they are
You're tired of recommendations from sources that have never actually watched a 12-year-old try to read a book
You got into teaching reading because you believe books can change lives. So do I. But that only works if students actually read the books, and that only happens when you can put exactly the right book in exactly the right hands at exactly the right moment.
The Big Book List Spreadsheet gives you the tools to do that, quickly, confidently, and consistently.
👉Grab The Big Book List Spreadsheet on Teachers Pay Teachers
When you have the perfect answer ready the next time a reluctant reader walks up to you in need of a recommendation, you’ll be so glad you did!
XO,
Kara
