6th grade English Language Arts Readings

Our recommended 6th grade readings that are specifically created to teaching themes in short story narratives:

Short Stories:

1. "The Gift of the Magi" by O. Henry (theme: sacrifice and love)

2. "The Tell-Tale Heart" by Edgar Allan Poe (theme: guilt and madness)

3. "The Story of an Hour" by Kate Chopin (theme: freedom and identity)

4. "The Most Dangerous Game" by Richard Connell (theme: survival and morality)

5. "The Lottery" by Shirley Jackson (theme: conformity and rebellion)

Novels:

1. "The Giver" by Lois Lowry (themes: conformity, memory, and freedom)

2. "The Secret Garden" by Frances Hodgson Burnett (themes: growth, friendship, and transformation)

3. "Island of the Blue Dolphins" by Scott O'Dell (themes: survival, identity, and cultural heritage)

4. "The Witch of Blackbird Pond" by Elizabeth George Speare (themes: friendship, community, and tolerance)

5. "Bridge to Terabithia" by Katherine Paterson (themes: friendship, imagination, and mortality)

Graphic Novels:

1. "Zita the Spacegirl" by Ben Hatke (themes: bravery, friendship, and self-discovery)

2. "El Deafo" by Cece Bell (themes: identity, disability, and empowerment)

3. "Roller Girl" by Victoria Jamieson (themes: friendship, rivalry, and self-acceptance)

Poetry:

1. "The Raven" by Edgar Allan Poe (theme: loss and longing)

2. "The Road Not Taken" by Robert Frost (theme: choice and regret)

3. "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings" by Maya Angelou (theme: freedom and identity)

Nonfiction:

1. "The Diary of a Young Girl" by Anne Frank (themes: hope, resilience, and identity)

2. "The Immigrant Experience" by various authors (themes: immigration, identity, and cultural heritage)

3. "The Civil Rights Movement" by various authors (themes: equality, justice, and activism)

These texts are directly applicable to 6th-grade students, helping them to develop an understanding of and analyze themes in short story narratives.