Ten Best Historic Novel Series for Middle School

Summer is the perfect time to catch up on fun reading!  We set aside a minimum of an hour each day to read...sometimes together as a family and sometimes quietly wherever we happen to drape ourselves.  

When a book can bring educational value in the form of a fun context, it gets a thumbs up from this homeschool mom.  Being a history-loving family, we've read nearly every single book from all ten of these series.  We love them, and think that you will, too!


A quick note about reading level -- some of these books are at an upper elementary reading level, however we parents don't always read collegiate-level books, right?  When reading for fun and learning, it's perfectly fine for a child to read something that's under his or her grade level sometimes...especially if it's fun, engaging, and there is educational content.  {These books are denoted in the descriptions.}

Pick up a FREE printable version of this list - along with five other fantastic lists! - here.

See the Ten Best Vintage Novel Series for Girls and Ten Best Vintage Novel Series for Boys.

	We Were There Written between 1955 and 1963, the thirty-six books in this series each tackle the fictional retelling of an actual historic event.  Children are the primary characters, which makes the books accessible and easy to relate to...an excellent way to learn our history!  The books weren't just standard fiction; they each had a "historical consultant," someone who was an expert in the topic covered in each, and are historically accurate.  Our children have retained a lot of historical fact simply by 'living' these adventures!  Additionally, each of the books has beautiful pen and ink illustrations...at least one per chapter, to help your child visualize the story. FREE UNIT STUDIES FOR EACH BOOK
	American Adventure The forty-eight books in this series each cover a different point in American history, with children as the main characters.  They are religious-based, experiencing struggles and overcoming through good moral character and their belief in and reliance upon God.  This is a good option for families who want to incorporate religious beliefs into their stories.
	Dear America Each book in this series covers a different historic event from American history.  They are all written about a girl's life and told from her perspective.  They are narrated in the form of a diary, with dated entries that typically span a year or two.  Good moral character is emphasized in these coming-of-age stories.
	My Name is America Each book in this series covers a different historic event from American history.  They are all written about a boy's life and told from his perspective.  They are narrated in the form of a journal, with dated entries that typically span a year or two.  Good moral character is emphasized in these coming-of-age stories.
	I Survived Adventure-seekers will love being in the story, escaping disaster, and learning lots of small details surrounding each of these disasters!  The series includes ancient tragedies, such as Pompeii, and goes all the way to more recent ones, like the Joplin tornado.  Perfect for those who may be a grade behind reading level or just love a little bit of excitement!
	Landmark Books The non-fiction complement to the We Were There series, these are the epitome of Hi-Lo books.  The reading level is upper elementary, but the content is aimed at older children.  It is full of details, anecdotes, illustrations, and rich descriptions that will bring the subject to life.  Each book covers one person or event in history.
	Magic Tree House Most children begin reading this series in elementary school, but the later volumes are written at a higher reading level and go deeper into specific points in history, making them appealing to older students, particularly those who may fall into the realm of struggling readers.  I also like to use the research guides which accompany each book as jumping off points for writing exercises.
	Spy on History With only three books so far, this is a fairly new adventure series that puts the reader directly into the action.  There are removal book components that are used for code-breaking and other activities, allowing your child to experience history in a new way!  Currently covers the Revolutionary War, Civil War, and World War 2.
	Little House on the Prairie The nine books in this series give an in-depth look into mid-1800s daily life.  (Our family's favorite volume has always been Farmer Boy.)  Heartwarming stories of good character will delight your children!  They do not have to be read in order.  If your family is a big Laura Ingalls Wilder fan, you can even use this series as a history curriculum alongside The Prairie Primer.
	Who Was...What Was...Where Was? These are nice tidbits - introductions to a particular topic.  There are MANY books in this series, covering a wide variety of aspects -- historical, scientific, and current events.  This is another series that would be useful with struggling middle school readers.  They are non-fiction, but written in an engaging style that reads like a novel.
Modern Mythology Somewhat historic in nature, each of the books in our Modern Mythology series, written by our 15 year old son, tackles a different culture's mythology.  They are written from a modern-day perspective, but teach quite a bit about the mythology of many ancient cultures, such as the Greeks, Romans, Egyptians, Celts, and more.  There are seventeen books thus far in the series. Find Modern Mythology books and unit studies here.

Access all of our FREE Novel Studies for both modern and vintage literature here.

Nick & Tesla's Secret Agent Gadget Battle

Our spine novel for this unit is...

Secret Agent Gadget Battle - After foiling a gang of kidnappers and fending off an army of robots, 11-year-old siblings Nick and Tesla Holt could use a little rest! But as their third mystery opens, they discover there’s a spy in their midst, searching for secrets in the home of their beloved (and slightly crazy) Uncle Newt. Is it the new laboratory assistant? The exterminator? The housekeepers? Or someone completely unexpected? To expose the mystery agent, Nick and Tesla must engineer all kinds of outrageous contraptions, from code wheels and fingerprint powder to spy cameras and burglar detectors. Best of all, instructions are included throughout the story, so you can build the projects, too!

Learn more about Nikola Tesla and this series at our introductory post!

Access the complete unit study in the Science-Based Novel Studies Bundle!

Includes nine novel studies covering science-based topics. Each novel addresses a new topic, primarily falling into STEM, technology, and modern science.

• Each unit has introductory text, which will give the student basic background information about the topic at hand.
• There are photographs and illustrations, and we have also included primary documents when available.
• After this text, there are featured videos, which augment the background information and help make the topic more accessible for more visual students.
• You will also find a short list of reading books, including one featured novel – the spine of the unit.
• There are vocabulary words, places, and people to identify.
• Reading comprehension, critical thinking questions, and writing assignments are included.
• We add fun with hands-on activities and extra videos to watch that will bring the era to life.
• Some units also have cooking projects.

Product Samples – Fever 1793 & Nick and Tesla: High Voltage Danger Lab

These studies are directed toward upper grades students, but some have resources for younger students so that the whole family can work together. Our family has used unit studies as curriculum for many years, and we hope that your family will enjoy these, too!

Homemade Natural Bug Spray

*This was originally posted on Gypsy Road in June 2017*

The more I educate myself about DEET and other chemicals, the more I’m convinced I have to be proactive about finding better alternatives.   Going without isn't an option as mosquitoes and ticks seem to be out 24/7 in the summer...and being outside is a big part of summer on the homestead!

Instead of getting desperate and spraying on commercial bug sprays (that may contain some nasty chemicals), let's consider a better alternative... a natural bug repellent that smells wonderful, is effective, and takes only minutes to whip up!

Homemade Insect Repellent

Ingredients:

• 1 32 ounce bottle of Apple Cider Vinegar
• 2 TBSP each of dried Sage, Rosemary, Lavender, Thyme and Mint
• Quart size (or larger) glass jar with airtight lid

Directions:

1. Put the vinegar and dried herbs into large glass jar.
2. Seal tightly and store on counter or place you will see it daily. Shake well each day for 2-3 weeks.
3. After 2-3 weeks, strain the herbs out and store in spray bottles or tincture bottles, preferably in fridge.
4. To use on skin, dilute to half with water in a spray bottle and use as needed.
5. Use whenever you need serious bug control!
6. Fair warning: this stuff stinks when it is wet, though the smell disappears as it dries!

Natural Electrolytes

Working out in the heat of summer can take its toll on your body!  Today, we're going to focus on how you can address this serious summer concern with a homemade solution.  

I like to make up about a gallon ahead of time to keep on-hand in the fridge for use as needed.  (As an aside, I've also had friends and family use the replenishment drink as part of colonoscopy prep, with good results.)

Why should we care about electrolytes?
Our bodies rely on a balance of calcium, sodium, potassium, magnesium chloride, hydrogen phosphate (a mineral), and hydrogen carbonate (a salt), which are vital for survival. 

If we dilute them too much, it can lead to death by “water poisoning.” They regulate our nerve and muscle function, our hydration, the pH of our blood, rebuilding damaged tissue, and determining blood pressure.

During strenuous exercise or exposure to excessive heat, you sweat and lose electrolytes.  These homemade recipes will help to replenish the electrolytes without all of the added chemicals found in marketed versions.

Electrolyte Replenishment Drink

Ingredients  (makes one quart)

• 1/4 cup lime juice
• 1/4 cup lemon juice
• 1 ½ to 2 cups fresh water, depending on how strong you want the flavor
• 1/8 teaspoon of sea salt
• 2 tablespoons natural sugar or honey, to taste

Directions

• Blend everything together.
• Pour a glass over ice.

Lemon Barley Water

Ingredients

·         2 medium sized lemons

·        -1/ 4 cup pearl barley

·         3 cups water

·         1/ 8 to 1/ 4 cup honey

Directions

• Using a vegetable peeler, peel the zest of the lemons, avoiding the pith.
• Put the zest in a medium saucepan with the barley and the water.
• Squeeze the lemon juice into a cup and set aside.
• Bring to a boil , reduce heat, and simmer for 20 minutes, until barley is soft.
• Strain and discard the barley and the zest.
• Stir in the reserved lemon juice and honey.
• Chill before drinking. 

Midsummer Night's Dream & Celtic Mythology

Many of the Celtic myths derive from superstitions and folklore. There is a lot of crossover between the mythologies like that of Arthur and that of the Romans and Norse. Both cultures had quite a bit of influence on the legends, as they both controlled the land for quit some time. This led to many of their customs and legends becoming similar. 

One example is the fact that Lugh, an important god of Irish mythology, had a magic spear just as Odin had Gungnir, his spear. There is also a important figure named Dagda, who is shown to have a giant club and a skin draped over his shoulder, much like Heracles with his club and the skin of the Nemean Lion. 

Unfortunately, there isn't much to write about the actual myths themselves. Most of the mythologies of places such as Wales and Scotland were lost with the coming of Christianity. The myths, which were retold through oral communication, were altered by the Christian faith.  Some were even lost to history!

For this unit, A Midsummer Nights Dream is our spine read.

Access the complete unit study in the World Mythology Unit Studies Bundle!

Includes sixteen unit studies covering world mythologies. Each unit addresses a new topic, spanning ancient through modern history.

• Each unit has introductory text, which will give the student basic background information about the topic at hand.
• There are photographs and illustrations, and we have also included primary documents when available.
• After this text, there are featured videos, which augment the background information and help make the topic more accessible for more visual students.
• You will also find a short list of reading books, including a featured novel that the unit builds upon.
• There are vocabulary words, places, and people to identify.
• Reading comprehension, critical thinking questions, and writing assignments are included.
• We add fun with hands-on activities and extra videos to watch that will bring the era to life.

Product sample:  Percy Jackson & Greek Mythology

These studies are directed toward upper grades students, but some have resources for younger students so that the whole family can work together. Our family has used unit studies as curriculum for many years, and we hope that your family will enjoy these, too!

How to Write a Business Letter (and Why!)

As students become teens, it’s time for them to learn how to write a business letter. The goal of this writing is to articulate a concern and seek or suggest an action.

Whether you've experienced troubles or enjoyed your stay, a business letter or follow-up to a phone call is a life skill that all teens should learn. These letters aren't just for expressing displeasure -- they're also a great opportunity to point out what's right with your product / service...although all too often, these letters aren't the ones that get written. 

Business letters are used for the following situations :

• To praise a product, service supplier, or staff person
• To compliment a speaker
• To compliment or praise an author
• To praise someone for an achievement
• To complain about poor product quality or poor service
• To ask for political or social action or change
• To write a letter of recommendation
• To request information

A few notes :

• Letters may be written in block or indented form. See examples of both here.
• Be professional.  A business letter should be on par with a resume; clean and precise.  It should also be fair and not abusive (if it is a letter of complaint).
• Write clearly and to a point.  Use active writing and short paragraphs.  Keep it to a single page, if possible.
• Single space your letter and leave a space between each paragraph. Use a plain font like Arial or Times New Roman.
• Use underlining or bold print to emphasize a few words or a phrase that is the most important part of the letter.
• Be persuasive.  Suggest a solution and provide sound reasoning for the suggestion.
• Proofread your letter!!  I cannot stress this enough.

***************************************************************************

Writing Assignment

Use the sample letter below to practice writing a letter to one of these recipients :

• City council member 
• State legislator, representative, or governor 
• Owner of a local business 
• President or CEO of a corporation 
• College or university admissions department 
• Chamber of Commerce (to request brochures or travel information

***************************************************************************

Sample Letter Format

Contact Information (Your contact information. If you are writing on letterhead that includes your contact information, you do not need to include it at the start of the letter.)
Your Name
Your Address
Your City, State, Zip Code
Your Phone Number
Your Email Address

Date

Contact Information (The person or company you are writing to)
Name
Title
Company
Address
City, State, Zip Code

Dear Mr./Ms. Last Name: (Use a formal salutation, not a first name, unless you know the person extremely well. Note that the person's name is always followed by a colon (:) in a business letter, and not a comma. If you do not know the recipient’s name, it is still common (and safe) to use the old-fashioned “To Whom It May Concern:”).

The first paragraph of your letter should provide an introduction as to why you are writing so that your purpose is obvious from the very beginning.

In the following paragraphs, provide more information and specific details about your request or the information you are providing.

The last paragraph of your letter should reiterate the reason you are writing and thank the reader for reviewing your request. If appropriate, it should also politely ask for a written response or for the opportunity to arrange a meeting to further discuss your request.

Sincerely / Thank you,   (Choose one.)

Leave four lines for a Handwritten Signature (for a hard copy letter — use blue or black ink to sign the letter)

Typed Signature

Find more real-world writing lessons in The Writing Life course, included with your SchoolhouseTeachers membership!
Whether your student sees himself or herself going into a creative field in the future or not, writing concisely, clearly, and powerfully are skills each of us needs to learn. In The Writing Life: Learn to Write Well homeschool course, students are given the opportunity to learn just that.
This full-year course for high schoolers is just one of the 450+ courses included with a membership, which covers all classes for every student in your house!

Ten Best Vintage Novel Series for Boys

We live in a throw-away society that places a premium on all things new and shiny.  Toaster breaks?  Buy a new one.  Car not working right anymore?  Buy a new one.  New is supposed to be better.

But I don’t think that’s true…..especially when it comes to literature.

In 1944, C.S. Lewis stated, “There is a strange idea abroad that in every subject the ancient books should be read only by the professionals, and that the amateur should content himself with the modern books.”  He went on to say, “If a reader must read only the new or the old {books}, I would advise him to read the old.”

Reading aloud with my children - regardless of their ages - is one of my greatest mom passions.  I began reading to them in utero and am still keeping it up...umpteen years later.  I know that they are going to choose the more modern books to read in their free time, so we often choose vintage literature to read together as a family.

Why?

• Vintage literature tends to be cleaner and teach good morals.
• Vintage literature encourages children to dream, but also teaches them to help.
• Vintage literature provides a unique ‘primary source’ perspective on historic events.

When I discovered that Amazon carried Megapacks of these books, it was a Happy-Dance kind of day!!  These are such an amazing find, and here's why --

• Each megapack has between eight and fifty (!) books in it.
• They are priced from 59 cents to 1.99.  (That's for the whole pack, not per book.  A steal!)
• They're accessible anywhere, and I can loan them out just like a regular book.

See the Ten Best Vintage Novel Series for Girls.

	G.A. Henty Henty's stories typically center on a youth who is about 15-16 years old at the start of the story and run for the next five or six years. The story shows the virtue of education, discipline, and hard work...plus a lot of luck. There is quite a bit of history tucked into the pages as well!  These are the well-loved stories that have been adapted into Heirloom Audiobooks. The G.A. Henty Megapack collects 20 classic adventure novels -- more than 4,500 pages! -- by the great Victorian author.
	Dave Dawson Robert Sidney Bowen, Jr. (1900– 1977) was a World War I aviator, newspaper journalist, magazine editor and author. He was born in Boston, Massachusetts, and died of cancer in Honolulu, Hawaii, at the age of 76. Bowen is best known for his boys’ series books written during World War II, the Dave Dawson War Adventure Series and the Red Randall Series. He also worked under the name R. Sidney Bowen and under the pseudonym James Robert Richard.  Included in this volume are 14 novels in the Dave Dawson War Adventure series.
	Tom Swift Tom Swift seems to have unfathomable resources to do pretty much anything he wants. He can build things, do things, go places, and have extraordinary adventures!  Similar to the Rover Boys, but set just a bit before them, these will appeal to fans of Hardy Boys adventures. The Tom Swift Megapack presents the first 25 volumes of the famous series in proper order, with original cover illustrations.
	Sherlock Holmes The stories in this collection are relatively new; they are also short and conventional.  All but a few follow the comfortable and familiar, tried-and-true formula of having Dr. Watson serve as narrator.  The combination of plot, character, and setting are as expected from a Sherlock Holmes mystery. This volume assembles a mammoth collection of modern Sherlock Holmes stories -- no less than 25 tales -- by modern masters.
	Rover Boys The Rover Boys were precursors to the Hardy Boys -- three brothers who solved mysteries and had adventures at boarding school, on vacation, and abroad. They were considered to be decent, honorable chaps, and never mean-spirited. They were fun-loving, red-blooded American lads who had numerous adventures involving cars, boats, motorcycles, trains, airplanes, guns and other fun things. Their adventures often took them to grand and exciting places. For fans of Indiana Jones and The Hardy Boys, this set contains all twenty volumes of the series.
	Tom Corbett, Space Cadet When these books were written, it was believed that Mars had artificially-built canals filled with water,that Venus contained life and could be colonized, and that the planets in our solar system could be readily reached in just a few days.  This collection features Tom Corbett, Space Cadet series, plus Rip Foster Rides the Gray Planet, by Blake Savage; Star Born, by Andre Norton; and The Secret of the Ninth Planet, by Donald A. Wollheim. This set has ten sci-fi novels - all except the very last book of the series, Robot Rocket.
	King Arthur Matters Arthurian have been a theme in literature since the Middle Ages. King Arthur, Excalibur, the Knights of the Round Table, and the Quest for the Holy Grail are now part of popular culture. These stories employ the Arthurian legends, ranging from early epic poems to 19th and 20th century novels and stories, showing how these myths and legends continue to enjoy new life. Fans of knights and kings will enjoy these 19 stories!
	Boy Detectives This collection includes several stand-alone novels (not part of a series) that feature mysteries with boy detectives.  The tales feature boy detectives, from Mark Twain's "Tom Sawyer, Detective" to entries in the Mercer Boys, Ken Holt, Hal Keene, and Skippy Dare series, and lots more -- over 1,400 pages of great reading!  This collection features twelve stories.
	Aeroplane Boys Published between 1910 and 1913, the Aeroplane Boys series consisted of 8 books aimed at boys fascinated by the new technology of flight. It was written by H.L. Sayler under the pseudonym “Ashton Lamar” and focused on the adventures of a group of amateur flyers. The collection includes eight full-length novels.
	Dick Hamilton Boys' Adventure The Dick Hamilton series chronicles the adventures of a boy who struggles to keep the family fortune after his mother’s death. Fortune-seekers, a greedy uncle, and other perils await Dick around every corner.  Although not always politically correct by current standards, the stories are rollicking adventures. Fans of the original Hardy Boys, Rover Boys, Motor Boys, and other similar series will enjoy them. The set includes six books from the series.

Though not available in an e-book megapack, one of our all-time favorite read aloud series with the boys is Tales of the R.A.F.  There are six books in the series by Don Patterson.  They are set during World War 2 in England, and follow the lives of a Royal Air Force squadron and young Harry Winslow.  These brave, adventure stories with good morals will delight you and your children!

Access all of our FREE Novel Studies for both modern and vintage literature here.