American History Books for Middle School Students

Dave Raymond’s American History includes many selections from original materials. We’ve received requests from homeschool parents asking for a supplemental book list. We have compiled a list arranged in loose chronological order by the time period covered in the story.

In the Teacher’s Guide to the American History course, there are several pages of further reading recommendations, as well. Many of those are additional history texts or source documents. We’ve included a few of the more “story-driven” titles and the corresponding lesson number.

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American History Books for Children:

Of Plymouth Plantation by William Bradford
Johnny Tremain by Esther Forbes
The Last of the Mohicans by James Fenimore Cooper (Lesson 7)
Benjamin Franklin’s Autobiography (Lesson 9)
Carry On, Mr. Bowditch by Jean Lee Latham
The Sign of the Beaver by Elizabeth George Speare
Hero Tales from American History by Henry Cabot Lodge and Theodore Roosevelt (Lesson 11/12)
Huckleberry Finn & The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain
Across Five Aprils by Irene Hunt
Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
Mighty Rough Times, I Tell You ed. by Andrea Sutcliffe (Lesson 20)
Up from Slavery by Booker T. Washington (Lesson 26)

For younger readers (to keep up with their big brothers and sisters), a Junior American History Book List:

The Courage of Sarah Noble by Alice Dalgliesh
The Matchlock Gun by Walter Edmonds
Revolutionary War on Wednesday by Mary Pope Osborne
Keep the Lights Burning, Abbie by Peter and Connie Roop
Civil War on Sunday by Mary Pope Osborne
The Little House books by Laura Ingalls Wilder
Caddie Woodlawn by Carol Ryrie Brink
Buffalo Bill by Ingri and Edgar Parin d’Aulaire
Tree in the Trail by Holling C. Holling
Paddle-to-the-Sea & Minn of the Mississippi by Holling C. Holling

If your students are looking for something more difficult or a little off the beaten path, try this Bonus American History Book List:

The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne
The Legend of Sleepy Hollow by Washington Irving
The Journals of Lewis and Clark
Moby Dick by Herman Melville
Uncle Tom’s Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe
Life on the Mississippi & Roughing It by Mark Twain

This is probably more than you have time for in just one year (unless you stop taking the time to do math lessons – not recommended!). Enjoy these American History Book Lists, and let us know if there are any great titles we missed!

The Compass Classroom Reading Chart

Keep track of book titles and books read by printing a helpful Reading Chart. Page 1 lists all the books completed with a “rating” section. Page 2 offers a place to write down all the books you “want to read”. We hope you find our Reading Chart useful!

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