16 Books to Start Your (Secondary) Classroom Library

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links to Amazon.

I'm currently on the hunt to improve my classroom library, so I turned to some of my fellow English teachers on Instagram and asked them what THEY considered to be can't-miss books.

And here are their answers!


Whether you are STARTING your first classroom library or want to shake yours up, these titles are a wide variety of content and difficulty.

Each image below was taken by the respective teacher who recommended it. Click on the hyperlinks to read each teacher's book talk (and/or grab the book on Amazon).

#1. A Long Walk to Water

Recommended by @secondarysara. Link to Amazon.

#2: The Hunger Games trilogy

Recommended by @mrsorman. Link to Amazon.

#3: Fish in a Tree

Recommended by @2peasandadog. Link to Amazon.

#4: Notes from the Midnight Driver

Recommended by @elabuffet. Link to Amazon.

#5: The Maze Runner

Recommended by @mrsspanglerinthemiddle. Link to Amazon.

#6: Refugee

Recommended by @hansonhallway. Link to Amazon.

#7: The Book Thief

Recommended by @stacey.lloyd. Link to Amazon.

#8: Wonder

Recommended by @theclassroomsparrow. Link to Amazon.

#9: Life as We Knew It (series)

Recommended by @literarysherri. Link to Amazon.

#10: Holes

Recommended by @prestoplans. Link to Amazon.

#11: The Westing Game

Recommended by @theliterarymaven. Link to Amazon.

#12: Inside Out & Back Again

Recommended by @nouvelle_ela. Link to Amazon.

#13: Salt to the Sea

Recommended by @addiewilliams_tpt. Link to Amazon.

#14: The Sky is Everywhere

Recommended by @room213tpt. Link to Amazon.

#15: Out of my Mind

Recommended by @elaclassroom. Link to Amazon.

#16: Percy Jackson's Greek Gods

Recommended by @readingandwritinghaven. Link to Amazon.

Which other books would you recommend? 

Tell us in the comments!