Keeping Good Readers Engaged: The 5th Wave and Dystopian Novels
Updated: Apr 1
Not everyone is a struggling reader. Some junior-high students are on or above grade level, and they are trying to find a book or series that is exciting and will hold their interest.
For kids like this, dystopian novels are a great genre for suspense and excitement. For those not in the know, “dystopian novels” are set in the future, and that future is usually a grim, totalitarian society. The main character struggles to escape or survive.
The 5th Wave https://www.beyondwordslearning.com/product-page/the-5th-wave by Rick Yancy is a great example. It is the first of a three-part series, but the first novel is also a great stand-alone read. At 516 pages, this is not a book for slow readers, but it is age-appropriate for anyone 12 and older who is reading at a 7th-grade level or higher.
The story tells how 16-year-old Cassie Sullivan tries to survive in a post-apocalyptic world after four waves of alien attacks have decimated humanity. There are some scenes of death and devastation. There is a romance, but there is no physical intimacy. The second main character is male, and the book appeals to both girls and boys.
If students read this book for class or home school, they should be able to show that they have read it. Beyond Words Learning, we offer 50 study questions, broken down into three sections. We also offer a 50-questions quiz or test, including an essay question, over the whole book.
This book is a good introduction to the genre, and books like these are good for keeping good readers engaged and excited about reading.
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