The Fellowship of Learning: Adventures in Education at Lorien Wood

At Lorien Wood, we value good books and encourage our students to develop a reading life of their own. In Form 4 (7th & 8th grade), students do a deep dive into the history of the world and enter imaginatively into the lives of people in other times and countries. These recommendations are meant to help students enter into engaging stories and put themselves in the shoes of others while getting a taste of some of the challenges of other time periods.

We hope these titles will spark your middle schooler's love for reading and bring joy to their literary adventures!

1. Bomb by Steve Sheikin

This book reads like a thriller! It’s an excellent history of the race to build the atomic bomb and the espionage that swirled around the German, British, Russian and American bomb programs.

2. The Story of the Trapp Family Singers by Maria von Trapp

Maria von Trapp tells her family’s experience of learning how to take joy in family life after she marries the widowed father of seven. This book provides a delightful depiction of life in pre-World War II Austria. It also recounts the family’s experience as immigrants to America and the re-creation of their family life as Americans.

3. The Scarlet Pimpernel by Baroness Orczy

An aristocratic woman has no idea that her English husband is involved in the daring effort to rescue French aristocrats from the guillotine. This adventure takes readers into the tumultuous days of the bloody French Revolution.

4. Boys in the Boat by Daniel James Brown

A true story of grit and resilience, this book tells the story of the creation of the 1936 American Olympic men’s rowing team. It’s a beautiful reminder of how we grow through hard experiences. An abridged version is also available for younger readers. 

5. God of the Fairy Tale by Jim Ware

Fairy Tales, like many fantasy stories or folktales, often express deep human experiences and longings that echo the Christian story. Jim Ware traces these connections and helps readers see the deeper truth embedded in fairy tales.

We love to cultivate reading here at Lorien Wood, a private school in Vienna, VA. Check out our leisure reading book lists!