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Roald Dahl, Ray Bradbury, Lucille Fletcher, Neil Gaiman & more. Free PDF, links to all stories, lesson plans for teachers.
- Recitatif by Toni Morrison
- Stone Animals by Kelly Link
- Hearts and Hands by O. Henry
- The Fir Tree by Hans Christian Andersen
- The Diamond Necklace by Guy de Maupassant*
- The Story of An Hour by Kate Chopin
- The Library of Babel Jorge Luis Borges
- Daedalus and Icarus*
- The Paper Menagerie by Ken Liu
- The Boastful Bamboo from A Book of Japanese Folk Stories and Fairy Tales*
“The minute I walked in and the Big Bozo introduced us, I got sick to my stomach. It was one thing to be taken out of your own bed early in the morning—it was something else to be stuck in a strang...
Why we love it: Morrison’s stated goal in this short story, which begins in an orphanage, was to remove “all racial codes from a narrative about two characters of different races for whom racial identity is crucial.” Also, it’s perfect for studying style and spurring conversation.
“Carleton was serious about how he played. Tilly sat on the landing, reading a book, legs poking out through the railings. Whenever Carleton ran past, he thumped her on the head, but Tilly never sa...
Why we love it: It’s a longer short story, and is rich with stylistic and narrative elements that it can serve as a novella. So, save time to teach this short story over a few weeks.
“Among the newcomers were two young men, one of handsome presence with a bold, frank countenance and manner; the other a ruffled, glum-faced person, heavily built and roughly dressed. The two were...
Why we love it: Middle school readers are often ready for the classics and even though O. Henry’s language can be tough for kids today, “Hearts and Hands” is quick and clear and hits exactly as you want his stories to hit.
“And the Wind kissed the Tree, and the Dew wept tears over him; but the Fir understood it not.”
Why we love it: It’s a poetic fairy tale, and it’s great for teaching theme. Use this story to teach literary elements and figurative language.
“The sight of the little Breton girl who came to do the work in her little house aroused heart-broken regrets and hopeless dreams in her mind.”
Why we love it: The Necklace is a great story to use to teach character development. Scaffold this older text for students by providing supports for background knowledge and vocabulary.
“Knowing that Mrs. Mallard was afflicted with a heart trouble, great care was taken to break to her as gently as possible the news of her husband’s death.”
Why we love it: It’s a perfect anchor text for a discussion assignment.
“Like all men of the Library, I have traveled in my youth; I have wandered in search of a book, perhaps the catalogue of catalogues; now that my eyes can hardly decipher what I write, I am preparin...
Why we love it: Welcome to Borges’s world of magical realism. Read this story as an example of magical realism, or as part of a unit about authors whose work bent reality in all kinds of ways.
“Daedalus of Athens was a son of Metion, grandson of Erectheus. He was the most skillful man of his time–an architect, sculptor, and stone worker…But skillful, zealous, and active as he was in his...
Why we love it: Daedalus and Icarus is a great way to introduce middle schoolers to mythology. It’s a simple enough story, but with enough complexity to strengthen students’ ability to focus and read line by line to fully grasp the story about the dangers of being overconfident.
“I didn’t know this at the time, but Mom’s breath was special. She breathed into her paper animals so that they shared her breath, and thus moved with her life. This was her magic.”
Why we love it: Liu writes a subtle story, which makes it exciting for students to uncover elements of craft. Use this story as a practice in close reading and assign students to small groups to read aloud and talk about how the story unfolds.
“Beneath the gleaming snows of Fuji lay a great forest. There many giant trees grew, the fir, the pine, the graceful bamboo, and the camelia trees. The balmy azaleas and the crinkled iris bloomed i...
Why we love it: This story injects Japanese folk tales into the curriculum so students can learn more about Japan, and see how story telling and fairy tale elements are similar and different across cultures.
Looking for SHORT STORIES WITH QUESTIONS? These reading activities are PERFECT for CLASSROOM USE. Well-written and with an interesting twist. PRINT, EDIT, or COMPLETE ONLINE for FREE!
- All Summer in a Day. "All Summer in a Day" by Ray Bradbury is a science fiction short story that transports us to Venus, where the sun only shines for two hours every seven years - quite the weather shock, huh?
- Amigo Brothers. "Amigo Brothers" is a heartwarming tale by Piri Thomas, revolving around two best friends, Antonio and Felix, both superb boxers from New York City.
- The Scholarship Jacket. "The Scholarship Jacket" by Marta Salinas is an inspiring tale that tackles themes of perseverance, integrity, and the true meaning of success.
- Icarus and Daedalus. "Icarus and Daedalus" is a captivating Greek myth that paints a vivid picture of inventiveness, daring, and the perils of overconfidence.
- The Necklace – Guy De Maupassant. In “The Necklace”, a woman borrows an expensive piece of jewelry from a wealthy friend, only to lose it. She then spends the rest of the story trying to repay her debt.
- Lamb to the Slaughter – Roald Dahl. “Lamb to the Slaughter” focuses on a scorn woman, who has murdered her husband with a frozen leg of lamb. The rest of the story revolves around her trying to hide her guilt and conceal the evidence.
- To Build a Fire – Jack London. “To Build a Fire” by Jack London is a gripping tale of a man’s struggle for survival in the harsh and unforgiving Yukon wilderness.
- The Tell Tale Heart – Edgar Allan Poe. “The Tell-Tale Heart” by Edgar Allan Poe is a classic tale of suspense and psychological horror. The story unfolds through the eyes of an unnamed narrator, who insists on his sanity while describing the meticulous planning and execution of the murder of an old man.
A collection of short stories for middle school students, chosen to encourage reading, thinking and discussing great literature. The stories cover various genres, themes and authors, and include study guides and links to more resources.
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Find 10 short stories for middle school students that can be read online or downloaded as PDFs. These stories cover various themes, genres, and literary terms, and are perfect for teaching and learning.
