8 Valentine’s Day Books To Recommend to Students
Looking for your next in-class novel or a list of timely independent reading recommendations for your students this February? We have novel studies for a collection of Valentine’s Day books that includes articles, videos, and lesson ideas to help students build background knowledge to make connections to themselves, the world, and other media.
[1. “Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe” by Benjamin Alire Sáenz](id-aristotle)
In Sáenz’s novel, two Mexican-American teenagers form a friendship and help each other navigate self-identity questions and family secrets. Students can build background knowledge of the themes in the novel by exploring articles on topics like:
How gender norms and expectations affect children.
How to handle conflict in family, friend, and romantic relationships.
Why teens think boys shouldn’t have to hide their feelings.
[2. “The Book of Unknown Americans” by Cristina Henriquez](id-unknown)
In “The Book of Unknown Americans,” a Mexican family immigrates to the United States to get medical treatment for one of their daughters and must navigate love, loss, and the search for identity along with other immigrant families. Students can learn more about migrant experiences described in the novel by exploring resources like:
Statistics on the immigrant population in the United States like origin countries, employment, and language proficiency.
The definition and evolution of the American Dream.
Key information and talking points that are often missing from debates about immigration.
[3. “Everything, Everything” by Nicola Yoon](id-everything)
In Yoon’s novel, Maddie, a teenager with Severe Combined Immunodeficiency (SCID), falls in love with her neighbor and must confront her fears about leaving her sterile environment to explore the outside world. Students can better understand the themes of chronic illness and anxiety through content on topics like:
How chronic disease can affect your mental health.
If positive connections with other people can help your immune system.
Why creating art can be a stress relieving activity.
[4. “The Fault in Our Stars” by John Green](id-stars)
In “The Fault in Our Stars,” two teenage cancer patients fall in love at a group therapy meeting, which takes them on both a physical and metaphorical journey while experiencing emotions like loss, uncertainty, and grief. Students can better understand these emotions for themselves by exploring content on topics like:
How and why people get cancer.
Ways to cope with the death of a loved one.
Why Maslow’s hierarchy of needs matters and helps us function.
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[5. “The Love and Lies of Rukhsana Ali” by Sabina Khan](id-lies)
In Khan’s novel, Rukhasana Ali, a Bengali Muslim woman, must deal with her feelings of love that don’t coincide with her conservative family’s values and upbringing. Students can explore more about the themes in this novel with resources like:
An article that explores the culture, language, and traditional attire of Bangladesh.
An article about the experiences of “Third Culture Kids” who grow up in a culture different from their parents.
A video that explains five different parenting styles and how they influence our lives.
[6. “Pride and Prejudice” by Jane Austen](id-pride)
In “Pride and Prejudice,” middle-class Elizabeth Bennet and upper-class Mr. Darcy must overcome their initial emotions for one another influenced by their social standings. Students can learn more about the setting, characters, and themes of the novel with resources like:
A video that looks at the characters’ personalities.
An article that explores the characteristics of healthy and unhealthy relationships.
An article that explains how gender stereotypes become rooted in society by age 10.
[7. “Romeo and Juliet” by William Shakespeare](id-romeo)
One of Shakespeare’s most famous works, “Romeo and Juliet” follows the tragic love story of two teenagers who can’t publicly declare their love for one another because of their feuding families. Students can learn more about the complex themes in this novel by exploring resources like:
A video timeline of William Shakespeare’s life.
An article about the Loving v. Virginia court case that made interracial marriage legal.
The full text of Aristophanes' explanation of the search for love to Plato.
[8. “Stargirl” by Jerry Spinelli](id-stargirl)
In Spinelli’s novel, a new person named Stargirl joins a local high school and embraces her individuality, which causes another student, Leo, to question why he wants to fit in so badly. Students can consider how social dynamics in groups work by exploring articles on topics like:
The fundamentals of social identity.
How positive self-talk can help you achieve your goals.
How animal groups also experience peer pressure during adolescence.
Explore more stories with Newsela ELA
Whether your students love these love stories or would rather read about fantasy, science fiction, or something in between, there’s a book out there just waiting for them.
Newsela ELA’s Novel and Book Studies collection can help your students build background knowledge on tough-to-teach topics, practice in-context literacy skills, and explore diverse perspectives when reading a whole-class novel or when they’re exploring books for fun.
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