Grades 7-8 Students
Suggested Reading List

(Ages 12-14)

1. "A Single Shard" by Linda Sue Park
   Set in 12th-century Korea, this story follows an orphan who dreams of becoming a potter, linking to traditional crafts and materials.
2. "The Sewing Circles of Herat: A Personal Voyage Through Afghanistan" by Christina Lamb
   A journalist's account of women's lives in Afghanistan, focusing on clandestine sewing circles during the Taliban regime.
3. "The Secret Life of Bees" by Sue Monk Kidd
   A coming-of-age novel set in the 1960s South, with references to quilt-making as a form of storytelling and cultural expression.
4. "The Red Tent" by Anita Diamant
   A reimagining of the biblical story of Dinah, with detailed descriptions of ancient textile practices and women's lives.
5. "Bread and Roses, Too" by Katherine Paterson
   The story of a young girl during the 1912 textile strike in Lawrence, Massachusetts, highlighting labor issues in the textile industry.
6. "Counting by 7s" by Holly Goldberg Sloan
   A novel about an unusual girl who finds comfort in gardening and nature, with references to sustainable practices in textiles.
7. "The House on Mango Street" by Sandra Cisneros
   A series of vignettes about a young Latina girl growing up in Chicago, with references to cultural textile traditions.
8. "Out of the Dust" by Karen Hesse
   A novel in verse about a girl living during the Dust Bowl, with themes of resilience and resourcefulness, touching on homemade textiles.
9. "Uprising" by Margaret Peterson Haddix
   The story of three young women involved in the 1911 Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire, focusing on labor conditions in the textile industry.
10. "Esperanza Rising" by Pam Muñoz Ryan
    A historical novel about a young girl who emigrates from Mexico to California, with themes of social justice and references to traditional weaving.

Help grow The Textile Gateway by sharing your valuable suggestions and resources! Industry experts, educators, and students – submit your ideas to enhance our platform and foster a richer learning community.