Are you ready to read a book in English? There are many wonderful books for you to choose from: here are just a few fiction book recommendations for English learners.
Fiction Book Recommendations for English Learners
- 13 Reasons Why
- A Wrinkle In Time
- Charlotte’s Web
- The Giver
- The House on Mango Street
13 Reasons Why by Jay Asher
Warning: this is not a happy book! 13 Reasons Why is about a young girl named Hannah who commits suicide. Before she dies, Hannah makes tapes for the 13 people in her life who caused her pain. The book is very sad, but an excellent story about how we affect other people. The book is also a great look into life as an American teenager, which makes it very interesting for readers from other countries.
13 Reasons Why is now also a show on Netflix. It is great for students to watch a TV show or movie about a book they read: 13 Reasons Why is an excellent opportunity to do this.
A Wrinkle In Time by Madeleine L’Engle
A Wrinkle In Time is also a book that is now a movie (with Oprah!). This book is a classic children’s story that many adults love. In the book, Meg Curry searches for her father, a scientist who disappears. This book is magical and fun, and so is the movie!
Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White
This classic children’s novel is still a great recommendation for adults and English language learners. The book is about Wilbur, a little pig who lives on a farm. He becomes friends with Charlotte, a spider who creates beautiful webs. When Wilbur learns that he will be sold like all other pigs, Charlotte thinks of a plan: to create messages in her webs. Her plan is to convince the farmer to keep Wilbur. Does it work? Read the book to find out!
The Giver by Louis Lowry 
The Giver is often on lists of books that English learners should read. What makes it special? The writing is beautiful and the story is touching.* We don’t want to give away** much of the plot, so you will have to read it to learn why it is so special.
*touching: makes you feel emotion
**give away: to tell information that should be secret
The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros
Young Esperanza is living in the United States and is a child of immigrants. In very short chapters, she tells the reader about her life and neighborhood. We learn about her dreams, about the problems in her community, and about the struggles of being a child of immigrants. The House on Mango Street is a beautiful novella (short novel) that is taught in many high schools and universities in the U.S. Once you read it, you will see why.
You can buy The House on Mango Street or read it for free here.
You can also listen to it as an audiobook for free.
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