This is the 'Great American Novel' for a reason, but don't just toss it to your middle-schooler and hope for the best. Between the phonetic spelling of 1880s slang and the relentless use of the N-word, it’s a difficult read for a modern brain.

That said, the core of the story—a kid realizing that the society he lives in is morally broken and choosing his own path—is essential. It’s better as a shared read or something you discuss chapter-by-chapter rather than a solo assignment. If your kid finds it boring, it's likely because of the dialect, not the story itself.