Short Stories for Middle School

To encourage the love of literature in classrooms all over the world, we recommend these short stories for middle school students, chosen to encourage a passion for reading, thinking about, and discussing great literature.

Our selection showcases the incredible variety of approaches and techniques that great writers have used to entertain us with the short story genre. These stories wander from suspenseful to humorous to surprising; often with a "twist ending" and drive home the concept of irony. We hope they inspire meaningful classroom discussions, build critical analysis skills, and are fun to read. For an encore list, enjoy Short Stories for Middle School II, and then on to Short Stories for High School.

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The Necklace
The Necklace

The Necklace

by Guy de Maupassant

Madame Mathilde Loisel is blessed with great beauty but little wealth. Though she dreams of attending extravagant parties and balls bedecked with sparkling jewels, she is married to a low-paid clerk of modest means. Her husband sets the story in motion when he manages to acquire an invitation to a society party in a quest to make her happy. This is a classic morality tale highlighting the twin pitfalls of vanity and pride. Enrich the story with our The Necklace Study Guide

The Open Window

by H.H. Munro

A mischievous young woman with a very big imagination and a gift for drama "entertains" a house caller waiting on her aunt by spinning a theatrical tale. One can safely assume that Mr. Framton Nuttle will never be the same again. The point here is simple: short stories are fun!

To Build a Fire

by Jack London

"The dog did not know anything about thermometers" but it had the sense to know "that it was no time for travelling." The man's judgement was not as good as the dog's, and that sets the stage for a classic man vs. nature story.

Thank You, M'am

by Langston Hughes

A teenage boy tries to snatch the purse of a large woman walking alone at night. She doesn't scream, she doesn't run, and she doesn't call the police. Instead, Mrs. Luella Bates Washington Jones does something Roger never expected: she drags him home, feeds him dinner, and treats him with a dignity he's never known. Hughes wrote this story with the economy and directness that defined the best of the Harlem Renaissance, and in just a few pages delivers a powerful lesson about empathy, trust, and the kind of kindness that changes a life. This is one of the most widely assigned short stories in American middle schools. Note: Our page features a summary and analysis of this story rather than the full text.

The Sniper

by Liam O'Flaherty

The setting for the The Sniper is the Battle of Dublin, a series of street fights that occurred between June 28th and July 5th, 1922. These battles marked the beginning of the Irish Civil War. The protagonist is a sniper that takes a calculated risk; the consequences of that decision have lethal consequences . . . But for whom?

The Star

by H.G. Wells

Another selection from H.G. Wells. This is a suspenseful, gripping and well written story, where the author smartly plays "what if" with a potential ending of the world, and turns a beautiful phrase or two while doing it, "So, too, barbarism and savagery, already tired of the novelty, went about their nightly business, and save for a howling dog here and there, the beast world left the star unheeded."

Federigo's Falcon

by Giovanni Boccaccio

This tale, from Boccaccio's The Decameron (1353), makes an interesting companion piece to O. Henry's classic The Gift of the Magi. Both stories feature irony and a twist, but they make an interesting foil when paired together for classroom discussion.

The Canterville Ghost

by Oscar Wilde

This is a rather long short story but a funny and rewarding read, as Oscar Wilde turns the typical ghost story on its head. Sir Simon de Canterville has been happily haunting Canterbury Chase, frightening its inhabitants, for over three hundred years. Then the estate falls into the hands of an American family armed with American manners and sensibilities. It really is more than an aristocratic British ghost can bear.

The Storyteller

by H.H Munron (SAKI)

Explore Saki's "The Storyteller," a captivating tale that deftly weaves humor and a subtle critique of societal norms, perfect for engaging middle school minds in discussions about storytelling, behavior, and the unexpected twists of irony. This short story not only entertains but also enriches young readers' appreciation for literary techniques and narrative structure, making it an excellent choice for fostering critical thinking and a love for reading.
That Spot by Jack London
That Spot

That Spot

by Jack London

A hilarious tale about an incorrigible sled dog in the Yukon who cannot be gotten rid of. The narrator and his partner try every scheme imaginable to unload the lazy, thieving mutt — giving him away, abandoning him, even selling him — but Spot always comes back. Jack London is best known for dramatic adventure stories, so this lighter, comic side of his writing is a fun surprise for students and a great way to discuss tone, narrator reliability, and how humor works in fiction.

More recommended titles are available in Short Stories for Middle School II

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