Short Stories for Middle School III

What if the story didn't end where the page did? What if a minor character had something to say, or an unseen witness had been watching all along? Short Stories for Middle School III pairs ten beloved, public-domain short stories, from Poe's "The Tell-Tale Heart" to Wilde's "The Selfish Giant", with original companion "side stories" that step just outside the frame of each classic. These aren't retellings. They're new narratives told from a bystander, a witness, or a character who never speaks in the source text, expanding each story's world while staying true to its tone and spirit. Featured classics include: Edgar Allan Poe's The Tell-Tale Heart Rudyard Kipling's Rikki-Tikki-Tavi Saki's The Interlopers O. Henry's The Ransom of Red Chief O. Henry's A Retrieved Reformation Kate Chopin's The Story of an Hour Anton Chekhov's The Bet Ambrose Bierce's An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge Oscar Wilde's The Selfish Giant Nathaniel Hawthorne's Dr. Heidegger's Experiment Every section comes fully equipped for the classroom, with: Teaching Notes covering key themes, literary techniques, and historical context Leveled Discussion Questions , moving from comprehension to critical synthesis Classroom Activities for pre-reading, during-reading, post-reading, and assessment Built on the belief that middle schoolers are capable of engaging with ambiguity and moral complexity, this collection doesn't hand students a single "right" interpretation. Instead, it opens the door to discussion and helps them build the analytical skills to walk through it themselves. Whether you're a classroom teacher planning a unit, a homeschool educator building a curriculum, or a literature circle looking for fresh angles on old favorites, Short Stories for Middle School III offers ten ready-to-teach packages that make classic literature feel newly alive.