Seasonal reading is a familiar practice teachers have been using and honing for decades. The concept of choosing to read a book set in the very season the reader is currently experiencing creates an immersive literary adventure for students. Let’s dive into 8 Winter Novels for Upper Elementary & Middle School Students That Boost Engagement.
Why Seasonal Reading Works in Upper Elementary and Middle School
Authors are intentional in creating the perfect setting, season, and mood for their stories. By reading the book in the very setting the story takes place, students can escape even more deeply into the novel’s plot and world.
When teaching elementary and middle school English, I loved reading Charlotte’s Web in the spring. It mimics the season in the novel and celebrates the birth of real baby farm animals. We read Stone Fox in January to match the snowy landscape. Plus, I loved teaching The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle around October to capture the spooky mood of the murder mystery.
Seasonal reading is a wonderful way to engage students in the novels you’re reading. It allows them to encounter the characters’ perspectives and the plot in a mesmerizing and enthralling journey.
Let’s step into the approach of seasonal reading by learning about 8 novels set in the wintertime. These novels will allow your upper elementary to middle school students to experience the magic of the season and the storyline deeply.
#1 My Side of the Mountain by Jean Craighead George (Winter Survival Novel)
Set in the Catskill Mountains, students will feel like they are camping with Sam Gribley and braving the winter elements as they read this novel. The author, Jean Craighead George, captures the cold solitude of winter and the solitude of Sam’s experience surviving on his own in the woods. Sam prepares his tree home for blizzards, stocks up on cozy food, and observes the habits of the animals during the cold season. Students will immerse themselves in a captivating and frosty adventure.
Interested in teaching My Side of the Mountain? Check out our Project-Based Learning Literature Unit.
#2 The Wild Robot by Peter Brown (Winter Ecology and Survival Themes)
I love how Peter Brown incorporates all of the seasons in The Wild Robot, especially the wintertime. Roz the robot washes up on the shore of a mysterious island. Soon, she uses her technology skills to immerse herself into the natural world as much as she can. The robot observes and experiences the seasonal habits of animals. My favorite part of the novel is when Roz saves multiple animals in a massive blizzard and houses them in her cozy lodging. This combining of prey with predators, and defying the basic laws of nature, is one of the most intriquing parts of the novel. This novel merges science with literature, allowing students to learn winter ecology in an interesting and new way.
Interested in teaching The Wild Robot in a hands-on manner? Check out our Project-Based Learning Literature Unit.
#3 Touching Spirit Bear by Ben Mikaelsen (Winter Survival & Personal Growth)
Recommended for middle schoolers, Touching Spirit Bear is a quintessential wintertime novel. Cole Matthews is banished to an Alaskan island as an alternative to prison. Once there, he must survive completely on his own, complete schoolwork, live in isolation, and face his demons. Shortly after arriving, he is mauled by a white spirit bear and must fight for his life in one of the most grisly, descriptive novels I’ve ever read. After recovering, he chooses to return to the island. Once there, he must not only physically survive the harshness of an Alaskan winter but also mentally heal from the damage inflicted on him and the damage he inflicted on others. Students can explore the themes of isolation, survivorship, struggle, and how the setting mimics and encapsulates those core ideas.
Interested in teaching Touching Spirit Bear? Check out our Project-Based Learning Literature Unit.
#4 Brian’s Winter by Gary Paulsen (Cold-Weather Survival Sequel to Hatchet)
If your students have read Hatchet, by Gary Paulsen, its sequel is bound to captivate them just as much. If Brian had never been rescued at the end of the summer in the first book, Brian’s Winter explores the alternative ending. It shows the reality in which Brian must survive a Canadian winter, bringinga whole new set of challenges. Using his hatchet, the survival skills he learned through the summer, and his brain and brawn, Brian must harness another deeper type of strength to adapt to winter in Canada. Students will love exploring Brian’s resilience, resourcefulness, and resolve in this enrapturing winter novel.
Do you teach Hatchet? Check out our project-based learning unit.
#5 The War That Saved My Life by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley (Winter Historical Fiction)
The War that Saved My Life is a heartrending novel about a young girl named Ada and her little brother, Jamie. They lived during WWII as children evacuees in England. Ada, who has suffered from a club foot since birth, endured traumatic neglect and abuse at the hands of her mother, is then thrust into the care of a grieving woman, Susan, during a horrific war. Susan and Ada and Jamie learn to trust one another and survive wartime together.
The novel covers a span of years, but most definitely explores the winter season with its descriptions of brutal winters, little food, blackouts, and how the harshness of the winter season mirrors the harshness of the war. This historical fiction novel also mentions the real-life event of the German U-boats sinking in January and February, which puts a spotlight on how the bleak winters severely impact the war and those trying to survive it.
Interested in teaching The War that Saved My Life? Check out our Project-Based Learning Unit here:
#6 The Call of the Wild by Jack London (Classic Winter Adventure Novel)
If your students have read Hatchet, by Gary Paulsen, its sequel is bound to captivate them just as much. If Brian had never been rescued at the end of the summer in the first book, Brian’s Winter explores an alternative ending and reality in which Brian must survive a Canadian winter, bringing a whole new set of challenges. Using his hatchet, the survival skills he learned through the summer, and his brain and brawn, Brian must harness another deeper type of strength to adapt to winter in Canada. Students will love exploring Brian’s resilience, resourcefulness, and resolve in this enrapturing winter novel.
Do you teach Hatchet? Check out our project-based learning unit.
#5 The War That Saved My Life by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley (Winter Historical Fiction)
The War that Saved My Life is a heartrending novel about a young girl named Ada and her little brother, Jamie, living during WWII as children evacuees in England. Ada, who has suffered from a club foot since birth, endured traumatic neglect and abuse at the hands of her mother, is then thrust into the care of a grieving woman, Susan, during a horrific war. Susan, Ada, and Jamie learn to trust one another and survive wartime together.
The novel covers a span of years, but most definitely explores the winter season with its descriptions of brutal winters, little food, blackouts, and how the harshness of the winter season mirrors the harshness of the war. This historical fiction novel also mentions the real-life event of the German U-boats sinking in January and February, which puts a spotlight on how the bleak winters severely impact the war and those trying to survive it.
Interested in teaching The War that Saved My Life? Check out our Project-Based Learning Unit here:
#6 The Call of the Wild by Jack London (Classic Winter Adventure Novel)
When teaching middle school, I loved to read aloud The Call of the Wild by Jack London during the winter. When the movie came out in February 2020, we went on a field trip to the movie theater to see it. It was a blast! The Call of the Wild is another must-read winter novel. For younger students, the abridged version is a more straightforward and streamlined version that I recommend.
The settings of the Klondike region of Canada and Alaska during the Gold Rush allow students to explore wintertime in a historical time period, all while learning about dog sledding, the challenges of the winter wilderness, and the primitive conditions of the region. The Call of the Wild is a wonderful winter read and an enduring classic. Dog-lovers and adventure enthusiasts will love this novel.
#7 Winterhouse by Ben Guterson (Winter Fantasy and Mystery Novel)
Winterhouse, the first in a trilogy, captures the whimsical magic of winter and the enchanting charm of a fantasy story. Winterhouse whisks readers away to a snowbound hotel filled with secrets, puzzles, and magic. Set during the coldest season, the story features icy landscapes, cozy fireside moments, blizzards, and long winter nights spent exploring a towering library. As Elizabeth unravels the mysteries hidden within Winterhouse, the wintry setting becomes part of the magic, creating a seasonal, comforting, and suspenseful read that’s ideal for curling up with on a winter day.
#8 The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis (Winter Fantasy with Symbolism)
Another winter fantasy book, The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe has it all: an ice queen, aka The White Witch, a frozen castle, cozy animal burrows, snowy landscapes, twinkly lampposts, a mysterious wardrobe, and four adventurous siblings willing to brave the wilds of winter to restore hope to a land.
The author, C.S. Lewis, uses the setting of winter as a symbol of the White Witch’s control and the absence of hope in Narnia. The land is trapped in “always winter and never Christmas,” representing emotional and spiritual coldness, fear, and joylessness under her rule. As Aslan the lion returns, the snow begins to melt, symbolizing renewal, freedom, and the restoration of life, showing winter as a powerful contrast to spring’s warmth, goodness, and hope.
If you’re looking for a novel that explores winter as a deep symbol, plot point, and even as a character of its own, this book is the perfect example.
Teaching Characterization With Any Winter Novel
Looking for an ELA resource that can be used with any of the above novels? Our Characterization unit is meant for any and every book you teach! Students can dive into a wealth of activities designed to captivate interest and foster a deeper understanding of character development. Study in-depth character traits, unravel symbolism, and explore foil character dynamics. Each activity builds a deeper appreciation for analyzing dynamic and static characters.Students investigate protagonist and antagonist profiles through guided analysis. They also design mood boards and create role-playing scripts. This guide offers engaging activities to explore character depth and complexity. It works with any novel or short story of your choice.
Conclusion: Why Winter Novels Create Meaningful Reading Experiences for Students
Seasonal reading invites students to step fully into a story. These eight winter novels offer a unique opportunity to explore themes of survival, resilience, hope, and transformation through powerful settings. Whether students are braving blizzards alongside determined characters or uncovering mysteries in snow-covered worlds, these novels bring the season to life. Winter becomes vivid and meaningful on the page. By intentionally pairing your reading list with the season, you deepen comprehension and engagement. You also create memorable reading experiences that students will carry with them long after winter ends.
