Read-alikes: Students engage with journalism

Student journalism is a rich subject to explore for themes that include the ethics of reporting and the responsibility of a news publisher to the community it serves. This booklist features several books written for upper-elementary reading audiences. While the youthful protagonists come from varying backgrounds, they all engage with the power and responsibility of news media.

The Last Newspaper Boy in America
by Sue Corbett
David family males have delivered the newspaper in Steele, Penn. for as long as the town has existed, with each boy taking over the route when he turns 12 years old.

On the eve of his 12th birthday, Wil David receives unwelcome news: the Cooper County Caller will end newspaper delivery to Steele. Wil’s efforts to save newspaper delivery take place against the backdrop of a town trying to survive hard times.

The Landry News by Andrew Clements
Fifth-grader Cara Landry creates her own newspaper, with an editorial rebuking her teacher, Mr. Larson, for failing to teach his students.

At first resentful of the editorial, Mr. Larson concludes Cara is right. He’s inspired to draft lessons around freedom of the press and the responsibilities of journalism, while Cara learns an important lesson about the “heart” with which a newspaper can color its reporting of “the facts.”

Girl Reporter Blows Lid Off Town!
by Linda Ellerbee
Aspiring journalist Casey Smith resents the involvement of a classmate, Megan O’Connor, in her efforts to revive her middle school’s student newspaper. Casey is determined to prove that a paper mill is polluting the local river; she learns to appreciate Megan’s guidance as she pursues her investigation. This book dramatizes the ethics of news-gathering and illustrates the contributions made by an editor when shaping the final report.

Darnell Rock Reporting by Walter Dean Myers
A school-paper editorial by 13-year-old Darnell Rock prompts a discussion by the city council about what to do with a vacant lot and leads to an invitation to write an article for the local newspaper.

Through interviewing a homeless man and observing what happens after his article makes it into print, Darnell learns first-hand about the power of the press to give a voice to people who are marginalized by society — and the importance of not dismissing any person’s potential.


Blog author’s note: On the Harris County (Texas) Public Library website, Linda Stevens defines the “read-alike” as “a book or series that shares a commonality with another book or series that might appeal to the same reader. It could be a similar tone, setting, depth of characterization or type of plot.” A good read-alike, according to Stevens, “connects the elements you enjoy through different books and authors.”