In 8th grade, (1963/64) I was reading Girl of the Limberlost and Freckles by Gene Stratton Porter for book reports. I think one was written about 1904. I’d have to check.
The scene in "Laddie" where her little brother recites apropos Bible verses in meeting is absolutely riveting.
In 8th grade I was reading Wiiliam Shirer’s “Collapse of the Third Republic.” It was a natural follow up to his epic “Rise and Fall of the Third Reich” I read in 7th grade. I took breaks from them by reading articles in “Scientific American.”
OK, I was a nerd.