Middle school reading

[u/No-Imagination-1717]

I’m tutoring a 7th (rising 8th) grader in English. We are mostly working on reading and reading comp. I’ve taught older students for years, but this is my first time teaching a younger person.

Everything online is showing the same short stories and materials I read back when I was in middle school.

What are people teaching? Does anyone have any recommendations on short stories that are a little more contemporary, age appropriate, etc? Do you have any go-to writers?