As a teacher, I looked for fictional texts that helped bring historical events to a level - an emotional level - to which my students could easily relate.
This was excellent for Social Studies, 8th grade, C8.PO5 and 08 (WWII and Holocaust), and C8.PO14 (Middle East in 20 & 21st Centuries).
In English, it hit RL. 8.2 theme, RL.8.3, and RL.8.5.
The parallel storytelling, in such a compact format, allowed for quick, easy comparing and contrasting as students read. Use the graphic organizer of your choice, and there are plenty of others available online for free.
The publisher, Scholastic, offers a lesson plan and discussion guide, but there are commercially available reading guides with chapter-by-chapter comprehension questions also available for sale.
