Young Adult Fiction Vocabulary word search, scramble and crossword puz

Young Adult Fiction Vocabulary word search, scramble and crossword puzzle

I made this young adult fiction vocabulary puzzle set for my 5th graders during our reading unit, though I've also used it with 6th graders who are just getting into YA novels. The kids had moved on from middle grade books and wanted to read "big kid" stories, but they had no idea what words like voice, authenticity, or coming-of-age meant when we talked about what makes YA fiction different from other genres. So I put together a word search, a word scramble, and a crossword using words like voice, point of view, coming-of-age, identity, diversity, contemporary, dystopian, romance, conflict, growth, and relatable. I also included "melodrama" because YA can be a little extra sometimes, and "romance" is definitely a subgenre in many stories, and "contemporary" to distinguish it from historical or fantasy YA. Nothing fancy — just puzzles to help the YA vocabulary finally stick.

The PDF is four pages. Three puzzles plus one answer key page. The word search works well for quiet time after recess or indoor recess. The scramble gets them talking because they argue about whether YA and middle grade are the same thing or whether age really matters. The crossword I use for partners or as a review after we read a YA short story. I added a couple simple book, thought bubble, and teen silhouette drawings but nothing too busy.

Works for 5th through 7th grade. Print and go. Sometimes I have early finishers write a short recommendation of their favorite YA book using three words from the puzzle on the back. The kids actually ask for these now.