Murder on the Orient Express, by Agatha Christie. This classic mystery novel is considered one of Christie’s best. It’s a page-turner that lets the reader think they know “whodunnit.” (Expect plot twists). There are colorful characters, fun period details, and an unassuming sleuth—in this case, Hercule Poirot. The 8th grade English teachers chose this book because it’s just plain fun to read. It also introduces the connections between the great empires of the 19th and 20th centuries, as the train hurtles with “the murderer aboard” from Istanbul through Eastern Europe to France. Along the way, it asks the questions: is there ever a limit to the reach of the law? Can money and privilege allow a murderer to walk free?
Your Eighth Grade Teachers
Murder on the Orient Express, by Agatha Christie. This classic mystery novel is considered one of Christie’s best. It’s a page-turner that lets the reader think they know “whodunnit.” (Expect plot twists). There are colorful characters, fun period details, and an unassuming sleuth—in this case, Hercule Poirot. The 8th grade English teachers chose this book because it’s just plain fun to read. It also introduces the connections between the great empires of the 19th and 20th centuries, as the train hurtles with “the murderer aboard” from Istanbul through Eastern Europe to France. Along the way, it asks the questions: is there ever a limit to the reach of the law? Can money and privilege allow a murderer to walk free?