Most high school students are very curious about money. how it works, why some people have more than others, and how they can get something for themselves. High school students also start to crave higher-cost items that they probably can’t afford with their allowance and may not want to buy on a whim. This inherent curiosity about money makes it the perfect time to start teaching them more about saving, investing, and entrepreneurship.
In this post, there are five great money books geared towards high school students. Some are fiction books featuring young entrepreneurs who can teach your high schooler about creativity, investing, and saving money. Some are non-fiction books that make learning about money fun and give your kids solid ideas they can implement from now into their adult lives. the best part? Each of these books costs less than $10!
You are reading: Financial literacy books for middle school students
how to turn $100 into $1,000,000: win! save money! investing by james mckenna & jeannine glista
This book is one of my absolute favorite books for young money masters. It will teach your child how to set goals, budget, earn money through working and entrepreneurship, and how to invest.
What I love about Turning $100 into $1,000,000 is that it’s honest and doesn’t underestimate a child’s ability to understand money. While the writing is accessible to high school students, it explains great concepts like compound interest, credit card debt, mutual funds, and how to write a good business plan.
In general, most kids hate being talked to like they can’t understand things. “oh, you’ll understand when you’re older”, it’s a push and the kids know it. And in the case of money, those years lost until they can understand will make a big difference in their success or failure with money as adults. let them take risks and learn now when your absolute dollars are low.
my favorite chapter of this book has to be the last chapter: what could possibly go wrong? In this section, the authors discuss the top money mistakes people make, including spending more than they earn, taking on credit card debt, cheating, gambling, and not having a plan. I love that the book ends by refocusing kids on the realities of money and how there are no “get rich quick” schemes.
shopping on amazon: how to turn $100 into $1,000,000
lunch money by andrew clements
From the writer of Frindle and other amazing middle school fiction books, Lunch Money is a story of a boy named Greg who loves money. After noticing that his classmates have extra cash at lunchtime for snacks, he spends his summer developing a comic book he can sell at lunchtime. Lunch Money goes through the development of Greg’s business, his reaction to another classmate that becomes a competitor, and the benefit of teamwork and perseverance when your business runs into roadblocks.
This book is great for younger high school students who may not be asking questions directly about how money works, but who are at an age where you want to introduce the concepts of money and entrepreneurship. in the book greg has been saving money since he was 5 years old, his dad encourages him to open a bank account, and by age 12 he has already started a business. It’s a fun, well-written story that might motivate your middle schooler to start thinking about money!
See Also: Best Books to Read Before Travelling to Mexico – Original Travel
shopping on amazon: lunch money
grow money by gail karlitz
This book serves as a basic introduction to investing for middle school students. While not as comprehensive as How to Turn $100 into $1,000,000 (it doesn’t cover basic money concepts like budgeting and earning money), it is a beneficial book for learning about investing in the market. Kids will learn what bonds and stocks are, how to buy and sell stocks, the basics of mutual and index funds, and how to spot a scam.
Money Growing uses fun, real-world examples to explain its points to kids. It also includes short quizzes throughout the book to help reinforce concepts and help kids learn about their money-related personalities. one of my favorites was a quiz to find out what kind of risk taker you are.
While this book would be a useful introduction to investing for kids of any age, it seems geared toward a slightly younger reader than how to turn $100 into $1,000,000. focusing only on the concept of investing, rather than all aspects of money, might be easier for younger children to digest.
buy on amazon: make money grow
the toothpaste millionaire by jean merrill
Originally published in 1972, The Toothpaste Millionaire solidly falls in the “oldie but a goodie” category. This book can spark great discussions on frugality, making things yourself, investing, and starting a business.
In this realistic fiction story, sixth grader Rufus Mayflower is outraged by the price of toothpaste and sets out to see if he can make it cheaper. Along with his good friend Kate Mackinstrey, they develop a production plan and start producing and selling gallons of cheaper toothpaste. they even have a factory.
rufus creates the business idea and works with his friends to solve problems without adult influences throughout the book. Rufus and Kate solve math problems throughout the book to support middle school math concepts as well as money lessons. challenges high school students to be creative thinkers and problem solvers, showing them the potential benefits of thinking outside the box.
The other fantastic benefit of this book is that it tells the story of the friendship between a black boy and a white girl in 1960s cleveland. Focusing not on his racial and gender differences, but on the kid’s business, The Toothpaste Millionaire teaches kids about diversity and inclusion, as well as money.
See Also: 20 Best Batman Non-Graphic Novels
buy on amazon: the toothpaste millionaire
better than a lemonade stand! by daryl bernstein
After your kids start reading about money, they are likely to be excited about earning their own money and ways to start their own business. While they may have many ideas of their own, Better than a Lemonade Stand! has a host of excellent business ideas for kids. It covers what the business would do, the supplies your child would need, how much time it will take, and hints on running an efficient business and how much to charge.
one of my favorite ideas from this book was “seedling grower”! While your child may only be able to do this once a year, the lessons he could learn from sowing seeds in late winter indoors, caring for them, and selling the seedlings in the spring for a significant profit would be big business. this type of activity would teach kids a lot about the hard work and preparation that it takes to be successful. Plus, think of all the things they’d learn about flowers, fruits, and vegetables!
if you want to raise an entrepreneur, it’s best to let him learn by doing from the beginning. let them read this book and find a business idea that excites them, or maybe the plans spark their creativity! help them create a budget for their new business, but make sure the business stays yours!
buy on amazon: better than a lemonade stand!
If your middle schooler can read one or more of these books at his age, he’ll have an incredibly strong start to a lifetime of smart financial decisions. remember to choose books based on her interests and relate the lessons in the book to her real life. they will stay interested much longer and learn much more if their money lessons are based on things that matter to them. happy reading!
What books have you read with your children about money? what were your favourites? let us know!
note: it was a challenge to find well-written fiction books for high school students about money and entrepreneurship that had female leads. Both Lunch Money and Toothpaste Millionaire feature smart, motivated girls as supporting characters, but I’m still looking for a good option with the girl as the main character. If you have any suggestions let me know! otherwise, I could have a future book project on my hands…
