Wait Till Helen Comes

Use these links to supplement and complement students’ reading of the work and to increase their overall enjoyment of literature. Challenge them to discern parallel themes, engage through visual and aural stimuli, and delve deeper into the thematic possibilities presented by the title.

Recommended Texts for Pairing

Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark by Alvin Schwartz (1981)

• a classic collection of scary legends and folktales compiled by folklorist Alvin Schwartz
• The stories offer engaging opportunities for teaching literary devices and inspiring creative writing.

Not If I Can Help It by Carolyn Mackler (2019)

• Willa’s dad plans to marry her best friend’s mom, but Willa does not want to be sisters with her best friend.
• Like Wait Till Helen Comes, this middle grade novel addresses the themes of Learning to Be a Family and The True Nature of Friendship.

Love Like Sky by Leslie C. Youngblood (2018)

• In this middle grade story about a “blended-up” family, G-baby tries desperately to win her stepsister’s approval.
• Positive messages include the unconditional love of Family.

The Afterlife by Gary Soto (2005)

• As a ghost, 14-year-old Chuy learns important things about Family, Friendship, and love.
• Like Wait Till Helen Comes, this novel addresses the theme of Facing Death.

Other Student Resources

Teens Dealing with Death: Stories from My Students by Susan Romero (2014)

• A teacher shares stories “written by young people for young people.”
• Her students offer their personal experiences with death and loss, which connect to the novel’s theme of Facing Death. 

Teacher Resources

When Loss Gets Personal: Discussing Death through Literature in the Secondary ELA Classroom

• edited by Michelle M. Falter and Steven T. Bickmore
• includes activities, discussion prompts, and writing activities connected to different works of literature designed to engage students in thinking about Facing Death and loss