Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury (1995, Paperback, Reissue)

This book is sort of a like a beginner's version of 1984. It involves a society rapt by fear of books from their overbearing government. The government destroys any and all books they find and will imprison anyone guilty of their possesion.

Its a picture of what the world would collapse into if we were not afforded the wealth of knowledge of our predecessors. If it were not for the findings and literary masterpieces of the scientists and novelists before us, our human experience would dwindle.

Also involved is the horror of a government willing to kill its own civilians in order to maintain its ideals, which is now seen as an Orwellian future. However, where Orwell's 1984 might be a big too graphic or adult for teens, this book is a well suited substitute for teaching middle school students that books are important, knowledge is important, and also supports the old adage, "Absolute power corrupts absolutely."