5 Short Stories for Valentine's Day (with a Twist)

Sometimes it’s fun to put a fun twist on Valentine’s Day for your upper middle and high school students. This is especially true when some of the boys in your classroom think love is lame. You know the ones I'm talking about. The ones who vocalize everything they think is lame ... oh. so. loudly!

So, here's a list of Valentine's Day short stories with a twist, because sometimes you need to trade in the sweet milk chocolate candies in the heart-shaped box for a little dark chocolate.

King Midas and the Golden Touch Be careful who (or in this case, what) you love! If ever there was a story that conveyed the message that you should always remember to love people, not things, this Greek myth is certainly it! (There are many versions of the story available online for free. In some versions, Midas has a daughter, and in other versions, he does not. I personally prefer the versions that include his daughter.)

Lamb to the Slaughter by Roald Dahl

Patrick Maloney tells his loving and unsuspecting wife, Mary Maloney, that he's leaving her. That doesn't sit well with Mary. That really doesn't sit well with Mary. This is a story of love, murder, and the perfect cover story!

Mammon and the Archer by O. Henry Richard wants to marry the woman he loves, but there several obstacles preventing his proposal. Enter Richard's father - a wealthy man with a plan. Does love or money play a bigger role in Richard's engagement? Spark a lively debate in your classroom with this short story and see what your students think!

The Chaser by John Collier Alan is desperate for a love potion to ensure that the woman he loves, Diana, will return his affection. The love potion he acquires is very reasonably priced - too reasonably priced. Just wait until you find out why! This short story encourages readers to distinguish between love and obsession and issues a warning about unintended consequences.

Pair the Chaser with my Creative A Love Potion Writing Activity! You can download it for free on Teachers Pay Teachers by clicking here.

The Tell-Tale Heart by Edgar Allan Poe This classic from Edgar Allan Poe definitely has a heart in it, which is totally on theme, right?! The heart in this story, however, is an anatomical heart - not the pink and purple cutout decorations you use to make homemade valentines.

No matter which story you choose to read with your students, I hope your classroom is filled with tons of fun this Valentine's Day! Wrap up any of the short stories from my list on Valentine’s Day with the fun crosswords and word search puzzles below. (Click the photos to be taken to the puzzles in my TPT store.)

Until next time! Lauren