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6th grade can be a tumultuous and inspiring year. During this time, a child might be in the midst of navigating their identity and new experiences, like switching schools or a hormonal body. This transitional year can be the perfect time for your 6th grader to find a book to help them feel inspired and seen. The following books for 6th graders offer everything from looking up at the stars to looking back in history to journeying alone with the goal of saving the world. Take a look at these 6th grade books to find the perfect title for your child.

For the 6th grade who appreciates that glimmer of magic

These books for 6th graders will excite that child who loves to get lost in the supernatural and mysterious.

1) Echo by Pam Nunez Ryan

Three children from three different times and places are linked through a powerful harmonica. Each child lives in a time of upheaval, both personal and political. With the music from this instrument, they see how their destinies are intertwined.

2) The Gilded Ones, Book 1 by Namina Forna

Drawing from West African fantasy, Deka risks her safety by leaving her world to train for the greatest battle of her life. She longs to fit into her village, but a blood ceremony indicates her outcast status. She searches for truth and belonging on her quest, using her special power.

Best Books for 6th Graders (Continued)

3) Eragon Book I by Christopher Paolini

Eragon’s simple life is shattered when the stone he pocketed cracks, revealing a newborn dragon. He then stumbles into an ancient legacy involving a dangerous tapestry of magic, a sword, and his new loyal dragon companion.

4) The Apothecary, Book 1 by Maile Meloy

Janie and Benjamin attempt to decode a sacred book to find Benjamin’s father.

5) Ida in the Middle by Nora Lester Murad

Ida, a Palestinian American girl, finds a magic olive. When she eats it, she’s transported to her parents’ village near Jerusalem. The olive helps her see another life and makes her wonder if either world can fully offer her a sense of home.

Best Books for 6th Graders (Continued)

For the 6th grader looking for a hero

These 6th grade books portray heroes as coming from all walks of life, even middle school.

6) Six Crimson Cranes by Elizabeth Lim

To restore the kingdom, Shiori embarks upon a journey. She receives the help of a paper bird, a dragon, and the boy she fought to avoid marrying. She also eventually embraces the very magical abilities she was told to hide. The very quality deemed as illicit becomes the key to saving the world.

7) March Forward Girl: From Young Warrior to Little Rock Nine by Melba Pattillo Beals

This memoir incorporates drawings and photos to show Beals’ journey. As a child, she questioned segregation and racism. As an adult, she became a prominent Civil Rights activist and author.

Best Books for 6th Graders (Continued)

8) Mani Semilla Finds Her Quetzal Voice by Anna Lapera

Mani, a twelve-year-old girl with Chinese-Filipino-American-Guatemalan heritage, feels outcast at school. She discovers letters that show a past different from the one she was told. She begins to wonder about her family’s true reasons for departing Guatemala. Mani seeks answers, discovering her voice along the way.

9) Beasts Made of Night, Book 1 by Tochi Onyebuchi

In a world dominated by a royal family and enforcers, Taj must battle a conspiracy and save the princess. This fantasy tale of dark magic and action examines class, power, and justice.

Best Books for 6th Graders (Continued)

10) Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson

Written in verse, Woodson portrays her childhood as a Black girl in South Carolina and New York during the 1960s and 70s. With the legacy of Jim Crow and the burgeoning Civil Rights movement, Woodson reflects upon discovering her power (and gift) of storytelling, despite childhood struggles with reading.

For the 6th grader looking for love

In 6th grade, children might discover crushes, dates, and the world of romance. If you know a 6th grader eager for stories about romance, check out these 6th grade books full of heartwarming plots and characters.

11) A Pho Love Story by Loan Le

This twist on Romeo and Juliet follows two Vietnamese American teens whose families manage competing restaurants.

12) All-American Muslim Girl by Nadine Jolie Courtney

Allie is dating the son of an American conservative figure whose family doesn’t know about Allie’s Muslim identity. Allie tightwalks between being a good all-American girl and a good Muslim girl.

Best Books for 6th Graders (Continued)

13) This is Our Rainbow: 16 Stories of Her, Him, Them, and Us, edited by Katherine Locke and Nicole Melleby

This is the first LGBTQA+ anthology for middle-graders with stories for every letter of the acronym. Spanning all genres, this collection could fit in any category, but it definitely includes lots of love.

For the 6th grade looking beyond

Sometimes, we’re looking to be transported. These books for 6th graders will nurture the curiosity of the child who sees beyond planet Earth as it is, or even beyond the galaxy.

14) The Glass Sentence by S. E. Grove

In a world where the continents have been relegated to different time periods, Sophia Tims searches for her missing parents and uncle. When she learns her uncle is kidnapped, she begins an adventure taking her around the world and across time.

15) See You in the Cosmos by Jack Cheng

Like his idol Carl Sagan, 11-year-old Alex Petroski dreams of showing other lifeforms what Earth is like–at least, his version. His journey across the U.S. connects him to a range of characters and reveals the truth about his father.

Best Books for 6th Graders (Continued)

16) We Dream of Space by Erin Entrada Kelly

In 1986, three siblings find relief from the tension in their home by planning a science project. As the launch of the Challenger approaches, they delve into their science class to dream about other worlds.

17) The Wrong Way Home by Kate Shaughnessy

Twelve-year-old Fern lives in an off-the-grid, sustainable community in upstate New York. Her mother sneaks them away one night. Their encounter with the outside world both shocks and charms Fern. She initially wants to return to the community, only to wonder if the outside world might offer her more.

For the 6th grader who loves a good secret

As children transition to adulthood, they might realize that truth can feel arbitrary and subjective. Here are books for 6th graders who want to examine more closely the tough decision to hide or conceal the truth.

Best Books for 6th Graders (Continued)

18) The Prince and the Dressmaker by Jen Wang

In this graphic novel, a prince grapples with his parents’ search for his perfect future wife. He hides a secret: at night, he wears dresses and becomes Lady Crystallia.

19) Return to Sender by Julia Alvarez

A Mexican family working on a farm in Vermont hides their undocumented status. The oldest daughter in the family, Mari, is connected to her Mexican heritage and to her American life. She struggles to straddle both as the fear of deportation looms.

20) I Hadn’t Meant to Tell You This by Jacqueline Woodson

Twelve-year-old Marie is popular among the Black girls in her wealthy Black suburb. She befriends a white girl, Lena, who divulges a harrowing secret. Marie debates whether to honor her friend’s trust, or potentially help her friend by revealing the truth.

Best Books for 6th Graders (Continued)

21) Too Bright To See by Kyle Lukoff

In the summer before middle school, Bug is feeling lonelier. Bug’s friend has become fixated on make-up, clothes, and boys. In addition, a ghost appears in Bug’s house, making Bug face a secret about Bug’s true gender identity.

For the 6th grader who treasures friendships

For the children making new friends, these 6th grade books will inspire them. They show the transformative nature of a strong friendship.

22) The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate

Ivan, a gorilla, has lived inside a shopping mall enclosure for 27 years. He watches T.V. and paints while others view him. Ruby, a baby elephant from the wild, joins him. Their friendship makes Ivan re-examine his circumstances, and himself.

23) Moonflower by Kacen Callender

Every night, Moon escapes to a spirit realm and spends time with their magical friend, Wolf. When this place of safety and refuge is threatened, Moon must call upon their strength to save this precious world. Following a character’s journey with depression, this novel portrays how the right community can help us learn to discover and embrace ourselves.

Best Books for 6th Graders (Continued)

24) Almost American Girl By Robin Ha

This graphic memoir follows a teen’s journey from Seoul, Korea to Huntsville, Alabama. She feels isolated, struggling to learn English and make friends. Gradually, she discovers her love of drawing, leading her to connect with others and express herself.

25) The Wild Robot by Peter Brown

The robot Roz wakes up alone on a remote island without any idea of how she arrived. She instead focuses on surviving, with storms and some aggressive animals as antagonists. Roz eventually becomes friends with some of the animals. She is just beginning to adjust to life on the island when her past resurfaces.

Best Books for 6th Graders (Continued)

26) The Ship We Built Hardcover by Lexie Bean

Outcast Rowan writes all of his secrets in a journal. He longs to tell someone, safely, so he attaches letters to balloons and releases them into the world. He meets a new classmate, who might just be someone who can understand him.

For the 6th grader who loves sports and games

These books for 6th graders show the dynamics of sports–both during and outside of gametime.

27) Dragon Hoops by Gene Luen Yang

The author of this graphic memoir averted basketball as a child but was inspired by the basketball team of the high school where he now teaches. In examining the high school boys’ varsity team, the Dragons, Yang also looks at race and ethnicity.

28) The Crossover by Kwame Alexander

This novel-in-verse prolific multi-genre writer Kwame Alexander follows junior high school twin brothers. Jordan and Josh play basketball while trying to form distinct identities, on and off the court.

Best Books for 6th Graders (Continued)

29) by Haifaa al Mansour

Wadjda is an eleven-year-old who lives in Saudi Arabia and pursues her dream of getting a bicycle to race with her friend. She is determined and indefatigable despite her community’s norm that girls shouldn’t ride bikes.

30) Kareem Between by Shifa Saltagi Safadi

Another novel-in-verse, Kareem is eager to be part of the football team. To secure another tryout, he must do something he knows is wrong. Meanwhile, his mom returned to Syria to help their family and hasn’t been able to return.

Final Thoughts – Best Books for 6th Graders

Books for 6th graders don’t have to be limited in their themes, messages, and character exploration. In these books for 6th graders, young people fall in love, harbor secrets, fight for their worlds, find meaningful connection, and learn to embrace their true selves. Share this list with the 6th grader in your life to give them comfort, entertainment, and validation.

Additional Resources – Best Books for 6th Graders

For more book recommendations, check out:

• 50 Best Fantasy Books of All Time
•  101 Best Books for Teens
• 101 Best Audiobooks of All Time
• 25 Best Books to Read in 2024
• AP Lit Reading List – 50 Best Books to Read
• 34 Best Scholarships for Middle School Students