7th Grade Reading Level Books: Summaries of Books for 7th Graders

What Books Are 7th Graders Reading?

Right now, your 7th grader is likely reading young adult books. These books deal with complex themes, like love, loss and change, and they often have edgier material than elementary school books. The following 7th grade level books cover a range of genres, such as historical fiction, suspense and horror.

7th Grade Reading List

The Underneath by Kathi Appelt

This book may appeal to animal-loving 7th graders, but be aware that it contains scenes of animal cruelty. The Underneath tells the tale of a friendship between a pregnant, abandoned cat and Ranger, an abused and neglected bloodhound. Ranger is chained to the porch by his owner - the reclusive Gar Face - and he hides the cat and her kittens in 'the Underneath' of the porch to prevent Gar Face from finding and killing them. One day, a curious kitten wanders out, setting off a chain of events that change all the characters' lives.

On the Wings of Heroes by Richard Peck

Historical fiction fans may enjoy this story about Davy Bowman and his family's experiences during World War II. Growing up, Davy idolizes both his father and his brother. Then, his brother goes off to fight the war, which upsets his father and throws the family into turmoil. Davy soon finds himself in a confusing world of metal and rubber scrap collecting, food rationing and air raid drills. However, he may find that there can still be moments of humor and normalcy, even in a tumultuous time.

The Vampire Blood Trilogy by Darren Shan

If your child is into vampires, he or she might get engrossed in this immensely popular trilogy, which is part of the 12-book The Saga of Darren Shan series. This trilogy includes the novels Cirque du Freak, The Vampire's Assistant, and Tunnels of Blood. The three books tell the story of Darren, a young boy who becomes half vampire in order to save his friend's life. The story follows his struggle to adapt to change and find self-acceptance.

Diamonds in the Shadow by Caroline B. Cooney

Your 7th grader may already be familiar with Caroline B. Cooney, since she has authored numerous young adult books. In this novel, the Finch family takes in the Amabo family, who are African refugees. At first, everything is going well in the Finch family's suburban Connecticut household. However, a dangerous situation soon arises when an Amabo relative enters the U.S. illegally, wishing to claim something that the family smuggled into the country for him. When the eldest Finch boy realizes what's going on, he's forced to take action.

Stranded by Ben Mikaelsen

Lovers of adventure stories may enjoy this tale of 12-year-old Koby. Since losing her foot in a bicycle accident, Koby feels unsure of herself and her classmates are awkward around her. Her parents are separated and always arguing. The only time Koby feels at peace is when she's floating around the Florida Keys aboard her dinghy. One night , her courage and self-reliance are tested when she finds herself stranded in the ocean with a hurricane approaching and two injured pilot whales that need her help.