Sixth Grade Reading List: Books for 6th Grade Students

Supplemental Sixth Grade Reading

It's important to encourage sixth graders to develop good reading habits. Reading improves communication, writing, studying, spelling, and linguistic skills. It also increases attention spans and boosts study skills. You might get your 6th grader excited about reading by finding authors and subjects that they enjoy. The books listed below cover a range of genres.

Book List for 6th Graders

My Last Skirt: The Story of Jennie Hodgers, Union Soldier by Lynda Durrant

This book is a fictionalized account of the life of a real person. Jennie Hodgers is used to dressing as a boy, since she had to work as a shepherd to help her poor family. When she emigrates from Ireland to America, she keeps her masculine identity, Albert Cashier, in order to get better jobs. During the Civil War, 'Albert' enlists in the Union Army as part of the 95th Illinois Infantry and fights for three years without anyone knowing that 'he' is actually a woman.

Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson

This children's classic may appeal to your 6th grader if he or she loves stories about pirates and seafaring adventure. A young boy named Jim Hawkins is sailing onboard the Hispaniola with a map that marks a hidden stash of gold. One day, he finds out that the ship's cook is actually Long John Silver - a well-known pirate - and that he has plans with the rest of the ship's crew to steal Jim's treasure. It is now up to Jim to save himself and keep the treasure out of Long John Silver's hands.

Dragon Slippers by Jessica Day George

Fans of fantasy may enjoy this story of Creel, whose poverty-stricken family gives her to a dragon in the hope that a rich knight will save her, marry her and bestow his wealth on her family. Instead, Creel befriends the dragon and heads off to the city to become a dressmaker. Along the way, she comes into possession of a strange pair of slippers. Creel soon finds that the kingdom is in trouble, and her slippers have the power to either bring peace or devastation to the land.

The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett

This classic tale is about a sickly, ill-tempered orphan named Mary Lennox who is sent to England to live with her uncle and cousin at Misselthwaite Manor after her parents die of cholera in India. Mostly alone and unhappy, Mary meets and befriends her servant's brother, Dickon. One day, she discovers a walled garden that's overgrown and neglected, but the key is lost. When Mary finally discovers the hidden key, she and Dickon begin to rehabilitate the garden. Mary soon finds that the garden is a source of physical and spiritual rehabilitation for her.

Diary of a Wimpy Kid Series by Jeff Kinney

The first three books of this popular 5-book series are based on an interactive novel that was originally published online. The books consist of a series of diary entries written by Greg Heffley, who describes his middle school misadventures. Greg's diary entries are enhanced with simple illustrations and handwritten notes.