Reading at this stage can expand your child’s perspective and help them develop greater empathy and understanding. Fast-paced, exciting stories will allow them to pinpoint the genres they truly love, while nonfiction and interactive books help open their world to new possibilities. 

Since access to engaging books through sixth grade and beyond might just be the key to your child’s lifelong reading habit, we’ve gathered some of our favorite titles. Here are Literati’s picks for the best books for sixth grade readers:

The Land of Roar

by Jenny McLachlan

It’s been years since Rose and Arthur traversed the folding bed in Grandad’s attic to their imaginary Land of Roar, but while cleaning the attic, Grandad himself gets pulled in! And if our readership is any indication, so will your middle-grade reader.

With constant danger and intrigue, this gorgeously-illustrated story has proven time and time again to help develop consistent reading habits in budding fantasy-lovers.

Explorer Academy: The Nebula Secret

by Trudi Trueit

Forget book reports—at Explorer Academy, students are graded on their code-cracking, obstacle coursing, and virtual-reality explorations. But for new pupil Cruz, this elite school has a few more challenges up its sleeves.

With solvable puzzles, Explorer Academy: The Nebula Secret is the perfect book for those who need a little brain challenge to stay engaged. Get your young scientist in on the journey, and give them Trudi Truett’s full-throttle adventure.

Women Who Dared: 52 Stories of Fearless Daredevils, Adventurers, and Rebels

by Linda Skeers

The daring and adventurous women who have shaped the world are often missing from history textbooks. Supplement your kid’s education with these stories of 52 women who fearlessly pushed boundaries. Read all about Helen Gibson, the first professional stuntwoman, or Valentina Tereshkova, the first woman in space!

From action scenes to astronomical heights, this book covers a multitude of fields and interests, so no matter what your child loves to do, they’ll find tons of inspiration and motivation to challenge themselves. You may just want to invest in a helmet and some elbow pads for your adventurer once they finish this essential anthology of history’s toughest ladies.

Adventures in Engineering for Kids: 35 Challenges to Design the Future

by Brett Schilke

Adventures in Engineering asks an important question: without limits, what can kids create? The answer is pretty much anything and everything, including the first human settlement on another planet.

This book recruits your child to an elite engineering team, the Irresistible Futures Agency. It’s their job to help design City X and solve the many challenges that lie ahead. With 35 design and engineering challenges, this is one of the best books for sixth-graders or seventh-graders who love science, puzzles, and making the impossible a reality.

Odd Gods

by Daniel Weitzman

Oddonis is a son of Zeus. He’s surely odd—he doesn’t have powers like the rest of his family and even has webbed toes—but he’s also endearing. He and his friends at Mount Olympus Middle School are an ungodly group, but can they pull it together in time for a big school election?

This mythological mix-up will put your own middle-schooler into giggling fits. As a perfect mix of Percy Jackson and Diary of a Wimpy Kid, this out-of-the-box read is a fun-filled introduction to epic myths—their English teacher will thank you!

The Lost Property Office

By James R. Hannibal

Jack’s got a knack for discovering all things lost and found. From scarves to books, Jack Buckles has a special gift for locating all of London’s abandoned treasures. But there’s one thing he can’t find—his long-lost father and sister. That is, until a few family secrets emerge.

James R. Hannibal’s clever thriller is a top pick for readers who enjoy a bit of magic in their mystery. The whimsical London setting helps make this a fully immersive read, while challenging readers to link past and present.

Readers Thrive with Literati Book Clubs

The books your child finds outside of the classroom will have a huge impact on whether they continue to seek out stories on their own. By laying the groundwork for steady reading habits, you’re setting them up for a lifetime of curiosity and learning—and Literati is here to help!

Literati curates book boxes on a reader-by-reader basis, to ensure that every child has access to enriching and age-appropriate stories. When you join Literati book clubs, curation experts take your reader’s specific level and interests into account to send premium titles they’re sure to love. 
Get started with Literati’s personalization quiz, and watch your reader learn and grow with the very best titles out there for them.

The post The Best Books for Sixth Graders appeared first on Literati.

Sharpen your claws and wiggle your whiskers—it’s time to pounce on Literati’s best chapter books with a four-legged lead.

Warriors #1: Into the Wild

by Erin Hunter

A roof, some food, and human affection—what more could housecat Rusty want? When this pampered feline accidentally wanders off into the deep woods, he stumbles into the tumultuous new world of warrior cats.

Odds are, you’ve already heard of Erin Hunter’s breakout series. Combining mystical fantasy, tribal politics, and daring adventure, Warriors will make your house cat look like a majestic lion. Start your middle schooler on this standout feline saga with Warriors #1: Into the Wild.

A Wolf Called Wander

by Rosanne Parry

After a rival wolfpack breaks his family apart, our wolf protagonist Swift is left to find his way back home—wherever that may be. The only things standing in his way? The treacherous Pacific Northwest coast and the ticking of time.

Based on a true story, A Wolf Called Wander will suck your child into its gripping tale of survival and hope. Young readers will pour over each cliffhanger and twist, as well as Rosanne Parry’s detailed sketch illustrations. For the adventurous student, it’s a sure-fire, unputdownable novel.

The Lost Rainforest #1: Mez’s Magic

by Eliot Schrefer

In this rainforest adventure, the creatures of Caldera jungle are ruled by day or night, but never both. But when Mez suddenly crosses the divide, mysterious forces begin to awaken. Among the jungle trees, she’ll learn that maybe true power comes from friendship and courage (but a few jokes can help, too).

Blending fantasy, quest, and coming-of-age elements, Schrafer’s acclaimed writing will have middle schoolers swinging through the pages.

A Nest for Celeste: A Story About Art, Inspiration, and the Meaning of Home

by Henry Cole

Celeste the mouse lives peacefully, weaving her tiny baskets. Everything is calm and quiet—just how Celeste likes it. But when naturalist John James Audobon arrives, Celeste’s underground is turned upside down.

A Nest for Celeste proves that not all animal stories are action adventures. Sometimes, furry friends teach our most human traits—companionship, care, and creativity. With gorgeous illustrations and a charming historical fiction twist, younger readers will easily fall in love with Celete’s tiny world.

Bravelands #1: Broken Pride

by Erin Hunter

For most creatures, the African plains are a brutal place. Without protection, species learn to stick to their own kin. But when mysterious deaths occur within clans, young pack members must set out to find answers. Now, it’s up to the lion Fearless, the baboon Thorn, and the elephant Sky to restore justice to the savannah—or else, let evil rule the plains.

With Warriors author Erin Hunter at the helm, readers of Bravelands #1: Broken Pride are in good hands. The novel smartly sneaks in multi-perspective narration, while still keeping the action at top speed. We guarantee your child will ask for the sequel before the last page.

Fly, Crawl, Swing, and Gallop into Literati Book Clubs

Animals aren’t just pets or zoo entertainment; they’re complex living creatures with human-like needs, desires, and very dramatic lives. That mixture of empathy and adventure makes them the perfect coming-of-age narrators for middle school readers. 

With Literati’s personalized book club for kids, your middle schooler can walk in someone else’s paws through exciting animal stories and enriching tales of all kinds. Our curated book boxes are tailored to your reader’s level and interests, with selections that adapt as they become stronger readers and their favorite topics change. So even if an animal obsession is short-lived, their passion for books certainly won’t be. Take the quiz to get started in one of Literati’s fourteen benchmark-based reading levels. Can we get a roooooaaaar for encouraging a love of literature? ROAR!

The post 5 Roaringly Good Animal Books for Middle Schoolers appeared first on Literati.

We’ve selected the most captivating mystery books for sixth graders. From magical tales of lost treasure to the humorous reports of a clumsy spy, your 11-year-old won’t stop reading until they crack the case!

#1 August Isle

by Ali Standish

Tucked in Florida waters, August Isle is a seemingly-perfect beach town. But the more Miranda explores its sandy shores, the more she uncovers its dark secrets—including ones about her own family.

A Junior Library Guild selection, August Isle is a deeply reflective tale with lessons and self-discovery that are bound to resonate with sixth grade. Its unique characters and captivating twists make it one of the best chapter books for young readers.

#2 Case Closed #1: Mystery in the Mansion

by Lauren Magaziner

To save his sick mother and her detective agency, young Carlos teams up with best friend Eliza and her little brother, Frank. Little do they know, they’ll encounter spooky letters, buried treasures, riddles, and wacky foes along the way. Case Closed empowers your middle-grader to make their own decisions and chase down the clues of their choosing. This format helps develop abstract and critical thinking skills as they attempt to think a few steps ahead in order to crack the case!

#3 The Lost Property Office

By James R. Hannibal

Jack’s got a knack for discovering all things lost and found. From scarves to books, Jack Buckles has a special gift for locating all of London’s abandoned treasures. But there’s one thing he can’t find—his long-lost father and sister. That is, until a few family secrets emerge. James R. Hannibal’s clever thriller is a top pick for readers who enjoy a bit of magic in their mystery. The whimsical London setting helps make this a fully immersive read, while challenging readers to link past and present.

#4 Spy School

by Stuart Gibbs

Meet Ben Ripley, our resident spy-to-be, who’s determined to join the CIA (despite being a bit accident-prone). Readers are in for one of many plot twists when Ben finds out his new school isn’t exactly what it claims to be.

This spy tale is one of the best books for sixth graders because it’s laugh-out-loud funny—a feature you don’t always find in mystery. Detective thrillers meet gut-busting humor in Spy School, where there’s no shortage of sharp jokes that are just-right for the sixth grade sensibility.

#5 The Truth as Told by Mason Buttle

By Leslie Connor

With his learning disability and sweaty appearance, Mason Buttle is not exactly a popular kid. Even worse, his reputation is haunted by the mysterious death of his best friend, Benny. To escape his bullies, Mason and his new friend Calvin escape to play in an underground grotto—until Calvin disappears, too.

With over a dozen children’s book awards, The Truth as Told by Mason Buttle is a mature and deeply captivating story. Leslie Connor’s intelligent writing and complex characters show the evil of stigmas, as well as the power of friendship.

Break Out the Magnifying Glass to Read These Mystery Books

From belly-laughs to scary spooks, there’s a mystery book for every reader out there. And with Literati’s help, you don’t have to play detective to find the best ones for your child. Our personalized book clubs for kids can help your preteen find books they’re bound to love, with individualized curation that adapts as they grow. Take the quiz to find your child’s starting level—and uncover all the brain-boosting secrets of one-of-a-kind personalization!

The post Get Curious with Our Top 5 Mystery Books for 6th Graders appeared first on Literati.