If you can’t pick out books at your library, use the library website to put books on hold to pick up later. Research shows that the more books kids can get their hands on, the better the chances of reading success. Is there time for each child to sit down and read for 10 to 30 minutes every day-and for you to read together for at least some of that time?Īnother essential ingredient to motivating a 6th grader is book access. When kids have packed schedules, reading doesn’t happen.

Not to mention, sometimes we forget that kids need blocks of TIME to read. How do you motivate middle schoolers to read?ĬHOICE IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING for reading books-in other words, letting kids pick their own books helps motivate more reading.įor most of us, w e also need to get screen time under control so books can have a chance. In my state, 6th grade is sometimes located in elementary school and sometimes in middle school.

If you’re wondering what age 6th grade is in the United States, it’s usually age 11 turning age 12 sometimes during the year. Basically, 6th graders (11-year-olds) are the perfect age reader for middle grade books because middle grade books are written for 9 to 12-year-olds. Now chapter books refer to beginning chapter books with illustrations meant for ages 6 to 8 while the term middle grade applies to books written for children who are in upper elementary grades and middle school, grades 4 to 7. Middle grade books are novels that back in the old days (when I first started teaching) were called chapter books. SHOP THIS LIST What is a middle grade book? I’ve already read them.ġ00 Best Middle Grade Books for 6th Graders What does that mean for you? The Imagination Soup book lists can save you time! You don’t have to read (preview) all the books. Then, because reading fast is my superpower, I developed Imagination Soup as a resource for teachers, parents, librarians, and grandparents to share all the best books for kids, including new releases, best sellers, and classics. My goal as a teacher was to read all the books so I could perfectly match books to readers, not to mention my two children, who both went through their own reading challenges and motivation issues. It may go without saying but 6th graders want engaging writing, compelling storylines, interesting characters, books in a series, graphic novels, true stories, fascinating nonfiction, and timeless classics. These tween readers want books that are mirrors to their own lives and doors and windows into the lives of others. Young readers at this age love books that relate to their lives, books about growing up, identity, belonging, friendships, or bullying. What makes a good book for a sixth grader? Then, you can scan through this list for topics and genres without having to read each review. Because it’s always helpful to match a child’s interests with the books that they read, I’ve included topics of note next to the genre tag (mental health, zombies, coming of age), and I’ve bolded the sentence that summarizes the book. Below you’ll find the BEST of the best middle grade books for sixth graders that are spot-on for maturity, reading level, theme, topic, and appeal.Įach book review includes a genre tag, so look for the genre terms mystery, fantasy, realistic (also called contemporary), historical fiction, and science fiction to help you find a good book in a genre that your children or students want to read. With so many good books for 6th graders, which are the best choices for your 11 and 12-year-olds in 6th grade? I got you covered.

The wishing stone reading level