55 Best 6th Grade Books to Read for Summer (Ages 11 – 12)

What are the best 6th grade books to read for summer that will keep your 6th grader (age 11-12) reading all summer long? The best way is to make sure they have a lot of excellent book choices — like the middle grade books on this list!

I’ve debated forever and finally chosen a selection of fantastic books in a variety of genres that your soon-to-be 6th graders will love.

The 6th grade books to read below are my top picks. This list of books for kids ages 11 and 12 are all books I’ve personally read and recommend. If you want to read the reviews for each book, visit this post of all the books for 6th graders. I’ve intentionally chosen a mix of new and somewhat new books so that you have options. Sometimes new books are expensive or hard to get at the library.

Next, let’s talk about motivation. it’s not always as easy to get 6th grade kids to read simply by having a good book. Kids are distracted by technology and activities and life and on and on.

What else can help motivate 6th grade kids to read?

1. Choice 
   Let kids pick their own 6th grade books to read for summer reading. Even if it’s a choice within certain guidelines, it’s still a choice. No one likes to be forced to do anything, so the more autonomy kids can have, the better.
2. Accountability
   If I didn’t require a certain amount of time reading, it wouldn’t happen with my tween. Even though she loves reading. Last summer, my kids tracked minutes reading to earn minutes on screen time. However you plan it, make sure you’re checking in on the reading, so it doesn’t get forgotten.
3. Variety
   Think outside the traditional book here. Try ebooks, audiobooks, magazines, or blogs.
4. Fun
   Get a new beanbag pillow just for reading. Read with headlamps in the dark. Whatever your kids like, see if you can pair it with reading.

I have the lists organized by genre. Consider picking one book from each genre to read this summer. That way, your almost 6th grade reader gets exposed to a wide variety of fiction.

Shop this 6th grade summer book list on Amazon.

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Want to help your child be accountable for their reading? Get this summer reading packet with goal setting, a genre graph, & book tracker.

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Summer Reading: Engaging 6th Grade Books to Read

6th Grade Books for Summer Reading: GRAPHIC NOVELS

• The Other Side of Tomorrow written by Tina Cho, illustrated by Deb JJ Lee 
• The Cartoonists Club written by Raina Telgemeier & Scott McCloud
• Primer by Jennifer Muro and Thomas Krajewski
• Invisible by Christina Diaz Gonzalez
• Cucumber Quest 1: The Doughnut Kingdom by Gigi D.G.
• Swim Team by Johnnie Christmas
• Class Act by Jerry Craft
• Act by Kyla Miller
• Brave by Svetlana Chmakova

6th Grade Books for Summer Reading List: FANTASY and SCI-FI

If you like fantasy and sci-fi books, you’ll like:

• Last Dragon on Mars by Scott Reintgen 
• Medusa (The Myth of Monsters, 1) by Katherine Marsh 
• Amari and the Night Brothers by B.B. Alston
• The Shape of Time (Rymworld Arcana) by Ryan Calejo
• Daughter of the Deep by Rick Riordan
• The Adventurers Guild by Zach Loran Clark and Nick Eliopulos
• Hana Hsu and the Ghost Crab Nation by Sylvia Liu
• First State of Being by Erin Entrada Kelly
• Skyriders by Polly Holyoke
• Beneath the Swirling Sky by Carolyn Leiloglou
• Skandar and the Unicorn Thief by A.F. Steadman

6th Grade Books to Read for Summer: ADVENTURE & MYSTERY

If you like mystery and adventure, you’ll love:

• Find Her by Ginger Reno 
• The Van Gogh Deception by Deron Hicks
• 96 Miles by J.L. Esplin
• Framed! A T.O.A.S.T. Mystery by James Ponti
• The Canyon’s Edge by Dusti Bowling
• City Spies by James Ponti
• Charlie Thorne and the Last Equation by Stuart Gibb
• The Unforgettable Logan Foster by Shawn Peters
• The Liar’s Society by Alyson Gerber

6th Grade Books to Read for Summer: SCARY

If you like your stories to be a little creepy, try these books:

• Scritch Scratch by Lindsay Currie
• Coraline by Neil Gaiman
• Lockwood & Co The Screaming Staircase by Jonathan Stroud
• A Tale of Dark and Grimm by Adam Gidwitz
• Ophie’s Ghost by Justina Ireland
• Zombie Season by Justin Weinberger
• Brick Dust and Bones by M.R. Forunet

6th Grade Summer Reading List: HISTORICAL FICTION

If you like historical fiction, you’ll love:

• Onyx and Beyond written by Amber McBride 
• The Secret of Honeycake by Kimberly Newton Fusco
• Voyage of the Sparrowhawk by Natasha Farrant
• Traitors Among Us by Marsha Forchuk Skrypuch
• Lifeboat 12 by Susan Hood
• Max in the House of Spies: A Tale of World War II by Adam Gitwitz
• Words on Fire by Jennifer A. Nielsen

6th Grade Summer Reading List: REALISTIC

If you enjoy reading realistic books, read these:

• The Shape of Lost Things by Sarah Everett
• Keeping Pace by Laurie Morrison
• The Academy by TZ Layton
• How to Stay Invisible by Maggie C. Rudd
• Starfish by Lisa Fipps
• The Trouble with Heroes by Kate Messner
• Safe Harbor by Padma Venkatraman
• Sing It Like Celia by Mónica Mancillas
• Shark Teeth by Sherri Winston

6th Grade Books for Summer Reading: FUNNY

Looking for funny 6th grade books? Try:

• The Last Last Day of Summer by Lamar Giles
• The Jolly Regina: The Unintentional Adventures of the Bland Sisters by Kara LaReau
• Strange Case of the Origami Yoda by Tom Angleberger
• Middle School: The Worst Years of My Life by James Patterson and Chris Tebbetts
• The Croc Ate My Homework by Stephan Pastis
• The Great Treehouse War by Lisa Graff

6th Grade Books for Summer Reading: NONFICTION

If you’re looking for a good nonfiction book, try these:

• The Boy Who Became a Dragon: A Bruce Lee Story by Jim Di Bartolo
• The Mayflower (History Smashers) by Kate Messner
• The Superpower Field Guide Eels by Rachel Poliquin
• Rube Goldberg’s Big Book of Building written by Ed Steckley, Jennifer George, Zach Umperovitch
• Wild Outside Around the World with Survivorman by Les Stroud
• Atlas Obscura Explorer’s Guide for The World’s Most Adventurous Kid by Dylan Thuras and Rosemary Mosco
• The Deep! Wild Life at the Ocean’s Darkest Depths by Lindsey Leigh
• A Day in the Life of an Astronaut, Mars, and the Distant Stars by Mike Barfield and Jess Bradley

I hope these books give your children enough excellent choices and lots of hours of reading!

Don’t forget to find ways to make reading FUN! Here are some ideas for your 6th graders:

Participate in a summer reading program.

Read with a headlamp in bed.

Read on an electronic device. (Free eBooks?)

Start a book club.

Reward reading with . . . more BOOKS! (Kids choose, of course.)

Read nonfiction books and graphic novels, too.

KEEP READING

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All Book Reviews for Kids Age 11

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