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https://imaginationsoup.net/middle-grade-books-april-2024/

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Mystery, time travel, fantasy, adventure, realistic fiction and historical fiction — there’s a book for every inerest on this list! You’ll recogize some of the…

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https://www.readbrightly.com/50-best-books-11-12-year-olds/

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Eleven and twelve is a time of big change for kids, both emotionally and physically. Which is why reading coming-of-age books becomes very relevant at this age. Just like the characters in the books they're reading, 11- and 12-year-olds are experiencing emotional mood swings and physical changes from puberty that can lead to increased feelings of self-consciousness. Kids this age are also highly influenced by friends, wanting more independence from parents, and making improvements in their abstract thinking abilities. Preteens need good books that both resonate with their complex lives as well as educate and entertain them.

Which brings us to this book list - our 50 best books for 11- and 12- year-olds, curated by a panel of children's literature experts. You'll find a wide variety here, excellent books that appeal to a range of preteen interests, backgrounds, and even moods.

You can download the entire printable list here.

Coming-of-Age&nbsp

These characters grow and change by facing life's challenges. Readers will connect with the struggles of daily life and growing up. What's more, you're more likely to develop empathy and understanding after walking a mile in someone else's story.

Learn more about the experts behind this reading list.

Get the printable version of the list.

Explore our 50 Best series to get great recommendations for other ages.

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The 50 Best Books for 11- and 12-Year-Olds | Brightly

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Eleven and twelve is a time of big change for kids, both emotionally and physically. Which is why reading coming-of-age books becomes very relevant at this age. Just like the characters in the books they're reading, 11- and 12-year-olds are experiencing emotional mood swings and physical changes from puberty that can lead to increased feelings of self-consciousness.

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https://www.readbrightly.com/kid-approved-books-for-advanced-fifth-sixth-grade-readers/

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Does your reader love books full of complex characters and thought-provoking themes? Do they get excited when they discover a "really thick" book they haven't read yet? Do they want to be challenged but deeply immersed in a great story? It can be difficult for 10-, 11-, and 12-year-old readers who read at a high school (or higher) level to find books that meet their reading needs but are still appropriate for their age and experience. For readers like this, I worry less about what Lexile or Guided Reading level a specific book is and look for stories that will offer them a chance to go deeper in their thinking about characters and situations.

Here are 14 books that are loved by young readers on Bookopolis.com that offer unique character voices, complex plots and themes, and high page counts to engage fifth and sixth-grade advanced readers.

Fantasy & Science Fiction

Recommended for readers who enjoy interesting characters, extensive world-building, and masterful storytelling.

by Susan Beth Pfeffer, read by Emily Bauer

Available in audiobook format and written as a journal, this dystopian story explores what would happen if a meteor entered our solar system and disrupted the natural world as we know it. Miranda and her family worry about survival as summer quickly turns into winter, and they must live on the food they have stockpiled. Adriana, 12, was hooked right away. "It pulled me in like a fish on a pole! This book makes you want to keep reading for years! I would recommend this great book to anyone that likes nerve-wracking mysteries and sad, emotion-filled stories."

Mysteries & Realistic Fiction

Recommended for readers who like complicated mysteries or emotion-filled realistic fiction stories that make them think and feel.

Historical Fiction

Recommended for advanced readers interested in learning about historical tragedies and hardships through characters who embody hope and perseverance.

Nonfiction

Recommended for advanced readers who enjoy going deep into true stories about people and places in our world.

by Steve Sheinkin, read by Mark Bramhall

This audiobook offers a fascinating look at the history of football told through the experiences of superstar player Jim Thorpe and legendary coach Pop Warner. They created one of the best-known teams at the Carlisle Indian Industrial School. It examines details about the genius of their strategic plays and hard work and takes a critical look at the persecution and exploitation of Native Americans during this time period. Beck, 10, shares, "This book was very interesting and really challenged me as a reader."

Editor's Note: This article was originally published in 2018 and updated in 2023.

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14 Kid-Approved Books for Advanced Fifth and Sixth-Grade Readers

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These books are loved by advanced fifth and sixth-grade readers for their unique characters, complex plots and themes, and high page counts.

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Go here to find books, including ebooks.  https://library.plymouth.k12.in.us/common/servlet/presenthomeform.do?l2m=Home&tm=Home&l2m=Home

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Each title is a hyperlink. Click on any title, website, or author link in this padlet to explore the website/information.

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https://learningally.org/Browse-Audiobooks

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Browse Our Human Read Audiobooks Collection | Learning Ally

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Audiobooks from Learning Ally help students with dyslexia, blindness, or visual impairments read better. Our audio books include textbooks, literature, and all book genres.

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From Thrillist
Rick Riordan's Recommendations!
Need some book recommendations?

- Harry Potter

- Land of Stories

- Percy Jackson

- The Grimm Legacy

- The Sisters Grimm

- Fablehaven

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A Mighty Girl

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Watch some videos of the best books for middle school and young adults.
Best Middle School Book Trailers
The Sister's Grimm
Infinity Ring
Epic Reads

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Watch the official book trailers for the newest and most popular books in YA!

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Goodreads Recommendations

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Whatever After Series
A Tale Dark and Grimm
Leviathan
Behemoth
My Life as a Book
The Mostly True Adventures of Homer P. Figg
Savvy
Scumble
When You Reach Me
Where the Mountain Meets the Moon
Turtle in Paradise
Baseball Great
The Strange Case of Origami Yoda

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Mrs. Record's Current List of Books Read 

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Mrs. Record's Current List of Books Read 

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Follow me on Goodreads for an updated list.
Where the Crawdads Sing
Murphy's Law
The Ragged Edge of Night
Unsheltered:  A Novel
The Plum Tree
The Beekeeper's Promise
What Alice Forgot
The Road Beyond Ruin
The Great Alone
Ronald H. Balson Books
Wives of War
Berlin Calling

The Alice Network

The Baker's Secret
Lone Star

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Poetry 180

The Writer's Almanac
Poets.org

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NaNoWriMo Young Writer's Program
Teen Ink

Figment
Kid Blog

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The Watson's Go to Birmingham, 1963
The Book Thief
Tuck Everlasting
Night by Elie Wiesel
The Storyteller
The Giver
To Kill a Mockingbird
Anne Frank:  The Diary of a Young Girl
Because of Winn-Dixie
Number the Stars
Refugee
One Crazy Summer

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Lisa Schroeder (I Heart You, You Haunt Me and Chasing Brooklyn)
John Green (The Fault in our Stars)
James Dashner
Wendy Maas
Suzanne Collin
Sarah Dessen
Carl Deuker
Sonya Sones
Jeff Kinney (Diary of a Wimpy Kid)
Alex Rider
Rick Riordan
J.K. Rowling
Sara Shepard (Pretty Little Liars)
Jerry Spinelli
Mike Lupica
Christopher Paolini
Walter Dean Myers
Jenny Han (The Summer I Turned Pretty)
Sharon Draper

Gae Polisnar

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4th Grade Recommendations

Boys Read
Kids Recommend
KidsReads
The Reading Zone
Teens Read
The New York Times Learning Network Blog
EpicReads
Historical Fiction for PreTeens