Book List—Students Entering Sixth Grade
Students will be required to read at least two of the following books from the list for their class. Any
book selected cannot be a book previously read by the student. Each book must be accompanied by a
project, provided on the next page. Students are encouraged to read more books than on the list. If a
book on this list is part of a series, other books in that series are acceptable for reading instead, but only
one book from any given series is allowed to count for summer reading projects.
Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret (Judy Blume)*
Margaret approaches adolescence with trepidation, but with the help of God and nature, she makes a
successful transition.
Then Again, Maybe I Won’t (Judy Blume)*
Tony Miglione's father's invention makes the family rich, but wealth causes more problems than Tony
has expected.
Crash (Jerry Spinelli)
The hilarious and poignant story of a cocky seventh-grade super jock named Crash Coogan.
A Boy at War: A Novel of Pearl Harbor (Harry Mazer)
Fourteen-year-old Adam Pelko, the son of a navy lieutenant, witnesses the sinking of his father’s
battleship, the “Arizona,” during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor.
Chronicles of Ancient Darkness #1: Wolf Brother (Michelle Paver)
In this page-turning, original adventure, set 6,000 years ago, 12-year old Torak and his wolf-cub
companion must defeat the evil that stalks their land. Their journey takes them through the deep
forests, onto glaciers, and into dangers they never dreamed of.
Dealing with Dragons (Patricia Wrede)
Princess Cimorene moves into a dragon’s cave as a cook to avoid marrying an idiotic prince.
Sideways Stories from Wayside School (Louis Sachar)
Thirty stories centered on thirty different characters describe the strange things that happen at Wayside
School, an architectural accident that was built sideways, thirty stories high with one classroom on each
floor.
The Greek Gods (Evslin, Evslin, and Hoopes)**
No legends are more fabulous than those of the Greek gods. This classic collection tells their stories.
The Red Pyramid (Rick Riordan)**
Siblings Carter and Sadie Kane, descendents of Egyptian magicians, must defeat the god Set after the
gods are accidentally released in the present. Book #1
Crispin: the Cross of Lead (Avi)**
Falsely accused of theft and declared a “wolf’s head” (whom any man my kill) after his mother’s death,
humble, pious Crispin flees the feudal village where he was raised and the steward who wants him dead.
Taken in as an apprentice by a massive, red-haired itinerant juggler who calls himself Bear, Crispin learns
about music and mummery, about freedom and questioning fate, and about his own mysterious
parentage that seems to be the reason behind the steward’s continuing pursuit of him. Set in
fourteenth-century England.
The Secret Garden (Frances Hodgson Burnett)
Ten-year-old Mary comes to live in a lonely house on the Yorkshire moors and discovers an invalid
cousin and the mysteries of a locked garden.
For Boys Only: the Baddest Book Ever (Marc Aronson and H.P. Newquist)
Information on a variety of topics of interest to boys, such as how to fight off an alligator, make fake
blood, escape from being tied-up, land an airplane, and much more.
For Girls Only: Everything Great About Being a Girl (Laura Dower)
Discusses the benefit of being a girl, from sleepovers to pedicures and friendship bracelets, covering
famous women from sports, science and history, and how to be a baby-sitter and get a job for the
summer.
No Passengers Beyond this Point (Gennifer Choldenko)
With their house in foreclosure, sisters India and Mouse and brother Finn are sent to stay with an uncle
in Colorado until their mother can join them, but when the plane lands, the children are welcomed by
cheering crowds to a strange place where each of them has a perfect house and a clock that is ticking
down the time.
How to Survive Middle School (Donna Gephart)
When thirteen-year-old David Greenberg’s best friend makes the start of middle school even worse than
he feared it could be, David becomes friends with Sophie, who shares his love of television shows and
posts on of their skits on YouTube, making them wildly popular-online, at least.
Theodore Boone: Kid Lawyer (John Grisham)
Thirteen-year-old Theodore Boone, who knows every judge, police officer, and court clerk in the small
town of Strattenburg, finds himself involved in a murder trial because of knowledge he might have
about a cold-blooded killer.
Black Beauty (Anna Sewell)
A horse in nineteenth-century England recounts his experiences with both good and bad masters.
The Phantom Tollbooth (Norton Juster)
In this wise and witty fantasy, a boy travels through space and time to the Land Beyond.
The Strange Case of Origami Yoda (Tom Angelberger)
Sixth-grader Tommy and his friends describe their interactions with a paper finger puppet of Yoda, worn
by their weird classmate Dwight, as they try to figure out whether or not the puppet can really predict
the future. Includes instructions for making Origami Yoda.
Escape! The Story of the Great Houdini (Sid Fleischman)
A biography of the magician, ghost chaser, aviator and king of escape artists whose amazing feats are
remembered long after his death in 1926. Profiling his early years, personal life and great
accomplishments in show business, the story of the famous magician, Harry Houdini, comes to life
through a review of his greatest tricks and most amazing feats, complete with index, photos and
author’s notes.
Hana’s Suitcase: a True Story (Hana Levine)
A biography of a Czech girl who died in the Holocaust, told in alternating chapters with an account of
how the curator of a Japanese Holocaust center learned about her life after Hana’s suitcase was sent to
her.
Please note: The English department suggests that parents preview or pre-read any books marked
with an asterisk (*) first, as they may contain objectionable content or topics.
Please note: Books marked with a double asterisk (**) are suggested by the Social Studies teacher as
applicable to the upcoming Social Studies curriculum as well.