Are you looking for reading material for your 6th grader? This 6th grade reading list has numerous books to choose from. There is also at least one free lesson for each book included on the list. These lessons vary from book to book. Some are comprehensive unit studies or novel guides, while others are simply a set of discussion questions.

All of the lessons below are free, but you will need to obtain the corresponding books. You can buy used books, borrow them from the library, or click/tap on a book’s cover to purchase it on Amazon.

How I Created the List

When creating this 6th grade reading list, I looked at what books several different sources recommend for each grade. Often various curriculum providers and book lists will recommend a book for different grade levels. For this list, I used the average of the different recommended grade levels. Because of this, you’ll find that other sources may recommend some of the books on this list for 5th or 7th grade instead of 6th.

Please note: As values, beliefs, and standards vary widely by family, I have not attempted to screen these books for appropriateness. I recommend that you read several reviews before choosing books for your child to read. The post How to Choose Age Appropriate Books lists several resources you can use to help ensure the books you pick are suitable for your family.

6th Grade Reading List

The books below are listed in alphabetical order by title. For additional book options, also check out our reading lists for other grades.

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Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret by Judy Blume

Beginning on page 108 of Response Guides for Teaching Children’s Books, there are discussion questions, writing assignments, and activity suggestions for the book.

Soft Schools provides a short multiple-choice quiz for the book.

Ben and Me: An Astonishing Life of Benjamin Franklin by His Good Mouse Amos by Robert Lawson

This guide, from Teacher’s Network, includes comprehension questions, vocabulary words, writing assignments, and cross-curricular activities.

This lesson, made available by Immanuel Lutheran college, includes comprehension questions, vocabulary words, writing assignments, science experiments, and art projects.

The Cay by Theodore Taylor

Plain and not so Plain provides vocabulary words and discussion questions for the book.

A chapter-by-chapter discussion guide is available on Teachers Pay Teachers.

NovelWise provides section worksheets, discussion questions, and activities for the book.

Dragonwings by Laurence Yep

HarperCollins created this study guide covering Dragonwings and three other Laurence Yep books. The guide includes discussion questions, background information, and more.

A set of reading questions is available on Teachers Pay Teachers.

 

Hatchet by Gary Paulson

This novel study found on Teachers Pay Teachers includes discussion questions and other activities.

Rise to Reading has comprehension questions for each chapter of the book.

NovelWise provides section worksheets, discussion questions, and activities for the book.

Homer Price by Robert McCloskey

This reading comprehension guide found on Teachers Pay Teachers includes vocabulary, short answer questions, summary writing, and more.

Beginning on page 66 of Response Guides for Teaching Children’s Books, there are discussion questions, writing assignments, and activity suggestions for the book.

Delightful Learning provides several activity ideas for each chapter of the book.

The Horse and His Boy by C.S. Lewis

Rise to Reading offers a set of comprehension questions for the book.

Homeschool Share’s lapbook covers the book’s plot and includes related Bible study.

Island of the Blue Dolphins By Scott O’Dell

This novel study, created by Reed Novel Studies, includes comprehension questions, vocabulary lessons, language arts assignments, and extension activities.  This is the only novel guide that Reed offers for free, and it is in a long list of novel guides that are for sale. Scroll almost halfway down the alphabetical list, and you’ll find the guide.

This set of lapbook and notebooking pages from Teachers Pay Teachers covers the plot, characters, and setting. It also includes scripture, geography, animal studies, and more.

Rise to Reading provides comprehension questions for each chapter of the book.

Julie of the Wolves by Jean Craighead George

Scholastic’s reading guide includes questions to guide the student’s reading and discussion questions about the book’s plot, setting, theme, and characters.

On Teachers Pay Teachers, you’ll find this test that covers the whole book.

King of the Wind by Marguerite Henry

Book Units Teacher has made multiple-choice worksheets available for each chapter.

As We Walk Along the Road provides ideas for a unit study based on the book that includes connections to countries & cultures, science, literature, and crafts.

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis

The C.S. Lewis Foundation provides an educator’s guide for the book. It includes vocabulary exercises, comprehension questions, critical thinking questions, writing prompts, and art projects.

Homeschool Share’s lapbook covers plot details, characters, and some related Bible study.

Beginning on page 75 of Response Guides for Teaching Children’s Books, there are discussion questions, writing assignments, and activity suggestions for the book.

Rise to Reading provides comprehension questions, vocabulary words, and writing prompts for the book.

The Magician’s Nephew by C. S. Lewis

Homeschool Share’s lapbook covers the book’s plot and includes related Bible study.

The Book Den provides discussion questions for the book.

Maniac Magee by Jerry Spinelli

This Read Works unit includes comprehension questions, vocabulary activities, and extension activities. Click “get all” next to “teacher and student materials” to download the unit. You will also need to create a free account.

Rise to Reading provides comprehension questions for each chapter of the book.

This resource from Teachers Pay Teachers provides reader response writing prompts for the book.

Missing May by Cynthia Rylant

This comprehension packet from k6edu.com has comprehension questions and vocabulary words.

Books on Tape’s teacher’s guide includes pre-reading activities, discussion questions,  interdisciplinary connections, and vocabulary words.

Number the Stars by Lois Lowry

Plain and not so Plain provides vocabulary words and comprehension questions for each chapter.

Rise to Reading has comprehension questions for each chapter.

This novel study found on Teachers Pay Teachers includes vocabulary, discussion questions, activities, and more.

Old Yeller by Fred Gipson

Beginning on page 90 of Response Guides for Teaching Children’s Books, there are discussion questions, writing assignments, and activity suggestions for the book.

The Chandler Unified School District has made this set of discussion questions available.

The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster

At Rise to Reading, you’ll find comprehension questions for each chapter of the book.

Homeschool Share’s novel study and lapbook include comprehension questions, vocabulary work, and related language arts concepts.

A final test is available for the book on Teachers Pay Teachers.

Shades of Gray by Carolyn Reeder

Carol Hurst’s Children’s Literature Site provides discussion questions and activities for the book.

The Sign of the Beaver by Elizabeth George Speare

Rise to Reading provides comprehension questions, vocabulary words, and writing prompts.

Homeschool Share’s unit study and printables set includes lessons related to the book in language arts, history, geography, science, food preparation, and more.

Mr. Parratore’s reading packet includes discussion questions for each chapter.

 

 

Sounder by William H. Armstrong

Scholastic’s reading guide includes questions to guide the student’s reading and discussion questions about the book’s plot, setting, theme, and characters.

NovelWise provides section worksheets, discussion questions, and activities for the book.

Swift Rivers by Cornelia Meigs

Mercy for Marthas’ study guide has comprehension questions for each chapter of the book.

The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle by Avi

NovelWise provides section worksheets, discussion questions, and activities for the book.

Scholastic’s Mother-Daughter Book Club provides a set of discussion questions.

Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbitt

Rise to Reading provides comprehension questions for each chapter of the book.

NovelWise provides section worksheets, discussion questions, and activities for the book.

This worksheet set found on Teachers Pay Teachers covers quotes, themes, and figurative language. It also includes a true/false quiz on the book.

The Watsons Go to Birmingham – 1963 by Christopher Paul Curtis

This post from Freedom Homeschooling provides links to book study materials for the book. These materials give information about historical context and include discussion questions, vocabulary words, writing prompts, and more.

NovelWise provides section worksheets, discussion questions, and activities for the book.

When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead

At Rise to Reading, you’ll find comprehension questions for each chapter.

Learning Hero’s book discussion guide includes vocabulary, ideas & themes, and extra activities.

Hilltown Families provides a literature guide that includes discussion questions, activities, and assessments.

A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle

Rise to Reading offers comprehension questions, vocabulary words, and writing prompts.

Woo! Jr. Kids provides comprehension and vocabulary worksheets for the book.

This novel study from Teachers Pay Teachers includes comprehension questions and vocabulary assignments.

With this lesson found on Teachers Pay Teachers students compare the book to the movie.

I hope your child enjoys reading these books!

7th Grade School Reading List

When your child is ready, we also have a 7th grade reading list. Like our 6th grade reading list, it includes at least one free novel study or lesson for each book.

More Free Reading Curriculum & Resources

Free Vintage Readers for Middle School– Download vintage graded readers for 6th, 7th, and 8th grades.

Free Book Guides– This page tells where to find book guides and novel studies for every grade.

Free Reading and Literature Curriculum– On this page, you’ll find many reading and literature curriculum options.

Free eBooks– This post tells where to find free eBooks for the entire family.

Free Audiobooks– This post shares where to find free audiobooks for all ages.

 

Note: This post was originally published on June 3, 2021, and has been updated for accuracy and comprehensiveness.