Get Reading!
For very young readers, reading books aloud inspires imaginative thought and understanding of the world. For middle schoolers, especially those from 5th-8th grade, reading is important to develop language and vocabulary skills that are fundamental for high school standardized tests. For young adults, research suggests that intelligence and IQ are not fixed but rather can be strengthened through effort and activity – particularly reading! In between movie marathons and Netflix with the family, try out a few of these fun books recommended by Sage tutors. Let’s get reading!
Books for 2nd Graders
Magic Tree House by Mary Pope Osborne – For those who want to travel to different countries and places in time from the comfort of their own home.
Amelia Bedelia by Peggy and Herman Parish – For those children who take things just too literally.
A Bad Case of Stripesby David Shannon – For those who are afraid to be themselves.
Stellaluna by Janell Cannon – For the little one who loves nocturnal creatures!
Junie B. Jones Series by Barbara Park – For the mischievous ones.
Books for 3rd Graders
Dreamers by Yuyi Morales – A celebration of family and creating a home wherever you go. Especially good for people with immigrant family members.
Judy Moody Series by Megan McDonald – For the kids who like to march to the beat of their own drum.
The BFG by Roald Dahl – For those that need lots of practice reading out loud and making inferences (a great one to read with parents).
Frindle by Andrew Clements – For those who appreciate the power of words.
Ms. Piggle Wiggle by Betty MacDonald – A great book to teach problem solving.
Books for 4th and 5th Graders
The Thief Lord by Cornelia Funke – For people who like “Peter Pan,” but would rather be adults sooner instead of forever young.
I’m Deborah Sampson by Patricia Clapp – For readers who like history and count “Mulan” as one of their favorite Disney movies.
The Castle in the Attic by Elizabeth Winthrop – For people who have a large imagination and love stories of knights in shining armor.
Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O’Dell – A tale of adventure, survival and self-discovery.
The Golden Hour by Maya Williams – For adventurers and thrill seekers.
Where The Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls – For those who consider their dog their best friend.
The School Story by Andrew Clements – For the future authors.
Books for 6th and 7th Graders
Gilda Joyce Series by Jennifer Allison – For plucky young detectives and fans of Nancy Drew.
Walk Two Moons by Sharon Creech – For the compassionate people that want to learn how to walk a mile in someone else’s shoes.
The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas – For those passionate about social justice (note to parents: some intense themes and language).
Refugee by Alan Gratz – A story of strength and unity among people looking for a place to call home.
Golden Compass Series by Phillip Pullman – For readers who love fantasy, mystery and sci-fi.
To Nightowl From Dogfish by Holly Goldberg Sloan and Meg Wolitzer – A fun tale of friendship told in an unconventional way.
Books for 8th and 9th Graders
Esperanza Rising by Pam Muñoz Ryan – A story of picking yourself up when you fall – inspirational and moving.
MAUS by Art Spiegelman – A graphic novel depicting the author’s interviews with his father, who is a Holocaust survivor.
The Perks of Being A Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky – A wonderful coming-of-age novel for everyone (note to parents: some sexual and drug content).
Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime by Mark Haddon – A mystery novel with an autistic main character.
Turtles All The Way Down by John Green – A story about friendship, solving little mysteries, and coping with anxiety. Oh, and Star Wars fanfiction.
Books for 10th – 12th Graders
Good Girls Revolt by Lynn Povich – For future journalists.
Year of Yes by Shonda Rhimes – For the introverts who need inspiration.
House of the Spirits by Isabel Allende – A family story full of magical realism.
The Things They Carried by Tim O’Brien – For those who don’t always like to read about war, but like to read about what makes us human.
Where’d You Go, Bernadette by Maria Semple – For those who understand the need to get away and go on an adventure.
Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand – A non-fiction World War II story about resilience.
City of Girls by Elizabeth Gilbert – For people who wish they could have been alive during the era of flappers.
Girl, Interrupted by Susanna Kaysen – A memoir about life in a psychiatric hospital in the 1960s.
The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood – For fans of dystopian societies that only live on paper and steadfast feminists.
The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini – A story that encourages us to look at the world in new ways. For historical fiction fans.
The Help by Kathryn Stockett – Realistic, historic, hilarious and heartwarming – a must read!
Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn – For readers who crave a twisted mystery.
The Glass Castle by Jeanette Walls – A memoir about a dysfunctional family full of free spirits and dreamers.
Her Body and Other Parties by Carmen Maria Machado – A mix of psychological realism, science fiction, comedy, horror, and fantasy that explores the experience of living in a female body (note: some intense themes, including violence).
All of the books on this list are available at Marin County Libraries, or on AmazonSmile. For even more book suggestions, check our our expanded list on Pintrest.
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