Sixth Grade: Recommendations from Mrs. Mcelwee and Mrs. Atkinson 6Th Grade LA Teachers

Reading List

Thank you to all the teachers that sent me your favorites! This list is organized by recommending teacher, grade level and subject area. The majority of the book descriptions are taken directly from Amazon.com. Check your online, local public library, the school library, and your teachers’ classroom libraries for these great books and resources.

Sixth Grade: Recommendations from Mrs. McElwee and Mrs. Atkinson – 6th grade LA teachers

The Red Kayak by Pricilla Cummings

Published by Puffin Books

Reading Level: Middle School

Lexile Level: 800L

Age Level: 10-14

Information from Amazon.com

Brady loves life on the Chesapeake Bay with his friends J.T. and Digger. But developers and rich families are moving into the area, and while Brady befriends some of them, like the DiAngelos, his parents and friends are bitter about the changes. Tragedy strikes when the DiAngelos’ kayak overturns in the bay, and Brady wonders if it was more than an accident. Soon, Brady discovers the terrible truth behind the kayak’s sinking, and it will change the lives of those he loves forever. Priscilla Cummings deftly weaves a suspenseful tale of three teenagers caught in a wicked web of deception.

Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs

Published by: Quirk Books

Reading Level: Upper Middle School to High School

Lexile Level: 890L

Age Level: 14-17

Information: Three books in this series and the movie is coming out soon!

Seventh Grade Science – recommendations from Mr. Hooper, Life Science Teacher at LDMS

Silent SpringBy Rachel Carson

Published by First Mariner Books

Reading Level: Adult

Lexile Level: 1340 L

Age Level: advanced readers with high interest in middle school could be successful

Information from Amazon.com

Rachel Carson’sSilent Springwas first published in three serialized excerpts in theNew Yorkerin June of 1962. The book appeared in September of that year and the outcry that followed its publication forced the banning of DDT and spurred revolutionary changes in the laws affecting our air, land, and water. Carson’s passionate concern for the future of our planet reverberated powerfully throughout the world, and her eloquent book was instrumental in launching the environmental movement. It is without question one of the landmark books of the twentieth century.

The Voyage of the Beagle by Charles Darwin

Published by Penguin Books

Reading Leve:l Middle School to Adult

Lexile Level: 1220L

Age Level: advanced readers with high interest in middle school could be successful

Information from Amazon.com

About the Author: Charles Darwin was an English naturalist and author best-known for his revolutionary theories on the origin of species, human evolution, and natural selection. A life-long interest in the natural world led Darwin to neglect his medical studies and instead embark on a five-year scientific voyage on the HMS Beagle, where he established his reputation as a geologist and gathered much of the evidence that fueled his later theories.

Under the Sea Wind by Rachel Carson

Published by Unicorn Press

Reading Level: Middle School

Lexile Level: 770L

Age Level: 8-12

Information from Amazon.com

“Under the Sea-Wind: A Naturalist's Picture of Ocean Life (1941) is the first book written by the American marine biologist Rachel Carson. Under the Sea Wind describes the behaviour of fish and seabirds accurately, but in story form, often using the scientific names of species as character names. Carson's stated goal in doing so was "to make the sea and its life as vivid a reality for those who may read the book as it has become for me during the past decade."

A Sand County Almanac by Aldo Leopold

Published by Oxford University Press

Reading Level: Middle School to Adult

Lexile Level: unavailable

Information from Amazon.com

“These astonishing portraits of the natural world explore the breathtaking diversity of the unspoiled American landscape -- the mountains and the prairies, the deserts and the coastlines. A stunning tribute to our land and a bold challenge to protect the world we love.”

Seeds of Hope: Wisdom and Wonder from the World of Plantsby Jane Goodall

Published by Grand Central Publishing Hachatte Book Group

Reading Level:Middle School to Adult

Lexile Level: unavailable

Information: This book is about the benefits and importance of plants and their conservation.

The Life of the Spider by J. Henri Fabre – regarded by some as the Father of Entomology. He wrote several texts, mostly on insects.

Published by CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform

Reading Level: Upper Middle School to Adult

Lexile Level: unavailable

Information from Amazon.com

“The Spider has a bad name: to most of us, she represents an odious, noxious animal, which everyone hastens to crush under foot. Against this summary verdict the observer sets the beast's industry, its talent as a weaver, its wiliness in the chase, its tragic nuptials and other characteristics of great interest. Yes, the Spider is well worth studying, apart from any scientific reasons; but she is said to be poisonous and that is her crime and the primary cause of the repugnance wherewith she inspires us.”

Science World MagazineRecommended by Miss Dell, Life and Physical Science Teacher at LDMS

Magazine is available by subscription at

Published by Scholastic

Reading Level: Grades 6-10

This magazine is currently being used in the 7th and 8th grade science classes.

Eighth Grade Science – Recommendations from Mrs. Weimer, 8th grade Physical Science Teacher

The Martian by Andy Weir

Published by Broadway Books

Reading Level: Middle School to Adult

Lexile Level: HL680L

Age Level: 14-17

Information from Amazon.com

“Six days ago, astronaut Mark Watney became one of the first people to walk on Mars.Now, he's sure he'll be the first person to die there.
After a dust storm nearly kills him and forces his crew to evacuate while thinking him dead, Mark finds himself stranded and completely alone with no way to even signal Earth that he’s alive—and even if he could get word out, his supplies would be gone long before a rescue could arrive.
Chances are, though, he won't have time to starve to death. The damaged machinery, unforgiving environment, or plain-old "human error" are much more likely to kill him first.
But Mark isn't ready to give up yet. Drawing on his ingenuity, his engineering skills—and a relentless, dogged refusal to quit—he steadfastly confronts one seemingly insurmountable obstacle after the next. Will his resourcefulness be enough to overcome the impossible odds against him?”

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot

Published by: Broadway Books

Reading Level: Upper Middle School to Adult

Lexile Level: 1140L

Age Level: 14-17

Information and book recommendation from Mrs. Weimer: Henrietta was a poor African American and they extracted the cells from a cancerous tumor she had without her consent and used it for research around the world. Many vaccines we now have used her cells as part of the research to develop them. The story also goes into the effects of her family and the controversy behind her family not knowing they used her cells.

Seventh and Eighth Grade English – Recommendations from Mrs. Gilroy, 7th and 8th Grade English teacher at LDMS

Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson

Published by: Square Fish

Reading Level Upper Middle School to High

Lexile Level: 840 L

Age Level: 14-17

Information: modern topics

13 Reasons Why by Jay Asher

Published by Razorbill

Reading Level: 7 and up

Lexile Level: 550L

Age Level: 12-16

Information: Bestseller; From Amazon.com - When Clay Jenson plays the cassette tapes he received in a mysterious package, he's surprised to hear the voice of dead classmate Hannah Baker. He's one of 13 people who receive Hannah's story, which details the circumstances that led to her suicide. Clay spends the rest of the day and long into the night listening to Hannah's voice and going to the locations she wants him to visit. The text alternates, sometimes quickly, between Hannah's voice (italicized) and Clay's thoughts as he listens to her words, which illuminate betrayals and secrets that demonstrate the consequences of even small actions. Hannah, herself, is not free from guilt, her own inaction having played a part in an accidental auto death and a rape. The message about how we treat one another, although sometimes heavy, makes for compelling reading.

The House of the Scorpion by Nancy Farmer

Published by: Atheneum Books for Young Readers

Reading Level: Middle School to Adult

Lexile Level: 660L

Age Level: 11-19+

Information from Amazon.com - AtteoAlacrán was not born; he was harvested.
His DNA came from El Patrón, lord of a country called Opium--a strip of poppy fields lying between the United States and what was once called Mexico. Matt's first cell split and divided inside a petri dish. Then he was placed in the womb of a cow, where he continued the miraculous journey from embryo to fetus to baby. He is a boy now, but most consider him a monster--except for El Patrón. El Patrón loves Matt as he loves himself, because Matt is himself.

Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell

Published by: St. Martin’s Griffin

Reading Level: Middle School to Adult

Lexile Level: HL580L

Age Level: 14-18

Information from Amazon.com - An Amazon Best Book of the Month, March 2013: WhileEleanor & Parkis technically classified as YA lit and has a cutesy cover, don’t let the stigma of “books for teens” fool or deter you. It is writtenaboutteens, sure, but the themes are so universal that anyone who survived high school will relate to the lives of the two protagonists. Eleanor is the new girl in town and her wild red hair and patchwork outfits are not helping her blend in. She ends up sitting next to Park on the bus, whose tendencies towards comic books don’t jibe with the rest of his family’s love of sports. They sit in awkward silence every day until Park notices that Eleanor is reading his comics over his shoulder; he begins to slide them closer to her side of the seat and thus begins their love story. Their relationship grows gradually--making each other mixed tapes (it is 1986 after all) and discussingX-Mencharacters--until they both find themselves looking forward to the bus ride more than any other part of the day. Things aren’t easy: Eleanor is bullied at school and then goes home to a threatening family situation; Park’s parents do not approve of Eleanor’s awkward ways. Ultimately, though, this is a book about two people who just really, really like each other and who believe that they can overcome any obstacle standing in the way of their happiness. It’s a gem of a book.--Caley Anderson

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

Published by: Alfred A. Knopf

Reading Level: Middle and up

Lexile Level: 730L

Information: holocaust historical fiction

Eighth Grade English – Recommendations from Miss Pfeffer, 8th Grade English teacher at LDMS

The Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling

Publisher: Arthur A. Levine Books

Reading Level: Middle and up

Lexile Level: books range from 950L-1030L

Age Level: high interest for readers –elementary to adult

Information: Really? Do you really need information on this? Teen Fiction.

The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd

Publisher: Penguin Books

Reading Level: Middle and up

Lexile Level: 830L

Information: New York Times Best Seller, movie

Fever 1793 by Laurie Halse Andersen(and any of her other books)

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers

Reading Level: Middle and up

Lexile Level: 580L

Age Level: 10-15

Information: Historical Fiction

Monster by Walter Dean Myers

Publisher: Amistad

Reading Level: Middle and up

Lexile Level: GN420L

Age Level: 11-17

Information from Amazon.com: The story of Steve Harmon, a teenage boy in juvenile detention and on trial. Presented as a screenplay of Steve's own imagination, and peppered with journal entries, the book shows how one single decision can change our whole lives.

The Glory Field by Walter Dean Myers

Publisher: Scholastic Paperbacks

Reading Level: Middle and Up

Lexile Level: 800L

Information from Amazon.com: This is the story of one family. A family whose history saw its first ancestor captured, shackled, and brought to this country from Africa. A family who can still see remnants of the shackles that held some of its members captive -- even today. It is a story of pride, determination, struggle, and love. And of the piece of the land that holds them together throughout it all.

Fallen Angels by Walter Dean Myers (pretty much anything by Walter Dean Myers)

Publisher: Scholastic Paperbacks

Reading Level: Middle and up

Lexile Level: 650L

Information from Amazon.com: A coming-of-age tale for young adults set in the trenches of the Vietnam War in the late 1960s, this is the story of Perry, a Harlem teenager who volunteers for the service when his dream of attending college falls through. Sent to the front lines, Perry and his platoon come face-to-face with the Vietcong and the real horror of warfare. But violence and death aren't the only hardships. As Perry struggles to find virtue in himself and his comrades, he questions why black troops are given the most dangerous assignments, and why the U.S. is even there at all.

The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien

Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

Reading Level: Middle and up

Lexile Level: 1000L

Age Level: 13-17

Information from Amazon.com: A great modern classic and prelude to The Lord of the Rings

The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R Tolkien

Publisher: Mariner Books – 50th Anniversary

Reading Level: Middle and up

Lexile Level: 860L

Information: fantasy

The Chronicles of Narnia

Publisher: Harper Festival

Reading Level: Middle and up

Lexile Level: 870L

Information from Amazon.com:Epic battles between good and evil, fantastic creatures, betrayals, heroic deeds, and friendships won and lost all come together in this unforgettable world, which has been enchanting readers of all ages for over sixty years.

The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton

Publisher: Speak

Reading Level: Middle and up

Lexile Level: 750L

Age Level: 10-16

Information from Amazon.com:Written over forty-five years ago,The Outsidersis a dramatic and enduring work of fiction. S. E. Hinton's classic story of a boy who finds himself on the outskirts of regular society remains as powerful today as it was the day it was first published.

The Life of Pi by Yann Martel

Publisher: Mariner Books

Reading Level: Middle and up

Lexile Level: 830L

Age Level: 14-adult

Information from Amazon.com:The son of a zookeeper, Pi Patel has an encyclopedic knowledge of animal behavior and a fervent love of stories. When Pi is sixteen, his family emigrates from India to North America aboard a Japanese cargo ship, along with their zoo animals bound for new homes.

Code Name Verity- Elizabeth Wein

Publisher:Disney-Hyperion

Reading Level: middle and up

Lexile Level: 1012L

Age Level: 14-17

Information from Amazon.com:Oct. 11th, 1943-A British spy plane crashes in Nazi-occupied France. Its pilot and passenger are best friends. One of the girls has a chance at survival. The other has lost the game before it's barely begun.

Prisoner B- 3087 by Alan Gratz

Publisher: Scholastic Press

Reading Level: Middle and up

Lexile Level: 760L

Age Level: 11-13

Information: Historical Fiction

Projekt 1065 by Alan Gratz

Publisher: Scholastic Press

Reading Level: Middle and up

Lexile Level: 780L

Age Level: 9-12

Information from Amazon.com:From acclaimed author Alan Gratz (Prisoner B-3087) comes a pulse-pounding novel about facing fears and fighting for what matters most.

Code of Honor by Alan Gratz

Publisher: Scholastic Press

Reading Level: Middle and up

Lexile Level: HL660L

Age Level: 12-17