Gr. 6 Lit. Survey

READING LIST FOR SIXTH GRADE STUDENTS

This reading list will introduce you to many different genres, to many different authors, and to some of the classics.

Canadian Authors
These novels will introduce you to a few great Canadian writers.
Ellis, Deborah. The Breadwinner.
Ellis, Deborah. I Am A Taxi.
Horvath, Polly. One Year in Coal Harbor.
Korman, Gordon. Shipwreck.
Little, Jean. Mama’s Going to Buy You a Mockingbird.
Montgomery, L.M. Anne of Green Gables.
Mowat, Farley. The Dog Who Wouldn’t Be.
Pearson, Kit. The Sky is Falling and  The Whole Truth.
Wilson, Eric. Murder on the Canadian.

International Authors
These novels will give you an overview of some great writers from other countries.
Burnford, Sheila. The Incredible Journey. (British)
Carroll, Lewis. Alice in Wonderland. (British)
Colfer, Eoin. Half-moon Investigations. (Irish)
Cooper, Susan. Over Sea, Under Stone. (British)
Corder, Zizou. Lionboy. (British)
Creech, Sharon. An Unfinished Angel and Ruby Holler. (American)
D’Adamo, Francesco.  Iqbal. (Italian)

Funke, Cornelia. Inkheart. (German)

Giff, Patricia Reilly. R My Name is Rachel. (American)
Grahame, Kenneth. The Wind in the Willows. (British)
Haddix, Margaret Peterson. Among the Hidden. (American)
Hartnett, Sonya. The Midnight Zoo. (Australian)

Holt, Kimberly Willis. The Water Seeker. (American)
Ibbotson, Eva. Journey to the River Sea. (British)
Kehret, Peg. Escaping the Giant Wave. (American)

Kelly, Jacqueline. The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate. (American)
Kjlelgaard, Jim. Big Red. (American)

Knight, Mary. Saving Wonder. (American)
Lacey, Josh. The Island of Thieves. (British)

Levine, Kristin. The Best Bad Luck I Ever Had. (American)
Lewis, C.S. The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. (British)
Maclachlan, Patricia. The Poet’s Dog. (American)
Madden, Kerry. Gentle’s Holler. (American)
McCloskey, Robert. Homer Price. (American)
McDonald, George. The Princess and Curdie. (British)
Mikaelsen, Ben. Touching Spirit Bear. (American)
Naidoo, Beverly. Burn My Heart. (South African)
Napoli, Jo. North. (American)
Nesbit, Elizabeth. The Phoenix and the Carpet. (British)
Nielsen, Jennifer A. A Night Divided. (American)
Parry, Rosanne. Written in Stone. (American)
Paterson, Katherine. The Day of the Pelican. (American)
Peck, Richard. On the Wings of Heroes. (American)
Peck, Robert Newton. Soup. (American)
Philbrick, Rodman. The Mostly True Adventures of Homer P. Figg. (American)
Pileggi, Leah. Prisoner 88. (American)
Rawls, Wilson. Where the Red Fern Grows. (American)
Riordan, Rick. The Percy Jackson series starting with The Lightning Thief.
Rowling, J.K. Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone. (British)
Ryan, Pam Munoz. Becoming Naomi Leon. (American)
Smucker, Barbara. Underground to Canada. (American)
Taylor, Theodore. The Cay. (American)
Thor, Annika. A Faraway Island. (Swedish)
Twain, Mark. The Adventures of Tom Sawyer. (American)
Whelan, Gloria. Chu Ju’s House. (American)
Wyss, Johann D. The Swiss Family Robinson. (Swiss)
Yelchin, Eugene. The Haunting of Falcon House. (Russian)
Yep, Laurence. The Dragon’s Child. (American)

Newbery Winners
The Newbery Award was named after a British bookseller who lived in the 1700s: John Newbery. Every year, the American Library Association recognizes one author for making the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children. Note that this is an American award and so many outstanding books from other countries are not eligible. Therefore, it is important to also read great literature from other countries. Keeping that in mind, here are some Newbery novels especially suitable for sixth grade students.
Appelt, Kathi. The Underneath. (2009 Honor Book)
Armstrong, Alan. Whittington. (2006 Honor Book)
Armstrong, William. Sounder. (1970 Medal Winner)
Bradley, Kimberly Brubaker. The War That Saved My Life. (2016 Honor Book)
Choldenko, Gennifer. Al Capone Does My Shirts. (2005 Honor Book)
Curtis, Christopher Paul. Elijah of Buxton. (2008 Honor Book)
DiCamillo, Kate. The Tale of Despereaux. (2004 Medal Winner)
Estes, Eleanor. Ginger Pye. (1952 Medal Winner)
Gantos, Jack. Dead End in Norvelt. (2012 Medal Winner)
George, Jean Craighead. My Side of the Mountain. (1960 Honor Book)
Gidwitz, Adam. The Inquisitor’s Tale: Or, The Three Magical Children and Their Holy Dog. (2017 Honor Book)
Giff, Patricia Reilly. Pictures of Hollis Woods. (2003 Honor Book)
Hiassen, Carl. Hoot. (2003 Honor Book)
Horvath. Polly. Everything on a Waffle. (2002 Honor Book)
Kongisburg, E.L. From the Mixed-up Files of Mrs. Basil. E. Frankweiler. (1968 Medal Winner)
Levine, Gail. Ella Enchanted. (1998 Honor Book)
Lord, Cynthia. Rules. (2007 Honor Book)
Lowry, Lois. Number the Stars. (1990 Medal Winner)
Naylor, Phyllis Reynolds. Shiloh. (1992 Medal Winner)
North, Sterling. Rascal. (1964 Honor Book)
O’Dell, Scott. Island of the Blue Dolphins. (1961 Medal Winner)
Park, Linda Sue. A Single Shard. (2002 Medal Winner)
Paterson, Katherine. The Great Gilly Hopkins. (1979 Honor Book)
Paulsen, Gary. Hatchet. (1988 Honor Book)
Rylant, Cynthia. Missing May. (1993 Medal Winner)
Sachar, Louis. Holes. (1999 Medal Winner)
Vanderpool, Clare. Moon Over Manifest. (2011 Medal Winner)
Woodson, Jacqueline. Feathers. (2008 Honor Book)
Yelchin, Eugene. Breaking Stalin’s Nose. (2012 Honor Book)

[This page may be copied for use with students if the following credit is provided: ©2018 Sophie Rosen.]

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