Finding the best books for 6th grade girls can be tough. If you have young readers in your house, you are probably always on the hunt for books they will love like I am. It’s basically my nightly bedtime hobby, scanning books online for good books my kids will love. That’s where this list of books for 6th grade girls got its inspiration, from a mom endlessly searching for books her kids will love. This list of great books will be very useful to your middle schoolers from which they can choose.
26 Best Books for 6th Grade Girls
1. Echo Mountain by Lauren Wolk
Ages 9+
Echo Mountain is a great option for this grade level! My son and I actually read this together and I loved it so much, I couldn’t wait to get to the next chapter! Read more about it here in our book review of Echo Mountain.
2. Explorer Academy by Trudi Trueit
Ages 8-11
This is a book series so I suggest having your child start on the first book in the series so they can know exactly what is going on and follow along. I actually read some of this book series myself, and I got hooked! In this series, Cruz leaves his ordinary life for a life of adventure that uncovers secrets, mysteries and so much more. Read more about it in our book review of Explorer Academy.
3. Pippa Park Raises Her Game (1) by Erin Yun
Ages 9-12
This book is a great read, especially for 6th graders who are having to move schools, states, etc, and are trying to figure out being in a new school. The main character is offered the opportunity to start over at a new school with a basketball scholarship. However, between social media struggles to the struggle of making new best friends, the main character is just trying to get the hang of her new life while not letting the secrets of her past life define her. It is a powerful story that I think can help a lot of other kids get through their school year if they are starting over.
4. A Wolf Called Wander by Rosanne Parry
Ages 8-11
A New York Times bestseller and a real tear jerker, this is a great and emotional book! You really feel like you are in the story and gain some type of closeness to this wolf. It is a great book to teach life lessons as it highlights courage, loyalty, and the importance of family. Add this book to your young reader’s list to see how this wolf goes from living in the mountains with his family to having to fend for himself. It is about having the courage to fight through tough situations and coming out stronger on the other side. Just like life with us, sometimes it gets hard but we learn how to push through and make it!
5. Beyond the Bright Sea by Lauren Wolk
Ages 10-12
This incredible story has won numerous awards, hence why it made it on my book list of “must reads” for your sixth graders. It is focused on family, strength, identity and the feeling that you belong to something. A lot of middle schoolers can face these situations where they are stuck and haven’t found themselves yet. Maybe they are feeling lost figuring out the real world after leaving elementary school. The main character in this book has lived a very isolated life until a chain of events happens that lead her to explore the world around her.
6. Wolf Hollow by Lauren Wolk
Ages 10+
The main character in this book shows amazing strength and resilience when she is faced with an opportunity to stand up for justice in what she believes in. She is a quiet girl that sees a friend being bullied by a new girl in the class, and she does what she has to do to make a stand. It is an inspiring story, and your middle schooler can take a lot from this book. Unfortunately, bullying is a part of normal life now, and it is not okay.
7. My Own Lightning by Lauren Wolk
Ages 10-12
This book proves why the author’s novels have been celebrated as historical fiction at its finest. It is a spin-off of Wolf Hollow, where the main character is once again faced with the same feelings she felt years ago when a familiar face shows up from her past. Bringing back all the deep feelings about herself and other people and the memories of the horrible acts of a bully of the past.
8. Down with the Dance (Middle School Mayhem) by C.T. Walsh
Ages 9+
As a little brother, the main character is always feeling as he is living in his brother’s shadow. They are just eleven months apart from each other but being the younger brother to an athlete is not always easy! His passion, the Halloween dance, is said to be at jeopardy and he has to find a way to save it! Will he? This is one of my book recommendations because it will resonate with many kids that are at this reading level.
9. How To Survive The 6th Grade by J.R. Clark
Ages 10+
Going to a new school and being in the situation to make new friends is exciting but also very nerve-racking. The main character is excited to get to middle school; however, when she arrives, she is faced with the harsh reality that race plays a big role in who you sit with at lunch. To make matters worse, a family member that she is not fond of moves in with her. Will she find the courage to move on from this and push through?
10. President of the Whole Sixth Grade (President Series, 2) by Sherri Winston
Ages 9-11
Faced with the normal challenges of 6th grade, the main character, Brianna, in this series soon realizes that sometimes challenges create inspiration when you need it most. Middle school girls can be hard to get along with; sometimes, they choose to act in ways that they really normally don’t act. Brianna is attempting to raise money for a school trip, and her challenges are starting to get in the way. She feels as though she is losing her two best friends while also dealing with another classmate that is trying to take her place in office. This is the perfect book for young readers trying to navigate middle school.
11. GIRLS ARE FANTASTIC! by Amber A Adams
Ages 9+
These short stories are not only fun but powerful for young readers that are adjusting to life. It really dives into how girls can be whoever they want to be. Girls should be brave and bold, and they can achieve their dreams with some practice and studying!
12. Wish by Barbara O’Connor
Ages 8-11
After wishing day after day for the same thing, the main character in this story soon realizes that what she wished for may not actually be what she wanted after all. She meets a young boy and a dog who help her realize this once she is sent out of town to live with family she hardly knows.
13. Alone by Megan E. Freeman
Ages 10-12
What would you do if you woke up one morning to find that everyone you love and everything you know is gone…vanished? The main character in this book wakes up to everyone’s nightmare, alone with no one around but a dog. She has to face this nightmare every day and shows true strength after surviving things like natural disasters, etc. She somehow learns to survive through the toughest time of her life with no power, no internet, and no loved ones around her.
14. The Dare by Cynthea Liu
Ages 9-12
Making new friends in a new town will be challenging for this character as she is forced to do a dare. She soon finds out that this exact dare was the cause of the last girl who completed it to disappear. What will she do? This book addresses issues such as bullying and peer pressure again, something young readers face and can get a lot from.
15. Ava & Carol Detective Agency Series by Thomas Lockhave
Ages 8-15
This is a thrilling book series that explores the story of a twelve-year-old girl and her friend trying to catch diamond smugglers! They have to find these smugglers soon, or they will be fleeing the country, and the diamonds will be lost forever. This is an exciting detective series that will keep the mind running and keep your young reader intrigued!
16. Friendship or Fame: Mia Finds Her Voice by Paul Breau
Ages 8-12
After getting help from her best friend in trying to find her voice, the main character starts to train with someone more experienced in singing. Her friendship takes a step down with her best friend and is then faced with reality- will I need to choose between my friendship and singing? Sometimes this, unfortunately, happens in real life, especially in young children’s lives where they are faced with choosing between friends and interests/hobbies.
17. A Long Walk to Water: Based on a True Story by Linda Sue Park
Ages 10-12
This is a book with two stories intertwined about two young kids, a boy, and a girl. Salva, the boy is forced to endure multiple hard times. He has survived these hard times, and eventually his story will intersect with the girl character, Nya.
18. Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Patterson
Ages 9+
This is one of those classics, so naturally it had to be included on the list of books for 6th grade girls. After having his running record beaten by not only a new kid but a new girl, the main character starts to feel all the pressure. He soon has a new best friend with whom he creates an imaginary world in the woods. The two of them are king and queen of this new world but soon, tragedy strikes, and he understands just how much of a true friend she has been and the impact she has on him.
20. Holes (Holes Series) by Louis Sachar
Ages 9-12
This is a great read based at a detention center for young boys. These boys are building character, spending every day together digging holes. When the main character feels like there are maybe dark secrets behind why the warden is making them dig these holes, he searches for an answer. What could the warden be hiding in this puzzle of a novel?
21. How to Steal a Dog: A Novel by Barbara O’Connor
Ages 8-11
When faced with the decision of choosing right from wrong, the main character, Georgina has to decide if it is worth it! Her family has been struggling with money and living in their car. Their entire life can change if Georgina steals or, in her thoughts, “borrows” a dog to turn in as a reward for a missing dog. If she does this, she could get a huge chunk of money that can get her out of her family’s tough situation. What will she decide? This is a great read for middle schoolers as they are faced daily with tough situations and the temptation of choosing right from wrong.
22. The Secret Lake: A children’s mystery adventure (Secret Lake Mystery Adventures) by Karen Inglis
Ages 8-11
When siblings, Stella and Tom, move to their new town in London, they soon find themselves in a time travel situation by following a dog they see daily. Where does this dog keep going every night? After following him, they end up 100 years back in time and start finding connections between those days and the present days. It is a very fun read for those young readers with a big imagination!
23. The Miscalculations of Lightning Girl by Stacy McAnulty
Ages 9-12
After being struck by lightning, Lucy realizes she has become a genius with super math skills. Ever since the strike, she has been homeschooled because she doesn’t want to be bullied, and she doesn’t think she will learn anything at school as she is so far more advanced than her peers. Her grandma insists she attends school for just one year; she wants her to make at least one friend. This is a book that pushes the main character to get out of her comfort zone; how will she do? Leaving fifth grade and starting at a new school is a huge push outside of our kid’s comfort zones; this may help them navigate that!
24. Sisterhood of Sleuths by Jennifer Chambliss Bertman
Ages 9-14
Three generations of women are connected in this book once Maizy, the main character, learns more about her grandmother than she ever knew. After finding an old picture of her grandmother, she goes on a hunt to find the truth about the picture since her grandma won’t admit it is her. This is such a great book, it had to be included on the list of books for 6th grade girls!
25. The Secret Zoo by Bryan Chick
Ages 7-10
After his sister disappears one night, Noah and his neighbors follow a series of clues to find her that lead them into the zoo next to their house. There are secrets of the zoo that are exposed once they are inside. This is a fun read with both mystery and fantasy for young readers to explore!
26. Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise by Jennifer Chambliss Bertman
Ages 9-12
This is a very powerful story and will hit home for some young readers who have experienced loss at a young age. After losing both her mom and sisters in a crash, the main character and her dad have not been home in years. She is determined to get home once she hears that a park where she holds memories of her family is being torn down. Along the way, they pick others up that are also looking for a new start or a safe space.
Creating The Perfect Collection of Books for 6th Grade Girls
After lots of research and reading a lot of these books in my own home, I hope that this list of books for 6th grade girls helps you navigate all these great novels. It can be tough to come up with a great list of books for your new middle schooler to enjoy. You want the book to not only pique their interest but also let them explore and have an imagination. 6th grade is such a crucial time in life as it is the next step at a new school which also leads to new friends. They can be dealing with a lot, from not feeling like they fit in, to trying to find themselves, etc. A good book may be that outlet for them to explore and learn life lessons. It should also be a fun time for them! Try opting for a fun read from time to time as well to spark their interest!
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Hi, I’m Jessica! I am wife to Chris, and mom to Kaiper, Alana and Koa. I am a graphic designer, website developer and aspiring author. In this space, I share about everything from parenting, working from home, food we cook, and lots of things for kids! Learn more about me here.
