Sixth grade is a year of amazing discoveries and reading can be an incredible passport to discovering thrilling new worlds. If you are looking for a well told story, choose a book from this list, open its cover and explore the wonders of the world inside. Your next favorite book may be just a page away.
By Graci Kim
Los Angeles: disney-Hyperion, 2025. Fiction. 289 Pages.
Fourteen year-old Aria Lovebridge is a dreamslinger and some people consider her to be dangerous. Aria however feels like she has her powers under control because she doesn't let her emotions get away from her. When a kingdom far away invites dreamslinger teenagers from around the world to compete for the first time in a challenge, Aria is excited to go. At the challenge she makes some new friends and as she experiments with her abilities and learns more about her powers she also begins to accept who she is.
This is a great first series book that introduces new characters and Korean culture and folklore. Perfect for fantasy book lovers.
By Steph Cherrywell
New York: Little, Brown and Company, 2025. Fiction. 310 Pages.
Have you ever wanted to live on Mars? Scientists are testing the possibility of sustainable human life on another planet by placing humanoid robots on Mars. Many of the robots living on Mars are programmed to resemble characters from TV shows. They all are similar except for one robot, named Libby or "Max". Max is the only robot who is programmed differently from the other ones. She is a cheerful, peppy upbeat robot who just wants a friend. But no matter how hard she tries, Max can't seem to make a friend. As she is searching for a friend, she makes an important discovery. What she discovered could be life changing for everyone on Mars and it could also put her in real danger.
A sweet story about being true to oneself and not giving up on others.
By Saadia Faruqi
New York: Quill Tree Books, 2025. Fiction. 270 Pages.
Mo is starting eighth grade but his life isn't very stable and he often feels like he is the adult in the family. His dad suffers from mental illness and his mother, a Doctor, is helping refugees in Greece. Mo tries to pretend he is tough and works on his bad boy image but deep down he is a good kid who just needs some help adjusting to life. Eventually Mo and his dad move in with his aunt and cousin. As Mo tries to promote his bad boy image he finds himself caring more and more about the people around him and letting them find a place in his heart and his world.
This story is an insightful look into the complexities of mental illness while showing how families cope and deal with the day to day difficulties of mental illness.
By Kate Messner
New York: Bloomsbury Children's books, 2025. Fiction. 356 Pages.
Summer is starting and thirteen-year-old Finn Connelly has gotten himself into a lot of trouble. He was caught on camera vandalizing a headstone at a cemetary and now he has a choice to make. He can pay thousands of dollars in fines or he can agree to take an alternative punishment. The woman whose mother's headstone was destroyed agress to drop charges if Finn takes her mothers dog and spends the summer climbing all 46 Adirondack peaks before labor day. Finn decides to hike the peaks. During his journey Finn has a lot of time to think about his anger towards his father, a New York City Firefighter who died not long ago, and what it means to be a hero.
This novel in verse talks a lot about the grief and anger that comes from losing a parent. It also explores self discovery, forgiveness and second chances.
By Charis Cotter
Bee is going to her first summer Camp. Her mother signed her up for a bird watching camp called Camp Blue Heron. Bee is very anxious and worried that she won't find a friend at camp because she struggles to fit in at school. But a few weeks into camp she meets Zippy and they become best friends. As the girls study birds and attend the camp activities they begin to notice something strange about the older girls, the Hawks. Every morning their flashlight batteries are dead and the girls are always exhausted. The two friends decide to solve the mystery. They begin watching the older girls trying to find out what they are doing at night. Along the way they become friends with Felicity, another girl trying to find answers about the girls and their night time adventures. Together the three girls discover some old secrets about the camp as they uncover the mystery of the haunted dance hall.
A great summer camp adventure with an intriguing mystery to solve.
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