Chapter Books for Confident Readers (Grade 5 - 8)

Kids that choose the books they read are much more likely to finish reading their book, so kids that are confidently reading on their own should select books on topics that interest them. Fiction, non-fiction, and graphic novels are all great choices that can help support literacy.

Updated May 29, 2025
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House of robots
Paper Book
The #1 New York Times bestseller, perfect for fans of Diary of a Wimpy Kid!   An extraordinary robot enters an ordinary fifth grade class in this hilarious, action-packed start to the #1 bestselling series from James Patterson!
War stories
Paper Book
A story of telling truth from lies - and finding out what being a hero really means. There are two things Trevor loves more than anything else: playing war-based video games and his great-grandfather Jacob, who is a true-blue, bona fide war hero. At the height of the war, Jacob helped...
Lions & liars
Beasley, Kate.
Paper Book
Frederick Frederickson has a food-chain theory about life. There are lions, like the school bully. Gazelles, like the bullied kids. There are meerkats, and the fleas that live on the butts of meerkats. Frederick's a flea. Fifth grade is off to a terrible start when Frederick is sent...
The last kids on Earth
Brallier, Max.
Paper Book
A Netflix Original series! The first book in the New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal bestselling series, with over 7 million copies in print! "Terrifyingly fun! Delivers big thrills and even bigger laughs."--Jeff Kinney, author of the #1 ...
The wild robot
Brown, Peter
Paper Book
Now a DreamWorks movie available on Prime Video! This #1 New York Times bestselling illustrated middle grade novel from a Caldecott Honor winner tells an extraordinary story full of action and thought-provoking questions as a robot learns to survive--and...
The wild robot escapes
Brown, Peter
Paper Book
In this second book in the #1 New York Timesbestselling The Wild Robot series by award-winning author Peter Brown, Roz tries to escape home to Brightbill and the island! Shipwrecked on a remote, wild island, Robot Roz learned from the unwelcoming...
Flunked
Calonita, Jen
Paper Book
Marvel Avengers : the ultimate character guide
Cowsill, Alan.
Paper Book
Meet the world's mightiest Super Hero team: The Avengers! This comprehensive guide to the characters of Earth's mightiest Super Hero team features in-depth profiles on every Avenger - their powers, their allies, their key storylines, and their foes. Features fan...
Ferris
DiCamillo, Kate.
Paper Book
A New York Times bestseller! The beloved author of Because of Winn-Dixie has outdone herself with a hilarious and achingly real love story about a girl, a ghost, a grandmother, and growing up. It's the summer before fifth grade, and for...
The eyes & the impossible
Eggers, Dave.
Paper Book
NEWBERY MEDAL WINNER * #1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER An enthralling novel for all ages by award-winning author Dave Eggers, told from the perspective of one uniquely endearing dog--featuring beautiful artwork from Caldecott honoree Shawn Harris. ...
Slugfest
Korman, Gordon.
Paper Book
From the New York Times bestselling author of The Unteachables comes a hilarious new story about a group of underdogs who come together when they are forced to attend summer school--for failing PE. Yash is the best athlete at Robinette Middle School. So good, in fact, that he's already been...
Allergic: a Graphic Novel
Lloyd, Megan Wagner
Paper Book
A coming-of-age middle-grade graphic novel featuring a girl with severe allergies who just wants to find the perfect pet! At home, Maggie is the odd one out. Her parents are preoccupied with getting ready for a new baby, and her younger brothers are twins and always in their own world....
Squished: a Graphic Novel
Lloyd, Megan Wagner
Paper Book
From the Eisner-nominated duo behind the instant bestseller Allergic comes a fun graphic novel about finding your own space... especially when you're in a family of nine! Eleven-year-old Avery Lee loves living in Hickory Valley, Maryland. She loves her neighborhood, school, and the...
A snicker of magic
Lloyd, Natalie
Paper Book
Natalie Lloyd's SPINDIDDLY debut novel, now in paperback! A Snicker of Magic joins the Scholastic Gold line, which features award-winning and beloved novels. Includes exclusive bonus content! Midnight Gulch used to be a magical place, a town where people could sing up...
The secret library
Magoon Kekla.
Paper Book
An instant New York Times bestseller! Travel through time with National Book Award Finalist Kekla Magoon in a page-turning fantasy adventure about family secrets and finding the courage to plot your own life story. Since Grandpa died, Dally's days are...
At the bottom of the world
Nye, Bill
Paper Book
A contest to find a better way to create clean drinking water turns into a mystery when one of the scientists goes missing. Luckily, Jack and his genius siblings are on the case in Jack and the Geniuses: At the Bottom of the World, first in the New York Times...
Wonder
Palacio, R. J.
Paper Book
#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER * A PARADE BEST KIDS BOOK OF ALL TIME * Millions of people have fallen in love with Auggie Pullman, an ordinary boy with an extraordinary face--who shows us that kindness brings us together no matter how far apart we are. Read the book that...
Bridge to Terabithia
Paterson, Katherine.
Paper Book
The classic Newbery Medal-winning title by beloved author Katherine Paterson, with brand-new bonus materials including an author's note by Katherine herself and a foreword by New York Times bestselling author Kate DiCamillo.  Jess Aarons has been practicing all summer so he can...
Impossible creatures
Rundell, Katherine.
Paper Book
#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER * Two kids race to save the world's last magical place in the first book of a landmark new fantasy series, from "a writer with an utterly distinctive voice and a wild imagination." (Philip Pullman, author of The Golden Compass) *This...
Spooky lakes : 25 strange and mysterious lakes that dot our planet
Rutherford, Geo.
Paper Book
Dive into the most mysterious waters around the world (if you dare) in Spooky Lakes, an illustrated nonfiction book from TikTok star and educator Geo Rutherford Some of Earth's strangest--and creepiest--wonders lie deep below the surface. There's Lake Natron, a...
The bad beginning
Snicket, Lemony.
Paper Book
Imagine tales so terrible that as many as 50 million innocents have been ruined by them - tales so indelibly horrid that thehas been unable to rid itself of it for seven years. Now imagine this scourge suddenly became available in a shameful new edition so sensational, so...
The tryout
Soontornvat, Christina.
Paper Book
Could anything be more mortifying than trying out for cheerleader in front of your whole grade? This hilarious, highly relatable story will make you laugh, cry, and cheer! Perfect for fans of Raina Telgemeier. An Instant #1 Bestseller! "A captivating middle...
When you reach me
Stead, Rebecca.
Paper Book
"Like A Wrinkle in Time (Miranda's favorite book), When You Reach Me far surpasses the usual whodunit or sci-fi adventure to become an incandescent exploration of 'life, death, and the beauty of it all.'" --The Washington Post This Newbery Medal winner...
I survived the Wellington avalanche, 1910
Tarshis, Lauren.
Paper Book
The Wellington snow slide of 1910 was--and still is--the deadliest avalanche in America's history. Lauren Tarshis's story of one child surviving the frozen nightmare pounds with page-turning action and heartwarming hope. The snow came down faster than train crews could clear the tracks,...
Nevermoor : the trials of Morrigan Crow
Townsend, Jessica
Paper Book
A breathtaking, enchanting new series by debut author Jessica Townsend, about a cursed girl who escapes death and finds herself in a magical world--but is then tested beyond her wildest imagination. Morrigan Crow is cursed. Having been born on Eventide, the unluckiest day for any...
A royal conundrum
Yee, Lisa.
Paper Book
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER .When a notorious thief is out for priceless treasure (gems! cats! general decorum!)-who're you gonna call? An elite team of crime-fighting underdogs, that's who! The Misfits are on the case in this hilarious illustrated series from Newbery Honoree Lisa Yee and...

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