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!
Join the resistance
Acker, Ben
Paper Book
MATTIS BANZ knows that he's meant to be a hero of the galaxy like the legendary Luke Skywalker, and when General Leia Organa's Resistance recruits him to join its efforts against the evil First Order, he finally has a chance to fulfill his destiny. But the rest of his squadron doesn't...
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...
Stephen Biesty's incredible cross-sections of everything
Biesty, Stephen.
Paper Book
How many rivets and bolts hold the wings of a Boeing 777 plane together? Why does an astronaut's spacesuit have a layer of liquid-cooled underwear? Who puts the jam in doughnuts? Find out the answers to these questions and much, much more in Stephen Biesty's Incredible Cross...
How to create animation in 10 easy steps
Bishop-Stephens, Will
Paper Book
Learn 10 key skills to create your own 2-D and 3-D animations! In this new addition to the Super Skills series, children will master animation in 10 easy lessons! A professional animator teaches children 10 key skills to start creating their own 2-D and 3-D animations. ...
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 ...
Be prepared
Brosgol, Vera
Paper Book
Already love Vera's work? Don't miss her first novel Return to Sender! "Beautifully drawn, brutally funny, brilliantly honest. Vera is such a good cartoonist I almost can't stand it." --Raina Telgemeier, author of Smile In Be Prepared, all...
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
Dive into book one of the best-selling Fairy Tale Reform School series, from award-winning author Jen Calonita! What happens to the villains after happily ever after? 12 year old Gilly isn't so sure that she needs reforming for the (former) villains in Enchantasia... Gilly wouldn't call...
The Marvellers
Clayton, Dhonielle.
Paper Book
Dhonielle Clayton makes her middle-grade debut with a fantasy adventure set in a global magic school in the sky --an instant New York Times and #1 Indie Bestseller! "The Marvellers deserves the highest compliment I can give a book: I want to live...
No vacancy
Cohen, Tziporah
Paper Book
With the help of her Catholic friend, an eleven-year-old Jewish girl creates a provocative local tourist attraction to save her family's failing motel. Buying and moving into the run-down Jewel Motor Inn in upstate New York wasn't eleven-year-old Miriam Brockman's dream, but at least it's...
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. ...
The midnight children
Gemeinhart, Dan.
Paper Book
The #1 New York Times and Indie bestseller! From Dan Gemeinhart, the acclaimed author of The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise, comes an extraordinary story about a family of runaways who take up residence in a small town, and the outcast boy who finds his voice...
Space case : a moon base alpha novel
Gibbs, Stuart
Ebook
It's a murder mystery on the moon in this humorous and suspenseful space adventure from the author of Belly Up and Spy School that The New York Times Book Review called "a delightful and brilliantly constructed middle grade thriller." Like his fellow...
The last cuentista
Higuera, Donna Barba.
Paper Book
Winner of the John Newbery Medal Winner of the Pura Belpré Award From Pura Belpré Award winner and Newbery Medalist, Donna Barba Higuera--a brilliant journey through the stars, to the very heart of what makes us...
Slugfest
Korman, Gordon.
Paper Book
From Gordon Korman, the New York Times bestselling author of Restart, 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...
The Swifts : a gallery of rogues
Lincoln, Beth.
Paper Book
Instant New York Times bestseller! Shenanigan Swift is headed to Paris, where new mysteries await in the hilarious, quick-witted sequel to Beth Lincoln's #1 bestseller, The Swifts: A Dictionary of Scoundrels. "Abundant wordplay and humor will keep...
The Swifts a dictionary of scoundrels
Lincoln, Beth.
Paper Book
#1 New York Times bestseller! "Knives Out feel by way of Lemony Snicket...This archly told, never muddled debut whodunit reveals a roster of distinct characters, a labyrinthine setting and plot, and a mystery that is as clever as its heroine." - Publishers Weekly...
Allergic
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. Maggie...
Squished
Lloyd, Megan Wagner.
Paper Book
From the Eisner-nominated duo behind the instant bestseller Allergic comes a fun new 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,...
A snicker of magic
Lloyd, Natalie.
Audiobook
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 thunderstorms and dance 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
Ebook
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...
Wish
O'Connor, Barbara
Paper Book
Dream, the standalone companion to Wish, coming to bookstores on 8/26/25! The #1 New York Times-bestselling middle-grade novel about a girl who, with the help of a true-blue friend, a big-hearted aunt and uncle, and the dog of her dreams, unexpectedly...
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 Award-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...
The Sherlock society
Ponti, James.
Paper Book
In the tradition of Nancy Drew, four kids and one grandfather in Miami tackle a decades-old mystery in this first book full of "atmosphere, history, and lively humor" (Publishers Weekly, starred review) in the Sherlock Society middle grade series from New York Times bestselling,...
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...
Willodeen
Santoso, Charles.
Paper Book
From #1 New York Times bestselling author of Odder and The One and Only Ivan, Katherine Applegate, a heartfelt story about a girl who risks everything to help a handmade creature who comes to life. The earth is old and we are not, and that...
Red : the true story of Red Riding Hood
Shurtliff, Liesl.
Paper Book
From the New York Times bestselling author of RUMP, comes a spellbinding fairy tale featuring a brave heroine, a wild wolf, plenty of magical misadventures, and more! Red is not afraid of the big bad wolf. She's not afraid of anything . . . except magic. But when...
The bad beginning
Snicket, Lemony.
Paper Book
It's a good thing that Violet Baudelaire has a real knack for inventing things. When misery comes to call, the right invention at the right time can mean everything. It's also fortunate that her brother, Klaus, has read lots of books and knows many important things, like how to tell an alligator...
The last mapmaker
Soontornvat, Christina.
Paper Book
A Newbery Honor Book A Walter Dean Myers Honor Book  From Christina Soontornvat, the visionary and versatile author of three Newbery Honor Books, comes a high-seas adventure set in a Thai-inspired fantasy world. In a fantasy adventure every bit as...
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,...
The Atlas Obscura explorer's guide for the world's most adventurous kid
Thuras, Dylan.
Paper Book
For curious kids, this is the chance to embark on the journey of a lifetime--and see how faraway countries have more in common than you might expect! Hopscotch from country to country in a chain of connecting attractions: Explore Mexico's glittering cave of crystals, then visit the world's...
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...
Slow down : 50 mindful moments in nature
Williams, Rachel DeLoache.
Paper Book
We humans are always rushing around and seldom take the time to notice nature's marvels. This illustrated reference presents 50 amazing things that happen all around us. Slow down and contemplate the beauty of the morning dew on a leaf, a falling snowflake, a tadpole becoming a frog, a sparrow...
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...

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