Revised 2016 Suggested Book List Middle School Lexile Range 500 - 599
As with any reading list, these are simply suggestions. Reading choices should not be limited to only these books. Since the LEXILE measure is based ONLY on the difficulty of text, parents are encouraged to preview books for appropriate content. The student’s individual interests should also be considered when making book selections. On the back, this list also includes easier books for pleasure and reading fluency.
TITLE AUTHOR LEXILE
Magic School Bus: Inside a Hurricane Joanna Cole 500 Milkweed Jerry Spinelli 510 Judy Moody, MD: The Doctor is In Megan McDonald 510 The Absent Author* Ron Roy 510 Flora & Ulyssess Kate DiCamillo 520 One for the Murphys Linda Mullaly Hunt 520 It’s All Greek to Me Jon Scieszka 530 The Reluctant Pitcher Matt Christopher 540 Finding the Titanic Robert D. Ballard 540 Cousins Virginia Hamilton 550 Fish in a Tree Lynda Mullaly Hunt 550 Superfudge Judy Blume 560 Dogs Don’t Tell Jokes Louis Sachar 560 The Music of Dolphins Karen Hesse 560 Revolution Jennifer Donnelly 560 One and Only Ivan Katherine Applegate 570 The Wright Brothers at Kitty Hawk Donald J. Sobol 570 Something Upstairs Avi 580 The Fighting Ground Avi 580 Notes from a Liar and Her Dog Gennifer Choldenko 580 I Survived: Hurricane Katrina Lauren Tarshish 590 Fairest Gail Carson Levine 590 The Battle of the Labyrinth* Rick Riordan 590 (Percy Jackson Series)
*Books that are part of a series †Books that have a sequel
Revised 2016 Suggested Book List Middle School Lexile Range Below 500
As with any reading list, these are simply suggestions. Reading choices should not be limited to only these books. Since the LEXILE measure is based ONLY on the difficulty of text, parents are encouraged to preview books for appropriate content. The student’s individual interests should also be considered when making book selections.
TITLE AUTHOR LEXILE Freedom’s Wings Sharon Dennis Wyeth 350 The Tower of the Elf King (Secrets of Droon) Tony Abbott 370 The Slumber Party Secret Carolyn Keene 390 Quest for the Queen (Secrets of Droon) Tony Abbott 410 The Kidnapped King Ron Roy 410 “Who Was that Masked Man, Anyway?” Avi 420 Baseball Pals Matt Christopher 420 Life of Pi Yann Martel 430 The Storm in the Barn Matt Phelan 430 Trouble at Camp Treehouse Carolyn Keene 440 Wayside School is Falling Down Louis Sachar 440 Under the Serpent Sea (Secrets of Droon) Tony Abbott 450 Sideways Stories From Wayside School Louis Sachar 460 Bluish: A Novel Virginia Hamilton 460 The Best Detective Carolyn Keene 460 The Legend of the Red Horse Cavern Gary Paulsen 470 The Overnight R.L. Stine 490 Smiles to Go Jerry Spinelli 490 Fudge-a-Mania Judy Blume 490 There’s a Boy in the Girls’ Bathroom Louis Sachar 490
*Books that are part of a series †Books that have a sequel
Revised 2016 Suggested Book List Middle School Lexile Range 600 - 699
As with any reading list, these are simply suggestions. Reading choices should not be limited to only these books. Since the LEXILE measure is based ONLY on the difficulty of text, parents are encouraged to preview books for appropriate content. The student’s individual interests should also be considered when making book selections. On the back, this list also includes easier books for pleasure and reading fluency.
TITLE AUTHOR LEXILE Bluefish Pat Schmatz 600 Paper Cowboy Kristin Levine 600 Al Capone Does My Shirts Gennifer Choldenko 600 Artemis Fowl* Eoin Colfer 600 Turtle in Paradise Jennifer L. Holm 610 No More Dead Dogs Gordon Korman 610 Because of Winn-Dixie Kate DiCamillo 610 Mockingbird Katherine Erskine 630 Stones in Water Donna Jo Napoli 630 The Thief Lord Cornelia Funke 640 Under a War-Torn Sky† Laura Elliott 640 The Running Dream Wendelin Van Draanen 650 The Red Pyramid† Louis Sachar 460 I Survived: Japanese Tsunami Lauren Tarshis 650 Other Side of Dark Joan Lowery Nixon 660 Holes Louis Sachar 660 Booked Kwame Alexander 660 The Face on the Milk Carton* Caroline B. Cooney 660 Ruby Holler Sharon Creech 660 I Survived: The Battle of Gettysburg 1863 Lauren Tarshis 660 Saving Zasha Randi G. Barrow 670 Stormbreaker* Anthony Horowitz 670 The Clockwork Three Matthew J. Kirby 680 Olive’s Ocean Kevin Henkes 680 The City of Ember* Jeanne DuPrau 680 The Selection* Kiera Cass 680 SOS Titanic Eve Bunting 690
*Books that are part of a series †Books that have a sequel
Revised 2016 Suggested Book List Middle School Lexile Range Below 600
As with any reading list, these are simply suggestions. Reading choices should not be limited to only these books. Since the LEXILE measure is based ONLY on the difficulty of text, parents are encouraged to preview books for appropriate content. The student’s individual interests should also be considered when making book selections.
TITLE AUTHOR LEXILE The Quest for the Queen (Secrets of Droon) Tony Abbott 410 The Kidnapped King Ron Roy 410 “Who Was that Masked Man, Anyway?” Avi 420 Baseball Pals Matt Christopher 420 The Storm in the Barn Matt Phelan 430 Trouble at Camp Treehouse Carolyn Keene 440 Wayside School is Falling Down Louis Sachar 440 Under the Serpent Sea (Secrets of Droon) Tony Abbott 450 Sideways Stories From Wayside School Louis Sachar 460 Bluish. A Novel Virginia Hamilton 460 The Best Detective Carolyn Keene 460 The Legend of the Red Horse Cavern Gary Paulsen 470 The Overnight R.L. Stine 490 Smiles to Go Jerry Spinelli 490 Fudge-a-Mania Judy Bloom 490 There’s a Boy in the Girls’ Bathroom Louis Sachar 490 Magic School Bus. Inside a Hurricane Joanna Cole 500 Milkweed Jerry Spinelli 510 Judy Moody, MD. The Doctor is In Megan McDonald 510 The Absent Author* Ron Roy 510 The Hamster of the Baskervilles Bruce Hale 520 It’s All Greek to Me Jon Scieszka 530 The Reluctant Pitcher Matt Christopher 540 Finding the Titanic Robert D. Ballard 540 Help, I’m Trapped in My Sister’s Body Todd Strasser 540 Ghosts Don’t Eat Potato Chips Debbie Dadey 550 Cousins Virginia Hamilton 550 Superfudge Judy Blume 560 Dogs Don’t Tell Jokes Louis Sachar 560 The Music of Dolphins Karen Hesse 560 Sarah, Plain and Tall Patricia MacLachlan 560 The Wright Brothers at Kitty Hawk Donald J. Sobol 570 Something Upstairs Avi 580 The Fighting Ground Avi 580 Notes from a Liar and Her Dog Gennifer Choldenko 580 Fairest Gail Carson Levine 590 Baby-Sitter’s Club Series Ann M. Martin 500s The Battle of the Labyrinth*(Percy Jackson Series) Rick Riordan 590
*Books that are part of a series †Books that have a sequel
Revised 2016 Suggested Book List Middle School Lexile Range 700 - 799
As with any reading list, these are simply suggestions. Reading choices should not be limited to only these books. Since the LEXILE measure is based ONLY on the difficulty of text, parents are encouraged to preview books for appropriate content. The student’s individual interests should also be considered when making book selections. On the back, this list also includes easier books for pleasure and reading fluency.
TITLE AUTHOR LEXILE I Survived: Hindenberg Disaster Lauren Tarshis 700 Maximum Ride: The Angel Experiment* James Patterson 700 How to Steal a Dog Barbara O’Connor 700 I Survived: Joplin Tornado Lauren Tarshis 710 Legend Marie Lu 710 Yolonda’s Genius Carol Fenner 710 Swindle Gordon Korman 710 Eragon Christopher Paolini 710 The BFG Roald Dahl 720 A Monster Calls Patrick Ness 730 The Thing About Jellyfish Ali Benjamin 740 Kira-Kira Cynthia Kadohata 740 The Lightning Thief* Rick Riordan 740 I Survived: Nazi Invasion Lauren Tarshis 740 I Have a Bad Feeling About This Jeff Strand 740 Cuba 15 Nancy Osa 750 The Crossover Kwame Alexander 750 Ghost Soldier Elaine Marie Alphin 750 Esperanza Rising Pam Munoz Ryan 750 Airborn Kenneth Oppel 760 The Land Mildred Taylor 760 The Last Shot: A Final Four Mystery John Feinstein 760 The Sixth Man John Feinstein 760 Tuck Everlasting Natalie Babbitt 770 Jeremy Fink and the Meaning of Life Wendy Mass 770 Rules Cynthia Lord 780 Inkheart* Cornelia Funke 780 Blue† Joyce Hostetter (local author) 780 Navigating Early Claire Vanderpool 780 Cinder Marissa Mayer 790 Wonder RJ Palacio 790 Chasing Vermeer Blue Balliet 770 Etiquette & Espionage Gail Carriger 780 Series: Maximum Ride James Patterson 700 – 740
*Books that are part of a series †Books that have a sequel
Revised 2016 Suggested Book List Middle School Lexile Range 500 - 699
As with any reading list, these are simply suggestions. Reading choices should not be limited to only these books. Since the LEXILE measure is based ONLY on the difficulty of text, parents are encouraged to preview books for appropriate content. The student’s individual interests should also be considered when making book selections.
TITLE AUTHOR LEXILE Milkweed Jerry Spinelli 510 The Absent Author* Ron Roy 510 It’s All Greek to Me Jon Scieszka 530 The Reluctant Pitcher Matt Christopher 540 Finding the Titanic Robert D. Ballard 540 Ghosts Don’t Eat Potato Chips Debbie Dadey 550 Cousins Virginia Hamilton 550 Dogs Don’t Tell Jokes Louis Sachar 560 The Music of Dolphins Karen Hesse 560 The Wright Brothers at Kitty Hawk Donald J. Sobol 570 Something Upstairs Avi 580 The Fighting Ground Avi 580 Notes from a Liar and Her Dog Gennifer Choldenko 580 Fairest Gail Carson Levine 590 The Battle of the Labyrinth (Percy Jackson Series) Rick Riordan 590 Al Capone Does My Shirts Gennifer Choldenko 600 Artemis Fowl* Eoin Colfer 600 Turtle in Paradise Jennifer L. Holm 610 No More Dead Dogs Gordon Korman 610 Because of Winn-Dixie Kate DiCamillo 610 A Year Down Yonder Richard Peck 610 Almost Starring Skinnybones Barbara Park 620 Midnight for Charlie Bone* Jenny Nimmo 630 Wild Girl Patricia Reilly Giff 640 The Thief Lord Cornelia Funke 640 Under a War-Torn Sky† Laura Elliott 640 Zlata’s Diary Zlata Filipovic 640 The Red Pyramid† Rick Riordan 650 Holes Louis Sachar 660 The Face on the Milk Carton* Caroline B. Cooney 660 Ruby Holler Sharon Creech 660 Saving Zasha Randi G. Barrow 670 Stormbreaker* Anthony Horowitz 670 There’s an Owl in the Shower Jean Craighead George 670 The Clockwork Three Matthew J. Kirby 680 The City of Ember* Jeanne DuPrau 680 SOS Titanic Eve Bunting 690 Prom and Prejudice Elizabeth Eulberg 690
*Books that are part of a series †Books that have a sequel
Revised 2016 Suggested Book List Middle School Lexile Range 800 - 899
As with any reading list, these are simply suggestions. Reading choices should not be limited to only these books. Since the LEXILE measure is based ONLY on the difficulty of text, parents are encouraged to preview books for appropriate content. The student’s individual interests should also be considered when making book selections. On the back, this list also includes easier books for pleasure and reading fluency.
TITLE AUTHOR LEXILE Moon Over Manifest Clare Vanderpool 800 Among the Hidden* Margaret Peterson Haddix 800 Joey Pigza Loses Control* Jack Gantos 800 Crow Barbara Wright 800 Journey Back Priscilla Cummings 810 A Night Divided Jennifer A. Nielsen 810 My Side of the Mountain Jean Craighead George 810 Scat Carl Hiaasen 810 Surviving the Applewhites Stephanie Tolan 820 Blood on the River Eliza Carbone 820 Criss Cross Lynne Rae Perkins 820 The Invention of Hugo Cabaret Brian Selznick 820 I Am Malala: young reader’s edition Malala Yousafzai/Patrica McCormick 830 Frindle Andrew Clements 830 We Remember the Holocaust David Adler 830 Flush Carl Hiaasen 830 Mysterious Benedict Society* Trenton Lee Stewart 840 Matilda Roald Dahl 840 Serafina and the Black Cloak Robert Beatty 850 A Child Called It Dave Pelzer 850 The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind William Kamkwamba 860 Truesight David Stahler 860 Chicken Boy Frances O’Roark Dowell 860 Fellowship of the Ring* J. R. R. Tolkien 860 *Everlost Neal Shusterman 860 Woods Runner Gary Paulsen 870 *Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone J.K. Rowling 880 Princess Academy Shannon Hale 890 Wolves of the Beyond: Lone Wolf* Kathryn Lasky 890 *Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children Ransom Riggs 890 Wild Things Clay Carmichael 890 Return to Sender Julia Alvarez 890
*Books that are part of a series †Books that have a sequel
Revised 2016 Suggested Book List Middle School Lexile Range 600 - 799
As with any reading list, these are simply suggestions. Reading choices should not be limited to only these books. Since the LEXILE measure is based ONLY on the difficulty of text, parents are encouraged to preview books for appropriate content. The student’s individual interests should also be considered when making book selections.
TITLE AUTHOR LEXILE Al Capone Does My Shirts Gennifer Choldenko 600 Artemis Fowl* Eoin Colfer 600 Turtle in Paradise Jennifer L. Holm 610 No More Dead Dogs Gordon Korman 610 A Year Down Yonder Richard Peck 610 Almost Starring Skinnybones Barbara Park 620 Midnight for Charlie Bone* Jenny Nimmo 630 Wild Girl Patricia Reilly Giff 640 The Thief Lord Cornelia Funke 640 Under a War-Torn Sky† Laura Elliott 640 Zlata’s Diary Zlata Filipovic 640 The Red Pyramid† Rick Riordan 650 Holes Louis Sachar 660 The Face on the Milk Carton* Caroline B. Cooney 660 Ruby Holler Sharon Creech 660 Saving Zasha Randi G. Barrow 670 Stormbreaker* Anthony Horowitz 670 There’s an Owl in the Shower Jean Craighead George 670 The Clockwork Three Matthew J. Kirby 680 The City of Ember* Jeanne DuPrau 680 SOS Titanic Eve Bunting 690 Prom and Prejudice Elizabeth Eulberg 690 Maximum Ride: The Angel Experiment* James Patterson 700 How to Steal a Dog Barbara O’Connor 700 Yolonda’s Genius Carol Fenner 710 Swindle Gordon Korman 710 A Wrinkle in Time Madeleine L’Engle 740 Kira-Kira Cynthia Kadohata 740 The Lightning Thief* Rick Riordan 740 Cuba 15 Nancy Osa 750 Ghost Soldier Elaine Marie Alphin 750 Esperanza Rising Pam Munoz Ryan 750 Walk Two Moons Sharon Creech 770 Tuck Everlasting Natalie Babbitt 770 Jeremy Fink and the Meaning of Life Wendy Mass 770 Chasing Vermeer Blue Balliet 770 Rules Cynthia Lord 780 Blue† Joyce Hostetter (local author) 780 From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs Basil E. Frankweiler E.L. Konigsburg 700
*Books that are part of a series †Books that have a sequel
Revised 2016 Suggested Book List Middle School Lexile Range 900 - 999
As with any reading list, these are simply suggestions. Reading choices should not be limited to only these books. Since the LEXILE measure is based ONLY on the difficulty of text, parents are encouraged to preview books for appropriate content. The student’s individual interests should also be considered when making book selections. On the back, this list also includes easier books for pleasure and reading fluency.
TITLE AUTHOR LEXILE The Kite Rider Geraldine McCaughrean 900 A Christmas Carol Charles Dickens 900 Absolutely Normal Chaos Sharon Creech 900 Scumble Ingrid Law 900 The Roar Emma Clayton 910 Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules Jeff Kinney 910 Bomb Steve Sheinken 920 A Single Shard Linda Sue Park 920 Dead End in Norvelt Jack Gantos 920 Lincoln’s Grave Robbers Steve Sheinken 930 Shutout Brendan Halpin 930 Dogsong Gary Paulsen 930 Aquamarine Alice Hoffman 940 Death Cloud Andrew Lane 940 The Batboy Mike Lupica 940 Drums, Girls, and Dangerous Pie Jordan Sonnenblick 940 The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe * C.S. Lewis 940 The Wednesday Wars Gary D. Schmidt 940 THe Unexpected Everything Morgan Matson 950 The Journey that Saved Curious George Louise Borden 950 Shh! We’re Writing the Constitution Jean Fritz 950 Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry Mildred Taylor 950 Mostly True Adventures of Homer P. Figg Rodman Philbrick 950 Bud, Not Buddy Christopher Paul Curtis 950 Breakaway Alex Morgan 960 Since You’ve Been Gone Morgan Matson 960 White Fang Jack London 970 The Boys Who Challenged Hitler Phillip Hoose 970 Missing May Cynthia Rylant 980 Dovey Coe Frances O’Roark Dowell 980 Chasing Lincoln’s Killer James L. Swanson 980 The Notorious Benedict Arnold Steve Sheinkin 990 Brown Girl Dreaming Jacqueline Woodson 990 Code Talker: A Novel About the Navajo Joseph Bruchac 910 Marines of World War Two
*Books that are part of a series †Books that have a sequel
Revised 2016
Suggested Book List Middle School Lexile Range 700-899
As with any reading list, these are simply suggestions. Reading choices should not be limited to only these books. Since the LEXILE measure is based ONLY on the difficulty of text, parents are encouraged to preview books for appropriate content. The student’s individual interests should also be considered when making book selections.
TITLE AUTHOR LEXILE Maximum Ride: The Angel Experiment James Patterson 700 Yolonda’s Genius Carol Fenner 710 Swindle Gordon Korman 710 A Wrinkle in Time Madeleine L’Engle 740 Kira-Kira Cynthia Kadohata 740 The Lightning Thief* Rick Riordan 740 Cuba 15 Nancy Osa 750 Ghost Soldier Elaine Marie Alphin 750 Esperanza Rising Pam Munoz Ryan 750 Walk Two Moons Sharon Creech 770 Tuck Everlasting Natalie Babbitt 770 Jeremy Fink and the Meaning of Life Wendy Mass 770 Chasing Vermeer Blue Balliet 770 Rules Cynthia Lord 780 Inkheart* Cornelia Funke 780 Blue† Joyce Hostetter (local author) 780 Moon Over Manifest Clare Vanderpool 800 Among the Hidden* Margaret Peterson Haddix 800 Joey Pigza Loses Control Jack Gantos 800 The Great Gilly Hopkins Katherine Paterson 800 Charlie and the Chocolate Factory Roald Dahl 810 My Side of the Mountain Jean Craighead George 810 Scat Carl Hiaasen 810 Criss Cross Lynne Rae Perkins 820 The Invention of Hugo Cabaret Brian Selznick 820 Mysterious Benedict Society* Trenton Lee Stewart 840 The Tarantula in My Purse: and 172 Other Wild Pets Jean Craighead George 830 We Remember the Holocaust David Adler 830 Flush Carl Hiaasen 830 Matilda Roald Dahl 840 Truesight David Stahler 860 Julie of the Wolves Jean Craighead George 860 Chicken Boy Frances O’Roark Dowell 860 Fellowship of the Ring* J. R. R. Tolkien 860 Woods Runner Gary Paulsen 870 Princess Academy Shannon Hale 890 Wolves of the Beyond: Lone Wolf* Kathryn Lasky 890 From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler E. L. Konigsburg 700
*Books that are part of a series †Books that have a sequel
Revised 2016 Suggested Book List Middle School Lexile Range 1000 - 1099
As with any reading list, these are simply suggestions. Reading choices should not be limited to only these books. Since the LEXILE measure is based ONLY on the difficulty of text, parents are encouraged to preview books for appropriate content. The student’s individual interests should also be considered when making book selections. On the back, this list also includes easier books for pleasure and reading fluency.
TITLE AUTHOR LEXILE Freak the Mighty† Rodman Philbrick 1000 Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster Boy Gary D. Schmidt 1000 Claudette Colvin: Twice Toward Justice Phillip Hoose 1000 I Am Malala Malala Yousafzai 1000 The Watsons Go to Birmingham - 1963 Christopher Paul Curtis 1000 Boys in the Boat Daniel James Brown 1000 The Bad Beginning* Lemony Snicket 1010 Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days* Jeff Kinney 1010 The Best School Year Ever Barbara Robinson 1020 After Eli Rebecca Rupp 1020 Black Beauty Anna Sewell 1020 Hatchet Gary Paulsen 1020 Saving Shiloh* Phyllis Reynolds 1020 The Hobbit JRR Tolkien 1030 Brian’s Return Gary Paulsen 1030 Titanic: Voices from the Disaster Debra Hopkinson 1040 Around the World in 80 Days Jules Verne 1070 Pride and Prejudice and Zombies Seth Grahame-Smith 1070 Lottery Rose Irene Hunt 1070 Elijah of Buxton Christopher Paul Curtis 1070 Savvy† Ingrid Law 1070 The Boy in the Striped Pajamas John Boyne 1080 Woodsong Gary Paulsen 1090 Blizzard! The Storm That Changed Jim Murphy 1080 America Phineas Gage: A Gruesome but True John Fleischman 1030 Story About Brain Science
Dear America series Various Authors
*Books that are part of a series †Books that have a sequel
Revised 2016 Suggested Book List Middle School Lexile Range 800 – 999
As with any reading list, these are simply suggestions. Reading choices should not be limited to only these books. Since the LEXILE measure is based ONLY on the difficulty of text, parents are encouraged to preview books for appropriate content. The student’s individual interests should also be considered when making book selections.
TITLE AUTHOR LEXILE Moon Over Manifest Clare Vanderpool 800 Among the Hidden* Margaret Peterson Haddix 800 Joey Pigza Loses Control Jack Gantos 800 The Great Gilly Hopkins Katherine Paterson 800 Scat Carl Hiaasen 810 Criss Cross Lynne Rae Perkins 820 The Invention of Hugo Cabaret Brian Selznick 820 We Remember the Holocaust David Adler 830 Mysterious Benedict Society* Trenton Lee Stewart 840 Matilda Roald Dahl 840 Truesight David Stahler 860 Julie of the Wolves Jean Craighead George 860 Chicken Boy Frances O’Roark Dowell 860 The Princess Academy Shannon Hale 890 Wolves of the Beyond: Lone Wolf* Kathryn Lasky 890 The Kite Rider Geraldine McCaughrean 900 Absolutely Normal Chaos Sharon Creech 900 Dear Mr. Henshaw Beverly Cleary 910 A Single Shard Linda Sue Park 920 Dogsong Gary Paulsen 930 Aquamarine Alice Hoffman 940 The Batboy Mike Lupica 940 Drums, Girls, and Dangerous Pie Jordan Sonnenblick 940 The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe* C.S. Lewis 940 The Wednesday Wars Gary D. Schmidt 940 Shh! We’re Writing the Constitution Jean Fritz 950 Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry Mildred Taylor 950 The Landry News Andrew Clements 950 Everything on a Waffle Polly Horvath 950 Mostly True Adventures of Homer P. Figg Rodman Philbrick 950 Bud, Not Buddy Christopher Paul Curtis 950 White Fang Jack London 970 The Secret Garden Frances H. Burnett 970 Missing May Cynthia Rylant 980 Dovey Coe Frances O’Roark Dowell 980 Knots in my Yo-Yo String Jerry Spinelli 980 Chasing Lincoln’s Killer James L. Swanson 980 Anne of Green Gables L. M. Montgomery 990 Code Talker: A Novel About the Navajo Joseph Bruchac 910 Marines of World War Two
*Books that are part of a series †Books that have a sequel
Revised 2016 Suggested Book List Middle School Lexile Range 1100 and Up
As with any reading list, these are simply suggestions. Reading choices should not be limited to only these books. Since the LEXILE measure is based ONLY on the difficulty of text, parents are encouraged to preview books for appropriate content. The student’s individual interests should also be considered when making book selections. On the back, this list also includes easier books for pleasure and reading fluency.
TITLE AUTHOR LEXILE Pride and Prejudice Jane Austen 1100 The Jungle Book Rudyard Kipling 1100 The Case of the Peculiar Pink Fan* Nancy Springer 1100 Treasure Island Robert Louis Stevenson 1100 Across Five Aprils Irene Hunt 1100 Downsiders: A Novel Neal Shusterman 1110 Let’s Pretend This Never Happened* Jim Benton 1110 The Hero and the Crown Robin McKinley 1120 Sugar Changed the World Marc Aronson and Marina Budhos 1130 Brian’s Winter Gary Paulsen 1140 The Wind in the Willows Kenneth Grahame 1140 My Life in Dog Years Gary Paulsen 1150 Pieces of Georgia Jennifer Bryant 1160 Catherine, Called Birdy Karen Cushman 1170 The Call of the Wild Jack London 1170 Perfect Princess* Meg Cabot 1180 Tarzan Edgar Rice Burrows 1210 This Side of Wild Gary Paulsen 1210 Spindle’s End Robin McKinley 1220 Guts: The True Story Behind Hatchet Gary Paulsen 1230 The Midwife’s Apprentice Karen Cushman 1240 Left for Dead Peter Nelson 1260 Little Women Louisa May Alcott 1300 Kon-Tiki Thor Heyerdahl 1310 The Incredible Journey Shelia Burnford 1320 My Dog Skip Willie Morris 1380 Lemony Snicket: The Unauthorized Lemony Snicket 1270 Autobiography* Freedom Walkers: The Story of the Russell Freedman 1110 Montgomery Bus Boycott Series: Enola Holmes Mysteries Nancy Springer 1070 – 1120
*Books that are part of a series †Books that have a sequel
Revised 2016 Suggested Book List Middle School Lexile Range 900 – 1099
As with any reading list, these are simply suggestions. Reading choices should not be limited to only these books. Since the LEXILE measure is based ONLY on the difficulty of text, parents are encouraged to preview books for appropriate content. The student’s individual interests should also be considered when making book selections.
TITLE AUTHOR LEXILE The Kite Rider Geraldine McCaughrean 900 Absolutely Normal Chaos Sharon Creech 900 Code Talker: A Novel About the Navajo Joseph Bruchac 910 Marines of World War Two A Single Shard Linda Sue Park 920 Aquamarine Alice Hoffman 940 The Batboy Mike Lupica 940 Drums, Girls, and Dangerous Pie Jordan Sonnenblick 940 The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe* C.S. Lewis 940 The Wednesday Wars Gary D. Schmidt 940 Shh! We’re Writing the Constitution Jean Fritz 950 Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry Mildred Taylor 950 The Landry News Andrew Clements 950 Everything on a Waffle Poll Horvath 950 Mostly True Adventures of Homer P. Figg Rodman Philbrick 950 Bud, Not Buddy Christopher Paul Curtis 950 White Fang Jack London 970 Missing May Cynthia Rylant 980 Dovey Coe Frances O’Roark Dowell 980 Knots in my Yo-Yo String Jerry Spinelli 980 Chasing Lincoln’s Killer James L. Swanson 980 Freak the Mighty† Rodman Philbrick 1000 Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster Boy Gary D. Schmidt 1000 Claudette Colvin: Twice Toward Justice Phillip Hoose 1000 The Watsons Go to Birmingham - 1963 Christopher Paul Curtis 1000 The Phantom Tollbooth Norton Juster 1000 The Bad Beginning* Lemony Snicket 1010 Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days* Jeff Kinney 1010 King of Shadows Susan Cooper 1010 The Best School Year Ever Barbara Robinson 1020 Hatchet Gary Paulsen 1020 Saving Shiloh* Phyllis Reynolds 1020 The First Four Years Laura Ingalls Wilder 1030 Phineas Gage: A Gruesome but True Story John Fleischman 1030 About Brain Science Brisingr* Christopher Paolini 1050 Lottery Rose Irene Hunt 1070 Elijah of Buxton Christopher Paul Curtis 1070 Savvy† Ingrid Law 1070 Blizzard! The Storm That Changed America Jim Murphy 1080
*Books that are part of a series †Books that have a sequel