Books for level 11 readers

Usually 6th grade. 80 to 115 words on a page, sentences up to about 40 words long.

Peabody's level 11 stories, free to read now

54 stories, each one free, read aloud on request and logged in a reading challenge with a tap. The library's own page for this level: level 11 in the library.

From Peabody's kids' book lists

Top 25 books for a 6th grader

Wonder by R.J. Palacio · ages 8-12. August, a boy with a facial difference, starts fifth grade at a regular school. Told in several voices, it works well for talking about kindness and staring. Bookshop.org · Amazon
The Giver by Lois Lowry · ages 11-14. Jonas lives in a calm community with no pain or choice and learns what that costs. Short, easy to read, and made for discussion. Bookshop.org · Amazon
Hatchet by Gary Paulsen · ages 10-14. After a plane crash, 13-year-old Brian survives alone in the Canadian wilderness with only a hatchet. Short chapters and constant action. Bookshop.org · Amazon
The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan · ages 9-13. Percy Jackson learns he is a son of Poseidon and sets out across America to stop a war between gods. Funny, fast, and a gateway to Greek myth. Bookshop.org · Amazon
Holes by Louis Sachar · ages 9-13. Stanley Yelnats is sent to dig holes at a juvenile camp in the desert, and three timelines click together. Short chapters, dry humor, a real mystery. Bookshop.org · Amazon

All 25 on the list ▸

Books for fifth and sixth grade readers

Hatchet by Gary Paulsen · ages 10-14. A boy survives alone in the woods. Bookshop.org · Amazon
Wonder by R. J. Palacio · ages 8-12. Auggie, a boy with a facial difference, goes to school. Bookshop.org · Amazon
Holes by Louis Sachar · ages 9-13. A juvenile detention camp and a family curse. Bookshop.org · Amazon
A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle · ages 9-13. A girl crosses space to find her father. Bookshop.org · Amazon
Bud, Not Buddy by Christopher Paul Curtis · ages 9-13. An orphan crosses Depression-era Michigan looking for his father. Newbery Medal 2000. Bookshop.org · Amazon

All 12 on the list ▸

Book series to binge at ages 10 to 13

Keeper of the Lost Cities by Shannon Messenger · ages 9-13. Sophie, a telepath, finds out she is an elf. Order: Keeper of the Lost Cities, Exile, Everblaze, Neverseen, Lodestar, Nightfall, Flashback, Legacy, Stellarlune, Unlocked (a companion). Bookshop.org · Amazon
The Land of Stories by Chris Colfer · ages 8-12. Twins fall into a fairy-tale land. Start with The Wishing Spell. Bookshop.org · Amazon
The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart · ages 9-13. Gifted children in a puzzle-filled spy plot. Start with The Mysterious Benedict Society. Bookshop.org · Amazon
The Chronicles of Prydain by Lloyd Alexander · ages 9-13. A pig-keeper becomes a hero. Order: The Book of Three, The Black Cauldron, The Castle of Llyr, Taran Wanderer, The High King (Newbery Medal, 1969). Bookshop.org · Amazon
Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer · ages 9-13. A twelve-year-old criminal mastermind kidnaps a fairy. Start with Artemis Fowl. Bookshop.org · Amazon

All 10 on the list ▸

Buy links are plain searches with no affiliate tag: nobody is paid when you use them. A library has most of these free: 📚 shows where to borrow each one.

Series at this age

Dog Man by Dav Pilkey, ages 7+: 15 books in order, with a checklist that the Series Challenge counts.
Cat Kid Comic Club by Dav Pilkey, ages 7+: 5 books in order, with a checklist that the Series Challenge counts.
Wings of Fire by Tui T. Sutherland, drawn by Mike Holmes, ages 8–12: 9 books in order, with a checklist that the Series Challenge counts.
Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney, ages 8–12: 21 books in order, with a checklist that the Series Challenge counts.
Amulet by Kazu Kibuishi, ages 8–12: 9 books in order, with a checklist that the Series Challenge counts.
Bone by Jeff Smith, ages 8–12: 9 books in order, with a checklist that the Series Challenge counts.
The Last Kids on Earth by Max Brallier, drawn by Douglas Holgate, ages 8–12: 10 books in order, with a checklist that the Series Challenge counts.
InvestiGators by John Patrick Green, ages 7–10: 9 books in order, with a checklist that the Series Challenge counts.
The Baby-Sitters Club graphic novels by Ann M. Martin (adapted by Raina Telgemeier and other artists), ages 8–12: 20 books in order, with a checklist that the Series Challenge counts.
Hilo by Judd Winick, ages 8–12: 12 books in order, with a checklist that the Series Challenge counts.
Phoebe and Her Unicorn by Dana Simpson, ages 8–12: 24 books in order, with a checklist that the Series Challenge counts.
Big Nate by Lincoln Peirce, ages 8–12: 8 books in order, with a checklist that the Series Challenge counts.
Babymouse by Jennifer L. Holm and Matthew Holm, ages 7–10: 20 books in order, with a checklist that the Series Challenge counts.
Chi's Sweet Home by Konami Kanata, ages 8–12: 12 books in order, with a checklist that the Series Challenge counts.
Bunny vs Monkey by Jamie Smart, ages 8–12: 12 books in order, with a checklist that the Series Challenge counts.
Zita the Spacegirl by Ben Hatke, ages 8–12: 3 books in order, with a checklist that the Series Challenge counts.
Hilda by Luke Pearson, ages 7–11: 6 books in order, with a checklist that the Series Challenge counts.
Lunch Lady by Jarrett J. Krosoczka, ages 7–10: 10 books in order, with a checklist that the Series Challenge counts.
Berrybrook Middle School by Svetlana Chmakova, ages 10+: 6 books in order, with a checklist that the Series Challenge counts.
Click by Kayla Miller, ages 8–12: 7 books in order, with a checklist that the Series Challenge counts.
Cleopatra in Space by Mike Maihack, ages 8–12: 6 books in order, with a checklist that the Series Challenge counts.
5 Worlds by Mark Siegel and Alexis Siegel; art by Xanthe Bouma, Matt Rockefeller and Boya Sun, ages 8–12: 5 books in order, with a checklist that the Series Challenge counts.
Smile, Sisters and Guts by Raina Telgemeier, ages 8–12: 3 books in order, with a checklist that the Series Challenge counts.
Sunny by Jennifer L. Holm and Matthew Holm, ages 8–12: 6 books in order, with a checklist that the Series Challenge counts.
Real Friends by Shannon Hale and LeUyen Pham, ages 9–13: 3 books in order, with a checklist that the Series Challenge counts.
Mighty Jack by Ben Hatke, ages 9–13: 3 books in order, with a checklist that the Series Challenge counts.
Lightfall by Tim Probert, ages 8–12: 4 books in order, with a checklist that the Series Challenge counts.
Squish by Jennifer L. Holm and Matthew Holm, ages 7–10: 8 books in order, with a checklist that the Series Challenge counts.
Bird & Squirrel by James Burks, ages 7–10: 7 books in order, with a checklist that the Series Challenge counts.
Max Meow by John Gallagher, ages 7–10: 6 books in order, with a checklist that the Series Challenge counts.
The Cardboard Kingdom by Chad Sell (with co-writers), ages 9–12: 3 books in order, with a checklist that the Series Challenge counts.
The Tea Dragon Society by Katie O'Neill, ages 7–11: 3 books in order, with a checklist that the Series Challenge counts.
Sanity & Tallulah by Molly Brooks, ages 8–12: 3 books in order, with a checklist that the Series Challenge counts.
Stuntboy by Jason Reynolds and Raúl the Third, ages 8–12: 2 books in order, with a checklist that the Series Challenge counts.
Space Boy by Stephen McCranie, ages 10+: 23 books in order, with a checklist that the Series Challenge counts.
Mr. Wolf's Class by Aron Nels Steinke, ages 7+: 6 books in order, with a checklist that the Series Challenge counts.
Ham Helsing by Rich Moyer, ages 8–12: 3 books in order, with a checklist that the Series Challenge counts.

For grown-ups: what level 11 reading looks like, by grade. Is this the right level? Three questions to check.

Checked 30 October 2026 · Lists from Peabody's kids' lists, series from the series pages · Free, no account, nothing you do here leaves this device · v0.4.0