Ten of the Best Books for Young Readers
As someone who did young reader book clubs, I’ve read a lot of books for young readers. These are some of my favorites, some of the best I’ve read.
1. Girl Who Drank the Moon by Kelly Barnhill
If your child is into fantasy and magic, than this is a good choice for those nine and older, or those with at least a 4th grade reading level. It’s a longer chapter book, but will keep your child engaged with the story so that they want to read it, even if it looks big and intimidating. It’s about a girl who is raised by a witch, so there’s lots of whimsical and magical characters to meet and a new world to explore, and has won a John Newbery medal.
2. A Mango Shaped Space by Wendy Mass
If your child is more into realistic fiction, or likes reading about very unique characters, than this is a great fit, the ideal reader having a 3rd grade reading level or above. The main character is a young girl with a rare condition called synesthesia. Letters and numbers and sounds have colors and shapes that fill her vision and consume her every day life as she is living undiagnosed. It tells the story of her journey with the condition as she navigates friendship, school, and family, and has received a sneider family book award.
3. 100 cupboards by N.D Wilson
This was one of my favorite fantasy books as a kid, and what I didn’t know at the time is that it’s an entire series! So if your kid reads the first one, there are a few others to continue the story of the main character, Henry, who has moved in with some relatives and discovered cupboards behind wallpaper, all leading to different worlds. So if your child is interested in magic and alternate worlds, this is a good choice. Ideal for anyone with a 2nd grade reading level for above, and was a top pick for many libraries and children’s publishing companies.
4. Chasing Redbird by Sharon Creech
Sharon Creech is the go-to young reader author. She’s released several books for young readers, all of which should go on this list, but I picked this one specifically because it’s not as well known. Everyone knows the story of Sal in Walk Two Moons, but what about her friend Zinnia that she left behind? She has an entirely different unique story to tell, that most haven’t read. Another great pick for realistic fiction, especially if your child liked Walk Two Moons and wonders about the other characters, and it’s ideal for those who have a fourth grade level or above.
5. Fablehaven by Brandon Mull
Fablehaven was the novel that started my inspiration to be a writer. The plot, story, and characters were this perfect concoction that pulled me in from start to finish, and then you have 4 more to read afterwards! Not to mention that the story has continued, but down a different path with the recent series Dragonwatch, but to truly understand that you have to start from the beginning, from when characters Seth and Kendra first step onto their grandfather’s magical property. It’s a book ideal for a third grade reading level and above, and perfect for fantasy lovers alike, boys and girls.
6. Bone by Jeff Smith
If your child is more into graphic novels or comics, this is the perfect series for them. Bone is a fairly lengthy graphic novel series with a unique set of interesting characters, and even has a couple of side story graphic novels to accompany it. It’s for a first grade reading level and above due to the simpler nature of it being in comic form, and is great for those seeking a book with good action and adventure, as well as loveable villains.
7. Warriors by Erin Hunt
Most kids have heard of the warrior series by Erin Hunt, but if they haven’t, it’s a great choice for kids, not only because it’s a story about an interesting society of cats living in the wild, but it has so many side series that fit perfectly alongside the main series that you could be supplying them with books for birthdays and Christmases for a while until they will run out. It’s ideal for a 3rd grade reading level and above, perfect for cat enthusiasts or any young reader tired of reading about boring old humans.
8. Sisters 8 by Lauren Baratz-Logsted
The sisters eight series is more for younger readers, first through fourth grade, but I wanted to include one that was geared towards younger readers because a lot of these others listed are more for middle grade, but these are great for kids who are just starting to ease into chapter books and book series. There are nine small books about octuplet sisters who discover that they have powers that they must use to rescue their parents who have gone missing. It’s fun and comical, like a version of home alone on steroids as these kids have to function at school and at home all without their parents to take care of them. An overall great read for the youngest of emerging readers.
9. Ruby Red by Kerstin Gier
Ruby red is another good series with not only magic, a good plot, and good characters, but there’s also some harmless romance for those readers who are starting to have interest in reading about romantic relationships, appropriate for a third grade level and above. It’s a trilogy with a lot of time travel and mystery involved, and readers will love the main character Gwenyth, who has been dragged into an adventure bigger and more important than she could have ever imagined. It also introduces shapeshifter characters, characters that may seem bad in the beginning, and better as the story progresses, and the opposite. A good transition into more complex plot ideas.
10. Nancy Drew by Carolyn Keene
While Nancy Drew is a very old and outdated series, it is still worth mentioning for this list if your child likes mystery. It’s geared for fourth grade and above, but in my opinion younger readers should be able to handle it, as it’s not terribly complex writing, and there’s nothing inappropriate. Mysteries are something that have gone out of style, it seems, in writing. There’s mystery ingrained in many of the books, but not many with just that genre. Not to mention that there are plenty of nancy drew, which are easy and cheap to obtain due to their old age. It’s worth a shot with any reader!