Fourth, Fifth & Sixth Grade

CHAPTER BOOKS

All Ears — Stuart Gibbs (J Gibbs S.) Resident sleuth Teddy Fitzroy is on the case to find a missing African elephant and clear his friend Xavier of vandalizing a bulldozer in protest of a builder ruining a beloved piece of land they call TurtleTown.

Amari and the Metalwork Menace (Supernatural Investigators series, Book 4) — BB Alston (J Alston B.) Amari must decide whether to return to the Bureau and join the elite new Junior Special Agent Program, or retire for good — which would mean safety, but also losing her memories of the supernatural world.

Best Worst Summer of Esme Sun — Wendy Wan-Long Shang (J Shang W.) When her latest growth spurt improves her swimming, twelve-year-old Esme struggles to balance her competitive nature and the expectations of others while learning to be a good sport.

Candle Island — Lauren Wolk (J Wolk L.) Twelve-year-old Lucretia and her mother move to an island off the coast of Maine to recover from her father's death, escape journalists pursuing the famous Sanderson artist, and protect a family secret.

Chef's Secret (Front Desk series, book 6) — Kelly Yang (J Yang K.) Jason Yao is juggling secrets, a motel, a professional kitchen, and a new girlfriend — and his life has reached a whole new level of exciting and terrifying.

Dragonborn — Struan Murray (J Murray S.) Ever since her father's death, twelve-year-old Alex has lived under her overprotective mother's unbreakable rules. Her life changes when she discovers a special power — and a missing object coveted by an ancient, villainous dragon.

The Free State of Jax — Jennifer A. Nielsen (J Nielsen J.) Tired of living with neglectful and bullying relatives, twelve-year-old Jax finds solace on a nearby lake where he creates his own micronation, only to get tangled in a mystery that threatens his freedom and forces him to confront family secrets.

Hurricane Heist (Sherlock Society series, book 2) — James Ponti (J Ponti J.) When a hurricane uncovers the bones of a long-dead bell captain suspected of stealing gems and art, the Sherlock Society must crack the cold case.

Hypergifted — Gordon Korman (J Korman G.) Twelve-year-old supergenius Noah and his best friend Donovan head to Wilderton University for the summer — and find themselves caught up in a missing mascot and a secret society.

I Am Rebel — Ross Montgomery (J Montgomery R.) Rebel is a good dog who loves his simple life on the farm with his owner Tom — until war arrives and Tom is determined to join the rebellion. Rebel will stop at nothing to save the boy he loves.

I Survived the Dust Bowl, 1935 — Lauren Tarshis (J Tarshis L.) An eleven-year-old boy risks his life to save his family and friends during the worst dust storm of all — the event that would become known as Black Sunday.

The Lions' Run — Sarah Pennypacker (J Pennypacker S.) Orphaned fourteen-year-old Lucas lives in Nazi-occupied France and discovers that courage doesn't mean a lack of fear, but rather the ability to act in the face of terrible wrongs.

The Nine Moons of Han Yu and Luli — Karina Yan Glaser (J Glaser K.) In ancient Chang'an, a boy sells steamed buns amid whispers about his power to summon tigers. In Depression-era New York Chinatown, a girl dreams of dim sum and Chinese art. Their contained-but-contented lives are about to intersect.

The Poisoned King (Impossible Creatures series, book 2) — Katherine Rundell (J Rundell K.) Christopher teams up with princess Anya — whose grandfather has been poisoned and father unjustly imprisoned — to seek revenge against her murderous uncle and uncover why the dragons are dying.

A Potion, A Powder, a Little Bit of Magic — Philip Stead (J Stead P.) In a kingdom where the castle rests on the backs of twenty-four goats, a girl named Bernadette must retrieve an escaped goat with the help of a very forgetful wizard and a Boat That Does Not Grant Wishes.

The Queen's Granddaughter — Diane Zahler (J Zahler D.) Twelve-year-old Blanca of Castille travels across Spain toward France to fulfill her royal duty by marrying the Prince of France, and along the way discovers what it truly means to be a queen.

Rebellion 1776 — Laurie Halse Anderson (J Anderson L.) In 1776, thirteen-year-old Elspeth is alone in a city ravaged by smallpox, caring for a wealthy family awaiting inoculation while searching for her father who went missing during the Siege of Boston.

Schooled — Jamie Sumner (J Sumner J.) Lenny deals with grief and growing up while reluctantly attending an experimental middle school on a college campus.

Silverborn: The Mystery of Morrigan Crow (Nevermoor series, book 4) — Jessica Townsend (J Townsend J.) Morrigan Crow must find a killer and solve the mystery of her own past before it is too late.

Slugfest — Gordon Korman (J Korman G.) To keep his spot on the JV football team, Yash must pass Physical Education Equivalency — aka "Slugfest" — in summer school. He recruits his fellow PE rejects to train alongside him, and it turns into a summer he'll never forget.

Spy School Blackout (Spy School series, book 13) — Stuart Gibbs (J Gibbs S.) A hacker shuts down all computers and phones, and it's up to Ben and his fellow spies-in-training to save the day.

The Undead Fox of Deadwood Forest — Aubrey Hartman (J Hartman A.) An undead fox serving as the Usher of wandering souls has his life upended when a mysterious badger soul appears.

The Unlikely Tale of Chase & Finnegan — Jasmine Warga (J Warga J.) A rescued dog and an orphaned cheetah cub provide each other with the love and friendship needed to overcome their fears.

The Trouble with Heroes — Kate Messner (J Messner K.) Thirteen-year-old Finn's summer looks bleak: incomplete schoolwork, unresolved grief over his father's death during the pandemic, and a mandatory hike of all 46 Adirondack peaks over 4,000 feet as atonement for vandalizing a cemetery headstone.

When Tomorrow Burns — Tae Keller (J Keller T.) When a forest fire rages outside Seattle, three estranged seventh-grade friends reunite to find an old book whose prophecies they hope will save their friendship, their lives, and the forest.

GRAPHIC NOVELS

Legends in the Heights — Marguerite Dabaie (J GRAPHIC Legends) Raia, a middle schooler in New York City, has always felt like the odd one out — until she meets Bazzu the buraq, a legendary creature who offers to show her a world of folklore and magic in exchange for skateboarding lessons.

Mixed Feelings — Sara Amini (J GRAPHIC Mixed) Sara has mixed feelings about starting middle school after moving to a new neighborhood in Houston as a half-Iranian, half-Colombian eleven-year-old who's acutely aware of how different she feels.

Mixed-Up — Kami Garcia (J GRAPHIC Mixed-Up) Fifth grade was supposed to be the best year ever, but Stella is falling behind her friends and her struggle to read and comprehend is causing mounting problems at school.

Oh, Brother — Georgina Chadderton (J GRAPHIC Oh Brother) An autobiographical story about an Australian girl named Gina navigating a family move, starting middle school, and going through puberty while simultaneously managing the evolving needs of her nonverbal autistic brother.

Pet Placement Society — Primo Gallanosa (J GRAPHIC Pet Place) Twelve-year-old Mia Garcia contends with friendship trouble while taking on a mission to find homes for the animals in her parents' shelter.

Speed Reader — Matthew Cody (J GRAPHIC Speed) Zander juggles the perils of middle school, his superpowers, his studies, and the job of protecting his hometown as it fills up with ex-heroes and villains — alongside his best friend Tanya May and his dog Spike.

The Startup Squad: One for the Dogs — Brian Weisfield (J GRAPHIC Startup) Resa and her friends head to Brooklyn to spend the summer with her grandmother, ready for adventures — but will it live up to her expectations?

Unfairies, Vol. 1 — Aaron Huw (J GRAPHIC Unfairies) Factions of sneaky, double-crossing fairies battle for power in The Garden. When cheeky tree fairy Pip is tasked with delivering a message, she's thrown into the middle of the power struggle — complete with a dubious ancient prophecy and epic acorn-based warfare.

NONFICTION

All About Antarctica — Marc Martin (J f919.89 M364a) How people get to Antarctica, how they survive its harsh climate, and what makes it both remarkable and fragile — from the wildlife to the research projects underway there.

Basket Ball — Kadir Nelson (J f796.323 N334b) A history of basketball and profiles of some of the most revolutionary players of the game.

The Big Book of Pi — Anita Lehmann (J512 L528b) For centuries Pi has been intriguing, unknowable, and essential to our lives. A deep dive into the infinite and irrational world of mathematics.

Fros, Fades, and Braids: A Brief History of Black Hair in America — Sean Qualls (J391.5089 Q256f) A history of well-known Black hairstyles, the incredible people who wore them, and the hair-care products that revolutionized the industry.

A Kid's Guide to Backyard Trees — Felicia Brower (J582.16 B811k) Fascinating facts about the most common trees in the U.S., along with information about protecting trees and a glossary of terms.

Journey of the Humpbacks — Juliana Muñoz Toro (J f599.525 M93j) Lyrical language, infographics, and beautiful artwork tell the story of humpback whale migration, anatomy, life cycles, and songs.

Origin — Nat Cardozo (J f304.2089 C179o) Stunning portraits of Indigenous children and their communities from around the world, emphasizing connection to land, environment, and community.

Rivers — Simon Chapman (J f551.483 C367r) Traveling with a river from source to ocean, this book covers geography, wildlife, and the central role rivers have played in human culture — with incredible illustrations and seven foldout pages.

Weather & Natural Disasters (National Geographic Kids Weird But True! Know-It-All series) — Michael Burgan (J551.6 B91w) Detailed facts about weather phenomena — from the colors of rainbows to lightning over volcanoes — plus survival stories from extreme weather events.

What If... Every Volcano Erupted at Once? — Emma Young (J f550 Y849w) Thirty-three humorous questions with fascinating answers about Earth, including: What if rocks were spongy? What if tornadoes didn't twist? What if a rainforest swapped with a desert?

Who Discovered How to Breathe Underwater? Jacques Cousteau — Ned Wolfe (J551.4609 W832w) Told in graphic novel format, the true story of how Jacques Cousteau created the Aqua-Lung — the first underwater breathing apparatus and the precursor to modern scuba gear.

Women's Professional Fastpitch — Ann E. Hill (J796.3578 H55w) The history of the United States' official softball league, Women's Professional Fastpitch, with coverage of its most exciting championships and awe-inspiring athletes.

The World from Above — Ben Hubbard (J910.222 H861w) A photographic bird's-eye tour of the planet — cities, monuments, and natural landscapes seen from above in striking new perspectives.