Popular Fiction for Upper Elementary Students
Hold onto your wordy hats and get ready for a vocabulary adventure like no other! Our collection of vocabulary lists for the hottest fiction reads for upper elementary students will have you talking like a literary genius in a jiffy. Unravel mysteries with tenacious detectives, embark on zany escapades with daring heroes, and outwit maleficent villains using words so sharp they'll cut through boredom like a rapier! Don't just read the stories, live them with a vocabulary that'll make you the envy of your classmates and the star of your English class show-and-tell!
HolesIn this comic adventure, Stanley Yelnats is sent to a juvenile detention center where the inmates spend their days digging mysterious holes. But what on earth are they looking for?
Esperanza RisingWhen tragedy strikes, Esperanza's family has to leave their ranch in Mexico and move to a farmworkers' camp during the Great Depression.
WonderIn this novel, a boy with facial anomalies tries to navigate the sometimes treacherous world of public school.
Freak the MightyFreak the Mighty tells the story of an unlikely friendship between an awkward, lumbering outcast and a physically challenged genius. Together, the two boys become a force for good.
Out of My MindBorn with cerebral palsy, Melody has difficulty communicating with others — but in spite of the obstacles she faces, Melody is determined to prove how smart she really is.
Al Capone Does My ShirtsIn 1935, twelve-year-old Moose moves to Alcatraz Island with his parents and his autistic sister Natalie. With a little help from his new friend Piper, Moose learns to adapt to life at the notorious prison.
Maniac MageeAn orphan runs away from his guardians to search for a real home. On his journey, he performs feats of athleticism and confronts racial prejudice.
Baseball in AprilAnd Other StoriesThis collection of short stories, which draws on the author's own childhood, focuses on Latino and Latina children growing up in California.
The Secret GardenWhen her parents die from an infectious outbreak in colonial India, ten-year-old Mary Lennox is sent to live with her uncle in England, where she discovers a garden that seems to make magical things happen. Read the full text here.
Bridge to TerabithiaJess and Leslie spend their free time playing in the fantasy land of Terabithia; but when tragedy strikes, one of them will have to learn to cope with loss in the real world.
HatchetThe sole survivor of a plane crash in the Canadian wilderness, thirteen-year-old Brian Robeson will need resourcefulness, courage, and strength in order to stay alive.
The Watsons Go to Birmingham1963When the Watson family pays Grandma a visit in Alabama, they find themselves caught up in the battle for civil rights.
Where the Red Fern GrowsBilly saves enough money to buy two pups, Old Dan and Little Ann. Together they become one of the best hunting teams in the Ozarks—and devoted friends as well. But when the unthinkable happens, Billy must learn how to nurture hope in a time of tragedy.
Walk Two MoonsWhile trying to track down her missing mother, thirteen-year-old Salamanca entertains her grandparents with strange stories about a girl named Phoebe Winterbottom.
RestartAfter an accident leaves him with amnesia, Chase must figure out who he was — and who he wants to be.
WishEvery day, Charlie Reese wishes that her fractured family will reunite — but when she is sent to live with her aunt and uncle, she must reconsider what she really wants and needs.
Fish in a TreeIn this novel, a dedicated teacher and new friendships help Ally understand and come to terms with her dyslexia — and to realize that there's no shame in being different.
RulesTo help her younger brother make sense of life in Maine (and avoid embarrassment), twelve-year-old Catherine writes down a list of rules. The lists in this collection are based on the 2006 Scholastic Press edition.
Because of Mr. TeruptA new teacher inspires a class of fifth graders — but when Mr. Terupt suffers a devastating injury, his students struggle to come to terms with their responsibility for the accident.
PostedStudents at Branton Middle School begin communicating with each other by means of sticky notes — but soon, kids are using words as weapons.
ElevenAlex loves planes and dreams of getting a dog for his birthday. But September 11th, 2001—Alex's 11th birthday—becomes a day when he will experience both tragedy and hope.
Shouting at the RainGrowing up on Cape Cod, Delsie tries to weather stormy relationships with friends and family.
The Stars Beneath Our FeetIn this novel, a 12-year-old boy uses his passion for building to come to terms with his brother's death.
LinkedSeventh graders Link, Michael, and Dana start a project to bring people together and figure out who's responsible for a string of recent antisemitic hate crimes in their small town.
When You Trap a TigerIn order to restore her grandmother's health, Lily makes a bargain with a magical tiger.
The One and Only IvanInspired by true events, this award-winning novel by Katherine Applegate tells the story of a captive gorilla and the elephant he befriends.
Aru Shah and the End of TimeWhen 12-year-old Aru Shah lights a cursed lamp in the Museum of Ancient Indian Art and Culture, she releases an ancient demon. Now she must find a way to stop the demon and rescue her friends and family.
FrindleNick Allen is a lively kid with big plans. When his newest idea catches on like wildfire, Nick surprises his teachers, his school, and even himself.
The Lemonade WarSiblings Evan and Jessie engage in an all-out war to sell the most lemonade before school starts.
Because of Winn-DixieWhile shopping for groceries, ten-year-old India Opal Buloni finds a dog that will change her life.
Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's LibraryKyle and eleven other kids get the chance to stay overnight in Mr. Lemoncello's new, high-tech library. The children must solve a series of puzzles in order to find a way out of the library and win an amazing prize.
The Castle in the AtticWilliam must go on a quest to help a tiny knight living in a miniature castle.
Front DeskTen-year-old Mia Tang lives and works at the motel where her immigrant parents are employed. Together, Mia and her family strive to make a better life for themselves — and for other immigrants in their community.
CrenshawAs his family struggles financially, Jackson deals with hardship with the help of his imaginary friend, a giant cat named Crenshaw.
Honestly ElliottFaced with uncomfortable changes in his life, sixth grader Elliott Quigley Sawyer knows that the best thing for him to focus on is cooking.
MatildaBrilliant Matilda Wormwood finds clever ways to get the best of her ignorant parents and the cruel headmistress of her school.
Charlie and the Chocolate FactoryWhen Charlie Bucket and four other children find golden tickets in their chocolate bars, they are invited to tour Willy Wonka's famous candy factory.
James and the Giant PeachIn this beloved novel, James Henry Trotter goes on an adventure in a giant peach accompanied by a group of oversized insects.
Ben and MeAn Astonishing Life of Benjamin Franklin by His Good Mouse AmosIn this work of historical fiction, a mouse named Amos helps Benjamin Franklin create some of his famous inventions.
Katt vs. DoggMolly the katt and Oscar the dogg belong to different families who hiss and growl at each other, but when they both get lost in the woods, they must stick together to get back to their camps safely.
Katt Loves DoggIn this sequel to Katt vs. Dogg, Molly and Oscar, former enemies turned best friends, work together to find their missing cousins and unite different species.
From the Mixed-up Files of Mrs. Basil E. FrankweilerWhen Claudia Kincaid and her brother run away from home, they find themselves caught up in a mystery at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. Learn these words from E. L. Konigsburg's award-winning novel.
Turtle BoyA seventh grader begins to come out of his shell after he forms an unexpected bond with a terminally ill teen.
Turtle in ParadiseDuring the Great Depression, an eleven-year-old girl tackles challenges and finds adventure when she moves in with relatives in Key West, Florida.
Indian No MoreIn 1957, an Umpqua girl and her family relocate to Los Angeles after the government declares that their tribe no longer exists.
I Can Make This PromiseA twelve-year-old girl searches for the truth about her family's Native American heritage.
From the Desk of Zoe WashingtonTwelve-year-old Zoe Washington attempts to prove that her father was wrongfully convicted of a crime.
Hello, UniverseThe lives of four children (and a guinea pig named Gulliver) intersect in unexpected ways in this Newbery Medal-winning book.
Lucky Broken GirlRecent immigrants from Cuba, Ruthie and her family are just learning to adjust to life in New York City when Ruthie is severely injured in a car accident. This novel, based in part on the author's childhood experiences, won the 2018 Pura Belpré Award.
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