The more kids read, the better they get at it. Reading volume matters! However, kids aren’t going to read much if they aren’t motivated. And CHOICE in texts is key when it comes to reading motivation. So it is a good investment to figure out how to match kids to books they want to read. That’s why I asked nine and ten year old kids to talk about the best books they’ve read lately. They came up with a great list of titles. Maybe a book or two will appeal to an upper elementary grades reader you know. If a book on this list is too difficult for your child to read independently, think about reading it to him or her or get the audio version to play on a device or on a road trip.
Kaylee
10 years old
Greenville, North Carolina
What is the name of the best book you’ve read lately? Ghosts by Raina Telgemeier
Why do you like this book? I like graphic novels because I like comic books. I thought this book was really interesting. It had some scary parts and a few sad parts but I liked the way it ended.
Why do you think other kids will like this book? I think kids that don’t like to read a lot will like this book because it has a lot of illustrations and fewer words.
What was your favorite part in this book? My favorite part of this book was when Catrina moved to a new town that was full of ghosts. She didn’t believe in them at first but then she saw a lot of them and finally started believing they were real.
Do you have a favorite character in this book? My favorite character is Katherine because she cares about her sister and her health. Her sister has Cystic Fibrosis like my cousin.
How many times have you read this book? I’ve read it twice.
Who told you about this book? I saw a trailer for it at my school’s book fair and I liked the other books that this author wrote.
Ella
9 years old
Clearwater, Florida
What is the name of the best book you’ve read lately? Fish in a Tree by Lynda Mullaly Hunt
Why do you like this book? I like it because it is funny and something everyone can read. It shows perseverance. I like that is was about my favorite subject, reading. Also because one of the friends Ally made reminded me of one of my friends that stands up for other people.
Why do you think other kids will like this book? I think other kids will like this book because it’s funny and there is always something interesting going on.
What was your favorite part in this book? My favorite part was when Mr. Daniels told Ally they were going to leave the principal out of things and she thought “What Mr. Daniels just took my get out of jail free card!”
Do you have a favorite character in this book? My favorite character is Keisha because she was nice, she stood up for people and she could always make you laugh.
How many times have you read this book? I read it once.
Who told you about this book? I saw it on the Battle of the Books list.
Sam
9 years old
Grand Rapids, Michigan
What is the name of the best book you’ve read lately? Middle School, the Worst Years of My Life by James Patterson.
Why do you like this book? I like this book because it’s funny, has a lot of twist and turns and a lot of adventure. This book is about a kid named Rafe Khatchadorian who has a lot of stuff to handle. He goes to Hills Village Middle School or how the book refers to it HVMS.
Why do you think other kids will like this book? It is a really fun book to read. it has some pictures and a lot of words. It isn’t a super hard book to read. There is also a whole series.
What was your favorite part in this book? My favorite part was when he had to go to a military camp. He meets a lot of friends and does a lot of challenges.
Do you have a favorite character in this book? My favorite character is Rafe. He is the main character and is a good person.
How many times have you read this book? I have read 3 of the books. Those 3 were my favorite books ever.
Who told you about this book? My friend Sydney told me about it. I went to look at it in the library and loved it.
Elliott
9 years old
Greenville, North Carolina
What is the name of the best book you’ve read lately? Harry Potter and the Cursed Child by J.K. Rowling.
Why do you like this book? There was plenty of action, it wasn’t slow. There was a bunch of mystery in it.
Why do you think other kids will like this book? It was interesting. I’m not sure. It’s good enough that I probably wouldn’t have to convince them to read it. It has got plenty of action. It is magical. It is not boring at all.
What was your favorite part in this book? The ending. The ending has the most action. Figuring out most of the questions that are asked in the book.
Do you have a favorite character in this book? No.
How many times have you read this book? I read it once and restarted it and want to read it a second time.
Who told you about this book? I found out about this book from Barnes and Noble and of course it is the 8th Harry Potter. And my dad. And Emma, my cousin.
William
10 years old
Arlington, Texas
What is the name of the best book you’ve read lately? The Land of Stories: An Author’s Odyssey by Chris Colfer. I’ve read the whole series – at least all of the books that are out. The next one is going to be published tomorrow.
Why do you like this book or this series? It has clever words, a great story, and lots of laughs. I really got into the characters.
Why do you think other kids will like this book? It would be a good book for kids who liked being challenged.
Who was your favorite character? Alex Bailey because she is half human/half fairy and I thought that’s a cool character element. She has a good relationship with her twin, Conner Bailey.
Who told you about the book or series? My friend, Hayden, recommended it to me.
Jade
10 years old
Winterville, NC
What is the name of the best book you’ve read lately? Switch by Ingrid Law
Why do you like this book? I liked the book because it was full of action and about a family with powers they get at the age of 13 called a savvy.
Why do you think other kids will like this book? Because kids like action and surprises and a lot of kids like magic so this is a good book for that kind of stuff.
What was your favorite part in this book? When the grandma with dementia snuck out and tried to go to a dance that was actually 50 years ago and fell off the clock tower.
Do you have a favorite character in this book? Gypsy because with her savvy she is able to stop time when she wants and when she stops time she can fix things so that bad stuff doesn’t happen.
How many times have you read this book? Only 1 time.
Who told you about this book? I read another book in the series by the same author so I wanted to read this one.
MORE RESOURCES
Children’s Choice Book List for 2016 (books chosen by kids, by grade level):
http://www.cbcbooks.org/cbc-book-lists/2016-finalists/
Read Kiddo Read (tons of resources and up-to-date book lists listed by age/interest): http://www.readkiddoread.com/
Scholastic Book Wizard (locate books, similar books, book levels): http://www.scholastic.com/bookwizard/
Swaggerty, E. (2015). Selecting texts for upper elementary students who avoid reading or find reading difficult. In Deborah Wooten and Bernice Cullinan’s (Eds.) Children’s literature in the reading program: An invitation to read, 4th edition. (p. 150-166). Newark, DE: International Literacy Association.
Contact:
Elizabeth Swaggerty
Reading Education Professor at East Carolina University
swaggertye@ecu.edu