Treasury · Merit

NY Public Library

The New York Public Library's staff picks for children — a large library system's answer to what a child should read next.

99 books in the catalog stand on this list. The list itself (opens the list's own website) ↗

A reader aged

25 of these books cover age 11. The 4 that name no age at all are left off rather than guessed at — choose any age to bring them back.

• A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle, 1962 · ages 9–13 · Lexile 740L · AR 4.7 · AR Interest: MG (4–8)
  also on Davidson Gifted, Halsted - Best Friends, Mensa Kids, Newbery Award
  Remember
• Because of Winn-Dixie by Kate DiCamillo, 2000 · ages 9–12 · Lexile 670L · AR 3.9 · AR Interest: MG (4–8)
  Remember
• Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson, 1977 · ages 9–13 · Lexile 810L · AR 4.6 · AR Interest: MG (4–8)
  also on Halsted - Best Friends, Mensa Kids, Newbery Award
  Remember
• Chains by Laurie Halse Anderson, 2008 · ages 11–13 · Lexile 780L · AR 5.2 · AR Interest: MG (4–8)
  Remember
• Charlotte's Web by E.B. White, 1952 · ages 8–12 · Lexile 680L · AR 4.4 · AR Interest: MG (4–8)
  also on Davidson Gifted, Mensa Kids, The Good & The Beautiful, TJEd Early Recommended
  Remember
• D’Aulaires’ Book of Greek Myths by Ingri and Edgar D'Aulaire, 1962 · ages 11–13 · Lexile 1070L · AR 6.6 · AR Interest: MG (4–8)
  also on Beautiful Feet, Davidson Gifted, Mensa Kids
  Remember
• Esperanza Rising by Pam Muñoz Ryan, 2000 · ages 11–13 · Lexile 750L · AR 5.3 · AR Interest: MG (4–8)
  also on The Good & The Beautiful
  Remember
• Harriet the Spy by Louise Fitzhugh, 1964 · ages 9–12 · Lexile 760L · AR 4.5 · AR Interest: MG (4–8)
  also on Davidson Gifted, Halsted - Best Friends, Mensa Kids
  Remember
• Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone by J. K. Rowling, 1998 · ages 9–11 · Lexile 880L · AR 5.5 · AR Interest: MG (4–8)
  also on Davidson Gifted
  Remember
• Hatchet by Gary Paulsen, 1989 · ages 8–17 · Lexile 1020L · AR 5.7 · AR Interest: MG (4–8)
  also on Mensa Kids
  Remember
• Holes by Louis Sachar, 1998 · ages 11–13 · Lexile 660L · AR 4.6 · AR Interest: MG (4–8)
  also on Newbery Award
  Remember
• Locomotion by Jacqueline Woodson, 2003 · ages 9–13 · AR 4.7 · AR Interest: MG (4–8)
  Remember
• Matilda by Roald Dahl, 1988 · ages 8–12 · Lexile 840L · AR 5.0 · AR Interest: MG (4–8)
  also on Davidson Gifted, Mensa Kids
  Remember
• Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH by Robert C. O'Brien, 1971 · ages 9–11 · Lexile 790L · AR 5.1 · AR Interest: MG (4–8)
  also on Halsted - Best Friends, Mensa Kids, Newbery Award, The Good & The Beautiful
  Remember
• One Crazy Summer by Rita Williams-Garcia, 2010 · ages 9–12 · Lexile 750L · AR 4.6 · AR Interest: MG (4–8)
  Remember
• Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry by Mildred D. Taylor, 1976 · ages 11–14 · Lexile 920L · AR 5.7 · AR Interest: MG (4–8)
  also on Beautiful Feet, Mensa Kids, Newbery Award
  Remember
• The Birchbark House by Louise Erdrich, 1999 · ages 9–11 · Lexile 970L · AR 6.1 · AR Interest: MG (4–8)
  also on Halsted - Best Friends
  Remember
• The Book of Three by Lloyd Alexander, 1964 · ages 9–12 · Lexile 770L · AR 5.3 · AR Interest: MG (4–8)
  also on Davidson Gifted, Mensa Kids
  Remember
• The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick, 2007 · ages 9–12 · Lexile 820L · AR 5.1 · AR Interest: MG (4–8)
  Remember
• The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis, 1950 · ages 8–13 · Lexile 940L · AR 5.7
  also on Davidson Gifted, Deep Roots Grade, Mensa Kids, The Good & The Beautiful, Time Magazine 1923-2005, TJEd Youth Recommended
  Remember
• The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, 1943 · ages 10–13 · Lexile 710L · AR 5.0 · AR Interest: MG (4–8)
  also on Beautiful Feet, Mensa Kids
  Remember
• The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster, 1961 · ages 10–13 · Lexile 1000L · AR 6.7 · AR Interest: MG (4–8)
  also on Davidson Gifted, Halsted - Best Friends, TJEd Youth Recommended
  Remember
• The Watsons Go to Birmingham by Christopher Paul Curtis, 1995 · ages 11–12 · Lexile 920L · AR 5.0 · AR Interest: MG (4–8)
  also on Davidson Gifted
  Remember
• The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin, 1978 · ages 11–13 · Lexile 750L · AR 5.3 · AR Interest: MG (4–8)
  also on Davidson Gifted, Newbery Award
  Remember
• When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead, 2009 · ages 10–12 · Lexile 750L · AR 4.5 · AR Interest: MG (4–8)
  also on Newbery Award
  Remember