The Best Books for 6th Graders
Books are one of the most powerful tools in childhood education. Not only do they aid in the development of skills like reading, writing, and grammar, but they also provide an opportunity for children to learn about the world and explore valuable themes and lessons that can impact them for years to come.
6th Grade Novel Studies
Total Language Plus is a literature-focused homeschool curriculum that approaches important core subjects through a biblical point of view. Our study guides provide children in any grade with structured activities and assignments to help them in their novel studies and give them the tools they need to succeed and develop a deeper connection to their faith.
Below are three of our favorite books for 6th graders to help them in their educational journeys.
The Hobbit
This children’s fantasy story, authored by renowned English novelist J. R. R. Tolkien, is truly a classic piece of literature. The Hobbit is set in a fictional universe created by Tolkien, and follows the adventures of Bilbo Baggins. Bilbo wants to be left alone in his quiet home, but the wizard Gandalf has other plans.
As Bilbo travels further and further from the safety and peace of his home, the Shire, to win a share of treasure that’s guarded by a terrifying dragon named Smaug, he will face new creatures, challenges, and dilemmas along the way. The hobbit discovers dangers, treasures, friends, and foes he never dreamed existed. He gains new knowledge and competencies, and he’s forced to mature quickly to face his fears and stand up for what is right.
The novel explores themes of innocence, loss, war, greed, personal growth, and heroism in a fantasy context. 6th grade boys and girls alike will enjoy exploring the incredible fictional world created by Tolkien and find ways to connect to the titular character as he cautiously ventures out to face the unknown for the first time. The Hobbit also acts as an ideal introduction to Tolkien’s beloved three-part series The Lord of the Rings, which is a more mature and challenging read for older children as part of their novel studies.
Where the Red Fern Grows
Wilson Rawls’s 1961 novel, Where the Red Fern Grows, is about a little boy named Billy who lives on a farm and dreams of owning two coonhounds to help him hunt. After working various jobs and saving up, he is finally able to purchase two of these dogs. He names them Little Ann and Old Dan. He trains his dogs to hunt and they develop a close bond, soon becoming the most successful hunters in the Ozarks. Billy, Ann, and Dan go on many adventures, protecting each other along the way and working together.
While defending Billy from a mountain lion attack, Dan is injured and dies from his wounds. Ann, overcome with grief, dies lying next to Dan’s grave. Billy is devastated by the loss of his companions and buries them by one another. Billy’s father comforts him by telling him that with the money he earned hunting, they can move into town to build a better future. Billy soon discovers a red fern tree growing between their graves. Remembering the story that only angels can plant red ferns, Billy believes that a higher power is watching over them and is able to find peace.
Where the Red Fern Grows is a remarkable tale of love, determination, loss, and faith. The novel, along with TLP’s study guide, provides an excellent learning opportunity for 6th grade students. Through novel studies, children will be able to engage with these valuable and difficult life lessons while also enriching their understanding of grammar, reading, and writing.
Carry On, Mr. Bowditch
Written by Jean Lee Latham and originally published in 1955, Carry On, Mr. Bowditch is a children’s biography of famed sailor and mathematician Nathanial Bowditch. This incredible true story of adventure and hardship highlights “Nat” Bowditch’s unwavering determination and quest for knowledge.
As a child raised during the Revolutionary-War in Salem, Massachusetts, Nat is talented in mathematics and dreams of one day attending Harvard University. But his family’s financial hardships require him to drop out of school and he’s contracted into indentured servitude to work as a clerk at a chandlery. But he never gives up on his dreams and desire for knowledge, teaching himself difficult subjects such as calculus, trigonometry, and Latin. When his servitude comes to an end, he finds work as an officer, supercargo, and navigator aboard various merchant ships.
During his travels, he discovers that the existing navigational references contain significant errors that put lives at risk. He begins to compile a new book of data for seafarers and takes it upon himself to educate his crew of sailors on the principles of navigation before eventually becoming a captain. To this day, his 1802 book The New American Practical Navigator is still carried aboard every U.S. Naval vessel.
This enlightening biography is inspiring for young readers, and TLP’s associated study guide challenges students to engage with the story in detail, covering comprehension, spelling, vocabulary, grammar, and enrichment ideas to enhance their novel studies.