Books for Reluctant Readers

Not every kid is a born bookworm. But some books can help convert reluctant readers into kids who will beg to get just one more chapter before bedtime. Check out some of our favorites.

Browse Books for Reluctant Readers

  • Fantastic Mr. Fox Review
    Fantastic Mr. Fox

    Dahl's satisfying Robin Hood tale.
    AGE
    6
     
    Learning Select
    By Roald Dahl
  • Captain Underpants and the Terrifying Return of Tippy Tinkletrousers Review
    Captain Underpants and the Terrifying Return of Tippy Tinkletrousers

    Fun, clever time-travel plot mixes with usual potty jokes.
    AGE
    7
     
    Learning Select
    By Dav Pilkey
  • Squish Review
    Squish
    Cute, clever start to series from Babymouse authors.
    AGE
    7
     
    Learning Select
    By Jennifer L. Holm, Matthew Holm
  • Lunch Money Review
    Lunch Money
    Delightful page-turner with rock-solid values.
    AGE
    8
     
    Learning Select
    By Andrew Clements
  • No Talking Review
    No Talking
    Ear-to-ear-grinningly delightful school story.
    AGE
    8
     
    Learning Select
    By Andrew Clements
  • Big Nate Out Loud Review
    Big Nate Out Loud
    Will appeal to Wimpy Kid fans and reluctant readers.
    AGE
    9
     
    Learning Select
    By Lincoln Peirce
  • Infinity Ring: A Mutiny in Time, Book 1 Review
    Infinity Ring: A Mutiny in Time, Book 1

    Gripping multimedia time-travel adventure series debut.
    AGE
    9
     
    Learning Select
    By James Dashner
  • The Big Field Review
    The Big Field
    Action-packed, emotional dad-son baseball story.
    AGE
    9
     
    Learning Select
    By Mike Lupica
  • Lawn Boy Review
    Lawn Boy
    Perfect summer reading for reluctant readers.
    AGE
    9
     
    Learning Select
    By Gary Paulsen
  • The Unwanteds Review
    The Unwanteds

    Magical mid-grade fantasy with violent premise and battles.
    AGE
    10
     
    Learning Select
    By Lisa McMann
  • Half-Moon Investigations Review
    Half-Moon Investigations
    Clever detective fiction for middle-graders.
    AGE
    10
     
    Learning Select
    By Eoin Colfer
  • Monster Hunters: Nightmare Academy: Book 1 Review
    Monster Hunters: Nightmare Academy: Book 1
    Familiar and predictable but lots of fun.
    AGE
    10
     
    Learning Select
    By Dean Lorey
  • The Wish List Review
    The Wish List
    Wicked is the key word here, in all its senses.
    AGE
    10
     
    Learning Select
    By Eoin Colfer
  • Middle School: Get Me Out of Here! Review
    Middle School: Get Me Out of Here!

    Real middle school issues mix with lots of humor.
    AGE
    11
     
    Learning Select
    By James Patterson, Chris Tebbetts
  • The Kill Order Review
    The Kill Order

    Action-packed prequel to popular Maze Runner trilogy.
    AGE
    13
     
    Learning Select
    By James Dashner

More for you and your family

Other great lists from our editors
Harry Potter Book Series
Percy Jackson Book Series
About our rating system
ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids.
OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
Learning ratings
Best: Really engaging, excellent learning approach.
Very Good: Engaging, very good learning approach.
Good: Pretty engaging, good learning approach.
Fair: Somewhat engaging, okay learning approach.
Not for Learning: Not recommended for learning.
Not for Kids: Not age-appropriate for kids; not recommended for learning.
Our child development rating guidelines
 

Poll

We're considering adding social login to our site, and we need your input. How would you prefer to log in?