7th Grade Independent Reading
Please be aware that this book list includes some classics, some current and popular pre-teen and teen favorites, as well as new releases. The reading level refers to exactly that - the stage of reading development necessary to comprehend the text. It has no bearing on the grade for which the book is appropriate. For example, though a book may have a reading level of 6.5, it may not be appropriate for, or interesting to, all sixth or seventh graders. The story and topic, however, may be appealing to, and suitable for, many 9th graders.
Selecting an appropriate choice for an independent reading book you will adore not only depends on your reading level, but it also relies on your background knowledge, topics of interest, and your maturity level.
Title (Author) Reading Level
The Andromeda Strain by Michael Crichton Above
Among the … (Hidden) Series by Margaret Peterson 5.9 (DRA 59)
Angels & Demons by Dan Brown Above
Artemis Fowl Series by Eion Colfer 6.2 (DRA 60)
The Boy in the Striped Pajamas by Boyne 9th
Brian’s Winter by Gary Paulsen 5th (DRA 44)
Bridge to Terabithia by Paterson 5th (DRA 44)
Catching Fire Suzanne Collins 5.4 (DRA 51)
A Child Called It by David Pelzer 7th (DRA 70)
The City of Ember by Jeanne DuPrau 5.1 (DRA 50)
Cleopatra VII (The Royal Diaries) by Kristiana Gregory 6.0 (DRA 60)
The Clique by Lisa Harrison 5.5 (DRA 54)
The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexander Dumas Above
Cross My Heart, Hope to Spy by Ally Carter 6.5 (DRA 64)
Cujo by Stephen King Above
Cut by Patricia McCormick 5.3 (DRA 50)
The DaVinci Code by Dan Brown Above
Deception Point by Dan Brown Above
Doomed Queen Anne (The Royal Diaries) by Carolyn Meyer 7 (DRA 70)
Dragon Rider by Cornelia Funke 4.9 (DRA 50)
Emma by Jane Austin Above
Eragon by Christopher Paolini 7.8 (DRA 77)
Fantastic Voyage by Isaac Asimov 9th+
Fever 1793 by Andersen 4.8 (DRA 44)
Flowers for Algernon by Keyes 5.8 (DRA 57)
For Whom the Bell Tolls by Ernest Hemingway Above
Found (The Missing Book Series) (by Haddix) 5-6 (DRA 40-60)
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by Rowling 9th
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by Rowling 9th
Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince by Rowling Above
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by Rowling Above
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by Rowling Above
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone by Rowling 7 (DRA 70)
Haunting of Hill House by Jackson 9th
The Hiding Place by Corrie Ten Boom 9th
The House of Seven Gables by Nathaniel Hawthorne Above
Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins 5.3 (DRA 50)
The Hunchback of Notre Dame by Victor Hugo Above
Hunt for the Seventh by Christine Morton-Shaw 3.8 (DRA 40)
Iceberg Hermit by Arthur Roth 5.9 (DRA 59)
I’d Tell You I Love You, But Then I’d Have to Kill You by Ally Carter 7.6 (DRA 75)
Incantations by Alice Hoffman 6 (DRA 60)
Inkheart by Cornelia Funke 4.9 (DRA 44)
It by Stephen King Above
Ivanhoe Above
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte Above
Just Listen by Sara Dressen 4.9 (DRA 44)
The Last of the Mohicans by James Fenimore Cooper 9th
The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis 6.1 (DRA 60)
Lord of the Rings (The Two Towers and The Fellowship of the Ring) 7.9 (DRA 78)
Lush by Natasha Friend 7.5 (DRA 40)
Marielle of Redwall by Brian Jacques 7 (DRA 70)
Marlfox by Brian Jacques 6.9 (DRA 44)
Maybird Series 4.8 (DRA 44)
Of Mice and Men by Steinbeck 8.1 (DRA 80)
Models Don’t Eat Chocolate Cookies by Erin Dionne 9th
Monster by Walter Dean Myers 7.1 (DRA 70)
Movers and Fakers by Lisa Harrison 6.2 (DRA 62)
My Sister’s Keeper by Jodi Picoult 6.8 (DRA 68)
National Velvet by Enid Bagnold 5.5 (DRA 52)
Not Without My Daughter by Better Mahmoody Above
The Perfect Storm by Junger 9th
Percy Jackson and the Olympians Series by Riordan 4.7 (DRA 44)
Point Blank Series by Anthony Horowitz 4.9 (DRA 44)
Pretties (Sequel to Uglies ) by Scott Westerfeld 5.6 (DRA 55)
Pretty Little Liars by Sara Shepard 4.3 (DRA 40)
Princess Academy by Shannon Hale 4.8 (DRA 44)
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen 9th
The Prophecy Sisters by Michelle Zink 6.3 (DRA 63)
Red Kayak by Priscilla Cummings 4.8 (DRA 44)
Red Pyramid by Riordan 3.7 (DRA 39)
Redwall by Brian Jacques 7.8 (DRA 77)
Roots by Alex Haley 9th
Ruined by Paula Morris 5.6 (DRA 57)
Running with Scissors by Augusten Burroughs Above
The Secret Life of Bees by Kidd 9th
The Second Summer of the Sisterhood by Ann Brashares 6.2 (DRA 62)
The Shining by Stephen King Above
Shooter by Walter Dean Myers 9th
The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants by Anne Brashares 6.2 (DRA 62)
Speak by Laurie Anderson 7.1 (DRA 70)
Sphere by Michael Crichton 9th
Stormbreaker Series by Anthony Horowitz 5.4 (DRA 51)
The Tenth Circle by Jodi Picoult Above
The Thief Lord by Cornelia Funke 4.9 (DRA 60)
13 Little Blue Envelopes by Maureen Johnson Above
The Truth About Forever by Sarah Dressen Above
Twilight Series 4.4 (DRA 40)
Uglies (Prequel to Pretties) by Scott Westerfeld 5.6 (DRA 55)
The Vampire Diaries by L. M. Smith 8th
Chronicles of VladamirTod Series by Heather Brewer 4.7 (DRA 43)
Walk Two Moons by Sharon Creech 4.9 (DRA 60)
Witch Child 8.1 (DRA 80+)
Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte 9th (DRA 60)