30 Top 4th Grade Read Alouds for 9 Year Olds

Prairie Lotus by Linda Sue Park
HISTORICAL FICTION
Park writes a wonderfully touching multilayered story about a young half-Asian girl’s life during western expansion, frontier times. After Hana’s mother dies, her father moves the two of them to a small midwestern town. Park sets the scene with care and you’ll see a realistic portrayal of life in the 1880s from the point of view from someone who is experiencing racism. Despite many unfair things, Hana stays resilient and determined to graduate from school and help her father in his shop. This is a great read aloud for 4th grade history.

Max in the House of Spies: A Tale of World War II written by Adam Gitwitz
Suspense, excitement, danger, and a dash of humor, this is the story of Max, a super-smart Jewish boy sent from Germany during WWII to safety in England on the Kindertransport. He’s joined by two personality-filled mythical creatures, a dybbuk and a kobold, living on his shoulders. Once in England, Max’s sole focus is returning to Germany to help his parents. But first, he must convince the British government to train him as a spy. But the mythical creatures DON’T want to return to Germany, so they try to thwart Max’s spy training efforts!

Stef Soto, Taco Queen by Jennifer Torres
REALISTIC
In a sweet story of figuring out who you are and taking pride in your culture, Stef Soto feels embarrassed by her dad’s taco truck, especially when he picks her up at school. But that changes when she learns that new city regulations could force her dad to sell the truck and get a different job. Filled with relatable middle school angst, Spanish words, Latinx culture, friendship troubles, and a loving family, this yummy read is a savory treat.

The Supervillain’s Guide to Being a Fat Kid by Matt Wallace
COMING OF AGE / BULLYING
An outstanding, surprisingly philosophical, poignant story about dealing with bullies, growing in confidence, and the complexities of human beings. Matt doesn’t think he can survive 3 more years of middle school bullying so he writes supervillain Master Plan who is also a “gentleman of size”, asking for help. Surprisingly, Master Plan emails back with helpful, sage advice but is Master Plan actually looking out for Max or for himself?

All Rise for the Honorable Perry T. Cook by Leslie Connor
REALISTIC
This read aloud book for 4th grade will hook your readers! Perry is well-loved by his mother and her friends. . . in prison. That’s where Perry has lived since he was born eleven years ago. But in an unexpected and unpleasant turn of events, his best friend’s stepfather, the new District Attorney, forces Perry to leave the prison. Not only that, the DA tries to stall Perry’s mother’s parole hearing. Perry discovers the stories behind the inmates’ lives, hoping that they’ll be helpful in reuniting him with his mother. 

The Vanderbeekers of 141st Street by Karina Yan Glaser
(SERIES) REALISTIC
Like The Penderwicks, you’ll fall in love with this quirky, wonderful family from the first page. The Vanderbeekers’ landlord wants them out by the end of December but the Vanderbeeker kids are determined to change his mind, even though he hates noise, kids, and their family. But it’s almost Christmas and their efforts are only making things worse. What will they do? Charming and heart-warming.

Cress Watercress by Gregory Maguire, illustrated by David Litchfield 
ANIMAL FICTION
A stunningly beautiful story about family, community, grief, and stories that begs to be read aloud. Cress and her family leave their cozy burrow after the death of her father. They move to the Broken Arms oak tree ruled by a cranky Owl with a noisy neighbor squirrel family. Cress navigates her new environment, the natural world, and the stories around her, all of which help her understand her inner world, especially how grief waxes and wanes like the moon’s cycles. Filled with immensely lovable characters, a gentle storyline of adventure and discovery, and lavish illustrations.

Front Desk by Kelly Yang
REALISTIC
Mia and her parents have struggled ever since moving to America from China. When her parents take a new live-in job at a motel, they end up working around the clock for very little pay. Mia helps out by working at the front desk. She befriends the weekly tenants and uses her English skills to write letters advocating other people in tough spots— like her uncle whose sweatshop boss has taken his passport and weekly, Hank, who needs a letter of recommendation to get a job. This book is more than a memorable coming-of-age immigrant story, it’s also about tolerance and diversity. You’ll love this story— the writing, the characters, and the plot.

Patina by Jason Reynolds
(SERIES) REALISTIC
Patina’s anger sometimes gets the best of her but running helps make it better. She’s mad about her dad dying, her mom’s legs being amputated, and her new school. When her track coach makes Patty work with her teammates in a relay, she’s forced to rely on them. And that changes things. Patina is a beautiful coming-of-age story that will tug at your emotions.

From the Desk of Zoe Washington by Janae Marks
REALISTIC
On her 12th birthday, Zoe, a girl who loves to bake, discovers a letter to her from her incarcerated biological father, Marcus. She decides to write him back, even daring to ask him about the murder he’s in jail for — did he really do it? Marcus writes to Zoe that he’s innocent and he can prove it which sets Zoe on a quest to find out the truth for herself, even if her mom and dad forbid it. She enlists the help of her Grandma and her best friend, Trevor. You won’t be able to put down this winsome story with a heroine you can’t help but adore, a story that illuminates social justice with themes of family, friendship, and love.

Hidden Truths by Elly Swartz
REALISTIC
On a camping trip, the camper catches fire, confining Dani to a wheelchair with months of PT appointments ahead. She’s angry that she won’t get to play on the boys’ baseball team. Her best friend Eric worries that the fire is his fault if he forgot to turn off the stove. When he confesses to Dani his worries, it ruins their friendship. Dani’s new friend calls Eric a loser and bullies him on social media while Eric tries to fix things. I loved this unique plot of relatable friendship woes! This is a memorable story of friendship, growing up, and forgiveness.

Brick Dust and Bones by M.R. Forunet
GHOST STORY
Marius Grey is a 12-year-old Cajun Cemetery Boy and student. But he’s also working nights as a monster hunter to earn mystic coins for a really important spell that will bring his mother back to life…and time is running out. In desperation, Marius decides to hunt one of the most dangerous monsters in the swamp, a rougarou, even though his only friend, a monstrous mermaid, doesn’t want Marius to risk his life. The story is compelling and entertaining, with a heroic main character who loves his mom more than anything. You won’t be able to put this one down!

Out of My Mind by Sharon Draper
REALISTIC
Hands down, this is one of the best life-changing books you’ll ever read. Narrated by Melody, we learn what it’s like for her, trapped in a body with cerebral palsy that doesn’t allow her to speak or take care of herself. No one except her parents thinks that she’s smart. Then one day, she gets a chance to prove it. Heartbreaking. Real. Inspiring. Beautifully written and sure to develop empathy.

The Wildes: The Amazon by Roland Smith
ADVENTURE
Set in the Brazilian Amazon Rainforest, two siblings are with their conservationist scientist mom, who is reintroducing Golden lion tamarins (GLTs) into the wild. But, when their mom doesn’t return to base camp, the kids discover that she’s been kidnapped. The siblings, their bumbling tutor, and an indigenous (Kayapo) man follow the kidnappers’ trail to the mining area…and start investigating the mining camp under the pretense of tourists whose dad is sick. Great writing, excellent plotting, and a fascinating story, plus lots of information about the Amazon and endangered animals make this a standout middle grade book recommendation!

Space Case by Stuart Gibbs
(SERIES) SCI-FI/MYSTERY
review written by 11-year old JJ
Thismurder mystery on the moon has it all! It took palace in 2040 after their second-in-command died. He had walked out the airlock (to the moon’s surface) with his space suit on wrong– he died in seconds. Everyone thought he had gone crazy, but Dashiel Gibson suspected differently. Murder. The first book is almost mirrored in the second –the base commander, this time, disappears. With just enough breaking the rules, they can figure out where she is and who did it.

Snow & Rose by Emily Winfield Martin
FANTASY
Snow and Rose are two sisters who live in the woods with their mother after their father disappeared in those same woods. The girls befriend both a young boy from a mushrooming family and a large bear. Danger comes from the Huntsman and the sinister Little Man who seeks to enchant them or kill them. Surprisingly, this is a Grimm story with a happy ending . . . which I won’t spoil. Marvelous storytelling!

Refugee by Alan Gratz
HISTORICAL FICTION
This book is a tween must-read book about what refugees experience. Follow three distinct stories about being displaced from your country, on the run, and in danger. First is a young Jewish boy who escapes from Nazi Germany on a ship to Cuba. Next is a Cuban girl in the 1990s who flees in a homemade raft to the United States. Finally, is a story about a Syrian boy whose home is bombed in a country at war. Gatz skillfully connects all three stories with a satisfying, realistic conclusion.

Sweep by Jonathan Auxier
MAGICAL REALISM
Set in Victorian London, this is a beautiful, bittersweet story about a plucky girl and her protector golem which in the telling, illuminates the horrifying lives of chimney sweep kids as well as the world’s anti-semitism. Young Nan’s Sweep father figure is gone, so she works for a cruel chimney sweep who uses children to make himself richer. When another sweep tries to burn Nan alive, a charcoal golem, formerly a piece of charcoal left to her by Sweep, emerges to save her. She and her growing protector golem, Char, find a new place to live but must stay vigilant so her old master doesn’t find them. On their own, they are helped by a street boy and a kind Jewish teacher.