# 3rd grade Realistic Fiction books

**69** realistic fiction books commonly assigned to 3rd grade students in US schools. Every title's grade range covers 3rd grade, so each is grade-appropriate by curriculum placement. Sourced from Common Core exemplars, AP, IB, Cambridge, and 50 state ELA curricula.

**Reading difficulty:** the typical 3rd grade band is 420–820L (Common Core Appendix A). Of the 2 titles here with a Lexile score, 1 is grade-level, 0 more accessible, and 1 a stretch.

**Grade:** 3rd grade  ·  **Genre:** Realistic Fiction
**Canonical URL:** https://readinglist.school/genre/realistic-fiction/grade/3
**License:** [CC BY 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) — please credit ReadingList.school when citing.
**Primary source — Common Core ELA exemplars:** https://achievethecore.org/page/2699

## 3rd grade Realistic Fiction reading list

- [A Boy Called Bat](https://readinglist.school/book/a-boy-called-bat) by Elana K. Arnold _(Grades 3–5 · pub 2017)_
- [A Boy Named Queen](https://readinglist.school/book/a-boy-named-queen) by Sara Cassidy _(Grades 3–8 · pub 2016)_
- [Albert](https://readinglist.school/book/albert) by Donna Jo Napoli _(Grades 3–5 · pub 2001)_
- [Alligator Sue](https://readinglist.school/book/alligator-sue) by Sharon Arms Doucet _(Grades 3–5 · pub 2003)_
- [Ava and Pip](https://readinglist.school/book/ava-and-pip) by Carol Weston _(Grades 3–8 · pub 2014)_
- [Avalon High](https://readinglist.school/book/avalon-high) by Meg Cabot _(Grades 3–5 · pub 2005)_
- [Baby-Sitting Is a Dangerous Job](https://readinglist.school/book/baby-sitting-is-a-dangerous-job) by Willo Davis Roberts _(Grades 3–8 · pub 1985)_
- [Backlash](https://readinglist.school/book/backlash) by Sarah Darer Littman _(Grades 3–8 · pub 2015)_
- [Ban This Book](https://readinglist.school/book/ban-this-book) by Alan Gratz _(Grades 3–6 · pub 2017)_
- [Call Me Hope](https://readinglist.school/book/call-me-hope) by Gretchen Olson _(Grades 3–5 · pub 2007)_
- [Class Clown](https://readinglist.school/book/class-clown) by Johanna Hurwitz _(Grades 3–5 · pub 1987)_
- [Clayton Byrd Goes Underground](https://readinglist.school/book/clayton-byrd-goes-underground) by Rita Williams-Garcia _(Grades 3–5 · pub 2017)_
- [Counting by 7s](https://readinglist.school/book/counting-by-7s) by Holly Goldberg Sloan _(Grades 2–8 · pub 2014)_
- [Crenshaw](https://readinglist.school/book/crenshaw) by Katherine Applegate _(Grades 3–6 · pub 2015)_
- [Dogtown](https://readinglist.school/book/dogtown) by Katherine Applegate & Gennifer Choldenko _(Grades 3–6 · pub 2023)_
- [Dress Coded](https://readinglist.school/book/dress-coded) by Carrie Firestone _(Grades 3–5 · pub 2020)_
- [Drive-By](https://readinglist.school/book/drive-by) by Lynne Ewing _(Grades 3–8 · pub 1996)_
- [Duke](https://readinglist.school/book/duke) by Kirby Larson _(Grades 3–5 · pub 2012)_
- [Ellie's Story](https://readinglist.school/book/ellies-story) by W. Bruce Cameron _(Grades 3–6 · pub 2015)_
- [Ferris](https://readinglist.school/book/ferris) by Kate DiCamillo _(Grades 3–6 · pub 2024)_
- [Front Desk](https://readinglist.school/book/front-desk) by Kelly Yang _(640L · Grades 3–7 · pub 2018)_
- [Here Comes the Garbage Barge](https://readinglist.school/book/here-comes-the-garbage-barge) by Jonah Winter _(Grades 2–8 · pub 2010)_
- [Hope in the Valley](https://readinglist.school/book/hope-in-the-valley) by Mitali Perkins _(Grades 3–6 · pub 2025)_
- [Hostage](https://readinglist.school/book/hostage) by Willo Davis Roberts _(Grades 3–8 · pub 2000)_
- [Ida B. and Her Plans to Maximize Fun, Avoid Disaster, and (Possibly) Save the World](https://readinglist.school/book/ida-b-and-her-plans-to-maximize-fun-avoid-disaster-and-save-the-world) by Katherine Hannigan _(Grades 2–8 · pub 2004)_
- [Invisible Isabel](https://readinglist.school/book/invisible-isabel) by Sally J. Pla _(Grades 3–6 · pub 2024)_
- [Lawn Boy](https://readinglist.school/book/lawn-boy) by Gary Paulsen _(Grades 2–8 · pub 1993)_
- [Loch](https://readinglist.school/book/loch) by Paul Zindel _(Grades 3–8 · pub 1994)_
- [Lulu's Mysterious Mission](https://readinglist.school/book/lulus-mysterious-mission) by Judith Viorst _(Grades 2–8 · pub 2014)_
- [Magnolia Wu Unfolds It All](https://readinglist.school/book/magnolia-wu-unfolds-it-all) by Chanel Miller _(Grades 3–6 · pub 2024)_
- [My Dog, My Hero](https://readinglist.school/book/my-dog-my-hero) by Betsy Cromer Byars _(Grades 3–5 · pub 2000)_
- [My Explosive Diary](https://readinglist.school/book/my-explosive-diary) by Emily Gale _(Grades 2–8 · pub 2014)_
- [Night of the Twisters](https://readinglist.school/book/night-of-the-twisters) by Ivy Ruckman _(Grades 3–6 · pub 1984)_
- [No Talking](https://readinglist.school/book/no-talking) by Andrew Clements _(Grades 3–8 · pub 2007)_
- [Pie in the Sky](https://readinglist.school/book/pie-in-the-sky) by Remy Lai _(Grades 3–6 · pub 2019)_
- [Prisoner B-3087](https://readinglist.school/book/prisoner-b-3087) by Alan Gratz _(Grades 3–8 · pub 2013)_
- [Project Mulberry](https://readinglist.school/book/project-mulberry) by Linda Sue Park _(Grades 3–8 · pub 2005)_
- [Saving Winslow](https://readinglist.school/book/saving-winslow) by Sharon Creech _(Grades 3–8 · pub 2018)_
- [Saving Zasha](https://readinglist.school/book/saving-zasha) by Randi G. Barrow _(Grades 3–8 · pub 2011)_
- [Say What?](https://readinglist.school/book/say-what) by Margaret Peterson Haddix _(Grades 2–8 · pub 2004)_
- [Schooled](https://readinglist.school/book/schooled) by Gordon Korman _(Grades 3–8 · pub 2007)_
- [Secrets of My Hollywood Life](https://readinglist.school/book/secrets-of-my-hollywood-life) by Jen Calonita _(Grades 3–5 · pub 2006)_
- [Secrets of the Mummies](https://readinglist.school/book/secrets-of-the-mummies) by Shelley Tanaka _(Grades 3–5 · pub 1999)_
- [Sharing Susan](https://readinglist.school/book/sharing-susan) by Eve Bunting _(Grades 2–8 · pub 1991)_
- [Shiloh](https://readinglist.school/book/shiloh) by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor _(890L · Grades 3–6 · pub 1991)_
- [Shiloh Season](https://readinglist.school/book/shiloh-season) by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor _(Grades 3–6 · pub 1996)_
- [Sixth Grade Can Really Kill You](https://readinglist.school/book/sixth-grade-can-really-kill-you) by Barthe DeClements _(Grades 3–8 · pub 1985)_
- [Star in the Storm](https://readinglist.school/book/star-in-the-storm) by Joan Hiatt Harlow _(Grades 2–8 · pub 2000)_
- [Stepping Up](https://readinglist.school/book/stepping-up) by Mark Fink _(Grades 3–8 · pub 2009)_
- [Stuntboy, In-Between Time](https://readinglist.school/book/stuntboy-in-between-time) by Jason Reynolds _(Grades 3–6 · pub 2023)_
- [Tangerine](https://readinglist.school/book/tangerine) by Edward Bloor _(Grades 2–8 · pub 1997)_
- [The Boy at the Back of the Class](https://readinglist.school/book/the-boy-at-the-back-of-the-class) by Onjali Q. Raúf _(Grades 3–6 · pub 2018)_
- [The Boys Start the War](https://readinglist.school/book/the-boys-start-the-war) by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor _(Grades 3–8 · pub 1993)_
- [The Cybil War](https://readinglist.school/book/the-cybil-war) by Betsy Byars _(Grades 3–6 · pub 1981)_
- [The Gollywhopper Games](https://readinglist.school/book/the-gollywhopper-games) by Jody Feldman _(Grades 3–8 · pub 2008)_
- [The Perfect Score](https://readinglist.school/book/the-perfect-score) by Rob Buyea _(Grades 3–8 · pub 2017)_
- [The Stranger Next Door](https://readinglist.school/book/the-stranger-next-door) by Peg Kehret _(Grades 3–8 · pub 2002)_
- [The Vanderbeekers of 141st Street](https://readinglist.school/book/the-vanderbeekers-of-141st-street) by Karina Yan Glaser _(Grades 3–6 · pub 2017)_
- [Togo](https://readinglist.school/book/togo) by Robert J. Blake _(Grades 2–8 · pub 2002)_
- [Tucky Jo and Little Heart](https://readinglist.school/book/tucky-jo-and-little-heart) by Patricia Polacco _(Grades 3–5 · pub 2015)_
- [Verdi](https://readinglist.school/book/verdi) by Janell Cannon _(Grades 3–5 · pub 1997)_
- [Weslandia](https://readinglist.school/book/weslandia) by Paul Fleischman _(Grades 3–8 · pub 1999)_
- [When Zachary Beaver Came to Town](https://readinglist.school/book/when-zachary-beaver-came-to-town) by Kimberly Willis Holt _(Grades 2–8 · pub 1999)_
- [When the Wolves Returned](https://readinglist.school/book/when-the-wolves-returned) by Dorothy Hinshaw Patent _(Grades 2–8 · pub 2008)_
- [Who Needs a Bratty Brother?](https://readinglist.school/book/who-needs-a-bratty-brother) by Linda Gondosch _(Grades 3–5 · pub 1985)_
- [You Are Here: Connecting Flights](https://readinglist.school/book/you-are-here-connecting-flights) by Ellen Oh _(Grades 3–6 · pub 2023)_
- [Zach's Lie](https://readinglist.school/book/zachs-lie) by Roland Smith _(Grades 3–8 · pub 1999)_
- [Zen and the Art of Faking It](https://readinglist.school/book/zen-and-the-art-of-faking-it) by Jordan Sonnenblick _(Grades 2–8 · pub 2007)_
- [¡Vamos! Let's Go Eat](https://readinglist.school/book/vamos-lets-go-eat) by Raúl the Third III _(Grades 2–8 · pub 2020)_

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_Generated from primary-source citations indexed on ReadingList.school. HTML view: https://readinglist.school/genre/realistic-fiction/grade/3._