CommonLit The Library
CommonLit is a free collection of fiction and nonfiction for 3rd-12th grade classrooms. Search and filter our collection by lexile, grade, theme, genre, literary device, or common core standard.
A boy tries to impress a girl on the first day of seventh grade.
I Have a Dream
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
In Martin Luther King, Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech, King discusses the status of African Americans and what he hopes to see in the future.
Emmett Till was murdered as a young boy, and this event helped spark the Civil Rights Movement.
The Scholarship Jacket
Marta is a straight-A student who has earned a scholarship jacket, but her financial situation – and an unjust school leader – may prevent her from receiving her reward.
A Quick Note on Getting Better at Difficult Things
Ta-Nehisi Coates discusses how to get better at a new or difficult skill and shares his own experiences.
All Summer in a Day
Margot’s beliefs are very different from those of her classmates on the planet Venus.
Watch Out: Cell Phones Can Be Addictive
According to new research, too much dependence on your smartphone isn't smart.
Life Isn't Fair — Deal With It
According to columnist Mike Myatt, "Fair is a state of mind, and most often, an unhealthy one."
The Road Not Taken
A man reflects on being at a crossroads. How has his decision shaped his identity and life?
About Treacher Collins Syndrome
This informational text provides information about the genetic condition, Treacher Collins Syndrome, that effects the main character of Wonder by R. J. Palacio.
At The Head of Her Class, and Homeless
Rashema Melson, a senior from Washington D.C., excelled in school despite the odds.
Learning to Read
Frances Ellen Watkins Harper
An African American child in 1872 describes what it was like to be discouraged from learning how to read.
Who Was Anne Frank?
The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
This informational text explores the events of World War II as experienced by a young Jewish girl.
Where the Sidewalk Ends
In this playful poem, Silverstein uses an extended metaphor to capture the beauty of a child's imagination.
The Most Dangerous Game
A big game hunter falls off his yacht and is rescued by a mysterious general who claims to hunt only the most dangerous game.
On her birthday, a young girl is embarrassed when she is forced to wear a sweater that is not hers.
An Overview of the Great Depression
The Great Depression was a result of a variety of causes, and the period had a major impact on the United States.
Sometimes a Dream Needs a Push
Walter Dean Myers
A boy has an accident and must find a new way to accomplish a dream.
Edgar Allan Poe
A sad speaker recounts the early romance of his now-dead lover, Annabel Lee.