If you need middle grade books for your kids…

This momma can help you out.

Sometimes it can be tricky to get kids reading without it feeling like a chore or homework. Grabbing library books they would like—and letting them quit after a couple chapters and try something else—was easier with kid two since I had read a lot already with kid one. I have been pleasantly surprised by how some middle grade authors tackle worldly issues in a kid-friendly way. Reading two copies of the same book side by side (or reading it right after my son finished) has helped engage my kids in reading for pleasure instead of just for necessary growth. It lifts my heart when one of my children says, “You’d really like this book, Mom.” And of course I read it as soon as possible so I can discuss it with them!

Here are some of my favorites:

General Fiction

• Katherine Applegate – Wishtree
• Ali Benjamin – The Thing About Jellyfish
• Dusti Bowling – Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus
• Suzanne Collins – Underland Chronicles (Note: The Hunger Games is Young Adult but this series is middle grade.)
• Leslie Connor – All Rise for the Honorable Perry T. Cook, Crunch, The Truth as Told by Mason Buttle, Waiting for Normal (Note: The Things You Kiss Goodbye is Young Adult, not middle grade, and while thought-provoking, I didn’t completely agree with all the messages in that story.)
• Neil Gaiman – Fortunately, the Milk
• Geoff Herbach – Hooper
• Jennifer L. Holm – The Fourteenth Goldfish
• Gordon Korman – No More Dead Dogs, Restart, Schooled, Ungifted series
• R. J. Palacio – Wonder
• Louis Sachar – Holes
• Holly Goldberg Sloan – Counting by 7s
• Leah Thompson – The Goldfish Boy
• Wendy Van Draanen – Flipped

Historical Fiction

• Kristin Levine – Lions of Little Rock
• Lois Lowry – Number the Stars
• Jennifer A. Nielson – A Night Divided

Graphic Novel

• Nathan Hale – Nathan Hale’s Hazardous Tales
• Raina Telgemeier – Drama, Ghosts, Smile series

Supernatural/Mystery/Horror

• Neil Gaiman – Coraline, The Graveyard Book
• Jonathan Stroud – The Lockwood & Co. series

Fantasy

Rick Riordan has written several wonderful fantasy series based on mythology: Percy Jackson and the Olympians, The Heroes of Olympus, The Kane Chronicles, Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard, and The Trials of Apollo. Dive in and keep going! Pay attention to publication order as some characters/storylines overlap.

The Harry Potter series by JK Rowling continues to offer much to young readers. Through seven books and eight movies, my kids and I have escaped into a magical world, cried when favorite characters died, and discussed a myriad of topics/themes: growing up, navigating friendships, falling in love, found family, child abuse, bullying, persecution, racism, sacrifice, hope, faith/trust in others, senseless murder/violence, grief, war, media misinformation, intentional news suppression by governments, and more. (Note: I do not support what JKR is saying/doing on social media, but I believe the books still have value.)

The kiddos and I also enjoyed:

• Holly Black & Cassandra Clare – Magisterium series
• Cornelia Funke – Inkheart, The Thief Lord
• Neil Gaiman – Odd and the Frost Giants
• Gail Carson Levine – Ella Enchanted, Ever, Fairest, Ogre Enchanted
• Dianne K. Salerni – Eighth Day series
• Jessica Townsend – Nevermoor series

The kids loved (but I didn’t read):

• Max Brallier – The Last Kids on Earth series
• John Flanagan – Ranger’s Apprentice series, Brotherband Chronicles series
• Tui T. Sutherland – Wings of Fire series (published in both novel and graphic novel format)

Happy reading!