47 Books for Middle Schoolers Our Kids Adored

Vanessa M. said:  Middle school is the perfect age for kids to read Harry Potter on their own. Even if they have already seen the movies, they are no replacement for the action, adventure, magical details, and background stories in this iconic kids fantasy book series.

Vanessa M. said:  This is an outstanding, award winning novel that grants its readers permission to begin questioning their culture and values, an important step for middle schoolers. When 12-year-old Jonas becomes the Receiver of Memories for his utopian society, he glances behind the veil and discovers its fragility.

Vanessa M. said:  Raina Telgemeier has some very popular books for middle schoolers. Ghosts is a graphic novel that encapsulates the complex relationship between sisters, telling the girls' story in a way that is fun and relatable in spite of its serious plotline. When sisters Cat and Maya are forced to move because of Maya's chronic illness, they discover their new town has ghosts. One sister believes in ghosts and the other does not, until the ghosts begin to show themselves.

Alexandra F. said:  My 7th grader just read this Agatha Christie mystery classic for school and is OBSESSED. She absolutely loved the intriguing story about 10 strangers trapped together on an island who mysteriously begin to die, one by one. Who is the murderer?? Will anyone be left alive? She could barely keep herself from reading ahead. A great mystery book for kids who are a little older, up through adults!

Alexandra F. said:  A quartet of futuristic sci-fi adventures loosely based on classic fairytales including Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood, Rapunzel and Snow White. We read this as part of a family book club with our 11-year old daughter and she and I were both totally hooked! Each of the four books follow the same story, told from the perspective of a different heroine. Well-developed and likable characters combine with a novel and exciting adventure story - with just a touch of familiarity - to make it a great book for tweens and up!

Alexandra F. said:  This is a very popular series of books for tweens, teens and adults alike. A teen protagonist wakes up in an elevator with no memory of his past, which opens to find him surrounded by other teen boys trapped in an endless maze of horrors. None of them have any memories from before arriving there, and they have no way to escape. This young adult suspense thriller was a favorite for both my son and daughter in middle school!

Alexandra F. said:  Our family enjoyed this series by Marissa Meyer so much that the release of the third book in the trilogy was a much-anticipated event at our house. Lots of adventure (and a touch of high school romance) in an interesting story about a world where many people have super powers, but are struggling to figure out what role these super heroes should play in society. The two main characters are teenagers who each have super powers, and fall on opposite sides of the prevailing viewpoints. But, secrets and betrayals abound, making for a fun and twisty plot!

Vanessa M. said:  10-year-old Ada Smith discovers her own freedom in spite of living in war-ravaged England. Born with a clubbed foot and kept inside her whole life by her mother, Ada jumps at the chance to escape her home life and the war by relocating to the countryside along with the rest of London's children. With complex characters and an uplifting story, this book appeals to tweens on many different levels!

Alexandra F. said:  This dystopian trilogy had everyone in our family absolutely hooked from the moment we each started it. They are good middle schooler books, but equally great reads for older teens and adults, too. Katniss Everdeen is a teenage girl living in one of 12 districts in what was once North America, under the rule of a Capitol that requires one boy and one girl from each district to participate in an annual "Hunger Games," where the children must fight to the death as punishment for a long-ago rebellion. An absolutely gripping story with wonderful characters you won't soon forget.

Vanessa M. said:  One of the most age appropriate and accessible Holocaust books for middle schoolers. Ten-year-old Annemarie and her Danish family must hide her Jewish best friend, Ellen, and her family. When Annemarie learns that her parents are part of the Danish Resistance, she must overcome her fear to help in an important way. The story is exciting, easy to read, and the lesson of having the courage to do what is right stays with the reader long after the last page is read.

Vanessa M. said:  Percy Jackson is the kind of protagonist kids love; he is funny and cool, and takes finding out that the entirety of Greek mythology is real all in good stride. The Lightning Thief and the rest of the series are some of the best books for middle schoolers. They're adventure books that excite even the most reluctant readers, and the hidden bonus is that teens will learn a lot about Greek mythology without even realizing it!

Vanessa M. said:  Auggie was born with a severe facial deformity that leaves him looking a lot different than the other kids, and Wonder chronicles his first experience attending school. Grab some tissues: this eye opening, heartwarming story is one of the must-read books for middle schoolers.

Alexandra F. said:  These are some of the best books for middle schoolers who loved Harry Potter! Sophie is a 12-year-old girl whose life is upended when she discovers she is an elf and has to leave home to join elven society. If that weren't hard enough (elves are practically immortal and have special abilities like telepathy), she also learns she is at the center of a scheme to destroy the elven world, and has to find a way to stop it. Our entire family always eagerly awaits the next book in the series!

Stanley Yelnats, wrongly accused of stealing, is sent to a juvenile detention camp where he befriends a ragtag group of boys who dig holes all day. But what are they looking for?

Vanessa M. said:  Stanley Yelnats, wrongly accused of stealing, is sent to a juvenile detention camp where he befriends a ragtag group of boys who dig holes all day. Stanley discovers how his camp experiences and his family history are intertwined in this fast-paced book.