47 Books for Middle Schoolers Our Kids Adored

Dawn Denning said:  My son recently started reading this series and he LOVES it...and so do I. Written by Chris Colfer (Kurt Hummel from Glee), these are are good books for middle schoolers and older elementary school kids about the adventures of a set of twins that leave our world and travel into the world of fairytales. The fairytale worlds include Snow White, Sleeping Beauty, Mother Goose and more! The stories are engaging, suspenseful and funny, so my son and I both look forward to reading time!

Billy, a poor kid from the Ozarks, saves up enough to buy himself two hunting dogs. Together this team becomes legendary for their hunting skills, forming a strong bond in the process. When the team encounters a sad accident, Billy is forced to face loss for the first time in his short life, but emerges from his despair stronger than before.

Gina I. said:  13-year-old Brian's plane crashes in the Canadian wilderness, leaving him alone with only the clothes on his back and a hatchet. He struggles to make shelter, find food and survive. This and the rest of the books in the Brian's Saga series are stories your middle schooler won't soon forget.

Juan L. said:  One of the best historical fiction books for middle schoolers, a young girl in World War II Germany tries to make the best of her bleak situation by cultivating a love of books and an optimistic outlook on life despite the destruction around her. Her family takes in a Jewish boy in hiding and their friendship becomes the stuff of legend.

Vanessa M. said:   This is a popular book for middle schoolers as it does an excellent job helping kids look past the wheelchair to see the real person. Readers get a look at the inner life of a young girl with cerebral palsy who struggles to overcome her obstacles with humor and determination.

Vanessa M. said:  When a troublemaker is accidentally placed in the gifted school, he encounters a number of laughable yet poignant experiences as he attempts to fit in with young geniuses. This is a great middle school book for reluctant readers, as it is easy and fun to read with a rewarding ending.

Juan L. said:  This young adult classic tells the story of Ponyboy and his fellow greasers in their hard-knock life outside of regular society. This book is perfect for middle schoolers and a great book for teens, too, as they enter into the broader world, with themes about principles, loyalty, and doing the right thing.

Marcia Alvarez Delgado said:  Any dog lover will love this book by W. Bruce Cameron. It's funny, sad, and you won't be able to put it down. It's about a dog that reincarnates after death and experiences life with different families.

Vanessa M. said:  Life is peaceful and sheltered for Cap and his grandmother, Rain, as the last remaining members of a secluded hippie commune. But when Rain ends up in the hospital, Cap is sent to live with a foster family and to attend school for the first time. This funny and touching middle school book.

Vanessa M. said:  Few children's novels can grip young readers by the first page, but The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle hooks readers right from the start. Set in 1832, thirteen-year-old Charlotte Doyle finds herself the only passenger on a long voyage by ship traveling with a cruel captain and a mutinous crew. As conflict arises, readers watch young Charlotte grow from timid to strong, independent, and courageous. Charlotte challenges what is expected of a girl in her time, and is a strong female heroine.

Erika Roh... said:  L.M. Montgomery's heartwarming and funny tale about a fiery little red-headed girl named Anne. She is an orphan and sent to live with a family, not knowing they were looking for a boy! With her charming and witty personality and escapades, she wins their hearts and she finds the home she has always wanted. With Anne's vivid imagination and personality, any child will find joy in reading this book.

Sue Krawitz Tandoc said:  My middle school boys love the Hazardous Tales series by Nathan Hale. The books are straight-up history told through a comic book like manner with fun and jokes along the way. They are learning about historical events in an entertaining manner and literally stay up late reading these books and not wanting to put them down. Some of the topics include the Underground Railroad, World War I and II, The Alamo, Cold War and more.

Vanessa M. said:  Soccer stars and benchwarmers alike will enjoy this one. The award-winning middle grade book follows 12-year-old Paul Fisher as he moves with his family from Texas to Florida. Paul has complicated relationships with his father, mother and brother, and hopes to step out of his brother's shadow by making a name for himself playing soccer. Written as Paul's personal journal entries, this is a good book for middle schoolers who will find his story exciting and relatable.

Vanessa M. said:  Written entirely in poetic verse, The Crossover by Kwame Alexander will delight basketball fans. Thirteen-year-old twins Josh and Jordan grew up playing basketball as their father is a former NBA player. Filled with lots of basketball action and emotionally moving as the twins struggle with their emerging identities, it is easy to see why this is an award-winning book for middle schoolers.

Vanessa M. said:  When Jonah and Chip begin receiving strange anonymous letters, they have no idea of the mind-blowing mystery they are about to uncover. If your tween has never read anything by Margaret Peterson Haddix before, they are in for a real treat! Haddix is a master of suspense and plot twists, and Found and the rest ofThe Missing series are good books for middle schoolers because they will keep them on the edge of their seats.