47 Books for Middle Schoolers Our Kids Adored

Michele Green said:  Three storylines keep you wanting to read more. Great messages understanding life.

Alexandra F. said:  This has been one of my teen's favorite book series since she picked it up in middle school. It is an exciting fantasy adventure story about a kingdom at the brink of civil war, and a plot to place an impersonator on the throne as a puppet prince. The main character is probably one of my daughter's favorite book characters of all time, and the unexpected plot twists have kept her hooked since first picking up the series.

Kelly R. said:  Through free verse poetry, Jacqueline Woodson shares memories and reflections on growing up African American in the 60s and 70s. It's a powerful book for middle schoolers to learn about black history through the eyes of a child.

Alexandra F. said:  Award-winning author Jason Reynolds hooks tweens with Ghost, an excellent book for middle schoolers about a talented student track athlete who has a chance of going to the Junior Olympics, but whose anger and complicated past present challenges along the way. The engaging writing style and humor draw readers in, and interesting and diverse characters make the four-book Track series a hit amongst the middle school crowd.

Melinda Morgan said:  The premise might seem a bit cheesy, but the author doesn’t shy away from showing the reality of what the kids go through in the war they’ve been drawn into. And now there’s a graphic novel adaptation being released based on the books.

Sue Krawitz Tandoc said:  I Funny by James Patterson is a sweet and funny story starring middle school comedian Jamie Grimm, who just so happens to be in a wheelchair. Nothing stops Jamie including going after his dream of being the world's greatest comedian. This is a series followed by I Even Funnier and I Totally Funniest. Your middler-schooler will love them all!

Kelly R. said:  An inspiring graphic novel that tells the true story of German pastor Dietrich Bonhoeffer, who was involved in plots against Hitler's life. The striking tri-color illustrations really drew my middle schooler in (he finished it in a day). I'm impressed that he gained a better understanding of some pretty complex WWII history, including the moral conflict of many who resisted Hitler.

Kelly R. said:  My tween devoured comedian Trevor Noah's account of growing up half black/half white in South Africa at a time when it was illegal, and maintains that it's his favorite book. This is a version of the fantastic book for adults, adapted for kids. The same stories are told in both, just for a different audience, so I liked that we were able to talk about them together as he was reading.

Kelly R. said:  This story about eternal life was a quick 2 day read for my son in the summer after 6th grade, and he really enjoyed it.

Kelly R. said:  My 13-year-old son is into this young adult series about a teen with Tourette's syndrome who has mysterious electric powers.

Alexandra F. said:  The excellent characters are what make this dystopian adventure story stand out, and my teen (who generally dislikes romance stories) really liked both main characters, including their romantic story line. Set in a post-apocalyptic Paris in the midst of a new revolution, Rook is reminiscent ofThe Scarlet Pimpernel, and a suspenseful, imaginative, and really good book for middle schoolers and teens!

Alexandra F. said:  A funny and authentic coming-of-age story about a 15-year-old girl whose father is running for president. As the campaign leads to intense scrutiny of their Cuban American family, she learns a lot about her father and his politics that make her realize he may not be the hero she had always seen him as before.

Alexandra F. said:  The Rithmatist is one of my 11- and 13-year olds' favorite books. We all love Brandon Sanderson as an author, but this New York Times' best seller tops their list. It's an epic tale that masterfully combines fantasy and mystery (with a little bit of math thrown in for fun), as two teen protagonists investigate a series of kidnappings and upend the world as they know it in the process.

Kelly R. said:  This middle-grade heist novel was a quick and fun book for my middle schooler.