47 Books for Middle Schoolers Our Kids Adored

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.

Alexandra F. said:  This dystopian trilogy had everyone in our family absolutely hooked from the moment we each started it. They are good middle school books, but equally great reads for older teens and adults, too.

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.

Alexandra F. said:  There's a lot about this bestselling series that would appeal to anyone looking for more books like Harry Potter. Like our favorite boy wizard, the main character also suddenly discovers her place in a fantastical world that secretly co-exists with our non-magical one, and her subsequent adventures are filled with magic, danger and friendship, mostly starring teen protagonists with special powers. Our family started reading these as part of a family book club when our kids were nine and 11, and have been hooked ever since!

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?

Out of My Mind is a captivating middle school novel about a brilliant girl with cerebral palsy who is unable to speak or move, yet possesses a photographic memory and a sharp wit. The story follows her journey as she struggles to communicate and be understood, ultimately finding a way to express her intelligence and prove her capabilities to the world.

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.

As a family read-aloud with elementary schoolers or independently-read books for middle school and beyond, the Harry Potter series is beloved by families everywhere. The stories chronicle the life of an orphaned boy who discovers on his eleventh birthday that he is a wizard.

Alexandra F. said:  Harry Potter is a personal favorite (which I first read in college!), so we introduced it when our kids were pretty young, in early elementary school. I love that it can be enjoyed (and read and reread) at all ages, though, so that my kids loved it as much in middle school as they did in third grade, and as much as I do as an adult.

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.

Alexandra F. said:  My 7th grader just read this classic Agatha Christie mystery book for junior high 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!

Nathan Hale's Hazardous Tales is a graphic novel series that presents thrilling, often gruesome, and historically accurate accounts of American history. Narrated by the Revolutionary War spy Nathan Hale, these tales are told to his executioners to stall his impending hanging.

Kelly R said:  I'm not kidding when I say I need to pry these books out of my 6th grader's hands when it's time to send them back to the library. He's a history lover and will read them over and over again. I recommend every single book in the series...he's loved them all. They are educational, funny, and filled with fascinating detail - great for repeat reading.

This 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.

Alexandra F. said:  This has been one of my teen's favorite book series since she picked it up in middle school. 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.

Each book in Jason Reynolds' Track series focuses on one of four kids from very different backgrounds who compete on the same middle school track team: Ghost, Patina, Sunny and Lu.

Kelly R said:  These were among my son's favorite books in 5th or 6th grade.

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:  A truly funny, informative and amazingly well-researched nonfiction book featuring real science-based answers to ridiculous questions. My 8th grade son read it cover-to-cover in a couple days and still flips back to some of his favorites, like "How fast can you hit a speed bump while driving and live?"

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.

A series by Rick Riordan about kids who find out that they are the descendants of Greek gods, and face off against various mythological monsters as they learn to hone their skills.

Katie G. said:  My son LOVED this series! He is going around the house telling us all about Zeus, Poseidon, Athena and all the other Greek gods. I didn't think anything could top Harry Potter, but I think this one has.

A young girl discovers a family with the secret to eternal life in this classic children's chapter book.

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.