Middle grade fiction is intended for kids who are ready to move on from children’s fiction but aren’t quite ready yet for young adult fiction. They’re the perfect books to prepare your kids for more emotionally and thematically complicated reading.
Within this age category of fiction are a variety of genres such as romance, science fiction, fantasy, and even mystery. Many of these stories are written in such a way as to encourage their young readers to think deeper and be more curious about the world and themselves.
Best Middle Grade Books
If you’re looking for more middle grade stories to read or introduce to your children, check some of the books below. Some of these are the first books to a series, so expect a lot of reading if you ever do try them out.
1. Buddies, Bullies, and Baseball by Phyllis J. Perry
Jack comes from a family of baseball fans. They’re excited in this year’s World Series, where the Colorado Rockies will have a chance to play. When he’s gifted a prized baseball glove, he takes it to school, where it disappears.
While looking for the glove, he must deal with two chronic bullies who’ve taken a liking to tormenting him at school. On top of that, he needs to show a new student—who barely speaks English—around. But with the help of his friends, he must find his glove and resolve his bullying problem in time for a World Series celebration.
2. Other Words For Home By Jasmine Warga
When things go horribly wrong, Jude and her mom are sent to Cincinnati to live with their relatives—a place that’s extremely different from what she once called home.
The movies she’s seen aren’t enough to prepare her for the fast and loud lifestyle in the US. But it also brings her new friends, another family to cherish, and new experiences.
3. The Unteachables by Gordon Korman
The Unteachables—a class of misfits, ne’er-do-wells, and academically uninterested individuals. They’ve caused so much trouble that they’ve been isolated into a special class of their own.
Then here comes Mr. Zachary Kermit, a teacher with a worse attitude than them. Together, they might just learn that there’s more for them out there.
4. New Kid by Jerry Craft
Jordan Banks loves nothing more than to draw. But instead of sending him to art school, his parents enroll him to an upmarket academic school instead.
Away from his friends, Jordan must try to belong in his new surroundings while still keeping true to himself. But it’s not easy when he can’t seem to fit into either world he’s moving in.
5. Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery
Matthew and Marilla Cuthbert, siblings, want a boy to help with their farm at Green Gables. But when the adventurous Anne Shirley arrives at their doorstep, she shakes up their lives and those in the town of Avonlea.
An orphan, Anne has always wanted a place she can call home. And the longer she stays at Green Gables, the more that the Cuthberts can’t imagine a life without her.
6. Coraline by Neil Gaiman
Coraline Jones and her parents move into an old house divided up into flats. Resentful of her workaholic parents, she begins spending time meeting with the other tenants and exploring the house.
She finds a small door, behind which is an alternate dimension with the parents she’s always wanted. But while the new world seems perfect, she soon finds that it’s inhabitants have something sinister for her.
7. Out of My Mind by Sharon M. Draper
11-year-old Melody has cerebral palsy, making many aspects of her life difficult. She’s never walked, fed herself, or gotten dressed on her own. She’s also a genius, unknown to everybody because she can’t communicate.
But she’s determined to show everyone she’s not to be defined by her disability. When she learns of a machine that can help her communicate, she might just be able to tell the world who she really is.
8. Wonder by R.J. Palacio
August Pullman has never been to a normal school because of his congenital disabilities—until now. He’s about to start 5th grade at Beecher Prep and all he wants is to treated as a normal kid like everyone else.
But everyone else can’t seem to get past his physical appearance. The moment he sets foot in school, he’s targetted by the bullies and struggles to make friends. August must then learn to grow in an environment that seems to actively reject him.
9. Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing by Judy Blume
To Peter Hatcher, his younger brother, Fudge, is a big bag of trouble. Whether he’s throwing a tantrum or vandalizing the walls with food, he’s always up to something—usually to Peter’s detriment.
Fudge gets away with everything and he’s not even three yet! When he walks out with Peter’s pet turtle, Dribble, Peter has had enough. Now he’s on a mission to make his parents pay attention to him for a change.
10. Hatchet by Gary Paulsen
Thirteen-year-old Brian Robeson is on a plane ride to his father for the first time after his parent’s divorce. The plane crashes, leaving him the sole survivor in the middle of the Canadian wilderness.
The only thing he has are his clothes and the hatchet his mother gifted him. He must find a way to survive while internalizing his parent’s recent troubles.
11. The Bridge Home by Padma Venkatraman
Sisters Viji and Rukku run away from home and into Chennai’s unforgiving streets. Fortunately, they find a home—and a family of sorts—under a bridge.
With the help of homeless boys, Muthi and Arul, they make a living out of scavenging the city’s trash heaps. But when things take a turn for the worse, one of them must make a choice that could take away the freedom they fought for.
12. Eva Evergreen, Semi-Magical Witch by Julie Abe
Becoming a Novice Witch is easy enough. But Eva Evergreen has so little magic, even the simplest of spells go haywire. And when she overuses what power she has, she immediately falls asleep.
But she’s determined to prove her worth and keep the little magic she has. And so she sets up a magic repair shop to help the townspeople of Auteri. Soon, this semi-magical witch will start changing their lives in ways they’ve never even thought about.
What Makes a Book Middle Grade?
Middle grade books are aimed at children between 8 and 12 years old but many people outside of that range can still enjoy them. Some of the most popular books such as Harry Potter, Chronicles of Narnia and Charlotte’s Web are often considered middle grade but have positively influenced people of varying age groups.
These stories mostly focus on personal development, from children discovering more about themselves to exploring the world around them. And contrary to popular belief, a lot of them discuss complicated subjects in depth, but in a way that respects their audience’s level of maturity and education.
This is why many middle grade stories have their characters explore the world. They go on adventures, learn new lesssons, encounter people of different backgrounds, and develop new worldviews.
What’s your favorite middle grade book? Share it in the comments below!
If you enjoyed this post, then you might also like:
- Children’s Literature Genres: The Difference Between Children’s Lit, Middle Grade, YA, and New Adult
- What Is Middle-Grade Fiction? Definition, Misconceptions, and Examples
- What Is Young Adult Fiction? Definition, Characteristics, and Examples
- 16 of the Best Children’s Authors that Delight All Ages
Cole is a blog writer and aspiring novelist. He has a degree in Communications and is an advocate of media and information literacy and responsible media practices. Aside from his interest in technology, crafts, and food, he’s also your typical science fiction and fantasy junkie, spending most of his free time reading through an ever-growing to-be-read list. It’s either that or procrastinating over actually writing his book. Wish him luck!
