20 Best Books For Middle Grades (2023 Update)

It's rafe khatchadorian's first day at hills village middle school, and it's shaping up to be the worst year ever. he has enough problems at home without throwing his first year of middle school into the mix, but luckily he's got an ace plan for the best year ever–if only he can pull it off. with his best friend leonardo the silent awarding him points, rafe tries to break every rule in his school's oppressive code of conduct. chewing gum in class–5,000 points! running in the hallway–10,000 points! pulling the fire alarm–50,000 points! but not everyone thinks rafe's plan is a good idea, especially not the teachers, parents, and bullies who keep getting in his way. will rafe decide that winning is the only thing that matters? are things about to go from magic to tragic? find out in this hilarious–and heartwarming–#1 new york times bestselling hit! includes a free poster, a teaser to the upcoming i funny, and over 100 illustrations!

Now a major motion picture! in his acclaimed and #1 bestselling middle-grade comic debut, children's choice award author of the year james patterson has never been more hilarious–or heartwarming. rafe khatchadorian has enough problems at home without throwing his first year of middle school into the mix. luckily, he's got an ace plan for the best year ever, if only he can pull it off: with his best friend leonardo the silent awarding him points, rafe tries to break every rule in his school's oppressive code of conduct. chewing gum in class–5,000 points! running in the hallway–10,000 points! pulling the fire alarm–50,000 points! but when rafe's game starts to catch up with him, he'll have to decide if winning is all that matters, or if he's finally ready to face the rules, bullies, and truths he's been avoiding. james patterson's debut middle-grade novel addresses some of middle schoolers' biggest issues: bullies, first crushes, and finding out what makes each of us special, all with a hilarious main character and fantastic in-text illustrations that are sure to have young readers begging for more!

Return to the world of meg cabot's bestselling and beloved princess diaries series in from the notebooks of a middle school princess—this time through the illustrated diary of a spunky new heroine: princess mia's long lost half-sister, olivia!“ author meg cabot is ready to put her tiara back on [with] a new character, olivia grace.” —usa todayolivia grace clarisse mignonette harrison is a completely average twelve-year-old: average height, average weight, average brown hair of average length, average brown skin and average hazel eyes. the only things about her that aren't average are her name (too long and princess themed), her ability to draw animals (useful for her future career as a wildlife illustrator), and the fact that she is a half-orphan who has never met her father and is forced to live with her aunt and uncle (who treat her almost like their own kids, so she doesn't want to complain). then one completely average day, everything goes wrong: the most popular girl in school, annabelle jenkins, threatens to beat her up, the principal gives her a demerit, and she's knocked down at the bus stop . . . until a limo containing princess mia thermopolis of genovia pulls up to invite her to new york to finally meet her father, who promptly invites her to come live with him, mia, grandmère and her two fabulous poodles . . . . maybe olivia grace clarisse mignonette harrison isn't so average after all! this is fun, illustrated middle grade—and this is the first series illustrated by meg cabot herself! cabot's own black and white cartoons further enliven olivia's entertaining and candid notebook entries, which will have readers looking forward to her future escapades.” —publishers weekly“olivia, who's biracial, is a lively, engaging character whose peppy, often-wry diary-style narrative details her experiences and progressive discoveries about her background, royal life, and the true meaning of family. . . . this entertaining, quickly absorbing read will have readers anticipating the sequel.” —booklist“this sweet and sassy spin-off featuring the younger half-sister of princess mia thermopolis . . . will be a perfect fit for fancy nancy alumni and readers not quite ready for cabot's longer novels.” —school library journal“author meg cabot is ready to put her tiara back on [with] a new character, olivia grace. she's a middle-school girl in new jersey who discovers she is princess mia's long-lost half-sister. and much like her older sister, she will be thrust into the royal spotlight and will chronicle the adventure in a journal, complete with drawings.” —usa today“olivia has an amusing and self-deprecating wit that makes the narration breezy and accessible, and cabot's black and white illustrations liven up the tale. youngsters who aspire to be the next kate middleton will find this enchanting and perhaps instructional.” —bccb

In the war-ravaged england of 1940, lottie bromley and her best friend kitty mclaughlin are inseparable. theyt read their favorite books, they play imaginary games, and they promise to stick together, no matter what the future may bring. but that future is more uncertain than they could imagine, as lottie's scientist father has unearthed a staggering truth: time travel is real. and when this discovery attracts the attention of cruel forces, throwing the two girls into peril, lottie is faced with an impossible choice between danger and safety, between remaining with her friend or following a portal to another time and place. in a split second, lottie's life changes forever. alone and far from home, unsure of kitty's fate, she know that somehow, no matter what, she must find her way back to her friend. beautifully rendered and utterly absorbing, once was a time is an imaginative and timeless tribute to the unbreakable ties of friendship.

This beloved newbery medal-winning novel by bestselling author katherine paterson is a modern classic of friendship and loss. this paperback edition is rack size.jess aarons has been practicing all summer so he can be the fastest runner in the fifth grade. and he almost is, until the new girl in school, leslie burke, outpaces him. the two become fast friends and spend most days in the woods behind leslie's house, where they invent an enchanted land called terabithia. one morning, leslie goes to terabithia without jess and a tragedy occurs. it will take the love of his family and the strength that leslie has given him for jess to be able to deal with his grief. bridge to terabithia was also named an ala notable children’s book and has become a touchstone of children’s literature, as have many of katherine paterson’s other novels, including the great gilly hopkins and jacob have i loved.

Laugh along with troublemaker rafe khatchadorian and his quick-witted sister georgia in this charming box set that includes the first four books of the middle school series." rafe khatchadorian is the bad boy with a heart of gold," the new york times said about the mischievous star of james patterson's phenomenally successful middle school series. included in this paper-over-board boxed set is the #1 new york times and #1 indiebound bestseller that introduced the world to rafe, along with his sparkplug sister georgia's point-of-view on her brother's infamy. rafe and georgia's complete set of escapades will provide countless hours of laughs for fans as well as newcomers to the series. middle school: my brother is a big, fat liarmiddle school: how i survived bullies, broccoli and snake hill

In james patterson's follow-up to i funny, middle schooler jamie grimm is ready for the national comedy semi-finals. . . but when his family and friends need his help, will he have to put his dreams on hold? in this follow up to the #1 new york times bestseller i funny, middle schooler jamie grimm has big dreams of being the best stand-up comic in the world-and he won't let the fact that he's wheelchair-bound stand in his way. after winning the new york state finals in the planet's funniest kid comic contest, jamie's off to boston to compete in the national semi-finals. but when one of his best buddies runs into trouble at school and a sudden family health scare rears its head, jamie has to put his comedic ambitions on hold and stand by the people he cares about. can jamie pass up the big competition for the sake of his friends and family?

This immersive and beautifully written novel follows the story of quijana, a girl in pieces. – quijana must figure out which parts of herself are most important, and which pieces come together to make her whole. – this is a heartfelt poetic portrayal of a girl growing up, fitting in, and learning what it means to belong. – lyrical middle grade debut from author rebecca balcárcel – a diverse and family-centered story that resonates with anyone who remembers, or is going through, growing pains – inclusively embraces real life experiences with biracial, autistic, and gay characters – one-half guatemalan, one-half american: when quijana's guatemalan cousins move to town, her dad seems ashamed that she doesn't know more about her family's heritage. – one-half crush, one-half buddy: when quijana meets zuri and jayden, she knows she's found true friends. but she can't help the growing feelings she has for jayden. – one-half kid, one-half grown-up: quijana spends her nights skyping with her ailing grandma and trying to figure out what's going on with her increasingly hard-to-reach brother. – a wonderful gift for bilingual and bicultural readers, introspective tweens and teens, and parents and educators – perfect for those who love the heart of matt de la peña, the honesty of meg medina, and the poetry of kate di sánchez

Things have changed since you were in middle school and your 10 to 14-year-olds need your help to succeed! sharing what they've found by listening to kids when parents aren't around, the authors provide practical tips on navigating difficult issues including physical changes, social issues, self-centeredness, and emotional control. middle school: the inside story helps adults who work with middle-schoolers and parents of middle-schoolers transform teenagers into confident, responsible young people.

The original hardcover edition of a perennial favorite, the graveyard book by neil gaiman, which has sold more than one million copies and is the only novel to win both the newbery medal and the carnegie medal. this middle grade novel is an excellent choice for tween readers in grades 5 to 6, especially during homeschooling. it’s a fun way to keep your child entertained and engaged while not in the classroom.bod is an unusual boy who inhabits an unusual place—he's the only living resident of a graveyard. raised from infancy by the ghosts, werewolves, and other cemetery denizens, bod has learned the antiquated customs of his guardians' time as well as their ghostly teachings—such as the ability to fade so mere mortals cannot see him.can a boy raised by ghosts face the wonders and terrors of the worlds of both the living and the dead? the graveyard book is the winner of the newbery medal, the carnegie medal, the hugo award for best novel, the locus award for young adult novel, the american bookseller association’s “best indie young adult buzz book,” a horn book honor, and audio book of the year.

In this first book of an epic middle grade series, katherine applegate takes us on an unforgettable journey. – a new york times bestseller from the beloved author of the action-packed animorphs series and the award-winning the one and only ivan. – byx is the youngest member of her dairne pack. believed to possess remarkable abilities, her mythical doglike species has been hunted to near extinction in the war-torn kingdom of nedarra. – after her pack is hunted down and killed, byx fears she may be the last of her species. so byx sets out to find safe haven, and to see if the legends of other hidden dairnes are true. – along the way, she meets new allies—both animals and humans alike—who each have their own motivations for joining her quest. and although they begin as strangers, they become their own kind of family—one that will ultimately uncover a secret that may threaten every creature in their world. – building on the success of her critically acclaimed novels the one and only ivan, crenshaw, and wishtree, while also returning to her action-packed fantasy roots of animorphs, the endling series is katherine applegate at her finest. with its enthralling characters, unique setting, and gripping adventure, this series is the perfect next read for fans of rick riordan, brian jacques, and tui t. sutherland. – don't miss the second book in the series, endling #2: the first!

An instant nyt bestseller! four-time hugo award-winning author n.k. jemisin crafts her most incredible novel yet, the first book in the great cities duology, a crackling tale of culture, identity, magic, and myths in contemporary new york city. "a glorious fantasy." –neil gaiman in manhattan, a young grad student gets off the train and realizes he doesn't remember who he is, where he's from, or even his own name. but he can sense the beating heart of the city, see its history, and feel its power. in the bronx, a lenape gallery director discovers strange graffiti scattered throughout the city, so beautiful and powerful it's as if the paint is literally calling to her. in brooklyn, a politician and mother finds she can hear the songs of her city, pulsing to the beat of her louboutin heels. and they're not the only ones. every great city has a soul. some are ancient as myths, and others are as new and destructive as children. new york? she's got six.

A true story from raina telgemeier, the #1 new york times bestselling, multiple eisner award-winning author of smile, sisters, drama, and ghosts raina wakes up one night with a terrible upset stomach. her mom has one, too, so it's probably just a bug. raina eventually returns to school, where she's dealing with the usual highs and lows: friends, not-friends, and classmates who think the school year is just one long gross-out session. it soon becomes clear that raina's tummy trouble isn't going away… and it coincides with her worries about food, school, and changing friendships. what's going on? raina telgemeier once again brings us a thoughtful, charming, and funny true story about growing up and gathering the courage to face — and conquer — her fears.

Best-selling author rick riordan presents kwame mbalia's epic fantasy, a middle grade american gods set in a richly-imagined world populated with african american folk heroes and west african gods. *mbalia expertly weaves a meaningful portrayal of family and community with folklore, myth, and history–including the legacy of the slave trade–creating a fast-paced, heroic series starter.–publishers weekly (starred review)seventh grader tristan strong feels anything but strong ever since he failed to save his best friend when they were in a bus accident together. all he has left of eddie is the journal his friend wrote stories in. tristan is dreading the month he's going to spend on his grandparents' farm in alabama, where he's being sent to heal from the tragedy. but on his first night there, a sticky creature shows up in his bedroom and steals eddie's notebook. tristan chases after it–is that a doll?–and a tug-of-war ensues between them underneath a bottle tree. tristan finds himself in the middle of a battle that has left black american folk heroes john henry and brer rabbit exhausted. in order to get back home, tristan and these new allies will need to entice the god anansi, the weaver, to come out of hiding and seal the hole in the sky. but bartering with the trickster anansi always comes at a price. can tristan save this world before he loses more of the things he loves? winner of a coretta scott king author honor endorsed by rick riordan, author of percy jackson and the olympians, soon to be a series on disney+.

Jamie grimm has hit the big time in book four of the #1 bestselling i funny series! jamie grimm has finally accomplished his dream of proving himself the planet's funniest kid comic, and the sky's the limit from there. enter a couple of tv executives with a huge plan for jamie: a new show about jamie and his oddball friends! but when jamie struggles to learn the acting ropes, will it be an early curtain call for the biggest show of the decade?

Rafe khatchadorian is getting the hollywood treatment in a film version of middle school- the worst years of my life starring griffin gluck, lauren graham, rob riggle and thomas barbusca. rafe khatchadorian has enough problems at home without throwing his first year of middle school into the mix. luckily, he's got an ace plan for the best year ever, if only he can pull it off. with his best friend leonardo the silent awarding him points, rafe tries to break every rule in his school's oppressive code of conduct. chewing gum in class – 5,000 points! running in the hallway – 10,000 points! pulling the fire alarm – 50,000 points! but when rafe's game starts to catch up with him, he'll have to decide if winning is all that matters, or if he's finally ready to face the rules, bullies, and truths he's been avoiding.

The first four hardcover books of james patterson's #1 bestselling series are collected for the first time!" rafe khatchadorian is the bad boy with a heart of gold," the new york times said about the mischievous star of james patterson's phenomenally successful middle school series. included in this hardcover boxed set is the #1 new york times and #1 indiebound bestseller that introduced the world to rafe, along with his sparkplug sister georgia's point-of-view on her brother's infamy. rafe and georgia's complete set of escapades–as well as a bonus poster included in the box–will provide countless hours of laughs for fans as well as newcomers to the series. titles included are:middle school, the worst years of my lifemiddle school: get me out of here! middle school: my brother is a big, fat liarmiddle school: how i survived bullies, broccoli and snake hill

The first four hardcover books of james patterson's #1 bestselling series are collected for the first time!" rafe khatchadorian is the bad boy with a heart of gold," the new york times said about the mischievous star of james patterson's phenomenally successful middle school series. included in this hardcover boxed set is the #1 new york times and #1 indiebound bestseller that introduced the world to rafe, along with his sparkplug sister georgia's point-of-view on her brother's infamy. rafe and georgia's complete set of escapades–as well as a bonus poster included in the box–will provide countless hours of laughs for fans as well as newcomers to the series. titles included are:middle school, the worst years of my lifemiddle school: get me out of here! middle school: my brother is a big, fat liarmiddle school: how i survived bullies, broccoli and snake hill

A journey into mystical dimensions, 3 doors hanging in midair, and an enchanted dream reveal life-enhancing secrets that last a lifetime! mystery behind the doors is a fun, middle-grade novel introducing children 8-12 to new ways of thinking for an easier life. – a chapter book that captures the young readers' imagination, and intrigue as they follow 3 friends weave between magical realms and everyday small-town living, learning about the power of choice, intent, practice makes perfect, focused action, and more. – ten-year-old haris' life changes following his dream encounter with a peculiar woman with peacock feathers in her hair and marble-like green eyes. is this eccentric personification of wisdom and beauty going to reveal secrets to the boys that will help them tap into their own strengths? will they be shown how to transform their mystical experiences into down-to-earth practical tools for successful outcomes? will the boys in this kids' book learn how to be successful? a dyslexia book for kids that builds self-confidence and introduces an empowering approach to facing dyslexia challenges. a playful dyslexia-friendly font, the dyslexie font, makes reading easier and more fun. – rich colorful full-page illustrations enhance this children's friendship book adding a mystical vibe to it. empower your child with the gifts of self-discovery, inner strengths, and joy. buy this gem now. – free resource w/book purchase – companion playshop to – gain access to this free pdf that is based on the book's life-enhancing principles. – or here: rb.gy/wqqate

A journey into mystical dimensions, 3 doors hanging in midair, and an enchanted dream reveal life-enhancing secrets that last a lifetime! mystery behind the doors is a fun, middle-grade novel introducing children 8-12 to new ways of thinking for an easier life. – a chapter book that captures the young readers' imagination, and intrigue as they follow 3 friends weave between magical realms and everyday small-town living, learning about the power of choice, intent, practice makes perfect, focused action, and more. – ten-year-old haris' life changes following his dream encounter with a peculiar woman with peacock feathers in her hair and marble-like green eyes. is this eccentric personification of wisdom and beauty going to reveal secrets to the boys that will help them tap into their own strengths? will they be shown how to transform their mystical experiences into down-to-earth practical tools for successful outcomes? will the boys in this kids' book learn how to be successful? a dyslexia book for kids that builds self-confidence and introduces an empowering approach to facing dyslexia challenges. a playful dyslexia-friendly font, the dyslexie font, makes reading easier and more fun. – rich colorful full-page illustrations enhance this children's friendship book adding a mystical vibe to it. empower your child with the gifts of self-discovery, inner strengths, and joy. buy this gem now. – free resource w/book purchase – companion playshop to – gain access to this free pdf that is based on the book's life-enhancing principles. – or here: rb.gy/wqqate