Middle School Books

Ungifted

Michelle — Sun, 02 Nov 2025 02:21:35 +0000

Now that my older kids are teenagers, I feel like a lot of what we listen to is aimed at young adults to make sure we are capturing everyone’s attention. Ungifted is solidly a wholesome elementary/middle school book and yet everyone is my family loved it. I know I have a winner when I look in the rear view mirror and see my 9 year old and 15 year old laughing at the same time. This is our first book by Gordon Korman and I know we will be checking out more.

Ungifted Details

Title: Ungifted
Author: Gordon Korman
Publication Year: 2012
Website: https://gordonkorman.com/the-books/novels/ungifted
Age Group: Late Elementary, Middle School
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Everyone loves a main character who is not too perfect and Donovan Curtis is a lovable character who probably couldn’t be farther from perfect if he tried. The story begins with humorous hijinks that result in the destruction of the school gym and progresses to him hiding out in the least likely of all places, a school for gifted kids. The books is fast paced and keeps kids engaged with short chapters and multiple perspectives. We listened to the audiobook and while usually my kids don’t love when there are multiple narrators for a single book, they didn’t mind at all with this one.

While we just listened to it as a family, I think this would make a great book for a kids’ book discussion or book club as there are a lot of thought-provoking questions that arise from this book about moral dilemmas, what it means to be “gifted,” and the disadvantages of labels. It really is a very heartwarming book even that somehow manages to not be sentimental. My teens are incredibly averse to anything that comes across as sappy or unrealisitic by their standards, but they enjoyed this book just as much as my elementary kiddos.

Honestly, when I chose this book, I thought it was a standalone book, but I’m happy to discover there’s currently a sequel and a third one in the works. We’re all attached to these characters, so I’m excited to get to learn a little more of their stories.

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Scythe

Michelle — Mon, 15 Sep 2025 15:01:00 +0000

It’s been a while since we’ve found a book series that ALL of my kids enjoyed as much as this one. We started this series when they were 8 to 14, but now everyone is a year older. To be honest, the premise of this series is a little gruesome, but as my sensitive child says, “it is NOT creepy.” If your kids liked the Hunger Games, this would make a really good follow-up!

Scythe Details

Title: Scythe
Author: Neal Shusterman
Publication Year: 2016
Website: https://www.storyman.com/arc-of-a-scythe-series/scythe
Age Group: Middle School, High School
Amazon Product Page (Affiliate Link)

I am always happy when I find a book series that my kids are excited to listen to. When we get in the car and the first thing they say is, “Can you turn on the story?” I know we’ve found a winner. Honestly, it’s been a while since we foud one like this that everyone was excited about. We’d actually re-listened to a couple Harry Potter books for the third time before I decided to try this. It was an instant success. This story takes place a few hundred years in the future, when technology has advanced to the point that people can survive “splatting” off buildings and an artificial intelligence known as the Thunderhead has taken over caring for humanity.

The one aspect of life that the Thunderhead has NOT taken over is death. Instead there is a group of chosen individuals known as scythes whose job it is to “glean” people in order to prevent the problems of overpopulation. Generally speaking, scythes are honorable and respected. The first book is all about 2 teenagers, a boy and a girl, who become apprentices to see if they have what it takes to be promoted to the scythdom. There is a romance aspect, but it’s not graphic. The concept is gruesome and some of the scenes are bloody, but the level of detail provided is not really disturbing, even to my child who does not like anything having to do with death. Even he says it’s weird that he likes these books, but he really does.

We have finished the first three books and are currently on the last book, though it is really more of a collection of short stories, which we are still enjoying thoroughly. Honestly, I can’t believe I didn’t know about this series until now. It is on the Time 100 Best YA Books of All Time, though I think the way I heard of it was through Mary Hanna Wilson’s book club on Outschool. These books are so well written, with interesting charcters and a lot of surprise twists and turns that keep you on the edge of your seat. If you enjoy dystopian futuristic novels, then I think this one will definitely be a winner for you too. If you feel a sense of foreboding doom regarding that rapid development of AI and are prone to anxiety, you may want to sit out this book that was ahead of its time.

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Wilderlore: The Accidental Apprentice

Michelle — Sun, 03 Nov 2024 15:56:27 +0000

One of the best decisions I’ve ever made as a parent was to read one-on-one to my kids right before bed, rotating whose day it is to read with me. We sit together in my bed and I read to them for about 15 to 20 minutes. My 10 year-old-and I have been reading this Wilderlore series for about a year now and it is his absolute favorite. I’lI think he even likes it more than Harry Potter, which he loves. l admit, it took me a little while to get into it. However, currently we are on Book 3 and compared to some of the other things I have read recently, I am really enjoying it as well. The story is entertaining and the writing quality is good. Since my son is a Pokemon/fantasy-lover who doesn’t like anything too scary, I can completely understand why he adores this series.

Wilderlore: The Accidental Apprentice Details

Title: Wilderlore: The Accidental Apprentice
Author: Amanda Foody
Publication Year: 2022
Website: https://www.amandafoody.com/world-of-wilderlore-1
Age Group: Early Elementary, Mid Elementary, Late Elementary, Middle School
Amazon Product Page (Affiliate Link)

As I sit here writing this, my son just walked up and said, “Hey, is that Wilderlore? I really love those books. I’m going to be sad when we finish the last one if the next one hasn’t come out yet.” At the moment, there are 4 books with a 5th book expected to come out in 2025. I think he will be all set for a little while, but he probably will be disappointed when they are done.

The main character of these books is a humble, self-deprecating, yet incredibly talented and hard-working orphan boy named Barclay Thorne. In the first book he is 11 years old, but I believe he gets a year older with each successive books. The world he inhabits is filled with magic and mythical beasts, yet he lives in one of the “Elsewheres,” a place filled with non-magical people (think muggles) who fear all magic and beasts. By accident, Barclay bonds with a beast (think Pokemon) and is expelled from his home. He goes on a journey of self-discovery to learn to accept his magical powers and become a Lore Keeper.

These book are exciting and adventurous, yet not too scary. (This one of my kids in particular is sensitive to anything he thinks *might* be scary.) It is filled with realistic depictions of preteen characters, displaying both positive and negative attributes, yet it remains wholesome and family-friendly. The main character, in particular, is endearing because he remains hard-working and humble despite all of his struggles. I think my 10 year old in particular can relate to him, because he is often in the shadows as a middle child, yet has a strong desire to do what’s right.

My family was lucky to stumble across this series and I hope that the author continues to write more!

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Greenglass House

Michelle — Sat, 09 Mar 2024 18:36:22 +0000

Honestly, we listened to this book a couple years ago, but I’m trying to go back and remember all the books that my kids enjoyed and made a lasting impression. This was definitely one of them! It has mystery, suspence, an intriguing setting…If you have a family with a wide range of ages, our family highly recommends this one as a family read-aloud. What’s even better is that this book is part of a series, so if they enjoy it, you have future books to look forward to!

Greenglass House Details

Title: Greenglass House
Author: Kate Milford
Publication Year: 2016
Website: https://clockworkfoundry.com/
Age Group: Mid Elementary, Late Elementary, Middle School
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This is such a wonderfully written book! Honestly, we weren’t sure we were going to like it at first, but the longer it went on, the more the whole family got into it. It does not really feel Christmas-y at all, but it takes place over Milo, the 12 year old protagonist’s, Christmas break, so it might be fun to read it around that time of year. We did, but it wasn’t planned that way. In fact, we listened to the conclusion of this book in the middle of the snowstorm which made it extra memorable!

If your children like mysteries with a little bit of suspense and some fantasy aspects, odds are high they will enjoy this book. The best part of the story is that the climax of this book left us all shocked. Who doesn’t love a mystery with a plot twist! We definitely didn’t see this one coming!

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Amari and the Night Brothers

Michelle — Mon, 12 Feb 2024 03:30:40 +0000

If your kids enjoy the Harry Potter or Percy Jackson series, they will almost certainly love Amari and the Night Brothers by B.B. Alston. I have 3 boys and one girl, and I love when I can find a book with a female protagonist that my boys can get into as much as my girl! We have had several family flops over the years (like Keeper of the Lost Cities, which my daugher loved and my oldest son couldn’t stand), but Amari wasn’t one of them. We are so excited for the next book to come out this summer!

Amari and the Night Brothers Details

Title: Amari and the Night Brothers
Author: B.B. Alston
Publication Year: 2021
Website: https://www.bbalston.com/
Age Group: Mid Elementary, Late Elementary, Middle School
Amazon Product Page (Affiliate Link)

I’ll be honest…there are many kid’s books that I tend to tune out when we’re listening to them in the car (Wings of Fire, the Warriors books…). My kids love them, but they just don’t hold my attention. Amari and the Night Brothers, however, held me just as captivated as my kids. There is magic, enchanting characters, danger, adventure…I was hooked too! We found ourselves happy to have places to go so that we would have more opportunities to listen!

The plot is fast-paced and filled with action. The main character, 13-year-old Amari Peters, is likable, spirited, and relatable. If exposing your kids to diverse characters and authors is important to you, this book checks all the boxes, but, honestly, this is just a bonus. Amari and the Night Brothers is a winner in kid appeal no matter the category. My kids (who were ages 7 to 13 at the time we listened to it) were so excited when they found out there was a sequel. We quickly devoured that too. Now they are looking forward to the third installment this summer!

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Echo Mountain

Michelle — Fri, 24 Feb 2023 02:10:42 +0000

It has been a long time since I have read a young adult novel that I found as impactful and moving as Echo Mountain. This is the story of 12-year-old Ellie whose family moves to the mountains of Maine to survive the wilderness on their own during the Great Depression. There is a loyal and clever dog, a mysterious and delightful hag, and of course, our capable and confident heroine. Historical fiction is not always my kids’ favorite, but all of them, from the 6 to 13-year-old enjoyed this book.

Echo Mountain Details

Title: Echo Mountain
Author: Lauren Wolk
Publication Year: 2020
Website: www.laurenwolk.com
Age Group: Early Elementary, Mid Elementary, Late Elementary, Middle School
Amazon Product Page (Affiliate Link)

Honestly, if I had not been the Brave Writer coach leading the book club for Echo Mountain, I might have passed this one up. From the description, it did not seem like something ALL of my kids would enjoy. I thought the little one would be bored and the oldest would just be critical. However, the moment I read it so that I could lead my book club, I could not wait to turn around and share it with my kids. I knew they would enjoy it and they did.

The book revolves around the family’s difficulties caused by the Great Depression. The dad is in a coma due to an accident that we only learn more about as the book goes on. There is an injury in this book that is described in stomach-turning detail. I would not say that this is a “funny” book in any way. However, Ellie is such a strong, vibrant character, and several of her decisions throughout the story made my kids laugh out loud. It is nearly impossible not to fall in love with Ellie and her little brother.

If you’re looking for a fun, touching, heartwarming-but-not-in-a-sappy-way read-aloud for a family with kids of lots of different ages, this is it!

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The Last Cuentista

Michelle — Tue, 07 Feb 2023 03:40:47 +0000

This Newbery Award winner is definitely worth your time. In this dystopian, space adventure, planet Earth is destroyed by a comet, and humanity’s only hope is for a group of Earthlings to resettle on a planet nearly 400 years away. Petra Peña, the 12-year-old heroine, is put into “stasis” along with her family to survive the travel time. When Petra wakes up, nothing is as it should be. A brainwashing Collective has taken over the ship. She is the only one who still has her memories of life on Earth and needs to preserve the past by charting her own course for the future.

The Last Cuentista Details

Title: The Last Cuentista
Author: Donna Barba Higuera
Publication Year: 2021
Website: www.dbhiguera.com
Age Group: Late Elementary, Middle School
Amazon Product Page (Affiliate Link)

Lately, I have been having a lot of trouble finding family read-alouds that my middle school son enjoys. He doesn’t like anything sentimental or sappy. Nothing with an obvious message. There better not just be talking….he requires action and a plot that propels itself forward. The Last Cuentista was a winner for him. He and my 10-year-old daughter both loved this book.

My 8-year-old son is a bit more sensitive. He says that he liked the book too, but there is a surprising amount of death in it for a middle-grade novel. In the first chapter, when they are escaping a comet that is on a path to destroy earth and Petra has to leave her beloved grandmother behind. In the middle of the novel, she finds out both of her parents have been “purged.” When I warned my kids beforehand that not all of the characters we meet at the beginning are going to make it to the end, my 3rd grader was a little concerned that this book was “not for kids.” However, the book does not spend a lot of time focusing on the characters that get killed off, so my kids didn’t get attached to them. It ended up not being too upsetting for my 8 year old, and there is a twist near the end that he found pleasantly surprising.

I actually learned about this book because I was assigned to be the Brave Writer coach leading the book club for it. (Brave Writer always has such great book recommendations. I have been using them since long before I started working for them.) Overall, the reception of this book by middle schoolers enrolled in my class was overwhelmingly positive. Several students seemed to think they weren’t going to like it in the beginning, but by the end, they were sold.

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Percy Jackson and the Olympians

Michelle — Fri, 01 May 2020 14:46:16 +0000

I just finished reading aloud Percy Jackson and the Olympians, Book 1: The Lightening Thief to my kids and it was my 8 and 10 year old;s favorite book in a long time. They literally begged me to read multiple chapters after every meal. We finished it in under a week, because they were so eager to listen. I’m so thankful there are more books in the series! We are now in the middle of Book 2 and they are enjoying it just as much.

Title: Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightening Thief
Author: Rick Riordan
Publication Year: 2005
Website: https://rickriordan.com/
Age Group: Mid Elementary, Late Elementary
Amazon Product Page (Affiliate Link)

Comments: This book had my second and fourth graders hooked almost instantly. They sat up in their seats as I read and begged me to keep reading when we finished the first chapter. My husband and I enjoyed it as well. It is written in a conversational style so it’s easy to read, but is still fast paced and fun. We read at least one (usually two) chapters after almost every meal and finished this book in 4 or 5 days.

Another thing I love about this book is that it is secretly educational. It includes so much Ancient Greek mythology. I have been supplementing this read aloud with D’Aulaire’s book of Greek Myths and my kids are fascinated. They are even reading it on their own.

I will be honest and say that although there was nothing in Percy Jackson and the Olympians that was inappropriate for my 3 and 5 year olds, they were not that interested in listening. They would frequently go off and play as soon as they were done eating. However, even my 5 year old is picking up information about Greek Mythology. He keeps asking “Who was the king of the gods, again?” even though he knows the answer is Zeus. Also he has decided he wants to be Poseidon for Halloween so he can have a trident.

I thought it would be really hard to get our family addicted to another series after we finished the Harry Potter novels, but Percy Jackson and the Olympians seems to be fitting the bill. Unfortunately, I thought the first movie was terrible. The problem was not that it was inappropriate, though my 5 year old thought it was a little scary. The problem was that it was not faithful to the book at all. I kept blurting at the TV, “Whoever made this didn’t even READ the book!” However, my kids enjoyed it. And even if the film series is not as worthwhile, we are all still excited about reading the rest of the books in the series.

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Freak the Mighty

Michelle — Fri, 01 May 2015 17:39:51 +0000

Title: Freak the Mighty
Author: Rodman Philbrick
Publication Year: 1993
Website: www.rodmanphilbrick.com
Age Group: Middle School
Amazon Product Page (Affiliate Link)

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Included on Lists:

Best Books for Middle School

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The Chocolate War

Michelle — Tue, 28 Apr 2015 17:27:38 +0000

Title: The Chocolate War
Author: Robert Cormier
Publication Year: 1974
Age Group: Middle School
Amazon Product Page (Affiliate Link)

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Best Books for Middle School

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Middle School Books

Ungifted

Ungifted Details

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Scythe

Scythe Details

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Wilderlore: The Accidental Apprentice

Wilderlore: The Accidental Apprentice Details

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Greenglass House

Greenglass House Details

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Amari and the Night Brothers

Amari and the Night Brothers Details

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Echo Mountain

Echo Mountain Details

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The Last Cuentista

The Last Cuentista Details

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Percy Jackson and the Olympians

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Freak the Mighty

The Chocolate War