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Best Books for Middle Schoolers

50+ Best Books for Middle Schoolers: From Our Wonderful Middle School Librarian!

Posted on January 29, 2012May 28, 2024 by Pragmatic Mom

Best Books for Middle School Kids

My oldest daughter is lucky in that she has the best Middle School librarian who really cares about finding books that make kids excited to read. He posted this list on our school eNewsletter which is how I found it. I think that by Middle School, students pretty have a good sense of the types of chapter books that they like to read so his list, by genre, is particularly helpful. His list includes: Adventure/Mystery, Realistic Fiction, Humorous, Historical Fiction, Graphic Novels, Fantasy, Horror/Supernatural, Science Fiction, Biographies/Non-Fiction, and Poetry. There is something for any tween or teen on his list!/p>

What is your tween/teen enjoying? Please share! And what is your librarian recommending? They always have great recommendations!

Adventure/Mystery

The Girl Is Murder by Kathryn Miller Haines

Haunting Violet by Alyxandra Harvey

Death Cloud by Andrew Lane

Wonderstruck by Brian Selznick

Tunnel Vision by Susan Shaw

The Secret of ROVER by Rachel Wildavsky

Realistic Fiction

Then I Met My Sister by Christine Hurley Deriso


Tall Story by Candy Gourlay


The Summer I Learned to Fly by Dana Reinhardt


Okay for Now by Gary Schmidt


Where Things Come Back by John Corey Whaley


Now Is the Time for Running by Michael Williams

Humorous

The Accidental Genius of Weasel High by Rick Detorie


The Absolute Value of Mike by Kathryn Erskine


Dead End in Norvelt by Jack Gantos


Withering Tights by Louise Rennison


The Fourth Stall by Chris Rylander

Historical Fiction

City of Orphans by Avi


Strings Attached by Judy Blundell


Jefferson’s Sons: A Founding Father’s Secret Children by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley


Five 4ths of July by Pat Raccio Hughes


Bird in a Box by Andrea Davis Pickney


Small Acts of Amazing Courage by Gloria Whelan

Graphic Novels

Anya’s Ghost by Vera Brosgol


Page by Paige by Laura Lee Gulledge


Around the World by Matt Phelan


Bad Island by Doug Tennapel


I Love Him to Pieces by Evonne Tsang


The Last Dragon by Jane Yolen

Fantasy

Chime by Franny Billingsley


Entwined by Heather Dixon


Ruby Red by Kerstin Gier


Born at Midnight by C.C. Hunter


The Floating Islands by Rachel Neumeier


Akata Witch by Nnedi Okorafor

Horror/ Supernatural

The Gathering by Kelley Armstrong


Flip by Martyn Bedford


Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake


The Poisoned House by Michael Ford


This Dark Endeavour: The Apprenticeship of Victor Frankenstein by Kenneth Oppel


The Chronicles of Harris Burdick: Fourteen Amazing Authors Tell the Tales by Chris Vall Allsburg

Science Fiction

Ultraviolet by R. J. Anderson


Awaken by Katie Kacvinsky


Human.4 by Mike A. Lancaster


Invasion: A C.H.A.O.S. Novel by Jon S. Lewis


Steampunk! An Anthology of Fantastically Rich and Strange Stories by Kelly and G. Grant Link


Blood Red Road by Moira Young

Biographies & Non-Fiction

Mysterious Bones: The Story of Kennewick Man by Katherine Kirkpatrick


Wheels of Change: How Women Rode the Bicycle to Freedom by Sue Macy


How to Cook: Delicious Dishes by Maggie Mayhew

Into the Unknown: How Great Explorers Found Their Way by Land, Sea and Air by Stewart Ross

Wideness and Wonder: The Life and Art of Georgia O’Keeffe by  Susan Goldman Rubin

Poetry

Hidden by Helen Frost


Planet Middle School by Nikki Grimes


Under the Mesquite by Guadalupe Garcia McCall


Orchards by Holly Thompson


Unlocked by Ryan G. Van Cleave


The Watch That Ends the Night: Voices from the Titanic by Allan Wolf

To examine any of the items listed, please click on image of item. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

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We Sing From the Heart picture book cover reveal of The Slants Simon Tam

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The Elusive Full Ride Scholarship: An Insider’s Guide

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6 thoughts on “50+ Best Books for Middle Schoolers: From Our Wonderful Middle School Librarian!”

  1. Ann says:
    January 29, 2012 at 11:07 am

    What a great list! Thanks for posting!!! A great librarian can really make a difference especially for some children!

    Reply
    1. Pragmatic Mom says:
      January 31, 2012 at 12:04 pm

      To Ann,
      I feel so fortunate that our middle school librarian is so wonderful and genuinely cares about getting the kids reading!

      Reply
  2. vanita says:
    January 29, 2012 at 7:38 pm

    great list! my 14 and 15 year old girls will love it. they are book lovers just like their mama! thanks for sharing. oh and by the way, i got THE email! thank you so much for recommending me for such a wonderful opportunity.

    Reply
    1. Pragmatic Mom says:
      January 31, 2012 at 12:05 pm

      To Vanita,
      Let me know which books your girls love (and hate!). Thanks! And so glad that it worked out with Retrofit. They are thrilled to have you!

      Reply
  3. linda says:
    June 12, 2013 at 3:42 am

    hi Mia,
    sending this to my newly minted middle schooler now, thanks!

    Reply
    1. Pragmatic Mom says:
      June 14, 2013 at 2:00 pm

      Hi Linda,
      I also have a list of favorite books from 90 brand new 6th graders. The kids in my daughter’s group all filled out this form on the first day of school to get to know each other better and I took all their books and made it into a post: http://www.pragmaticmom.com/2011/10/favorite-book-90-6th-graders/

      Reply

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