The 23 best middle-grade books for ages 8 through 12, according to Goodreads members
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Amazon; Rachel Mendelson/Insider
- Middle-grade books are written for readers ages 8-12.
- We used Goodreads to determine readers' favorite middle-grade reads.
- Want more books? Check out the best middle-grade books, according to a high schooler.
For many of us, our lifelong love of reading began at a young age with a book we still cherish to this day. From a magical fairytale to a hero's origin story, the books we love when we are young stay close to our hearts for the rest of our lives. While middle-grade reads are designed for younger audiences (usually 8-12 years old), they can absolutely be enjoyed by readers of any age.
To make this list, we turned to Goodreads members who have rated and reviewed their favorite middle-grade reads. If you're looking for a fun read you loved when you were young or a new book to inspire a young reader, middle-grade books can offer just that.
The 23 best middle-grade reads, according to Goodreads members:
Amazon
"The Lightning Thief" by Rick Riordan, available at Amazon and Bookshop from $5.97
When Percy Jackson starts getting into trouble at school, his mother decides to send him to Camp Half-Blood, a summer camp for demigods, where Percy learns that he's actually a son of Poseidon. With over one million five-star ratings on Goodreads, readers love to follow Percy on his exciting adventure to reach the Underworld and solve a thrilling mystery.
The first book in a hugely popular middle-grade seriesAmazon
"Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" by J.K. Rowling, available at Amazon, $6.98
"Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" is the first in a wildly popular middle-grade fantasy series about a young boy who discovers he's a wizard on his 11th birthday. Loved by children and adults of all ages, this book follows Harry as he attends his first year at Hogwarts, a magical school for witches and wizards.
The sequel to a beloved middle-grade readAmazon
"Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets" by J.K. Rowling, available at Amazon and Bookshop from $6.98
In this second book of the "Harry Potter" series, Harry is getting ready to begin his second year at Hogwarts when he receives a cryptic warning that danger awaits him at school and he should not return. Desperate to get away from his dreadful aunt and uncle, Harry leaves for Hogwarts anyway and is met with a danger lurking in the walls that only he seems to hear.
The sequel in an exciting middle-grade seriesAmazon
"The Sea of Monsters" by Rick Riordan, available at Amazon and Bookshop from $5.98
Set one year after the first book in the series, Percy Jackson is finishing seventh grade and can't wait to return to Camp Half-Blood when he learns the safest place for demigods like him might not be so safe this year. Determined to save the camp, Percy and his friends set off on an adventure to the Sea of Monsters in this engrossing and fantastical read.
The thrilling third book in a magical middle-grade seriesBookshop
"Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban" by J.K. Rowling, available at Amazon and Bookshop from $8.78
"Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban" follows Harry to his third year at Hogwarts with the news that a dangerous murderer has escaped the highest security wizard prison. With terribly dark dementors searching for the escapee, all eyes are on Harry as rumors swirl that the criminal is coming for him.
The third book in a heroic, middle-grade seriesAmazon
"The Titan's Curse" by Rick Riordan, available at Amazon and Bookshop from $5
In this thrilling and action-packed fantasy story, Percy Jackson is on a quest to save his friend, Annabeth, and the Greek goddess Artemis, who have both been kidnapped by the Titans. This is an emotional story of friendship, love, and loss in this third book of a beloved middle-grade series that inspires young readers to learn more about Greek mythology.
An emotional middle-grade readBookshop
"Wonder" by R.J. Palacio, available at Amazon and Bookshop from $9.72
August Pullman looks a lot different than other kids, born with a facial difference that has kept him homeschooled his whole life. Now, August is starting fifth grade at Beecher Prep and is desperate to feel like an ordinary kid. But when his classmates can't seem to see past his looks, he leans on his family and closest friends to avoid the bullies and learn to love himself.
The fourth installment of a mystical middle-grade seriesAmazon
"The Battle of the Labyrinth" by Rick Riordan, available at Amazon and Bookshop from $7.35
In a series loved for its dynamic characters and their exciting adventures, Percy Jackson is getting ready for high school as the evil Titan Kronos and his army prepare to invade Camp Half-Blood. He and his demigod friends must enter an elaborate labyrinth to save their beloved camp in this fourth book of the "Percy Jackson and the Olympians" series.
The final book in an exceptional middle-grade seriesBookshop
"The Last Olympian" by Rick Riordan, available at Amazon and Bookshop from $5.98
"The Last Olympian" is the final book in the "Percy Jackson and the Olympians" series which follows Percy and his demigod friends as they prepare for a brutal war with the Titans. In this nail-biting finale, Percy must finally face the foretold prophecy and his army must use everything they have to fight the Titans as they advance towards Mount Olympus.
The fifth book of a fantastical middle-grade seriesAmazon
"Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire" by J.K. Rowling, available at Amazon and Bookshop from $11.95
In the fourth book of the "Harry Potter" series, Hogwarts is one of three schools taking place in a dangerous but legendary Triwizard Tournament, where one student from each school participates in a series of extremely challenging tasks and competes for the Triwizard Cup. When Harry's name is mysteriously chosen despite him not being entered, he is forced to compete anyway as a devious plot emerges.
A gothic middle-grade series about three unlucky childrenBookshop
"The Bad Beginning" by Lemony Snicket, available at Amazon and Bookshop from $6.99
"The Bad Beginning" is the first of a creepy middle-grade series about three Baudelaire children who are orphaned and sent to live with a dastardly, vaguely related villain named Count Olaf. The children encounter a series of misfortunes, often orchestrated by their new guardian who conspires to steal their inheritance.
A fantastical middle-grade tale about a kind witchBookshop
"The Girl Who Drank the Moon" by Kelly Barnhill, available at Amazon and Bookshop from $6.38
Every year, the people of the Protectorate leave a baby in the forest as an offering to the witch who lives within, hoping it will keep her from terrorizing their town. Xan, the witch who lives in the forest, is actually a kind and gentle witch who feeds the babies starlight and delivers them to families on the other side of the woods. When Xan accidentally feeds a baby moonlight, the baby develops amazing magic powers and Xan decides to keep her safe by raising the child as her own.
The fifth magical book in a bestselling middle-grade seriesAmazon
"Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix" by J.K. Rowling, available at Amazon and Bookshop from $6.98
Plenty of changes await Harry in his fifth year at Hogwarts, including a dreadful new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, a new member of his Quidditch team, and studying for the ultra-important fifth-year exams. In this book, Lord Voldemort's rise becomes an even greater threat and Harry must learn about the past and the prophecies to understand how someone could one day defeat him.
A beloved middle-grade classicAmazon
"A Wrinkle in Time" by Madeleine L'Engle, available at Amazon and Bookshop from $5.35
"A Wrinkle in Time" is a 1962 middle-grade classic that follows young Meg Murry as she travels through space and time on a science-fantasy adventure to find her missing father. When a strange new neighbor mentions a tesseract, Meg discovers that her father was working on it and sets off with her brother and schoolmate on a brilliant but dangerous journey to find him.
A creepy middle-grade readBookshop
"Coraline" by Neil Gaiman, available at Amazon and Bookshop from $8.27
In Coraline's new house, only one door is locked. Beyond this door lies a house that seems to be just like hers, but with better toys, food, and parents who want to keep her as their own. Trapped in this world are tons of other children as well — and Coraline seems to be their only hope of rescue.
A brilliant middle-grade tale about an unlucky young girlAmazon
"The Trials of Morrigan Crow" by Jessica Townsend, available at Amazon and Bookshop from $8.27
Morrigan Crow was born on the unluckiest day ever, blamed for everyone's misfortunes and fated to die at midnight on her 11th birthday. As midnight creeps closer, a strange man whisks her away to a magical city called Nevermoor, where she must compete against other children for a place in an exclusive society.
The first book in a fantastical middle-grade sequel seriesBookshop
"The Lost Hero" by Rick Riordan, available at Amazon and Bookshop from $8.99
"The Lost Hero" is the first in a sequel series to "Percy Jackson and the Olympians," called "The Heroes of Olympus" series. This book begins three months after the "Percy Jackson" series ends as readers meet Jason Grace, a Roman demigod who wakes up on a school bus with no memories of his past. He quickly meets his best friend and girlfriend before being whisked off to Camp Half-Blood where a mystery soon unfolds and sends the three on their first fantastical adventure.
The highly anticipated final installment of a magical middle-grade seriesAmazon
"Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" by J.K. Rowling, available at Amazon and Bookshop from $9.98
In the epic conclusion of the fantasy series that inspired a generation of readers, Harry and his two best friends embark on a cross-country journey to uncover the secrets that will defeat Lord Voldemort once and for all. Cumulating in an epic, magical battle, this book ends the "Harry Potter" series in an emotional and action-packed way.
The sixth book of a magical middle-grade seriesAmazon
"Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" by J.K. Rowling, available at Amazon and Bookshop from $6.98
The war between good and evil continues as Harry searches for the answers to defeating the dark wizard, Lord Voldemort. While continuing his magical schooling and periodically meeting with the headmaster, Harry slowly uncovers the full story of the boy who became Voldemort.
A middle-grade read about a magical landAmazon
"The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe" by C.S. Lewis, available at Amazon and Bookshop from $7.39
In this story beloved by children and adults since 1950, the four Pevensie siblings are sent to live in a huge home in the English countryside and, while exploring, discover a wintry, magical land through the back of a wardrobe. However, they soon find that the land is ruled by a terrible White Witch and set out to free the creatures from the witch's curse.
A spooky middle-grade book about a girl who can see ghostsAmazon
"City of Ghosts" by Victoria Schwab, available at Amazon and Bookshop from $6.78
While her parents are television ghost hunters, Cassidy Blake can actually see ghosts including her best friend, Jacob, a ghost who rescued her from nearly dying in a drowning accident. As her parents investigate a haunted spot in Scotland, Cassidy faces a sinister spirit who must be sent permanently to the other side in this middle-grade read with an enticingly spooky atmosphere on every page.
A middle-grade classic about far more than digging holesAmazon
"Holes" by Louis Sachar, available at Amazon and Bookshop from $4.67
Stanley Yelnats has just been sent to a boy's detention center called Camp Green Lake, unjustly accused of stealing and doomed to dig holes all day until his punishment is complete. Though the labor is supposed to be a character-building activity for the boys, Stanley realizes the warden is actually looking for something buried beneath the dried-up lake in this 1999 Newbery Award Winner.
A spooky middle-grade read about a boy who lives in a graveyardBookshop
"The Graveyard Book" by Neil Gaiman, available at Amazon and Bookshop from $8.27
"The Graveyard Book" is an adorable middle-grade story about a normal boy named Nobody "Bod" Owens who just happens to live in a graveyard and is being raised by ghosts. Bod's days are full of adventures, despite the danger that lurks just outside of the graveyard, keeping him from leaving.
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Reviewed by mimisabreena
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Friday, October 08, 2021
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