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I am invested in the stories we write for children, which turn into the stories they read. The stories they read inevitably turn into the questions they ask, and the things they get curious about. And I am delighted by everything they get curious about. I did not read as a child, despite having infinite curiosity and confusion. I have spent my adult years making up for it by savouring children’s and middle grade literature.
This list of middle grade novels to read with your kids is a curation of what I would’ve loved to read, and what I would gift to middle graders today. They have so much wisdom and care for adults to stumble upon, too! I hope that reading them together will not only be a bonding activity but also a bridge for conversation.
Other Words for Home by Jasmine Warga
This middle grade novel is thoughtful, true, and warm. It is written in verse and follows Jude and her mother after they move to America as refugees from Syria. It talks about the experience of being a Muslim immigrant in America. We watch the mother-daughter pair navigate their new life away from their family. It pulls at your heartstrings in necessary ways, and is a wonderful book to read with your child. Warga is a Palestinian American author and speaks about her immigrant experience in this interview.
Look Both Ways: A Tale Told In Ten Blocks by Jason Reynolds & Alexander Nabaum
Here’s Jason Reynolds’s eloquence and understanding of the world in a middle grade novel. We read ten stories of children walking back from school. And in these ten stories, we learn all about their lives. One thing that’s apparent with his writing is how much he cares. He speaks with heart about topics that don’t usually make it to middle grade novels. These stories address homophobia, parental illness, racial intolerance, dysfunctional families, and more. Reading them together can add a lot of openness to your relationship with your middle grader.
Percy Jackson and The Olympians Series by Rick Riordan
The Percy Jackson series is truly a classic and can be enjoyed by anyone at any age. It’s entertaining, witty, and has protagonists you want to root for. It’s also the only book on this list that I actually read during middle school and gushed about with my friends. I would’ve loved to read it along with my parents and ponder on what it’s like to be different in middle grade while the world around you gets increasingly strange.
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The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane by Kate DiCamillo
Allow me to introduce you to the magic of Kate DiCamillo, if you don’t know it already. Edward Tulane is a china rabbit owned by a loving girl. Until he’s not. We watch his journey around the world in various states as we learn about love, life, and loss. By the end of it, we are made to care deeply about an inanimate object. In tender ways, this book reveals to us who we are. It’s one to reread: you’ll find gems each time you do.
For more recommendations, take a look at 50 Must-Read Books for 6th Graders and our middle grade archives.