Filled with stories featuring swashbuckling shenanigans, talking creatures, and travels through mythology-infused worlds, the middle-grade genre boasts some of the most delightful novels. Whether seeking tales to fuel back-to-school adventures or books to boost imaginations, these fifteen novels filled with heartwarming friendship, enchanting quests, and thought-provoking themes are sure to charm the middle-grade reader in your life:
A Potion, a Powder, a Little Bit of Magic: Or, Like Lightning in an Umbrella Storm by Philip Stead
A delightfully chaotic and quirky fantasy of hope, love, loneliness, curiosity, whimsy, and friendship.
Aru Shah and the End of Time by Roshani Chokshi
An addictive, laugh-out-loud funny fantasy with Hindu mythology, sisterhood, and action galore.
Curse of the Night Witch by Alex Aster
A sweeping, immersive fantasy of fate and friendship brimming with Colombian mythology.
Dragon Pearl by Yoon Ha Lee
A propulsive, captivating space opera following an action-packed galactic quest with Korean mythology.
Howl’s Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones
A whimsical, heartwarming fantasy with a cozy atmosphere, adventure, and a fire demon.
Scarlet Morning by ND Stevenson
A lively and cinematic fantasy illustrated by the author featuring witty characters, found family, and pirate shenanigans.
Serafina and the Black Cloak by Robert Beatty
An eerie and enrapturing historical fantasy set in 1899 at the Biltmore Estate, featuring the lush Blue Ridge Mountains and a gripping mystery.
Shim Jung Takes the Dive by Julia Riew
A riveting, vibrant fantasy brimming with Korean folklore, sea-swept settings, and captivating characters.
The Girl Who Drank the Moon by Kelly Barnhill
A spellbinding, touching fantasy with a cozy atmosphere, celestial magic, a small dragon, and a swamp monster.
The Last Cuentista by Donna Barba Higuera
A thought-provoking, creative sci-fi novel with Mexican folklore about the power of storytelling.
The Missing Magic of Sparrow Xia by Leia Ham
An exhilarating and enchanting fantasy illustrated by the author featuring fire magic, friendship, and mystery.
The Screaming Staircase by Jonathan Stroud
A splendidly chilling and humorous supernatural thriller brimming with ghosts, twists, and wit.
The Tear Collector by R. M. Romero
An atmospheric, heartfelt climate fiction tale of monsters, love, memories, and hope.
The Unlikely Tale of Chase and Finnegan by Jasmine Warga
A vivid, thoughtful novel of friendship, grief, and belonging inspired by true stories from U.S. zoos.
Wombat Waiting by Katherine Applegate
A sweet and tender novel in verse about community, change, love, and loss following a pup named Wombat after a devastating fire.
From spooky mysteries to spellbinding cozy fantasies to cinematic thrillers, there’s a little something for every middle-grade reader here. Happy reading!
