Since many of us are finding ourselves spending more time at home than usual, it’s the perfect time to read more books!
Reading can be a great bonding experience, ESPECIALLY if you have kids around. Studies have shown that reading with children is one of the best things you can do for their education.
It instills a love of learning, language, and imagination.
I’m a big fan of reading middle grade books (those aimed at ages 8 – 13) no matter how old you are. In fact, most adults in the USA read at a middle grade level. Here are a bunch of middle grade series that you’ll love reading with kids… or to dive into yourself!
Harry Potter by JK Rowling
I had to get the most famous middle grade series ever out of the way first. Of course this is a great one to read with kids.
And then show them the movies and watch as they agonize over all the things that were left out. It’s a rite of passage in the Harry Potter fandom.
Discworld by Terry Pratchett
This series includes a whopping 47 books – but don’t worry, there are series within the series that follow particular characters or places. Most Discworld fans recommend you choose a character you want to follow, and focus on reading all their books in order.
Discworld is a flat disc that balances on the backs of four giant elephants… who are in turn standing on a giant turtle floating through space. And that’s probably the least bizzare thing that happens. Pratchett writes in a delightfully light-hearted and whimisical way. Think Hitchhickers Guide to the Galaxy, but in a fantasy setting and with more hope.
The best thing about this series is that it is hilarious. My husband has been reading them, and he has to stop every few pages because he’s laughing uncontrollably.
Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer
You may have seen recent trailers for the movie based on this series. Loosely based.
In fact, how about you just complete forget that you saw the trailer. I can already tell you that the books are better.
Artemis Fowl is an Irish multimillionaire and criminal mastermind. He’s also 12 years old.
This urban fantasy series takes you all over the world (and under it) on adventures with a range of endearing characters. Artemis’ genius is often what gets them both into and out of some very dangerous situations, and his character arc over the series is fantastically done.
Nevermoor by Jessica Townsend
Nevermoor (and its sequel, Wundersmith) are both excellent middle grade reads! Think Harry Potter crossed with The Enchanted Wood. The story follows Morrigan Crow, a girl who thinks she is cursed with bad luck… but it turns out there is so much more in store for her in the wonderful world of Nevermoor.
The world building details of this series really stand out to me. It’s easy to feel as though you’ve been pulled into this whimsical, magical world where anything is possible. The third book is due out in 2020, so that’s something we can all look forward to!
The Medoran Chronicles by Lynette Noni
I mentioned this series in another post (3 Series To Read If You Loved Harry Potter) . . . and I’m going to say it again! The Medoran Chronicles is just packed with magic, adventure, and really great characters. I rarely fall in love with characters this hard and fast, but Lynette Noni makes it easy to do. Their friendships and hardships brought me to tears more than once, and there are plenty of life lessons to learn along the way too.
Our heroine is Alexandra Jennings — She accidentally opens a door to the world of Medora and is quickly enrolled in Arkanae Academy for school. In fact . . . it seems they were somehow expecting her. Oh, and did I mention there’s a magic library?
Alcatraz Vs. The Evil Librarians by Brandon Sanderson
Most people don’t think “children’s books” when Brandon Sanderson is mentioned. Sanderson is famous for epic 800+ page adult fantasy novels (including writing off the final two books of The Wheel of Time series after Robert Jordan passed away).
Sanderson initially wrote Alcatraz Vs. The Evil Librarians as a side project, and he eventually got it published. This series is fast paced and funny. Alcatraz comes from a family with spectacularly bad talents. He is exceptional at breaking things . . . But that might come in handy when he is thrust into a fight against the cult of evil Librarians who are taking over the world with misinformation.
The series does get pretty dark after the first few books. You’ve been warned.
Did we miss any?? Comment below with your recommended middle grade reads!
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Independent bookstores need your support more than ever. If you’re going to buy some books, try them first! Many of them are now offering home deliveries.
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