Reading a book for school can be a struggle, especially if you don’t understand the language or can’t connect with the characters. Sometimes you just want to read for fun. To get out of your school reading funk, try these middle-grade novels that are enjoyable and fun to read!
The Girl Who Drank the Moon follows Luna, an abandoned child who was taken in by a kindly witch named Xan. The people who abandoned Luna live in a town where a prominent belief is they must offer children to an evil witch who lives in the forest in order to persuade the witch to leave their village in peace. Little did they know, the witch, Xan, is a kind and loving person who took the children across the forest, nourishing them with starlight, and delivering them to loving families in another village. When Luna was a child, Xan accidentally fed her moonlight instead of starlight, giving her magic. As Luna grows up, her magic attracts ancient threats and the village decides to fight back against the witch, threatening her calm life with Xan.
Think of Alice in Wonderland: but she lives in a modern-day New York City and falls down a laundry chute with her baby sister instead of the rabbit hole. Gregor and his sister, Boots, enter an entirely unknown world beneath the subway tunnels. They encounter giant rats, cockroaches, and people who may be friends or foes. When introduced to a prophecy, Gregor is pulled into a quest to prevent a war and find his missing father.
(This book is the first in a series.)
Written by Thanhha Lai, and based on her own experiences as an immigrant to the United States, this novel follows Ha, a young girl who has emigrated from Vietnam to Alabama. As she goes through her first year of school and life away from home, she sees herself and her family in a whole new light, learns how to stand up against bullies, and finds out how resilient and strong she really is.
Though this is an older book, Anne is such a relatable character. She just wants to be wanted in a world that has constantly rejected her and told her she is not enough. When she comes to Green Gables, she finds her place with Matthew and Marilla Cuthbert, two siblings who adopt her. This novel is a collection of Anne’s adventures, lessons learned, and the shenanigans of a young girl in the countryside. It is perfect for anyone who likes to romanticize life. As Anne says, “I'm so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers.”
(This book is the first in a series.)
Morrigan Crow is a cursed child, faced with two terrible truths since the day she was born: she is responsible for the misfortune that falls upon anyone in her hometown, and she will die on her twelfth birthday. All of a sudden, she is swept away from all of that into Nevermoor, a city bursting with color and joy and life. Through her first year in Nevermoor, living in the magical Hotel Deucalion, she grows to love her new life. Even though she loves it, she will still have to fight to find her place and learn to belong in this amazing city and with the people she loves.
(This book is the first in a series.)
Growing up in post-World War II Pennsylvania, Annabelle lives a quiet, calm childhood until Betty Glengarry walks into town. She single-handedly casts a shadow over Annabelle’s existence, bullying her friends and targeting a reclusive World War I veteran who Annabelle knows to be kind. Because of Betty, Annabelle begins to lie to her parents, friends, and brothers. Annabelle struggles with the truth and what the truth really is as Betty’s actions escalate. She must learn to have courage and stand up for what she believes is right.
Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of Nimh resembles a modern-day fairy tale as the main character, a mouse named Mrs. Frisby, is faced with an impossible challenge. She must find her own bravery and strength to protect her family. She and her three young children live by a farmhouse, and as Moving Day approaches, her youngest son falls sick. He is unable to get out of bed, so Mrs. Frisby seeks out the intelligent and crafty rats who live nearby for assistance. This is such an enjoyable read that shows the great lengths people (and mice) will go to protect those they love.
Amal Unbound has been one of my favorite books for a long time. Amal dreams of becoming a teacher one day, but when she insults the son of her village’s corrupt landlord, she is forced into servitude. The estate she serves is full of secrets, and as Amal begins to uncover them, she struggles with what she can do to escape the status quo and reach her dreams.
Kyle Keeley is quite possibly the biggest fan of games. He loves board game, video games, word games, you name it. Luigi Lemoncello, his hero, is the architect behind the new town library. The night before the grand opening of the library, Kyle receives an exclusive invitation to an all-night library experience, complete with food and lots and lots of games. He is thrilled, but when morning comes and Kyle, along with 11 other kids, are locked inside the library, they must solve clues and riddles to find the secret escape route. This book is a very entertaining, fast-paced adventure and a perfect light read for someone who loves puzzles!
(This book is the first in a series.)
For their twelfth birthday, the grandmother of twins Connor and Alex Bailey gives them The Land of Stories, a book that has belonged to their family for generations. When Alex falls into the book, Connor must jump in after her, and they discover a whole world brimming with fairytale characters, some kind and others evil. They discover the aftermath of happily ever after; the Bad Wolf’s pack is alive and roaming the continent, bent on revenge, Goldilocks is a fugitive, Red Riding Hood rules her own kingdom, and the Evil Queen just escaped from prison. Their quest to complete the Wishing Spell, their only way home, begins as a scavenger hunt for enchanted items, but as they race across the continent, they realize there is someone else competing to find them first.
(This book is the first in a series.)
Because this isn't a comprehensive list, I have a few honorable mentions:
I hope you enjoyed reading this and feel inspired to check out one or more of these books! Comment other fun middle-grade novels, and happy reading!
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