Book Recommendations: Middle Grade Books

By the Great Horn Spoon by Sid Fleishman

Ages: 9-11 years

This historical fiction about the California Gold Rush will have your child roaring with laughter. It follows the adventures of 12-year-old Jack and his butler Praiseworthy as they search for gold in order to help Jack’s aunt. They find adventure and trouble at every turn; will they finally find gold, or return empty-handed? The audiobook version is fantastic; it is a full-cast recording.

Frindle by Andrew Clements

Ages: 8-10 years

Andrew Clements is the king of school stories; in this one, Nick loves to liven things up in school, and one day after learning how words become words from his English teacher, he decides to rename his pen a “frindle.” What starts out innocently enough turns into something much bigger than he anticipated. This is a great one for kids to see how creativity and determination can take you far.

The Last Mapmaker by Christina Soontornvat

Ages: 8-12 years

Twelve-year-old Sai is a mapmaker’s assistant in this fantasy adventure. She plays the role of a well-bred lady, when in actuality she is from a poor family with a con man father; this truth could ruin her chance to be more, especially in a kingdom where your worth is based on the status of your ancestors. When the opportunity arises to embark on a mapmaking adventure with her employer to chart the Southern seas (which has suspicious stories attached to it), she jumps at the chance. Will her secrets be exposed, or will she be able to chart a new future for herself?

Percy Jackson and the Olymians series by Rick Riordan

Ages: 9 and up

5 books in series

This series is wildly popular. It follows Percy Jackson, a normal boy who has a propensity for finding trouble. One day at his boarding school his teacher turns into a monster (but no one believes him, of course), and he is chased into a summer camp by a minotaur where he finds out he is actually the son of Poseidon and the Greek gods he has heard stories of are actually real! This five-book series is a nail biter, full of adventure, friendships, and growing up. 

The Mona Lisa Vanishes: A Legendary Painter, a Shocking Heist, and the Birth of a Global Celebrity by Nicholas Day

Ages: 10-14 years

What child doesn’t love a good mystery? This compelling work of narrative nonfiction is about how the Mona Lisa was stolen from the Louvre, and how the robbery made the portrait the most famous artwork in the world. What’s even more fascinating is that this work of art should have never even existed! This one will have your child on the edge of their seat. It’s also chalk-full of fun facts surrounding other famous artists and what life was like for a woman like Mona Lisa during this time. There are beautiful drawn images peppered throughout that bring the story to life.

Mexikid by Pedro Martín

Ages: 10 and up

This new graphic memoir tells the story of Pedro and his family as they travel to Mexico in their Winnebego to bring their Abuelito home. What follows is the trip of a lifetime, one filled with laughs and heartache. Along the way, Pedro finally connects with his abuelito and learns what it means to grow up and find his grito. The artwork of this book is phenomenal, and if your child loves graphic novels, I’d give this one a go. 

Who Was? series 

Ages 8-10 years

250 books in series

This wildly popular series tells the incredible stories of trailblazers, legends, and innovators, both past and present. This series is immediately recognized by their large-headed image on the cover. With over 250 books in this series, if biographies are your child’s cup of tea, this series will last them quite a while. 

Unsolved Case Files by Tom Sullivan

Ages: 8-12 years

3 books in series

This thrilling new graphic nonfiction series details various unsolved cases in a vivid, interesting format. The first in the series is about D.B. Cooper, who managed to steal $20,000 dollars in cash and then parachuted out of a plane mid-flight, never to be seen again. If your child loves real-life mysteries, this is a great series for them.