10 Delightful Middle Grade Books Students Can Read For Fun
Analyzing challenging works is an important part of a good education, but if books always feel like homework, kids can start to resent reading altogether. If you want to make sure the children in your life develop a real enthusiasm for the written word, consider getting them one of the delightful middle grade books listed here. Full of relatable characters, fun plots, and clever humor, they're sure to keep your little ones happy and entertained. This video was made with Ezvid Wikimaker.
Middle Grade Fiction: Our 10 Picks
How to Encourage Kids to Read
A great way to start is to get a bookshelf for your child's room. If they have access to their own collection of books, it'll be easy for them to read at their own pace. And if they're looking at the shelf everyday, reading will always be on their mind. It's also important to give your kids a comfortable place to sit. This can be anything from a rocking chair to a couch to a dedicated reading nook. If they have a space that's just for them, it makes reading time all the more special. As they grow, your young ones will start to read more challenging books with words they don't know. Encourage them to look up unfamiliar terms in the dictionary so they can expand their vocabulary. Finally, if you're having trouble getting your kid interested in books in the first place, try bridging the gap between visual media and literature with graphic novels.
8 Great Movies Based on Middle Grade Books
- Fantastic Mr. Fox (2009)
- Anne of Green Gables (2016)
- Sounder (1972)
- The Tale of Despereaux (2008)
- Diary of a Wimpy Kid (2010)
- Holes (2003)
- The Princess Bride (1987)
- Percy Jackson & the Olympians (2010)
Literary Charities
If you want to spread your love of literature with those in need, then you should consider looking into these non-profit organizations that help kids and teens get access to books and high-quality education.
Capturing the Imagination of Middle Grade Readers
In Depth
Books for students don't always have to be serious business. Let budding minds take a break with these hilarious and adventurous tales featuring fantastical worlds, body-swapping, and superpowers. For kids looking to have a good time, here are, in no particular order, ten entertaining titles that are fun to read.
At #1 we get "Applewhites Coast to Coast" by Stephanie S. Tolan and R.J. Tolan. In the third installment about the adventures of the Applewhite family, their biggest fan, writer Jeremy Bernstein, invites the whole clan to take part in a cross-country educational competition, with a cash prize waiting at the end. The book features a full introduction to the family at the beginning, so those new to the series can get caught up.
Coming in at #2 is "The Heartbreak Messenger" by Alexander Vance. Savvy twelve-year-old Quentin has created a lucrative business: for a fee, he will deliver people's breakup messages to their soon-to-be ex-partners. But as the enterprising young student deals with both clients and friends, he finds that it's not always easy to stay out of their relationship drama.
Savvy twelve-year-old Quentin has created a lucrative business: for a fee, he will deliver people's breakup messages to their soon-to-be ex-partners.
For #3 we have "Heck: Where the Bad Kids Go" by Dale E. Basye. The first installment in Basye's "Nine Circles of Heck" series finds siblings Milton and Marlo Fauster arriving at Heck, a supernatural reform school, after they're killed in a marshmallow accident. Subjected to classes taught by the infamous likes of Lizzie Borden, Richard Nixon, and Blackbeard, the Fauster kids are challenged by the prospect of an eternal, heckish adolescence.
At #4 we find "Ms. Rapscott's Girls" by Elise Primavera. In a giant lighthouse, eccentric headmistress Ms. Rapscott runs a boarding school for daughters whose parents are too busy to take care of them. Treated to a specialized curriculum involving egg poaching and birthday cake breakfasts, the girls learn to embrace exploration as they set out to find a missing classmate. The author's own illustrations accompany this warmhearted fable of kids gaining strength through adventure.
For #5 we have "Jake and the Giant Hand" by Philippa Dowding. The farm owned by Jake's grandfather is filled with creepy stories. One of them, about a woman who vanished into a swamp, scared Jake during his visit last summer. This year, he's sure nothing will frighten him. But the enormous flies buzzing around, not to mention the tale of a huge hand found in a nearby field, are giving him the willies. Meanwhile, his grandpa is acting strange. Are the odd occurrences really happening, or are they the product of his imagination?
The farm owned by Jake's grandfather is filled with creepy stories.
At #6 is "6th Grade Revengers: Cat Crimes and Wannabes" by Steven Whibley. Eleven-year-olds Marcus and Jared have a great idea for how to make money as a pair of "revengers," problem-solvers who take care of other people's grudges. The boorish boyfriend of Jared's sister becomes their first target, but priorities soon turn to vanquishing a different kind of menace: a stray cat terrorizing the neighborhood. To go head-to-head with the ferocious feline and prove their mettle, the dynamic duo will have to use their wits and all the courage they can muster.
For #7 we get "If I Were You" by Leslie Margolis. During the summer before seventh grade, best friends Melody and Katie get into a spat over a boy they both like. Filled with jealousy, as well as dissatisfaction over their respective home lives, the girls make a simultaneous wish to take each other's places. The results of the body switch are initially to their liking, but as the perks of being another person lose their luster, the friends come to appreciate everything they had been taking for granted as their true selves.
Coming in at #8 is "The Miscalculations of Lightning Girl" by Stacy McAnulty. Twelve-year-old Lucy Callahan was struck by lightning as a child, and was granted math-solving superpowers. Ever since, her genius mind has been nurtured through homeschooling. But when Lucy's grandma suggests she venture beyond the house for a year and spend seventh grade in school among her peers, the girl who thinks she has it all figured out is faced with the confounding logic of human behavior.
But when Lucy's grandma suggests she venture beyond the house for a year and spend seventh grade in school among her peers, the girl who thinks she has it all figured out is faced with the confounding logic of human behavior.
At #9 we have "The Secrets of Sam and Sam" by Susie Day. This humorous and touching ode to family follows Sam and sister Sammie, twins who love each other and their two moms while managing their own growing pains. For artistic Sam, it's an aversion to hummus and heights that's giving him grief. Mischievous Sammie, meanwhile, is struggling to learn how to make friends in sixth grade. The siblings are also keeping plenty of secrets, but it's nothing they or their caring mothers can't handle.
Finally, at #10 is "My Life and Other Stuff I Made Up" by Tristan Bancks. Written with the frenetic voice of its mischievous protagonist, including all his crazy thoughts, jokes, and drawings, the first entry in the "My Life" series has Tom Weekly recounting his most outrageous experiences. Included in his gross-out tales are bloodthirsty birds, warrior grandmas, floating underwear, and that time he had to eat Vegemite off his sister's foot. It's gnarly stuff, and according to Tom, mostly true.
