Books Every Middle Schooler Should Read

Karana, a young Indian girl, has lived alone on the Island of Blue Dolphins for years. She watches as ship after ship passes, failing to take no notice for her. While she waits, she creates a life for herself; finding food and shelter.

It’s World War II, and the Nazis have invaded Annemarie’s quote home in Denmark. When the Nazis order the Jews, include Annemarie’s friend, Ellen, to “relocate” – Annemarie must find the courage to help her friend in the midst of adversity.

At fifteen, Amos Fortune was captured by slave traders and sent to Massachusetts. He refuses to lose his dignity and longs for nothing more than freedom. 45 years later, his dreams finally become true.

Nathaniel Bowditch showed persistence and determination to become a sea navigator during the 18th century even though people doubted him with his small stature.

Young Heidi goes to live with her grandpa in the Alps, and loves the free mountains. However, her aunt soon sends her back to the town, and Heidi wishes more than ever to return to life in the Alps.

When Opal and her father, a preacher, move to a small town, Opal is instantly devastated. One day, she goes to the grocery store for a few groceries and comes back with a dog! Through the dog, who she names Winn Dixie, Opal slowly begins to make friends and move on from her past.

Laura and her family move from their little house in the Big Woods of Wisconsin to a little house in Kansas.

Nick Allen isn’t a bad kid, he just likes to make school more interesting. His latest idea? Why is a pen called a pen? Why not call it a frindle? Soon, his new word begins to spread in his classroom, in his school, in his town, and in the country!

This bestselling series is loved by middle schoolers everywhere. Greg, a wimpy kid, is easily relatable as he balances the good and the bad of middle school; including figuring out girls, his best friend Rowley, and his crazy older brother.

In this beloved children’s classic, C.S. Lewis invents a place called Narnia. The series kicks off with the classic “The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe,” where Narnia is cursed with eternal winter by the White Witch. It’s up to the four siblings; Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy to help restore peace and freedom to Narnia.

Stanley Yelnats is falsely accused of stealing a pair of shoes and is sent to Camp Green Lake as a punishment. (He’s pretty confident it’s because of his family’s ancient curse.) For their “character building” sentence, each inmate must dig one hole per day. But why?

Percy Jackson finds himself about kicked out of middle school, once again. Even crazier, Greek gods and mythological creatures begin coming out of his Greek mythology textbook! To make matters worse, he thinks he has angered a few of them. Zeus’ lightning bolt is stolen, and Percy is the prime suspect.

J.K. Rowling’s fantasy world of Harry Potter is one of the most popular series among children, teens, and adults.

Anne Frank was a young Jewish girl growing up in the Netherlands during the Holocaust. Sheltered by a kind family, this was her diary that she wrote in hiding. Sadly, her father was the sole survivor in their family, and he was the one who published her diary.

Accidentally cursed as a child, Ella Enchanted was given the gift of “obedience,” and must do everything she is told! However, Ella is determined to break her curse in this fairy tale story!