It’s Middle Grade March, so I’m giving everything a middle grade spin. That’s fine, because the majority of people who ask me for recommendations are looking for books for their kids or grandkids. And usually, that means middle grade readers. This list isn’t necessarily full of all-time favorites, but it is full of well-written crowd-pleasers that will (mostly) appeal to both sexes, and all ages.
Top Ten Middle Grade Books I Recommend Most
1. The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman – This book is sharp and dangerous and beautiful (as Neil Gaiman books just are), and I recommend it to readers of all ages.
2. Cosmic by Frank Cottrell Boyce – A poignant, funny take on family, growing up, and the possibilities of space travel.
3. The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making by Catherynne M. Valente – The magic of Fairyland will break your heart and remake it again.
4. Dealing with Dragons by Patricia C. Wrede – Dragons, dangerous wizards, unusual adventures, and cherries jubilee (a recipe for fun, if there ever was one).
5. The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis – Classic fantasy, and still enchanting and perfect after so many years.
6. The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart – Clever middle grade mystery, defined.
7. The Merlin Conspiracy by Diana Wynne Jones – The book that introduced me to DWJ’s genius and charm.
8. Lyddie by Katherine Paterson – One of my favorite historical fiction books from childhood, it follows the life of determined, brave young Lyddie as she makes her way in the world.
9. Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls – Oh, this book! A must read.
10. The City of Ember by Jeanne DuPrau – One of the first post-apocalyptic books I’d ever read, and a tightly constructed one at that.
What books do you recommend most?
