Category Must Read Middle Grade

The Moonlight Man Betty Ren Wright Ages 9-12 When their father moves them for the seventh time in the five years since their mother’s death, Jenny and her younger sister hope to stay in this latest house and try to…

The Moffats Eleanor Estes Ages 8-12 Meet the Moffats. There is Sylvie, the oldest, the cleverest, and—most days at least—the responsible one; Joey, who despite being only twelve is the man of the house . . . sometimes; Janey, who has a…

The Misadventures of Maude March Audrey Couloumbis Ages 8-12 Eleven-year-old Sallie March is a whip-smart tomboy and voracious reader of Western adventure novels. When she and her sister Maude escape their self-serving guardians for the wilds of the frontier, they…

Island of the Blue Dolphins Scott O’Dell Ages 8-11 Newbery Medal winner Island of the Blue Dolphins is considered one of the greatest children’s books ever written. This story of survival is as haunting and beautiful today as it was…

The Mighty Miss Malone Christopher Paul Curtis Ages 9-12 “We are a family on a journey to a place called wonderful.” This is the motto of Deza Malone’s family, but the road is getting rocky.      Deza is the smartest girl…

The Maldonado Miracle Theodore Taylor Ages 8-12 Twelve-year-old Jose Maldonado used to dream of becoming a fine artist. But this son of a poor Mexican farmer now focuses on survival, not art. After Jose’s mother died, his father left to…

The Magicians Elephant Kate DiCamillo  Ages 7-10 When a fortuneteller’s tent appears in the market square of the city of Baltese, orphan Peter Augustus Duchene knows the questions that he needs to ask: Does his sister still live? And if…

The List of Things That Will Not Change Rebecca Stead Ages 8-12 After her parents’ divorce, Bea’s life became different in many ways. But she can always look back at the list she keeps in her green notebook to remember…

The Indian in the Cupboard Series Books 1-5 Lynne Reid Banks Ages 8-10 The Indian in the Cupboard is the first of five gripping books about Omri and his plastic North American Indian – Little Bull – who comes alive…

The Kane Chronicles Trilogy Rick Riordan Ages 9+ Since their mother’s death, Carter and Sadie have become near strangers. While Sadie has lived with her grandparents in London, her brother has traveled the world with their father, the brilliant Egyptologist,…