After another exciting and busy year, Team Your Kid’s Next Read has consulted our brilliant members and compiled book lists based on their recommendations.
The Your Kid’s Next Read community now comprises 39,000+ members, connected via our Facebook group, the Your Kid’s Next Read website, our podcast and our monthly newsletter!
This year, we also added Facebook and Instagram for even more ways to spread the word about incredible books for kids and teens.
And when we asked the community to share their favourite reads of the previous 12 months, they did not hesitate!
As is the case each year, some of these books were published in 2025, some were not. There are new books that bubble to the top straight away, and there are always older books that are rediscovered by a new group of readers every year.
Once again, I’ve broken the lists into categories: picture books, early chapter books (5-7), junior reads (7-9), middle grade (9-13) and young adult (14+). (NB: There is always crossover in these lists, particularly across ages 7-10, as readers develop at their own pace and to their own level of interest, but I’ve done my best to place the books according to expected independent reading age.)
Stand by also for Team YKNR’s favourite reads in 2025, coming soon.
These lists are great starting points when you’re looking for the next great read for your kid/s and teens. Click the title to find out more about each book*.
Your Kid’s Favourite Read 2025: Middle Grade Books (9-13)
As nominated by the members of the Your Kid’s Next Read community
MOST NOMINATED
Nevermoor (series) by Jessica Townsend (‘Silverborn (book #4) made [my 10yo] then reread the whole series and I did as well.’ – Stephanie)
Murder Most Unladylike (series) by Robin Stevens (‘My 10yo has absolutely devoured this series. Think Enid Blyton x Agatha Christie for kids.’ – Karina)
Villain (series) by Adrian Beck (‘Definitely a winner!’ – Louise)
Adventures On Trains (series) by M. G. Leonard, Sam Sedgman, Elisa Pagnelli (‘The characters are fun and likeable, page-turning mysteries, you explore a different part of the world in every book, there are often adults and kids working together and the audiobooks are wonderful. Happily read by the ‘has read everything’ 12 yo and the ‘will read nothing’ 10 yo.’ – Gillian)
‘Danger Road’ by A. L. Tait (‘Awesome mystery! Lots of suspense and intrigue as two brothers find a murderer. Feeds the needs of year 5/6 students who love this genre without content preventing inclusion in a primary library.’ – Natalie)
Percy Jackson (series) by Rick Riordan
Runt (series) by Craig Silvey, illustrated by Sara Acton (‘The hero of the year for my kids. Whole family, actually!’ – Rachel)
Skandar (series) by A. F. Steadman
‘Scartown’ by Tristan Bancks (‘My daughter (10) was gripped!’ – Michelle)
‘Rabbit, Soldier, Angel, Thief’ by Katrina Nannestad (‘9yo says this is his favourite of all time.’ – Jen)
‘Run’ by Sarah Armstrong (‘Fantastic adventure. Suspense and intrigue. Answers ever kid’s question: what if I just run away?! Lots of year 5 and 6 reading this one.’ – Natalie)
Friday Barnes (series) by R. A. Spratt (‘My 11yo is devouring them.’ – Anna)
‘Water, Water’ by Cary Fagan, illustrated by Jon McNaught
‘Everglade: Rise of the Witch’ by Kitty Black
‘A Strange thing Happened in Cherry Hall’ by Jasmine Warga
Young Bond (series) by Charlie Higson (‘My 13yo’s favourite.’ – Marney)
The School for Good and Evil (series) by Soman Chainani
‘Music Camp’ by Penny Tangey (‘Great for muso kids and kids who are passionate about saving the planet.’ – Anna)
‘Giraffe Island’ by Sofia Chanfreau, illustrated by Amanda Chanfreau, translated by Julia Marshall
The Zero Chronicles (series) by Dan Wells
‘The Ghost Locket’ by Allison Rushby
‘The Wintrish Girl’ (Talismans of Fate series) by Melanie La’Brooy (‘It’s such a great fantasy book with a unique storyline, interesting characters and lots of mystery. I had to read the second book in the series straight after this one and can’t wait for the third book!’ – Leah)
‘The Other Edie Trimmer’ by Jacqueline Wilson (‘Timeslip. Lots of historical insight and an interesting twist.’ – Katja)
‘The Undead Fox of Deadwood Forest’ by Aubrey Hartman (‘A beautiful story of friendship, loss and acceptance all written into a fabulous quest. Kate DiCamillo/Tim Burton vibes.’ – Caryn)
‘Little Bones’ by Sandy Bigna (‘Our Year 5 classes absolutely loved this book.’ – Kym)
‘Welcome to Miracle’ by Shara Curlett (‘My 11 year old daughter loved this – fast paced with magical adventure!’ – Ree)
The Mapmaker Chronicles (series) by A. L. Tait
‘Murder by Narwhal’ by Alex T. Smith
Ella at Eden (series) by Laura Sieveking
The Wild Robot (series) by Peter Brown
‘Billy and The Giant Adventure’ by Jamie Oliver, illustrated by Monica Armino (‘Has absolutely captured my sons imagination in a way not many books have to date.’ – Katelyn)
‘The Golden Linnet’ (Evenfell series) by Alexander Armstrong
‘The Silken Thread’ by Gabrielle Wang
‘The Golden Compass’ (His Dark Materials series) by Philip Pullman (‘My 12 year old is enjoying this at the moment.’ – Bahareh)
Nanny Piggins (series) by R. A. Spratt
‘When Rain Turns to Snow’ by Jane Godwin (‘Definitely for the older end of this age range.’ – Kath)
‘The Surface Trials’ by H. M. Waugh (‘Love a younger reader’s Hunger Games. Lots of adventure and really tense moments. Teamwork, moral questions and lots more. Popular with year 5/6 and can’t wait for the next one!’ – Natalie)
The Callers (series) by Kiah Thomas
Wonder Woman Adventures (series) by Aisha Saeed
‘Let It Glow” by Marissa Meyer
‘Detention’ by Tristan Bancks (‘This was a gripping audio book enjoyed by 11 & 13 yr olds, and their parents.’ – Amanda)
Keeper of the Lost Cities (series) by Shannon Messenger (‘My girls age 10 and 12 both love [this series].’ – Aimee)
City Spies (series) by James Ponti
‘Storm Watcher’ by Maria V Snyder (’11yo son enjoyed it so much he was asking about her other books (which are more YA). He said it was his fave novel, the characters and story were great and he couldn’t put it down.’ – Kate)
‘August and Jones’ by Pip Harry (‘My 12 year old loved this book and their friendship throughout.’ – Briony)
‘All the Beautiful Things’ by Katrina Nannestad. (’10/11yo reading for 3rd time!’ – Kylie)
Kingdoms and Empires (series) by Jaclyn Moriarty (‘For the bajillionith time…’ – Cassia)
Aru Shah (series) by Roshani Chokshi
11 Ruby Road (series) by Charlotte Barkla
‘Rooftoppers’ by Katherine Rundell
‘Are You There Buddha?’ by Pip Harry
‘A Box Full of Murders’ by Janice Hallett
‘The Midwatch’ by Judith Rossell (‘Obsessively loved by an advanced-reader 7yo and an 11yo. Loved imagining themselves as characters and really wanted one of those ‘Swiss army knife’ dolls.’ – Gisela)
Swift and Hawk (series) by Logan Macx
Descendants (series) by Melissa de la Cruz
Scarlet and Ivy (series) by Sophie Cleverly (‘My 10 year old has read them over and over this year.’ – Jenny)
‘A Small Collection of Happinesses’ by Zana Fraillon, illustrated by Stephen Michael King
Worst Week Ever (series) by Eva Amores and Matt Cosgrove (‘This has been the favourite for both of my 10 year old boys. Books that are funny have kept them engaged in reading.’ – Licia)
The Hatmakers (series) by Tamzin Merchant
‘Monster Locker’ by Jorge Aguirre and Andres Vera Martinez
‘The Apprentice Witnesser’ by Bren MacDibble (‘I’m constantly in awe of Bren’s post-apocalyptic world building & use of language.’ – Jo)
Lottie Brooks (series) by Katie Kirby (‘My young reader loved these because she could relate to characters and situations. They are the only books where she’s laughed constantly and is excited to tell me what happened. Age 9.’ – Lauren)
Rowan of Rin (series) by Emily Rodda
‘Malamander’ (Eerie-On-Sea series) by Thomas Taylor
‘The Kindness Project’ by Deborah Abela (‘It set my 9 year old friend on a path to reading novels.’ – Zanni)
‘Little Women’ by Louise May Alcott
Landovel (series) by Emily Rodda (‘So imaginative. “Mum, please ask her to write more in this trilogy”Age 9. – Karen)
‘Song of a Thousand Seas’ by Zana Fraillon (‘Love verse novels especially if your reader is starting to resist reading. [This has] been enjoyed by 12 year old.’ – Louise)
Hedgewitch (series) by Skye McKenna
The House At The Edge of Magic (series) by Amy Sparkes
Eragon (Inheritance Cycle series) by Christopher Paolini (‘My 9 year old’s favorite book was #4 in the series (Inheritance).’ – Janet)
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Are you new here? Welcome to my blog! I’m Allison Tait, aka A.L. Tait, and I’m the author of middle-grade fantasy adventure series, The Mapmaker Chronicles, The Ateban Cipher, and the Maven & Reeve Mysteries.
My latest novels are contemporary middle-grade reads: ‘The First Summer of Callie McGee’, ‘Willow Bright’s Secret Plot’ and ‘Danger Road’. You can find out more about me here, and more about my books here.
If you’re looking for book recommendations for young readers, join the Your Kid’s Next Read Facebook community, tune in to the Your Kid’s Next Read podcast and sign up for the Your Kid’s Next Read newsletter.
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