It’s that time of year, when we ask the Your Kid’s Next Read community to share their young readers’ favourite reads of the previous 12 months.
This year, to make it easier to find what you’re looking for, we’ve broken our list up into categories share multiple lists of ‘favourite reads’ in different categories: picture books, early chapter books (5-7), junior fiction (6-9), middle grade (10-13) and young adult (14+).
This post is all about middle-grade books, for readers aged 10-13 years old. There are some titles here that cross over with our junior fiction list, because kids come to reading at their own pace and stage.
Some of these books were published in 2023, some were not. One of the joys of a community like Your Kid’s Next Read is the ability for members to curate and create book lists that stretch way back through reading experiences, meaning any request or query results in a deep and thoughtful TBR pile on just about any subject.
Stand by also for Team YKNR’s favourite reads in 2023, coming soon.
These lists are great starting points when you’re looking for the next great read for your kid/s. Click the title to find out more about each book*.
YOUR KID’S FAVOURITE READ 2023: MIDDLE GRADE
AS NOMINATED BY THE MEMBERS OF THE YOUR KID’S NEXT READ COMMUNITY. FOR READERS AGED 10-13.
Waiting for the Storks by Katrina Nannestad
We Are Wolves by Katrina Nannestad
Runt by Craig Silvey (ill. by Sara Acton)
Keeper of the Lost Cities (series) by Shannon Messenger
Skandar (series) by A. F. Steadman
“To say my bookworm devoured this is an understatement.” – Louise
Nevermoor (series) by Jessica Townsend
“Desperate for the next book...” – Fiona
August & Jones by Pip Harry
Sunshine on Vinegar Street by Karen Comer
Selfie by Allayne L. Webster
The Lost Library by Wendy Mass and Rebecca Stead
The Rebels of Mount Buffalo by Helen Edwards
A Murder Most Unladylike (series) by Robin Stevens
Miss Penny Dreadful (series) by Allison Rushby
Saltwater Boy by Bradley Christmas
Scar Town by Tristan Bancks
“I put this on my 11-year-old’s Kindle after it was posted [in YKNR] and he hasn’t looked up since.” – Jane
Understanding Molly by Kelly-Anne Norman
“A really interesting book whose main character has ADHD and ODD.” – Sara
The Hiding Place by Corrie Ten Boom
“She read it for school, but it’s the book she’s still talking about.” – Corrie
Brotherband (series) by John Flanagan
Two Wolves by Tristan Bancks
A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson**
“My daughter (12) really enjoyed it.” – Michelle
Cop & Robber by Tristan Bancks
Lion: A Long Way Home by Saroo Brierley
How To Be Prime Minister (And Survive Grade 5) by Carla Fitzgerald
“A huge hit here.” – Anna
Rocky by Amanda O’Shea
The Last Dragonslayer (series) by Jasper Fforde
The Turnkey (series) by Allison Rushby
Chloe (graphic novels series) by Greg Tessier
Descendants (series) by Melissa De La Cruz
Twisted Fairytales (series) by Holly Hook
The Secret Library of Hummingbird House by Julieanne Negri
“My 11 year old loved it.” – Clare
The Ghost Locket by Allison Rushby
Wylah The Koorie Warrior (series) by Richard Pritchard and Jordan Gould
Most Dangerous by Steve Sheinkin
“My son loved it.” – Mayumi
Holes by Louis Sacher
Rooftoppers by Katherine Rundell
The Good Thieves by Katherine Rundell
“[Our favourites are] all recommendations we received from YKNR, which we are thankful for.” – Rebecca
The Wolf Wilder by Katherine Rundell
The Explorer by Katherine Rundell
The Ranger’s Apprentice (series) by John Flanagan
“We are nearly finished the series of 12 and my 10-year-old son is refusing to take a break between each book…” – Louise
Alex Rider (series) by Anthony Horowitz
Tomorrow When The War Began by John Marsden
The Wintrish Girl by Melanie La’Brooy
“My 11 year old is eagerly awaiting the second instalment!” – Thora
Millie Mak The Maker by Alice Pung (ill. by Sher Rill Ng)
The Hotel Witch by Jessica Miller
Kay’s Anatomy by Adam Kay (ill. by Henry Paker)
(“A friend gave it to us for [my son’s] ninth birthday and it took us a while to get to it, but when we did, we both devoured it and have gifted it to others regularly since.” – Louise)
The Hitchhiker’s Guide To The Galaxy by Douglas Adams
The First Summer of Callie McGee by A. L. Tait
The War That Saved My Life by Kimberley Brubaker Bradley
Twitch (series) by M. G. Leonard
I, Spy by Rhian Tracey
Astonishingly Good Stories (series) by R. A. Spratt
“My son adores R. A. Spratt.” – Lana
Hamlet is Not Ok by R. A Spratt
The Lorikeet Tree by Paul Jennings
The Mud Puddlers by Pamela Rushby
Enola Holmes (series) by Nancy Springer
Epic Zero (series) by R. L. Ullman
Impossible Creatures by Katherine Rundell
Queenie in Seven Moves by Zanni Louise
Max Einstein (series) by James Patterson and Chris Grabenstein
The War I Finally Won by Kimberley Brubaker Bradley
Lockwood & Co by Jonathan Stroud
Kip of the Mountain by Emma Gourlay
Percy Jackson (series) by Rick Riordan
Amari and the Night Brothers (series) by B. B. Alston
Harry Potter (series) by J. K. Rowling
Special Forces Cadets (series) by Chris Ryan
Wonderscape by Jennifer Bell
City Spies by James Ponti
Ali Cross by James Patterson
Dogs of the Deadlands by Anthony McGowan (ill. by Keith Robinson)
E-Boy by Anh Do (ill. by Chris Wahl)
Klawde Evil Alien Warlord Cat (series) by Emily Chenoweth
Eragon (Inheritance Cycle series) by Christopher Paolini
Adventures on Trains (series) by M. G. Leonard, Sam Sedgman (ill. Elisa Paganelli)
Heroes of Olympus (series) by Rick Riordan
Friday Barnes (series) by R. A. Spratt
The Trials of Apollo (series) by Rick Riordan
Daughter of the Deep by Rick Riordan
Crookhaven (series) by J. J. Arcanjo
All The Wrong Questions (series) by Lemony Snicket
The Monkey Who Fell From the Future by Ross Welford
You might also like
Your Kid’s Favourite Read 2023: Picture Books
Your Kid’s Favourite Read 2023: Chapter Books
Your Kid’s Favourite Read 2023: Junior Fiction
*This post contains affiliate links. See contact page for details
**NB: publisher’s recommended reading age is 14+
Are you new here? Welcome to my blog! I’m Allison Tait, aka A.L. Tait, and I’m the author of middle-grade series, The Mapmaker Chronicles, The Ateban Cipher, and the Maven & Reeve Mysteries. My latest novel THE FIRST SUMMER OF CALLIE McGEE is out now. 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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