Ocean!

Published by DK Children

Every seventh grader needs awesome fiction adventures, but sometimes the most fascinating reads are 100% factual. In this stunning encyclopedia of everything ocean, readers can dive into our planet’s largest and least explored world. From whales, to waves, wrecks, and more, Ocean! is a fact-filled addition to the bookshelf that can answer your reader’s ocean-related questions for years to come.

Middle School Misadventures

by Jason Platt

This graphic novel follows the story of Newell—a middle schooler who doesn’t exactly have it all together. When our clumsy protagonist learns that his only way out of summer school is to enter the Talent Show, it’s going to take a miracle for things to go even ok. This hilarious, relatable main character is perfect for seventh grade readers who might feel a little unsure of themselves while navigating the trials and tribulations of seventh grade.

A Wolf Called Wander

By Rosanne Parry

After a rival wolfpack breaks his family apart, Swift is left to find his way back home—wherever that may be. The only things standing in his way? The treacherous Pacific Northwest coast and the ticking of time. Based on a true story, A Wolf Called Wander will suck your child into its gripping tale of survival and hope. Young readers will pour over each cliffhanger and twist, as well as Rosanne Parry’s detailed sketch illustrations. For the adventurous student, it’s a sure-fire, unputdownable novel.

Escape at 10,000 Feet

by Tom Sullivan

In this installment of the Unsolved Case Files graphic nonfiction series, readers can dive into the riveting true story of D.B. Cooper: the only unsolved hijacking case in U.S. history. The graphic nonfiction format—complete with maps and diagrams—makes this book especially engaging for visual learners, while the minute-by-minute breakdown of events makes this mystery tough to put down, even for reluctant readers. Seventh graders will love digging into the secrets of this unsolved case, while learning to relate true moments in history to the present day.

The Explorer

By Katherine Rundell

This epic survival story will have your seventh grader asking themselves “What would I do if I crash-landed in the Amazon?” Rundell’s book offers readers a fantastic opportunity to fall in love with fiction, thanks to highly immersive descriptions and heightened character complexity. At the same time, introspective moments are perfectly-suited for the seventh grade sensibility, prompting readers to think deeply about complicated situations.

Warriors #1: Into the Wild

by Erin Hunter

A roof, some food, and human affection—what more could housecat Rusty want? When this pampered feline accidentally wanders off into the deep woods, he stumbles into the tumultuous new world of warrior cats.

Odds are, you’ve already heard of Erin Hunter’s breakout series. Combining mystical fantasy, tribal politics, and daring adventure, Warriors will make your house cat look like a majestic lion. Start your middle schooler on this standout feline saga with Warriors #1: Into the Wild.

A Wolf Called Wander

by Rosanne Parry

After a rival wolfpack breaks his family apart, our wolf protagonist Swift is left to find his way back home—wherever that may be. The only things standing in his way? The treacherous Pacific Northwest coast and the ticking of time.

Based on a true story, A Wolf Called Wander will suck your child into its gripping tale of survival and hope. Young readers will pour over each cliffhanger and twist, as well as Rosanne Parry’s detailed sketch illustrations. For the adventurous student, it’s a sure-fire, unputdownable novel.

The Lost Rainforest #1: Mez’s Magic

by Eliot Schrefer

In this rainforest adventure, the creatures of Caldera jungle are ruled by day or night, but never both. But when Mez suddenly crosses the divide, mysterious forces begin to awaken. Among the jungle trees, she’ll learn that maybe true power comes from friendship and courage (but a few jokes can help, too).

Blending fantasy, quest, and coming-of-age elements, Schrafer’s acclaimed writing will have middle schoolers swinging through the pages.

A Nest for Celeste: A Story About Art, Inspiration, and the Meaning of Home

by Henry Cole

Celeste the mouse lives peacefully, weaving her tiny baskets. Everything is calm and quiet—just how Celeste likes it. But when naturalist John James Audobon arrives, Celeste’s underground is turned upside down.

A Nest for Celeste proves that not all animal stories are action adventures. Sometimes, furry friends teach our most human traits—companionship, care, and creativity. With gorgeous illustrations and a charming historical fiction twist, younger readers will easily fall in love with Celete’s tiny world.

Bravelands #1: Broken Pride

by Erin Hunter

For most creatures, the African plains are a brutal place. Without protection, species learn to stick to their own kin. But when mysterious deaths occur within clans, young pack members must set out to find answers. Now, it’s up to the lion Fearless, the baboon Thorn, and the elephant Sky to restore justice to the savannah—or else, let evil rule the plains.

With Warriors author Erin Hunter at the helm, readers of Bravelands #1: Broken Pride are in good hands. The novel smartly sneaks in multi-perspective narration, while still keeping the action at top speed. We guarantee your child will ask for the sequel before the last page.

Here in the Real World

By Sara Pennypacker

Ware has always felt like a lone wolf, so when his parents send him off to summer camp, he can’t help but feel disappointed. Luckily, Ware finds an unlikely partner-in-sword-fighting through the mysterious Jolene. The pair even skip activities to build their own historical sanctuary! But when a threat to their castle looms, Ware and Jolene must defend their manor—and learn valuable social skills along the way.

With this playful take on medieval history and preteen years, Sara Pennypacker creates an anthem for introverts. Humorous and touching, Here in the Real World will help your middle schooler find their place in the world.

The Entirely True Story of the Unbelievable FIB

by Adam Shaughnessy

What is the unbelievable FIB? That’s the question thrust upon eleven-year-old Pru, scribbled on an anonymous postcard. A mystery from the past is calling her—one filled with Nordic myths and Viking lore. Following a series of strange events, Pru decides it’s time to put on her own detective hat and confront these forces of historical magic.

Combining mystery, fantasy, and history, Unbelievable FIB sneakily leads readers down Nordic mythology and history. It’s one of the best chapter books to open the historical fiction gates. After all, who can resist tales of lightning-powered gods?

Season of the Witch

By Matt Ralphs and Nuria Tamarit

What if all witches weren’t so evil and menacing—what if they were an essential part of our history?

In this illustrated guide, readers can walk alongside Ancient Egyptian priestesses, Voodoo masters, and Nordic healers and discover how witches impacted our cultural history. Blending mythical tales with real-life events, Season of the Witch is the perfect gateway to more advanced historical fiction.

The Lost Property Office

By James R. Hannibal

Jack Buckles has an uncanny knack for locating abandoned items, from felt hats to crumpled notes. But when Jack’s father goes missing in the London streets, all seems lost, until a centuries-old scandal is unearthed from the underground.

Soaring through London sites and history, The Lost Property Office is an action-historical fiction hybrid. Gripping and clever, it’s one of the best books for young adults hungry for historical thrills.

Famous Phonies: Legends, Fakes, and Frauds Who Changed History

By Brianna DuMont

Alright, alright. Maybe it’s not historical fiction, but Famous Phonies is still a unique and hilarious look at some of history’s “good guys.” Brianna Dumont’s writing exposes the cons and scandals buried under historical legacies, helping your middle grader take on a critical perspective. With entries like “Top Confucius Sayings,” Famous Phonies stays educational and entertaining—get ready for big laughs and deep gasps.

Magic Tricks with Coins, Cards, and Everyday Objects

by Jake Banfield

In this book, Jake Banfield reveals sleight of hand tricks that can be performed with everyday objects. This fun-filled book will introduce your middle-grade reader to the world of “street magic,” tricks meant to wow an up-close audience.

Magic Tricks is an amazing read that joyfully reveals the secret world of magic to your child, supporting their critical thinking and instruction-following skills. Your sixth-grader will get so engrossed in these step-by-step tricks, you’ll think they made themselves disappear!

Adventures in Engineering for Kids: 35 Challenges to Design the Future

By Brett Schilke

Adventures in Engineering asks an important question: without limits, what can kids create? The answer is pretty much anything and everything, including the first human settlement on another planet.

This book recruits your child to an elite engineering team, the Irresistible Futures Agency. It’s their job to help design City X and solve the many challenges that lie ahead. With 35 design and engineering challenges, this is one of the best books for sixth-graders or seventh-graders who love science, puzzles, and making the impossible a reality.

LOL: A Keepsake Journal of Hilarious Q&As

By Brandon T. Snider

“Dear Diary” can get a little boring from time to time. How about a prompt to get that journal entry started—would you rather shave your head or wear the ugliest wig in the world for a week? Eat a slug, or keep a live cricket in your mouth for five minutes?

With super silly would-you-rathers, fill-in-the-blanks, and doodle ideas, this book beats a blank diary any day of the week. Your middle-grader will love coloring outside the lines in this keepsake journal and digging deep to answer thought-provoking questions.

THIS IS NOT A SCIENCE BOOK

By Clive Gifford

Don’t let the title fool you—this activity book teaches science through stealth. Your middle-grader will draw, puzzle, and build their way through this super-interactive book, and before they know it, become a science sage.

This book is a perfect pick for kids who are shy around the subjects of math and science. They’ll map out bones in the body, create their own optical illusions, and even build high-flying rotocopters. This book is a non-intimidating romp through the natural world, making it the best book for sixth graders or seventh graders who struggle with science.

Cardboard Box Engineering: Cool, Inventive Projects for Tinkerers, Makers & Future Scientists

By Jonathan Adolph

Junior engineers, gather ’round: this book is about to forever change your perception of the complex and ingenious building material that is—cardboard. You’ll be amazed at how many functioning machines your middle-grader can create using the recycling pile! This activity book helps develop your child’s three-dimensional thinking and eye for design as they create a working kaleidoscope, a wind-powered tractor, a robotic hand, and more.

This is one of the best books for seventh graders learning the basics of physics and engineering. The real-life applications are endless and the satisfaction gained from building one of these cardboard beauties is priceless.

The Lost Rainforest #1: Mez’s Magic

by Eliot Schrefer

It’s not often you get to stroll in a panther’s pawsteps. From New York Times bestselling author Eliot Schrefer, this adventure takes your young reader straight into the wild of Caldera, where a young panther must use her unusual powers to unravel an ancient mystery and save her endangered rainforest home.

Quietly educational and powerfully intriguing, this three-part series infuses magical worldbuilding into an intricate animal kingdom reminiscent of Erin Hunter’s Warriors and Bravelands books (also Literati favorites!).

More Adventure Fantasy

If your 9-12 year old loves daring quests and dangerous expeditions, there’s plenty more journeys to be had!

The Lost Property Office – a secret society, a missing magical artifact, and the thrilling, history-riddled adventure to recover it .

Race to the End of the World – an ordinary boy with an extraordinary memory launches on an ambitious voyage to the edge of the map.

The Okay Witch

by Emma Steinkellner

Like many 13-year-olds, Moth Hush doesn’t quite fit in at school. But unlike her peers, her family legacy is tied to her town’s history of witch drama. Once her powers emerge, a talking cat and an enchanted diary lead her to the hidden witch world, where she discovers secrets of generations past.

This charming graphic novel magically balances humor and heart for a down-to-earth take on supernatural adolescence. It’s a spellbinding coming-of-age story full of twists and surprises!

More Fantasy Graphic Novels

And did we mention the gorgeous art? If your middle-grade reader finds illustrations particularly illuminating, might we also suggest:

Pashmina – a heartwarming tale about the hardship of juggling two cultures and two worlds, and the self-discovery that results.

Nightlights – a whimsical story about fear, creativity, and a girl who can create magical creatures from tiny sparks of light

The Collectors

by Jacqueline West

Not all wishes are good—in fact, even good wishes often have unintended consequences. But who gets to decide which ones come true? This twisty narrative will have your middle schooler questioning everything about wish-making as they follow a boy named Van into the mysterious, nuanced world of those who “collect” them.

This underground world is as delightful as it is thought-provoking—perfect for any middle grader navigating new academic challenges and social dynamics.

More Magical Fantasy

If wildly creative magics and mystical worlds keep your intermediate reader engaged for hours, we’re right there with them—these are some of our favorite reads!

The Nightmare Thief – Maren loves to make and sell dreams in her family’s shop, until one sinister customer demands a nightmare.

Lalani of the Distant Sea – to save her village, Lalani must face several fearsome mythical creatures inspired by Filipino folklore.

The Land of Roar

By Jenny McLachlan

It’s been years since Rose and Arthur traversed the folding bed in Grandad’s attic to their imaginary Land of Roar, but while cleaning the attic, Grandad himself gets pulled in! And if our readership is any indication, so will your middle-grade reader.

With constant danger and intrigue, this gorgeously-illustrated story has proven time and time again to help develop consistent reading habits in budding fantasy-lovers.

More Portal Fantasy

If your kid hopes to stumble into an entirely new world, they’ll love getting lost in these fabulous fantasies:

The Island of Dr. Libris – when Billy discovers the mysterious bookcase of Dr. Libris, he uncovers a magic that brings the stories to life.

Story Thieves – Owen gets to live every bookworm’s dream: jumping into the text itself (expect high stakes, suspense, and plot twists galore!)

Odd Gods

by David Slavin

Oddonis is a son of Zeus. He’s surely odd (he doesn’t have powers like the rest of his family and even has webbed toes), but he’s also endearing. He and his friends at Mount Olympus Middle School are an ungodly group, but can they pull it together in time for a big school election? A perfect mix of Percy Jackson and Diary of a Wimpy Kid!, this mythological mix-up is a giggle-inducing precursor to more complex mythical stories.

More Funny Fantasy

If busting a gut gets your reader reading, they’ll never want to shelve these hilarious adventures:

Rat Rule 79: An Adventure – step into the Land of Impossibility: a loopily illogical place where time is outlawed and words carry dire consequences.

Knights vs. Dinosaurs – exactly what it says—and so, so much more: laugh yourself to tears with the misadventures of these Knights of the Round Table.