Using five million data points—gathered from questionnaires, reading experts, book reviews, and parental feedback—Literati combines human expertise and innovative technology to curate the best books for kids. Every month, readers receive a box of five books aligned to their interests and reading level, and parents only purchase the books their child loves. 

Literati strives to ensure every book selection is an exciting, perfectly challenging adventure, allowing every child to fall in love with books and excel at reading. Below are this year’s favorites from across eight categories.

Literati’s Kids’ Favorite Books of 2022

Board Books

1. The ABCs of Love by Rose Rossner; illustrated by AndoTwin
2. Wild Animals by Ingela P. Arrhenius
3. My Magical Dragon by Yujin Shin

Girl Power Books

1. Marie Curie: My First Marie Curie by Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara; illustrated by Frau Isa
2. Dinosaur Lady: The Daring Discoveries of Mary Anning, the First Paleontologist by Linda Skeers; illustrated by Marta Álvarez Miguéns
3. Women Who Dared: 52 Stories of Fearless Daredevils, Adventurers, and Rebels by Linda Skeers; illustrated by Livi Gosling

Dinosaur Books

1. Play Felt Roarsome Dinosaurs! by Amber Lily & Dan Crisp
2. Bizzy Bear: Dinosaur Safari from Nosy Crow; illustrated by Benji Davies
3. Illumisaurus: Explore the World of Dinosaurs with Your Magic Three Color Lens by Lucy Brownridge

Social-Emotional Learning Books

1. The Cool Bean by Jory John; illustrated by Pete Oswald
2. Tomorrow I’ll Be Brave by Jessica Hische
3. Learn to Go to School by Margot Channing; illustrated by Ilana Excelby

STEM Books

1. Weird But True 10 from National Geographic Kids
2. Our Weather from Little Hippo Books
3. Good Night to Your Fantastic Elastic Brain by JoAnn Deak & Terrence Deak; illustrated by Neely Daggett

Activity Books

1. Puzzle Masters Dot to Dot by Sarah Wade
2. Write and Draw Your Own Comics by Howard Hughes
3. What’s So Funny Diary from Peaceable Kingdom

Chapter Books

1. A Collection of Rudyard Kipling’s Just So Stories
2. Stairway to Doom: A Miss Mallard Mystery by Robert Quackenbush
3. Stick Dog by Tom Watson

Fiction Books

1. A Wolf Called Wander by Rosanne Parry; illustrated by Mónica Armiño
2. Nine by Zach Hines
3. The Terrible Two by Jory John; illustrated by Mac Barnett

List of Winners Includes Most Kept by Kids Book Club Customers in 2022

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The Land of Roar

By Jenny McLachlan

Crawl inside the creaky bed in grandad’s attic and enter a secret world: The Land of Roar. With soaring dragons and crafty wizards, twins Arthur and Rose created Roar as their own make-believe playground. But when Grandpa disappears into the bed, the lines between fantasy and reality blur. Can they save Grandpa from the magical world they designed? Hitting the sweet spot between childhood and teenhood, Jenny Mclachlan’s captivating fantasy is a tale of vivid language and heart. Middle-grade readers will learn to believe in the power of imagination—and more importantly, the power of familial love.

The Lost Property Office

By James R. Hannibal

Thirteen-year-old Jack Buckles can find just about anything. A missing diary? No problem. A lost family locket? Easy peasy. But when Jack’s dad disappears, he is thrust into the most important search of his life. Now, Jack must enter The Lost Property Office (a secret society of British detectives) to save his father—and the entire city of London. Riveting and complex, The Lost Property Office blends history, mystery, and old-fashioned problem-solving. Young readers will learn problem-solving and puzzle decoding with every step through James R. Hannibal’s literary maze.

Ways to Make “Sunshine”

By Renee Watson

Ryan Hart is like most fourth-graders. She rolls her eyes at her bossy older brother (ugh); she practices her class speech on wobbly knees (eek), and she can’t believe her family is moving (oh no!). But no matter what life throws her way, Ryan knows she can always “make sunshine”—finding the positive in every single day. In this slice-of-life series, Renee Watson teaches young minds that happiness is a practice. Ways to Make “Sunshine” is one of the best chapter books for younger readers, showing them that all emotions help pave the road to happiness. Watch your child make their own sunshine with this relatable and accessible tale.

Revenge of the Witch (Last Apprentice #1)

By Joseph Delaney

It’s not scary enough that the world expects Tom, a regular 12-year-old, to take over the job of the Spook. Now he has to confront age-old witches and save the human race, too? The Spook’s job is to ward off ghosts, goblins, and other evil entities from the town—and as the seventh son of a seventh son, he must step into these fateful shoes. Between creepy suspense, clever character development, and imagery that’ll have them skeptical of their own basement, Revenge of the Witch is ideal for inspiring your middle grader to read independently. We promise they won’t be able to put this one down (or the rest of the books in the series).

The Inheritance Games

By Jennifer Lynn Barnes

We’re inviting Jennifer Lynn Barnes to our next Escape Room party, because she is a master of puzzles. This fast-paced chapter book fuses mystery, suspense, and romance into its 400 pages of meticulous thrill. Avery Grambs is prepared to walk (or stumble) down her graduation stage like any other high school senior—until she receives a hefty fortune from a billionaire she’s never met. But that’s not even the best (or worst) part. She must unweave this billionaire’s tangled web of cryptic messages in his very own estate to claim her prize. The Inheritance Games is perfect for burgeoning true-crime lovers or readers who need a little motivation to share what they’re learning with you.

Shadow Queen

By C.J. Redwine

For fantasy adorers, hopeless romantics, and fans of the stellar work of Sarah J. Maas, Shadow Queen offers no shortage of mystic twists and turns. Meet Lorelai, a magic-wielding princess and fierce trailblazer of paths less traveled. When her father is taken from her and the throne is taken from her people, she’ll have to battle the dangerous and cunning Queen Irina—who has some tricks of her own up her sleeve. As Lorelai stands bravely in the face of dark magic, forbidden love, and everything to lose, your reader will soak up lessons about following your instincts, tuning your moral compass, and leading with your heart.

Literati Book Clubs: Your Reader’s Next Best Chapter Books

Whether your growing reader is dipping their toes or diving like a pro into the picture-free pool, these best chapter books for kids will keep them swimming excitedly. With each stroke, they’ll strengthen their metaphor muscles, solo-reading skills, and language comprehension—and Literati will be poolside with a towel, a snack, and a glittery sign at the finish line. 

At Literati, we help support your child’s learning by sourcing valuable reads for every level. From tactile infant board books to thrilling young adult mysteries, our books are meant to build a life-long love of reading and discovery. Join the Literati Kids Book Club, and your child will receive specially selected stories to support their unique education. Take our personalization quiz to find the reading level that will nourish their imagination and skills the best.

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Other forms of entertainment may offer a window to the world, but books reign supreme when it comes to challenging eighth graders to think critically. The best titles don’t just entertain—they support adolescents in their path to forming personal viewpoints. Readers can synthesize information found in fiction and nonfiction stories and apply it to real-life situations, while expanding their empathy and understanding of the world around them. 

Middle grade fiction, activity books, graphic novels, and young adult fiction can all be part of a balanced eighth grade reading diet. To lead your reader towards the most enriching stories, Literati has named its top picks. Here are a few of the best titles for your eighth grade reader:

Dry

By Jarod Shusterman and Neal Shusterman

In this captivating survival story, one teen must make crucial decisions for her family in order to survive a devastating drought. Readers won’t be able to take their eyes off of this vivid, near-future dystopia as they’re challenged to understand the reasoning and motivation behind certain characters’ reactions. Full of tension and pulse-pounding suspense, Dry is a distressing reminder of our current climate reality and a gripping “what if” exercise for your eighth grader.

Burn After Writing Teen

By Rhiannon Shove

The made-for-teens edition of Rhiannon Shove’s ultra-engaging personal journal, Burn After Writing, will get your eighth grader thinking about big questions and looking inward for answers. The fun, thought-provoking prompts throughout this book provide an outlet for some complicated thinking—the kind that eighth graders aren’t always sure how to approach. Journaling is a fantastic form of self-care, but sitting down in front of a blank page can be a little daunting (even for adults). This book provides the perfect safe space for teens—unlike that math test next period, there are no wrong answers here!

Blood Metal Bone

By Lindsay Cummings

After being wrongly accused of her brother’s murder, Sonara gets a second chance at uncovering the truth. A clever blend of sci-fi and fantasy elements allows readers to get in touch with more specific genre preferences. With an expansive world to explore and a wide cast of characters, your eighth grader’s memory and comprehension will be adequately challenged, while they stay completely immersed in a total page-turner.

Knowledge Genius! A Quiz Encyclopedia to Boost Your Brain

by DK Publishing

Do you have a future Jeopardy contestant on your hands? You might after you get this fact-packed book in front of them. First, readers will dive into a whole slew of “general knowledge” subjects. Then, they can quiz themselves and find out just how much they’ve learned! Other than the obvious educational value of a brain-boosting encyclopedia, the self-testing format found in this book is incredibly impactful. When students quiz themselves on information, they’re more likely to encode it deeply and recall it later. That’s right—this book can actually help teach your eighth grader how to study effectively!

Gone Dark

By Amanada Patnitch

Survival stories are popular among eighth and ninth graders as readers can jump into super high-stakes scenarios, relate to teen characters, and watch them grow into heroic versions of themselves. In Gone Dark, the country’s power grid is suddenly compromised, leaving Zara to make an impossible choice in order to survive. Eighth graders will find a strong message about resilience and facing one’s past with confidence while following along for the adventure.

The best books for eighth graders feature captivating plots, immersive settings, and challenges that feel relevant to the eighth grade experience. Even if your reader chooses to escape into a fantasy world, the best books will encourage them to think deeply and find lessons they can bring back to reality.

Sometimes, finding those perfect titles is easier said than done: all eighth graders are different, after all. No matter what kind of story excites your reader—even if they don’t know it yet—Literati is here to help them build reading habits that stick. 

When you join Literati book clubs, your reader will receive a personalized box of books curated just for them. They’ll go deeper into their existing interests, and find new ones, and solidify a passion for literature with stories that are perfectly matched to their reading level. Start with Literati’s personalization quiz and get your first box of books today.

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The Okay Witch

by Emma Steinkellner

Middle school means a lot of changes for everybody—but for Moth Hush, it means discovering her wild magical powers and uncovering a dark secret at the heart of her hometown’s history. In the face of all that change, it’s not easy to be a top-notch witch! Sometimes, it’s okay to just be okay.

Emma Steinkellner brings us a lovable protagonist in Moth, a budding young witch. Your magic-loving fourth-grader will adore this illustrated tale about finding family and your inner self.

A Wolf Called Wander

By Rosanne Parry

When rival wolves attack home, Swift is separated from his pack. Will he survive the journey to his new home? Watch your young reader become engrossed with a story of courage that perfectly captures the wonder of nature. Fact-seekers will be very happy here, too: A Wolf Called Wander is based on a true story and includes information and maps of the real wolf’s journey!

Odd Gods

by David Slavin

You may have heard of Zeus, the all-powerful king of Olympus: but what about Mathena, Germes, Puneus, and … Gaseous? In this wacky twist on Greek mythology, we follow Oddonis, son of Zeus. Will he be able to beat his beloved brother Adonis for class president?

Equal parts educational and silly, Odd Gods takes school drama to the next level. As your fourth grader builds their understanding of wordplay and metaphor, they’ll love reading about middle-grade deities with pint-sized powers.

Ungifted

by Gordon Korman

Donovan Curtis has just pulled the biggest prank of his middle school career. This time, he’s certain he’s gone way too far. But thanks to an administrative mix-up, he’s not punished. Instead, he’s sent to the Academy of Scholastic Distinction, a special school for gifted students. Full of robot fights, middle school dances, and risky experiments, Ungifted entertains from start to finish—while teaching that everyone has their own gifts to share.

Out of My Mind

by Sharon M. Draper

Imagine being the smartest kid in your whole school—maybe even your whole town—but nobody knows it. Your photographic memory allows you to absorb everything you’ve ever seen in high-def detail. Meanwhile, your peers, doctors, and classmates dismiss you completely.
That’s life for 11-year-old Melody, who lives with cerebral palsy. But Melody refuses to be defined by her disability. This stunning story helps middle-grade readers learn empathy, inclusion, and acceptance, while they get more comfortable with longer dialogue.

Framed!

by James Ponti

Florian Bates is the only 12-year-old on the FBI director’s speed dial—for good reason. Using TOAST, or the Theory of All Small Things, Florian and his friend Margaret have to solve their biggest mystery yet. Can they save the National Gallery from an intimidating crime organization?

Framed! is a must for middle graders enthralled by thrillers. Watch your child eat up this mystery novel like a double-cheese pizza, scarfing it down as quickly as possible to reach the twist ending.

The Last Human

by Lee Bacon

Lee Bacon’s post-apocalyptic middle-grade novel starts from the perspective of a 12-year-old robot (sent to destroy the human race) who’s just discovered the last human on earth. Will he question his original programming and take a risky journey for friendship? Packed with action, laughs, and lessons, The Last Human is one of the best fourth-grade books for budding sci-fi lovers.

The Good Thieves

by Katherine Rundell

It’s 1920s Manhattan. A crooked real estate mogul has stolen Vita’s grandfather’s mansion. But Vita has hatched a plan—break into the mansion, take back what’s rightfully theirs, and expose the villain. With complex emotions of justice, hope, and grief, this enthralling story helps fourth-graders learn more about their world, and develop a love for independent reading.

Liesl & Po

by Lauren Oliver

Liesl is a lonely girl locked in her stepmother’s attic, and her only friend is a ghost named Po. One night, a boy named Will messes up a simple delivery and accidentally causes a cataclysmic magical adventure.

Will’s mistake creates ripples across time and space that reach Liesl and Po, sending the three on an unforgettable adventure. Send your young reader along with them, and enjoy as they discover the magic of a compelling narrative.

Pashmina

by Nidhi Chanani

Priyanka has a lot of questions about her family’s past, but her mother refuses to answer them. One day, Pri finds a magical pashmina that transports her to a mysterious world. Is this the key to her family’s history—or something more sinister? This graphic novel is a beautiful story about juggling two cultures. Not only can it mesmerize any young reader, but it’s packed with lessons in empathy and creative inspiration.

Discover Personalized Book Boxes from Literati

Strong reading skills do more than set kids up for classroom success—they set the stage for a lifelong love of reading. Books allow kids to spread their wings and learn more about themselves and the world we live in.

With Literati kids book clubs, readers can discover books that are perfectly suited to support reading development, and venture into independent reading with confidence. Each box comes filled with vibrant books picked to challenge your reader’s skills and keep their progress on track.

Take the Literati personalization quiz and get your very first box of perfectly-curated picks!

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