Holes by Louis Sachar tells the story of an unlikely protagonist who braves his unjust time at Camp Green Lake. In the process, he learns a lot about his own family history, himself, and the society around him. It's a classic read for middle school students.
But now that your tween has finished Holes, what's next on the reading list? Here are the top eighteen books for kids who enjoyed Holes and the list of books for those who want to read more.
1. Masterminds by Gordon Korman
This book follows the adventure of a bunch of neighborhood kids who get swept up into a conspiracy that includes the people closest to them. It touches on family life and history, with plenty of twists and turns.
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2. Fuzzy Mud by Louis Sachar
This is another one of Louis Sachar's great works for young teens. It tells the tale of two kids who take a shortcut through the woods that changes the course of their lives forever.
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3. Wildwood by Colin Meloy, with illustrations by Carson Ellis
This enchanting book has elements of a fairy tale that features strong protagonists. They want to save the generations of children and animals that will inhabit the Wildwood in the years to come.
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4. Hoot by Carl Hiaasen
This book is set in Florida, just like all of Hiaasen's key works. His contribution to children's chapter books focused on ecology kicked off with this story about a group of kids who work together to protect endangered owls.
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5. Spy School by Stuart Gibbs
This book from an acclaimed author follows the story of a young student who just wants to be a CIA agent. He doesn't seem to fit the type, so he's super surprised when he's recruited for a special school that actually aligns with his dream job!
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6. Dead End in Norvelt by Jack Gantos
This witty book is full of dark humor and unexpected twists and turns. It follows the adventures of a young teenage boy and the creepy old woman next door. Read along as he connects the dots to see what's really going on in Norvelt.
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7. Hatchet by Gary Paulsen
Hatchet book is a classic young adult novel that verges on the adult wilderness survival novel. It takes a hard look at the protagonist and grapples with ideas surrounding identity and ability. It's a great read for teens looking to transition into more introspective literature.
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8. The Silence of Murder by Dandi Daley Mackall
This chilling novel looks at the role of disability and neurodivergence in the criminal justice system. It puts the young reader into the middle of the moral and ethical dilemmas faced by the protagonist as she stands by her brother through a murder trial.
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9. The Name of This Book is Secret by Pseudonymous Bosch
This is the first of the Secret Book series, which follows the adventures of two middle school boys who find themselves facing some serious foes. Their lives aren't much like ours, but the lessons they learn along the way can fit into our own stories.
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10. Chomp! by Carl Hiaasen
This novel is about the son of a professional alligator wrangler in Florida. When his dad agrees to appear on a game show, he has to prove himself as the child prodigy gator wrestler that his dad raised him to be.
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11. When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead
The story starts when young Miranda receives a note from a stranger, and her friend gets randomly punched on the same day. As the book progresses, things get stranger and the kids have to figure out what is causing these frightening coincidences before it's too late.
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12. Paper Towns by John Green
This is the quintessential teen love story, complete with the quirky antics of two misfits who can't help but fall for each other. It gives a fun peek into their adventures and explores the new and deep feelings of the teen protagonists.
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13. What We Found in the Sofa and How it Saved the World by Henry Clark
This quirky middle school adventure features three friends who change the course of history with a little bit of curiosity. When they find an interesting item on the couch near their bus stop, things start to get crazy.
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14. The Giver by Louis Lowry
This book inspired so much of the dystopian genre, with its careful look at a society that seems perfect on the outside but has some serious flaws under the surface. It's a great introduction to deeper and more introspective literature meant to send a message about our world.
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15. Brave Like My Brother by Marc Tyler Nobleman
This historical fiction novel is written as a series of letters between brothers during World War Two. The older brother is away fighting in the war, while the younger one is at home dreaming of the glories and horrors his brother faces.
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16. The Peculiar Incident on Shady Street by Lindsay Currie
This book is a great introduction to the ghost story and horror genre for young readers. It tells the story of a spooky house at the end of the street and the kids who are brave enough to venture inside.
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17. Half a World Away by Cynthia Kadohata
When an 11-year-old boy learns that his family is traveling to Kazakhstan to adopt a new little brother, he feels upset and angry. Only after traveling to the other side of the world and meeting the kids at the orphanage does he experience a radical change of heart.
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18. Zane and the Hurricane by Rodman Philbrick
This novel is based on the actual events surrounding Hurricane Katrina. It follows the experiences of a 12-year-old boy and the ways that he survived the storm. It also touches on the themes of lawlessness and government response that dominated the reactions to the hurricane.
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