One great strategy to get your middle school student to read more is by getting them hooked on a series -- when they finish the first book, they will be eager to move on to the next!
Luckily, there is a bunch of great series out there for this age group, with a wide range of subjects from the Greek gods to natural disasters and everything in between!
1. Middle School 7 Books Collection Set by James Patterson
Start with a series your child can relate to with these tales about Rafe and his middle adventures at Hills Village Middle School. With an outlook on life that all middle schoolers can appreciate and find commonalities in, any middle school student will be hooked.
Learn More: Amazon
2. The Land of Stories by Chris Colfer
Add it to your reading list as well as your middle schoolers, as people of any age will appreciate the retellings of whimsical tales and all of the extras thrown in -- like Mother Goose speaking in rhyme the more of her favorite "juice" she drinks!
Learn More: Amazon
3. Fudge Box Set by Judy Blume
Who doesn't love this classic series about Peter and his mischievous little brother Fudge? This middle school book series has been a favorite of many for over 50 years, and for good reason!
Learn More: Amazon
4. The Last Kids on Earth by Max Brallier
These graphic novels contain more heart, compassion, character development, and humor than you could possibly expect. Get your middle school reader hooked on this story of survival and then watch the Netflix adaptation together!
Learn More: Amazon
5. The City of Ember by Jeanne DuPrau
The powerful story carried throughout this series will keep any middle school-age boy or girl hooked until the end. In a race against time, the readers will be rooting for the main characters in this series to figure out the secrets of their city before they are plunged into darkness forever.
Learn More: Amazon
6. Theodore Boone by John Grisham
With the same intrigue as his adult legal thrillers, John Grisham flawlessly writes intriguing young adult suspense thrillers with his main character Theodore Boone. Have a budding lawyer on your hands? Get them interested in this series now!
Learn More: Amazon
7. The Secret Series by Pseudonymous Bosch
This middle school series is great for any tween or teenager who loves mystery and suspense. Even the author's name and the title of the book are a mystery! They will be so hooked, they will finish the entire series in a week!
Learn More: Amazon
8. Percy Jackson and the Olympians by Rick Riordan
6th through 8th grade students will thoroughly enjoy this story of a young man thrown into a world of demigods and Greek heroes. Get them the series now so they can read the adventures of Poseidon's son.
Learn More: Amazon
9. The Baby-Sitter's Club Graphic Novels Adapted by Gale Galligan and Raina Telgemeier
This graphic novel adaptation of a classic series will have any 12-year-old-girl fully immersed in the lives of Kristy, Mary Anne, Claudia, Stacey, Dawn, and Mallory as they take on the world of babysitting! After all, is there anything else middle school girls can relate to better?
Learn More: Amazon
10. Berrybrook Middle School by Svetlana Chmakova
Middle grade readers will get a kick out of the stories from Berrybrook Middle School. Young adults will be able to relate to the stories, including the ones where the characters have crushes! Then they can write their story in the included diary!
Learn More: Amazon
11. The Finest Hours (True Rescue Series) by Michael J. Tougias
This true story of the perseverance of young heroes will capture the attention of any middle school reader. Based on the true account of an at-sea rescue in the winter, your middle schooler won't be able to put this book down until they are finished reading!
Learn More: Amazon
12. Harry Potter by JK Rowling
Is any book list complete without Harry Potter? Tweens, teens, and adults alike love this series. Introduce your middle schooler to Hogwarts and the World of Wizardry with this great series!
Learn More: Amazon
13. Nancy Drew by Carolyn Keene
Give any 6th grade middle school girl this box set as an introduction to the world of Nancy Drew, a young sleuth who has been inspirational to many women around the world. She will be drawn into each story and try to help Nancy Drew find clues on every page.
Learn More: Amazon
14. Middle School Mayhem by CT Walsh
If you have a reader that loved James Patterson's middle school series, they will also love this one. Full of humor, middle school fiascos, and likable characters, this set will keep your middle schooler hooked! You can also buy the books individually and not 4 in 1, as some younger readers may find the larger book intimidating.
Learn More: Amazon
15. A Mermaid in Middle Grade by A.M. Luzzader
A 6th grade mermaid in distress. A sea witch out to get revenge. This book will capture the attention of any middle grade student. Will Brynn be able to learn magic and be a sea guardian like all of her friends and family?
Learn More: Amazon
16. Holes by Louis Sachar
A staple on any middle school language arts classroom's bookshelf, Holes tells the story of cursed Stanley and his quest to figure out what the warden at the boys' camp he is attending is trying to find. Your young reader won't be able to put this book down until they've solved this puzzle!
Learn More: Amazon
17. Amulet by Kazi Kibuishi
In this New York Times best-selling series, readers follow Emily and Navin as they attempt to rescue their mother from a tentacled creature. They soon discover this is only the beginning, and Emily is meant to do great things.
Learn More: Amazon
18. Accidentally Fabulous by Lisa Papademetriou
Amy is the new girl at school, and the "popular" girls at school are not making it easy for her. Will she be able to find a way to fit in? Or will she have to deal with the wrath of these mean girls her entire school career?
Learn More: Amazon
19. Baseball Genius Homerun Series by Tim Green and Derek Jeter
Who better to coauthor a series about baseball than baseball legend Derek Jeter? The main character Jalen is a baseball genius and soon finds himself playing for the Yankees. But will he be able to translate this genius into baseball skill?
Learn More: Amazon
20. Anne of West Philly by Ivy Noelle Weir
Not exactly a series, this book and the others like it by Ivy Noelle Weir are important retellings of classic tales with African American protagonists. After your young reader finishes this, they can move on to The Secret Garden and Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy!
Learn More: Amazon
21. Epic Zero by RL Ullman
Elliott is surrounded by superheroes, including his family and even his dog. While he longs to join them, he worries that he will always be a zero. Your reader will be eager to follow Elliott's journey through each book in this series.
Learn More: Amazon
22. The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel by Michael Scott
Have you heard the story of Nicholas Flamel and how he may be immortal? He was born in 1330 and records say he died in 1418, but his tomb is empty. Have your middle schooler read this intriguing series to learn the secrets of Mr. Flamel.
Learn More: Amazon
23. Secret Agent 6th Grader by Marcus Emerson and Noah Child
What is Brody going to do when his calm boring life is disrupted and he is thrown into the world of being a 6th grade spy? Full of moments that will make your middle schooler laugh out loud, this three-book series will keep them engaged from the beginning to the end.
Learn More: Amazon
24. The Hardy Boys by Franklin W. Dixon
Another classic series, this one follows brothers Frank and Joe Hardy as they fight crime. Any young boy will get hooked on these books and find hours of enjoyment in the Hardy Boys' adventures.
Learn More: Amazon
25. Brian's Saga by Gary Paulsen
Hatchet is another staple in any middle school classroom, but did you know it is part of a series? Keep your young reader going by having them read the next four books in the series to see all of the ways Brian's survival skills are put to the test.
Learn More: Amazon
26. The Alien Kill Series by Rae Knightly
Does your middle schooler love sci-fi? If so, he or she will love this series that follows Ben Archer through harrowing adventures full of superpowers, aliens, and so much more.
Learn More: Amazon
27. Twilight by Stephenie Meyer
Introduce your teen to the world of Bella, Edward, and Jacob with the Twilight Saga. From glittery vampires to territorial werewolves to teenage romance, this series has it all.
Learn More: Amazon
28. The Millicent Min Trilogy by Lisa Yee
Millicent is incredibly smart. Unfortunately, this does not help her fit in well with her peers. But when she meets a girl who actually thinks she is cool, will she be able to maintain the facade or lose this friend, too?
Learn More: Amazon
29. The Lemonade War by Jacqueline Davies
What is better -- being people smart or book smart? That's the question central to the Lemonade War, as brother and sister face off to see who can sell more lemonade.
Learn More: Amazon
30. The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton
"Are you a gifted child looking for special opportunities?" This is the line that prompts dozens of children to respond. Have your middle schooler read this series to see all of the mind-bending tests these children are put on to determine which two boys and two girls will be deemed worthy.
Learn More: Amazon
20 Throwing Games for Kids’ Hand-Eye Coordination Skills