Middle fiction is tricky to find something to keep new readers interested and feeling confident in their new skill…
Here is a collection of our favourite choices from our Middle Fiction section, in the hopes to keep your budding readers, reading!
Early chapter books 5-8
The great thing about the book series by Helen Paiba is she has a range of early chapter books about animals, funny stories, scary stories, bedtime stories, and magical stories for each age from 5-8.
We recommend them for a great read targeted at a particular group.
Princess Black by Shannon & Dean Hale is a fantastic series with a female protagonist who, frankly, kicks a bit of bum to show you can be a Princess and an adventurer and superhero. We love it as a humorous adventure story for girls (and boys) who want to be their own hero.
The Jigsaw Jones mystery series by James Preller is a range of school-yard detective books.
We recommend them for stimulating curious minds (because who doesn’t love trying to solve the mystery before the book?)
Great for ages 5 and up.
Geronimo Stilton is a graphic novel series aimed at 6 to 12 year-olds which is also a great choice for those struggling to read a standard format book.
We love it for its Danger Mouse feel brought through from the comic layout, and indomitable main mouse.
8-12
The Land of Stories by Chris Colfer is a wonderful adventure series for readers looking for that next step in reading level. Full of action, twin protagonists find themselves sucked into the land of fairy tales. We recommend it for its new take on the classic and a great example of good children’s writing.
Have Sword Will Travel by Garth Nix & Sean Williams is book one in a duo (so far). Nix & Williams have collaborated before (Trouble Twisters series 8-12) and Garth Nix is one of Katie’s favourite authors. We recommend it for those seeking great adventures with a twist.
AUSTRALIAN AUTHORS
The Rogues series by Lian Tanner is a perfect choice for readers transitioning from this band of middle fiction to the next. Set in the same world as Tanner’s other amazing series (The Keepers). We recommend it for its straight up, full on, love of adventure and mystery.
TASMANIAN AUTHOR
The Dollmaker of Krakow by R. M. Romero perfectly matches WWII era Poland with fantasy and fairy tales. Mary thoroughly enjoyed it as a novel that tackles an immensely difficult time while maintaining its readership level. We recommend it for thoughtful readers 9 and up.
12+
The Extinction Trials by S. M. Wilson sounds like what it is and we can’t wait to read it. A mash up of The Hunger Games and Jurassic Park this trilogy (The Extinction Trials, The Extinction Trials: Exile, The Extinction Trials: Rebel) has a bit of everything; action, contagion, saving the world…and dinosaurs!
Morris Gleitzman is one of Katie’s favourite authors, his Felix series (Once, Then, Now, After, Soon, Maybe) is a step up from Dollmaker of Krakow but set same era. We recommend it as a well written, beautiful account of overcoming through the eyes of Jewish boy Felix and his friend Zelda.
AUSTRALIAN AUTHOR
The Silent Invasion by James Bradley is an amazing novel. It is book one of a trilogy. We love it for its unique Sci-Fi feeling and immersive writing. Bradley is on par with John Marsden (Tomorrow Series) feel to it. Katie could not put it down and can’t wait to read the others (The Buried Ark, book 3 TBC).
AUSTRALIAN AUTHOR
A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness is a truly powerful novel. It is dark and grainy and full of emotion. We recommend it for all of this and that it is sophisticated and deals with a topic on such a personal level you don’t see it often in younger reading. Be prepared with tissues if you take on this book.
