Hey guys, today I’m coming at you (finally) with some more recommendations, this time starring middle-grade novels! Recommendations posts are some of my favourites to write and lately, I’ve been feeling like reading some more middle-grade, though I honestly can’t think of any I might like to read, so I figured recommending some might give me an idea or two.
Remember, if it’s in red, it’s a link!
Okay, so this is a fantastic series (that being said, I’ve only read book 1). It’s basically an Australian modern children’s classic and it’s not hard to figure out why. This series also has a tv show based closely on it which is suitable for young children and still fun for adults to watch. It’s a fun but long series, it’s very original (like all of Rodda’s books) and all the novels are all really short, under 150 pages each.
Deltora Quest is a fun and extremely unique series for all ages – great for getting young kids into reading.
THE THREE DOORS TRILOGY – EMILY RODDA
More Emily Rodda? Hell yeah! She’s the queen of middle-grade.
This is one of my top 3 series of all time. Like, Deltora Quest this trilogy is incredibly original. Rodda creates the most fantastic and intricate world, they’re so complex and her characters all so different – I honestly don’t understand why more people haven’t read this.
Honestly, I will never get sick of this series – it is just too good! Rodda just knows how to create a series that will have you on the edge of your seat!
Even though I am almost 18 years old I still love this series. Is that sad? I hope not, these are really cleverly put together spy series.
Alex Rider is a super smart spy series, I’m currently re-reading it and I’m seriously loving it even though I’m no longer an 11 year old child, but hey, there’s a reason why Horowitz has had so many of his book published.
Alex Rider is basically a young James Bond, just less sexist. Murder? Mystery? Spies? This stuff is my jam.
Do I even need to say anything?
- Mythology.
- Rick Riordan’s writing.
- Hilarious MC.
- You will learn while you read, and not even notice that you have suddenly accumulated all this knowledge about Greek mythology.
- Easily re-readable.
I’ll be honest, I’m starting to go off this series. I still love Harry Potter and I will always love Harry Potter. But, I have slowly but surely been falling out of love with J. K. Rowling as a person and in the last year or two, the penny finally dropped.
She has supported the casting of an abuser and has not written Dumbledore being gay into the Fantastic Beasts 2 storyline. And, she’s done a whole lot of other things over the years but these things really tipped the scale and honestly, I don’t even understand the point in trying to support her anymore.
I love Harry Potter, it is basically my childhood, I love how intricate the series is and how much I feel at home when I listen to the audiobooks. But, that doesn’t mean I support Rowling as an author.
This is a really fun, easy to read graphic novel series. The mc is a bit meh but the adventure parts of the series and the plot of the series is what really makes it for me, and for a lot of other people I think.
The first 2 graphic novels are reasonably meh but as the series progresses the plot really picks up and becomes a lot of fun! This, like so many of the recommendations on this list is suitable for all ages, though I think it depends on everyone’s genre preferences. I certainly don’t think I would enjoy it as much now, as I did when I was 15 purely because I enjoy different types of stories these days.
This is what I love about middle-grade: family.
I really enjoyed this comic, it’s about a family of aquanauts who explore the Ocean and who are looking for Atlantis. This is a really fun, lighthearted and interesting comic full of family. This is a really short duology with a great art style and I really do recommend it.
Also, power to Australian comics.
This is a great graphic novel and I really wish more people would read this. This is a really important graphic novel – it’s about friendship and fitting in. It’s relatable for anyone who doesn’t fit in. It’s mildly spooky and somewhat predictable.
It’s short and not the best thing you’ll ever read but it packs a punch. It’s a slightly spooky but cute and colourful graphic novel. I definitely, recommend this for a readathon or for around Halloween time.
DO YOU READ MIDDLE-GRADE? CAN YOU RECOMMEND ANY MG?
FRIDGESANT 
allonsythornraxx 
I feel you on J.K. Rowling – I will forever love Harry Potter, but ever since Fantastic Beasts I’ve been slowly detaching Harry Potter from the author. It’s such a shame because I used to look up to her so much and the messages in Harry Potter are important, but I feel like she doesn’t live up to those messages herself. Also the way she interacts with people on Twitter can be so passive agressive
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yeah, I am honestly so done with her. I love the series and I will always re-read the books, but I no longer respect J. K. Rowling. She doesn’t practice what she preaches and she disrespects her fans (who are the sole reason she is so popular), and honestly, I’m just too exhausted now.
Will you see Fantastic BEasts 2? I’m honestly debating it, on one hand, I love the og cast from the first film and Eddie Redmayne is one of my favourite actors, but on the other hand, I don’t know if I can sit through another Johnny Depp film. I care about the story, but I don’t care to see it destroyed.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I dunno! I haven’t even seen the first one yet as I just lost my enthousiasm more and more 😅 I did want to see it eventually but then the news about Depp broke and I really really don’t want to see him so I dunno. Maybe I’ll watch them one day when they’re aired on tv, but I definitely don’t want to spend money on it. And even then I’d have to force myself because I just can’t stand his face haha
LikeLiked by 1 person
I totally understand – I would still recommend watching it (maybe as a standalone film). Depp is in the film for less than 30 seconds at the end and that’s pretty much it. It really is a good film with some characters that really push the stereotypes.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Alright good to know! I’ll definitely try the first one then 🙂 I’ll wait and see how people react to the second one – maybe despite Grindelwald’s name being in the title he doesn’t appear that much *fingers crossed*
LikeLiked by 1 person
We can only hope!
LikeLiked by 1 person
yes yes yes to Deltora Quest and Emily Rodda! I have my well loved copies of all three Deltora Quest series on my bookshelf and I am so temped to reread as it would have been years since I have picked them up.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, Emily Rodda writes such amazing novels, it stuns me sometimes when people haven’t heard of her! You should totally do a re-read!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes!! Middle-grade books can be so good 😀 I really loved Maybe a Fox, it’s a strong beautiful story with important themes. And I completely agree with you on J.K. Rowling, I’m also dissapointed with some decisions she made..
LikeLiked by 1 person
Middle-grade is fantastic! Maybe A Fox has a really lovely cover, I’ll check it out!
Yeah, J. K. Rowling has been crossing so many lines lately and I’ve finally given up on her. Yeah, disappointing is definitely the right word.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes the cover is almost as good as the story! 😍
But really though.. I was so proud that she made dumbledore gay, and when I heard about the movies of fantastic beasts, I was just ready to finally hear the “real” story of dumbledore. But oh well 🙃
LikeLiked by 1 person
i love middle grade!!!! also hurray for the death of childhood alongside jk rowling ruining her own career ❤ 🙂 B)
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, I agree, J. K. Rowling is totally ruining her career. I really don’t understand why she’s doing this.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh thank you for the lovely recommendations 🙂 I get your feelings about J.K Rowling, I kind of feel the same way, even if the books will always remain in my heart, I don’t have space for the author and how messy her attitude has been lately.
I really want to read Anya’s Ghost, that one sounds SO good! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
No problem! ❤️
Yeah, J. K. Rowling has really crossed the line lately.Honestly, after everything she’s done and said, I just don’t trust her. I will always love the books, but I’m over her.
Anya’s Ghost is really good I hope you love it!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m in Oz but have never heard of The Deep! Will check it out for my boys. I’m on an MG jig at the moment and just read Short and The Goldfish Boy. Now my 8yo has them. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
The Deep is really fun, I definitely recommend it! There’s also a tv show (animated) of the same name, following the same characters that is also really enjoyable if you wanted to check that out!
LikeLiked by 1 person