When kids hit 11- and 12 years old, it’s challenging to find appropriate read aloud material. They abandon middle-grade fiction and gravitate toward young adult and adult fiction.
Intellectually, they’re ready to transition to adult fiction, but often the mature content gives me pause, especially for read alouds.
For many reasons, this in-between stage is tricky, a short but brutal bump in the road. Without fail, it coincides with an overall lack of motivation for reading due to less leisure time, more time with digital media, and forced reading in school.
Over the years, I’ve found books that work. Below, I share my top five middle school read aloud recommendations!
These choices come from different genres (fantasy, gothic horror, historical fiction, coming-of-age, time travel, and mystery). I won’t bore you with full plot synopses.
The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman
The Graveyard Book is a young adult story of Nobody “Bod” Owens, who is adopted and reared by the supernatural occupants of a graveyard.
Genres: coming-of-age, folklore, mythology, gothic horror, fantasy
What makes it a go-to middle school read aloud?
- The setting fascinates tween readers! The supernatural raising a human boy in a graveyard…how does that even work? I guarantee your 11- and 12-year-olds haven’t read anything like this before.
- The story hooks readers from the start. I don’t want to give away any spoilers, but the action starts on page one.
- Gaiman writes quirky, memorable characters. Bod. Silas. Scarlett. Miss Lupescu. Liza. Readers say Bod is the most Goth kid you’ll ever meet 😉 Years after I read this book to my tweens, they remembered its characters. That tells me they’re special.
- Gaiman builds atmosphere through setting and characterization. The tone is both moody and hopeful.
- The Graveyard Book makes the perfect Gaiman primer. I’ll admit I’m an avid Gaiman fan. I’ve read every book he’s ever written. His stories fascinate me for their out-of-the-box thinking and creativity.
- Get this: The graveyard represents a library where each grave is a new book. It has also been said The Graveyard Book was written as a reimagining of Kipling’s The Jungle Book.
- 2008 Newbery Honor
When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead
Miranda is an ordinary sixth grader until she receives mysterious messages from somebody who knows all about her, including things that have not even happened yet. Each message brings her closer to believing that only she can prevent a tragic death. Until the final note makes her think it’s too late.
Genre: sci-fi, mystery, time travel, school story
What makes it a go-to middle school read aloud?
- The story’s puzzle keeps readers hooked. The timeline can get complicated, but it all makes sense in the end.
- The book’s twists and turns will surprise readers. The last couple of chapters caught my kids off guard and left them feeling astonished. Can you say “mindblown?”
- The storyline takes on a wonderful, unusual shape while still being believable. Stead’s style engages readers.
- The story makes the concept of time travel accessible to this age group.
- Fantastic chapter titles like “Missing Things,” “Different Things,” “Things That Sneak Up on You,” and “Things You Hide” act as mini-hooks to keep readers engaged.
- Stead doesn’t talk down to her readers. The book is short, but it’s surprisingly complex and packs a powerful punch.
- The main character Miranda reads L’Engle’s A Wrinkle in Time throughout. Stead pays homage to her favorite childhood book, and it becomes a talisman of sorts for Miranda.
- My kids ended up reading every other Stead book out thereafter I read this one to them.
- 2010 Newbery Medal
See Also: Liar & Spy
The Wednesday Wars by Gary Schmidt
The Wednesday Wars is a witty, compelling story about Holling Hoodhood’s mishaps and adventures over the course of the 1967-68 school year in Long Island, New York.
Genres: historical fiction, coming-of-age, realistic fiction, school story
What makes it a go-to middle school read aloud?
- It reads aloud well because it’s hysterical and catchy. Some books do; others don’t.
- The story has humor and heart. It captures all the complex, nostalgic feelings of middle school.
- Shakespeare! After Holling is forced to remain in class with Mrs. Baker and read Shakespeare, he falls in love with the plays. Schmidt shows young readers the transformative power of literature. My tweens shouted “toads, beetles, bats” for days. Mrs. Baker changes Holling’s life forever. It reminds us all that educators have the power to change the lives of their students.
- Your reader will learn a little 60s history with the Vietnam War, Kennedy, and Martin Luther King Jr.
- Schmidt writes believable, nuanced young characters.
- 2008 Newbery Honor
See Also: Okay for Now, Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster Boy
Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard by Rick Riordan
Genres: fantasy, sci-fi, Norse mythology
What makes it a go-to middle school read aloud?
- These books have excellent pacing and lots of action.
- The characters are hilarious! 😂😂😂😂/5😂
- Quirky, fun chapter titles like “Come to the Darkside, We have Poptarts,” “I Psychoanalyze a Goat,” and “The Terror that is Middle School” act as mini-hooks and foster engagement.
- This trilogy is the YA “Who’s Who in Norse Mythology.” My tweens learned a lot of mythology from these books. Some even went on to do their own research after the read aloud concluded.
- Loveably flawed characters fill the pages of these books.
- These books are a step up from Percy Jackson and The Kane Chronicles. If your reader liked Riordan’s other series, they’ll enjoy this one, too.
- Epic fantasy works well as middle school read aloud material. I don’t know if it’s the pacing, the complicated world-building, or the multitude of characters, but these are solid buddy reads.
Esperanza Rising by Pam Munoz Ryan
Genres: historical fiction, coming-of-age
What makes it a go-to middle school read aloud?
- This is a good addition to your historical fiction list with a story that illuminates the plight of Mexican-American laborers during the Great Depression. It touches on the Mexican Revolution, Great Depression, and the Dust Bowl.
- It’s rich in ideas for discussion about racism and immigration.
- Ryan includes lots of Spanish in her text, which presents another way for readers to learn Spanish vocabulary.
- The pages evoke richness and passion with lyrical prose.
- Readers get a strong female protagonist in Esperanza. The rich characterization gives the story emotional depth. Esperanza is like the mythical phoenix rising from her own ashes.
- The story is a retelling of Ryan’s grandmother’s story.
- The cover alone is #goals.
See Also: Echo
More ideas for middle school read alouds…
If you’re looking for more inspiration for your middle school read alouds, check out New Middle Grade Fantasy Book We Love, 20 Books Your Child Should Read After the Mysterious Benedict Society, and New Middle Grade Mysteries & Thrillers.
I hope your young reader loves these middle grade read aloud books! For more bookish inspiration, subscribe to my newsletter, where I send out the latest book releases, writing tips, and parenting hacks each month. Happy reading!
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