30+ Lovely Middle Grade Books for 4th Graders

Farah Hajjar is a smart fifth-grader who’s looking forward to sixth grade. She’s in advanced classes with her “Official Best Friend,” Allie Liu, and attends school with her little brother Samir. Samir was born premature and, as a result, has extra challenges. Farah is well aware of her parents’ financial difficulties and the sacrifices they make for her and her brother. She’s working toward attending Magnet Academy — a STEM-focused public school — with her best friend for middle school. But her dreams begin to change when a new girl starts bullying her brother at school. What a refreshing chapter book debut! This heartfelt story is filled with family, friendship, culture, a realistic portrayal of financial insecurity, and the consequences of bullying.

Isaiah’s father has died, leaving behind Isaiah, his mom, and his younger sister, Charlie. Isaiah’s mom is so depressed that she’s lost her job and started drinking too many bottles of wine. Isaiah realizes that they need money if they’re ever going to move out of the motel where they’ve had to live since they’re unable to pay for their home. Thankfully, Isaiah has his father’s books of poems (even if his own words won’t come anymore), his best friend Sneaky, who sells candy at school (and lets Isaiah be his business partner), and the kind people who look out for him once they realize he’s in need. In the end, will Isaiah be the hero of his story? This is a moving, realistic portrayal of the poverty and housing insecurity that can impact a family after the death of a parent. Ages 9+

SAVE ME A SEAT is the story of two seemingly different boys – one Indian, one American. When Ravi’s family moves to America, he is shocked at how different things are. The things he liked about himself seem to neither impress nor be appreciated by his American classmates and teachers. Joe is a quiet, sensitive American who is regularly bullied by his classmates. The story follows both boys as they find a way to a solid friendship despite their differences. With a major focus on bullying, culture, food and respecting differences, SAVE ME A SEAT is delightful, funny, and inspiring. Ages 8+

Deena is an anxious artist with two best friends, Lucia and Nisha. She’s also close to her cousin Parisa who loves social media, makeup, and being famous. Deena doesn’t know it yet, but the knot in her stomach and nausea she feels every morning is thanks to anxiety. One of the main sources of her anxiety is her parents’ bickering about financial issues. When Deena has an idea to promote her mom’s business on social media and help them earn more, she hopes it will reduce her parents’ bickering. But her social media use comes with its unique issues, even as Deena realizes she needs more support for her anxiety. Drawing Deena is an inspiring, feel-good story about a young artist surmounting creative challenges and managing anxiety. Ages 9+

I loved this story! Kylie has three besties who are all different but love to do stuff together. All her friends think she’s such a baby because sensitive and quick to tears and while they’re all excited about 7th grade, Kylie is worried she isn’t mature enough and they’ll leave her behind as they start wearing bras and getting their periods so she decides to do an experiment where she’ll do everything everyone is doing for the whole summer. In time, she learns that she’s enough and doesn’t have to mature at the same pace or in the same way as her friends. She also learns what it really means to be mature. I loved the flow of this story, the short chapters, the nuance, the family dynamics, and that feel of summer on every page. Ages 9+

Mystery on Magnolia Circle begins with what seems to be the worst summer ever. Ivy’s summer plans are disrupted when she breaks her leg at the start of the summer before fifth grade. Her best friend Teddy is having it any easier as his dog is diagnosed with a terminal illness and has to be put down. But while Ivy is standing at her window, trying to make the best of the summer, she witnesses a possible burglary and that both kids off on a summer of solving a mystery — or is it? This is a young middle grade book (with a few illustrations) about a summer of solving a neighborhood mystery. Ages 8+

Maizy and her best friend Izzy are working on a film Maizy has named Shellfish Holmes, about a lobster detective. But Izzy seems bored with the project and even thinks it’s a bit childish. Maizy’s life gets more interesting when a box of Nancy Drew books with an inscription to a girl with the same name as her grandmother (Susie, aka Jacuzzi). There’s also a picture of what appears to be a young Susie. When Jacuzzi denies sending over the box, Maizy reunites with a former neighborhood friend, Nell, to get to the bottom of the mystery. In the process, the girls learn a lot about Jacuzzi and the Nancy Drew books. Sisterhood of Sleuths is a fantastic middle grade mystery about friendship, history, intellectual property, and film-making. Ages 9+

Simon Hyde and his parents have been moving around the country and creating social media content around their travels for as long as he can remember. Now they’ve moved into the Tangerine Apartments, and Simon is hoping to put down roots for a while. Thanks to a recent accident, his leg is in a cast, so he’s happy when Amaya, a talkative neighbor, actively befriends him with little effort on his part. Just as the two begin to hit it off, a theft in the building puts everyone on edge, and even Simon’s parents begin to contemplate moving away again. This moves Simon to agree with Amaya’s proposal that they solve the mystery together. As the kids unravel the mystery, they also learn plenty about each other, what it means to be a good friend, and their eclectic group of neighbors. This is a warm mystery with a great cast of quirky, memorable characters that will appeal to kids ages 9 and up.

As a Korman fan, I’ve had this one recommended to me a few times, but I finally dove in, and all I can say is that my mind was blown! I had no idea where this story was going, which is always such a pleasure as someone who reads A LOT of middle grade and can often predict the plot from page 50. It’s set in an eerily isolated and idyllic small town and told from the perspective of five kids. When one kid is sent away from the town, he leaves a letter that raises doubts in the minds of some of the other kids about their town, leading them to an investigation with jaw-dropping revelations. Ages 9+

Vega is a precocious tween with plenty of strong opinions, determination, and a fierce love for her family. Her cousin Mila is timid and anxious, and after an incident, is spending the summer with Vega’s family in the California desert. When a meteoroid blazes through the sky one night, landing in Vega’s community, Mila, Vega, and Jasper, the son of a rock hunter, end up searching at night and have to navigate getting lost, injured, stuck in a flash flood, and warding off coyotes, among other dangers with surprising results. This is a good blend of STEM and survival with just enough relationship dynamics to keep readers going, creating a truly intriguing, suspenseful story told from the perspectives of all three kids. Ages 8+

Ben Bellini is used to taking the path of least resistance in life. Even though he loves words and spelling, when his friends make fun of his gift after his first spelling bee, he’s tempted to stop spelling. But when his grandmother invites him to San Francisco over the summer to practice with a former winner of the bee, his life opens up in new ways. Taking the bus, spending afternoons at the library, forming a new friendship with an Indian-American girl, living with a grandmother who may be experiencing early stages of dementia, and facing off with the eccentric, meanspirited tutor all form part of his summer experience. In the end, Ben learns plenty about memories, family, persistence, and not letting other people take your power. Ages 9+

This is an engaging survival story about three cousins–two sisters and their cousin, Owen–who get separated from their parents when an earthquake strikes during a hiking trip. The three kids are dealing with individual challenges in their lives, and as they try to hike a long route to reconnect with their families, they also make time for healing together. I love how much this book celebrates nature while being appropriate for younger middle grade readers, and maintaining a strong sense of adventure. Also, one of the kids loves cooking, and I just adored all the foodie scenes on the trail. Hand to kids who loved Downing’s Just Keep Walking and Lang’s Out of Range. Ages 9+

When Liberty overhears a group of robbers planning to steal rare bugs from the insectarium her father runs, she and her friends decide to stop the theft by setting booby traps for the bandits. I’m loving the Home Alone-inspired fiction this year, and this one will be a smash hit, especially for heist-book readers who want a lower-stakes read. Kids will enjoy reading this story, and in the process, they’ll get curious about insects and Home Alone, which will make for some enjoyable discussions. Ages 8+

Welcome to Milkweed Meadow, where each creature sticks with their colony, especially the rabbits who love storytelling. Young rabbit Butternut is the narrator of our story — and an especially talented storyteller — who discovers that life is richer with friends, company, and community. Perfect for fans of Katherine Applegate, this is a charming story for a classroom of pet lovers and storytellers who love whimsical stories with a dash of adventure. Ages 8+

Chance is a three-legged dog at the Dogtown shelter, where able-bodied and robot dogs compete for attention. Things start to change when a new robot dog, Metal Head, comes to the pound. First off, he’s determined to run away (return home). So he hatches a plan with Chance and her mouse best friend to help an older dog get adopted in exchange for helping him escape. But things do not go to plan, and Chance, her mouse friend, and Metal Head spend a night on the streets on an emotional adventure. As someone who isn’t into animal books, I’m shocked by how much I liked this one. It’s charming, beautifully plotted, and full of suspense, heartwarming characters, and plenty of heart. It also has sweet illustrations and concise chapters. Ages 8+

Ratty Barclay turned into a rat minutes after he was born, causing his parents to run away from him, leaving him in the care of his Uncle Max. But now, Max is 13 and ready to undo the curse, so he convinces his uncle Max to take him back to Fairweather Island, the home of the Barclay family where Ratty is convinced he can reverse the curse. Unfortunately, Max and Ratty meet Edweena, the rat-obsessed daughter of their caretaker whose ancestor invented the rat catcher. Ratty and his uncle must hide Ratty from Edweena as Ratty learns about the Barclay family history and their curse and figures out how to fix things. This illustrated middle grade book gripped me from the beginning, and it felt strong, like a classic fairy tale. I was worried about Ratty the whole way through and was fully invested in the story. Ages 9+

Glory finds kinship and belonging in a foster dog and new friends during a summer at her grandparents’ home in this heartwarming story for fans of Wish. Dog lovers will eat up this story, which is delightful on audio with a Southern charm and so much heart. Glory’s mother has left her without explanation, and no one will tell her why. This summer, the Agatha Christie fan is piecing together the clues while learning more about her grandparents, her mom, and even her trucker dad, and befriending a middle child, Rosemary, who just wants to be seen by her parents too. I loved this one, and even with an older protagonist, I can see it working for younger readers ages 8+

Elfie Oster is ready to leave Cottonwood Elementary. She doesn’t have any friends at the school and she’s tired of having to do group projects all by herself. It doesn’t help that her super-popular cousin, Jenna, whom everyone likes, is also in Cottonwood — and is also not Elfie’s friend. Thankfully, she’s been admitted at Hampshire Academy, a swanky private school where she knows everything will be different. Unfortunately, after a misunderstanding, Elfie is swiftly expelled from Hampshire and has to return to Cottonwood. This is a realistic, poignant, and funny middle grade book about letting go of perfectionism and embracing the messiness of real life. Ages 8+

Audrey Covington Breaks the Rules features young Audrey, who’s graduating from elementary school and struggling with having overprotective parents. She notices that her friends seem uninterested in hanging out with her (because she can’t do many of the things their parents allow them to — getting ice cream together alone, watching non-PG movies alone, and more). The breaking point comes when they officially uninvite from their much-anticipated graduation sleepover. Deeply upset, Audrey takes the opportunity to abscond with her celebrity grandmother (who’s desperate to get away for her own reasons). From escaping security on movie lots to crashing celebrity parties, the two have a hijinks-filled day. But how long can Audrey keep breaking the rules? This is an exciting, escapist, and insightful middle grade book about identity and finding balanced freedom as a tween. Ages 9+

Welcome to Number 3 Ramshorn Drive, where extroverted Ivy the houseplant and grumpy Toasty the goldfish live with their owners, the Tupper family. When Toasty splashes from Ivy from his tank, she develops cool abilities like being able to reach out her leaves and lift heavy things. Add a host of new guests and live-ins, including a timid violet plant named Ollie and an erudite spider named Arthur and a dangerous man who wants to steal Toasty’s tank (which turns out to be the reason for Ivy’s abilities), and you have an entertaining, pun-y, loquacious heartwarming tale for fans of Charlotte’s Web and Kate DiCamillo. This one is extra delightful on audio! Ages 8+

This hilarious spy story of a boy recruited by the Queen of England to retrieve England’s crown jewels is ridiculous in the best way. The illustrations and humor in this one make it perfect for young readers who love funny chapter books. Ages 8+

This is a sweet graphic novel about a Colombian-American boy who goes to visit his Abuela in Upstate NY and struggles with feeling at home because his Spanish isn’t as fluent as he’d like. Santiago doesn’t feel confident speaking Spanish so he’s nervous about spending the summer at Hillside even though all the kids there are welcoming. They even invite him to join their secret soccer club. When an incident reminds Santiago that his Spanish is still not up to par, all his new friendships begin to fall apart as he starts acting rashly. I liked that this book had a plot, is fairly lighthearted and I loved the friendship and soccer scenes and the fact that this is the first in a graphic novel series that will follow each of the Hillside kids. Perfect for fans of the Click series! Ages 8+

This is an entertaining graphic novel about cousins Maya and Riley (Black and Muscogee), who end up living with their grandmother when Maya’s parents are deployed, and Riley’s parents move back in with her grandmother. At school, the girls quickly realize that their vice principal is suspicious, slashing arts, robotics, and any budgets possible in favor of increasing the number of detention classrooms. With their grandmother’s advice about using their voices firm in their mind, the girls hatch a plan to expose VP Balderdash’s schemes. I loved many things about this series starter, including the natural, subtle way both girls share about their heritage and how they find home and community with their grandmother. This is also super short (under 200 pages), and the superhero and planning scenes feel like something out of a Spy Kids movie. Ages 8+

Three girls end up at a summer camp together for different reasons. Bea’s parents want her to talk more to real people and less to her stuffed animals. Roxy’s parents are fighting, and she just wants to get away. Virginia didn’t make the soccer team, but she’s stuck at camp with the girls who watched her flop during tryouts. When Virginia reads Bea’s diary aloud to their campmates, the two girls become embroiled in a war. Can they find their way back from enemies to friends? I enjoyed the easy-to-read formatting with lots of negative space in this graphic novel, the friendship theme feels really resonant for elementary schoolers, especially, and kids navigating family and life changes will relate to these girls. This book also has a plot, with a gentle climax that will feel mildly suspenseful, and a satisfying, heartwarming ending. Ages 8+

Sisters Devon and Kennedy are 5 and 10, respectively, and can’t seem to get along. Especially now, with a baby sister, Eve, who shares their room and wakes them up with her crying every night. After one particularly volatile argument, their parents take away their devices and ask them to communicate and reconcile before they can retrieve them. So, when the girls begin to quarrel at night again, they decide to tell Eve a story to help her sleep. As they work together to concoct a funny story that accommodates both their different personalities, they realize that sisters can be best friends. I LOVED this one! It’s the perfect combination of silly, fantastical, and realistic. It’s sweet, full of adventure, and overall genius to have a story within a story, with both stories being actually suspenseful and engaging. Perfect for young middle-grade readers, I can see this one flying off the shelves for Dog Man fans and Raina Telgemeier readers. Ages 8+

Charlie is the new kid for the umpteenth time, but this time things will be different. Her dad is no longer in the military, and this is a more permanent home, so she feels more pressure to find and impress some new friends. When she meets a cool group of Black girls with varying interests, she decides to hide her “babyish” style and hobbies to befriend them. But she soon learns that with true friends, you can be your whole self. This is the cute first book in a new graphic novel series about Black hair, girlfriends, fashion, and adjusting to change. Ages 8+

Marlene hates the salon where her mom takes her to get her natural curls straightened weekly. Marlene’s mom and some in their circle/family believe that “good hair” is straight hair. Marlene’s mom wants her to focus on school and look “tidy” by having her hair straight and slick. But Marlene isn’t so sure. She sees an internet influencer and her favorite aunt, Tia Ruby rocking their curls and is eager to try. But her first attempt fails woefully. With Tia Ruby’s hair, Marlene learns to care for her natural hair better and embrace her curls. Frizzy is a delightful, thought-provoking graphic novel about natural hair, self-acceptance, and body image. Ages 8+

As a non-fan of historical fiction, I was pleasantly surprised by this debut middle grade novel. Set in 1930s New York, where a tuberculosis epidemic is raging, it follows Halle, whose mother is diagnosed with the disease and sent off to JN Adams Sanatorium in Perrysburg. This book is accessible, plain-spoken, and truly written for kids without dumbing down or info dumping. The characters are richly drawn, and the subject matter is intriguing and rarely explored in books for kids. It’s impressive that the author has created a book about tuberculosis with a rich, moving, adventurous, and tender plot that balances friendship, family, mystery, and history all at once. Ages 9+

I ADORED this young middle grade historical fiction set in the 1930s Vinegar Hill community in Charlottesville, Virginia. Albeit set during the Jim Crow era, it focuses on a thriving African American community, especially 10-year-old Allie Lewis, who is desperate to find her mom a husband and herself a father after her no-good father left them when she was a baby. This book is short, FUNNY, charming, and historically enlightening without being full of Black pain. It would make a wonderful read-aloud for families who enjoy Anna Rose Johnson’s and Kate Albus’s writing but want more Black stories with less slavery and strife. Ages 8+

Two kids begin communicating across time via letters when one writes a letter to Einstein in this sweet epistolary, time-travel-ish story. Mason lives in 2023, and Talia lives in 1987. Both kids are Jewish, and Talia is facing some serious antisemitism while Mason is getting bullied at school–although not for being Jewish. Initially spooked by the fact that their letters somehow reach each other, the two quickly settle into a warm friendship that becomes a lifeline and helps them get support from the grown-ups in their life. This was super readable, and the font in the ebook is very large. The voice feels true to young middle schoolers, and I can see this appealing to fans of friendship stories and readers who like stories about kids fighting back against bullies. The publisher pegs it as When You Reach Me meets Save Me a Seat, and I couldn’t have said it better! I can picture this being a lovely class readaloud, too–so much to discuss. Ages 9+

Selah knows there’s something different about her. She’s uncomfortable with overstimulation and struggles to instinctively interpret social cues, so she tends to follow the rules and do what others expect her to do in those situations. But when she’s home, she practically crashes, needing to recover from shapeshifting all day. She’s doing okay, until one day she hits a fellow student who keeps trying to braid Selah’s hair. This leads to a series of events ending in an Autism Spectrum Disorder diagnosis and the realization that although she’s different, it’s good different. This is a powerful verse exploration of life on the autism spectrum and the illuminating experience of finally understanding oneself. Ages 9+

In this sweet verse novel, we follow young Geetha, who has recently immigrated to the United States from India with her mother. Geetha’s parents are divorced, and her mom is on medication for depression. Between the rocky challenges of assimilation and coming to terms with her parents’ divorce, Geetha is having a rough time. Thankfully, she meets a new friend and gets a chance to rescue a seal, which gives her a new lease on life. I liked the writing in this one and think it could be a good way to introduce the verse format to younger readers. Readers who love books about music, friendship, and environmental activism will enjoy this one. Ages 9+