10 Terrific Middle Grade Families

From the Notebooks of a Middle School Princess, by Meg Cabot
Olivia Grace Clarisse Mignonette Harrison, who is being raised by her Aunt’s family, has always known that she was different. Even so, she is in for a surprise when Mia, Princess of Genovia, arrives with the shocking (yet not surprising) news that they are half-sisters…and that she, Olivia Grace Clarisse Mignonette Harrison, is the newest princess of Genovia.
From the Notebooks of a Middle School Princess makes my list because of how much Olivia’s long-lost relations obviously care about her. Although it was quite new, the strong bond between them was so well written that you would think they had been together as a family from the very beginning.

Skies like These, by Tess Hilmo
Used to spending her summers reading and watching reruns, Jade is disappointed when her family ships her out to Wyoming to spend the summer at her aunt’s house. When she meets a boy who calls himself Roy, after the legendary cowboy rebel Butch Cassidy, things begin to take off as they battle a chain hardware store that threatens to put his father’s store out of business. Can Jade be a good friend to Roy without participating in his crazy schemes?
While Skies like These isn’t exactly story about a family, The sense of family within this small Wyoming community is why it appears on this list. It shows that not all families are made up of blood relations, and it’s a great look at how a community can pull together to help its struggling members.

My Life in Dioramas, by Tara Altebrando
When her beloved farmhouse, Big Red, goes on the market so her family can downsize, twelve-year-old Kate sets out to dissuade potential buyers from taking her home. From smelly pranks to covert planning, to outright lies, Kate will stop at nothing to hang onto Big Red, her old friends, and the chance to participate in her local dance troupe.
Although it takes some time for Kate and her family to pull together, I enjoyed reading about them because even during their difficult moments, you can tell they really care for one another. Yes, it takes them some time for them to find happiness in their situation, but the novel’s ending makes it so worthwhile to read about their trials as a family.

A Wrinkle in Time, by Madeleine L’Engle
On a stormy night, Meg, her brother Charles Wallace, and their mother meet an odd stranger who will send Meg and Charles Wallace through space and time to find their missing father. With the dark forces of the evil It trying to corrupt them, they’ll have to rely on each other to make it home alive.
One of the reasons I love the Murray family is because Mr. and Mrs. Murray have such faith and trust in their children and their ability to handle things on their own. Also, even when they are scattered across space and time and facing down incredible enemies, the Murrays have an unbreakable bond of love that keeps them close.

Zero Tolerance, by Claudia Mills
What happens when an honor student runs afoul of a zero tolerance policy after accidentally taking the wrong lunch to school (it contained an apple and a paring knife which violated the stringent “no weapons” policy)? Sierra, who always tries to do the right thing, discovers the hard way that sometimes following the rules can’t save you from getting caught up in a whirlwind of controversy, starting with an in-school suspension.
This story is included because of the way Sierra’s parents stood right behind her throughout her entire challenging ordeal. Seeing them show such strength as a family, even though her parents couldn’t always agree, was inspirational.

The Shadowhand Covenant (Book 2 in the Vengekeep Prophecies series), by Brian Farrey
As mysterious magical artifacts start disappearing throughout the Five Provenances, along with master thieves from the Shadowhand society, trouble is in the air. As peaceful people begin facing imprisonment, Jaxter is summoned by the Shadowhand society and thrust right into the heart of trouble.
Even though the Grimjinxes are a family of thieves (which is pretty enjoyable to read about), it is still nice to see how far they will go for one another. I suppose you could say, the family that steals together, stays together.

Finding Serendipity, by Angelica Banks
When Tuesday McGillycuddy’s mother, the famous author Serendipity, goes missing, Tuesday and her dog Baxterr set off to find her. As Tuesday’s very own story begins to take shape, she is whisked away to a world where she befriends the fearless Viviane Small and learns just how brave she herself can be.
Even though I prefer books where the family is actually present, I enjoyed this one because Tuesday’s parents had so much faith in her ability to take care of herself. Yes, they worried about her, but they also believed deeply in her.

Aesop’s Secret, by Claudia White
Felix and Melinda Hutton always believed they were ordinary kids. That is, until their parents reveal that they have inherited the power to metamorphosis. While Felix tries to escape this new knowledge, his sister, Melinda, embraces all the challenges and adventure it brings. New abilities aside, the children find that things are even harder than they thought when a powerful enemy attacks.
The Huttons are included on this list in part because the parents realize that giving Felix space to come to terms with their shocking news is better than pressing the issue. They understand that sometimes kids need time to work through things in their own way.

The Dungeoneers, by John David Anderson
Life is not fair for Colm Candorly and his family as they try to make ends meet on his father’s earnings as a cobbler. With a natural talent for picking pockets, Colm sets out to help his family by relieving the rich of their money. Yet things don’t end up going quite as planned. Forced to choose between punishment and being sent away to pay for his crimes, Colm embarks upon a new and dangerous path.
The Candorly family may be my favorite fictional family of the year! Even though they have so little that they could have benefited from Colm’s stealing, it is nice to see how strongly they stand against it, and their unconditional love for one another shines through everything they do.

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, by C.S. Lewis
What if you found an entrance into a magical world? Would you open the door and go through like Lucy and her siblings did? Enter the world of Narnia, home to Aslan the lion and the talking beasts and more adventure than one can imagine. Adventure that will test your will and your heart.
I really could not wrap up this round-up without Lucy, Edmund, Peter and Susan making an appearance. One of the things I’ve always loved best about them is their strong family bond. There’s really so much to learn from them about how to love, trust, and forgive your siblings.
What great fictional families do you love?