6 Thrilling Middle Grade Novels for Adventurous Young Readers

The Shadow Cipher, by Laura Ruby
Perfect for fans of films like National Treasure, this story is at times scary, at times funny, and always entertaining. It takes place in a reimagined New York built by the Morningstarr twins—two visionaries way ahead of their time. But then, one day, they disappeared, and (in addition to the awesome city) they left behind the Old York Cipher. Hidden in the city they constructed, this cipher promises to lead to treasure beyond your imagination. As time passed and it wasn’t solved, some began to think it was a myth—but not Tess, Theo, and Jamie. They’re on a race to solve it once and for all before the last of the Morningstarr buildings are torn down.

Stormbreaker, by Anthony Horowitz
The newest and youngest MI6 agent, Alex Rider, doesn’t disappoint in this series starter that promises action and thrills until the very end. Alex thought his uncle was killed in a car accident, but when he finds the windshield riddled with bullet holes, he learns that his uncle died on a top-secret mission. Pretty soon, MI6 calls on Alex for a secret mission of his own—discover the secrets of the supercomputer known as Stormbreaker.

Tesla’s Attic (The Accelerati Trilogy Series #1), by Neal Shusterman and Eric Elfman
This sci-fi themed adventure reinvents the inventions of Nikola Tesla and imagines a secret society of physicists determined to alter destiny, making it a perfect page turner for any young reader interested in science. A fast-moving book, it follows Nick as he discovers the dilapidated old house he just moved into used to belong to Tesla, who left his inventions hidden there. The secret society, known as the Accelerati, wants these treasures for their own so they can use them for their own nefarious ends.

Independence Hall (I, Q Series #1), by Roland Smith
Full of dramatic twists and turns, this edge-of-your-seat book follows Q, as he discovers that his new step-sister Angela’s mom was a spy. And that Angela wants to be one too. Q and Angela have been brought together by the recent marriage of their respective parents—two rock stars. With their family on tour, the two are busy trying to bond when Angela begins to fear she’s being followed. It turns out spies from Mossad, the CIA, and the FBI are all after the kids—and it just might have something to do with Angela’s mom.

Found (Missing Series #1), by Margaret Peterson Haddix
This thrilling adventure with a sci-fi bent is perfect for young readers who love suspense. Thirteen years before the story takes place, a plane appeared on a runway—a plane no one saw on their radars, that was filled with babies. And no pilot. How did it get there? And why? When the babies were unloaded, the plane mysteriously disappeared just as it had appeared. This story follows Jonah, as he and his friends are thrown into a mystery that will change their lives forever.

The Unexpected Life of Oliver Cromwell Pitts, by Avi
A historical fiction, this suspenseful mystery offers something a little different for those young readers craving adventure. Oliver wakes up one morning to discover his father has gone to rescue his sister and that he’s all alone. Oliver travels to London, a journey full of obstacles and adventures, and then once there, he becomes involved with a real-life criminal, Jonathon Wild. With each chapter ending on a cliff-hanger, young readers will find this thrill ride impossible to put down.