7 Middle Grade Novels Perfect for Summer Reading

Squirm, by Carl Hiaasen 
Get ready for a mysterious and nature-filled adventure with Squirm. When Billy was only three, his dad left him and his mom. Ever since, his dad’s location has remained a mystery. That is, until Billy discovers an address and sneaks off to Montana to confront his dad. But when he arrives, his dad is missing—and all he finds is an abandoned truck with slashed tires and a message from a drone that says, “See you in Florida.” Follow Billy as he journeys through nature, dodges a grizzly bear, and attempts to save his dad.

Sunborn Rising: Beneath the Fall, by Aaron Safronoff
Beautiful images are peppered throughout this fantastical novel, which takes readers on an immersive adventure. Safronoff has created an intriguing alien world unlike any other, with forest creatures, a forgotten light, a mysterious plague, and a legacy to uphold. Follow Barra as she travels across the Great Forest to bring light to her dying world.

Hello, Universe, by Erin Entrada Kelly
Winner of a Newbery Medal, Hello, Universe follows four strangers who—at first—believe they only have their neighborhood in common. Until a prank goes too far, and these four misfits must use their unique personalities to rescue one of their own from the bottom of a well. Featuring a diverse cast of characters including Valencia, who is deaf, and puts on a brave front but is secretly lonely, to Kaori, who believes she is psychic, this absorbing novel has something for everyone.

The Miscalculations of Lightning Girl, by Stacy McAnulty 
After lightning strikes Lucy Callahan, she acquires a super power: genius-level math skills. At just twelve years old, she’s technically ready for college. However, her grandma insists she first finish middle school, make a friend, join in on an activity, and read a book. Can Lucy brave the stares of her fellow classmates, check off this ambitious to-do list, venture outside of her comfort zone?

Camp Shady Crook, by Lee Gjertsen Malone 
Camp Shady Crook is not your average camp. Unless you call campers trying desperately to out-con each other, “average.” For Archie, in a newly blended family, and Vivian, resentful because her parents dumped her at camp so they could travel all summer, this is exactly what their camp experience is like. Until things go too far, risking the most important friendship Vivian has ever had. Can Archie and Vivian find a way, despite their competitiveness, to work together to make things right?

A Babysitter’s Guide to Monster Hunting, by Joe Ballarini
Ever wonder who fights the monsters under kids’ beds? Fortunately, this book is here to spill all. In it we meet Kelly and her secret society of babysitters, who attempt to destroy under-bed-dwelling characters like the Boogeyman with the help of an ancient handbook. But can they rescue Baby Jacob from the monsters in his nightmares? Fun black-and-white illustrations bring this series to life.

My Brigadista Year, by Katherine Paterson 
Fans who loved Katherine Paterson’s Bridge to Terabithia will adore her historical novel My Brigadista Year. Follow thirteen-year-old Lora as she joins Fidel Castro’s national literacy campaign against her family’s wishes and travels to an impoverished town to teach others how to read. This coming-of-age story about a Cuban teenager was inspired by amazing true events.