The 7 Coolest Mothers in Middle Grade Fiction

Molly Weasley (Harry Potter series, by J. K. Rowling)
What’s not to love about the Weasley matriarch? Wise, warm, and one heck of a wand wielder (just ask Bellatrix Lestrange!), Molly is the quintessential mama bear. She loves up her ginger-haired youngins and their friends with an endless supply of bubbly affection, but as anyone who has heard her screeching admonitions knows, that tender heart belies a thunderous power. As one of the original members of the Order of the Phoenix, Molly is committed to protecting the integrity of the wizarding world at all costs. She’ll zap you into oblivion if she has to, but you’re more likely to end up with a mighty fine homemade jumper instead.

Mrs. Darling (Peter Pan, by J. M. Barrie)
One part doting parent, one part elegant lady, and one-and-a-half parts sparkly-eyed Neverland veteran, Mrs. Darling is a delightfully quirky mum. From the moment we arrive at No. 14, it is clear that the lady of the house puts her own spin on British propriety, assuaging her husband’s worries along the way. Per the social norm, they entrust the care of their three children to a very capable nurse. The fact that said nurse is a Newfoundland dog named Nana does not phase Mrs. D. one bit. When the children return from an unsanctioned trip to Neverland, their mother is quick to embrace not just her own babes, but Peter Pan and a scruffy six-pack of lost boys as well, offering them a permanent home. Would you expect anything less from a woman who bears the tell-tale kiss of Pan?

Sally Jackson (Percy Jackson series, by Rick Riordan)
She works long hours at the candy shop. She endures interminable separations from her only child, Percy. And she puts up with her misogynistic bohunk of a husband, Smelly Gabe, because his pungent scent throws off the vicious monsters that are on the hunt to kill Percy, a half-blood fathered by Poseidon. Such are the sacrifices made by Sally Jackson, a lovely woman who had no idea what she was getting into when she got involved with a Greek god. When Sally is not busy ensuring her son’s survival or being held hostage in the underworld, the devoted mom sees to it that she and Percy make the most of their precious time together, preferably at their favorite beachside cabin in Montauk.

Mrs. Murray (A Wrinkle in Time, by Madeleine L’Engle)
Mrs. Murray knows a thing or two about holding it together. In the years since her husband disappeared during a secret government experiment, the flame-haired scientist has raised their four children on her own while continuing her lab work and standing tall amidst a chorus of gossiping townspeople. Through it all, she maintains as much normalcy as possible for the kids, creating special moments together (liverwurst sandwich at midnight, anyone?) and infusing the family with a steady stream of love. Ultimately, these bonds of love become the children’s salvation when they battle the ruler of a dark planet in efforts to reunite their family.

Marmee (Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)
While her cash-strapped contemporaries may aspire to marry their daughters off to wealthy gents, Marmee, though no less wanting in the money department, is quite the renegade: More than anything, she wants her four daughters to be strong of mind, pure of heart, independent of spirit, and true to themselves (but homegirls still have to mind their manners). Marmee’s patented blend of love and patience fortifies Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy as they endure their father’s absence while he fights in the Civil War, and it continues to anchor them throughout the highs and lows of their lives.

Mrs. Quimby (Ramona and Her Mother, Beverly Cleary)
Mrs. Quimby used to appreciate Ramona and spend time with her—until Mr. Quimby lost his job and she went back to work. Now, she favors Ramona’s older sister Beezus, and doesn’t love her younger daughter at all! Or does she? When older sisters, touchy babysitters, school challenges, and parental squabbles get to be too much for Ramona, and all she wants is to be her mother’s wiggly-nosed bunny again, Mrs. Quimby’s wise way of offering reassurance is balm to Ramona’s spirited soul. Thanks to a heaping dose of mama love, Ramona’s special brand of joie de vivre is fully restored.

Miss Honey (Matilda, by Roald Dahl)
Miss Honey may not be a mother at the beginning of Matilda, but by the end of the book, the soft-spoken teacher proves herself to be the best adoptive parent Matilda Wormwood could ever have. Loving, supportive, and attentive, Miss Honey is everything the dastardly Mr. and Mrs. Wormood are not, and she is the first adult in whom Matilda places her complete trust. In the warm embrace of Miss Honey’s acknowledgement, girl-genius Matilda develops her mental powers and uses them to help Miss Honey triumph over Trunchbull, the school’s evil headmistress. The results are as sweet as—what else?—honey.
Which fictional moms top your list of favorites?