Great Authors for Your Middle School Child (and You!)

Middle school can sometimes be a difficult time to keep your child excited about reading. However, there are some great authors that provide exciting and compeling stories that will be sure the keep anyone's attention. Also, you can be sure that the content will be appropriate for your child. Many of these books are also on the Accelerated Reader list. Obviously, this list is by no means complete. However, it should give you a place to start. Also, don't forget to talk to the teacher, librarian, or reading specialist, if your child's school has one.

Madeleine L'Engle--You won't go wrong with anything that she has written. She is most well known for A Wrinkle in Time, for which she won the Newberry Award. However, the lesser known books that feature the Murry family (A Wind in the Door, Swiftly Tilting Planet, Many Waters, An Acceptable Time) are just as well written. These five books are excellent choices for children who like science, as well as those who are ready to be challenged by what they read (not in the reading level, but by the ideas being presented). L'Engle's books do contain religious themes, but these elements are presented in a unique way that allows the reader to see how the author views God without being too lofty or preachy. Besides these books, L'Engle also has another series which features the Austin family (Meet the Austins, The Moon by Night, Twenty-four Days Before Christmas, The Young Unicorns, A Ring of Endless Light, The Anti-Muffins). In addition, she has many other books that have characters that cross over between books. Her writing is connected in very interesting ways, bridging her two series and her stand alone books into one group. She has written over 40 books, and so there is plenty to choose from if you find that your child likes some of her books. These are also great read-aloud books if you and your child still read together at night.

C. S. Lewis--He is well known for his Narnia books, which are great reads for 5th and 6th graders. However, the love for Lewis does not have to end there. While most of his writing would probably not be enjoyable for middle schoolers, those who are closer to high school might enjoy The Screwtape Letters or his space trilogy (Out of the Silent Planet, Perelandra, That Hideous Strength). These books are definitely at a much more difficult reading level than the Narnia books.

Roald Dahl--Several of Dahl's books have been made into movies (James and the Giant Peach, Matilda, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory), but this shouldn't stop your child from picking up these great books or the ones that haven't made it to the big screen yet. Although his stories are obviously fiction, it is easy to imagine them to be real. They are written to spark your child's imagination. To add to the fun, there is even a Roald Dahl cookbook that features many of the dishes that appear in some of his books. What better way to finish Charlie and the Chocolate Factory than to make your own lickable wall paper? Some of his other books are Dirty Beasts, The Witches, The Twits, George's Marvelous Medicine, Charlie and the Glass Elevator, The BFG, and many more.

Brian Jacques--Before Warriors or Guardians of Ga'Hoole, there was the Redwall series. The Redwall books feature several different types of woodland animal warriors in a medieval setting. These books center around the timeless theme of good versus evil. There are 18 books in this series. However, do note that they were written out of chonological order (the events in the first book are not the events that actually took place first). The Redwall official website lists the books in publication order, as well as chonological order, and can be read either way.

Lois Lowry--The atuhor of books, such as Number the Stars and The Giver, Lowry is a great book for any reader who is ready to dive a little deeper. Her plots are magnificently woven, and her stories are much more than mere plot because they give room for discussion and opinion. Her books cover heavy topics, such as the Holocast and euthanasia, in a way that is not only appropriate for children, but also in a digestable form. Lowry has also won the Newberry Medal award multiple times.

Jody Feldman has a brand new novel called The Gollywhopper Games. This book is very well written, with hints of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Instead of a candy factory, the main character is competing in a contest hosted by a large toy company. The book deals with many of the typical middle school problems--friends, enemies, and handling family issues. Feldman created a main character with true who thinks through his problems before acting.

Obviously, this is not an extensive list by any means. But sometimes, it is easy to forget about the "classic" authors, and you don't always know about the new authors. Also, don't forget to find out what your child's friends are reading.