Great Middle Grade Reads discussion

Everyone knows Jeff Kinney books. More power to him for making reluctant readers want to carry around his books like they've been slathered with glue. I admire (in a slightly ironic way) his ability to stretch 19,000 words into 224 page books written at a rather elementary level that appeal to kids at least to the seventh grade (from what I've seen in middle schools). But what is there for guys to read after they've outgrown Greg Hefley? You know, something a bit more sophisticated, without stick drawings, but still life-in-school related. That's the gap I believe needs to be filled.

What I would like are the titles of books that could answer the above question. Please don't go into adventure/sci-fi/dystopia/fantasy/genres that couldn't be grouped with WK books. I'd appreciate all the names you could come up with. Karen Yingling (of Ms. Yingling Reads, an amazing blog for middle school books) was able to furnish me with maybe 10 titles that could be classified as romantic comedies for boys (the genre, if it exists, in which I had the most interest). They included:
Rachel Spinelli Punched Me in the Face (Acampora)
The Summer I Got a Life (Fink)
Beauty and the Bully (the one, in my opinion, that comes closest to that category)
Son of the Mob (Korman)
24 Girls in 7 Days (Bradley)
Burger Wuss (Anderson)
However, just about every book here concerns kids in high school, going to the prom, working at an after-school job, etc. Where are the books that are like Wimpy Kid, but not cartoony, and deal with middle school life (and possibly romance)?
Thanks for your input.
Sincerely,
Daniel Berenson

The very popular Origami Yoda series fits this description nicely. Also James Patterson has a recently started a contemporary middle grade series. His book covers look very Wimpy Kidesque, but I haven't ready any of them personally.

Anything by Gary Schmidt. He is awesome. http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/91...

Love Gary Schmidt! His Okay for Now was soooooo good -- neither the title nor the book cover do it justice.

Does, The Outsiders, fit with what you are looking for, or more along the lines of, The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian?

Rebecca, I personally would consider those at least a full two steps above WK.

For something just a little more advanced, in which the kids are still kids, don't forget Jerry Spinelli. Hokey Pokey is an ode to the last days of childhood, and magical for a child with an open mind.

If the child is not ready even for that, try Sideways Stories From Wayside School et al by Louis Sachar.

And back to something a bit more sophisticated is Jungle Dogs by Graham Salisbury.

Oh, and don't forget Joey Pigza Swallowed the Key etc. by Jack Gantos. Some of your struggling readers may be undiagnosed ADDH or have a classmate who is coping. But even if they're not, the stories are just plain LOL.

The Alex Rider Series, Margaret Peterson Haddix' series: The Missing and the Shadow Children Series and hopefully this fall, the Crime Travelers Series (That would be mine ;-))

Can't forget Frindle by Andrew Clements!

Hoot, Flush, Scat, and Chomp by Carl Hiaasen

And don't forget:

Holes by Louis Sachar! Excellent!

And I am partial to Gasparilla's Treasure, The Forgotten Secret, and That Pet Finder Kid - Catnapped by Scott Clements.

Not much romance in any of these, but all good clean fun for the middle school boys.

Daniel, I think my students are attracted to DOAWK books because of the humor rather than the romance. Other humorous novels set in middle school are Schooled, No More Dead Dogs, and Ungifted by Gordan Korman, the Charlie Joe Jackson series by Tom Greenwald, Liar, Crush, and Vote by Gary Paulsen, and maybe Geeks, Girls and Secret Identities by Jung or Lenny Cyrus, School Virus by Schrieber if they are willing to try some Scifi.

Oh, and my son (and myself) certainly enjoyed the Peter and the Starcatchers series. A great adventure series!!

Daniel wrote: "Everyone knows Jeff Kinney books. More power to him for making reluctant readers want to carry around his books like they've been slathered with glue. I admire (in a slightly ironic way) his abilit..."

Here's one that might fit your "romantic comedies for boys" category, Daniel, although it probably spans late middle grade, early YA:
How Lamar's Bad Prank Won a Bubba-Sized Trophy . It's a really great book by Crystal Allen, and can't believe I forgot to mention it before. The voice of the main character is so authentic and funny.

I don't recall the exact age range, but when my son was younger (upper grade school), he liked the Time-Warp Trio books, by Jon Szieszka. Three friends have a magic book which transports them to various times in history (King Arthur's time, pirate days, etc.).

The Warriors series seems to be late middle-grade (lots of fighting and death), but they're a hit! Be warned: There are a whole lot of them out!

I don't think this series is necessarily AFTER the DW books, but what about the The Day My Butt Went Psycho series by Andy Griffiths. Or the Malice and Havoc by Chris Wooding. Or possibly the Skeleton Creek series by Patrick Carman (with the online tie-in).

I don't know if you'll agree that this fits exactly but I think it's a similar style of book - I just finished Gangsta Granny and I LOVED it! Wonderful book - and tackles a very important social topic of attitudes towards/treatment of the elderly...but in a very non-preachy, humorous way. Think reluctant readers (boys) would really enjoy it. It is very "British" but I don't think that necessarily spoils your enjoyment if you aren't British yourself - and might prompt some interesting discussions with the child about different countries cultures, havbits, etc.

Anyway, I really recommend it! :-)

Hsin-Yi

Some one may have already mentioned The Ranger's Apprentice series. Rocking adventure with some funny moments.

I'm thinking the Hank the Cowdog books would have a similar appeal and reading level. They are very funny, and led my boys into reading fiction. They went from there to Redwall and Warriors, as well as Percy Jackson.

I love the Rick Riordan books. I have seen them in so many school libraries and in the hands of many middle grade boys.

The Janitor series are very popular
Also, Hatorri Hachi series by Jane Prowse are very good, It stars a girl but her two side-kicks are guys.

M.G. wrote: "The very popular Origami Yoda series fits this description nicely. Also James Patterson has a recently started a contemporary middle grade series. His book covers look very Wimpy Kidesque, but I ha..."
The Origami Yoda books by Tom Angleberger are perfect! The book order from #1-#4: The Strange Case of Origami Yoda; Darth Paper Strikes Back; The Secret of the Fortune Wookie; The Surprise Attack of Jabba the Puppet.

Check out books by Gordon Korman, Gary Paulsen, Roland Smith, Bill Wallace, and Dan Gutman. And what about The 39 Clues series?

I work with some high school boys and they are always hard to motivate. I will take your suggestions to them. Thank You.

My 12 year old fits this description 100%

We just found a great series that he really loves.
Dying to Meet You by Kate Klise. It is the first in a series of 6 books
https://www.goodreads.com/series/5263...

The books are written as letters between the main characters. The storyline is interesting and keeps us laughing. There are just enough illustrations to make it fun! Unlike the WK books, the vocabulary is varied and challenging. We both love it!

Londa wrote: "My 12 year old fits this description 100%

We just found a great series that he really loves.
Dying to Meet You by Kate Klise. It is the first in a series of 6 books
https://www.goodreads.com/ser..."
I read the first of these when it came out -- didn't realize that it was a series now!

I suggest The Offenders: Saving the World While Serving Detention! It's a step up from the WK series, but still offers boys a PLENTY of humor, talk about video games & evil sisters, plus lots of funny illustrations and even a flip book. The characters are also extremely defined and interesting for an MG book. Five middle grade bullies get superpowers, but instead of transforming into cool characters, they take on the characteristics of the kids who they pick on. It really does a lot to show kids how mean they can be to each other and not even know it. But it's funny enough that kids won't think they're being preached to. http://jerrycraft.net/offenders.html Enjoy!

The Offenders: Saving the World, While Serving Detention!

Here are a few which might appeal,Daniel:

Big Nate: In a Class by Himself

Justin Case: School, Drool, and Other Daily Disasters

Middle School: The Worst Years of My Life(part of a series)

I always find www.fantasticfiction.co.uk an invaluable resource when looking for 'books like...'

I really enjoyed The Janitor's Boy by Clements. It was GR recommended, and I am glad it was. As the son of the janitor at school, Jack is sick and tired of the embarrassment, and decides to do something about it. It was kind of a unique idea, and a good, quick read with real heart. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...

I would second Big Nate: In a Class by Himself, My Life as a Book and Timmy Failure: Mistakes Were Made, even Stick Dog was also cute.

Thank you so much! This thread is great. I've been looking for books to introduce to my students that are stuck on WK series, and I've tried to hook them on most of the books I've seen listed here. Now I know I was on the right track.

I will add Hank Zipzer series to the list, unless I missed it already. I have had wonders with this series this school year.

I have field tested my story with a grade 5 and they went nuts over my Mysteries of the Red Coyote Inn, the Adventures of Dean Banks.
Amazon, Smashwords, Omnilit.
Hope someone checks them out.

Scare Scape, by Sam Fisher. Published by Scholastic Press 2 months ago. Boys LOVE this book. There are 30 pages of drawings of the monsters that come to life from a comic book series in this well-written, humorous adventure. It encourages the boys to read a full-blown novel.
I accompanied the author to a school reading and was tickled by how excited the boys (and girls, too!) were about this book. The teachers could hardly convince them to go back to class!

The Forgotten Door by Alexander Key is an older book, but still a great MG read. Science Fiction.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/photo/...

I will have to check that one out , Mark- I was just thinking of new ones to suggest to my preteen students at school.

Mark wrote: "The Forgotten Door by Alexander Key is an older book, but still a great MG read. Science Fiction.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/photo/..."

Love that book! Glad to see Scholastic is bringing it back! Key is amazing! Thanks for the share, Mark!

I love Rick Riordan Series

Has anyone read the Seven Wonders series? The first book Colossus Rises reads pretty much like a Percy Jackson book. (In fact, I had to turn it around and look at the front cover to make sure it didn't really say Rick Riordan at the bottom). I've only just started it, but so far it's got a feel of "what if Percy Jackson is actually part of X-Men?" going on.

V.K. wrote: "Has anyone read the Seven Wonders series? The first book Colossus Rises reads pretty much like a Percy Jackson book. (In fact, I had to turn it around and look at the front cover to make sure it di..."

Yup and the second one is out now as well. I thought it was okay and it did run in the same group as Percy Jackson.
If you like that series another one along the same track is Loki's Wolves and Wolf Brother. My junior highers enjoyed both.

just read two you might like. No dogs are killed in this book, or parents either :)
Lunch Money and Lion Boy. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/4...
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5...

Firegirl by tony abbott - mc is a boy.

Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli

Holes by Louis Sachar

Middle School the worst days of my life James Parreson

My upper middle grade book, Thirteen, is designed for boys who don't like reading. I kept the pace fast, lots of action, very little descriptive setting scenes, and made it identifiable for the reader. I've bribed non readers to read the first two chapters and they then couldn't put it down until it was done.

It's in the way books are designed and understanding why reluctant readers are reluctant.

For those that I know, the reason they hated reading growing up was they couldn't see the pictures that were being described. They would get lost in the multitude of words being used. That's why the diary of a wimpy kid series is so successful. it's 19 000 to the point words. No flowery descriptions, just the story.

Brandt Legg has a new series out Outin and the Outview movement.
Totally engaging and no profanity, clean reading with lots of paranormal action and adventure. I had recommended to some of my middle school boys and they are loving it! Legg writes with a passion to inspire young boys! Check him out!

How about The Spiderwick Chronicles or the Septimus Heape books? They're both great series.

I’ve recommended the Outin series to some of my teen male students and they are really into it now!
Brandt Legg- Outin Trilogy.

My son is one of these reluctant readers. He can read on a very high level, but doesn't really enjoy it. He likes to carry around books, not really read them. lol

He's read all the DoWK books, has made his way through Patterson's Middle School. Has a couple of the Origami Yoda books, but I don't think he's read them all.

He's now 13 and will soon be going into high school, so I need all the titles you can give me. He doesn't really like anything paranormal, though, so that can be tough.

He checked out SPHDZ from the library to read over the break, but so far all I've heard from him about the book is that it is "weird".

Keep the recommendations coming!

Lea, he's just a year behind my younger son. I recommend you give him Douglas Adams and Terry Pratchett.

Lea wrote: "My son is one of these reluctant readers. He can read on a very high level, but doesn't really enjoy it. He likes to carry around books, not really read them. lol

He's read all the DoWK books, ha..."

I would try Jordan Sonnenblick. They are funny and serious and fun reads:

Thanks!

What a great thread. You could try the Mrs. Piggle Wiggle books. They are hilarious and I was surprised how my kids related to stories written so long ago. In the same vein, A Long Way From Chicago was gobbled up by every person in my house.

Yeah, Richard Peck is pretty popular in my house.