This month we’re highlighting our newly updated list of titles for middle school readers. All of these books feature younger teens making their way in the world, whether in outer space, a haunted house, or their own schools. (Created May 2025)
Simon Sort of Says
After his family moves to a town with massive telescopes and no internet, Simon makes new friends and begins to heal from tragedy.
Format: Book
Availability: Available
View Simon Sort of SaysWestfallen
Three tweens in 2023 communicate by radio with three tweens in the same house, but in 1944. When the 2023 kids reveal the outcome of World War II to the 1944 kids, they wake up to find they live in Nazi America.
Format: Book
Availability: All copies in use
View WestfallenThe Mystery of Locked Rooms
Best friends Sarah, Hannah, and West love puzzles and escape rooms, so when they learn of an escape room no one has solved with a huge prize that would help Sarah save her house, how can they resist?
Format: Book
Availability: All copies in use
View The Mystery of Locked RoomsLifeboat 5
Before they set sail to Canada to escape World War II in Britain, Bess and Beth had never met. After the Nazis sank their ship, they saved each other’s life hanging on to a lifeboat.
Format: Book
Availability: All copies in use
View Lifeboat 5How It All Ends
Tara was looking forward to eighth grade, but when she’s enrolled in ninth grade, she faces a new and terrifying reality she doesn’t think she can adapt to – until she does, with the help of her new friend Libby.
Format: Graphic Novel
Availability: Available
View How It All EndsThe House on Yeet Street
Four boys’ friendship is tested by a haunted house, ghosts, an old curse, and a secret crush.
Format: Book
Availability: Available
View The House on Yeet StreetThe Wrong Way Home
Fern’s secure life changes forever when her mom sneaks the two of them out of their community for a town on the West Coast where they are free to live their lives by their choices for the first time.
Format: Book
Availability: All copies in use
View The Wrong Way HomeThe Fire, the Water, and Maudie McGinn
Maudie’s summer with her dad is changed forever when his house burns down and they move to the coast, where she learns to surf and to face the secret about her stepfather her mom made her promise not to tell.
Format: Book
Availability: Available
View The Fire, the Water, and Maudie McGinnThe Last Dragon on Mars
Lunar Jones is as surprised as anyone when the last dragon on Mars chooses him to be its only rider and save the Martian colony.
Format: Book
Availability: All copies in use
View The Last Dragon on MarsThe Labors of Hercules Beal
Grieving his parents along with his older brother, Hercules moves through life in a daze until his sixth-grade teacher assigns the class projects in mythology, and Hercules must complete the twelve labors of Hercules himself.
Format: Book
Availability: All copies in use
View The Labors of Hercules Beal