Reading Lists
We are huge readers in our home. But finding quality things to read that align with our family values can be a true challenge. Here is our growing list of books for middle school/teen readers. We want clean books (no sex, sexuality discussions). Sometimes there might be action/fighting, but the violence is not gruesome. Audible listens are marked with 🔵. Always use your own discretion with your own family.
Mystery
The Mona Lisa Vanishes: A Legendary Painter, A Shocking Heist, and the Birth of a Global Celebrity by Nicholas Day (also in non-fiction)
The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place by Maryrose Wood (6 books)
The Book Scavenger Series by Jennifer Bertman (3 books)
Shakespeare Mystery Series by Deron R Hicks (2 books)
Lost Art Mysteries by Deron R Hicks (3 books) 🔵
The Blackgaard Chronicles by Phil Lollar (5 books)
Sherlock Holmes by Arthur Conan Doyle (2 books)
The Diamond Brothers by Anthony Horowitz (7 books)
Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart (4 books)
Adventure
Ascendence Series by Jennifer Nielsen (5 books)
The Rithmatist by Brandon Sanderson 🔵
Al Capone Does My Shirts by Gennifer Choldenko
From the Mixed Up Files of Mrs. Basil E Frankweiler by EL Konigsburg
Mrs Frisby & The Rats of Nimh by Robert O'Brien (3 books)
Fever 1793 by Laurie Halse Anderson
The Vanderbeekers by Karina Yan Glaser (7 books)
Mr Lemoncello's Library by Chris Grabenstein (6 books)
Incredible Worlds of Wally McDoogle by Bill Myers (also comedy! 27 books)
The Daring Adventures by Peter Reese Doyle (12 books)
The Scarlet Pimpernell by Baroness Orczy
The Borrowers by Mary Norton (5 books)
Wanted: Superheroes by Bryan Davis (3 books)
Wayside School by Louis Sachar (4 books)
Rose Legacy by Jessica Day George (3 books)
The Candy Makers by Wendy Mass (2 books)
Very Nearly Honorable League of Pirates by Caroline Carlson (3 books) 🔵
Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawles 🔵
Peter and the Star Catchers by Dave Barry (also a series, we've only read the first one) 🔵
Holes Series by Louis Sachar (2 books)
The View from Saturday by EL Konigsburg
Lawn Boy Series by Gary Paulsen
Historical Fiction
The Winged Watchman by Wilda van Stockum
Al Capone Does My Shirts by Gennifer Choldenko
From the Mixed Up Files of Mrs. Basil E Frankweiler by EL Konigsburg
Fever 1793 by Laurie Halse Anderson
The Scarlet Pimpernell by Baroness Orczy
Epic Order of Seven byJennifer L Cote (9 books)
Lineage of Grace: 5 Stories of Women in the Lineage of Jesus by Francine Rivers (5 books, some romance)
Seventeenth Swap by Eloise McGraw
Pride & Prejudice by Jane Austen
By the Great Horn Spoon by Sid Fleischman 🔵
The Golden Goblet by Eloise Jarvis McGraw 🔵
Perilous Road by William O Steele 🔵
Black Horses for the King by Anne McCaffrey
Secret of the Sealed Room: A Mystery of Young Ben Franklin by Bailey McDonald
Peacemaker by Joseph Bruchac
Blood on the River: Jamestown Series by Elisa Carbone
Mara, Daughter of the Nile by Eloise Jarvis McGraw
Detectives in Togas by Henry Winterfield
Mystery of the Roman Ransom by Henry Winterfield
A Single Shard by Linda Sue Park
Fantasy
Tress of the Emerald Sea by Brandon Sanderson 🔵
Alcatraz vs the Evil Librarians by Brandon Sanderson (6 books) 🔵
The Hobbit by JRR Tolkien 🔵
Ranger's Apprentice by John Flanagan (11 books) 🔵
Royal Rangers by John Flanagan (7 books) 🔵
Rangers: The Early Years by John Flanagan (2 books) 🔵
Brotherband Chronicles by John Flanagan (9 books) 🔵
Lord of the Rings Series by JRR Tolkien (3 books) 🔵
The Wingfeather Saga by Andrew Peterson (4 books) 🔵
Wilderking Trilogy by Jonathan Rogers (3 books)
Green Ember Series by SD Smith (4 books) 🔵
Green Ember Archer Series subseries by SD Smith (3 books) 🔵
Green Ember: Old Natalia Series subseries by SD Smith (3 books) 🔵
Keeper of the Lost Cities Series by Shannon Messenger (10+ books) 🔵
Books of Bayern Series by Shannon Hale (4 books)
Princess Academy Series by Shannon Hale (3 books)
Castle Glower Series by Jessica Day George (5 books) 🔵
Enchanted Forest Chronicles by Patricia Wrede (4 books)
Adventures in Odyssey Passages by Paul McCusker (also allegory 2 books)
Dragon Keeper Chronicles by Donita K Paul (5 books)
Valley of Dragons Saga subseries by Donita K Paul (3 books)
King Raven Trilogy by Stephen Lawhead (3 books)
Harry Potter by JK Rowling (7 books) 🔵
Chronicles of Narnia by CS Lewis (7 books) 🔵
Til We Have Faces: A Myth Retold by CS Lewis (contains serious themes)
Space Trilogy by CS Lewis (3 books, contains serious themes)
Damar Saga by Robin McKinley (2 books)
A Wrinkle in Time Quintet by Madeline L'Engle (5 books)
The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place by Maryrose Wood (6 books)
The Underlander Chronicles by Suzanne Collins (5 books)
Percy Jackson and the Olympians by Rick Riordan (7 books) 🔵
DragonHeart Series by Stephanie Burgis (2 books)
The Reckoners by Brandon Sanderson (3 books, contains brief descriptions about women's figures) 🔵
Mistborn Saga by Brandon Sanderson (3 books, contains some descriptions about women's figures) 🔵
Magician's Elephant by Kate DiCamillo 🔵
The Girl Who Drank the Moon by Kelly Barnhill 🔵
Christian/Allegory
Epic Order of Seven byJennifer L Cote (9 books)
Lineage of Grace: 5 Stories of Women in the Lineage of Jesus by Francine Rivers (5 books, some romance)
Wilderking Trilogy by Jonathan Rogers (3 books - story of David set in the bayou)
Prince Warriors by Priscilla Shirer (4 books)
Adventures in Odyssey Passages by Paul McCusker (also allegory 2 books)
The Daring Adventures by Peter Reese Doyle (12 books)
Non-Fiction
America's Hidden History: Untold Tales of the First Pilgrims, Fighting Women, and Forgotten Founders Who Shaped a Nation by Kenneth C Davis
The Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference by Malcolm Gladwell
Joni: An Unforgettable Story by Joni Eareckson Tada
What the Dog Saw and Other Stories by Malcolm Gladwell
The Hiding Place by Corrie ten Boom 🔵
Born Again by Chuck Colson
Operation Paperclip: The Secret Intelligence Program that Brought Nazi Scientists to America by Annie Jacobsen
Stoned: Jewelry, Obsession, and How Desire Shapes the World by Aja Raden
The Mona Lisa Vanishes: A Legendary Painter, A Shocking Heist, and the Birth of a Global Celebrity by Nicholas Day
Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson 🔵
Amoeba Sisters Cartoon Guide to Biology by Sarina Peterson
The Faithful Spy: Dietrich Bonhoeffer and the Plot To Kill Hitler (graphic novel) by John Hendrix
Star Wars
Thrawn Ascendency by Timothy Zahn (3 books)
Star Wars: Thrawn Trilogy by Timothy Zahn (3 books)
Thrawn, Alliances, & Treason by Timothy Zahn (3 books)
Recommended To Me (But Not Yet Read)
The Boggart Series by Susan Cooper (3 books)
Edge of Extinction Series by Laura Martin (2 books)
Dark Is Rising Sequence by Susan Cooper (5 books)
Street Rats of Aramoor by Michael Wisehart (6 books)
A Place to Hang the Moon by Kate Albus
Fablehaven by Brandon Mull (5 books, we stopped because the audiobook was intense and we don't like intense things)