Authors are always getting asked what their favorite books are, and there’s always way too many to actually list, so I thought I’d break it down by genre!

So here we go…my top favorite middle grade books!

The Crestomanci Series by Diana Wynne Jones

In all honesty, all of Jones’ series are wonderful, but I really enjoyed this series and so did my kids. We haven’t finished them all yet, but we’re working our way through them! Charmed Life is the first book, even though a later book happens chronologically before this one. They’re great no matter what order you read them in!

Island of the Aunts by Eva Ibbotson

Again, all of Ibbotson’s novels are wonderfully funny and just plain adorable, but this was the first of her books I read as a child and I went on a search for anything else she might have written on my next trip to the library. My kids loved this one and Which Witch as well, and I need to go buy a new copy of The Secret of Platform 13 because I seem to have lost it somewhere.

Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine

Despite the slight strangeness surrounding Ella’s age in this book, I loved the humor and fun of this book. It’s one I want to read with my daughter. She’s seen the movie, but I think she’ll enjoy the book even more!

Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson

This was one of the first books I remember reading as a kid that really affected me. The reality of life behind their imaginary games truly struck me at that age. It was the first time I experienced losing a character I had connected with. To my young mind, it was shocking, but at the same time starkly real. Even years later when I think about the story it still makes me emotional. Watching the movie with my kids, I saw how it touched them too. Wonderfully deep and thoughtful story everyone of any age should read.

The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster

This is one of those books that even though it seems like it would mostly just be a fun and silly read, it actually makes you think about a lot of things. I remember reading this in school, and having it stick with me. Somehow I never bought a copy, but I plan to so I can share it with my kids.

Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery

My daughter and I just finished reading this and have started on Anne of Avonlea now. I can’t tell you how many times I watched these movies when I was little, but this was actually the first time I’d read the book. I loved sharing it with my daughter and seeing how much she connected with Anne and saw bits of herself in this troublemaking yet sincere little girl.

This is my list. What middle grade books would you add?