Middle Grade Must-Reads of 2025

Middle-grade is a term that is relatively new and refers to books aimed at ages 9 to 12. These are the years when many readers make huge leaps, they can handle more complex plots, richer themes and deeper character development, yet they still want stories filled with heart, imagination and a sense of discovery.

It's also the age when reading habits truly take root. As children gain confidence, they start choosing books for themselves and gravitating towards stories that they connect with, whether that's magic, mystery, history, adventure or light-hearted real-life tales. Today's middle grade shelves reflect just how diverse young readers' interests are. Some still love illustrations, whilst others want complex world building and hundreds of pages. There's no single right 'path', which is why offering choice is so important.

Our Top 10 books for ages 9+ celebrates this incredible variety. You might notice that it doesn't include some of the big-name authors and we think that highlights something really special, that young readers are drawn to great storytelling, not just familiar names, which is exactly why places like Toppsta really matter. And also that it includes a number of shorter books, which can boost confidence and seem less daunting to more reluctant readers.

Don't forget to check out:

The 50 Best Book Series for ages 9+

Best New Picture Books of 2025

Best First Chapter Books for Ages 5+ of 2025

Best New Books for Ages 7 Plus of 2025

Best New Books for Ages 9+ of 2025

Best New Books for Ages 11+ of 2025

Georgina Atwell

Toppsta

2025-12-23

Middle Grade Must-Reads of 2025

Speedwheels 3000: The Race Against Crime

Award-winning teacher-turned author Jenny Pearson has done it again! Our readers love her books for their fun and light-hearted feel but also because they delicately cover topics which resonate with children today. In her latest book, Speedwheels 3000: The Race Against Crime, main character Evie Clutterbuck sneaks into her dad's car boot to join him on the most exciting car race of the entire world! And it's a good thing she does, because her dad gets wrongly accused of stealing FOUR MILLION POUNDS worth of gold! Readers loved joining her on her action-packed mission to clear her dad's name navigating some awkward father-daugher moments and creating poignant memories along the way.

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Stormbreaker: Anniversary Edition

It's no wonder the Alex Rider books have sold over 21 million copies and have often been described as “the not-so-secret weapon to get boys reading”. Readers love this series for its explosive action, fast-paced writing and jaw-dropping plot twists! This special 25th anniversary edition of Stormbreaker, the first book in the Alex Rider series, will be perfect for both diehard fans and newbies alike, plus it has a little surprise at the end: a brand new short story!

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Magicalia: Thief of Shadows

Magicalia by Jennifer Bell is everything we love in a fantasy adventure and our readers especially love the bravery of the characters, their friendships with fantastical beasts and the mystery and magic woven into each book. Book 2 in the series, Magicalia: Thief of Shadows, has been read before school, at bedtime and on repeat by our young reviewers. They loved the twists and magic, the villains, and also catching up with familiar characters and meeting new magicores. Some were new to the series (and didn't feel they needed to read book 1 to feel immersed), others were already fans. As parents, we love that this book has enough action to keep readers engaged and clever storytelling that nudges their reading confidence and curiosity along the way.

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The Last House in the Row

The Last House in the Row written by Lesley Parr and illustrated by Richard Johnson is a book that tugs at the heartstrings. It's a story of a young girl who just wants her cat to stop visiting her very strange and witchy neighbour, only to discover that there's a lot more to her story than she could have ever quite thought. The result is a gentle, heartfelt tale full of empathy, understanding and quiet warmth, with a message at its core about looking beyond first impressions and the unexpected friendships that can blossom when we do.*This is a shorter book, just 112 pages, published by Dyslexia specialists Barrington Stoke, so it has an easy-to-read font and is printed on tinted paper, making it perfect for reluctant readers.

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After

After by Padraig Kenny, is a gripping sci-fi adventure that taps into our real-world worries about AI, perfect for fans of The Last of Us. Fast-paced and packed with twists, it follows a girl fighting to survive in a world where technology has collapsed and destroyed itself and where her own family are among the few remaining human-appearing AIs.

Readers loved the dystopian atmosphere, but also the way the story nudges us to think about our relationship with technology, the lengths we’d go to for the people we love, and how we hold on to hope when everything feels uncertain.

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Shadowhall Academy: Ghost Story Society

If you’re after a genuinely spooky middle-grade read, Shadowhall Academy: Ghost Story Society is a brilliant pick. Set in the 1980s at a haunted boarding school where students disappear, secret tunnels run beneath the halls and strange whispers echo at night, it has all the ingredients for proper goosebumps.

Written by Phil Hickes, author of Aveline Jones, this is the second book in the series, where young Lilian Jones and her friends uncover the school's many secrets. Some readers have found Shadowhall Academy: Ghost Story Society a little scary, so this may not be for the faint-hearted. Have a read, if you dare...

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The Elixir

Reviews continue to roll in for The Elixir by Lindsay Galvin, featuring striking black and white illustrations throughout by Kristina Kister. Imagine a world where magic is forbidden, but you are the only one to have the power to save everyone from a horrible plague. Top it off with Isaac Newton making a cameo appearance, and you have a winner of a read for children aged 9+.

Our readers loved the mix of witchcraft trials, magic, potions and apothecary, while parents and teachers were drawn to the heartfelt messages, especially around courage, prejudice and hope. *This is a shorter book, just 120 pages, published by Dyslexia specialists Barrington Stoke, so it has an easy-to-read font and is printed on tinted paper, making it perfect for reluctant readers.

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The Boy in the Tree

If you're looking for a book that will empower your children, this is IT! The Boy in the Tree written by Lisa Thompson and illustrated by Katie Kear is such a positive read that encapsulates the power of one's love for nature, the meaningfulness of friendship and how standing up for what we believe in can drive an entire community. Children find this book the perfect length, some finishing it in one or two sittings. Parents love the message and the sense of warmth it leaves after reading it. *This is a shorter book, just 104 pages, published by Dyslexia specialists Barrington Stoke, so it has an easy-to-read font and is printed on tinted paper, making it easy to read and perfect for reluctant readers.

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The Mizzy Mysteries: A Skeleton in the Closet

One of the best new series to come out this year has to be The Mizzy Mysteries, the perfect book for all detective wannabes, written by Claire Hatcher-Smith with illustrations from Yaroslava Apollonova and Lester Magoogan. We especially love this because our brilliant protagonist Mizzy has Down syndrome, making this a book that not only feels inclusive but widens our children's experience and empathy, and calls out the grown-ups who underestimate her. Our readers loved the mystery, twists and turns throughout the book, and most of them are already waiting with anticipation for book two!

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Shrapnel Boys

Jenny Pearson is an author we have championed and loved for years, so it's been thrilling to see Shrapnel Boys, her first historical fiction novel, receive such acclaim this year. Set during WW2, the book follows a group of boys at times dodging bombs, at others excitedly collecting the shrapnel left in their wake. Ronnie Smith is one of these boys, and his goal is to help his brother, who has been up to much more than just finding shrapnel. Readers have loved the vivid wartime setting, the humour and heart in the friendships and the brilliant cast of characters. They also think it deserves to be called a future classic!

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Middle Grade Must-Reads of 2025

Speedwheels 3000: The Race Against Crime

Stormbreaker: Anniversary Edition

Magicalia: Thief of Shadows

The Last House in the Row

After

Shadowhall Academy: Ghost Story Society

The Elixir

The Boy in the Tree

The Mizzy Mysteries: A Skeleton in the Closet

Shrapnel Boys

The Children’s Books Adults Loved Most This Year

Top 50 Children's Book Series Loved by Young Readers