As an English teacher, I’m always looking for new books series to recommend to my students. They recently went through the standard Percy Jackson phase that almost everyone goes through in late elementary and early middle school, and while those books are wonderful for readers, I want to highlight a few middle grade series that aren’t Percy Jackson.
The Song of the Lioness by Tamora Pierce
Are you tired of hearing about this series from me yet? No? That’s good; because I’m not done talking about it. This story of Alanna’s quest to become a knight and all of her trials and tribulations along the way is a staple for the fantasy genre for a reason.
This is a great option for middle to late elementary readers who want something that’s on the same level as Percy Jackson, but a little more serious. It will work for readers of all genders (but girls might enjoy it a little more). If you want to introduce your students to fantasy, but want to make sure that they’ll enjoy themselves, this is a great place to start!
A Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket
Though this series had a bit of a Renaissance among young readers following its Netflix adaptation, the original books themselves remain untouchable in their dry wit, tongue-in-cheek approach to horrible situations, and truly excellent characters. The Baudelaire orphans are great ways to understand different character archetypes, while giving readers someone to connect to as they read.
This series is great for middle to late elementary readers, and will easily hook even reluctant readers. I’ll also give them a high sensory score, since the pages have nicely textured edges, and the hardcover books are bound in cloth on the spine, making for a very enjoyable reading experience.
The Nsibidi Scripts by Nnedi Okorafor
It’s time for another book series I won’t stop talking about! This book has remained at the top of Amazon’s bestseller list, and for good reason. The incredibly atmospheric story of Sunny and her introduction to a magical society alongside her own has been affectionately dubbed “the Nigerian Harry Potter”.
This book series would be good for upper elementary and lower middle school readers, since it does have a few more graphic images than the above series. That being said, it’s an amazing series and I highly recommend it.
Avery Carter 