MG/YA Books Index

This index covers quite a range. Age ranges are quite general and loosely follow where these books might appear in your local library. Many titles will cross over the edge, depending on your local library (and many are cross-listed on the children's novels index; if they will appeal to middle grades students, then they appear here, too)! Please note that books labeled on "YA" are probably too mature in theme/content (not necessarily reading level) for the average middle schooler.

MG=Middle Grades (often in the Children's Section); YA=Young Adult/Teen Section; NH=Newbery Honor; NM=Newbery Medal; PH/M=Printz Honor/Medal

Fantasy/Science Fiction/Steampunk/Etc.

Anderson, M. T. Feed. 2002. YA. NBA finalist. Science fiction.
Applegate, Katherine. The One and Only Ivan. 2012. Talking animals (but very realistic)
Auxier, Jonathan. Peter Nimble and his Fantastic Eyes. 2011. MG. Fantasy.
Barnhouse, Rebecca. The Coming of the Dragon. 2010. MG/YA. Historical fantasy.
Billingsley, Franny. Chime. 2011. YA. Fantasy.
Billingsley, Franny. The Folk Keeper 2000. MG. Fantasy.
Boston, L.M. The Children of Green Knowe. 1955. CH/MG. Fantasy
Boyne, John. The Terrible Thing That Happened to Barnaby Brockett. 2013. MG. Fantasy.
Collins, Suzanne. The Hunger Games (series). 2000's. MG/YA. Dystopian.
Coombs, Kate. The Runaway Princess. 2006. MG. Fantasy
Fforde, Jasper. The Last Dragonslayer. 2012. MG/YA. Fantasy.
Fforde, Jasper. Shades of Grey. 2009. YA. Dystopian.
Funke, Cornelia. The Thief Lord. 2002. CH/MG. Batchelder Award. Magical realism.
Kendall, Carol. The Gammage Cup. 1959. CH/MG. NH. Fantasy
McCall, Guadalupe Garcia. Summer of the Mariposas. 2012. MG/YA. Magical realism.
Ness, Patrick. A Monster Calls. 2011. MG. (Magical realism, maybe?)
Reese, Jenn. Above World. 2012. MG. Fantasy/sci-fi.
Reese, Jenn. Mirage. 2013. MG. Fantasy/Sci-fi.
Rubino-Bradway, Caitlin. Ordinary Magic. 2012. MG. Fantasy.
Schlitz, Laura Amy. Splendors and Glooms. 2012. MG. NH. Fantasy.
Schmidt, Gary. What Came From the Stars. 2012. MG. Fantasy. 
Spinelli, Jerry. Hokey Pokey. 2013. MG. Dream fantasy.
Turner, Megan Whalen. Conspiracy of Kings. 2010. MG/YA. Fantasy.
Turner, Megan Whalen. King of Attolia. 2006. MG/YA. Fantasy.
Turner, Megan Whalen. Queen of Attolia. 2000. MG/YA. Fantasy.
Turner, Megan Whalen. The Thief. 1996. MG/YA. NH. Fantasy.
Westerfeld, Scott. Leviathan. 2009. MG/YA. Best Books for YA's. Steampunk.
Wilson, N. D. 100 Cupboards. 2007. MG. Fantasy. (100 Cupboards Trilogy #1)
Wilson, N. D. Dandelion Fire. 2009. MG. Fantasy  (100 Cupboards Trilogy #2)
Wilson, N. D. The Chestnut King. 2010. MG. Fantasy (100 Cupboards Trilogy #3)
Wilson, N. D. The Drowned Vault. 2012. MG/YA. Fantasy. (Ashtown Burials #2)
Wilson, N. D. The Dragon's Tooth. 2011. MG/YA. Fantasy. (Ashtown Burials #1)


Modern Realism/Realistic Fiction (primarily 1990's and up when the setting is prominent)

Anderson, Laurie Halse. Speak. 2000. upper MG/YA. PM. Read in many 8th grade classrooms.
Birdsall, Jeanne. The Penderwicks. 2005. CH/MG. Realistic fiction.
Green, John. Looking for Alaska. 2005. YA. PA.
Henkes, Kevin. Olive's Ocean. 2005. MG; NH.
Marchetta, Melina. Saving Francesca. 2003. YA.
Myers, Walter Dean. Monster. 1999. YA. PM/NBA finalist/Coretta Scott King. Told in screen play format.
Ness, Patrick. A Monster Calls. 2011. MG. (Magical realism, maybe?)
Palacio, R. J. Wonder. 2012. MG.
Pennypacker, Sara. Summer of the Gypsy Moths. 2012. MG.
Perara, Anna. The Glass Collector. 2012. YA.
Schmidt, Gary. Trouble. 2008. MG/YA.
Stead, Rebecca. Liar and Spy. 2012. MG.



Historical Fiction (includes novels set in 1980's and before when the setting is prominent...)

Anderson, Laurie Halse. Chains. 2008. MG/YA. NBA. Scott O'Dell Award. Revolutionary war/slavery. Historical fiction.
Barrow, Randi. Finding Zasha. 2013. MG. WWII Russia. 
Coker, Rachel. Interrupted. 2012. YA. WWII era.
Donnelly, Jennifer. A Northern Light. 2004. YA; PH. early 20th c. North Woods. Historical fiction.
Gantos, Jack. Dead End in Norvelt. 2011. MG. NM. 1960's. 
Lai, Thanha. Inside Out and Back Again. 2011. MG. Vietnam War. novel-in-verse.
Larson, Kirby. Hattie Ever After. 2013. MG/YA. Early 20th c.
MacDonald, Maryann. Odette's Secrets. 2013. MG. WWII. Novel-in-verse.  
McGraw, Eloise. The Golden Goblet. 1961. CH/MG. NH. Ancient Egypt.  
Robinson, Mabel. Bright Island. 1937; re-issued 2012. MG/YA. Old-fashioned setting.  
Schmidt, Gary. Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster Boy. 2004. MG/YA. NH, Printz.
Schmidt, Gary. Okay for Now. 2011. MG. 1960's.
Schmidt, Gary. The Wednesday Wars. 2007. MG. 1960's
Selznik, Brian. The Invention of Hugo Cabret. 2007. CH/MG. Caldecott. Early 20th c.
Selznik, Brian. Wonderstruck. 2011. CH/MG. Early-mid 20th century.
Sepetys, Ruta. Between Shades of Gray. 2011. YA. WWII era/Russia. Historical fiction
Smith, Sherri. Flygirl. 2008. YA. WWII.
Vanderpool, Clare. Moon Over Manifest. 2010. MG; NM. WWI/Depression jointly. Historical fiction.
Vanderpool, Clare. Navigating Early. 2013. MG. WWII. Historical fiction/magical realism. 
Wein, Elizabeth. Code Name Verity. 2012. YA. WWII era/Nazi occupied France. Historical Fiction.
Wood, Maryrose. The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place #1: The Mysterious Howling. 2010. MG. 


Adventure and Mystery Novels

Boyce, Frank Cottrell. Cosmic. 2010. MG. Adventure (with some sci-fi thrown in)
Dowd, Siobhan. The London Eye Mystery. 2007. MG. Mystery.
Feinstein, John. Rush for the Gold: Mystery at the Olympics. 2012. MG/YA. Mystery.
Holl, Kristi. Fading Tracks (a FaithGirlz Boarding School Mystery). 2008. MG.
Shoemaker, Tim. Code of Silence. 2012. MG/YA. Mystery
Wilson, N.D. Leepike Ridge. 2007. MG.  Adventure novel.


Graphic/Cartoon Novels

Frye, Michael. The Odd Squad: Bully Bait. 2013. MG. Cartoon/notebook novel. 
Kinney, Jeff. Diary of a Wimpy Kid. 2007. MG. Cartoon novel.
Kipling, Rudyard. Just So Comics: Tales of the World's Wildest Beasts. 2013. Graphic novel.  
Yang, Gene Luen. American Born Chinese. 2006. MG/YA. PA + Many other awards. Graphic novel.


Nonfiction

DiCristofano, Carolyn. A Black Hole is Not a Hole. 2012. MG
Fleming, Candace. Amelia Lost. 2011. MG
Heiligman, Deborah. Charles and Emma: the Darwins' Leap of Faith. 2009. YA, PH, NBA. Literary nonfiction.
Menzel, Peter. What the World Eats. MG
Murphy, Jim. The Invincible Microbe: Tuberculosis and the Never-Ending Search for a Cure. 2012. MG/YA.
Rappaport, Doreen. Beyond Courage: The Untold Story of the Jewish Resistance During the Holocaust. 2012. MG/YA.
Richardson, Gillian. 10 Plants that Shook the World. 2013. CH/MG.
Sheinkin, Steve. Bomb: The Race to Build--and Steal--the World's Most Powerful Weapon. 2012. MG/YA. NH, Sibert, YALSA. 
Sheinkin, Steve. Lincoln's Grave Robbers. 2013. MG. 
St. Stephen's Community House. It's Not All Black and White: Multi-Racial Youth Speak Out. 2012. MG/YA.
Washburn, Kim. Heart of a Champion: The Dominique Dawes Story. 2012. MG/YA
Whelan, Joan Morrison. Home Front Girl. 2012. MG/YA.