Lush Books

Greenglass House Mr. Lemoncello and the Titanium Ticket The Westing Game Charlie and the Chocolate Factory These stories combine puzzles, competition, and mystery, following clever kids navigating high-stakes challenges, uncovering secrets, and using creativity and logic to succeed in unusual settings.   Here’s what they’re about   The Candymakers Four children are invited to compete in a famous candy factory’s annual contest to create the next best sweet. Each contestant bri

The One and Only Ivan The One and Only Bob A Rover’s Story Because of Winn-Dixie Amari and the Night Brothers These stories explore friendship, belonging, and self-discovery, following characters who feel different as they form meaningful connections and find courage in unexpected places.   Here’s what they’re about   The Wild Robot Escapes After being captured and taken from her island home, Roz the robot is sent to work on a farm, far from the animals and life she has come

Guardians of Ga’Hoole Survivors A Wolf called Wonder Pax These stories follow animal protagonists navigating survival, loyalty, and belonging, as they face danger, form bonds, and discover strength in the wild.   Here’s what they’re about   Warriors: Into the Wild Rusty, a house cat, has always dreamed of life beyond his comfortable home. When he ventures into the forest, he discovers a hidden world of wild cat clans, each with its own rules, loyalties, and rivalries. Renamed

The Willoughbys Ottoline and the Yellow Cat The Mysterious Benedict Society The Terrible Two These stories feature quirky humour, eccentric worlds, and clever kids navigating odd adults, using wit, teamwork, and creativity to solve problems and outsmart expectations.   Here’s what they’re about   A Series of Unfortunate Events: The Bad Beginning After their parents die in a terrible fire, Violet, Klaus, and Sunny Baudelaire are sent to live with the sinister Count Olaf. Disgu

The Westing Game Chasing Vermeer The Mysterious Benedict Society These stories feature clever young problem-solvers tackling layered mysteries, using observation, logic, and teamwork to uncover secrets and outwit adults in satisfying, puzzle-filled adventures.   Here’s what they’re about   Nancy Drew: The Secret of the Old Clock Teen detective Nancy Drew is determined to help a family who have been unfairly denied an inheritance. When a mysterious old clock becomes the key to

The Bad Guys Dragon Rider Amari and the Night Brothers These stories blend humour, adventure, and unlikely heroes, following misfit characters who discover courage, friendship, and their own strengths in exciting, imaginative worlds.   Here’s what they’re about   How to Train Your Dragon Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III is the son of a Viking chief — but he’s not exactly the fierce warrior his tribe expects. When it’s time to train a dragon, Hiccup ends up with a small, stubborn

City of the Plague God The Egypt Game The Last Shadow Warrior Eleanor, Alice, and the Roosevelt Ghosts Each of these books blends mystery, history, and a touch of the supernatural, perfect for readers who love spooky adventures grounded in real-world emotion. Here’s what they’re about   The Mummy in the Attic When a strange mummy linked to Ancient Egypt enters his life, Tom McNabb finds himself caught in a mystery that refuses to stay buried. As unsettling events unfold, Tom

It’s pure fun watching a middle grade character who can turn invisible - sneaking past bullies, uncovering secrets, and learning that sometimes the hardest part isn’t disappearing, but being truly seen. Things Not Seen – Andrew Clements A teenage boy wakes up invisible one morning and must uncover why it happened - and how to reverse it - in a heartfelt, humorous suburban mystery. Invisible Emmie – Terri Libenson A shy girl who feels “invisible” at school gets her secret note

Few thrills compare to diving into a middle grade mystery—where every whisper hides a clue, every shadow might be a suspect, and clever kids unravel secrets that even the grown-ups missed. The Westing Game – Ellen Raskin A quirky, twisting puzzle of a mystery as 16 heirs compete to solve Samuel Westing’s will – full of clever clues and laugh-out-loud surprises. Book Scavenger – Jennifer Chambliss Bertman A clever mystery for book lovers – Emily and her new friend James race t

There’s a special kind of fun in adventure stories set in suburbia—where the quiet cul-de-sacs and tidy hedges hide secret maps, midnight missions, and mysteries waiting just beyond the letterbox. The Mummy in the Attic – Mitch Mitchell When Tom McNabb and his best friend Stevie find a strange mummy tucked away in the attic, their sleepy suburban world explodes into invisible mishaps, ancient magic, and backyard mayhem. The Fourteenth Goldfish – Jennifer L. Holm When Ellie’s

Nothing beats the wild thrill of a middle grade adventure — when every clue leads to danger, every secret opens a new door, and ordinary kids discover they’re braver than they ever dreamed. Wildoak – C.C. Harrington A stuttering girl and a snow leopard find each other in a misty Cornish forest — a quiet but powerful adventure about friendship, nature, and courage. The Explorer – Katherine Rundell After a plane crash, four children must survive in the Amazon rainforest, uncov

Stories that tackle bullying help young readers build empathy and courage, showing that standing up for yourself – and for others – can transform fear into strength and kindness into real power. Wonder – R.J. Palacio Though now a modern classic, this remains one of the most heartfelt portrayals of bullying and kindness, as Auggie navigates middle school with courage and empathy. Blubber – Judy Blume A brutally honest look at the shifting dynamics of bullying, belonging, and g

Whether mysterious, mischievous, or downright magical, cats in middle grade stories bring a special kind of wonder—padding silently through plots, stealing scenes, and proving that heroes sometimes have whiskers. Varjak Paw – S.F. Said A young Mesopotamian Blue cat learns a secret feline martial art called “The Way” to defend his family and discover what bravery truly means. The Time-Travelling Cat and the Egyptian Goddess – Julia Jarman When Ka the cat vanishes into a glowin

From loyal sidekicks to talking tricksters, animal characters in middle-grade books remind us of the wonder in seeing the world through different eyes - and the magic of friendships that cross every boundary. The Wild Robot – Peter Brown A stranded robot named Roz learns to live among wild animals, forming unexpected friendships and discovering what it means to belong. Pax – Sara Pennypacker A boy and his fox are separated by war but share an unbreakable bond in this tender,

There’s nothing quite like a funny middle grade book – the kind that makes you snort-laugh in public, grin through the gross bits, and discover that even the spookiest or strangest adventures can leave you giggling. The Super Life of Ben Braver – Marcus Emerson When Ben accidentally lands in a secret school for kids with superpowers, his hilarious attempts to fit in cause more explosions than heroics. Frazzled: Everyday Disasters and Impending Doom – Booki Vivat A doodle-fill

Middle grade stories about self-discovery celebrate the joy of watching young characters uncover who they really are – brave, curious, and capable of far more than they ever imagined The Lonely Heart of Maybelle Lane by Kate O’Shaughnessy Shy, music-loving Maybelle takes a daring road trip to meet the father she’s never known – and finds her own voice and strength along the way. The House That Wasn’t There by Elana K. Arnold When two kids discover their houses are mysterious

Fantasy middle grade books fill the imagination with joy, whisking readers to worlds of magic and mystery where brave hearts, strange creatures, and impossible dreams come vividly to life. The Secret of Nightingale Wood – Lucy Strange In 1919, a lonely girl discovers a hidden forest where strange magic – and an ancient secret – might be the key to saving her family. The Sea in Winter – Christine Day A modern story with a mythic undercurrent, where a young dancer must find h

Middle grade stories about friendship remind us of the joy in finding our people - the ones who make us laugh, stand by us when things get weird, and prove that adventures are always better when shared The Secret Deep by Lindsay Galvin After their mother’s mysterious death, two sisters find themselves on a remote island where science and the supernatural intertwine – forging new friendships amid danger and loss. The Great Pet Heist by Emily Ecton A group of pets band togethe

Middle grade books set in Ancient Egypt capture the joy of exploring a world of golden tombs, secret hieroglyphs, clever curses, and brave kids who dare to uncover the mysteries of the past. The Red Pyramid – Rick Riordan When siblings Carter and Sadie discover their link to the Egyptian gods, they must master ancient magic to stop chaos from consuming the modern world. Mystery of the Egyptian Scroll – Scott Peters A young scribe must solve the disappearance of a stolen scrol

Middle grade hero’s journey stories capture the joy of watching ordinary kids step beyond their comfort zones, face the impossible, and discover the courage, friendship, and heart that make them truly extraordinary The Adventurers Guild by Zack Loran Clark & Nick Eliopulos Two unlikely friends are thrown into a dangerous guild meant to protect their city from monsters – and must uncover dark secrets that threaten everyone they love. The Oddmire, Book 1: Changeling by William