50+ Books for 11 and 12 Year Old Boys

I Survived series by Lauren Tarshis
If you have a non-fiction lover, these short middle grade books about big historical events are really fun and high action. They’re a perfect fit for reluctant readers, especially those with low patience for made up stories.

FunJungle Series by Stuart Gibbs
Twelve year old Theodore “Teddy” Roosevelt Fitzroy and his friend Summer McCraken put their heads together to solve the hippo homicide at the FunJungle. Will they crack the case and bring justice to Henry the hippo?

Ghost by Jason Reynolds
This one made it onto the 2025 Everyday Reading Book Club list! I read the first book in this series years ago and have meant to go back for ages and read all four books in the series about four kids chosen for an elite middle school track team. This is a team that could qualify them for the Junior Olympics but only if they can get their acts together. Super readable and wonderful. We’ll only discuss the first one in book club but I’m planning to read all four!

Ground Zero by Alan Gratz
Alan Gratz is a master of historical fiction and his books are always high action through famous moments in history.

Eragon Series by Christopher Paolini
After finding out his destiny of a Dragon Rider, teenage Eragon and his loyal dragon must navigate a dangerous world of magic and power as they struggle to overthrow the evil King Galbatorix. Bart read this whole series years ago when it came out and it’s been fun to see my kids enjoy it now! 

Pendragon by D.J. MacHale
Bobby is a pretty normal fourteen-year-old boy, except for the fact he is going to save the world. He is swept off to a different world called Denduron that is inhabited by a whole host of strange and dangerous beings. He has to figure out his place in the cosmos and figure it out quickly.

The Heroes of Olympus by Rick Riordan
If you love Rick Riordan AND you love the Greek mythology elements of Percy Jackson, this series is an absolute home run. Like Percy Jackson, it takes place at Camp Half-Blood with a whole new cast of characters you’ll love just as much. And, of course, the action is non-stop.

We Dream of Space by Erin Entrada Kelly
Three middle school kids who have nothing in common, except the same science class together, are each working through their own struggles. When put into a space crew to complete a mission, it brings them together in unexpected ways! Lots of great friendships, science and space in this 2021 Newbery Honor book.

Sal and Gabi Series by Carlos Hernandez
Sal and Gabi are the most unlikely friends. Sal a troublemaker and Gabi student council president and very involved in school. When Gabi discovers that Sal can reach through time and space to retrieve anything he wants (including his mom who has passed on), things change quite a bit.

Escape from Mr. Lemoncello’s Library by Chris Grabenstein
This is one of those middle grade novels that took the world by storm – it has been SO popular and for good reason. Mr. Lemoncello is a world-famous game maker AND he’s designed the new city library. And on opening night, there will be a lock-in for kids where they have to solve the puzzles to find the hidden escape route. (You can see why it spent 100 weeks on the NYT Bestseller List). (Full review here)

The Mona Lisa Vanishes by Nicholas Day
This one of my nonfiction picks for the 2024 Everyday Reading Summer Reading Guide. It was the perfect book to read before our family trip to Paris, and it made the visit to the Louvre more fun (not only does it talk about the theft of the Mona Lisa but also about the painting of it, Leonardo da Vinci, and other famous artists). I had no idea about a lot of this history and it’s fast paced and well done! It’s fun for adults and kids alike!

The Bletchley Riddle by Ruta Sepetys and Steve Sheinkin
When Ruta Sepetys and Steve Sheinkin get together to co-write a book about WWII codebreakers, you know that’s a book you aren’t going to want to miss. This story takes place in the summer of 1940 with two siblings who love riddles and puzzles. And they live in the right place for that since they live at Britain’s top secret codebreaking factory, Bletchley Park, where the brightest minds work together to crack the Nazi’s infamous Enigma cipher. My 12 year old and I listened to this together on a trip and we were both gripped.

City Spies by James Ponti
This book was on my 2020 Summer Reading Guide and I’m delighted that Ella enjoyed it too. City Spies is the story of five kids from all over the world brought together to operate out of a secret MI6 base in Scotland, working on cases that adults can’t get anywhere near. It’s clever and funny and fast-paced and a total kid pleaser. This is the first in the series which currently has 3 books.

The Sherlock Society by James Ponti
We LOVE James Ponti at our house – he really does write fantastic mystery/spy novels! This is his newest series, siblings Alex and Zoe Sherlock ditch boring summer jobs to start their own detective agency (because what else would kids with the last name Sherlock do?). With help from their friends, their grandpa’s convertible, and old case files, the sleuthing begins!

Restart by Gordon Korman
After Chase falls off the roof, he comes back to middle school not remembering anything about himself. He has to learn who he was through the reactions of the other kids, but he is not sure he likes the Chase that is being revealed. Will he be able to restart his life and introduce a new Chase?

Fablehaven by Brandon Mull
This is a great series about two kids, Seth and Kendra Sorensen who go to spend a few weeks with their grandparents on their very remote property. It doesn’t take them long to figure out not everything is as it appears. The butterflies and dragonflies in the garden are actually fairies! That is only the beginning of the magical creatures that inhabit Fablehaven. These have been wildly popular in our house this year. (Full review here)

Land of Stories by Chris Colfer
Alex and Conner, sister-brother twins, open up a beloved book of stories only to find themselves sucked into the book. In a mysterious land where magic runs rampant, they find themselves interacting with fairy tale characters they’ve heard about all their lives. The real question is. . . can they ever get home? This series has been especially popular in my house!

Cherub Series by Robert Muchamore
If you have a spy lover, this series is definitely one to pick up. 11-year old James is sent to foster care after the passing of his mom. In foster care he is introduced to Cherub, a highly secretive spy agency only very brilliant kids are allowed to join. Will James be able to pass all of the tests and challenges to be a part of Cherub?

Spy School by Stuart Gibbs
Ben Ripley’s dream job is to work for the CIA, but since he’s only a middle schooler, it’s going to be a tough sell.  Then he is recruited for a special STEM school program, but to his shock and delight the program is actually a front for a junior CIA! Which sounds terrific until he realizes how dangerous spy school really is!

Alex Rider Series by Anthony Horowitz
If you are looking for a series that can be watched after it is read, this one, all about a newly orphaned teen becoming a spy to save the world, has a new TV series on Amazon.

Theodore Boone series by John Grisham
Theodore Boone is 13 years old and obsessed with the law. He dreams everyday of becoming a lawyer is is constantly networking himself and studying the law. Because of his nosy nature, he ends up in the middle of a murder case and only Theo knows the truth about the main suspect. As an adult reader, I didn’t love it nearly as much as his adult mysteries, but it’s still a fun read. (Full review here)

The False Prince by Jennifer A. Nielsen
I read this nearly a decade ago and then again for the Everyday Reading Book Club a couple of years ago and LOVED it so much both times! Ella is also such a huge fan that she begged Bart to listen to it after she finished and had the best time listening to him make predictions about the story.

The Bark of the Bog Owl (The Wilderking Trilogy) by Jonathan Rogers
Think, pre King David, middle-grade adventure fantasy, all with a strong sense of the American South. Plus, it’s all based around the biblical story David and Goliath.

Peter Nimble by Jonathan Auxier
When Peter, a 10-year-old blind orphan, steals a box of magical eyes from a mysterious haberdasher, one pair transports him to a hidden island and sets him on a quest to save a lost kingdom. With a loyal half-horse, half-cat knight by his side, Peter begins a daring adventure to uncover his true destiny.

Watership Down by Richard Adams
I read this classic book, about a band of bunnies fighting for survival, 25 years ago, but I remember loving it! (andI’ve heard raves about the Netflix series).

Way of the Warrior Kid by Jocko Willink
Fifth grader, Marc, is more than relieved that school is out. He hated everything about fifth grade, including gym class, lunch, math and especially the school bully that gave Marc way too much attention. This summer Marc’s Navy SEAL uncle is coming to stay and his plan is to turn Marc into a warrior before school starts again!

Holes by Louis Sachar
Holes is one of my favorite Newbery winners and since my girls love the Wayside School books, I was excited to read this to them a few years back. It was just as good as I remembered and when we finished, we had a special outdoor movie night with our giant screen to watch the film version.

The Wingfeather Saga by Andrew Peterson 
The three gifted Igiby siblings pull together their smarts, heart, and courage to defeat the evil Fangs of Dang who have crossed the dark sea to rule the land with malice.

39 Clues Series by Rick Riordan
Grace Cahill, the last matriarch of the world’s most powerful family, is on her deathbed and makes a quick decision to change her will. Those inheriting anything have to choose between taking a clue or one million dollars. The 39 clues are hidden around the world to reveal the family’s secret to their source of power. Can Dan and Amy put all of the clues together or will they abandon the mission completely to discover what happened to their parents? This series has each book written by a different popular author.

The Green Ember by S. D. Smith and Zach Franzen
This series takes a fun spin on a fantastical story with lead characters Heather and Picket rabbit. They make their way through a land filled with kingdoms, tyrants, and ultimately prove that good conquers evil in the end. This is the first book in a great series!

Michael Vey Series by Richard Paul Evans
Michael Vey, is a seemingly ordinary high schooler, but turns out he actually has special electric powers. It also happens that he isn’t the only one at his school with these strange electric powers. Taylor, a cheerleader, also has them and they come to the attention of a powerful group who wants to gain control over these electric children.

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
I read the entire trilogy, listened to the audio, and still hold firm that The Hunger Games is unbelievably good. It’s one of my favorites, and I highly, highly recommend this beloved series!

The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien
Bilbo Baggins rarely leaves his hobbit home, but is suddenly bombarded with visitors who want to take him on a treacherous journey. The Hobbit is full of adventure you are bound to get sucked into Middle-Earth!

Campground Kids by C.R. Fulton
Isaiah loves camping, but it always happens in his backyard. He has never been real camping. After begging his parents to actually adventure to a real camp site, they surprise him with a trip to the Grand Tetons. But after waking up to a thunderous sound and a broken fence on the second night, some really strange things are happening that Isaiah is determined to figure out.

National Park Mystery Series by Aaron Johnson
This 10 book series is perfect for readers who love exploring the great outdoors, scavenger hunts, and coded messages! Jake, Wes, Amber, and their families embark on a two-month trip to explore ten national parks. But when Jake receives a scrapbook with a mystery to solve from his late grandfather, he must decide whether to solve it alone or trust his friends with the secret.

All Thirteen by Christina Soontornvat
I picked this up when it won the Newbery Honor and LOVED it! This book made the whole true story of the rescue of these thirteen boys come vividly to life for me and even though I knew the ending, I was on the edge of my seat the whole time. If you haven’t read this one yet, now is the time. (Full review here)

Wings of Fire by Tui T. Sutherland
This new middle grade fantasy fiction is a gripping tale about seven dragon tribes that have been at war for generations. A plot is hatched to finally bring an end to the fighting but the five dragonets that are at the heart have a different plan. This series is WILDLY popular!

Percy Jackson by Rick Riordin
I grabbed my mother-in-law’s copy of this book when we were living there and I suddenly found myself without a next book to read to the girls and they are SO INTO it. Seriously, there were shrieks of despair every night when I finished for the evening. I read it back in 2008 and it’s fun to revisit – I enjoyed it MUCH more as a read aloud than I did when I read it solo! (Full review here).

The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster
My mom did the majority of the reading aloud when I was growing up, but this one my dad read to me (and only me!) and I’ll forever have fond memories of it. Plus, it’s just so darn clever.

Last Kids on Earth series by Max Brallier
For kids who love anything monsters and zombies this graphic novel series will be a hit! After monsters took over, Jack Sullivan has been surviving the apocalypse alone in his treehouse while others were zombified or evacuated. As he finds other kids still around, they band together and turn the treehouse into a stronghold to fight back.

Keeper of the Lost Cities by Shannon Messenger
Ella come home from school saying one of her friends was raving about this series. Happily, I happened to have a copy and Ella devoured this book about Sophie doesn’t fit in at school or in her family, in part because she can read minds. Then she meets a boy who has the same powers she does and it turns out there are a lot of secrets about herself and the world around her that she doesn’t know. But she’s going to find out pretty quickly!

The Unwanteds by Lisa McMann
The book starts on the day of the sorting and Alex knows he’ll be an Unwanted, because of his interest in creative endeavors. He’s already been reported for a number of infractions, including scratching images in the dirt with a stick, so it’s no surprise to him when he’s named as one who will be sent to die in the Lake of Boiling Oil. (Full review here)

The Rover’s Story by Jasmine Warga
Resilience is a rover built to explore and discover Mars. As he’s being developed by NASA scientists, the unexpected happens. – he starts developing human emotions. This one sounds like a great one to pick up if you’ve enjoyed The Wild Robot!

The Smartest Kid in the Universe by Chris Grabenstein
12-year old Jake and friends are really upset about the upcoming closure of their school. While visiting the hotel where his mom works, Jake eats a bunch of jelly beans for a snack. However, they aren’t any normal jelly beans – they were being tested as informational pills. Now being the smartest kid in the universe, will Jake be able to figure out a way to save his school?

Booked by Kwame Alexander
His companion book The Crossover is absolutely phenomenal! And in this novel in verse, twelve-year-old Nick learns about the power of words while facing trouble at home, a school bully, and a crush, all with the help from his friend Coby and a rapping librarian who shares inspiring books.

Adventurers Wanted by M.L. Forman
When 15-year-old Alex sees a cardboard sign in a store window, he wanders in and accidentally answers the “Adventurers Wanted” sign. Little did he know he would get a whole lot of dragon-slaying adventure with surprising twists around every corner.

Mexikid by Pedro Martin
This graphic memoir about a family road trip (in an RV) from California to Mexico was so well done. The author and his family are headed to Mexico to bring his grandfather back to live with them in the US and does a great job exploring the dynamics between siblings, family generations, and family history. I loved it so much – it made my top 10 books of the year in 2023!

Diary of a Wimpy Kid series by Jeff Kinney
This beloved graphic novel by many a kid tells and illustrates all the struggles of being a kid. With more than 250 copies sold, it’s no surprise that there are a LOT of Diary of a Wimpy Kid lovers out there. These books are full of hijinks and school settings, plus fun combinations of text and art.

The Big Game by Tim Green
For big football fans, Tim Green (a former NFL player) writes sports novels that middle school boys have grown to love. In this installment, Danny Owens wants to honor his late NFL-star dad by winning the championship and making varsity, but getting caught cheating reveals a secret…he can’t read. With his future on the line, Danny must choose between chasing his father’s legacy or finding his own way.

Ranger’s Apprentice by John Flanagan
Fifteen year old Will has been chosen as a ranger’s apprentice. The Rangers practice magic that makes them invisible so they can protect the kingdom. Their enemy Morgarath is gathering power and his dark forces are soon going to need to be challenged. Bart blew through this whole series recently too!

Amari and the Night Brothers by B.B. Alston
This is a fantasy book that snagged spots on many best of the year lists when it came out. I didn’t want to miss out on this story about a girl who is determined to find her missing brother and discovers that magic is real in the process. We all loved this one!

 

Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer 
This book kicks off the 8 book series which follows Artemis Fowl. His billionaire father who made his fortune as a criminal has just disappeared and Artemis’ mother has a mental breakdown. Which means that it’s entirely up to Artemis to restore the family fortune. Luckily, Artemis happens to be a brilliant criminal mastermind. And he’s determined that kidnapping a fairy and holding her ransom is the best way to save his family. Except he may have underestimated the fairies.

The Wizards of Once Series by Cressida Cowell
You might know of her extremely popular series – How to Train Your Dragon, but in this series Xar, a wizard without magic, and Wish, a warrior with forbidden magic, cross paths in the wildwood and set off on an epic quest that could change their worlds forever.

Nathan Hale’s Hazardous Tales by Nathan Hale
This series is fantastic and teaches so much about history. Everyone has heard of the famous spy, Nathan Hale, famous for his last words, “I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country.” But did you know that he is also a fantastic storyteller? Follow these entertaining and educating stories which Nathan Hale tells to his executioners.

Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling
I have a long history of loving Harry Potter. When my mom started reading the first one to me and my sisters, we only made it through one chapter before we were completely hooked. I also have some very happy memories of snuggling my nursing baby in the my in-laws’ basement, reading the British versions of several of the books. I have read the entire series multiple times, seen all the movies, and I still never get tired of this story.

The Gryphon Chronicles by E.G. Foley 
Set in Victorian England, orphan Jake and his ragtag friends flee through London’s slums with the help of a washed-up “Guardian” knight, escaping a murderous uncle. Packed with magic, monsters, and mayhem, I’ve heard this thrilling tale feels a lot like Harry Potter meets Oliver Twist.

The Warriors series by Erin Hunter
This is an extremely popular book series and the first three books in this series about warrior cats (who knew?) are all included in a Kindle Unlimited membership.