Some fun choices here. For “classics”, ours liked The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe”. series at that age.

My daughter was not an advanced reader but enjoyed the Twilight Vampire books in sixth grade. Love story obviously but there is no sex at all in the first 3 books. They get married in the 4th there is a baby which is the plot point so obviously some general discussion occurs.

I read them because we read what our kids are reading or might read to get an idea. I would never recommend them as literature, but safe if your middle school kid wanted to read a more “teenage” book.

Fun side note: there really is a Forks, WA where the stories take place. I had run across a first printing of the first book and had it on eBay. It sold to the Forks WA tourism office.

Hunger Games! If not this year, next! My kids loved the series in 5th.

The Betsy-Tacy series by Maud Hart Lovelace

Anonymous wrote:My kid that age has enjoyed:
Virginia Mysteries (series)

American Girl History Mysteries (they aren’t about the doll characters, and are more advanced than the typical AG books)

Mr. Lemoncello series

Harry Potter

Prairie Lotus

Light Comes to Shadow Mountain

Books we read together when she was younger but would be good for current age, too:
Little House on the Prairie series
Anne of Green Gables series

Other suggestions:
Charlotte’s Webb
Percy Jackson
Wings of Fire

PP and my daughter also loved Anne of Green Gables! Plus she said that's how she learned to use the semicolon lol

My daughter likes Holes and Lord of the Flies. Also the Bell Jar. Maybe that was too much :/

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Judy Blume books were some of my favorites at that age.

Babysitters club, Sweet Valley are easy, fun reads…

"Are you there God? It's me, Margaret" - likely old enough for this Judy Blume classic?

Hated that. Sorry.

Try "The Witch of Blackbird Pond".

Inheritance games, the giver.