Adventure Books for Middle Schoolers
These adventure books for middle schoolers are perfect for kids who love thrilling stories. Not only are they full of interesting characters and plot lines, but they also offer important life lessons that can help young readers navigate the ups and downs of growing up.
It’s one of our favorite genres, as the stories can spark imagination, foster critical thinking skills, and even inspire readers to step out of their comfort zone.
From heartwarming tales of friendship to edge-of-your-seat suspense, these middle grade books are filled with adventure. There’s an exciting story on this list for everyone.

These are some of the best books for middle schoolers looking for adventure. They definitely deserve a spot on your teen’s reading list. They may just become their favorite books!
Adventure Books for Middle Schoolers
One way to get your teen reading more is to surround them with good books. Fill your bookshelves, read them as a part of a middle school book club, and add them to your language arts lesson plans.
When kids read adventure stories, they’re engrossed in action and intrigue, riding never-ending twists and turns, constantly sidestepping disaster, while enjoying every minute.
It’s no wonder that many middle schoolers willingly choose to read stories of adventure.
Luckily, there are many great middle grade books out there, written with the interests and issues of tweens and teens in mind.
What are Adventure Novels?
An adventure book is a story in which the main character embarks on a journey, filled with challenges and suspense. Good adventure books are often fast-paced and filled with exciting plot twists.
While they can be enjoyed by readers of all ages, they are especially popular among young readers.
The adventure novels on this list all have main characters who are young people, who must use their wit and courage to overcome the obstacles in their path. This makes them relatable and exciting for tweens and teens.
Whether they are facing danger in a far-off land or solving a mystery closer to home, these tales offer young readers the chance to escape into a thrilling story.
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How Can Reading Adventure Stories Help Teens?
Adventure stories can help tweens and teens think more deeply about their world while learning some important life lessons.
This book genre helps kids understand that often, they can solve hard problems with courage and perseverance.
The characters in these books also teach young people the importance of loyalty, empathy and personal responsibility.
Reading about a character’s challenging situation will also help your young teen build critical thinking skills. As they follow their favorite character’s wild journey, they’ll be thinking of creative ways to solve the problem.
Plus, these stories are just plain fun and can foster a love of reading!
So if you’re looking for an exciting read for your middle schooler, look no further than this list of 25 awesome adventure novels.
Hopefully, through this list of middle-grade books, you’ll find some new titles to introduce to your kids.

Reading and Technology
Do you love the idea of expanding your tweens’ reading list, but getting them to read is a hassle? Consider switching over to audiobooks. Kids can listen on their devices or you can play the books in the car as you run your errands.
If you haven’t ventured into eBooks with your young teen yet, try it, especially for your enthusiastic readers.
More Book Lists for Teens
Interested in additional stories to add to your teen’s reading list? Check out these book recommendations.
- Newbery Award Winning Medal Books for Middle School
- 25 Amazing Animal Books for Kids
- Historical Fiction Books for Middle School
- Fantasy Books for Middle School
- Classic Books for Middle School
- Middle School Biography Books
- Personal Growth Books
Here are some of our favorite YA books and a great place to start for kids looking for a wild adventure!
Best Adventure Books for Teens
For your adventure-loving tweens and teens, these young adult books are sure to keep them engaged and get them excited about reading.
They're some of the best adventure books for this age group.
Two best friends go on a camping trip to the isolated woods, only to get lost. Jocelyn and her best friend Alex discover a hidden strength in their friendship that's fractured in recent years as they face the dangers of the wilderness in order to survive.
Filled with excitement, tension and suspense, this is an unforgettable story of courage and adventure.
This classic novel by Jules Verne follows the thrilling quest of Phileas Fogg and his valet as they traverse the world in just 80 days.
Along their journey they visit exciting, far-flung destinations while attempting to stay one step ahead of a relentless detective - an exhilarating race against time that will keep readers enthralled from start to finish.
In this first installment, two twelve-year-olds must solve a series of puzzles and riddles to uncover the hidden clues in Garrison Griswold's newest game.
But they must hurry, as a mysterious attacker is hot on their trail and determined to stop them.
The Bridge Home is a powerful story of friendship and resilience in the face of extreme hardship.
Following Viji and her older sister Rukku, readers will be captivated by the characters’ courage as they face danger to survive on their own as homeless children in Chennai, India.
This timeless classic and winner of national book awards tells the incredible story of Mafatu, a Polynesian boy who is so terrified of the sea that he has become an outsider among his own people.
With courage and determination, Mafatu embarks on a daring voyage across the open waters and discovers just how resilient he truly is.
This timeless classic will take readers on an imaginative journey to the amazing Chocolate Factory of Willy Wonka, where Charlie Bucket must use his courage and pure heart to outwit the other contestants in order to win the grand prize.
Along the way, you'll get transported into this fantastical world, meet a host of eccentric characters and unforgettable surprises that make this story truly magical.
This first book in a series follows Helicity, a young girl with an affinity for the weather and her own unique name.
When tragedy strikes her hometown, she is forced to make difficult decisions that will shape both her family's future and her own.
This thrilling novel follows Sara Martinez, a hacker who is recruited by a secret MI6 agency to join the City Spies, a team of five children from around the world that are trained in espionage and tasked with saving the world.
With high-octane action, gripping suspense, and diverse characters, City Spies is sure to keep readers on the edge of their seats.
Mia Chen embarks on a thrilling Grand Adventure in China with her family, only to find her beloved Aunt Lin has mysteriously disappeared after the arrival of an old nemesis.
With the help of an ancient map filled with riddles, Mia and her brother Jake must work together to solve clues and rescue Aunt Lin, while also hoping to uncover a long-lost treasure.
In this story, adventure awaits as Kyle Keeley teams up with 11 fellow students to compete in a series of puzzles and clues in order to find the hidden escape route from the library.
With the help of his favorite game maker, Luigi Lemoncello, these young boys and girls will have to use his wits and problem-solving skills to make it out before time runs out.
Four adventurous kids brave the Amazon jungle and uncover a mysterious secret after their plane crashes.
Along the way, they rely on each other to survive and make it out alive, all while discovering the hidden secrets of a ruined city.
This thrilling adventure story follows a courageous girl on her mission to rescue a missing person.
Embark with her on an exciting journey full of mysterious boxes, hidden keys, and bold dares as she unravels the secrets of famous explorers!
This heartwarming story follows two orphans, Naomi and Lizzie, as they uncover secrets and meet peculiar people in the small town of Blackbird Tree.
Their journey leads to unexpected discoveries of trunks, birds, and a mysterious boy with a captivating charm that will change their lives forever.
Brian Robeson is stranded in the Canadian wilderness after a plane crash, with only his clothing and a hatchet given to him by his mother.
With determination and courage, he needs to learn survival skills in order to survive this challenge and discover newfound patience and maturity within himself.
Lalani Sarita faces an impossible task—to leave her island home and embark on a dangerous journey across the sea in search of Mount Isa's legendary riches.
With magical tests, a vengeful mountain, and life-changing decisions at every turn, this is an inspiring story.
This thrilling adventure follows cousins Otto and Sheed as they face off against the mysterious Mr. Flux in a race against the clock to save their beloved town of Fry, Logan County from being frozen forever.
With help from unexpected allies, they set out on a mission to prove themselves and gain a third key for their collection.
Join this intrepid duo on their wild ride and find out if they can save their hometown in time!
Lily is a brave young girl who sets out on an epic journey through the unforgiving Alaskan wilderness to find her missing father, an expert climber lost while attempting to summit Denali.
Faced with danger and circumstances beyond her control, she must rely on her strength and courage to survive and bring home her dad.
This thrilling adventure follows Sam Gribley as he embarks on a daring journey to the Catskill Mountains, where he must rely on his resourcefulness and courage to survive the wilderness alone.
Along the way, Sam discovers lessons about independence, danger, and self-confidence that will forever change his life.
Join four gifted children on a daring mission to uncover secrets buried in the mysterious underground tunnels of the Learning Institute for the Very Enlightened.
Along the way, they'll use their wits and courage to battle evil forces, uncover hidden mysteries, and learn invaluable lessons about friendship.
In this great book, tweens will be taken on a thrilling adventure full of danger and excitement.
This is one of the best book series for young readers.
Peak is an action-packed adventure filled with excitement, danger and family drama. Fourteen-year-old Peak Marcello leaves New York after getting into trouble and embarks on a journey to conquer Mount Everest with his estranged father.
With Peak's passion for climbing, the stakes are high as the two of them set out to become the youngest team to ever reach the summit.
In this story, tweens get a glimpse into the dramatic and thrilling journey of an orphan boy named Peter as he embarks upon a quest to protect magical starstuff from those who would use it for evil.
Along the way, he meets allies like Molly, a young girl with secret powers, and adversaries such as Black Stache, a villain determined to capture the starstuff for himself.
The whole family will want to read this entire series!
This moving novel tells the compelling story of Santiago, a young boy detained by ICE while crossing the border from Mexico to the United States.
Along his journey, he meets María Dolores and her daughter Alegría who offer Santiago hope for a brighter future in the US.
This thrilling adventure novel by Trenton Lee Stewart follows Reuben as he discovers a mysterious antique watch with secret powers that take him on a treacherous yet captivating journey full of unexpected characters.
With the help of Penny, Jack, and Mrs. Genevieve, can Reuben save the city from destruction and unravel the secrets of the watch?
Treasure Island is a classic adventure novel by Robert Louis Stevenson, in which young Jim Hawkins embarks on a thrilling quest to faraway lands for buried treasure.
The book is filled with iconic characters such as Long John Silver, exciting battles, and dangerous journeys to exotic islands.
The Kidd siblings embark on a thrilling, exciting adventure to save their parents and uncover hidden treasures from the depths of the sea.
Join them as they outsmart pirates and scour the world for clues that will lead them to an epic treasure hunt!