Fantasy Books for Middle Schoolers
Make sure you add some of these epic fantasy books for middle schoolers to your tween’s reading list this year.
They’re full of fantastical creatures and mysterious lands. It’s an amazing genre and just some of the best books for middle school.
My oldest daughter reads as many fantasy stories as she can. She loves how they transport her to another time and place, and that they’re full of challenging and dangerous quests.

If your kids haven’t read many middle-grade fantasy books, see if one of these 25 amazing titles grabs their attention.
Fantasy Books for Middle Schoolers
Fantasy books can open up a world of epic adventures and imagination for middle school students.
These stories offer hours of excitement and entertainment, from magical realms to dragon battles and quests. This genre offers something special that others do not.
For young readers who are looking for exciting new worlds to explore, there is no shortage of great fantasy novels out there. That one reason they’re perfect for a middle school book club.
From classic stories like The Lord of the Rings to modern tales such as Harry Potter and Percy Jackson, these types of books are sure to capture your teen’s imagination.
If you’ve been trying to get your tween to read more, the best way is to introduce them to books that they’ll find challenging and interesting.
Luckily, there are many great middle grade fantasy titles out there, written with the interests and issues of tweens and teens in mind.
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What is Fantasy Genre for Kids?
The fantasy genre is full of magical creatures, mysterious lands, and fast-paced adventure. These stories provide a chance for readers to use their imaginations and explore different worlds.
Many of these books feature a hero or heroine who is on a quest to save their world, and along the way, overcome evil forces or magical creatures.
These stories help teens explore tough questions about courage, friendship, love, and faith.

What Age is Middle Grade Fantasy?
The middle grade fantasy genre is aimed at readers aged 8-12. These types of books are often longer than picture books, but shorter and simpler than young adult novels.
Fantasy stories geared toward middle schoolers usually feature a main character who is between the ages of 10-14.
More Middle School Reading Lists
Looking for more reading recommendations for your tweens and teens? Check out these other middle-grade reader titles.
- Exciting Adventure Books
- Classic Novels
- Newbery Award Winning Books for Middle School
- Books that Inspired Disney Movies
Do you use audiobooks in your homeschool? They’re great. Kids can listen on their devices or you can play books in the car as you travel together.
Teens also love reading on Kindle eReaders.

Fantasy books are a great way to encourage your middle schooler to use their imagination and explore different worlds. These stories provide young readers with exciting adventures.
So if you want to introduce your tween to some amazing new reading material, why not start off by checking out one of these 25 epic fantasy books for middle schoolers?
Best Fantasy Books for Middle School
Fantasy books can open up a world of adventure and imagination for middle schoolers.
This list contains 25 fantastic fantasy book recommendations specifically tailored towards middle schoolers.
The titles cover both popular book series, and some lesser-known titles that may be perfect for your tweens and teens.
This is a great story for anyone who loves adventure and mystery.
The book follows twelve-year-old genius Artemis Fowl, a criminal mastermind, as he attempts to restore his family's fortune by searching for fairy gold.
Throughout the series, readers encounter thrilling and mysterious experiences involving various mythical creatures.
In addition, there are clever riddles and puzzles that readers must solve in order to progress through the story.
Twelve-year-old Aru Shah is an ordinary middle schooler who finds herself in a magical world filled with gods and monsters.
With the fate of the world hanging in the balance, Aru must use her wit and courage to save everyone from an impending apocalypse.
Join Aru on her thrilling journey as she discovers new powers within herself and battles against powerful forces that threaten to destroy all of existence!
When the lights of the City of Ember start to flicker, two friends Lina and Doon must work together to find a secret that could save their city before it is doomed forever.
With an ancient message as their only clue, they race against time to prevent the darkness from engulfing them in this highly acclaimed adventure series.
Tweens will be begging to read the second book.
When four friends travel to Germany for the funeral of an old family friend, they find themselves on a dangerous mission to unlock an ancient secret that could change the fate of the world.
Join Wade, Lily, Darrell and Becca as they race against time to solve puzzles and unravel mysteries in this thrilling middle grade series.
Ella Enchanted is a charming fantasy tale about an ordinary girl who embarks on a magical quest to break the curse of obedience imposed upon her by a foolish fairy.
Along the way, Ella must battle ogres and wicked stepsisters and rely on the help of a few friendly allies as she strives to find her own true identity and freedom.
Kate, Michael, and Emma have been passed from one orphanage to another for the last ten years. Unbeknownst to them, they are being protected from a powerful evil force that is out to get them.
Now they must embark on a journey through time and around the world in order to set things right according to an ancient prophesy.
Young teens can follow their story as they battle magic and mayhem in The Emerald Atlas.
Join Alice in Furthermore and discover an enchanting world of magic, adventure, and self-discovery.
With a sprinkling of courage and a dash of humor, The young girl, Alice, will prove that life’s most important questions don't always have easy answers.
When you embark on this journey, you'll also find out that nothing is ever really as it seems in Furthermore.
Three friends from New York - Dex, Farah, and her best friend Yasmeen, find themselves trapped in a game.
Drawn into an ever-changing landscape, they're soon fending off creatures from nightmare realms and battling shifty opponents in cutthroat tournaments.
They quickly learn that if they don’t unravel the secrets of The Gauntlet fast enough, they will remain stuck forever—as the game traps its next generation of victims.
Every year, the people of the Protectorate offer a sacrifice to the witch who lives in the forest - but this time, they accidentally give her a baby.
The witch decides to raise her as her own and names her Luna. As she grows up, Luna discovers that she has magical powers and embarks on an epic quest to uncover secrets about herself and save both humans and witches from destruction.
With courage and determination, can Luna fulfill her destiny as The Girl Who Drank The Moon?
This is a timeless classic filled with adventure, mystery, and courage, all wrapped up in an epic quest to reclaim what is rightfully yours.
Even today, it remains one of the most beloved fantasy novels ever written.
Guided by their father's research, Carter and Sadie embark on a dangerous journey across the globe.
It's a quest which brings them ever closer to the truth about their family, and their links to a secret order that has existed since the time of the pharaohs.
As they battle mythical forces and enemies from the past, they must call upon the gods for help.
When twelve-year-old Sophie discovers she is a Telepath with the ability to read minds, her life takes an unexpected turn.
After meeting Fitz, another Telepath, she learns that her true identity and home are far from what she thought they were.
With secrets buried deep in her memory and dangerous answers in high demand, Sophie must uncover who she really is before it's too late or risk losing everything.
After saving Disneyland from destruction, the five teenage Kingdom Keepers are left with one last puzzle to decipher. But if they can't solve it in time, they'll be crushed by an evil even more powerful than the Overtakers they defeated.
Tweens can go on an epic adventure filled with mystery and suspense as they uncover secrets that will determine the future of Disney's Kingdom Keepers.
This is an incredible fantasy adventure about two sisters, Riley and Hattie.
When they try to cast a spell so they can share Hattie's magic, they violate Godrealm's laws. Now they must find the last fallen star in order to save one's life.
This book will captivate tweens with its fantastic creatures, family secrets, and journey of self-discovery.
When Percy Jackson is on the brink of being kicked out of boarding school, he finds himself in a world full of mythological monsters and gods from Mount Olympus.
With his life at stake, Percy must use his knowledge of Greek mythology to stay alive and uncover an ancient mystery that could save or destroy the world.
Percy Jackson is one of the best fantasy adventures from Rick Riordan.
This classic story is about four children who discover an enchanted wardrobe that transports them to a magical world.
It is filled with talking animals, mythical creatures, and an evil witch determined to keep them there forever.
Readers can join the adventure as they battle against good and evil in this timeless tale of courage and friendship.
When thirteen-year-old Hailey Woods enrolls in Poseidon's Academy, an underwater palace where her powers don't work, she finds herself battling psycho sea-nymphs and trying to prevent the resurrection of the gods.
With an ancient prophecy claiming that a Zeus will have to save the world someday, Hailey must find a way to stop them before it's too late.
Will she be able to outsmart the sea-nymphs and fulfill her destiny as a hero, or will she succumb to their evil plans for world domination?
This is an engaging coming-of-age story that will remind readers of what it means to be true to oneself, no matter the cost.
It's the perfect book for young teens who are looking for an inspiring story that will challenge them to think deeply about identity and loyalty.
Join seventh grader Nizhoni, her brother Mac, and her best friend Davery on this adventure that celebrates tradition and resilience.
The story has fast-paced action scenes, laugh-out-loud humor, and deeper lessons about family history and Native American culture.
It's a thrilling ride for middle grade readers.
Two best friends, Sophie and Agatha, are taken from their homes to attend the School for Good and Evil.
There they must learn to navigate through a magical world filled with unexpected surprises that will challenge their friendship and determine where each of them belongs - in the magical school of good or evil.
This is an exciting new adventure about a seventh grader who accidentally punches a hole into the fabric of reality and unleashes ancient African gods and monsters onto modern-day America.
With the help of his friend, Tristan must set things right before these powerful forces destroy everything he holds dear.
Join him on this thrilling journey as he fights to save his family and our world!
When Marya Lupu and her family receive a letter from Dragomir Academy, an academy for wayward young girls, they are not prepared for the secrets it holds.
At this strange and unfamiliar place, Marya discovers the truth about the magic wielded by men of their country as well as the Dread itself—secrets that could potentially threaten the fragile balance upon which Illyria is built.
Readers will go along the adventure as the girls work to uncover these truths and save the kingdom.
Rusty, an ordinary housecat, is unexpectedly thrust into a world of wild cats and danger when he discovers the four Clans of the forest are in turmoil.
With ShadowClan growing stronger every day, it's up to Rusty to save his new friends from certain doom and become the bravest warrior of them all.
In this first book of the series, readers will follow along as these creatures fight for honor and justice.
With her newfound allies at her side, Sera must brave the treacherous waters of the Deep Blue and discover the truth that lies beneath.
Will Sera have the courage to confront a secret that has been buried for centuries, or will she fail and doom the Mer nations forever? Only time will tell.
Vibrant and captivating, When You Trap a Tiger weaves together the heart of Korean culture with an adventure that will keep you turning pages.
This passionate tale follows Lily on her journey as she discovers the power of stories and unlocks her own strength within.
Thanks for these! Looks like a great list. Do you know if there is anything really scary in the books? My daughter is 11 and is starting to enjoy fantasy books…I would like to give her the list to choose from, but I’m a little leery of middle school level books because I never know if the content is going to be age appropriate.
Hi Leanne. I think that the only book that your daughter might find scary is The Copernicus Legacy: The Forbidden Stone because there is just more action, fighting, etc. in that book. Otherwise she should be okay. They all contain some conflict and some have death, but that is pretty common in this genre. I know what you mean. My girls have been huge readers since they were little and I’ve always struggled keeping them in books.