Back to School for Kids (ages 7-12)

First day jitters? Want to get back in the groove? Here are some primary and middlegrade fiction recommendations just for you, from youngest to oldest.

Updated August 8, 2025
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Pizza and Taco. 4, Too cool for school
Shaskan, Stephen
Paper Book
New backpacks? Check! Besties Pizza and Taco are ready to head back to school, but are they ready to meet the cool new kid? B.L.T. wears sunglasses--even in school! He's not even worried about being late to class. SO COOL! I mean, "whatever." Pizza and Taco quickly pick up on...

Primary graphic novel

Welcome to Scare School
Lerner, Jarrett
Paper Book
A young ghost tries his best to fit in with the rest of the ghouls in this sweet and spooky chapter book by acclaimed author Jarrett Lerner. Bash, a young ghost who's never been good at "ghost stuff" is heading off to Scare School, the world's leading institution for elementary...

Primary fiction (younger novel)

Brave
Chmakova, Svetlana
Paper Book
In his daydreams, Jensen is the biggest hero that ever was, saving the world and his friends on a daily basis. But his middle school reality is VERY different--math is hard, getting along with friends is hard...Even finding a partner for the class project is a huge problem when you always get picked...

Intermediate graphic novel

Lunar boy
Wibowo, Jessica
Paper Book
For fans of The Witch Boy and Squished, Lunar Boy is a must-have heartwarming coming-of-age graphic novel about a young boy from the moon who discovers a home in the most unlikely places, from debut twin creators Jes and Cin Wibowo. Indu, a boy from the moon, feels like he...

Intermediate graphic novel

Making friends
Gudsnuk, Kristen
Ebook
Danielle needs a perfect friend, but sometimes making (or creating) one is a lot easier than keeping one! Sometimes making a friend is a lot easier than keeping one! Sixth grade was SO much easier for Dany. All her friends were in the same room and she knew exactly what to expect...

Intermediate graphic novel

Ghost
Reynolds, Jason
Paper Book
A National Book Award Finalist for Young People's Literature. Nominated as one of America's best-loved novels by PBS's The Great American Read. Ghost wants to be the fastest sprinter on his elite middle school track team, but his past is slowing him down in this...

Intermediate fiction

Middle school mischief
Y?suf, B?sim
Paper Book
Inspired by the author's real-life experiences, this second hilarious and sweet novel about sixth grade Egyptian immigrant Nadia has her battling school newspaper drama, controversy with the school mascot, and some magical mischief, too. Nadia loves fun facts. Here are a few about her: ...

Intermediate fiction

Lights, camera, middle school!
Holm, Jennifer L.
Paper Book
Watch out, middle school! Babymouse graduates from graphic novels in the first of the Babymouse Tales from the Locker series--now in paperback!   For Babymouse, middle school is like a monster movie. You can never be sure who's a friend and who's an enemy, and the halls are filled...

Intermediate fiction

Dress coded
Firestone, Carrie
Ebook
In this inspiring novel about girls using their collective power to improve their lives, an eighth grader starts a podcast to protest the unfair dress code enforcement at her middle school--and sparks a rebellion. "A much-needed reminder that certain fights are worth fighting, that...

Intermediate fiction

Wonder
Palacio, R. J.
Paper Book
#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER * A PARADE BEST KIDS BOOK OF ALL TIME * Millions of people have fallen in love with Auggie Pullman, an ordinary boy with an extraordinary face--who shows us that kindness brings us together no matter how far apart we are. Read the book that...

Intermediate fiction

Schooled
Sumner, Jamie
Paper Book
A bighearted, compulsively readable novel from acclaimed author Jamie Sumner about new schools, unexpected friendships, and overcoming loss. Eleven-year-old Lenny Syms is about to start college--sort of. As part of a brand-new experimental school, Lenny and four other students...

Intermediate fiction


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