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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Greater Victoria Public Library
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Best friend!
Fang, Vicky
Paper Book
Brand-new first grader Ava Lin is determined to find a best friend--even if she's a bit unclear on how to go about it--in this launch of a funny, super relatable chapter-book series. Ava Lin is six and a half years old, and she loves bubble tea, finding treasures, and animals...

Primary fiction (younger novel)

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

First day, worst day
Nonamus, Andy
Paper Book
A very unlucky kid navigates the many challenges of the first day of school in the first book in The Very Worst Ever chapter book series! [REDACTED] keeps his name and school secret--even hiding his appearance behind stickers. Why? Because his bad luck is super embarrassing!

Primary fiction (younger 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)

Meg and Greg: A Handful of Dogs
Rae, Elspeth
Paper Book
A decodable book featuring four phonics stories for striving readers, with special features to help children with dyslexia or other language-based learning difficulties find reading success. Meg and Greg are back to school and ready for fall fun! Join Meg, Greg and friends as they plan an...
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

Tegan and Sara : junior high
Quin, Tegan
Paper Book
From indie-pop twin-sister duo Tegan and Sara comes their bestselling contemporary middle grade graphic novel about growing up, coming out, and finding yourself through music and sisterhood--perfect for fans of Raina Telgemeier's Sisters and Sweet Valley Twins. ...

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
Paper Book
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

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

A zombie ate my homework!
Greenwald, Tom
Paper Book
Arnold Z. Ombee has escaped a secret government zombie project -- but now can he survive human elementary school?From the hilarious mind behind the Crimebiters series comes a new trilogy that fans of The Last Kids on Earth will love to pieces (literally). Arnold Z. Ombee has escaped a secret...

Intermediate fiction

Dress coded
Firestone, Carrie
Paper Book
In this debut middle-grade girl-power friendship story, perfect for fans of Moxie, an eighth grader starts a podcast to protest the unfair dress code enforcement at her middle school and sparks a rebellion.   Molly Frost is FED UP... Because Olivia...

Intermediate fiction

Wonder
Palacio, R. J.
Paper Book
THE ICONIC #1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER WITH MORE THAN 16 MILLION COPIES SOLD "A crackling page-turner filled with characters you can't help but root for."--Entertainment Weekly Meet Auggie Pullman, an ordinary kid with an extraordinary face-...

Intermediate fiction

Mortified
Jackson, Kristy
Paper Book
SHORTLISTED FOR THE GOVERNOR GENERAL'S AWARD FOR YOUNG PEOPLE'S LITERATURE SHORTLISTED FOR THE FOREST OF READING SILVER BIRCH AWARD WINNER OF THE 2026 SASKATCHEWAN BOOK AWARDS CHILDREN'S BOOK OF THE YEAR CHOSEN AS THE 2026 MANITOBA YOUNG READER'S...

Intermediate fiction

Schooled
Sumner, Jamie
Paper Book
A Golden Kite Award Winner for Young Readers and Middle Grade Fiction An "insightful and absorbing" (Shelf Awareness, starred review) novel from acclaimed author Jamie Sumner about new schools, unexpected friendships, and overcoming loss. ...

Intermediate fiction


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