Hi, I am looking for good books for the middle school age group, like 11-13. Obviously I know about Narnia, but am looking for suggestions for other books that are great stories with strong characters, but also deal with religious themes and questions. Thanks everyone for your help.
Newbie looking for good books for middle school readers
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Continually Humbled
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Personally, I'm into fantasy and science fiction. So if Harry Potter is too "witch-crafty" for you, you might not be interested in my opinions.
However, when I was in middle school I was reading Piers Anthony's X(a/n)th series, it's pretty simple characters and story lines and it's mostly tongue in cheek puns the whole way through. Some of his early books are a little more heavy and some of the later ones are slightly more adult (even PA calls himself a "dirty old man"), but a good majority of them are completely kid friendly.
I was also reading Mercedes Lackey's Valdemarian series. You'll want to stay away from the original trilogy "Magic's Promise", "Magic's Pawn", and "Magic's Price" not only is the story line very dark and heavy, but the main character is gay. It's not graphic or anything, but it's obvious the character and his friend are lovers. Also, his friend uses him to summon demons and then dies tragically causing the main character to create a spell that prevents magic users from coming into Valdemar and summoning demons ever again. It actually sets up a big plot point in the series, but it isn't a necessary read since the plot is explained in later books. If you're an adult and not homophobic, it's a good read, otherwise "not for kids".
The rest of the series however, becomes a lot more commercial and lighter in tone, it's very kid friendly and mostly deals with teenagers finding their purpose and niche in life as they become young adults. The books are full of adventure, magic horses, and learning how to be who you are.
Of course, I was a bit more of an advanced reader at that age. At the same time my contemporaries were reading Babysitters Club, which I just never got into.
However, when I was in middle school I was reading Piers Anthony's X(a/n)th series, it's pretty simple characters and story lines and it's mostly tongue in cheek puns the whole way through. Some of his early books are a little more heavy and some of the later ones are slightly more adult (even PA calls himself a "dirty old man"), but a good majority of them are completely kid friendly.
I was also reading Mercedes Lackey's Valdemarian series. You'll want to stay away from the original trilogy "Magic's Promise", "Magic's Pawn", and "Magic's Price" not only is the story line very dark and heavy, but the main character is gay. It's not graphic or anything, but it's obvious the character and his friend are lovers. Also, his friend uses him to summon demons and then dies tragically causing the main character to create a spell that prevents magic users from coming into Valdemar and summoning demons ever again. It actually sets up a big plot point in the series, but it isn't a necessary read since the plot is explained in later books. If you're an adult and not homophobic, it's a good read, otherwise "not for kids".
The rest of the series however, becomes a lot more commercial and lighter in tone, it's very kid friendly and mostly deals with teenagers finding their purpose and niche in life as they become young adults. The books are full of adventure, magic horses, and learning how to be who you are.
Of course, I was a bit more of an advanced reader at that age. At the same time my contemporaries were reading Babysitters Club, which I just never got into.
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Christine Ottaway
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Hi. I think finding good books for the middle grades can be very difficult. There is so much stuff that you really don't want your children to read. As a result I have written two books about a lad called Nick North. They have a subtle Christian thread but they are basically a good adventure story which have been well received. It deals with among other things God's love for us but not in a cheesy way. You can get either a Kindle version or a paperback from Amazon. The first is Nick North: Blood Quest and the second Nick North: War Zone.
I can also suggest some non Christian books that are a good read without the dark side if you would like.
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Not sure of children's reading levels or if you are after something recreational or more informative, or boys or girls so this is a mix outside of the obvious classics: Patricia St John ~ variety of subject matters, about 10 books in the age bracket you mentioned, staunchly Christian. Elfrida Vipont ~ series about a Quaker family in England ~ more for girls probably. Pathway Reading Series graded readers ~ Mennonite. Kate Seredy ~ The Singing Tree & The Chestry Oak deal with war torn Hungary; Beautiful illustrations. Meindert DeJong~ The Wheel on the School; set in Holland. Or you could try things like Rascal [Sterling North] or The Wind in the Willows [Kenneth Grahame], which are not overtly Christian but shouldn't offend either. If your children have a good vocabulary classics like Treasure Island, Robinson Crusoe or Alice in Wonderland? Oh, & if you have girls all the Anne books. 
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Some of the retirement communities in Toronto have very good reading series that group books by themes, like Christianity. For middle schoolers I'd recommend Watership Down by Richard Adams and Bound For Oregon by Jean Van Leeuwen. For more explicitly religious novels I'd use A Christmas Carroll by Charles Dickens and The Bronze Bow by Elizabeth Speare. Hope these help, happy reading.
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