Top 50 Middle School Authors for Children Ages 8-12

Middle grade fiction occupies a uniquely powerful position in a reader's life. The books we read between the ages of 8 and 12 — when we are old enough to follow complex plots and inhabit genuinely different perspectives, but young enough to still believe completely in the worlds we read about — tend to stay with us forever. Ask any avid reader about the books that made them a reader, and they will almost always name a middle grade novel.

This is the age when children begin to read long books alone, late into the night, completely lost in another world. It is the age of secret languages, loyal gangs of friends, quests across impossible landscapes, and the first dawning awareness that the world is more complicated and interesting than it appeared from the safe vantage of early childhood. The best middle grade authors understand all of this — they write for children who are ready to grapple with genuine complexity, who can handle moral ambiguity, who want to feel things deeply and think about things seriously.

Middle grade has produced some of the most beloved books in all of children's literature — books like A Wrinkle in Time, The Phantom Tollbooth, From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler, Island of the Blue Dolphins, and Holes that are studied in schools across the world and reread by adults who first encountered them as children. These are books that reward rereading at every age, revealing new layers of meaning each time.

Here are the 50 best middle grade authors of all time.

1. J.K. Rowling The author of Harry Potter — the bestselling book series in history and the definitive middle grade fantasy of all time — J.K. Rowling created a world so richly imagined and characters so deeply loved that her books have been read by virtually every child on earth. The first four Harry Potter books in particular are perfect middle grade novels, pitched precisely at the 8-12 age group before the series grew darker and more mature. Browse J.K. Rowling books in order →

2. Roald Dahl The most beloved children's author of the 20th century for the middle grade age group, Roald Dahl's Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Matilda, James and the Giant Peach, The BFG, and The Witches are all perfect middle grade novels. His dark humor, his celebration of child intelligence over adult stupidity, and his genuinely subversive worldview make his books as thrillingly relevant today as when first published. Browse Roald Dahl books in order →

3. Rick Riordan Creator of Percy Jackson and the Olympians — the defining middle grade fantasy series of the 2000s with over 100 million copies sold — Rick Riordan introduced a generation of children to Greek mythology through pulse-pounding adventures featuring a boy who discovers he is the son of Poseidon. His subsequent series drawing on Egyptian, Norse, and Roman mythology have extended his universe and his readership. Browse Rick Riordan books in order →

4. C.S. Lewis Author of The Chronicles of Narnia — one of the bestselling fantasy series ever written with over 100 million copies sold — C.S. Lewis created a world of talking animals, mythical creatures, and moral allegory that perfectly suits the middle grade reader's capacity for wonder and their hunger for stories with genuine stakes. The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe remains one of the greatest middle grade novels ever written. Browse C.S. Lewis books in order →

5. Louis Sachar Author of Holes — one of the finest middle grade novels ever written and winner of both the Newbery Medal and the National Book Award — Louis Sachar created a multilayered story about a boy wrongly sent to a detention camp that perfectly balances humor, mystery, and social justice. His Wayside School series is equally beloved for its absurdist humor and its authentic portrayal of elementary school life. Browse Louis Sachar books in order →

6. Madeleine L'Engle Author of A Wrinkle in Time — a groundbreaking science fantasy novel that won the Newbery Medal and remains one of the most beloved middle grade novels ever written — Madeleine L'Engle created Meg Murry, one of the most important heroines in children's literature. Her Time Quintet series introduced millions of children to concepts of quantum physics, tesseracts, and the battle between light and darkness. Browse Madeleine L'Engle books in order →

7. Judy Blume Author of the Fudge series — Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing, Otherwise Known as Sheila the Great, Superfudge, Fudge-a-Mania, and Double Fudge — Judy Blume created one of middle grade fiction's most beloved sibling dynamics in Peter and Fudge Hatcher. Her Blubber and Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret are equally important in the middle grade canon for their honest portrayal of peer cruelty and the challenges of growing up. Browse Judy Blume books in order →

8. Jeff Kinney Creator of Diary of a Wimpy Kid — one of the bestselling middle grade series in history with over 250 million copies sold worldwide — Jeff Kinney blended prose fiction with cartoon illustrations to create a format that became instantly influential. Greg Heffley's hilariously self-aware commentary on middle school life has resonated with children across cultures and become one of the most globally popular middle grade series ever published. Browse Jeff Kinney books in order →

9. Norton Juster Author of The Phantom Tollbooth — one of the most beloved and intellectually playful middle grade novels ever written — Norton Juster created a story about a bored boy named Milo who travels through the Kingdom of Wisdom that rewards rereading at every age. The book's celebration of curiosity, language, and mathematics has made it essential reading for gifted children for over 60 years. Browse Norton Juster books in order →

10. Lemony Snicket Creator of A Series of Unfortunate Events — one of the most successful middle grade series of the 2000s with over 65 million copies sold — Lemony Snicket created a darkly comic, self-referential series about the Baudelaire orphans that subverted every convention of children's literature while telling a genuinely gripping story. Its deadpan warnings against reading the books paradoxically made children desperate to read them. Browse Lemony Snicket books in order →

11. Brian Jacques Creator of the Redwall series — one of the most beloved middle grade fantasy series ever written spanning 22 novels — Brian Jacques spent decades chronicling the adventures of mice, badgers, otters, and hares in and around Redwall Abbey. His vivid battle sequences, his detailed descriptions of elaborate feasts, and his enormous cast of memorable characters made the series essential reading for a generation of middle grade fantasy fans. Browse Brian Jacques books in order →

12. E.L. Konigsburg The only author to win both the Newbery Medal and the Newbery Honor in the same year, E.L. Konigsburg's From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler — about two siblings who run away from home and hide in the Metropolitan Museum of Art — is one of the most purely enjoyable middle grade novels ever written. Her Jennifer, Hecate, Macbeth, William McKinley, and Me, Elizabeth is equally celebrated. Browse E.L. Konigsburg books in order →

13. Kate DiCamillo A two-time Newbery Medal winner, Kate DiCamillo's Because of Winn-Dixie, The Tale of Despereaux, Flora & Ulysses, and The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane are all landmark middle grade novels. Her books are celebrated for their emotional honesty, their lyrical prose, and their ability to move both children and adults to genuine tears. She is the most decorated middle grade author currently working. Browse Kate DiCamillo books in order →

14. Lloyd Alexander Author of the Chronicles of Prydain — a five-book fantasy series based on Welsh mythology that won the Newbery Medal for The High King — Lloyd Alexander created one of middle grade literature's most beloved fantasy universes and one of its most compelling hero's journeys. His Westmark trilogy and Vesper Holly series added to a legacy that made him one of the most important American middle grade fantasy writers of the 20th century. Browse Lloyd Alexander books in order →

15. Scott O'Dell Author of Island of the Blue Dolphins — one of the most celebrated middle grade novels ever written and winner of the Newbery Medal — Scott O'Dell created a story of a Native American girl stranded alone on an island for years that has moved generations of children with its themes of courage, solitude, and survival. The book has sold millions of copies and remains in print after over 60 years. Browse Scott O'Dell books in order →

16. Philip Pullman Author of His Dark Materials — one of the most celebrated middle grade and YA series of the modern era — Philip Pullman's The Golden Compass, The Subtle Knife, and The Amber Spyglass take children to parallel universes populated by armored polar bears, witches, and creatures called dæmons. The series won the Carnegie Medal and was adapted into a beloved BBC series. Browse Philip Pullman books in order →

17. Susan Cooper Author of The Dark Is Rising sequence — one of the finest middle grade fantasy series ever written — Susan Cooper's five-book series drawing on Arthurian legend and Celtic mythology won the Newbery Medal for The Grey King and is considered one of the most beautifully written fantasy series in children's literature. The Dark Is Rising in particular is a masterpiece of atmospheric seasonal dread. Browse Susan Cooper books in order →

18. Gary Paulsen Author of Hatchet — one of the most beloved survival adventure novels in middle grade literature with over 4.5 million copies sold — Gary Paulsen's story of a boy stranded alone in the Canadian wilderness has introduced generations of children to the adventure genre. His Newbery Honor awards for Hatchet, Dogsong, and The Winter Room testify to his extraordinary range within middle grade fiction. Browse Gary Paulsen books in order →

19. Cornelia Funke The most internationally celebrated German middle grade author of the current era, Cornelia Funke's Inkheart trilogy — about a man who can bring characters out of books by reading aloud — is a love letter to books and reading that has sold tens of millions of copies worldwide. Her Thief Lord and Dragon Rider are equally beloved for their atmospheric settings and their adventurous plots. Browse Cornelia Funke books in order →

20. Eoin Colfer Author of Artemis Fowl — one of the most beloved middle grade fantasy series of the 2000s — Eoin Colfer created a criminal child genius navigating a world of fairies, dwarves, and centaurs with wit and cunning. The series has sold over 25 million copies and inspired a Disney film. Colfer's blend of science fiction, fantasy, and crime caper is genuinely original and perfectly pitched for middle grade readers. Browse Eoin Colfer books in order →

21. Andrew Clements Author of Frindle — one of the most beloved middle grade novels of recent decades about a boy who invents a new word for pen — and numerous other school-based middle grade novels, Andrew Clements is celebrated for his ability to find genuine drama and excitement in the ordinary world of elementary school. His books have sold millions of copies and are widely used in school reading programs. Browse Andrew Clements books in order →

22. Gary D. Schmidt A multiple Newbery Honor winner, Gary D. Schmidt's The Wednesday Wars and Okay for Now are considered among the finest middle grade novels of the current era. His ability to use middle school protagonists to explore the serious moral and political questions of American history — Vietnam, civil rights, social inequality — while maintaining warmth and humor has made him one of the most respected authors in the genre. Browse Gary D. Schmidt books in order →

23. Wilson Rawls Author of Where the Red Fern Grows — one of the most beloved and tearful middle grade novels ever written with over 7 million copies sold — Wilson Rawls created a story about a boy and his two hunting dogs in the Ozark Mountains that has moved generations of children to their first experience of profound literary grief. Browse Wilson Rawls books in order →

24. Christopher Paolini Author of the Inheritance Cycle — beginning with Eragon, which Paolini began writing at age 15 — Christopher Paolini became one of the youngest bestselling authors in history. The series has sold over 35 million copies worldwide and his story is itself an inspiration to young writers everywhere. Browse Christopher Paolini books in order →

25. John Bellairs The master of gothic middle grade horror, John Bellairs' The House With a Clock in Its Walls — recently adapted into a major film — and his Lewis Barnavelt and Anthony Monday series are beloved for their genuinely creepy atmosphere, their Midwestern settings, and their celebration of unlikely friendships between children and elderly mentors. Browse John Bellairs books in order →

26. R.J. Palacio Author of Wonder — one of the most widely read and widely taught middle grade novels of the current era with over 8 million copies sold — R.J. Palacio created a story about a boy with facial differences entering mainstream school for the first time that has changed countless classroom conversations about kindness, empathy, and difference. The film adaptation introduced the book to an even wider audience. Browse R.J. Palacio books in order →

27. Patricia MacLachlan Author of Sarah, Plain and Tall — winner of the Newbery Medal and one of the most beloved middle grade novels in American literature — Patricia MacLachlan created a quiet, beautifully written story of a mail-order bride coming to the prairie that has moved generations of children and adults. Her subsequent Skylark and Caleb's Story continue the story with equal grace. Browse Patricia MacLachlan books in order →

28. Lynda Mullaly Hunt Author of Fish in a Tree — one of the most important middle grade novels of the current era about dyslexia and learning differences — Lynda Mullaly Hunt writes with extraordinary empathy about children who struggle in traditional school settings. Her One for the Murphys is equally celebrated for its honest portrayal of the foster care system. Browse Lynda Mullaly Hunt books in order →

29. Pseudonymous Bosch The pen name of Raphael Simon, Pseudonymous Bosch created The Secret Series — five middle grade novels about the Secret and Cass navigating the dangerous world of the Midnight Sun — with a brilliantly self-aware, fourth-wall-breaking narrative voice that delights children who are old enough to enjoy the joke of a book that constantly warns them not to read it. Browse Pseudonymous Bosch books in order →

30. Wendelin Van Draanen Author of the Sammy Keyes mystery series — one of the longest-running middle grade mystery series in American publishing spanning 18 books — and the beloved standalone novel Flipped, Wendelin Van Draanen is one of the most consistently engaging middle grade authors currently publishing. Her books are celebrated for their authentic child voice and their genuinely clever plotting. Browse Wendelin Van Draanen books in order →

31. Shannon Hale Author of The Princess Academy — winner of the Newbery Honor — and the Books of Bayern series, Shannon Hale is one of the most beloved middle grade fantasy authors of the current era. Her Bayern series beginning with The Goose Girl beautifully adapts Grimm fairy tales into immersive secondary world fantasy. Her Princess in Black series is a favorite with younger middle grade readers. Browse Shannon Hale books in order →

32. Marissa Meyer Author of the Lunar Chronicles — a series of science fiction fairy tale retellings beginning with Cinder — Marissa Meyer brought an original and enormously popular concept to middle grade and YA fantasy. Her Renegades series and Heartless have confirmed her as one of the most commercially successful authors in the genre. Browse Marissa Meyer books in order →

33. Piers Anthony Creator of the Xanth series — one of the longest-running and most beloved middle grade and adult fantasy series ever published — Piers Anthony's punny, inventive fantasy world has delighted readers since A Spell for Chameleon was published in 1977. With over 45 books in the series and millions of copies sold, Xanth is one of the most successful fantasy universes ever created. Browse Piers Anthony books in order →

34. Will Hobbs Author of Downriver, Far North, and Wild Man Island — middle grade adventure novels beloved for their authentic wilderness settings and their page-turning survival plots — Will Hobbs is one of the most consistently reliable authors in middle grade adventure fiction. His books are widely recommended by teachers and librarians for engaging reluctant readers. Browse Will Hobbs books in order →

35. James Howe Author of Bunnicula — one of the most inventive and beloved middle grade comedy horror novels ever published — James Howe created a story about a family's pets who suspect the new rabbit is a vampire that has delighted middle grade readers since 1979. His Pinky and Rex series is a beloved early reader staple, and his Misfits series addresses LGBTQ+ middle grade experience with warmth and humor. Browse James Howe books in order →

36. Avi A Newbery Medal winner and one of the most prolific and versatile middle grade authors in American publishing, Avi's The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle, Crispin: The Cross of Lead, and The Fighting Ground demonstrate extraordinary range across historical fiction, adventure, and coming-of-age stories. He has published over 70 middle grade novels and received virtually every major award in children's literature. Browse Avi books in order →

37. Gail Carson Levine Author of Ella Enchanted — one of the most beloved middle grade fantasy novels of the current era with millions of copies sold — Gail Carson Levine created a Cinderella retelling so original and emotionally satisfying that it won the Newbery Honor and was adapted into a major film. Her Writing Magic is one of the finest books on creative writing for young people ever published. Browse Gail Carson Levine books in order →

38. Jonathan Auxier Author of Peter Nimble and His Fantastic Eyes and The Night Gardener — two of the most atmospherically accomplished middle grade novels of the current era — Jonathan Auxier writes Victorian-influenced dark fantasy with a literary sophistication and emotional depth unusual in the genre. His books are consistently cited by teachers and critics as among the finest middle grade writing of the past decade. Browse Jonathan Auxier books in order →

39. Karen Cushman Author of Catherine, Called Birdy — winner of the Newbery Honor — and The Midwife's Apprentice — winner of the Newbery Medal — Karen Cushman brought the authentic detail, humor, and irreverence of her medieval and historical fiction heroines to middle grade readers who had never before encountered history told from a girl's perspective with such vivid immediacy. Browse Karen Cushman books in order →

40. Adam Gidwitz Author of A Tale Dark and Grimm — one of the most inventive and hilarious middle grade novels of recent years — Adam Gidwitz retold Grimm's fairy tales in their original, genuinely terrifying form for a middle grade audience that absolutely loved it. His In a Glass Grimmly and The Grimm Conclusion complete a trilogy that has sold millions of copies. Browse Adam Gidwitz books in order →

41. Lisa McMann Author of the Unwanteds series — one of the most beloved middle grade fantasy series of the current era — Lisa McMann created a world where children deemed "Unwanted" by their society are sent to a place that turns out to be extraordinary. The series has sold millions of copies and is consistently recommended for middle grade fantasy fans. Browse Lisa McMann books in order →

42. Hilo Judd Winick Creator of the Hilo graphic novel series — one of the most popular middle grade graphic series of the current era with millions of copies sold — Judd Winick created a story about an alien robot crashing to Earth and befriending two children that perfectly captures the middle grade reader's sense of humor, adventure, and loyalty. Browse Judd Winick books in order →

43. Pam Muñoz Ryan Author of Esperanza Rising — one of the most beloved middle grade historical fiction novels of the current era — and Echo, winner of the Newbery Honor, Pam Muñoz Ryan is celebrated for her lyrical prose and her authentic portrayal of the Hispanic American experience. Her books are widely used in school reading programs across America. Browse Pam Muñoz Ryan books in order →

44. Michael Buckley Creator of the Sisters Grimm series — middle grade novels following two sisters who discover their grandmother is part of a community of fairy tale characters living in secret — Michael Buckley created one of the most inventive and popular middle grade fantasy series of the 2000s. His NERDS series is equally beloved for its spy-thriller parody humor. Browse Michael Buckley books in order →

45. Jerry Spinelli Author of Maniac Magee — winner of the Newbery Medal — and Stargirl — one of the most beloved middle grade novels of the current era — Jerry Spinelli has spent decades writing emotionally honest, vividly imagined middle grade fiction about outsiders, belonging, and the ordinary heroism of childhood. His books have sold tens of millions of copies and are widely read in schools across America. Browse Jerry Spinelli books in order →

46. Patricia Wrede Author of the Enchanted Forest Chronicles — beginning with Dealing with Dragons, one of the most delightfully subversive middle grade fantasy novels ever written — Patricia Wrede created a princess who refuses to be rescued and goes to live with dragons instead. The series is a beloved classic of feminist middle grade fantasy and has introduced generations of children to the pleasure of genre subversion. Browse Patricia Wrede books in order →

47. Gordon Korman One of the most prolific and beloved middle grade authors in North America, Gordon Korman's Swindle series, Masterminds series, and Ungifted are celebrated for their fast-paced plots, their ensemble casts, and their genuine laugh-out-loud humor. Korman published his first book at age 14 and has never stopped producing middle grade fiction that children find irresistible. Browse Gordon Korman books in order →

48. Roland Smith Author of Cryptid Hunters, Peak, and the I, Q series, Roland Smith is one of the most reliable authors in middle grade adventure fiction. His books feature young protagonists in genuinely dangerous real-world situations — mountain climbing, cryptozoology, intelligence work — that are meticulously researched and breathlessly paced. Browse Roland Smith books in order →

49. Natalie Babbitt Author of Tuck Everlasting — one of the most profound and beautifully written middle grade novels ever created — Natalie Babbitt's story of a family cursed with immortality and the girl who discovers their secret raises questions about life, death, and what makes existence meaningful that linger long after the final page. The book has sold millions of copies and remains one of the most discussed works in middle grade literature. Browse Natalie Babbitt books in order →

50. John Flanagan Creator of the Ranger's Apprentice series — one of the most successful middle grade fantasy series of the 2000s with over 15 million copies sold — John Flanagan's Australian author created a medieval adventure series about a young apprentice to a mysterious Ranger that became a global phenomenon. His Brotherband Chronicles and Royal Ranger series have extended the universe and his readership. Browse John Flanagan books in order →

Looking for other age groups? Browse our Top 50 Picture Book Authors, Top 50 Early Reader Authors, and Top 50 Young Adult Authors lists.