Wholesome Middle Grade Books for Girls Ages 9

In this first book in a fantasy series, The Ruby Princess Runs Away by Jahnna N. Malcom, Roxanne, the Red Princess, doesn’t feel ready to rule, so she runs away just before her coronation. She stumbles upon a plot to put an imposter, Red Princess, on the throne. She also meets kind people who help her to understand that ruling isn’t about being ready but about kindness and friendship. With this new perspective, Roxanne returns to the palace and stops the imposter from stealing her crown.

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My kids and I adore this fantasy series, Tuesdays at the Castle by Jessica Day George.
Every Tuesday, the castle where Princess Celie and her family live adds on a new room, turret, or wing. Celie loves her ever-changing castle. So, when robbers attack her parents’ carriage, and they are never seen again, Celie takes comfort that the king and queen’s room is exactly the same, hoping the castle knows they are still alive. But can the castle and Celie stop the Royal Council and the foreign prince from taking over the kingdom? You will LOVE this series!

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Everyday Angel  by Victoria Schwab is a realistic middle grade series that my 10-year-old loves about an angel named Aria who is earning her wings by helping girls who are struggling in some way. In the first book, she helps Gabby. Gabby’s brother is hospitalized indefinitely and her mom is totally focused on her brother. It’s up to Aria to help Gabby at her new school and discover who she is. These are sweet, uplifting stories girls will enjoy.

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The Curious Cat Spy Club by Linda Joy Singleton begins a delightful mystery series about three kids (two girls and one boy) from seemingly different social circles who join together to rescue kittens they find in a dumpster, forming their own detective investigation group. Who could have dumped these innocent kittens? The answer, they find, will surprise everyone. Well-written and compelling, you won’t be able to put this book down.

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If you like sweet stories of friendship, you won’t want to miss Skunk and Badger by Amy Timberlake. Prickly Badger’s life and rock studies are the most (and only) important things in his life. Unexpectedly, he’s rudely interrupted by a new roommate, the helpful, philosophical, and curious chicken-loving Skunk. Badger wants Skunk to leave, but he’s surprised when he enjoys Sunk’s cooking and company. Then, after a spray incident and cruel comments he regrets, Badger fixes his mistake and the two friends find that they’re better off together.

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Cress Watercress by Gregory Maguire, illustrated by David Litchfield, is a stunningly beautiful story about family, community, grief, and stories. Cress and her family leave their cozy burrow after the death of her father. They move to the Broken Arms oak tree ruled by a cranky Owl with a noisy neighbor squirrel family. Cress helps her mom collect moths to pay their rent, leaving her mom time to work and to help gather ingredients for her sickly brother’s special tea. In a beautiful character arc, Cress navigates her new environment, the natural world, and the stories around her, all of which help her understand her inner world, especially how grief waxes and wanes like the moon’s cycles.

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The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate
REALISTIC
Narrated by a gorilla named Ivan, this true story will immediately grab your heart! Ivan is kept in a cage in a run-down mall for 27 years without seeing another gorilla, only the stray dog, Bob, who sleeps with him, Stella the Elephant, and Ruby, a newly purchased baby elephant. Before she dies, Stella begs Ivan to find Ruby a home with other elephants – and Ivan agrees, but it won’t be easy.

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My Beijing: Four Stories of Everyday Wonder by Nie Jun shares four sweet stories in graphic novel format about Yu’er and her grandpa and Yu’er’s adventures around their Beijing neighborhood. The first story is about Yu’er’s desire to compete in the Special Olympics. Other stories include defending herself from bullies with the help of a new friend as well as a magical old mailbox that transports Yu’er through time. This is a beautifully illustrated book of stories that feels nostalgic and heartwarming.

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Wonder by R. J. Palacio is one of teacher’s favorite wholesome middle grade books that is both “a meditation on kindness” and about not judging people by how they look on the outside. “I wish every day could be Halloween. We could all wear masks all the time. Then we could walk around and get to know each other before we got to see what we looked like under the masks.” Auggie, a boy with a facial difference, starts public school for the first time in 5th grade. His experience, though often difficult, shows his inner strength. And that kindness wins over bullying!

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The Star that Always Stays by Anna Rose Johnson is a rich, coming-of age
historical fiction story set around the first World War about an introspective girl dealing with racism, prejudice, and knowing herself. Norvia struggles with other people’s disdain for her family because of her divorced mother, and she’s hiding that she’s half Ojibwe. Her Uncle Virgil helps Norvia see that changes always happen and she can decide how to respond to those changes. The characters hold Christian beliefs and share Bible verses to encourage each other. Her blended, loving family helps Norvia embrace her full self and live honestly with courage as a Native girl with big dreams.

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We love Princess Academy by Shannon Hale because it’s a unique story with memorable, wonderful characters. Miri and the other girls in her mountain village are ordered to attend a newly created school to learn enough to be considered wife material for the prince. But the prince, when he does appear, seems cold and unfriendly, making Miri reconsider what she wants from this experience. Then, when bandits take over the school and hold the girls hostage, Miri finds her inner strength and clarity of purpose.

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Unusual Chickens for the Exceptional Poultry Farmer by Kelly Jones has exceptional writing, characterization, and plot! Sophie, who is newly living at the farm of her dead great-uncle Jim, writes letters to her dead abuelita, her dead great-uncle Jim, and Agnes of the Extraordinary Chickens catalog. While her parents are figuring out their new lives, Sophie figures out the farm. Specifically, the chickens — starting with the first one she discovers wandering around. She learns that the chickens are magical. But a neighbor chicken thief is also interested in Jim’s chickens — and Sophie must stop her. Which means entering the town’s poultry show with her special chickens . . .

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The Vanderbeekers of 141st Street by Karina Yan Glaser is one of the most heartwarming and wholesome middle grade book series and you’ll fall in love with this quirky, close-knit family. The Vanderbeekers’ landlord wants them out by the end of December, but the Vanderbeeker kids are determined to change his mind, even though he hates noise, kids, and their family. But it’s almost Christmas and their efforts are only making things worse. What will they do? Charming and heart-warming.

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Ophelia and the Marvelous Boy by Karen Foxlee is a fantasy retelling of The Snow Queen story loss, acceptance, hope, and friendship. Stuck in a museum with her sister and father, who is working on a sword exhibit, Ophelia’s curiosity leads her to a locked room with a boy who has been trapped for thousands of years. But Ophelia doesn’t believe in that kind of thing. Except she kind of does. She remembers her mother used to tell her those stories…

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The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by C. S. Lewis is the best read aloud fantasy. I think you already know about these books, but if you don’t, they’re absolutely engaging fantasy adventures that will hook your kids on magic and good vs. evil stories. We recently listened to the series on audiobook which was wonderful!

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Roll with It by Jamie Sumner
REALISTIC
This meaningful story will tug at your heartstrings. It’s narrated by Ellie a girl who loves to bake, who has CP (cerebral palsy,) and who rolls through life in a wheelchair. She hates having an aid at school who’s supposed to help her with everything including going to the bathroom. When her mom moves them to Oklahoma to help care for her grandfather, even though Ellie’s from the so-called wrong side of the tracks, she makes friends with other trailer park kids — the first friends she’s ever had. It’s a sweet story about taking risks, the importance of finding your tribe, and growing up.

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Podkin One-Ear The Legend Begins by Kieran Larwood is well-written and enthralling story about a young rabbit who reluctantly grows into his destiny. One cold winter night, the night before Bramblemas, a traveling bard shares stories about the heroic Podkin One-Ear. Alternating between the bard’s present-moment experience and the story of Podkin, we learn that young Podkin was a lazy, spoiled prince. When the cruel Gorm, who are metal dark magic rabbits, arrive at his family’s burrow to kill everyone inside, Podkin escapes with his much braver sister and little brother. No longer able to be spoiled and lazy, Podkin tries his best to be brave and pull his weight.

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All Rise for the Honorable Perry T. Cook by Leslie Connor book hooked me from the first page, taking me on a coming-of-age story that was both heartbreaking and filled with hope. Perry is well-loved by his mother and her friends. . . in prison. That’s where Perry has lived since he was born eleven years ago. But in an unexpected and unpleasant turn of events, his best friend’s stepfather, the new District Attorney, forces Perry to leave the prison. Not only that, the DA tries to stall Perry’s mother’s parole hearing. Perry discovers the stories behind the inmates’ lives, hoping that they’ll be helpful in reuniting him with his mother.

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Out of My Mind by Sharon Draper is one of the best life-changing middle grade books you’ll ever read. Narrated by Melody, we learn what it’s like for her, trapped in a body with cerebral palsy that doesn’t allow her to speak or take care of herself. No one, except her parents, think she’s smart. But she is smart. And one day, she gets a chance to prove it. Heartbreaking. Real. Inspiring.

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A Wrinkle in Time by Madeline L’Engle is a remarkable, well-written adventure in space that deals with the overarching theme of good vs. evil. Meg, along with her brother, Charles Wallace, and friend Calvin set off into space to find her scientist father, who disappeared while researching tesseracts.

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Beyond the Bright Sea by Lauren Wolk is a beautiful story that captures the essence of love, family, and self-discovery. It’s compelling and exquisitely crafted. Osh, a solitary island man, rescued baby Crow when he found her in a small boat on the sea. Crow loves Osh but now at age 12, she wants to know where she came from — was it the island across the way where the leper colony was? She, Crow, and their friend, Miss Maggie journey to the island to find out. The island brings them closer to answers but also into danger, too.

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Caterpillar Summer by Gillian McDunn is an emotion-filled, coming-of-age story with a strong female main character named Cat, a protective big sister for her special-needs brother. This summer, she’s ready to be more than a big sister. She finds the opportunity when her children’s book author-illustrator mom leaves her and her brother at their estranged grandparents’ house for the summer. There, Cat develops a special relationship with her grandparents, helps heal the rift between her grandfather and her mother, makes a good friend, and learns how to fish.

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Wonderfully crafted and imagined, The Girl Who Drank the Moon by Kelly Barnhill is a fairy tale of sorts about a good witch who rescues a town’s abandoned (the town thinks sacrificed) babies and gives them to another town to love. Except for one baby whom the witch adopts for her own, a special baby named Luna who is accidentally infused with moon magic. It’s also the story of the baby’s magical, bereaved mother, a wicked witch who feeds off sorrow, a woodcarver who wants justice, and of course, Luna.

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In How to Stay Invisible by Maggie C. Rudd, Raymond’s neglectful parents abandon him completely, so he takes his dog Rosie and camps in the woods behind his middle school. He survives on his own, foraging in dumpsters and fishing for food while attending school. When a playful coyote hurts Rosie, he meets an old man who helps them both. The truth comes out when another boy discovers his campsite, and a snake bite almost kills him. I loved this powerful story of grit, survival, and longing for family.

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Not an Easy Win by Chrystal B. Giles is the compelling story of Lawrence’s life, starting right after he’s been beaten up by a group of bullies, blamed for the fighting, and kicked out of the mostly-white school. His mom doesn’t care, and his granny doesn’t believe him. An older neighbor takes Lawrence to his work at the local rec center, where Lawrence helps him, does online school, and learns how to play chess.  Through the wisdom of his neighbor and learning to focus on chess, Lawrence finds purpose and inner fortitude that leads to his success in life and in chess. 

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In Farther Than the Moon by Lindsay Lackey, Houston wants to find a way for his brother Robbie to go to space even though there’s never been an astronaut with CP. Houston leaves Robbie behind for space camp where he meets his astronaut grandfather for the first time. After a week of fighting with his fellow crewmates, Houston gets surprising advice from the person he least expects–about taking responsibility for his actions and putting the crew first. This middle-grade gem is filled with wisdom, heartfelt writing, and relatable and interesting characters. It’s hands down one of the best middle grade books I’ve read.

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Edge of Extinction The Ark Plan by Laura Martin is an awesome dystopian story about a dangerous world where cloned dinosaurs have taken over so Sky and her fellow humans live below ground in safety with Noah as their supreme ruler. Sky leaves the underground city in order to find her missing dad. Barely outside a day, she and her friend Shawn are rescued from hungry dinosaurs by a boy who lives in a treetop enclave. When his enclave is attacked by Noah’s soldiers looking for her, Sky realizes that everything she believes about Noah is wrong and is even more determined to find her father. 

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In Where the Mountain Meets the Moon by Grace Lin, Minli’s grown up with her father’s folktales. Inspired by these and hoping to change their poverty-stricken lifestyle, she leaves her home to find the Old Man on the Moon. She’s soon joined by a flightless red dragon. As they travel, Minli meets both people and mythical creatures who share their stories. She’ll learn more about herself, the meaning of family, friendship, and what makes a person truly wealthy.

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Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH by Robert C. O’Brien is a must-read, excellent Newbery winning book about intelligent lab rats who escape from the lab and form their own community. This was always one of my fifth graders favorite read alouds.

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Esperanza Rising by Pam Munoz Ryan is a must-read historical fiction middle grade book. Forced to flee a dangerous situation in Mexico, Esperanza and her mother arrive in California and start working as migrant farm workers. The back-breaking work is only part of their new, challenging life. In this beautifully written, soulful novel, Esperanza learns to thrive no matter what her circumstances.

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Words on Fire by Jennifer A. Nielsen deftly captures the history of Lithuania’s book smugglers as well as the fundamental truth that books give readers freedom from oppression and keep alive a language, culture, and identity. When Audra’s parents are arrested by the Cossacks, she flees to their contact’s house, learning that her parents were part of a network of Lithuanian book smugglers fighting against the Russians. As she slowly learns to read, she develops a fire for words and becomes a passionate and clever smuggler herself. A great book for discussion!

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In Beneath the Swirling Sky (The Restorationists) by Carolyn Leiloglou, Vincent learns his family’s big secret when his little sister Lili wanders INTO a painting–and doesn’t come out! His cousin Georgia leads him through paintings, corridors, and museums to find Lili while explaining their family’s talent –traveling into artwork to protect the art from nefarious travelers. They track Lili but are captured, too. Fast-paced and exciting with unique world-building, this art-filled, faith-implied, illustrated adventure will captivate readers from cover to cover.

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The Wildes: The Amazon by Roland Smith is. ashort middle grade adventure set in the Brazilian Amazon Rainforest about two siblings staying with their conservationist scientist mom. But, when their mom doesn’t return to base camp, the kids discover that she’s been kidnapped. The siblings, their bumbling tutor, and an indigenous (Kayapo) man follow the kidnappers’ trail to the mining area…and start investigating the mining camp under the pretense of tourists whose dad is sick. Great writing, excellent plotting, and a fascinating story, plus lots of information about the Amazon and endangered animals make this a standout middle grade book recommendation for 2023!

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The Miscalculations of Lightning Girl by Stacy McAnulty is a thoughtful coming-of-age story about a girl genius with OCD whose grandma wants her to go to public middle school for three reasons: to make one friend, read one non-math book, and join one school activity. Although she’s reluctant to go, Lucy finds friends and connects with a rescue dog for a school project. It’s a well-written, heart-warming story that will change your perspective of OCD and give you hope for humanity.

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One-Third Nerd by Gennifer Choldenko is a layered, warm-hearted story that celebrates family, unique personalities, and the richness that comes from having a dog. Liam is the oldest, a responsible, caring big brother in fifth grade. His mom and dad have recently divorced, which has been hard for him. Their grumpy landlord has given their family an ultimatum — they’ll either give away their German Shepherd dog, Cupcake or fix her peeing problems. But they don’t have the money for the expensive surgery. That’s when Liam’s middle sister, Dakota, a 100% science nerd, develops mostly disastrous schemes to make money. Yet it’s Liam’s littlest sister, Izzy, who has Down’s Syndrome who finally figures out how to solve the Cupcake peeing problem.

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Dog Driven by Terry Lynn Johnson is a realistic middle grade book about finding your strength even if it looks like a weakness…McKenna enters a long dog sled race in order to bring awareness to her sister’s degenerative eye disease which McKenna has, too. However, she doesn’t want to tell her parents and be treated differently. During the race, she relies on her lead dog to guide her sled when she can’t see the route. Another racer, a boy with a blind dog, shows her that his dog is a powerful leader because he’s blind.  The journey helps McKenna realize that just like Zesty, the blind dog, she is not disabled and that her differences can make her better.

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Looking for a sweet story of animal rescue? Read Saucy by Cynthia Kadohata, illustrated by Marianna Raskin! Becca is a triplet who doesn’t feel special until she adopts a stray pig. Because he will grow to be 600 lbs, she can only keep him for a while before he goes to an animal rescue. Despite his destructive behavior, Becca falls head over heels in love with her crazy pig. Unfortunately, he bites her mom and must leave early for his new home, a devastating event for the entire family, including Grandma.

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More to the Story by Hena Khan is a heart-warming, diverse wholesome book loosely based on Little Women. Jameela is one of four girls in a Pakistani-American family and she’s passionate about journalism. Jameela wants to write an epic article that will make her dad proud but accidentally hurts a new friend by focusing the article on what she wants and not what he feels comfortable sharing. As she digests her hard-earned lessons, she learns that her beloved little sister has lymphoma. Despite the challenges, her family sticks together with laughter and love.

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