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Kids books aren’t just for kids! In addition to older gems like The Phantom Tollbooth, Howl’s Moving Castle, or The Westing Game, there is a wealth of recent middle grade books that offer just as much to adult readers as they do to kids. Whether you’re looking for a book to read aloud to your kids, a book for family book club, or are just an adult who enjoys reading kidlit, here are a few suggestions I think you’ll enjoy just as much as young readers.
The War that Saved My Life by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley
10-year-old Ada was born with a twisted foot and has never left the confines of the small apartment she shares with her younger brother and their neglectful mother, who is ashamed of Ada’s disability. But when Ada hears that children are being evacuated from WWII London, she is determined to do whatever it takes to get her brother to safety. In the countryside, they find themselves under the care of a woman who expands Ada’s world far beyond what she ever could have imagined. Told from Ada’s sheltered perspective, there are many layers to the story that reward older readers who are able to understand events and themes that Ada can’t, creating real depth in the narrative. It’s a beautiful book.
The Gallery by Laura Marx Fitzgerald
In 1929, Martha is a maid for a wealthy New York City family. Despite Gatsby-like glitz and extravagance, there are also allusions to Jane Eyre with the aged and eccentric Rose, the matriarch of the family who never leaves her room. While everyone considers Rose to be crazy, Martha thinks that the older woman is sending secret signals through the artwork hung in the family gallery. Adult readers will appreciate the Gatsby and Jane Eyre references, as well as mythological influences, plus the inclusion of many real art masterpieces.
Where the Mountain Meets the Moon by Grace Lin
Adults who loved reading Greek myths as a child will be enchanted by this book. Partly inspired by The Wizard of Oz, it’s a classic quest story filled with Chinese folktales, both old and new. Minli and her family are very poor, and after hearing stories from her father about the Man in the Moon, she sets out to ask for his help. Along the way she meets various folktale characters, like talking animals and a dragon. Unusually for children’s books, the parents left behind have their own narrative. It’s heartfelt and whimsical and will take adult readers back to the magical joy of reading myths and folktales for the first time.
When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead
In 1978, between trying to figure out why her best friend stopped talking to her and helping her mother prepare for a TV game show, Miranda starts getting mysterious notes from someone who seems to know things that haven’t happened yet. The mystery is impeccably plotted but it’s better to go into the book not knowing too much more about it. It’s a puzzle and a twist better than most adult novels and the themes are applicable at any age. Adult readers can also enjoy a throwback to a time before cell phones.
Other Words for Home by Jasmine Warga
Novels in verse, which aren’t as common in adult literature, are a strong segment of children's literature. When Jude and her mother leave Syria to find safety in the United States, she has to leave behind her brother, her father, her friends, and many relatives. Suddenly Jude has to make sense of an entirely new culture and her place in it. It’s a sensitive portrayal of life as a Muslim immigrant. Adults will appreciate the significant themes that are incisive but not heavy handed. Adult readers will also enjoy the beautiful language and writing of the free verse poetry that comprises the story.
About the Author
Claire is a librarian at the Takoma Park Neighborhood Library. She reads widely but loves romance, mystery, and sci-fi and she's learning to love poetry and non-fiction. She is always reading at least five books at one time. She lives with a very silly golden retriever named Peggy.
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