Gifts for kid readers

If you’re thinking about what to get the special kids in your life for the holidays, keep in mind that books make perfect gifts. To help you choose the best books for your middle-grade reader, I’m putting up my reviews of some of the books I’ve read over the last year. To see book reviews by kids, go to the bottom of this page.

 
 

For the history enthusiast

The Unfortunate Son (15th century life, slavery, & some pirates)

The Golden Dream of Carlo Chuchio (a treasure hunt in the desert, Don Quixote style)

Princess Elizabeth’s Spy (for the young adult, mystery in war-recovering England)
 
 

For the princess admirer

The Two Princesses of Bamarre (for the older middle-grader, becoming brave in a fantasy kingdom)

Miri Attwater and the Ocean’s Secret (being a mermaid princess isn’t as easy as you thought)

 
 

For the action seeker

Middleworld (jungle adventure & Maya myth)

Lawless (when the good guys are bad guys)

The Door in the Dragon’s Throat (digging up & defeating spirits)

Artemis Fowl (a little James Bond brought to fantasy)

The Five Ancestors: Tiger (kung-fu in 15th century China)

The 39 Clues: Maze of Bones (every chapter is a surprise)

 
 

For the fantasy lover

The Moon Coin (world-hopping fantasy, Narnia style)

The Dragonet Prophecy (dragons saving the world)

Miri Attwater and the Ocean’s Secret (being a mermaid princess isn’t as easy as you thought)
 
 

For the epic adventurer

Middleworld (jungle adventure & Maya myth)

The Dragonet Prophecy(dragons saving the world)

Society’s Traitor (searching for a golden city & a magical bird)

The Minotaur Riddle (olympic adventure & the Labyrinth)

The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe (a witch & talking animals)
 
 

For the picture looker

Olivia and the Missing Toy (a funny picture book for younger kids)
 
 

For the comic laugher

Darth Paper (middle school truth from a finger puppet)
 
 

For the myth buff

The Savage Fortress (for the older middle-grader, Hindu monsters & gods)

Society’s Traitor (searching for a golden city & a magical bird)

The Minotaur Riddle (olympic adventure & the Labyrinth)

The 13th Cycle (for the young adult, a college girl’s snooping to learn about the Maya & the end of the world)

Middleworld (jungle adventure & Maya myth)

The Last TimeKeepers and the Arch of Atlantis (for the older middle-grader, time traveling fantasy)

 
 
Already have a book in mind? See what other kids have to say about it! Check out a list of kid-reviewed books on Reviewed by Kids.