A good book series is just the thing to keep kids reading, and a box set is the perfect gift to open them up to a new world full of imagination, interesting characters and intriguing plot twists. When you're searching for a gift for your tween, pick up the titles on this list of book sets for middle grade readers and inspire them to stay up late reading! (But not too late, they do have school in the morning.)
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Table of contents
Book Series and Gift Sets for Ages 8-12
Most of the following book series are sold as box sets, but not all. Where a book series needs to be purchased individually, I've listed the titles separately. You can also find this book list curated on Bookshop, where purchases support independent booksellers.
Fantasy
Where the Mountain Meets the Moon by Grace Lin
I've said a million times that Lin's Where the Mountain Meets the Moon is one of my all time favorite middle grade novels. The original novel follows Minli's quest to find the Old Man on the Moon and change her family's fortune. The second two books are companion novels, rather than traditional sequels and all three draw heavily upon Chinese folklore and include Lin's stunning illustrations.
MORE: Middle grade fantasy books
A Tale Dark & Grimm trilogy by Adam Gidwitz
In this subversive re-imagining of "Hansel and Gretel," a sly and snarky narrator offers warnings, observations and opinions on the action.  The story, in which the siblings journey on to try and find a set of decent parents, somehow manages to merge eight different Grimm fairy tales into one cohesive tale.
MORE: 39 Best Fairy Tale Retellings for Tweens
Sal and Gabi series by Carlos Hernandez
This two-book series is full of fast-paced action and crazy humor. Salvador Vidón is the new kid, but is also an unusual kid because he is able to open portals into alternate universes with his mind. He meets Gabi Reál who is a bit suspicious of his explanation about the mysterious things that happen when he is around. Together they break–and then fix–the universe! Highly recommended!
Imaginative Realism
Spy School by Stuart Gibbs
Both my sons have loved the Spy School series. These hilarious adventure stories follow the fortunes of Ben Ripley, a kid who has been recruited to the CIA's Academy of Espionage. Ben is not exactly spy material and his many narrow escapes, fumbles, and sheer determination will surely delight any reader.
MORE: Spy books for kids
Wayside School series by Louis Sachar
This classic series is a terrific choice for middle grade readers who prefer short books with a side of laugh-out-loud humor. Each book is a collection of stories about the wackiest school you can imagine!
Animal Stories (plus a robot!)
The Wild Robot series by Peter Brown
If your child loved the original book or the film adaptation about robot named Roz, treat them to the trilogy box set. Wild Robot is a tender tale about a robot learning to survive in an unfamiliar environment. Stranded on an island, she adapts to her circumstances, learns from the animals around her, and becomes part of a dynamic community.
MORE: Middle grade books narrated from the animal's point of view
Historical Fiction
The Birchbark House series by Louise Erdrich
I've mentioned this series on so many book lists and it never fails to enchant. Erdrich's stories follow the life of Omakayas, a Ojibwa girl in the 19th century. Erdrich imbues her books with humor and warmth but does not shy away from the difficult realities of life as an indigenous person in North America. I often recommend Erdrich's epic adventure to families who like, or want an alternative to, Little House on the Prairie.
MORE: Native American middle grade novels
One Crazy Summer (Gaither Sisters Trilogy) by Rita Garcia-Williams
Garcia-Williams' stories of life in the 1960s follow the adventures of sisters, Delphine, Vonetta and Fern in three locations. First they visit their mother in Oakland. Next, they hang out in their home in Brooklyn. In the final book, they visit relatives in Alabama. Each book will open your child's eyes to a variety of experiences, all with humor, wit and wisdom. A truly great series.
Realism
Better Nate than Ever series by Tim Federle
Nate Foster has always dreamed of making it on Broadway and in the first book of this hilarious trilogy he heads out of his small town to audition for E.T.: The Musical. The subsequent tales follow Nate as he performs on stage and makes his next move after a successful show. Also, can we just agree that the titles of these books are terrific?
MORE: Books for tweens about the theater
Front Desk series by Kelly Yank
Find it: Bookshop (first book) | Amazon
In the first book of this 6 book series, Mia Tang lives in a motel where her immigrant parents are the managers for an exploitative owner. Mia wants to be a writer but worries about her English skills. She takes over running the front desk of the motel and makes friends wherever she goes. Yang based the novel on her own experiences growing up in similar circumstances. A winning, funny and heartwarming series; not to be missed.
Mystery
Myrtle Hardcastle series by Elizabeth Bunce
The unconventional, twelve-year-old Myrtle, lives with her prosecutor father in Victorian England. Encouraged by her father and governess, the clever, likable, but very quirky Myrtle loves her gadgets and keeping up with all the latest crime-fighting research. A thrilling mystery series with unique characters and a healthy dose of snappy humor.
The Brixton Brothers series by Mac Barnett
Find it: Amazon
I love to recommend this quirky mystery series to fans of Encyclopedia Brown or Nancy Drew. 12 year old Steve dreams of being a detective and has studiously read and re-read The Baily Brothers Detective Handbook. Â He knows everything about solving crimes, which comes in handy when he finds himself thrown into the middle of an exciting mystery. Every book in the series has tons of adventure, twist and turns, loads of intelligent humor and a satisfying ending.
MORE: Mystery books for tweens
Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library (series) by Chris Grabenstein
If you've ever dreamed of spending a night in the library, this popular adventure mystery is the book for you. Luigi Lemoncello, a world-famous game creator has designed the local library and twelve 7th graders get to spend the night. They have exactly 24 hours to find the secret exit and win a prize. This six book set (only 4 are pictured) is great for kids who enjoy a good puzzling mystery like The Westing Game.
Graphic Novels
New Kid series by Jerry Craft
After I brought this book home from the library, my son loved it and read it ten (literally) times in a row! I'm not surprised because after I read it, I realized how nuanced this story is. Art-loving Jordan navigates a new school as one of the few kids of color in his seventh grade class. Craft's story offers much to discover, even after multiple readings.
MORE: Middle School Graphic Novels
Amulet series by Kazu Kibuishi
My sons adore this highly imaginative graphic novel series. Mixing high fantasy and science fiction elements, Amulet has become a favorite of many. After their mother disappears, Emily and Navin set out to rescue her. Emily discovers a magical Amulet and learns she is the Stonekeeper, with the responsibility to save the world. This is a great choice for kids who may be reluctant readers.
MORE: Fantasy and science fiction graphic novels
Don't see the exact book set you want? Check out these other lists for more:
Leslie Madrigal says
My dad got me a children book around late 1970's or early 1980's and I fell love it. Read it again and again, but I lost it when I got older. I can't remember a name of a title or an author, but I do remember a story. A house is a character in a story and it looks like a Victorian house. It fills with children and parents. They play outside and have parties. Then the children grow up and move away and leave aged parents alone. When they are gone, a house become abandoned, overgrown with weeds, broken windows, old broken cars and stray cats. After many years, a man come to collect all old cars and a old lady take all cats with her. Later, a run down house is discovered by a new family that fixes it up and restore the house. It's really a story about the circle of the life.
Can you help me to locate a name of a title and an author? Thank you, Leslie
Note: it is not The Story of a House by Miki Conn. It is almost similar but different families.
KC says
Some possible matches for you.
One of them is The Little House by Virginia Lee Burton. It is a classic picture book that tells the story of a little house that lives happily in the countryside, but gradually gets surrounded by the city and neglected. A great-great-granddaughter of the builder finds the house and moves it back to a new place in the country, where it is loved again.
Another one is The Great Blue House by Kate Banks. It is a poetic book that describes the life of a blue house by the sea, where a family spends their summers. When they leave, the house feels lonely and waits for their return. One winter, a storm damages the house, but the family comes back and repairs it.
A third one is House Held Up by Trees by Ted Kooser. It is a lyrical book that explores the relationship between nature and human-made structures. A house is built on a barren land by a father who likes order and neatness. His children grow up and move away, and the house is left empty. Over time, trees and plants take over the land and lift the house up in their branches.