11 Books Every Kid Should Read Before High School

Four Chinese American immigrant families in San Francisco start a mahjong group known as The Joy Luck Club. Structured somewhat like a game of mahjong itself, each part of the story focuses on a mother-daughter duo...and is so relatable to anyone striving to differentiate themselves from their parents. 

This 2013 memoir by 19-year-old Nobel Peace Prize winner Yousafzai (who was attacked by the Taliban for her outspokenness on the importance of girls’ education) is stunningly inspirational and should be required reading for any young person as a lesson in how to change the world.

Anyone who’s ever grown up (or is in the process of growing up) will recognize Margaret’s triumphs, struggles and confusion. And while today’s kids might not recognize some of the more dated references (like, umm, sanitary belts), they'll  get the point. 

Riggs’s dark fantasy is about a young boy who time travels to a home for strangely gifted children with “peculiarities,” like invisibility, superhuman strength and prophetic dreams. It’s also worth seeing Tim Burton’s film version—after reading the book of course.

The wildly popular story of grouchy misfit Meg, her genius little brother and their missing scientist father swoops through time and space to teach lessons about individuality, patience and love. 

This 1993 dystopian YA novels follows 12-year-old Jonas as he prepares to take his government-appointed position as “Receiver of Memories,” only to discover the sinister reason behind state-sanctioned “release dates” for the elderly and developmentally challenged children. The themes are a little hit-you-over-the-head obvious, but for a tween they’re mind-blowing enough to spur deep conversation. 

Rowling’s entire series is suitable for readers of just about any age, but we strongly support a middle school introduction to Harry, Hermione, Ron and the rest of the gang at Hogwarts.  

Rowell wrote the equally excellent Eleanor & Park, but we’re partial to Fangirl. The novel follows Cath, an awkward teen, through her first year of college, where the only thing getting her through is the fan fiction she obsessively writes and reads. Even if college is a few years away, Cath’s struggles to fit in are pretty much universal.

Talking animals, mythical creatures and a White Witch make up the first installment of Lewis’s fantastical Chronicles of Narnia series. (Plus, again, there’s a movie series with which to bribe reluctant readers.)

This non-saccharine book, told from the alternating perspectives of a ten-year-old with jarring facial anomalies and his various family members and friends, gets our Golden Tissue Box award for most quality tear-jerker in recent history.

A bit more accessible and consistently engaging than The Lord of the Rings, this is just a really great adventure story. The themes of personal growth and overcoming challenges—told through the story of a pint-size hero—are just icing on the cake.