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If you’re looking for some new material to keep your elementary reader turning pages, look no further. Fantasy, sci-fi, mystery, dystopian—we’ve got plenty of adventures of all shapes and sizes.
Inkheart by Cornelia Funke
An engaging fantasy epic from the brilliant mind of Cornelia Funke, Inkheart explores what happens when you can actually jump into the stories you’re reading—and what kind of dangers you might meet while you’re there. This series is everything you want in a fairytale and more.
The Missing by Margaret Peterson Haddix
Haddix is known for adventurous narratives and immersive, addictive book series, and The Missing has to be one of our favorites. Imagine learning that you were kidnapped from a completely different time period as a baby, and that there are a lot of kids—thirty-six, in fact—just like you. Then imagine making it your mission to go back and time and fix the holes in history where those children should be. Sci-fi meets historical fiction meets mystery in this suspenseful story of time travel, dangerous missions, family, Inkheart by Cornelia Funke
An engaging fantasy epic from the brilliant mind of Cornelia Funke, Inkheart explores what happens when you can actually jump into the stories you’re reading—and what kind of dangers you might meet while you’re there. This series is everything you want in a fairytale and more.
The Missing by Margaret Peterson Haddix
Haddix is known for adventurous narratives and immersive, addictive book series, and The Missing has to be one of our favorites. Imagine learning that you were kidnapped from a completely different time period as a baby, and that there are a lot of kids—thirty-six, in fact—just like you. Then imagine making it your mission to go back and time and fix the holes in history where those children should be. Sci-fi meets historical fiction meets mystery in this suspenseful story of time travel, dangerous missions, family, and the best of intentions.
Warrior Cats by Erin Hunter
Warrior Cats explores the adventure, danger, and drama that comes with being part of one of the clans of feral cats inhabiting White Hart Woods. In addition to its addictive thrills, this series is comprised of seven sub-series, which means your young reader won’t run out of books to read for a while.
The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart
Cunning and bravery are what it takes to be a part of the Mysterious Benedict Society, and these kids fit the bill. After completing and passing a series of complicated tests required to join the Society, they are sent off on secret missions by the elusive Mr. Benedict, solving mysteries and using their individual talents to stop evildoers in their tracks. Perfect for lovers of complicated puzzles and exciting adventures, The Mysterious Benedict Society is a series that even adults will find witty, charming, and engaging.
Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan
As well-known and cliche as Percy Jackson may be, it doesn’t negate the fact that it’s still an incredible series with a door into the world of a talented writer. The original series focuses on the Greek gods and heroes of old and what happens to their half-human children in the modern world, but Riordan branches well beyond these bounds in the secondary series, Heroes of Olympus. And if your reader still can’t get enough, Riordan has additional series that explore both Egyptian and Norse mythologies. Percy Jackson is an exceptional coming-of-age series that explores the boundaries of what it means to be a hero.
The City of Ember by Jeanne DuPrau
In a post-apocalyptic world, a group of doctors and scientists dubbed “the Builders” have built a secluded underground city called Ember, which is intended to keep humanity safe for 200 years. But when those 200 years are up and the safety of the people in Ember itself is threatened, two best friends must race against a ticking clock, relying on each other and leaning into what they know is right in order to survive. The City of Ember is a thrilling adventure series perfect for fans of Lois Lowry’s The Giver.
Kate Higginbotham is a writer, reader, and editor from North Alabama. After self-publishing several YA novels, spending time abroad, and graduating from the University of Alabama in Birmingham, Kate moved to Nashville, Tennessee, where she spends her time elbow-deep in literature of all kinds. She currently writes the “Book List” column alongside freelance editing and other publishing ventures.