Best Fantasy Books for Middle Grade (2026): 5 Picks Compared

A reader who has just finished a series needs the next book at the right level, so this list of the best fantasy books for middle grade is for a parent or teacher choosing one title. We compared five books on the grade level, reading age, page count and series position each listing publishes, and say who each suits and who should skip it.

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The picks

#	Product	Shelf Score	Buy
1	Witchlings by Ortega	9.7/10	Buy
2	The False Prince by Nielsen	9.6/10	Buy
3	Gregor the Overlander by Collins	9.6/10	Buy
4	Scepter of Memories by Ortega	9.6/10	Buy
5	The City of Ember by DuPrau	9.6/10	Buy

1

Witchlings by Ortega

Claribel A. Ortega·9.7/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

A twelve-year-old witch placed in a low-power coven must attempt an impossible task, suiting readers who like friendship-driven magic stories.

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Pros

• Grade level 3 to 7 and reading age 9 to 12 years overlap, so both listed levels agree
• Friendship among three Spares is the center, which suits readers who like team stories
• Book 1 of 5, so the listing gives a clear starting point

Cons

• Book 1 of 5, so the series continues past this volume
• The description mentions a failed task that turns characters into toads, worth previewing for sensitive readers
• Reading age is marked as from customers, so it is a customer-listed figure

2

The False Prince by Nielsen

Jennifer A. Nielsen·9.6/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

An orphan is recruited to pose as a lost prince in a kingdom on the edge of civil war, suiting readers who like court intrigue and plot twists.

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Pros

• Book 1 of 5 in The Ascendance series, so the starting point is clear
• A plot of impersonation and deceit suits readers who enjoy twists
• The listing states a paperback reissue dated February 1, 2013

Cons

• Reading age runs to 14 years, past the top of its grade level of 7, so check the range against your reader
• The description mentions being killed, civil war and treachery, so preview it for sensitive readers
• At 352 pages, it is a long read for a reluctant reader

3

Gregor the Overlander by Collins

Suzanne Collins·9.6/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

After falling through a laundry room grate, a boy is pulled into an underground world and a quest to find his missing father, suiting readers who like adventure.

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Pros

• Grade level 4 to 7 and reading age 8 to 11 years overlap, so both listed levels point the same way
• The listing states that it includes bonus content
• Book 1 of 5 in The Underland Chronicles, so the series can continue

Cons

• The edition line reads Advance Reader's, so confirm which printing you are buying
• The description mentions a world on the brink of war, which some younger readers may find intense
• Reading age is marked as from customers, so check a sample page for the level

4

Scepter of Memories by Ortega

Claribel A. Ortega·9.6/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

Book 4 of 5 in the Witchlings series, where three witches flee into a misty wilderness, suits readers who are already following the story.

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Pros

• Reading age of 9 to 12 years is not marked as from customers, unlike most picks here
• Publication date of September 16, 2025 makes it the most recent of the five picks
• Continues the same trio of witches and their story from Witchlings

Cons

• Book 4 of 5, so readers new to the series will miss three earlier books
• The description assumes knowledge of earlier events, such as allies who begin to forget the Witchlings
• The Witchlings are charged with a crime and forced to flee, a tense plot point some families may want to know about

5

The City of Ember by DuPrau

Jeanne DuPrau·9.6/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

Two friends in a dark city with failing lamps race to solve clues in an ancient message, suiting readers who like mystery-driven adventure.

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Pros

• Book 1 of 4, with 270 pages, a shorter read than several picks here
• The listing states it is a Mark Twain Award winner and a William Allen White Children's Book Award winner
• Grade level 3 to 7 and a customer-listed reading age of 9 to 12 years overlap

Cons

• Published May 25, 2004, so the edition is older than the other picks
• The listing calls it a realistic post-apocalyptic world, so the setting is not fantasy
• The description mentions a city where darkness could close in for good, which may feel intense to some readers

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More picks to compare

• Nemesis and the Vault by DavisMiddle grade portal fantasy with time thieves, for readers who like action and humor.Check on Amazon
• Lionborn by ZeaFantasy with a lion cub and three trials, for readers who like courage stories.Check on Amazon

Compare the picks

Book details as published on each listing, collected 16 October 2026.

How we scored them

The Shelf Score weighs fit for the reader, contents and edition, value, and the listed reading age or grade level. All five picks list both a grade level and a reading age, and every reading age is marked as from customers except Scepter of Memories. How we pick explains the weights.

Scores run from 9.2 to 9.8: each book’s point total is placed on that range, so more points always means a higher score. Reading age or level counts on a list where at least one listing gives one, and a book whose listing gives none then scores zero on it. Where no listing gives one, the score is taken over the other 85 points. Books carry no warranty, so warranty is not scored.

How to choose the best fantasy books for middle grade

Check the series position first

Gregor the Overlander and The City of Ember are both listed as Book 1, so they work as starting points. Scepter of Memories is Book 4 of 5 in the Witchlings series, so begin with Witchlings. For more series picks, see our best fantasy series for kids list.

Check the range against your reader

A listing can give a grade level and a reading age that spread apart. The False Prince listing runs from a grade level of 3 to 7 to a reading age of 10 to 14 years, so read a sample page first. For more choices by level, browse all middle grade books.

Look at the themes before you buy

Several descriptions mention war, killing or a failed magic task. Check the description before you decide for a sensitive reader.

Before you buy

• Check the edition line: the Gregor the Overlander listing reads Advance Reader’s.
• For a series, buy Book 1 first and confirm the series number on the listing.
• Compare the listed grade level and reading age with your reader, and check the description for mature themes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where should a reader start a fantasy series for middle grade?

Start with Book 1. The Witchlings listing and the Gregor the Overlander listing both show Book 1 of 5, so the series number tells you where to begin.

What age does Witchlings suit?

The listing gives a reading age of 9 to 12 years, marked as from customers, and a grade level of 3 to 7. Treat both as a guide and check the description for your reader.

Does The False Prince have mature themes?

The description mentions a threat of being killed, civil war and treachery. Preview it before you give it to a sensitive reader.

Still deciding? Our top pickWitchlings by Ortega

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Related lists

See every middle grade list and all kids and teens lists.

More lists: fantasy for middle school, fantasy for children and fantasy for elementary students.