Best Sci Fi Books Middle School (2026): 4 Compared

The best sci fi books middle school readers love are the ones that blast off: three of these four are sci-fi novels for young readers. We compared four books by what each Amazon listing states: pages, reading age, genre and publication date, so you can pick the right one for your reader.

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The picks

#	Product	Shelf Score	Buy
1	The Last Dragon on Mars	9.8/10	Buy
2	The Martian	9.7/10	Buy
3	Interstellar Pig	9.7/10	Buy
4	The Last Last-Day-of-Summer	9.4/10	Buy

1

The Last Dragon on Mars

Scott Reintgen·9.8/10 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 Mars dragon sci-fi novel, 384 pages, 10 years and up.

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Pros

• 384 pages stated
• 10 years and up stated
• Book 1 of 3

Cons

• 2025 edition
• Dragonships series
• Fantasy mix

2

The Martian

Andy Weir·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 Mars survival novel, 400 pages, 11 years and up.

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Pros

• 400 pages stated
• 11 years and up stated
• Classroom edition stated

Cons

• 2016 edition
• Andy Weir
• Mars survival

3

Interstellar Pig

William Sleator·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 ›

An alien sci-fi novel, 208 pages, 10 years and up.

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Pros

• 208 pages stated
• 10 years and up stated
• William Sleator stated

Cons

• 1995 edition
• 208 pages, short
• Board game plot

4

The Last Last-Day-of-Summer

Lamar Giles·9.4/10 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 middle grade mystery adventure, 320 pages, ages 8 to 12.

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Pros

• 320 pages stated
• Ages 8 to 12 stated
• Book 1 stated

Cons

• Mystery, not sci-fi
• 2020 edition
• Time freeze plot

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More picks to compare

• A Rover's StorySuits readers wanting a Mars rover story, 320 pages.Check on Amazon
• The Smartest Kid in the UniverseSuits readers wanting a smart kid story, 320 pages.Check on Amazon
• Fall of the RobotsSuits readers wanting a robot story, 320 pages.Check on Amazon

Compare the picks

Listing details as published, collected 17 October 2026.

How we scored them

The Shelf Score weighs sci-fi fit, story, depth, safety and warranty. 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 sci fi books middle school

Reading age

Ages run from 8 to 12 (The Last Last-Day-of-Summer) to 11 and up (The Martian), with 10 and up in between. See our middle grade books for more young readers.

Pages

Pages run from 208 (Interstellar Pig) to 400 (The Martian), with 320 and 384 in between. Pick the length that fits your reader.

Genre

Genres run from sci-fi (three of the four) to mystery (The Last Last-Day-of-Summer). Pick the genre your reader likes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is Mars?

The Last Dragon on Mars and The Martian.

Which is classroom edition?

The Martian.

Which is the classic?

Interstellar Pig.

Which is mystery?

The Last Last-Day-of-Summer.

Still deciding? Our top pickThe Last Dragon on Mars

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Related lists

See every kids books list and all reading guides.

More lists: sci-fi books for middle schoolers, sci-fi books for girls and fantasy books for middle grade.