Middle Grade Books

I volunteer in the library at one of our major metropolitan children's hospitals - the library is called The Book Bunker. I wish the hospital signage also said the word Library.  Parents and patients don't always discover us when they do families are delighted to find a children's library in the hospital brim full of books for ages 0-17.

On August 14, 1997, the Scholastic Australia Book Bunker became the first of its kind in Australia, offering a warm, inviting and vibrant children’s library where patients and their families could come and read while in hospital. Since then, the children’s library has gone on to stock from Scholastic Australia and other publishers, both Australian and international, to ensure there is something to read for everyone. The Book Bunker is managed by Teacher-Librarians and volunteers. Source (edited)

Each time I visit I borrow one or two books. I thought for this post I would just share some covers and put the link to my blog post of some Middle Grade titles. Our books mostly come from the philanthropic office of Scholastic Australia which means we get some new Australian releases along with books from Chicken House (UK) and Scholastic US and New Zealand. I have worked at the library since 2018 but these titles are from 2023-2025.

You might like to click on the link of any covers that appeal to you. Children's Book Week here in Australia should first and foremost be about books and reading. About finding that one special book that hooks a child into reading. It might be an award winner (such as the CBCA winners announced for 2025 last week) or it might be a 'random' book found in a library. Where ever it comes from I do hope you and your young reading companion/s find a special book this week. 

The Silken Thread by Gabrielle Wang (Australian)

The Great Phoenix of London by Lindsay Gavin

When we flew away (YA title) by Alice Hoffman

Ghostlines by Katya Balen

The boy in the suit by James Fox

We do not welcome out ten-year-old overlord by Garth Nix (Australian)

Sisters of the Salt Marsh by Lucy Strange

Something somewhere by Richard Yaxley (Australian)

The Cloud thief by James Nicol

The one and only family by Katherine Applegate

North and the only one by Vashti Hardy

The Silver Sword by Ian Serraillier

The Unlikely Heroes Club by Kate Foster

The First Summer of Callie McGee by AL Tait (Australian)

The Wall between us by Dan Smith

Odd wolf out by Juliette Maciver

Ajay and the Jaipur Moon by Vasha Shah

Dandy the Highway Lion by Stephanie Sorrell

The Sideways orbit of Evie Hart by Samera Kamaleddine (Australian)

Storm Horse by Nick Garlick

The Spell Tailors by James Nicol

Bailey Finch takes a stand by Ingrid Laguna (Australian)