For me, finding good books for 11 year olds is fun because this age group is the perfect one for the average middle grade book. Most protagonists are between 10-12 years old in these books and 11 year olds are just the right age to grasp the text and appreciate the subject matter. If you’re looking for engaging fiction for your kids, this list of books for 11 year olds is the right start. Have a voracious reader? Then check out this list of 70+ books for 6th graders for even more recommendations!
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20 Wonderful Books for 11 Year Olds
Here are 20 great books for 11 year olds:
Honey and Me
Published: October 18, 2022
Milla and Honey are long-time besties who love to do everything together. Milla envies Honey’s large family and the warmth in their home when they celebrate their Jewish holidays, something so different from her quieter house. But when Honey transfers to Milla’s school for the sixth grade, Milla suddenly feels like Honey has stolen everyone’s love and attention in the one place that used to be hers. Can both girls work it out?
I loved this story because middle school tends to evoke situations like these and the author does a great job of showing how friends can find individual interests without ruining their friendship altogether. It also features a lot of Jewish traditions, which some kids may enjoy learning about.
Good Different
Published: April 4, 2023
In this verse novel, Selah knows there’s something different about her. She’s uncomfortable with overstimulation and can’t seem to instinctively figure out social cues, so she follows the rules; does what others do/expect her to do in those situations. But when she’s home, she practically crashes, needing to recover from shapeshifting all day. She’s doing okay, until one day she hits a fellow student who keeps trying to braid Selah’s hair. This leads to a series of events ending in an Autism Spectrum Disorder diagnosis and the realization that although she’s different, it’s good different.
No Matter the Distance
Published: February 21, 2023
This book for 11 year olds centers young Penny, a middle schooler with cystic fibrosis. Penny has to take digestive enzymes and do her breathing treatments to help her lungs get rid of mucus that affects her breathing. While her CF case is relatively mild-moderate, she still struggles with being chronically ill. One day a dolphin shows up in the lake near their house and Penny feels a strong connection with the animal. It turns out the dolphin (who Penny names Rose) is also sick and needs to return to her pod to get better. Penny may be the only one who can help the scientists take Rose back. But can she do that, when she feels so drawn to the animal?
A Sky Full of Song
Published: April 11, 2023
After fleeing persecution in the Russian Empire, eleven-year-old Shoshana and her family, Jewish immigrants, start a new life on the prairie. Shoshana takes fierce joy in the wild beauty of the plains and the thrill of forging a new, American identity. But it’s not as simple for her older sister, Libke, who misses their Ukrainian village and doesn’t pick up English as quickly or make new friends as easily. Desperate to fit in, Shoshana finds herself hiding her Jewish identity in the face of prejudice, just as Libke insists they preserve it.
For the first time, Shoshana is at odds with her beloved sister, and has to look deep inside herself to realize that her family’s difference is their greatest strength. By listening to the music that’s lived in her heart all along, Shoshana finds new meaning in the Jewish expression all beginnings are difficult, as well as in the resilience and traditions her people have brought all the way to the North Dakota prairie.
The Firefly Summer
Published: May 2, 2023
The Firefly Summer follows young Ryanna, who gets sent to a family summer camp with her her mother’s extended family — who she hasn’t seen since her mom died when she was three. Ryanna goes to camp hoping for a low-key situation where she can spend time in peace and quiet with her grandparents but is surprised to find a slew of aunts, uncles, and cousins at Camp Van Camp.
After a rocky start, she starts to learn more about her mom, even discovering a treasure map she created as a kid and reading the detective novels she used to enjoy. But when she discovers that the campgrounds will be torn down by a developer, Ryanna and her cousins have to band together to save the day.
Not An Easy Win
Published: February 28, 2023
Lawrence has had the odds stacked against him for so long. He and his mom and little sister went from living in Charlotte, NC to finally moving in with his grandma while his father is incarcerated.
To make matters worse, Lawrence keeps getting picked on at school and getting into fights which results in his getting expelled. While he’s home, he starts going to the town’s rec center where he learns to play chess. But a boy there keeps trying to get Lawrence to fight. Can he find a way to secure a win for once?
Not an Easy Win is a heartwarming, realistic, and satisfying book about poverty, having an incarcerated parent, and finding belonging in chess. Readers will root for Lawrence as he figures out his strengths and learns to manage his weaknesses. I also learned way more about chess from this book than I have from other people who’ve tried to teach me in the past.
Sardines
Published: October 18, 2022
Five kids form an unlikely friend group at the start of a new school year with surprising results. Lucas is processing his older brother’s death and his mom leaving his dad and him, Robbie is the group goofball with his own challenges, Finn is the walking encyclopedia, Cat is the star athlete, and Anna is the popular girl whose drawn to the group.
As the kids play sardines (reverse hide-and-seek), they learn about each other’s most wanted wishes and plot to help each one get them. But when it’s Lucas’s turn, he’s afraid to bare his soul. Can he get past the fear and make his own wish come true?
This book wins for the author’s ability to accurately capture the middle school experience as five kids form a unique bond of friendship. I also really like the title (and its relevance to the story). If you enjoy audiobooks, this one is great on audio. I enjoyed it and would recommend it especially to fans of books by Gordon Korman (it reminded me a bit of The Fort).
A Rover’s Story
Published: October 4, 2022
A Rover’s Story is the story of a Mars rover (a robot sent to survey the planet, find another out-of-service rover, and help determine whether Mars is suited to human living. The story is told from several perspectives, including that of the rover (whose name is Res, short for Resilience) and Sophie, the daughter of one of the programmers who’s building the rover.
After months of testing and tinkering in the lab, Res discovers that he’s experiencing human emotions. His twin rover, Journey, repeatedly tells him that robots should be logical, not emotional, so Res tries unsuccessfully to restrain his emotions. Finally, Res is sent to Mars with a friendly drone he calls Fly. But can he accomplish his mission? Or will his emotions get in the way?
I’m not a huge fan of books from non-human perspectives, so I was hesitant to read this one, but the writing was so well done, and I found myself emotional at a few points throughout the story, so I definitely recommend this!
When Sea Becomes Sky
Published: February 28, 2023
Two siblings are spending the summer exploring their small island when they find a statue in the marsh. As they try to figure out how the sculpture got there and how to salvage it, they find out about a development project that will destroy it. But their struggle to protect the piece of art leads to a shocking revelation. This book delves into loss, grief, and the unbreakable bond between siblings.
Play Like a Girl
Published: September 27, 2022
In this graphic novel, Misty Wilson chronicles her year on the boy’s football team in her town. When she gets mocked for wanting to play football with the boys, Misty determines she’ll sign up for the team with her best friend (who’s convinced because she wants time with boys).
But the training process is rigorous, and playing football is physically challenging — especially with boys. It gets harder when her bestie gives up on Misty and their friendship. Can Misty make it work? And will she rebuild her social life?
I loved this one and I think it will be a big hit for kids who love sports graphic novels.
Meet Me Halfway
Published: September 13, 2022
In this book for 11 year olds, new kid Mattie realizes that her classmate Mercedes is practically her doppelganger, but she quickly finds out that there’s more to the resemblance.
While working on a project together, Mattie discovers that she and Mercedes share the same Colombian dad who left both of them for a life as an anthropologist in Colombia. But now he’s teaching in a university in their town, so they hatch a plan to meet him without their families knowing. Will they make it?
This is a fun spin on The Parent Trap. It features a ton of Colombian pride and culture and gives a look into the logistics of blending a family. If you love fun stories with plenty of heart, this is a perfect choice.
Three Strike Summer
Published: August 30, 2022
When Gloria and her family lose their farm, they move to California to find work and eventually start picking peaches on a farm. The family is also reeling from the loss of Gloria’s baby brother and struggling to contain Gloria’s spunky attitude which often gets her in trouble.
At the farm, Gloria quickly discovers a baseball team (with only boys! who don’t want a girl on the team!) and is ready to do what it takes to join the team. At the same time, ripples of discontent with working wages lead to organizing that puts Gloria and her family in a precarious position.
This is a a punchy, inspiring historical middle grade book about family, baseball, and life on farms during the Great Depression. Featuring a spunky female protagonist who won’t take no for an answer, this book explores a wide range of themes from gender inequality to poor worker compensation and dealing with death and grief. I enjoyed this one and would also recommend the audiobook for readers who enjoy the format.
The Many Fortunes of Maya
Published: January 24, 2023
This book is all about Maya who enjoys playing soccer, but especially so because it makes her sports-obsessed dad happy. She’s convinced herself that to be a great soccer player and be picked by a junior league, she needs to stop focusing on the other thing she loves (but won’t admit to loving as much): playing her flute.
But when her parents tell her they’re separating and friendship with her bestie starts to evolve with the addition of a third friend, Maya begins to feel really lost and it’s tough to figure out what she wants. Thankfully, she has a trusty wheel of fortunes she made from fortune cookie fortunes she’s collected over time. But can they help Maya find her way?
This is a great addition to stories about families experiencing parental separation, kids trying to find their passions, and separating one’s goals from external validation. It also highlights how to deal with tough emotions like insecurity and jealousy in friendships.
Morning Sun in Wuhan
Published: November 8, 2022
13-year-old Mei loves cooking and playing a cooking video game with two of her friends. She lives with her physician dad and is still grieving the loss of her mother. Her life suddenly turns upside down when a new virus starts killing people in her hometown Wuhan. Her dad is stuck working at the hospital and leaves Mei at home when the city is locked down. Can Mei cope with the pandemic — and find a way to help others around her?
If you’re not averse to all things COVID-19, this is a great book depicting the genesis of the COVID-19 pandemic in Wuhan. The main character loves video games and cooking. It’s also one of those unique middle grade books actually set in Asia. I recommend listening to it on audio (which I did) because it might be a slower start if you read the actual book. Overall, a nice debut with an under-explored topic/setting.
The McNifficents
Published: June 20, 2023
Every day, Lord Tennyson the Miniature Schnauzer does his very best to care for the six McNiff children and keep them from destroying their pink New England farmhouse—and the rest of the town for that matter. But when summer vacation brings the kids home together all day, his chaos-containing skills are put to the ultimate test.
Baby Sweetums is still refusing to walk, nap, or listen to anyone; Ezra is trying to keep a snake as a secret pet; Annie and Mary’s fighting is worse than ever; and Pearl and Tate are scared of just about everything. And when a particularly tempting trio of baby chicks arrives at the house, even Lord Tennyson finds he can’t stay on his best behavior.
As the chaos begin to spiral out of hand, though, something truly awful happens: Mr. and Mrs. McNiff seem to be considering getting “a real nanny” to care for their big brood! Can Lord Tennyson get the McNiffs’ hijinks under control and teach them to behave before the summer’s out? Or will this most unusual nanny find himself out of a job and back in the doghouse?
Camp Famous
Published: May 10, 2022
Eleven-year-old Abby is going to Camp Famous, but she has no idea. As far as she knows, her parents are sending her off to a sleepy sleep-away camp to (hopefully) make new friends. But when she arrives, she discovers it’s even better. She’s attending a fun summer camp with kid celebrities escaping the spotlight and constant paparazzi and new coverage. But as Abby starts to make friends at camp, she twists her personality and preferences to keep her camp friends interested in her. Plus, because she’s not a celebrity, finding and maintaining a cover story while being true to herself proves impossible. Will she make it?
It wasn’t my favorite by Blecher, and at times, I found the whole celebrity kid plot hard to believe, but the story grew on me eventually. Readers who enjoy summer camp stories, books about celebrity lifestyles, and the struggle to find themselves and true friends will enjoy this one.
This Close to Home
Published: May 30, 2023
Brooke’s mom always used to tell her, “It’s just a game.” But now that mom’s gone, Brooke is finding it hard to keep softball as just a game, when so much of her mom’s memory is woven into her favorite sport. And it doesn’t help that her older sister, Calla, has started avoiding the field, and Dad doesn’t have as much time to toss the ball in their backyard or go to all her games.
Then Brooke and her best friend, Derek, come across an album full of photos from when their town celebrated its annual Lakefest, a summer picnic that brought the whole community together at Brooke’s parents’ lake houses. When she brings up the idea to revive the event, Dad and Calla shut her down, but Brooke is certain that Lakefest can bring joy back to everyone in her town.
And maybe if her team of Derek and an unexpected classmate can pull off the picnic, her family can learn to heal and grow and create new memories, and Brooke can discover that she’s capable of more than she ever imagined.
Amelia Gray Is Almost Okay
Published: March 28, 2023
Twelve-year-old Amelia Gray has changed schools thirty-nine times (!!!) because of her dad’s job, which doesn’t leave a lot of time for making friends. But that’s okay. Amelia loves her “life on the go” with Dad and their adorable supermutt, Biscotti. She’s been in enough middle schools to know that friendships are messy, and who needs that?
But when her dad announces that he wants to stay in their new town for the whole summer—maybe even forever—Amelia realizes she’s going to have to do the one thing she’s never had to do: fit in.
So she gives herself not one but three total makeovers, to try out a few personalities and hopefully find her “thing.” Is she Amie, a confident track star? Mellie, a serious journalist? Or Lia, a bold theater kid? I felt for the main character in this book because she truly has no idea who she is and I think that will appeal to kids who are still trying to find their “thing.”
Call Me Adnan
Published: June 13, 2023
Adnan Zakir loves table tennis. He’s also colorblind, left-handed, and has a fondness for the aviation alphabet. He’s super close with his sister, Aaliyah, who is a great dancer and memorizer of Quran, and he loves his little toddler brother Rizwan, who only wants to grow up and play table tennis like his big brother.
All Adnan dreams of is making it to the Ultimate Table Tennis Championship in Florida, and if he qualifies for the tournament, he knows he will get to spend the Eid holiday with his cousins! But when the family travels there, unthinkable tragedy strikes, and Adnan swears he’ll never play table tennis ever again. Slowly, he and his family must learn to make peace and move forward, as a family.
This one was heartbreaking and involves the death of a sibling, but I think will be just the story some kids need to read. And if you don’t mind sad stories, you’ll enjoy the beautiful writing, but it might be too hard for some readers.
Duet
Published: May 10, 2022
Mirabelle is a young goldfinch who lives with her mother and brothers in a nest next to a piano teacher’s house. Mr. Starek, the piano teacher, is now aged but has received a new student, Jin, who does not seem pleased to be taking lessons from Mr. Starek.
After weeks of reluctance, Jin starts to play, and surprisingly, Mirabelle joins in, forcing Jin to notice her. Soon, the two begin to create duets together during Jin’s practice sessions. When Jin and Mirabelle find out that Mr. Starek’s late sister might have a special piano in her foreclosed home, they band together in a new way to investigate and solve a decades-old mystery about Frederick Chopin’s piano.
If you like unusual (fantasy) stories told from the perspective of animals, you’ll enjoy this one!
The Real Deal
Published: October 25, 2022
Not every friendship can be the real deal, but for Gabe and Oliver, that’s never been a question.
Until now. Things still feel the same on the surface—they’re even making a comic about their friendship—but lately Oliver’s acting like he might be hiding something.
And then there’s Reuben, the new boy who just moved to town. He doesn’t talk—not ever. The other kids say mean things and call him names behind his back. Gabe knows it isn’t right—but he and Oliver stay quiet, or worse, laugh along with the others just to keep from standing out.
Through the character he and Oliver create in their comic adventure, the experience they have babysitting twin toddlers, and with the help of a troublemaking seventh grader who gets sent to their sixth-grade class, Gabe begins to find his voice and become the realest-deal version of his own self. But if he does that—can he still hold onto his best friend, too?
Across the Desert
Published: October 12, 2021
12-year-old Jolene has a tough life. Her mom is misusing opioids and can barely care for her. She’s mocked at school for wearing too-small clothing and looking haggard. Jolene’s only bright spot is a tween pilot she watches via livestream at the library, “Addie Earhart.”
Addie and Jolene gradually form a warm friendship and encourage each other through life’s hardships. But one day during the livestream, Addie crashes her plane. No one but Jolene is watching the stream, and Addie’s mom doesn’t know she even flies planes. It’s up to Jolene to save her, but she’s a kid with no money — and Addie’s is stuck miles away in the Arizona desert. How will Jolene make it work?
This is a great survival/adventure story with plenty of heart. Kids will be on the edge of their seats throughout Jolene’s life-changing desert expedition.
Where You’ve Got to Be
Published: September 13, 2022
I adored this story! Nolie feels like the odd person out amid changes. Her sister Linden, who’s only 14 months older seems to have grown up overnight, ditching the seashell necklace their grandmother gave them. And now her best friend, Jessa thinks Nolie’s nickname is too babyish and she should really go by her full name, Magnolia instead. She also wants to include a new cooler friend in their duo and give Nolie a complete makeover.
To top it off, Nolie doesn’t seem to have a “thing” that she’s good at or particularly passionate about. With all those emotions brewing, Nolie makes a poor choice to start stealing things from several people. Can she find her way? This is a younger middle grade book starring a Jewish girl living in New York City about friends growing apart and some realistic sibling misunderstandings.
Dear Friends
Published: May 10, 2022
What if you realized that you can’t seem to maintain friendships? When this happens to Eleni in Dear Friends, she decides to embark on a challenge to revisit and revive her top five failed friendships. As life would have it, just as the process starts, her oldest childhood friend and BFF, Sylvie, starts pulling away from her. Can Eleni get to the bottom of things and recover her friendships before the start of middle school?
If your kids like books with diary entries, they’ll enjoy this one. I loved the realistic way it approaches what it means to be a good friend.
Golden Ticket
Published: June 21, 2022
After Ash McAnulty won the school-wide Quiz Bowl in the fifth grade, it was almost like she got a golden ticket. Although she’d been in the school’s Gifted and Talented program since first grade, now everyone viewed her as the smartest of the bunch. But now fifth grade is wrapping up, and Ash feels less gifted. She can’t seem to grasp the abstract concepts other kids in her class do, and she begins to feel like a fraud.
If she asks for help and her teachers learn she’s struggling, she’ll no longer be “gifted,” will she? Then who will she be without her “gifted” identity? She resolves to prove herself in the upcoming Quiz Bowl, but her plan doesn’t go to plan, triggering a sequence of events that forces Ash to evaluate what matters most.
This book highlights the privileges garnered by book-smarts, how the “Gifted and Talented” label can impact children’s identity, and how to bounce back after making a mistake. Although the main character is in late elementary school, I think all middle schoolers will benefit from reading it.
There they are: 25 of the best books for 11 year olds! Which of these have you read and loved? What did I miss?
More Books for 11 Year Olds
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