Middle Grade Must Reads – August 2026 (Part One)

Dragonflare

You are invited to compete in the Wingrider Trials on Dragonflare Island!

Do you have what it takes to become a dragon rider, solve the puzzles and find the treasure? Flynn definitely doesn’t. So, when a dragon kidnaps him to be her partner in the trials, things get complicated.

Now they’re stuck in a labyrinth full of hungry monsters, impossible obstacle courses, and backstabbing competitors. To win, they’ll need brains, bravery and – worst of all – teamwork.

But the trials are hiding a deadly secret, and if Flynn and his dragon don’t win, the whole island could be doomed…

I really enjoyed his first book Grumfort and I was interested in reading this book.

As someone who likes a map in a book this was great

The illustrations were so detailed and the puzzles were great and I  loved trying to solve them – some were easier than others

The illustrations really helped with the story.

Anyone who knows me knows how much I adore dragons, and this was no different. And it was brilliant that the dragon in this book is the main character. She was fun, sassy, and everything I wanted a dragon to be

The book was easy to read and follow, and it wasn’t too long. The message that we took away with us was the importance of trust, communication, respect, teamwork and friendship. All the lessons that are important to children

I am really hoping that the author has more adventures planned for these characters.

My School Musical and Other Punishments

When Jessica gets roped into the school musical she finds herself strangely allied with arch-enemy Amelia when her best friend Natalie becomes crazed with stardom. Meanwhile, Jessica’s dad is concerned at plans to build a new road through nearby parkland and is now living up a tree. So far, so normal

Not having read the previous 2 books I was unsure what I was going to find.

The front cover is extremely eye-catching and it gives the hint of the book being fun – and it was.

Told a bit like a diary this is a step up from Wimpy kid and dork diaries, and we follow main character Jessica on her mad capped days.

This is ideal for primary school aged children as the main character is still at primary school.

The character is portrayed as a typical child, with mood swings, and how her opinions change based on a particular situation.

Cruise Ship Kid : Kidnap at Sea

• Written by Emma Swan
• Illustrations by Katie Saunders
• Usborne Publishing

Hi, I’m Silver (yes, really) and I’m back! Here are 4 more things you should know about me:

1. I still live on a cruise ship…

2. But two days ago we moved to a brand-new ship!

3. I’m now definitely a detective!

4.And I need your help investigating my second case!

Since my last diary, Mum’s been promoted and we now live on a cruise ship with a mini-golf course, an ice-cream parlour and a MEGA SLIDE! And The Gang, my amazing friends who are all over 80, have come along too!

I thought my biggest challenge this cruise would be to convince Mum to buy me a phone. But now a SUPER FAMOUS INFLUENCER has been KIDNAPPED, The Gang unhelpfully keep taking over my investigations, and we still can’t find her.

So, do you want to be definitely-a-detective too and help me solve the kidnap at sea?

I absolutely loved the first book in the series and I couldn’t wait to catch up with Silver and the gang. And it especially good this time around as both the characters and the readers were getting to grips with a new ship.

As before we follow a trail of clues, a list of suspects and endless alibis, red herrings and never ending  mix ups.

Younger readers will especially like how interactive this book is with doodles, notes and pieces to fill in. The chapters are short and written in the form of a diary, which is ideal  for those who are reluctant readers. It is also written in a chatty form.

The plot starts with Silver trying to convince her mum to get her a mobile phone but soon that is put on the pack burner when a kidnapping happens. This book does a great job at highlighting the power of social media and how it isn’t as glamorous as it seems.

The character of Silver is such a positive one, she is curious, determined, knows her own mind , but we also see how she gets her confidence knocked.

And  we also get a look at loneliness. And how difficult it is for her to have friends her own age while living on a ship.

I can’t wait for the next book.

Nova

• Written by Chris Bradford
• Illustrated by Charlotte Grange
• Published by Barrington Stoke

This is the follow up to Stellar and Lunar.

When Max’s life-craft is pulled into a wormhole, he needs a whole galaxy of luck to return to safety … Chris Bradford crafts Interstellar for kids in this space-bending survival story.Max Nova is headed to Mercury with his father, a space trucker, when their ship is suddenly diverted. They have a new urgent mission. An abnormal gravity reading has been detected near the sun.There are fears that this could signal the start of a supernova! But what Max and his father discover is much more dangerous – and far stranger – than any supernova.

Flung to the outer reaches of the universe, Max must navigate a galaxy of dangers to find his way home before time runs out!

It was nice to be back with familiar characters, and space loving readers will love this book/series. 

The plot was action packed from the first page, and this continued right up until the very end.

The characters are all nice and the sort of people you would be happy to be around.

And the illustrations show so much emotion.