Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief, Artemis Fowl, The Golden Compass—these books are often considered staples of fiction, and are very commonly categorized as young adult fiction, or into the more general, lower category of “children’s literature”. All of these books, however, belong to the middle grade division, a section meant for audiences younger than “young adults” and older than the audiences of “children’s literature.”

Middle grade is often defined as books written for those in the age range of 8- to 12-years-old with differences within the division. Upper middle grade, which includes most of the aforementioned novels, is typically written for audiences between the ages of 11- and 14-years-old, or middle school readers. Lower middle grade is targeted towards third through fifth graders, and tends to carry more realistic fiction, such as Fish in a Tree or Out of My Mind, while upper middle grade tends towards high-concept speculative fiction.

Of course, these age ranges are in no way rigid. Much of middle grade fiction is enjoyed by high school students and even adults. The range allows for authors to employ more complex writing styles, plots, and themes, while still maintaining a light, clean, or comfortable atmosphere compared to the grimdark and violence that’s common in much of young adult fiction. Upper middle grade, like the Bartimaeus series, often has the maturity and intelligence of novels written for much older audiences, making them popular among people of all ages.

In addition, upper middle grade novels provide an important stepping stone between the easy, lighthearted children’s literature and the increasingly mature young adult genre. Many pre-teens aren’t ready for the intensity of young adult fiction, but are ready for harder, more rigorous writing. Upper middle grade exists as a proper transition point. Personally, the dilemma between more difficult writing and the “children’s section” was one that was prominent in my preteen and early teen years. Even though I often felt like I was past the need for children’s novels, I wasn’t ready for the mature themes of novels targeted to older readers. This was satisfied by harder middle grade novels. Despite being in the children’s section, this range caters to a wide range of readers and manages to still stimulate readers in the way that they need it.

Furthermore, middle grade is a very diverse range of literature. As previously stated, it covers readers from the ages of 8- up to 14-years-old. This encompasses everything from  chapter books to young adult novels. The middle grade section is the most dynamic of “kidlit,” and often of a reader’s life. 

“One of my favorite books, Wonder by R.J. Palacio, is from the middle grade genre,” said freshman Sophia Lin.

In conclusion, the middle grade division is one that deserves more appreciation for the great range that it employs,  its collection of wonderful and well-loved books, and for the popularity that it garners that is often attributed to young adult fiction.