Aka what I like to think is the golden era of kids books. Or at least from my rose tinted glasses.

Secrets of Droon by Tony Abbot

This series took kids to the magical and dangerous world of Droon that is so unlike other fantasy series It was all so unique that I don’t think I have ever seen others copy bits from it like the Queen of Shadowthorns, whose absolutely terrifying or Gethwing the moon dragon. It was all just specific to Droon. I may be wrong about this, but it was a good series from what I remember.

Animorphs by KC Applegate

This was surprisingly dark for a lower school series but that was part of why it was so good. It didn’t talk down to the readers about the futileness of war, the human capability for aggression, the cost of leadership, the hollow victories etc. Also Yerks were the creepiest sort of bad guy you can imagine being able to get into your head and take over.

Magic Tree House by Mary Pope Osbourne

This is another book series that got me into history, but also mystery and mythology. Really this series covers it all from famous works like Mozart’s Sun and Moon to the celebration of King Louis’s Mardi Gras to helping Merlin in Camelot. It has a timeless magic that has allowed it to keep going for all these years.

Bailey School Kids by Debbie Dadley and Marcia Jones

With its clever illustrations and fun premise, I gobbled these books up. On one hand, you were on the kids’ side that these adults must be monsters in disguise for some nefarious reasons, on the other hand, there were neat explanations. But on the other hand, they were too neat, almost as if they were hiding something. . . Oh well, the mystery was part of the fun.

Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket

I’ll admit unlike the rest of the world, I only read this series last summer, intrigued by NPH as Olaf in the Netflix series. But it was real;y good, and I understand the hype. Even though the narrator repeatedly reminds you that is not a happy sort of book, you still hold out hope that one competent adult would figure out Olaf’s schemes or Violet might eventually invent something that will get them out once and for all. I enjoy the stream of conscious tone and it’s dark humor as well.

Ripley’s Bureau Investigation

Maybe these were not immensely popular as they only sold in the Ripley Believe or Not museum but I got the whole series, and thought it was so cool. It imagines a fictional school where kids with weird ablities (mimicry, weather powers, tech smarts etc) also work to find more weird finds to catalogue. From lizard men to freak eletrical storms, this was pure fun adventure, especially as they raced against the governmental men in black.

Deltora Quest by Emily Rodda

I admit I didn’t read the whole series, but the few I did was suitably creepy and dangerous. If you want dragons, and not the friendly kind, this was what you should read. As if the covers weren’t enough indication.

How I Survived Middle School by Nancy Krulik

Oh, how I truly believed this would prepare me for middle school. I was so young. But in seriousness, it did provide a glimpse into it from the popular girl clique (the appropriately named Pops) that Jenny’s bff ditches her for, the strange new school and navigating tougher classes. That was all true. And it was relatable in Jenny deals with friend drama and school spirit rivalries as well as the occassional ski trip necessitating everyone to work together. It’s a cute series.

Sisters 8 by Logstead family

This family series follows the Huit sisters after their parents mysteriously disappear on New Years night. The octoplets (yes octuplets) are now faced with trying to keep the family together, their neighbors unsuspicious and find out what happened to their parents? Lucky for them, their smart house provides for their basic needs and there seems to be a mysterious someone helping them from the outside with notes. Not to mention, they have magic? You have to read onto find out what the big mystery is.

Sidekicks by Jack D. Ferraiola

Much like Invincible darkly lampoons the superhero world, this book does so for middle schoolers. Bright Boy deals with an embarassing viral catastrophe that shows the world he is definately a teenager (let’s say spandex shows everything. Everything! Especially when he gets. . . ahem excited). Scott wishes he was allowed to grow up a little (or at least get a new costume!) but his mentor, Phantom Justice insists on keeping their image and wishing he’d stop looking like a perv. But there’s something darker going on as villains begin to get murdered and Scott realizes his archnnemisis, Monkey Wrench goes to his school. And is a girl? Where heroes and villains aren’t what they seem and PR hits are the prize, it looks like Bright Boy might step up into the spotlight sooner than he thinks.

The Mysterious Benedict Society by Tenton Lee Stuart

This series is somewhat similar in tone to Snicket. Only less humorous and much more intellectual. Very intellectual, I felt like such a smart person reading this and understanding everything. The adults here do their best to help these orphaned youngsters with amazing gifts, forming a proto-family of sorts against Curtain and his Recruiters from brainwashing the world.

Heck: Where Bad Kids Go by Dale E. Basye

While adults have Dante’s Inferno, kids could always venture into Heck, its own nine circles of heck for bad kids. Rereading it one can admire all the puns and allusions it makes to Milton, Dante and others to hellish works while poking fun at modern day criminals and nefarious beings like Nixon and Lizzie Borden. However, you really do root for Milton and Marlo to find their way out and begin again, wiser and more cautious. The ninth and final book should be coming out soon for its epic conclusion.

Sing down the Moon by Scott O’Dell

By the author of Island of Dolphins, this book was released posthumously. It’s moving, yet tragic work of historical fiction based on the disposession of the Navaho by the Spanish and the Americans. It speaks to culture, heritage and tradition and those ideals surviving even in the darkest times. It should be read in classrooms.

Bella Sara

Does anyone remember this beautifully illustrated card game that took the world by storm. I do. I still love the gorgeous pictures. It’s book series was quite good too. I didn’t ever go onto the website so maybe it was just repeating things, but I loved how it built up te lore of the five main horses, Bella, Thunder, Fiona, Nike, and Jewel, their enemies, the Wolf Riders, and expanding on the various lands in North of North. It was just magical.

Zodiac Girls by Cathy Hopkins

For all those atrology lovers out there, this series is just for you. Each girl goes through a time of crisis in their life whether it be divorcing parents, boarding school or financial troubles. But how amazing would it be if the planets were there to help you find your way. Every month, a special zodiac girl gets just that. Even though it feels terribly inconvenient and unwanted at the time, they soon find their strengths as if it were written in the stars.