Skandar and the Unicorn Thief

Middle-grade literature is an age categorization that denotes books that are more complicated than children’s picture books or early chapter books, but that use simpler vocabulary and a younger protagonist than a young adult novel would feature. The target audience for a middle-grade novel is an individual between the ages of eight and 12, though audiences of all ages often enjoy these novels. Some popular examples of middle-grade literature are the early books in J. K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series, Rick Riordan’s Percy Jackson and the Olympians series, and Brandon Sanderson’s Skyward series.

Though middle-grade fiction uses a younger protagonist and simpler language than the age groupings that follow it, these novels still tackle a wide range of relevant and challenging topics. Some of the most common tropes focus on found family, the coming-of-age journey, and the nuances of developing a more mature identity. The characters of these novels often overcome challenges with the help of their friends and family, and with that assistance, they learn who they are as people and who they want to become. The stories do not necessarily have explicit moral lessons, but they do promote the importance of being authentic and finding people who appreciate that authenticity.