The best books to convince kids to put down the controller

Who am I?

I am a middle-grade author and mother to four children. I have been an avid reader my entire life. I love fantasy novels and feel that this passion not only makes me a better writer, but an excellent reader. I appreciate well-rounded characters, fun and twisty plots, and intriguing conflict. When I wrote Fable Nation, it was to convince my own children that reading was fun. I had them hooked by page two. A good story has the power to transport readers to new worlds. My goal as a writer is to create such places. My goal as a reader: to find myself blissfully lost in someone else’s world.


I wrote...

Fable Nation

By Joy Kita,

Book cover of Fable Nation

What is my book about?

Getting sucked into the latest and greatest video game, Fable Nation, isn't the worst of Mitch's problems. Realizing there's no way out until he beats all the levels might be. Battling Montezuma in a Mexican jungle isn't hard when you're doing it from your bedroom, but inside the game is a different story. Mitch better think fast as he teams up with a new sidekick and killer pet.

They'll have to work together to defeat headless spirits, ginormous spiders, and even creepy viruses that may also be trying to escape the game. Log in and join their mission, where reality and gaming collide!

Shepherd is reader supported. When you buy books, we may earn an affiliate commission.

The books I picked & why

The Wee Free Men

By Terry Pratchett,

Book cover of The Wee Free Men

Why did I love this book?

This is an excellent book full of laugh-out-loud moments and unforgettable characters. The author has built an incredible world. The main character learns as much as she teaches, about inner strength. Like Fable Nation, this book will show you that you can overcome fears and insecurities by believing in yourself. The little blue folk that help our heroine discover her true potential are mischievous, hellions that not many authors have the courage to create. They are, without a doubt, some of the funniest characters I have ever read.

By Terry Pratchett,

Why should I read it?

8 authors picked The Wee Free Men as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

A nightmarish danger threatens from the other side of reality . . .

Armed with only a frying pan and her common sense, young witch-to-be Tiffany Aching must defend her home against the monsters of Fairyland. Luckily she has some very unusual help: the local Nac Mac Feegle - aka the Wee Free Men - a clan of fierce, sheep-stealing, sword-wielding, six-inch-high blue men.

Together they must face headless horsemen, ferocious grimhounds, terrifying dreams come true, and ultimately the sinister Queen of the Elves herself . . .

THE FIRST BOOK IN THE TIFFANY ACHING SEQUENCE


My Side of the Mountain

By Jean Craighead George,

Book cover of My Side of the Mountain

Why did I love this book?

This book is a must-read for anyone who is interested in adventure and survival. The best part about this book is that there are very few adults! Our young hero runs away to live on his own. He encounters many dangers and difficulties but manages to learn from them all. He makes mistakes and he carries on. This story will fuel your inner adventurer to try new things. This book is not for the faint of heart. Readers will connect with the hero and worry for his safety as well as his determination not to quit.

By Jean Craighead George,

Why should I read it?

6 authors picked My Side of the Mountain as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

"Should appeal to all rugged individualists who dream of escape to the forest."-The New York Times Book Review

Sam Gribley is terribly unhappy living in New York City with his family, so he runs away to the Catskill Mountains to live in the woods-all by himself. With only a penknife, a ball of cord, forty dollars, and some flint and steel, he intends to survive on his own. Sam learns about courage, danger, and independence during his year in the wilderness, a year that changes his life forever.

"An extraordinary book . . . It will be read year after…


Skulduggery Pleasant

By Derek Landy,

Book cover of Skulduggery Pleasant

Why did I love this book?

I loved this book, and all the ones that came after. Author Derek Landy knows how to write complicated characters. No one wants the protagonist to be perfect. Where’s the fun in that? This series is full of dark humor and twisty plots that keep the adrenaline pumping. I love odd and different characters. My job as a fantasy writer is to create characters that are real and unforgettable. Derek Landy has done this to perfection. If you like fantasy, adventure, and intrigue this book cannot be missed.

By Derek Landy,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Skulduggery Pleasant as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

She's twelve. He's dead. But together they're going to save the world. Hopefully.

The iconic first book in the bestselling Skulduggery Pleasant series.

Stephanie's uncle Gordon is a writer of horror fiction. But when he dies and leaves her his estate, Stephanie learns that while he may have written horror, it certainly wasn't fiction.

Pursued by evil forces, Stephanie finds help from an unusual source - the wisecracking skeleton of a dead sorcerer...


The Strangers

By Margaret Peterson Haddix,

Book cover of The Strangers

Why did I love this book?

When a book comes along with a great mystery it is hard to resist. When a book combines mystery and adventure with plot twists, it should be a best seller! The Strangers has it all. When you pick up this book you will not be able to put it down easily. The secret rooms, alternate realities with delight even the most reluctant reader! Only the best kind of authors know how to engage their readers past their bedtimes. Margaret Peterson Haddix knows all the tricks.

By Margaret Peterson Haddix,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked The Strangers as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

New York Times bestselling author Margaret Peterson Haddix takes readers on a thrilling adventure filled with mysteries and plot twists aplenty in this absorbing series about family and friendships. Perfect for fans of A Wrinkle in Time and The City of Ember!

What makes you you?

The Greystone kids thought they knew. Chess has always been the protector over his younger siblings, Emma loves math, and Finn does what Finn does best—acting silly and being adored. They’ve been a happy family, just the three of them and their mom.

But everything changes when reports of three kidnapped children reach the…


Into the Wild

By Erin Hunter,

Book cover of Into the Wild

Why did I love this book?

Only a few books can engross a reader so fully they forget to play video games. This first book in the Warrior series is so captivating it will cause the most reluctant reader to spend hours turning pages. This book focuses on clans of wild cats.  It is full of heroism and adventure. As a writer, I am always searching for characters to keep my readers engaged. Erin Hunters has done a masterful job with each and every one of her many feline characters. Is this book all about cats? Yes. It is fun and engaging? Absolutely.

By Erin Hunter,

Why should I read it?

3 authors picked Into the Wild as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Epic adventures. Fierce warrior cats. A thrilling fantasy world. It all begins here. 

Read the book that began a phenomenon—and join the legion of fans who have made Erin Hunter’s Warriors series a #1 national bestseller.

For generations, four Clans of wild cats have shared the forest according to the laws laid down by their ancestors. But the warrior code has been threatened, and the ThunderClan cats are in grave danger. The sinister ShadowClan grows stronger every day. Noble warriors are dying—and some deaths are more mysterious than others.

In the midst of this turmoil appears an ordinary housecat named…


You might also like...

One Giant Leap

By Ben Gartner,

Book cover of One Giant Leap

Ben Gartner Author Of The Eye of Ra

New book alert!

Who am I?

I love to read a good action-adventure story. I’ve also written a few. And I know that no matter how high the stakes, if there’s no heart in the characters then there’s very little engagement to make it any more memorable than a temporary thrill. I love thrills, but the stories that stick with you after the excitement of the moment is over, those are the true gems. Besides the fun of reading that type of book, maybe you even learn something about yourself or the world and come out a wee bit wiser than when you went in. And isn’t that a fantastic use of our imaginative powers?!

Ben's book list on new action-packed middle grade with heart

What is my book about?

I’m pretty sure I’m about to die in space. And I just turned twelve and a half.

Blast off with the four winners of the StellarKid Project on a trip to the International Space Station and then to the Gateway outpost orbiting the Moon! It’s a dream come true until space junk collides with the ISS, turning their epic trip into a nightmare of survival. Alone aboard the Aether starship, the kids have to work as a team to save the adults before the ISS is destroyed. Suit up, cadet, and launch into adventure with One Giant Leap!

By Ben Gartner,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked One Giant Leap as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

I’m pretty sure I’m about to die in space. And I just turned twelve and a half.

Blast off with the four winners of the StellarKid Project on a trip to the International Space Station and then to the Gateway outpost orbiting the Moon! It’s a dream come true until space junk collides with the ISS, turning their epic trip into a nightmare of survival. Alone aboard the Aether starship, the kids have to work as a team to save the adults before the ISS is destroyed. Suit up, cadet, and launch into adventure with One Giant Leap!

Praise for…


5 book lists we think you will like!

Interested in survival, cats, and wizards?

9,000+ authors have recommended their favorite books and what they love about them. Browse their picks for the best books about survival, cats, and wizards.

Survival Explore 175 books about survival
Cats Explore 176 books about cats
Wizards Explore 92 books about wizards