The best middle grade books about unlikely friendships

Anna Humphrey Author Of Megabat
By Anna Humphrey

Who am I?

There are so many ways to make friends—and to be friends. As a painfully shy person for most of my life, I’ve learned that words aren’t always necessary, and that shared interests and non-verbal (or differently-verbal) communication can take you a long way. It’s probably why so many of my books focus on unconventional friendships, like that between a boy and a funny-talking fruit bat (in Megabat), a boy and his emotional support duck (in Quack), or even a bee and a flea (in Bee and Flea and the Compost Caper). Not surprisingly, I also love reading books that celebrate unlikely friends. These are just a few of my favorites. 

I wrote...

Megabat

By Anna Humphrey, Kass Reich (illustrator),

Book cover of Megabat

What is my book about?

Daniel Misumi has just moved to a new house. It's big and old and far away from his friends and his life before. And it's haunted . . . or is it? Megabat was just napping on a papaya one day when he was stuffed in a box and shipped halfway across the world. Now he's living in an old house far from home, feeling sorry for himself and accidentally scaring the people who live there.

Daniel realizes it's not a ghost in his new house. It's a bat. And he can talk. And he's actually kind of cute. Megabat realizes that not every human wants to whack him with a broom. This one shares his smooshfruit. Add some buttermelon, juice boxes, a lightsaber, and a common enemy and you've got a new friendship in the making!

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

The books I picked & why

The Wild Robot

By Peter Brown,

Book cover of The Wild Robot

Why did I love this book?

A robot named Roz opens her eyes for the first time to discover she’s all alone on a remote island. She soon learns that the only way to survive is by befriending the wild animals who live there, but they’ve never seen a robot before, and it’s no easy task. 

Written in short, sweet chapters that read almost like picture books, this book has a soothing rhythm, yet doesn’t shy away from addressing the harsher elements of life in the wilderness. It’s funny, honest, heartwarming, and thought-provoking: all my favorite things in a book for young readers! 

The Wild Robot

By Peter Brown,

Why should I read it?

4 authors picked The Wild Robot as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

'An engaging tale that explores many important themes. We can only hope that Roz serves as the template for all future robots. Peter Brown's illustrations are as marvellous as ever!' Coralie Bickford-Smith, author of THE FOX AND THE STAR

When robot Roz opens her eyes for the first time, she discovers that she is alone on a remote, wild island. She has no idea how she got there or what her purpose is - but she knows she needs to survive. After battling a fierce storm and escaping a vicious bear attack, she realises that her only hope for survival…

Explore
Topics
Genres

Inspector Flytrap

By Tom Angleberger, Cece Bell (illustrator),

Book cover of Inspector Flytrap

Why did I love this book?

This was the first book my son (a reluctant reader) ever snuck off with to read on his own after bedtime, so it will always have a special place in my heart. Husband and wife Tom Angelberger and Cece Bell make an unstoppable creative duo in this delightful series about a venus flytrap who solves the world’s greatest mysteries. 

The only trouble is he’s a houseplant, so he can’t walk. No worries! Enter Nina, a helpful goat/assistant who pulls him everywhere on a skateboard... except there’s more trouble: she’s a goat, so she keeps eating the clues. It’s as goofy and delightful as it sounds and, best of all, once you’ve finished the first there are two more hilarious books to look forward to. 

Inspector Flytrap

By Tom Angleberger, Cece Bell (illustrator),

Why should I read it?

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

What is this book about?

From husband-and-wife team Tom Angleberger, creator of the New York Times bestselling Origami Yoda series, and Cece Bell, author/illustrator of the Newbery Honor graphic novel El Deafo, comes the start to a funny and clever illustrated chapter-book series about a mystery-solving Venus flytrap. With easy-to-read language and illustrations on almost every page, this early-chapter-book series is a must for beginning readers. Inspector Flytrap in the Da Vinci Cold introduces kids to the humorous and wacky world of Inspector Flytrap's Detective Agency, home to the world-renowned solver of BIG DEAL mysteries. The plant detective works tirelessly with his assistant Nina the…

Explore
Topics
Genres

Inkling

By Kenneth Oppel, Sydney Smith (illustrator),

Book cover of Inkling

Why did I love this book?

Adventure awaits when an inkblot from one of Ethan’s dad’s sketches comes to life and leaps off the page. Sydney Smith’s inky illustrations add to the fun of this fast-paced and funny story about friendship and family. And because Inkling loves to read/eat up ink, and he takes on the mood of whatever text he’s just devoured, it’s also a cool and clever introduction for kids to some classics and to different genres of writing. 

What’s more, the book ends on a note that suggests a sequel that I can’t wait to read!

Inkling

By Kenneth Oppel, Sydney Smith (illustrator),

Why should I read it?

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

What is this book about?

Mishaps and madness ensue when magical drawing ink comes to life in the Rylance home and 11-year-old Ethan tries to prove he's just as talented as his famous father.

A moving but light-hearted story about grief, family and a sixth-grade rivalry. When Ethan's class is given the task of creating a graphic novel and magical ink jumps out of his father's sketchbook, a strange series of events is set into motion. To his younger sister, Inkling is Lucy, her beloved dog; to his father, Inkling is a second chance at a dwindling career and a chance to solve his family's…

Explore
Topics
Genres

Flora & Ulysses: The Illuminated Adventures

By Kate DiCamillo, K.G. Campbell (illustrator),

Book cover of Flora & Ulysses: The Illuminated Adventures

Why did I love this book?

I love everything Kate DiCamillo writes, but I especially adore the oh-so-quirky Flora & Ulysses. Self-described cynic Flora is shocked and concerned to see a neighbor suck a squirrel up her new vacuum cleaner. Although largely unharmed, the squirrel, who she names Ulysses, is transformed. In fact, it looks like he might have superpowers—unconventional though they may be. He can lift heavy objects, fly and.... write poetry? Holy unanticipated occurrences! What follows is an offbeat story about friendship, family, and a really ugly lamp, interspersed with adorable comic-style sequences that depict Ulysses conquering villains, defending the weak, and vanquishing evil... sort of. 

Flora & Ulysses: The Illuminated Adventures

By Kate DiCamillo, K.G. Campbell (illustrator),

Why should I read it?

4 authors picked Flora & Ulysses as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Holy unanticipated occurrences! A cynic meets an unlikely superhero in a genre-breaking new novel by a master storyteller.

It begins, as the best superhero stories do, with a tragic accident that has unexpected consequences. The squirrel never saw it coming - the vacuum cleaner, that is. As for self-described cynic Flora Belle Buckman, she has read every issue of the comic book Terrible Things Can Happen to You! so she is just the right person to step in and save him. What neither can predict is that Ulysses (the squirrel) has been born anew, with powers of strength, flight and…

Explore
Topics
Genres

Harry the Poisonous Centipede

By Lynne Reid Banks,

Book cover of Harry the Poisonous Centipede

Why did I love this book?

I love bugs, and there just aren’t enough books out there about them. Harry the Poisonous Centipede is one my kids asked for over and over when they were little, and that I happily read them again and again. 

When Harry and his best friend George go up the Up Pipe, they find themselves in the dangerous world of the hoo-mans. My kids loved seeing the world through a centipede’s eyes, not to mention their unique centipedish way of speaking, and the scrapes Harry and George get themselves into (and out of) are incredibly entertaining. 

Harry the Poisonous Centipede

By Lynne Reid Banks,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Harry the Poisonous Centipede as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Winner of the Smarties Silver medal, and best-selling title, Harry the Poisonous Centipede is the delightfully squirmy story of a little centipede's adventures in the scary world of the dreaded Hoo-Mins!

"It's a Hoo-Min!" crackled George. "Walking on its hairy-biter feet!"
But now it was Harry who felt brave. "Come on! Let's peep at it!"
They crawled the rest of the way up the tunnel towards the light.

Harry is a poisonous centipede but he's not very brave. Still, he is the star of this seriously squirmy story. Harry likes to eat things that wriggle and crackle, and things that…

Explore
Topics
Genres

5 book lists we think you will like!

The best books with artificial heroes to make you fall in love with science fiction
The best middle grade books about total family meltdowns
The best middle-grade books that will make you laugh
The best books using science, nature, and fantasy to keep Earth in the center of the story
The best books about robots for kids

Interested in survival, superheros, and goats?

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

Survival Explore 161 books about survival
Superheros Explore 85 books about superheros
Goats Explore 16 books about goats

And, 3 books we think you will enjoy!

We think you will like Ghost, Beep! Beep! Go to Sleep!, and Doug Unplugged if you like this list.

Book cover of Ghost Book cover of Beep! Beep! Go to Sleep! Book cover of Doug Unplugged