The Appeal and Rewards of Novels in a Series

Reading books in a series encourages students to read through consistency, commitment to the series, and attachments that readers make to characters. As students read through a series, they build confidence; after the first book, they’re familiar with the setting, characters, and author’s style and can jump into the book quickly and with background knowledge.

The repeated exposure to similar writing and story arcs helps students remember and understand the story. As they dive deeper into the story line over time, they will make critical connections between books and explore complex narratives.

Here are some questions and activities that can engage middle school students reading a series.

• How do the characters evolve throughout individual books and the series?
• What recurring themes do you find within the series? How are similar themes portrayed differently in the books?
• Which book from the series is your favorite, and what makes it stand out to you?
• What are some overarching conflicts within the series, and how are they solved?
• What would the main character(s) in the last book give as advice to the main character(s) in the first book?
• Do you think that someone needs to read all the books of the series in order to understand them, or could they read them as standalone books?
• How do the characters’ relationships change and evolve throughout the series?
• Plot your feelings about characters and story lines as you read through the series, and examine if and how they change.
• How does the author continue to build the world in the books throughout the series? How does learning new things about the setting enhance the plot?
• What makes you want to keep reading the series?
• If the series is complete, did it end well, or do you wish there were more books? What additional information would you want to know that the author doesn’t include?
• What information would you include in a prequel to help the readers better understand the series?

Series Recommendations for Middle School Students

A Ryan Hart Story, by Renée Watson; illustrated by Nina Mata. Ryan Hart wants to be her very best and sees the best in others. She shows readers her joy as she deals with new places, family, friends, and life circumstances while working toward her goals. These books provide inspiration, humor, and a character you can’t help but cheer on.

Arc of a Scythe, by Neal Shusterman. This series is set in a dystopian world where no one dies naturally, and scythes are tasked with ending life for population control. The first book sets up the world through the stories of Chitra and Rowan, who are working as scythe apprentices. They are struggling with taking others’ lives but also faced with choices that can cost them their own lives if they are not careful. Shusterman has many similar books if readers finish the series and want to explore more of his work.

Click, by Kayla Miller. This series is perfect for younger readers starting to read graphic novels. The first book of the series introduces Olive as a fifth-grade student who is navigating where she fits in and follows her through various adventures and challenges in the series. Olive’s character and the plot lines will connect with readers, and the graphics will engage them and enhance the story.

Front Desk, by Kelly Yang. The first novel starts when Mia Tang is 10 years old and trying to save the motel her parents manage while learning to embrace her skills as a writer and navigating complex situations. Readers love Mia’s character; throughout the series, she is courageous, smart, funny, loyal, and adventurous. Her experiences with friendships, bias, family relationships, immigration, and more are realistic and engaging. Students can go on to read Kelly Yang’s other middle-grade chapter books that are as equally captivating.

Heartstopper, by Alice Oseman. The Netflix show increased this graphic novel’s popularity, but its engaging graphics and heartwarming story keep readers coming back for the next book. The first book is about Charlie and Nick finding each other and, most important, starting to find themselves. The series is filled with coming-of-age moments, romance, friendship, family issues, typical high school drama, and characters that teen readers relate to.

Legacy of Orisha, by Tomi Adeyemi. This West African fantasy series, which incorporates mythology influenced by Yoruba culture, is set in a world that once had magic, but due to orders by the king, the maji were killed and there is no more magic. The series begins with Zélie, an imperfect and inspirational heroine who is on a mission to defy the monarchy and restore the magic. While Inan is the villain, he has depth, and readers can see his motivation. Teen readers will not be able to put down the books in this series—each book leaves the reader wanting to continue the story.

PAWS, by Nathan Fairbairn and Michele Assarasakorn. In these beautifully illustrated graphic novels, three very different characters, Gabby, Priya, and Mindy, come together in the first book to start a dog-walking business. The series follows their dog-walking business journey while they navigate various challenges with family, friends, and more.

Shadow and Bone, by Leigh Bardugo. This series is fantasy, mystery, and romance—perfect for teen readers. It’s packed with amazing details that make it feel real, and the dynamic characters and plot twists draw in the reader. The first book sets up the story line of Alina, who is a soldier who discovers she has magic, begins elite training, and then must master her skills for the kingdom. There are other related books by the author to explore once this series is finished if readers want to continue.

Supernatural Investigations, by B. B. Alston. The first book in the series introduces us to Amari, who wants to find her brother and ends up in an unbelievable, supernatural world. To find her brother, she must secure a spot with the Bureau of Supernatural Affairs against all odds. The series continues with Amari’s daring adventures as a junior agent.  

Tangled Mysteries, by Merrill Wyatt. Perfect for younger readers who enjoy mysteries. The first book introduces seventh graders Amelia and Sloane, who were once enemies but find themselves working together to find lost jewels. The following books continue with new fun and engaging mysteries and adventures with them.

Team Chu, by Julie C. Dao. This series blends realistic fiction and fantasy, has bold and dynamic characters, and incorporates themes that connect to real issues that students face. The first book of the series begins with siblings Clip and Sadie Chu, who normally are rivals, working together with their friends to save everyone from a very real force inside of a laser tag game. These friends form a diverse and unstoppable team who go on in the next book to compete overseas in a video game simulation show that is a little more real than they anticipated. This school year is a perfect time to start this series, with the latest book scheduled to be released in September.

The City of Ember, by Jeanne DuPrau. This series begins in a dystopian world where an underground city holds what they believe to be the last humans, and they risk falling into complete darkness. Lina and Doon work to escape and keep the lights on. This series is filled with action, adventure, and characters you grow attached to while also having an easy-to-follow story line for readers who are new to the dystopian genre.

The Land of Stories, by Chris Colfer. This is the perfect introduction to a fantasy series. It begins when twins find themselves in a world filled with the fairy tales that they have grown up hearing and embark on an adventure. The series weaves between the real world and the fantasy fairy tale world. The books draw in readers with suspense, action, and connections to stories they are familiar with. They will encounter characters such as Sleeping Beauty, Mother Goose, Goldilocks, Captain Hook, and many more.

The Last Wild, by Piers Torday. The series is set in a dystopian world where there are almost no animals and things are not going very well for humans. The first book begins with Kester being locked in a place for troubled children, but after hearing a cockroach speak to him, he escapes and goes on an adventure to save himself and animals that he didn’t even realize were still living. The series engages readers with consistent adventure, Kester’s captivating ability to speak with animals, and the real connections to human impacts on our environment. Students who enjoy the series can go on to read Torday’s many other books.

The Wild Robot, by Peter Brown. The movie adaptation of the first book in the series will draw new readers. The series begins with Roz the robot opening her eyes to find herself on an island without any humans but lots of wildlife. She wants to survive and ends up making friends with and becoming a leader among the animals. The series addresses environmental issues such as pollution and inspires thoughtful questions such as what does it mean to be alive and what makes a family?