Six science fiction middle-grade books to dive into

Name: William Joseph
Price range: $

Guest recommendations
9 to 14 years
Science fiction

Author Benjamin Dean shares his favourite sci-fi stories.

Benjamin Dean

There’s nothing I love more than escaping into a story. A really good book can make it feel as if you’re quite literally stepping inside it and exploring a brand-new world. For me, there’s something especially exciting about falling into a world that’s a little different from our own, going along for the ride as a heroic protagonist tries to defy the odds. Whether it’s time travel or spaceships, superpowers or super villains, science fiction books are some of the most exciting.

Here are some of my favourites – I hope you’ll love them too!

Benjamin recommends

The Iron Man by Ted Hughes

The Iron Man by Ted Hughes is one of the best-known and loved stories for children of the twentieth century.

The Iron Man by Ted Hughes

The Boy Who Made the World Disappear by Ben Miller

This is an epic time-travel story full of twists and turns from Ben Miller.

Wonderscape by Jennifer Bell

Jennifer Bell expertly combines gaming and time travel in this thrilling middle-grade adventure.

Wonderscape by Jennifer Bell

Onyeka and the Academy of the Sun by Tọlá Okogwu

Tọlá Okogwu has written an action-packed superhero series about a British-Nigerian girl who learns that her Afro hair has psychokinetic powers.

A powerful looking girl, who is a main character, with a lot of hair

Onyeka and the Academy of the Sun by Tọlá Okogwu Image: Brittany Jackson

Cosmic by Frank Cottrell Boyce

Another classic is Frank Cottrell Boyce’s truly out-of-this-world novel, Cosmic.

The Kid Who Came from Space by Ross Welford

Ross Welford has written a remarkable story of an adventure across the stars in The Kid Who Came from Space.

The Kid Who Came from Space by Ross Welford

Onyeka and the Academy of the Sun

by Tọlá Okogwu

2022 9 to 14 years
- Adventure
- Around the world
- Coming-of-age
- Fantasy
Onyeka has always hated her hair so it’s ironic that it should turn out to be the source of a spectacular superpower.
The Iron Man

by Ted Hughes, illustrated by Chris Mould

2019 9 to 14 years
- Adventure
- Classics
- Picture books
- Science fiction
Whether you’re already a fan of this classic children’s story or a new reader, this wonderful version is a real treat. Chris Mould’s mechanical Iron Man has a great deal of personality and this luxury hardback would be a delight to share at home or at school.
The Kid Who Came from Space

by Ross Welford

2020 9 to 14 years
- Adventure
- Chapter books
- Funny
- Science fiction
When Tammy disappears, her brother Ethan instinctively knows she’s still alive. A few days later, a short, hairy alien called Hellyann crash-lands in the reservoir and tells him that Tammy has been abducted and taken to a human zoo. Can Ethan and Hellyann rescue Tammy – and will they ever return? A hilarious science fiction adventure from an award-winning author, celebrating the joy of friendship and love with a fabulous cast of characters.
The Boy Who Fell from the Sky

by Benjamin Dean

2023 9 to 14 years
- Adventure
- Science fiction
Zed’s dad is the First Hunter of Demons. But when Zed meets a Demon, he discovers that they’re not as terrifying as the myths say. Exciting and full of heart.
Wonderscape

by Jen Bell, illustrated by Paddy Donnelly

2020 9 to 14 years
- Adventure
- Chapter books
- Fantasy
- Science fiction
Three friends slip through a time portal and find themselves thrown 400 years into the future, trapped in a complex virtual reality video game world called Wonderscape… but how will they find their way out?

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