Kid Tested, Librarian Recommended: SciFi

Science Fiction is an almost perfect genre for middle grade readers! Full of futuristic technology, far away galaxies, alien lifeforms and alternate realities, SciFi allows readers to let their imaginations expand in unbelievable ways.

Roswell Johnson Saves the World! by Chris Colfer

Chris Colfer is back with another adventurous series. This time taking us on a journey across the galaxy to save Earth! 

Eleven-year-old Roswell Johnson's dream comes true when he's abducted by aliens, which means aliens are real! Unfortunately he also learns Earth is in danger. Roswell teams up with the quirky aliens to save our planet from invasion.

"This spacefaring jaunt by Colfer (A Tale of Sorcery) is exuberant, earnest, and more than a little tongue-in-cheek. While an overabundance of tropes and nonstop pop culture references are sometimes distracting, altogether, it's an enjoyable manifestation of found family and indefatigable resilience." –Publishers Weekly

The Doomsday Vault by Thomas Wheeler

Twelve-year-old Bertie lives in 1878 London and accidentally creates a black hole in his bedroom. Before he knows what's happening, Bertie is awarded a scholarship to the Everwhen School of Time Travel and Other Odd Sciences. There he meets other time traveling students like Zoe from 2025 Queens and Amelia from 1471 Italy. The three navigate all sorts of oddities in their new environment until the uncover a plot to destroy Everwhen and time as they know it.

This humorous tale takes fun liberties with historical figures while injecting the story with silly humor perfect for middle grade readers. 

The Search for WondLa by Tony DiTerlizzi

Twelve-year-old Eva Nine lives isolated with a robot on an alien world. Living centuries in the future and forced out of her sanctuary, Eva sets out on a quest to learn if she's the last human being on this alien world. Along the way she meets and forms bonds with companions who help her untangle the history of the planet.

WondLa, now an animated show on multiple streaming services, is a fantastical complicated world and the story takes readers on twists and turns to discover Eva's past and future.

"DiTerlizzi is pushing the envelope in his latest work, nearly creating a new format that combines a traditional novel with a graphic novel and with the interactivity of the computer. Yet, beneath this impressive package lies a theme readers will easily relate to: the need to belong, to connect, to figure out one's place in the world. The novel's ending is a stunning shocker that will leave kids frantically awaiting the next installment."–School Library Journal, starred review