26 Must-Read Books for Middle to Older Readers

In a world of rapidly decreasing attention spans, inculcating the habit of reading has innumerable benefits for tweens and adolescents. Reading not only improves concentration, but exposes young mind’s to a plethora of delicate issues and topics, thereby encouraging their sensitivity to critical thinking. This list of enthralling and engrossing books is perfect for the developing sensibilities of 12-15 year olds.

These Are A Few Of My Favourite Things by Ruskin Bond

Want to know who the favourite author of your favourite author is? Or what he likes to eat, the movies he likes to see, the places he likes to visit? His most memorable moments, even his most embarrassing? This book, the first in the These are a Few of My Favourite Things series, gives you a quick peek into the favourites of one of India’s most well-known authors, Ruskin Bond.

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Gita: The Battle of the Worlds by Sonal Patel

This book takes the epic battle within the Gita and transports it inside the body of a young boy called Dev. A classic story of good overcoming evil, through Dev and Sanjay’s adventure, readers will be able to connect with some of the deeper concepts in the Gita.

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Flipped: Funny Stories / Scary Stories

The Flipped Anthology series gives you two themes, two covers and two sides to open the book from… and you get to choose! Switch between our rib-tickling and spine-chilling stories as you please.

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Everything: Space

Packed with facts and tantalizing anecdotes from experts and bursting with color photographs, learn all about space in this fresh take on the subject that kids with love.

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Uncool: Fights. Camera. Action! by Jane De Suza

Uncool is an incredible graphic novel that is centred around young DD and her high school life. The first book of the bitingly funny UNCOOL series – a rib-tickling tackling of teen issues!

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Everything: Egypt

National Geographic Kids’ packed with facts and tantalizing anecdotes from experts and bursting with color photographs, learn all about Ancient Egypt in this fresh take on the subject.

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Raja Balushahi and Rani Rasmalai in Mithaspur and Other Adventures by Prashant Pinge

A thrilling adventure of two young siblings, eleven-year-old Arjun and nine-year-old Anindita, that will immerse you into a world of fantasy. Filled with captivating magic and unexpected dangers, this beautifully illustrated book comes with a pull-out board game!

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The Giver: Essential Modern Classics by Lois Lawry

The Giver is a 1993 American young adult dystopian novel by Lois Lowry, Set in a society which at first appears to be utopian but is revealed to be dystopian as the story progresses.

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New Kid by Jerry Craft

This engaging story by Jerry Craft offers an authentic secondary cast and captures the high jinks of middle schoolers and the tensions that come with being a person of colour in a traditionally white space.

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Festival Stories: Through The Year by Rachna Chhabria

India is a country of myriad festivals! Not a month goes by in which we don’t have something to celebrate. This book invites you to rejoice in India’s rich culture through the simple stories of two young twins, Natasha and Nikhil, as they experience an entire year of festivals and celebrations!

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Boy Giant by Michael Morpurgo

A stunning new story of hope, humanity and high-seas adventure for children and adults everywhere from Sir Michael Morpurgo, the nation’s favorite storyteller and multi-million copy bestselling author of war horse.

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Flipped: Ghost Stories / Adventure Stories

Now you don’t need to keep a book away if you don’t like a story or a theme, you only need to flip the book over and start reading again! Switch between our blood-curdling and adventuresome stories as you please.

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The Sky at Our Feet by Nadia Hashimi

In the tradition of Rebecca Stead and Thanhha Lai, this adventurous and emotionally charged own voices novel by New York Times bestselling author Nadia Hashimi shows the fierce love of a family determined not to be torn apart.

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She Can, You Can by Garima Kushwaha

An A to Z biography of iconic Indian women, one for each letter of the English alphabet. Each character is represented by an illustrative sketch and a 500-word summary. This inspirational and motivational book includes the achievements of pioneering females from different walks of life.

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Grandpa’s Great Escape by David Walliams

This book takes readers on an incredible journey with Spitfires over London and Great Escapes through the city in a high octane adventure full of comedy and heart!

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Elections in India by RobinAge

Election time in India is like a festival – there is the same colour, excitement and celebration! As we gear up for the 2019 elections, this book helps the kids understand why elections are important and how to be better equipped to perform the all-important task of choosing a government to the world’s largest democracy.

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A Basketful Of Animal Tales: Stories From The Panchatantra by Sreelata Menon

Foolish fish and clever crows, quick-witted monkeys and dim-witted lions and many more – pit your wits against them in this feast of animal stories! The Panchatantra stories are ancient yet so contemporary that they have been retold again and again through the ages. They remain as modern as any new story today.

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Dracula by Bram Stoker

Arguably the most enduring Gothic novel of the 19th Century, Bram Stoker’s Dracula is as chilling today in its depiction of the vampire world and its exploration of Victorian values as it was at its time of publication.

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The Adventures of Kakababu by Sunil Gangopadhyay

A thrilling story about young Shontu who joins his uncle Raja Roychowdhury, fondly known as Kakababu, on his adventures and the dangers they have to subsequently overcome. The Adventures of Kakababu, Volume 1, is the first in the new Kakababu series.

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Being Gandhi by Paro Anand

This is a novel that explores, not Gandhi the man or his life as a leader, but really the Gandhian way that must remain relevant to us. Especially today when the world is becoming increasingly steeped in violence and hate.

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Mahabharata Stories by Deepa Agarwal

Selected stories for children from the Mahabharata ranging from how the Mahabharata was written to the Mritasanjivani story, the birth of Devavrata, the palace of Lac, Draupadi’s Swayamvara, the passing of Bhishma and many others from one of the greatest epics of all time.

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The Gita and You by Sheila Dhir

This book presents eight Kathas that capture the essence of the conversation that took place between Lord Krishna and Arjuna during the Kurukshetra War. The message of each of these Kathas is simplified and conveyed through stories that children can relate to and understand.

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Learned Men and Women by Sreelata Menon

Discover the lives of the great learned men and women of ancient India who could control their minds to achieve anything they desired. From pioneering surgical techniques to solving mathematical puzzles, read about the incredible contributions of Vyasa, Sushruta, Valmiki, Surya Savitri, Chanakya, and others.

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Flipped: School Stories / Sports Stories

Now you don’t need to keep a book away if you don’t like a story or a theme, you only need to flip the book over and start reading again! The third book in the Flipped series is a collection of Sports and School stories.

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India In Space 

As we rocket into space on the back of several successful missions, India In Space examines India’s glorious space trajectory starting from its first venture. Pick up this book, the first in a series that will present India’s place in various spheres such as sports, science, history and more, to explore India’s incredible journey into space!

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Quirky History: The Swan Car of Nabha & Other Unusual Stories from History by Mini Menon

Eccentric maharajas and nawabs, bizarre believe it or not tales and hilarious twists and turns come together in this first book of the Quirky History series. From the Nizam who hid a priceless diamond in a shoe to the Swan Car of the Maharaja of Nabha, get ready for history to pop right out of this book!

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