13 must-read middle grade books like The Parker Inheritance by Varian Johnson

Cover of The Parker Inheritance by Varian Johnson

The Parker Inheritance

By: Varian Johnson

4.18

Format: 331 pages, Hardcover

The letter waits in a book, in a box, in an attic, in an old house in Lambert, South Carolina. It's…

"Brandon said. “I guess I like boy books."

-Varian Johnson, The Parker Inheritance

"Brandon said. “I guess I like boy books."

-Varian Johnson, The Parker Inheritance

"It’s just … I don’t think there’s such a thing as boy books or girl books. I think there are people books."

-Varian Johnson, The Parker Inheritance

"It’s just … I don’t think there’s such a thing as boy books or girl books. I think there are people books."

-Varian Johnson, The Parker Inheritance

If you liked the middle grade plot in The Parker Inheritance by Varian Johnson , here is a list of 13 books like this:

Cover of Rain Reign by Ann M. Martin

1. Rain Reign

By: Ann M. Martin

4.13

Format: None pages, Hardcover

Rose Howard has Asperger's syndrome, and an obsession with homonyms (even her name is a homonym). S… read more

Similar categories in Ann M. Martin's Rain Reign book and Varian Johnson's The Parker Inheritance

  • childrens
  • realistic fiction
  • middle grade
  • young adult
  • fiction
Cover of The Fourteenth Goldfish by Jennifer L. Holm, Tad Carpenter

2. The Fourteenth Goldfish

By: Jennifer L. Holm , Tad Carpenter

3.83

Format: None pages, Hardcover

Galileo. Newton. Salk. Oppenheimer. Science can change the world . . . but can it go too far? Eleve… read more

Similar categories in Jennifer L. Holm's The Fourteenth Goldfish book and Varian Johnson's The Parker Inheritance

  • fiction
  • middle grade
  • childrens
  • young adult

3. Endangered (Ape Quartet #1)

By: Eliot Schrefer

4.75

Format: 2112 pages, Hardcover

The compelling tale of a girl who must save a group of bonobos--and herself--from a violent coup. T… read more

Similar categories in Eliot Schrefer's Endangered (Ape Quartet #1) book and Varian Johnson's The Parker Inheritance

4. Hello, Universe

By: Erin Entrada Kelly

3.49

Format: 465 pages, Hardcover

In one day, four lives weave together in unexpected ways. Virgil Salinas is shy and kindhearted and… read more

Similar categories in Erin Entrada Kelly's Hello, Universe book and Varian Johnson's The Parker Inheritance

5. Save Me a Seat

By: Sarah Weeks , Gita Varadarajan

4.36

Format: None pages, Hardcover

Joe and Ravi might be from very different places, but they're both stuck in the same place: SCHOOL.… read more

Similar categories in Sarah Weeks's Save Me a Seat book and Varian Johnson's The Parker Inheritance

6. Clayton Byrd Goes Underground

By: Rita Williams-Garcia

4.04

Format: None pages, ebook

A National Book Award Longlist title that has earned 5 starred reviews! "This slim novel strikes a … read more

Similar categories in Rita Williams-Garcia's Clayton Byrd Goes Underground book and Varian Johnson's The Parker Inheritance

7. One Crazy Summer (Gaither Sisters, #1)

By: Rita Williams-Garcia

4.30

Format: 373 pages, Hardcover

In the summer of 1968, after travelling from Brooklyn to Oakland, California, to spend a month with… read more

Similar categories in Rita Williams-Garcia's One Crazy Summer (Gaither Sisters, #1) book and Varian Johnson's The Parker Inheritance

8. Stella by Starlight

By: Sharon M. Draper , None

3.62

Format: 208 pages, Hardcover

When the Ku Klux Klan's unwelcome reappearance rattles Stella's segregated southern town, bravery b… read more

Similar categories in Sharon M. Draper's Stella by Starlight book and Varian Johnson's The Parker Inheritance

9. At the Bottom of the World (Jack and the Geniuses, #1)

By: Gregory Mone , Bill Nye , Nicholas Iluzada

3.26

Format: None pages, Hardcover

New York Timesbestselling authors Bill Nye the Science Guy and Gregory Mone take middle-grade reade… read more

Similar categories in Gregory Mone's At the Bottom of the World (Jack and the Geniuses, #1) book and Varian Johnson's The Parker Inheritance

Cover of The Lost Library by Rebecca Stead

10. The Lost Library

By: Rebecca Stead

4.14

Format: 215 pages, Hardcover

A little free library guarded by a cat and a boy who takes on the mystery it keeps. When a myst… read more

Similar categories in Rebecca Stead's The Lost Library book and Varian Johnson's The Parker Inheritance

  • childrens
  • middle grade
  • fiction
  • mystery
  • audiobook
"But aren’t “parents"

-Rebecca Stead, The Lost Library

"That delicious book smell, his heart said."

-Rebecca Stead, The Lost Library

"Being a Great Reader means feeling something about books."

-Rebecca Stead, The Lost Library

"Head high, my dear! Eyes up! Take your place in the world!"

-Rebecca Stead, The Lost Library

Cover of The Erkeley Shadows: A novel by Michael Wyndham Thomas

11. The Erkeley Shadows: A novel

By: Michael Wyndham Thomas

4.34

Format: 272 pages, Kindle Edition

1967. The Summer of Love. Not for Jonathan Parry, perhaps, but certainly a time of big he and his … read more

Similar categories in Michael Wyndham Thomas's The Erkeley Shadows: A novel book and Varian Johnson's The Parker Inheritance

  • mystery
  • fiction
"All happened so damn fast,"

-Michael Wyndham Thomas, The Erkeley Shadows: A novel

"As I reached the door, the constable said, “Good luck in Canada, son."

-Michael Wyndham Thomas, The Erkeley Shadows: A novel

"Will turned over the last words for a long time. Then he thought about the flashing message-light up in the kitchen."

-Michael Wyndham Thomas, The Erkeley Shadows: A novel

"Will turned over the last words for a long time.  Then he thought about the flashing message-light up in the kitchen."

-Michael Wyndham Thomas, The Erkeley Shadows: A novel

Cover of From the Desk of Zoe Washington (Zoe Washington, #1) by Janae Marks

12. From the Desk of Zoe Washington (Zoe Washington, #1)

By: Janae Marks

4.29

Format: 291 pages, Hardcover

Zoe Washington isn’t sure what to write. What does a girl say to the father she’s never met, hadn’t… read more

Similar categories in Janae Marks's From the Desk of Zoe Washington (Zoe Washington, #1) book and Varian Johnson's The Parker Inheritance

  • childrens
  • realistic fiction
  • middle grade
  • young adult
  • fiction
  • mystery
  • audiobook
"I’d already waited twelve years to speak to Marcus. How much longer would I have to wait for the truth?"

-Janae Marks, From the Desk of Zoe Washington (Zoe Washington, #1)

Cover of Merci Suárez Changes Gears by Meg Medina

13. Merci Suárez Changes Gears

By: Meg Medina

4.19

Format: 355 pages, Hardcover

Thoughtful, strong-willed sixth-grader Merci Suarez navigates difficult changes with friends, famil… read more

Similar categories in Meg Medina's Merci Suárez Changes Gears book and Varian Johnson's The Parker Inheritance

  • childrens
  • realistic fiction
  • middle grade
  • young adult
  • fiction
Cover of Chester Keene Cracks the Code by Kekla Magoon

14. Chester Keene Cracks the Code

By: Kekla Magoon

3.86

Format: 293 pages, Hardcover

Cracking the code isn't all it's cracked up to be in this scavenger hunt adventure from a Coretta S… read more

Similar categories in Kekla Magoon's Chester Keene Cracks the Code book and Varian Johnson's The Parker Inheritance

  • childrens
  • realistic fiction
  • middle grade
  • fiction
  • mystery
  • audiobook
Cover of Maizy Chen's Last Chance by Lisa Yee

15. Maizy Chen's Last Chance

By: Lisa Yee

4.29

Format: 277 pages, Hardcover

Welcome to The Golden Palace! Maizy has never been to Last Chance, Minnesota. . . until now. Her… read more

Similar categories in Lisa Yee's Maizy Chen's Last Chance book and Varian Johnson's The Parker Inheritance

  • childrens
  • historical
  • realistic fiction
  • middle grade
  • fiction
  • historical fiction
  • audiobook
"When you're in a position to help, that means you're in a good place in your own life."

-Lisa Yee, Maizy Chen's Last Chance

"Sometimes people don't know their dreams until they're in it. Other times, their dreams escape them because they are too busy being busy."

-Lisa Yee, Maizy Chen's Last Chance

Cover of Shouting at the Rain by Lynda Mullaly Hunt

16. Shouting at the Rain

By: Lynda Mullaly Hunt

4.14

Format: 6 pages, Audio CD

Delsie loves tracking the weather--lately, though, it seems the squalls are in her own life. She's … read more

Similar categories in Lynda Mullaly Hunt's Shouting at the Rain book and Varian Johnson's The Parker Inheritance

  • childrens
  • realistic fiction
  • middle grade
  • young adult
  • fiction
  • audiobook
"So."

-Lynda Mullaly Hunt, Shouting at the Rain

"the sun is always in the sky but sometimes you just can't see it"

-Lynda Mullaly Hunt, Shouting at the Rain

"I'm lucky. When the waves are rolling in, my friends are the jetties."

-Lynda Mullaly Hunt, Shouting at the Rain

"He was the one who told me a man is not made by his mistakes. He's made by what he does about them."

-Lynda Mullaly Hunt, Shouting at the Rain

Cover of Three Strike Summer by Skyler Schrempp

17. Three Strike Summer

By: Skyler Schrempp

4.32

Format: 320 pages, Hardcover

Four starred reviews! A Chicago Public Library Best of the Best Selection A Horn Book Magazine Be… read more

Similar categories in Skyler Schrempp's Three Strike Summer book and Varian Johnson's The Parker Inheritance

  • childrens
  • historical
  • middle grade
  • fiction
  • historical fiction
  • audiobook
Cover of The Parker Inheritance by Varian Johnson

18. The Parker Inheritance

By: Varian Johnson

4.18

Format: 331 pages, Hardcover

The letter waits in a book, in a box, in an attic, in an old house in Lambert, South Carolina. It's… read more

Similar categories in Varian Johnson's The Parker Inheritance book and Varian Johnson's The Parker Inheritance

  • childrens
  • historical
  • realistic fiction
  • middle grade
  • young adult
  • fiction
  • historical fiction
  • mystery
  • african american
  • audiobook
"Brandon said. “I guess I like boy books."

-Varian Johnson, The Parker Inheritance

"It’s just … I don’t think there’s such a thing as boy books or girl books. I think there are people books."

-Varian Johnson, The Parker Inheritance

"His eyes widened and his mouth dropped open a little. "You like puzzle books and you haven't read The Westing Game ?!' he yelled."

-Varian Johnson, The Parker Inheritance

Cover of Yusuf Azeem Is Not a Hero by Saadia Faruqi

19. Yusuf Azeem Is Not a Hero

By: Saadia Faruqi

4.19

Format: 368 pages, Hardcover

Yusuf Azeem has spent all his life in the small town of Frey, Texas—and nearly that long waiting fo… read more

Similar categories in Saadia Faruqi's Yusuf Azeem Is Not a Hero book and Varian Johnson's The Parker Inheritance

  • childrens
  • realistic fiction
  • middle grade
  • young adult
  • fiction
  • historical fiction
  • audiobook
Cover of Shine On, Luz Véliz! by Rebecca Balcárcel

20. Shine On, Luz Véliz!

By: Rebecca Balcárcel

4.28

Format: 276 pages, Hardcover

A beautiful coming-of-age story for fans of Front Desk and Merci Suárez Changes Gears , this book c… read more

Similar categories in Rebecca Balcárcel's Shine On, Luz Véliz! book and Varian Johnson's The Parker Inheritance

  • childrens
  • realistic fiction
  • middle grade
  • fiction
  • audiobook
"The self is not discovered, but created."

-Rebecca Balcárcel, Shine On, Luz Véliz!

Cover of The Miraculous by Jess  Redman

21. The Miraculous

By: Jess Redman

4.00

Format: 320 pages, Hardcover

Eleven-year-old Wunder Ellis is a miracologist. In a journal he calls The Miraculous, he records st… read more

Similar categories in Jess Redman's The Miraculous book and Varian Johnson's The Parker Inheritance

  • middle grade
  • childrens
  • fiction
  • audiobook

14 must-read fiction books like The Parker Inheritance by Varian Johnson

Transform Your Habits

Rain Reign

Ann M. Martin

4.13

Transform Your Habits

The Fourteenth Goldfish

Jennifer L. Holm , Tad Carpenter

3.83

Transform Your Habits

The Lost Library

Rebecca Stead

4.14

Transform Your Habits

The Erkeley Shadows: A novel

Michael Wyndham Thomas

4.34

View all the books

16 Top fiction books like From the Desk of Zoe Washington (Zoe Washington, #1) by Janae Marks

Transform Your Habits

Ban This Book

Alan Gratz

4.41

Transform Your Habits

Front Desk (Front Desk, #1)

Kelly Yang

4.38

Transform Your Habits

Other Words for Home

Jasmine Warga

4.42

Transform Your Habits

From the Desk of Zoe Washington (Zoe Washington, #1)

Janae Marks

4.29

View all the books

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