20 Best middle grade books like We Dream of Space by Erin Entrada Kelly

Cover of We Dream of Space by Erin Entrada Kelly

We Dream of Space

By: Erin Entrada Kelly

4.12

Format: 400 pages, Hardcover

It's January 1986. The launch of the Challenger is just weeks away, and Cash, Fitch, and Bird Nelso…

If you liked the middle grade plot in We Dream of Space by Erin Entrada Kelly , here is a list of 20 books like this:

1. Restart

By: Gordon Korman

2.50

Format: 260 pages, Hardcover

Chase's memory just went out the window. Chase doesn't remember falling off the roof. He doesn't re… read more

Similar categories in Gordon Korman's Restart book and Erin Entrada Kelly's We Dream of Space

Cover of Linked by Gordon Korman

2. Linked

By: Gordon Korman

4.18

Format: 256 pages, Hardcover

Link, Michael, and Dana live in a quiet town. But it's woken up very quickly when someone sneaks in… read more

Similar categories in Gordon Korman's Linked book and Erin Entrada Kelly's We Dream of Space

  • childrens
  • realistic fiction
  • middle grade
  • young adult
  • fiction
  • audiobook
"A paper chain can be done when it hits a certain number of links. But tolerance is a project you always have to keep working at."

-Gordon Korman, Linked

Cover of The Last Mapmaker by Christina Soontornvat

3. The Last Mapmaker

By: Christina Soontornvat

4.15

Format: 368 pages, Hardcover

A high-seas adventure set in a Thai-inspired fantasy world. As assistant to Mangkon’s most celeb… read more

Similar categories in Christina Soontornvat's The Last Mapmaker book and Erin Entrada Kelly's We Dream of Space

  • childrens
  • middle grade
  • young adult
  • fiction
  • audiobook
"I couldn't see it then, but I could see it now. I opened my eyes, releasing another stream of tears. I had been trying so hard to run from my past. But the past was like mottlefish ink. Even if it fa…"

-Christina Soontornvat, The Last Mapmaker

Cover of Alone by Megan E. Freeman

4. Alone

By: Megan E. Freeman

4.14

Format: 404 pages, Hardcover

When twelve-year-old Maddie hatches a scheme for a secret sleepover with her two best friends, she … read more

Similar categories in Megan E. Freeman's Alone book and Erin Entrada Kelly's We Dream of Space

  • childrens
  • realistic fiction
  • middle grade
  • young adult
  • fiction
Cover of The Fort by Gordon Korman

5. The Fort

By: Gordon Korman

4.31

Format: 256 pages, Hardcover

From the bestselling author of RESTART, the story of a middle-school "band of brothers" -- five fri… read more

Similar categories in Gordon Korman's The Fort book and Erin Entrada Kelly's We Dream of Space

  • childrens
  • realistic fiction
  • middle grade
  • young adult
  • fiction
  • family
  • audiobook
Cover of A Rover's Story by Jasmine Warga

6. A Rover's Story

By: Jasmine Warga

4.28

Format: 320 pages, Hardcover

A middle grade novel about the journey of a fictional Mars rover. Meet Resilience, a Mars rover… read more

Similar categories in Jasmine Warga's A Rover's Story book and Erin Entrada Kelly's We Dream of Space

  • childrens
  • middle grade
  • fiction
  • space
  • audiobook
Cover of Tornado Brain by Cat Patrick

7. Tornado Brain

By: Cat Patrick

4.14

Format: 286 pages, Hardcover

A neurodivergent 7th grader is determined to find her missing best friend before it's too late. … read more

Similar categories in Cat Patrick's Tornado Brain book and Erin Entrada Kelly's We Dream of Space

  • realistic fiction
  • middle grade
  • young adult
  • fiction
  • audiobook
Cover of Red, White, and Whole by Rajani LaRocca

8. Red, White, and Whole

By: Rajani LaRocca

4.43

Format: 224 pages, Hardcover

An #ownvoices novel in verse about an Indian American girl whose life is turned upside down when he… read more

Similar categories in Rajani LaRocca's Red, White, and Whole book and Erin Entrada Kelly's We Dream of Space

  • childrens
  • historical
  • realistic fiction
  • middle grade
  • young adult
  • fiction
  • historical fiction
  • family
  • audiobook
"What does the sky do when the moon is gone forever?"

-Rajani LaRocca, Red, White, and Whole

"We say goodbye to Amma. I am empty. I’ve been watching and saying goodbye for months."

-Rajani LaRocca, Red, White, and Whole

"« We say goodbye to Amma. I am empty. I’ve been watching and saying goodbye for months. »"

-Rajani LaRocca, Red, White, and Whole

"Her face is as bright as a full moon, always gentle, always changing, but predictable. Like our moon, she only shows us one face. The strong one."

-Rajani LaRocca, Red, White, and Whole

Cover of Other Words for Home by Jasmine Warga

9. Other Words for Home

By: Jasmine Warga

4.42

Format: 352 pages, Kindle Edition

I am learning how to be sad and happy at the same time. Jude never thought she’d be leaving h… read more

Similar categories in Jasmine Warga's Other Words for Home book and Erin Entrada Kelly's We Dream of Space

  • childrens
  • realistic fiction
  • middle grade
  • young adult
  • fiction
  • family
  • audiobook
"Americans are obsessed with murder"

-Jasmine Warga, Other Words for Home

"You will belong here. . .You will make anywhere beautiful."

-Jasmine Warga, Other Words for Home

"It seems like the kind of place where dreams could grow and live."

-Jasmine Warga, Other Words for Home

"Mama hugs me and I hold her back. Sometimes all you can do is hold on."

-Jasmine Warga, Other Words for Home

Cover of Coyote Lost and Found (Coyote Sunrise #2) by Dan Gemeinhart

10. Coyote Lost and Found (Coyote Sunrise #2)

By: Dan Gemeinhart

4.54

Format: 282 pages, Hardcover

From #1 New York Times-bestselling author Dan Gemeinhart comes a standalone companion to the critic… read more

Similar categories in Dan Gemeinhart's Coyote Lost and Found (Coyote Sunrise #2) book and Erin Entrada Kelly's We Dream of Space

  • childrens
  • realistic fiction
  • middle grade
  • young adult
  • fiction
  • family
  • audiobook
"But it's not the sandwich that matter Coyote. It's someone bringing you the sandwich."

-Dan Gemeinhart, Coyote Lost and Found (Coyote Sunrise #2)

"I'm gonna go ahead a fast-forward the story a bit here. Because, basically some boring stuff happened and then some very exciting stuff happened, and I think it's best to just skip the crust and go s…"

-Dan Gemeinhart, Coyote Lost and Found (Coyote Sunrise #2)

Cover of We Dream of Space by Erin Entrada Kelly

11. We Dream of Space

By: Erin Entrada Kelly

4.12

Format: 400 pages, Hardcover

It's January 1986. The launch of the Challenger is just weeks away, and Cash, Fitch, and Bird Nelso… read more

Similar categories in Erin Entrada Kelly's We Dream of Space book and Erin Entrada Kelly's We Dream of Space

  • childrens
  • historical
  • realistic fiction
  • middle grade
  • young adult
  • fiction
  • historical fiction
  • family
  • space
  • audiobook
Cover of Closer to Nowhere by Ellen Hopkins

12. Closer to Nowhere

By: Ellen Hopkins

4.25

Format: 416 pages, Hardcover

A novel in verse about coming to terms with indelible truths of family and belonging. For the mo… read more

Similar categories in Ellen Hopkins's Closer to Nowhere book and Erin Entrada Kelly's We Dream of Space

  • childrens
  • realistic fiction
  • middle grade
  • young adult
  • fiction
  • family
"Every kid deserves a friend."

-Ellen Hopkins, Closer to Nowhere

"Comprehension means more than word count."

-Ellen Hopkins, Closer to Nowhere

"Still, what can it hurt to maybe have a little extra luck on your side?"

-Ellen Hopkins, Closer to Nowhere

"That home in the distance, the one I could never reach? Today, I’m much closer to it than I am to nowhere."

-Ellen Hopkins, Closer to Nowhere

Cover of When You Trap a Tiger by Tae Keller

13. When You Trap a Tiger

By: Tae Keller

4.15

Format: 297 pages, Hardcover

Newbery Medal Winner (2021) Some stories refuse to stay bottled up... When Lily and her famil… read more

Similar categories in Tae Keller's When You Trap a Tiger book and Erin Entrada Kelly's We Dream of Space

  • childrens
  • realistic fiction
  • middle grade
  • young adult
  • fiction
  • family
  • audiobook
"I am a girl who sees invisible things, but I am not invisible."

-Tae Keller, When You Trap a Tiger

"Does it get easier? Does the sadness go away? The sadness fades, yeah. Eventually. But the missing ... I don't know if that ever does."

-Tae Keller, When You Trap a Tiger

"If you put things off for later, you'll never do them. They'll become harder and scarier, and one day you'll realize you've run out of time."

-Tae Keller, When You Trap a Tiger

"It's hard to breathe. I know now: The moment when everything really falls apart--it's not during the big explosion. It's in the quiet after. And the feeling is not a shattering. Not quite"

-Tae Keller, When You Trap a Tiger

Cover of The Canyon's Edge by Dusti Bowling

14. The Canyon's Edge

By: Dusti Bowling

4.22

Format: 320 pages, Hardcover

A novel in verse about a young girl's struggle for survival after a climbing trip with her father g… read more

Similar categories in Dusti Bowling's The Canyon's Edge book and Erin Entrada Kelly's We Dream of Space

  • realistic fiction
  • middle grade
  • young adult
  • fiction
  • family
  • audiobook
Cover of Fighting Words by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley

15. Fighting Words

By: Kimberly Brubaker Bradley

4.64

Format: 272 pages, Hardcover

Ten-year-old Della has always had her older sister, Suki: When their mom went to prison, Della had … read more

Similar categories in Kimberly Brubaker Bradley's Fighting Words book and Erin Entrada Kelly's We Dream of Space

  • childrens
  • realistic fiction
  • middle grade
  • young adult
  • fiction
  • family
  • audiobook
"Broken bones take a long time to heal. Why shouldn't brains?"

-Kimberly Brubaker Bradley, Fighting Words

"Sometimes you've got a story you need to find the courage to tell."

-Kimberly Brubaker Bradley, Fighting Words

"This is to remind me of the best day of my life." She looks down at me. For a wonder, she smiles back. "When was that?" she asks. "Tomorrow," I say."

-Kimberly Brubaker Bradley, Fighting Words

Cover of The Lion of Mars by Jennifer L. Holm

16. The Lion of Mars

By: Jennifer L. Holm

4.07

Format: 259 pages, Paperback

A kid raised on Mars learns that he can't be held back by the fears of the grown-ups around him. … read more

Similar categories in Jennifer L. Holm's The Lion of Mars book and Erin Entrada Kelly's We Dream of Space

  • childrens
  • middle grade
  • fiction
  • space
  • audiobook
Cover of A Wish in the Dark by Christina Soontornvat

17. A Wish in the Dark

By: Christina Soontornvat

4.29

Format: 384 pages, ebook

Newbery Medal Honor Title (2021) A boy on the run. A girl determined to find him. All light i… read more

Similar categories in Christina Soontornvat's A Wish in the Dark book and Erin Entrada Kelly's We Dream of Space

  • fiction
  • middle grade
  • childrens
  • young adult
"You can't run away from darkness. It's everywhere. The only way to see through it is to shine a light."

-Christina Soontornvat, A Wish in the Dark

"The world wasn't what I wanted it to be," Pong went on. "Not Chattana. Not even Tanaburi. I thought if I ran far enough, I could find that perfect place where life is fair and everything is good. But…"

-Christina Soontornvat, A Wish in the Dark

Cover of The Night War by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley

18. The Night War

By: Kimberly Brubaker Bradley

4.04

Format: 288 pages, Hardcover

From the two-time Newbery Honor-winning author of The War That Saved My Life and Fighting Words com… read more

Similar categories in Kimberly Brubaker Bradley's The Night War book and Erin Entrada Kelly's We Dream of Space

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

19. 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 Erin Entrada Kelly's We Dream of Space

  • childrens
  • historical
  • realistic fiction
  • middle grade
  • fiction
  • historical fiction
  • family
  • 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 Box: Henry Brown Mails Himself to Freedom by Carole Boston Weatherford

20. Box: Henry Brown Mails Himself to Freedom

By: Carole Boston Weatherford

4.09

Format: 56 pages, Hardcover

In a moving, lyrical tale about the cost and fragility of freedom, a New York Times best-selling au… read more

Similar categories in Carole Boston Weatherford's Box: Henry Brown Mails Himself to Freedom book and Erin Entrada Kelly's We Dream of Space

  • historical
  • middle grade
  • childrens
Cover of Haven Jacobs Saves the Planet by Barbara Dee

21. Haven Jacobs Saves the Planet

By: Barbara Dee

4.17

Format: 302 pages, Kindle Edition

Twelve-year-old Haven Jacobs can’t stop thinking about the climate crisis. In fact, her anxiety abo… read more

Similar categories in Barbara Dee's Haven Jacobs Saves the Planet book and Erin Entrada Kelly's We Dream of Space

  • childrens
  • realistic fiction
  • middle grade
  • fiction
  • audiobook

19 must-read fiction books like We Dream of Space by Erin Entrada Kelly

Transform Your Habits

Linked

Gordon Korman

4.18

Transform Your Habits

The Last Mapmaker

Christina Soontornvat

4.15

Transform Your Habits

Alone

Megan E. Freeman

4.14

Transform Your Habits

The Fort

Gordon Korman

4.31

View all the books

16 Top fiction books like The Fort by Gordon Korman

Transform Your Habits

How to Become a Planet

Nicole Melleby

4.25

Transform Your Habits

The Lost Year

Katherine Marsh

4.50

Transform Your Habits

The Fort

Gordon Korman

4.31

Transform Your Habits

Two Degrees

Alan Gratz

4.15

View all the books

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