Did you know that there are a ton of really awesome middle-grade books that you can read for free on Kindle Unlimited? In fact, I think there are even more books for tweens than there are for adults, at least in terms of big titles from well-known authors. In some cases, you can read the entire series as part of your membership. In most, though, you only get the first book and have to buy (or borrow from a library) the rest.
Still, it’s a great way to try a new author or series risk-free. If you don’t like it, no problem. Return it and try another! Below are some of my favorite Kindle Unlimited books for tweens. I’ve included big-name authors as well as some indies that you might not have heard of.
Tween Books That You Can Read for Free on Kindle Unlimited
Just a few very quick notes before we dive in. First, I used affiliate links in this post, so if you buy anything through them I will earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Second, Kindle Unlimited titles change constantly. Everything on this list is accurate as of today. I tried to stick to titles that I’ve consistently seen on KU over the last few years, and I’ll check back frequently to keep this as up-to-date as possible.
If you don’t already have Kindle Unlimited, check out the different plans here. They almost always have some sort of deal running. Right now, I have it for $30 for 6 months. Sometimes I get offers for free months if I unsubscribe for a while. I am pretty sure they also have free trials for those who have never subscribed (I can’t see any right now since I’m currently subscribed).
Last note, I swear. I broke this into sections. The first section, with the book covers, are kind of my “top picks” overall. I tried to include something from every genre. The books in the second section are equally great, though. I just didn’t want to slow down your browser with 50+ images, so I switched over to a list format for those. 😀 I think that about covers it. Let’s get started.
Harry Potter Series (all 7 books) by JK Rowling + 8 more Potterverse books
Let’s kick things off with my all-time favorite middle-grade reads, shall we? The entire Harry Potter series is available on Kindle Unlimited pretty much always. I have all of the books in hardcover, but sometimes it’s just easier for me to read on my Kindle (better lighting, like I said, aging eyes and all). I re-read the books once a year and I’ve never not seen them on KU, so I don’t think they’re going anywhere soon.
Other JK Rowlings books on Kindle Unlimited:
- Harry Potter and the Cursed Child – Parts One and Two: The Official Playscript of the Original West End Production
- All three Pottermore Presents short stories collection books
- Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them: A Harry Potter Hogwarts Library Book
- Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them: Illustrated edition (this one is a really neat Kindle in Motion book)
- The Tales of Beedle the Bard: A Harry Potter Hogwarts Library Book
- Quidditch Through the Ages: A Harry Potter Hogwarts Library Book
Percy Jackson Series + 19 more books by Rick Riordan
Rick Riordan’s Percy Jackson and the Olympians series is actually what inspired me to write this post. I was really in the mood to re-read this series but I gave the hardcover books to my younger cousin years ago. I went to see how much they were on Kindle and saw that all 5 books were available on KU.
Riordan actually offers up quite a few of his books for free on Kindle Unlimited, including:
- Trials of Apollo (all 5 books)
- The Heroes of Olympus (all 5 books)
- Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard (just the first book).
- For Magnus Chase: Hotel Valhalla Guide to the Norse Worlds: Your Introduction to Deities, Mythical Beings, & Fantastic Creatures
- The Kane Chronicles, Book One: The Red Pyramid (just book one)
- Percy Jackson’s Greek Gods (A Percy Jackson and the Olympians Guide)
- Percy Jackson: The Demigod Files (A Percy Jackson and the Olympians Guide)
- Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief: The Graphic Novel (plus books 2 and 3, but not 4 and 5 as of right now)
- The Son of Sobek – this one is a short crossover story between Percy Jackson and the Kane Chronicles.
Dragon Pearl by Yoon Ha Lee
The Rick Riordan Presents imprint publishes authors from underrepresented cultures. They all have a very similar writing style to Riordan. So if your tweens enjoy his books there’s a very good chance they’ll like these stories as well. Yoon Ha Lee’s genre-bending Dragon Pearl combines Korean mythology with science fiction by setting the story in outer space. While you can only read the first book for free and it does have a sequel, it’s actually a standalone novel. In other words, no cliffhanger.
Other Rick Riordan Presents Books on Kindle Unlimited include:
- Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky (Volume 1)
- Aru Shah and the End of Time: A Pandava Novel Book 1
Lord of the Rings Trilogy by JRR Tolkein + The Hobbit
All three of Tolkein’s classic Lord of the Rings books are available on KU, along with their prelude book, The Hobbit. Amazon lists the age range for the series as 13-18, but I read them when I was 12. So, they’re kind of right there on the cusp between tween and teen books.
You may also like: 15 Middle-Grade Books Made into Movies (& Where to Watch Them)
The Hunger Games Trilogy by Suzanne Collins
I know a lot of people think that The Hunger Games are more of a YA series and I agree for the most part. Still, I think they’re just fine for older middle-school kids. It’s a really great series to read together and discuss. This is the only Suzanne Collins series available through KU. She does have another series -the Underland Chronicles– that is geared towards younger middle-graders (grades 4-7), but they’re not on KU.
Path of the Ranger by Pedro Urvi (13 books total)
The Path of the Ranger series by Pedro Urvi consists of 13 books, all of which are available right now through KU. I’ve never read them, but they have really great reviews overall. The fantasy series centers around a 15-year-old boy determined to clear his father’s name. It’s geared towards readers ages 9 and up who want a good meaty “high fantasy” series that will last them all summer long.
Artemis Fowl Series (4 total)
So, here’s the thing about Artemis Fowl: the first three books and the 7th book are free on Kindle Unlimited. Unfortunately, books 4,5, and 8 are not. So if your tween wants to read the entire series, you’re on the hook for three of the books (or you can borrow them through your library). Weird, right? Still, at least your kids can read a good chunk of the series before you have to shell out money. 😀
Cinder (The Lunar Chronicles Book 1) & Cress (Book 3)
Meyer’s Lunar Chronicles is another one that has out-of-order Kindle Unlimited books. You can read the first and the third for free. You’re on your own for books 2 and 4. Cinder is kind of a Cinderella meets cyborgs tale that mixes familiar fairy tales with science fiction.
Also on KU by Marissa Meyer:
- Renegades (Book 1 and 2)
- Fairest: The Lunar Chronicles: Levana’s Story (it’s an alternate telling of Cinder from the villain’s POV)
Howl’s Moving Castle (Howl’s Castle Book 1)
Diana Wynne Jones wrote dozens of books for all ages, but Howl’s Moving Castle is by far the most popular, and for a good reason. The story is positively enchanting, with rich vivid characters and a gorgeously described fantastical world that comes to life in your mind’s eye. This is the only book in the series available through KU (and the only Jones book period). If you want to continue the story, you’ll have to buy or borrow the other two books.
Ghost Boys by Jewell Parker Rhodes
Ghost Boys is a heartbreaking and hard story to read (emotionally, not level-wise). Rhodes’ story centers around Jerome, a 12-year-old Black boy shot by police officers who mistook his toy gun for a real one. It’s told from Jerome’s point of view as he watches what his family goes through. He later meets another ghost from a different time who died through similar circumstances. I highly recommend reading with your tweens so that you can discuss it.
Warriors: Original Series by Erin Hunter (all 6)
All 6 of Erin Hunter’s original Warriors series are available through Kindle Unlimited. Subsequent series- such as Omen of the Stars, Dawn of the Clans, etc- aren’t, though. I think that’s pretty fair, though. The series kind of makes me think of a middle-grade version of Game of Thrones… except all of the clans consist of feral cats. It definitely makes me look at my own colony of ferals/strays differently!
Skyhunter (Skyhunter Duology Book 1)
If you’re looking for something for older tweens and teens, Marie Lu’s Skyhunter is a pretty safe bet, especially if your kids love sci-fi post-apocalyptic fiction. Only the first of the two books is on KU, and it’s not exactly a standalone novel. I’d check out the second book either from your local library or through Overdrive before starting this one. That way your tween can jump right into the sequel without waiting.
Wish by Barbara O’Connor
Wish is a solid middle-grade read, meaning it’s actually written specifically for kids in grades 4-7. It’s perfect for tweens who really aren’t into high fantasy or sci-fi. It’s a really touching story about a girl and her dog, the power of friendship, and of learning what it means to have a loving family. Some parents complained that it was “too upsetting” for kids since the main character is abandoned by her mom. I’m guessing these reviewers never watched Punky Brewster as kids.
Big Nate (6 total)
My son was a huge fan of Big Nate from about 3rd through 5th grade. It’s perfect for fans of Diary of a Wimpy Kid or Captain Underpants. There are a ton of books in the series, but only 6 are available through KU. They’re pretty random, too, from all over the place in the series. The good news, though, is that you don’t really have to read them in order. At least not according to my son. As far as he recalls, there may be references to previous books, but each one is pretty much standalone.
Kid Youtuber Complete Series by Marcus Emerson (plus 25+ more Emerson books)
If your tween loved Big Nate and is looking for something with a similar style, Kid Youtuber is a good choice. ALL of the books in the hilarious middle-grade series are available. Not only that, but nearly ALL of Emerson’s other series are on KU, including:
- Diary of a 6th Grade Ninja (12 books)
- Secret Agent 6th Grader (4 books)
- Dodge Ball Wars (5 books)
- LOL Collection: Stories to Make You Laugh-Out-Loud
- How To Be A Super Villain Without Even Trying
- and a bunch more
More Middle-Grade Reads Available on Kindle Unlimited
- Street Rats of Aramoor by Micheal Wisehart (all 3 books)
- Wishtree by Katherine Applegate
- A Long Walk To Water: Based on a True Story by Linda Sue Park
- Journey to Star Wars: The Force Awakens: Lost Stars by Claudia Gray
- Star Wars: Ahsoka
- The Secret Zoo by Brian Chick
- Diary of an 8-Bit Warrior by Cube Kid (3 books)
- Mage’s Path by DB King (all 3)
- Real Friends & Best Friends by Shannon Hale
- The Unteachables by Gordon Korman
- Diary of a Surfer Villager by Dr. Block (35 total)
- The Secret Lake by Karen Inglis
- The Green Ember Series by SD Smith (all 4)
- A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle
- Life On Hold by Karen McQuestion
- Sideways Stories from Wayside School by Louis Sachar
Pin for Later: