15 Chapter Book Series That Should Be More Popular

Getting into a good chapter book series is the BEST, right? Because once you finish one, there’s another, and then another, and you’re guaranteed lots of good reading material to last for a while. Your kids know the popular series like Diary of a Wimpy Kid and Harry Potter, but do you know these lesser-known series? I hope you’ll check them out. Read them and spread the word because these really should be more popular!

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Book Series for 1st Graders

Book Series for 2nd Graders

Book Series for 3rd Graders

Book Series for 4th Graders

Book Series for 5th Graders

Book Series for 6th Graders

Book Series for 7th Graders

Chapter Book Series That Should Be More Popular

The Year of the . . . 4 book series (so far) by Andrea Chang – REALISTIC
(ages 6 – 9)
Growing up is challenging and in the first novel, The Year of the Book, Anna turns to books for company while she learns how to make friendships in real life. The subsequent books in the series are just as realistic and well-written. I highly recommend them.

Bird and Squirrel on Ice by James Burks – HUMOR / GRAPHIC NOVEL
(ages 6 – 9)
In this hysterical graphic novel book series, Bird’s over-confident, laissez-faire character pairs perfectly with Squirrel’s logical, fearful one. In this first book, the duo crash land in the Penguin world where Bird is thought to be the “Chosen One” meant to save the penguins from the Great Whale.

I Survived 21 book series (so far) by Lauren Tarshis – HISTORICAL FICTION / ADVENTURE
(ages 8 – 12)
Excellent, fast-paced adventures set during significant historical events. Your kids will zip through these fascinating adventures. The books always are about a young boy trying to survive the historically important, life-changing event. Great for reluctant readers who like a lot of action.

Smile, Drama, Sisters  3 book series by Raina Telgemeier – REALISTIC
(ages 8 – 12)
Raina shares her growing up stories with humor and amazing art (these are graphic novels) in these three popular books. My 10-year-old daughter read Sisters four times the first week she owned it – they’re excellent books and quite addictive.

Stranded  3 book series by Jeff Probst and Chris Tebbetts – ADVENTURE
(ages 8 – 12)
Honestly, I was totally surprised that I liked this book. It’s a great adventure with real-life conflict between new step-siblings who are on a sailboat trip with their uncle. A storm sinks their ship and they barely make it to a deserted island. They’ll have to work together to survive. And hope their parents can find them. Good reading for anyone who loves action and adventure.

 

Liberty Porter, First Daughter  3 book series by Julia DeVillers – REALISTIC
(ages 8 – 12)
This is a light-hearted middle-grade series about a girl whose dad becomes the President. We follow along as she adjusts to living in the White House, having a bodyguard, and experiences being the First Daughter.

 

Everyday Angel  3 book series by Victoria Schwab – REALISTIC
(ages 8 -12)
My 10-year-old loves these stories about an angel named Aria who is earning her wings by helping girls who are struggling in some way. In the first book, she helps Gabby. Gabby’s brother is hospitalized indefinitely and her mom is totally focused on her brother. It’s up to Aria to help Gabby at her new school and discover who she is. These are sweet, uplifting stories.

Nightmares! 3 book series by Jason Segel and Kirsten Miller – FANTASY ADVENTURE
(ages 8 – 12)
Charlie’s dad has remarried and moved Charlie and his younger brother into the stepmother’s frightening purple mansion. There, Charlie begins to have the most horrible nightmares — nightmares that blur the boundaries between reality and dream. When witches from the nightmare world steal Charlie’s brother, Charlie and his friends must face their fears in order to save both Charlie’s little brother and the entire awake world. Hard to put this story down — it’s totally enthralling.

Anyone But Ivy Pocket 3 book series by Caleb Krisp – FANTASY / HUMOR
I read many parts out loud to my kids while I was reading this book; they were just so funny!! Now, my kids are addicted to this series, too. Quirky but lovable Ivy’s adventures involve a sinister ghost, a mystical jewel, and a surprising destiny.

 

Unwanteds  6 book series by Lissa McMann – FANTASY / DYSTOPIAN

Mother Daughter Book Club 8 book series by Heather Vogel Frederick – REALISTIC
(ages 9 – 12)
This series kept my daughter reading all summer last year. The story begins when a group of 6th graders form a mother-daughter book club. Each book in the series focuses on one book the girls read (such as Little Women, Daddy Long Legs, and Pride and Prejudice) and the relationships of the girls among themselves, the relationships with their mothers, and the business of growing up.

 
Skulduggery Plesant  8 book series by Derek Landy – FANTASY
(ages 8 – 12)

Keeper of the Lost Cities 5 book series by Shannon Messenger – FANTASY / ADVENTURE
I stayed up all night to finish this book –it was fantastic! Twelve-year-old Sophie has never quite fit into her life. Because Sophie has a secret—she can read people’s minds. Then she learns that she’s an elf and must the human world for the Elvin world. There she’ll face danger from both worlds. Her only hope of survival is to regain her memories of her past.

The Prisoner of Cell 25 (Michael Vey) 7 book series by Richard Paul Evans – SCI-FI
(ages 13+)
If you like fast-paced adventure and science fiction, you’ll love this fantastic series about a boy with electrical powers and an evil group who wants to control him and others like him. It’s an addictive series for kids who enjoy action, suspense, and adventure. BOX SET

Also Known As  2 book series (so far) by Robin Benway – MYSTERY
(ages 12+)
Imagine your parents are spies, and you are, too — this is the life of Maggie Silver, a teenager and expert safecracker. Maggie gets to attend regular school in New York City in order to befriend the son of a writer who is about to expose their spy network. She’s conflicted about lying to this boy and her new friend because they are her first real friends — and when she faces failure to complete the mission, she decides to tell them the truth. She is a spy. I loved this series and the characters and highly recommend it. (Parents, it’s a mild YA romance, but her friend gets drunk and shares a brief story about sex.)

The Indigo Notebook, The Ruby Notebook, The Jade Notebook – 3 book series by Laura Resau – REALISTIC
(ages 12+)
A wonderful, imaginative series filled with romance and self-discovery! Zeeta and her free-spirited mother, Layla, move countries with frequency. The first book takes place in Ecuador where Zeeta meets another American named Wendell who she helps find his birth parents. Unfortunately, his birth dad’s activities are suspicious and possibly dangerous. The two teenagers fall in love in Ecuador and their relationship continues developing throughout the series. The second book in the series happens in France with Zeeta learning more about her own mysterious father. Finally, the third book takes place in Mexico where Wendell is photographing rare sea turtles. Fantastic.