BOOKS

You loved them when you were younger, and you'd most likely love them even more now. These middle grade and YA books were a huge part of our childhood, and there's nothing better than revisiting them if you're in a nostalgic mood. 

1. The Penderwicks series by Jeanne Birdsall

@isabellesbookshelf

The Penderwicks by Jeanne Birdsall is the definition of a cozy read. The book follows four sisters and their dog named Hound on a summer vacation they'll never forget. From picturesque cottages to ~mysterious~ boys next door, it's not hard to see why this is a certified children's classic. 

2. The Mysterious Benedict Society series by Trenton Lee Stewart

@afictionreality

You might've seen the Disney+ show, but we promise the books are *just* as amazing (maybe even more, TBH). After responding to a strange ad in the paper, four children are chosen for a mission at the Learning Institute for the Very Enlightened. Very quickly, though, the kids learn that nothing is as it seems. 

3. Artemis Fowl series by Eoin Colfer 

@my_heart_is_booked

Calling all fantasy fans! 12-year-old Artemis Fowl is a millionaire, genius and criminal mastermind (Beat that, Sherlock Holmes). But when he kidnaps a fairy, things might prove too much even for Artemis to handle. 

4. A Series of Unfortunate Events series by Lemony Snicket 

@book.x.butterfly

When we say A Series of Unfortunate Events is immersive, we're not joking around. Even the "author", Lemony Snicket, is a pen name for actual author Daniel Handler. Odd, witty, emotional, with just the right amount of spookiness—this def isn't your mom's middle grade fiction! 

5. The Land of Stories series by Chris Colfer

@randaisreading

We absolutely loved him as Kurt Hummel in Glee, but who could've guessed that Chris Colfer had another major talent up his sleeve? He wrote the playful and magical Land of Stories series, ofc! Set in a world with many familiar fairytale characters, the books follow Alex and Conner Bailey as they try to find their way back home. 

Which book or series was your fave when you were younger? Let us know on Instagram @glbestiebookclub! 

Slider image: @jakes.books
Top image: @booknerdsnative

by Cathy Li | 5/4/2023