With Steven Spielberg’s latest alien-themed movie Disclosure Day about to hit theaters, I thought it would be fun to highlight some middle grade alien-themed reads. Obviously we don’t know whether the aliens in this new movie are friend or foe — and we’ve had a lot of both over the years, both in the movies and in middle grade books.
I’ve always had a love for alien books. As an elementary schooler, the Animorphs series by K.A. Applegate became my first true reading obsession. At one point, I half-convinced myself that the books were true, secret messages warning us about an alien invasion (shades of future Marv). Looking back, I think it may be because they were the first books I remember reading that were written in first-person, so they felt more real to me.
I was so obsessed with Animorphs that my parents had me sign a paper saying that I would want Animorphs books for my 16th birthday. Sure enough, when I turned 16, my parents arranged it so all of my friends got me an Animorphs book. I’m excited that they’re getting brought back!
Of course, Animorphs and its hostile alien invaders are far from the only alien-themed stories for middle graders out there. Especially in the indie space, there is a great mix of middle grade stories about aliens friendly and not.
Without further ado, here are some fun alien-themed books to get your middle grade readers ready for “Disclosure Day”. Check them out here for more info on each individual book.
Whether friend or foe, hopefully you’ll find a good story here!
Over and out.