21 Middle Grade Books That are Out of this World

Today marks the 35th anniversary of the Challenger explosion. I was only a year old when this pivotal moment in history happened. And before September 11, it was one of the more recent events that many people could remember where they were when they heard the news.

I just recently finished reading We Dream of Space by Erin Entrada Kelly set during the weeks leading up to the Challenger explosion. The book is absolutely amazing written from the perspective of three siblings who couldn’t be more different. It’s the story of family, friendship, and moment the Challenger explodes, it changes everything.

Beyond that one spectacular book, I wanted to share some additional titles from nonfiction to fiction to biographies that will grab a middle grade reader’s attention!

21 Middle Grade Books That are Out of this World

1. Astrophysics for Young People in a Hurry by Neil deGrasse Tyson and Gregory Mone
2. The Challenger Disaster: Tragedy in the Skies by Pranas T. Naujokaitis
3. Chasing Space: Young Readers’ Edition by Leland Melvin
4. Clues to the Universe by Christina Li
5. Cosmic by Frank Cottrell Boyce
6. The Countdown Conspiracy by Katie Slivensky
7. 50 Things to See With a Telescope: A Young Stargazer’s Guide by John A. Read
8. 5 Worlds: The Sand Warrior by Mark Siegel
9. Hidden Figures: Young Readers’ Edition by Margot Lee Shetterly
10. I Love You, Michael Collins by Lauren Baratz-Logsted
11. The Jupiter Pirates: Hunt for the Hydra by Jason Fry
12. Last Day on Mars by Kevin Emerson
13. Lowriders in Space by Cathy Camper
14. Mars Evacuees by Sophia McDougall
15. Sanity & Tallulah by Molly Brooks
16. See You in the Cosmos by Jack Cheng
17. Space Case by Stuart Gibbs
18. Space Runners: The Moon Platoon by Jeramey Kraatz
19. We Dream of Space by Erin Entrada Kelly
20. We’re Not from Here by Geoff Rodkey
21. Zita the Spacegirl by Ben Hatke

Learn more about the Challenger explosion on HarperCollins website.