James Patterson is best known as the world's bestselling adult thriller writer — but he's also been quietly building one of the largest middle grade libraries in publishing. With co-authors like Chris Tebbetts and Chris Grabenstein, Patterson has published dozens of series for tween readers, ranging from comedy-driven school stories to globe-trotting treasure hunts to detective mysteries. Here's how to navigate the catalog and figure out where to start.
Start here: Middle School (15 books)
Patterson's flagship tween series, co-written with Chris Tebbetts. Sixth-grader Rafe Khatchadorian narrates his disastrous attempts to survive middle school — breaking every rule in the school's code of conduct, one by one. The series spawned a 2016 live-action movie and remains his most popular middle grade arc.
The series continues across 15 books, including My Brother Is a Big, Fat Liar (Rafe's sister's POV), How I Survived Bullies, Broccoli, and Snake Hill, Just My Rotten Luck, Save Rafe!, Dog's Best Friend, Escape to Australia, From Hero to Zero, Born to Rock, Master of Disaster, Field Trip Fiasco, It's a Zoo in Here!, and Too Uncool for School.
📖 Browse the full Middle School series → · 📚 Find the Middle School series on Amazon →
Then: Treasure Hunters (8 books)
Co-written with Chris Grabenstein. Twelve-year-old twins Bick and Beck Kidd are part of a treasure-hunting family that sails the world recovering lost artifacts. After their parents disappear at sea, the four Kidd siblings have to take over the family business. Adventure-packed and history-rich.
Continues through eight books across the world: Secret of the Forbidden City, Peril at the Top of the World, Quest for the City of Gold, All-American Adventure, The Plunder Down Under, and The Ultimate Quest.
📖 Browse the full Treasure Hunters series → · 📚 Find Treasure Hunters on Amazon →
For the comedy reader: I Funny (6 books)
Co-written with Chris Grabenstein. Jamie Grimm is a sixth-grader in a wheelchair who wants to become the world's greatest standup comedian — and enters a kids' comedy competition to prove it. Funny, heartfelt, and built around comedy routines that are actually funny.
The series continues across six books: I Even Funnier, I Totally Funniest, I Funny TV, I Funny: School of Laughs, and The Nerdiest, Wimpiest, Dorkiest I Funny Ever.
For the STEM reader: Max Einstein (3 books + companion)
The official Albert Einstein estate-endorsed series. Twelve-year-old genius Max Einstein leads a team of brilliant kids using science to solve global problems. Smart, optimistic, and the most overtly educational of Patterson's middle grade series.
Plus the companion spinoff World Champions! A Max Einstein Adventure (2020), a soccer-themed standalone tied to the FIFA World Cup.
📚 Find Max Einstein on Amazon →
For the mystery reader: Ali Cross (3 books)
The first middle grade series featuring a Black protagonist from Patterson — and a spinoff of his adult Alex Cross thrillers. Ali Cross is detective Alex Cross's son, learning the family business by solving mysteries in his Washington DC neighborhood.
More Patterson middle grade worth exploring
House of Robots (3 books)
Sammy Hayes-Rodriguez's mom is a robotics genius who builds him a robot brother named E. Light sci-fi comedy with strong family themes. Three books: House of Robots (2014), Robots Go Wild! (2015), and Robot Revolution (2016). Best for ages 8–11.
MK's Detective Club (2 books)
A newer Patterson mystery series for younger tweens. MK and her friends start their own detective agency to solve neighborhood mysteries. Two books so far: The Poison Puzzle (2023) and The Double Trouble Puzzle (2024). Best for ages 8–11.
The Time Travel Twins (3 books)
One of Patterson's newest series. Twin siblings travel through time on increasingly chaotic adventures. Three books: The Time Travel Twins, The Pharaoh's Tomb, and An Armada of Trouble. Best for ages 8–11.
Word of Mouse
Standalone novel narrated by Isaiah, a mouse with extraordinary intelligence who escapes a science lab. Followed by a companion novella, The Great Mouse Escape: A Word of Mouse Tail. Best for ages 8–11.
Where to start
If your tween wants:
- Funny, relatable school stories → Start with Middle School: The Worst Years of My Life.
- Globe-trotting adventure → Start with Treasure Hunters.
- Science and big ideas → Start with Max Einstein: The Genius Experiment.
- Mystery and detective work → Start with Ali Cross.
- Pure comedy → Start with I Funny.
One thing worth knowing: nearly all of Patterson's middle grade is co-authored with a credited collaborator (Chris Tebbetts on Middle School, Chris Grabenstein on Treasure Hunters and I Funny). This isn't unusual for Patterson — it's how he produces so much — and the books are honest about the partnership on every cover.
📚 Browse every James Patterson book in our catalog, or explore all our reading guides.