Middle grade literature isliterature intended for children between the ages of 8 and 12. While these books are sometimes grouped together with books for other age bands and collectively called "children's books", middle grade is distinct frompicture books, early or easy readers, andchapter books, all of which are intended for younger audiences.[1][2] Most of the winners of theNewbery Medal have been middle grade books.[3]
The category beyond middle grade isyoung adult, which is intended for readers between the ages of 12 and 18. In addition to differences in word count and the age of the protagonists, middle grade and young adult differ in content. Middle grade literature does not include profanity, sexual activity or romantic behavior beyond kissing, or realistic violence or any form of violence beyond fantasy violence, and tend to focus on the characters' friends, family, and immediate surroundings.[4]
Examples of middle grade fiction includeCharlotte's Web byE. B. White, thePercy Jackson & the Olympians series byRick Riordan, and the earlyHarry Potter books.