Pulse-pounding action, cinematic levels of intrigue, and a tough but endearing teenage spy are some of the obvious reasons so many young readers LOVE the Alex Rider series. Luckily, there are a lot of books in this series. But if your reader has finished them all, what should they read next? Here are 11 books like Alex Rider highly recommended by young readers on Bookopolis, an online community where kids share book reviews.
Since Alex Rider is in that crossover spot between middle grade and YA that draws in readers from 8-year-olds to 15-year-olds, these recommendations include some titles for 4th-7th grade readers and some for 8th-graders and up.
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Mars Patel Series
Available from:This middle grade series based on a Peabody Award-winning podcast is an excellent pick for readers drawn to the sci-fi and tech-savvy elements in spy stories. Mars and his band of loyal friends are on a mission to figure out why kids are disappearing from their town and across the country. Is the tech billionaire that they admire someone that can help them? Read to find out!
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The One & Onlys Series
Available from:For those who love the clever twists and turns of an Alex Rider story but want something lighter, try this feel-good series that highlights the power of friendship. When rubber duckies appear on someone’s lawn in their boring hometown, Paul and the fellow members of their detective club, The One & Onlys, are happy to put their sleuthing skills to use. And hopefully, solving this case will help them solve the other issues they face as rising middle schoolers.
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Fuzzy Mud
Available from:This standalone book from the award-winning author of Holes is great for middle grade fans of complex and thought-provoking mysteries. To avoid a bully, fifth-grader Tamaya and seventh-grader Marshall take a shortcut through the woods, even though this area is off-limits. They get horribly lost and find themselves face-to-face with an environmental catastrophe — fuzzy mud. Profound messages about our fragile ecosystem are woven throughout this story filled with action, suspense, and a bit of creepiness.
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World of Solace Series
Available from:This fan-favorite series is for those who like steampunk or magical adventures. Piper stumbles upon a mysterious girl with no memory but who has the well-known tattoo of the Dragonfly Territories on her arm. She embarks on a dangerous journey to help the girl return to her home — and earn herself a generous reward in the process. Piper must draw on her quick thinking, courage, and mechanical skills to survive. This is a good middle grade/YA crossover pick.
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The Ranger’s Apprentice Series
Available from:If the page-turning adventures in the Alex Rider series excite your reader, they will love this saga with a classic hero’s journey story arc. Will, a 15-year-old orphan, is thrilled when he gets chosen as an apprentice to the Rangers. This group of highly skilled warriors keeps their village safe from harm. As the exiled Lord Morgarath threatens to attack the kingdom, Will finds himself at the center of an epic battle. Readers — like my son — who get sucked into the pulse-pounding action and relationship drama of these stories will be happy to know that there are 11 books in this series plus multiple spin-off series, including The Brotherband Chronicles and The Royal Ranger.
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Theodore Boone Series
Available from:Similar to Alex Rider, this legal thriller offers high-level intrigue with a whip-smart and savvy teenage boy as the star of the story. 13-year-old Theo dreams of being a lawyer, so when a murder case is tried in his small town, and he learns of a crucial piece of evidence, he steps in to ensure the right person gets convicted. Each book in this series by the bestselling author of many beloved adult thrillers offers a different case for Theo to sharpen his legal prowess.
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Explorer Academy Series
Available from:Follow the thrilling adventures of Cruz Coronado as he embarks on a journey to become part of the prestigious Explorer Academy, a cutting-edge institution for young explorers. Filled with intrigue, mystery, and the wonders of science, Cruz navigates through challenges and deciphers cryptic codes to uncover hidden truths about his family's past and a global conspiracy. Trueit skillfully weaves together science, technology, and geography to create a captivating narrative that appeals to readers of all ages.
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The Rhythm of Time
Available from:Seventh-grader Rahim enjoys testing gadgets created by his friend Kasia. When Kasia gifts him a special cell phone for his birthday, Rahim, unaware of its secret features, accidentally time-travels to 1997. Now, with Kasia as his only link to the present, Rahim must navigate the past to return home safely. A thrill-a-minute story that's sure to keep readers furiously flipping pages.
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Code Talker
Available from:This YA nonfiction account of a 16-year-old Navajo boy who helped use his native language to run secret messages between the US and its Allies during World War II is a bit different. Still, it might serve as a bridge to introduce Alex Rider fans to a new genre. It has the heart of a spy novel with a compelling hero, a grueling journey, and a fascinating history about this unbreakable code that many say changed the outcome of the war.
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The Project
Available from:This standalone YA thriller is an excellent choice for fans of heart-pounding adventures that occur in pursuit of solving a world-changing mystery. Luke and Tommy find an old book, Leonardo’s River, that turns out to be worth millions of dollars because it’s connected to Leonardo da Vinci. They steal it and end up in the chase of their lives. Not only is their safety at stake, but the secrets found in the book could alter history.
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A Mickey Bolitar Novel Series
Available from:Fans of compelling and intense mysteries full of cliffhangers should consider this highly rated YA series. Mickey has already endured a lot. He is forced to live with his uncle and go to a new school after his father dies and his mom goes to rehab. Things improve after he meets Ashley. Then she mysteriously disappears. As he tries to find her, he learns something about her — and his family — that makes him question the truth about everything.
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