11 Best Children’s Books About Orphans
Have you ever noticed that parents in middle grade books often aren’t in the picture, and if they are, they don’t often know what their kids are up to? This allows for some epic adventures and for kids to make their own decisions. Here are 11 books with orphan protagonists whose decisions lead them on some incredible adventures!
The Whiz Mob and the Grenadine Kid
It’s an ordinary Tuesday morning when Charlie Fisher witnesses a group of pickpockets pull off an amazing robbery in the middle of a busy square, only to realize that he himself was one of their marks! When he chases down the thieves, he becomes fast friends with one of their cannons, Amir, an orphan boy who teaches him all about the tricks of the trade.
A Series of Unfortunate Events
Violet, Klaus, and Sunny Baudelaire are the three most unlucky and unfortunate orphans. When their parents are killed in a mysterious fire, the three siblings bounce from home to home, evading the evil Count Olaf whose bent on stealing their family fortune.
Orphan Island
As the title would suggest, this book is about a group of nine orphans who live on a mysterious island where every year a boat arrives and the oldest orphan must leave the island a new one arrives. When Jinny refuses to leave the island — the only home she’s ever know — everything begins to change as the island’s magic is thrown into chaos.
The Book of Boy
A strange, outcast orphan teams up with a shadowy pilgrim on a medieval treasure hunt across Europe in this Newbery Honor-winning novel. But when Boy realizes that the journey isn’t an innocent one; that he and Septimus are stealing the seven relics of St. Peter, things turn dangerous and secrets come to light.
Estranged
Edmund and Childe were swapped at birth with Edmund living as a changeling in the World Above, and the Childe living among the fae in the World Below. When a cruel sorceress seizes the throne, killing the Childe’s family, he and Edmund must team up to save both of their worlds from destruction.
Endling
When Byx’s family is murdered, she fears she may be the last of her species and sets out to find a safe haven. Along the way, she teams up with some unlikely allies and together they quest to discover if the legend of other hidden dairnes is true.
Elementals
Everyone in Vallen knows that ice wolves and scorch dragons are sworn enemies who live deeply separate lives. But when orphan twins Anders and Rayna take different shapes, they must find a way to bridge the prejudices between the two species or risk losing each other forever.
The Tragical Tale of Birdie Bloom
In the fairy-take kingdom of Wanderly, everyone has a role. Birdie bloom is a Tragical — an orphan doomed to an unhappy ending. Agnes Prunella Crunch is a witch. The wicked kind. When the two become friends, they end up changing the fate of their fairytale kingdom.
Tangled in Time
When newly orphaned Rose goes to live with a strange grandmother she hardly knows, she finds refuge in her grandmother’s greenhouse. When one night she finds herself transported back in time where she meets a young Queen Elizabeth, she begins to uncover the secrets of her family and the truth of who she really is.
The Twelve
Usagi and her sister, Uma, were both born with zodiac powers but must keep them a secret because they live in a world where a mysterious, vicious Dragonlord hunts down all those with these powers. When Uma is captured, Usagi must team up with a legendary group of warriors to get her back and discover the full extent of her own gifts.
The Echo Park Castaways
Nevaeh, Vic, and Mara are veterans of the Los Angeles foster care system, but when a new boy, Quentin, moves into their home, everything is turned upside down. When Quentin runs away, the others go after him and soon the four kids find themselves on a quest to reunite Quentin with his mother.
