Middle-grade novels are written for readers from ages eight to 12, although other demographics also read them. Science fiction novels are set in the future or an alternate version of the present or past in which science and technology have advanced further than they have in real life. Science fiction draws inspiration from the real past and present to imagine where science might take humanity in the future. Books in this genre written for a middle-grade audience often explore common middle-grade themes like coming of age, the power of teamwork, the importance of friendship and family, the potential for unlikely heroes to save the day, and the necessity of resilience.

Many young readers are first exposed to science fiction narratives through their school curriculums. For example, Jules Verne’s novels like Journey to the Center of the Earth (1864) and Twenty Thousand Leagues under the Sea (1870) are often on reading lists. Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein (1818) is also considered an early work of science fiction. These books feature fantastical technologies like advanced submarines (which greatly outpaced scientific capabilities during Verne’s lifetime), time travel, and life-giving machines.

In the 20th century, many authors wrote science fiction books targeted specifically at middle-grade readers.