MIDDLE GRADE • Ages 10–13
Middle Grade Reading Challenge
Gear up for your next reading mission. Explore S.T.E.A.M. stories, discover new worlds, and keep moving toward your challenge goal.
Registration opens: Sept. 4, 2026
Challenge runs: Sept. 25 – Oct. 16, 2026
Join the email list for registration reminders and challenge news.
Explore this page
Your Mission
Start with the Base Goal, then keep reading to reach Bonus Goals and earn more virtual tickets.
Registration opens September 4. During the challenge, readers use Beanstack, an online platform, to track reading and submit virtual tickets.
Base Goal
Read or be read to for 180 minutes
Earn 5 virtual tickets and a reward package.
Bonus Goals
Read or be read to 45 more minutes
Earn 3 virtual tickets each time.
Virtual Tickets
Choose bonus drawings to enter
Use your virtual tickets for bonus drawings.
Rewards & Bonus Drawings
Every reading mission deserves to be celebrated.
Readers who complete their Base Goal earn digital badges, virtual tickets, a certificate of completion, and a reward package.
Keep going beyond the Base Goal to earn extra virtual tickets for bonus drawings.
Sneak peek below: bonus drawing items, reward package goodies, and certificate example. More items are coming soon. Reward package contents may vary.
Submit virtual tickets by October 17
To enter bonus drawings, submit your virtual tickets in Beanstack by October 17, 2026.
Winners will be notified by email by November 1, 2026.
Author Messages • Ages 10–13
Meet Your Reading Guardians
Your Reading Guardians have special messages to share. Press play and learn about the stories they brought to life.
Watch a Message from Your Reading Guardians
Abigail's Message • 1 min. 52 sec.
Get a peek inside a virtual fantasy world where AI, VR, and imagination shape the story.
Cait's Message • 1 min. 32 sec.
Hear how real tech and robotics experience meets a story about computer science and confidence.
Featured Books by Your Reading Guardians
Author of The Vale
An illustrated novel about a young inventor, an AI-powered fantasy world, and a mystery that puts everything he built at risk
2026 Middle Grade • Ages 10–13
Pick Your Next Book
Choose a book from the list below and start your reading mission. Most are available at your local library.
Need a printable version? Download the S.T.E.A.M. book recommendations (PDF)
A River's Gifts: The Mighty Elwha River Reborn by Patricia Newman
Adventures in Math: How to Level Up Your Math Game by Carleigh Wu
Animal Climate Heroes by Alison Pearce Stevens, Jason Ford
BenBee and the Teacher Griefer by K.A. Holt
Calculating Chimpanzees, Brainy Bees, and Other Animals with Mind-blowing Mathematical Abilities (Extraordinary Animals, Book 2) by Stephanie Gibeault
Charlie Numbers and the UFO Bash by Ben Mezrich

Detector Dogs, Dynamite Dolphins, and More Animals with Super Sensory Powers (Extraordinary Animals, Book 1) by Christina Couch and Cara Giaimo
Doomsday Vault by Thomas Wheeler
Eavesdropping on Elephants: How Listening Helps Conservation by Patricia Newman
EngiNerds by Jarrett Lerner
Everyday STEM Engineering – Electrical Engineering by Jenny Jacoby, Luna Valentine
Everyday STEM Engineering—Chemical Engineering by Jenny Jacoby
Everyday STEM Engineering—Civil Engineering by Jenny Jacoby, Luna Valentine
Everyday STEM Math—Amazing Math by Lou Abercrombie, Lilia Micelia
Everyday STEM Maths – Maths In Action by Lou Abercrombie, Evelyn Rogers
Everyday STEM Science—Energy by Dr. Shini Somara, Luna Valentine
Everyday STEM Science—Physics by Dr. Shini Somara, Luna Valentine
Everyday STEM Science—Space by Izzie Clarke, James Lancett
Everyday STEM Technology—Machines by Jenny Jacoby
Fantastic Flora: The World’s Biggest, Baddest, and Smelliest Plants by Ann McCallum Staats
Giant Rays of Hope: Protecting Manta Rays to Safeguard the Sea by Patricia Newman
Green Promises: Girls Who Loved the Earth by Jeannine Atkins
How to Be a Color Wizard: Forage and Experiment with Natural Art Supplies by Jason S. Logan
Innovative Octopuses, Half-Brained Birds, and More Animals with Magnificent Minds (Extraordinary Animals, Book 3) by Christina Couch
Make Your Mark, Make a Difference: A Kid's Guide to Standing Up for People, Animals, and the Planet by Joan Marie Galat
Maker Girl and Professor Smarts by Jasmine Florentine
Maple's Formula for Victory by Kate McMillan
Maple's Theory of Fun by Kate McMillan
Planet Ocean: Why We All Need a Healthy Ocean by Patricia Newman
Plastic, Ahoy! Investigating the Great Pacific Garbage Patch by Patricia Newman
Rebellion 1776 by Laurie Halse Anderson
Saving Earth Climate Change and the Fight for Our Future by Olugbemisola Rhuday-Perkovich, Nathaniel Rich, Tim Foley
Science Comics: Coral Reefs Cities of the Ocean /
Cómics de ciencia: Arrecifes de coral by Maris Wicks
Science Comics: Polar Bears Survival on the Ice by Zack Giallongo, Jason Viola
Science Comics: Rockets Defying Gravity by Anne Drozd, Jerzy Drozd
Science Comics: Sharks Nature's Perfect Hunter /
Cómics de ciencia: Tiburones: El cazador perfecto de la naturaleza by Joe Flood
Sea Otter Heroes: The Predators That Saved an Ecosystem by Patricia Newman
Secrets of Lovelace Academy by Marie Benedict
See Inside AI by Alex Frith
Six -- Young Readers Edition: The Untold Story of America's First Women Astronauts by Loren Grush
Spy School Entrance Exam: A Spy School Book of Devious Word Searches, Clever Crosswords, Sly Sudoku, and Other Top Secret Puzzles! by Stuart Gibbs
Spy School Goes Wild by Stuart Gibbs
Starstuff by Wade Roush and Will Alexander
Talia’s Codebook for Middle School by Marissa Moss
The Best at It /
El mejor en algo by Maulik Pancholy
The Bluest Sky /
El cielo tan azul by Christina Diaz Gonzalez
The First Cat in Space: A Graphic Novel Collection /
El primer gato en el espacio by Mac Barnett
The Hanmoji Handbook by Jason, Li, An Xiao Mina, and Jenny Lee
The Vale by Abigail Hing Wen
The Wild Robot, Volumes 1-3 / Robot salvaje by Peter Brown
The Woman in the Moon: How Margaret Hamilton Helped Fly the First Astronauts to the Moon by Richard Maurer
Unseen Jungle: The Microbes That Secretly Control Our World (Your Hidden Life, Book 1) by Eleanor Spicer Rice
Who Was Katherine Johnson? /¿Quién fue Katherine Johnson? by Shelia P. Moses and Who HQ
Your Pets' Secret Lives (Your Hidden Life, Book 2) by Eleanor Spicer Rice
Zoo Scientists to the Rescue by Patricia Newman
Want more book choices?
Visit the S.T.E.A.M. Book Recommendations section on the Resources page to find suggested books by reading level, including past challenge recommendations.
Readers may choose books from any level, but prizes are awarded by age category.
Questions?
Visit the FAQs on the Resources page.
Email steamracetospace@gmail.com.
2025 Bonus Drawing Winners
Congratulations to the 2025 Bonus Drawing winners! These readers won bonus drawing items and an invitation to the Splashdown Celebration.
See what readers earned and which schools were represented.
Andrew F
Westmont Elementary (Anaheim)
Coding lessons
Blue B
Mendez Fundamental Intermediate School
Fun Zone Arcade game card
Caleb L
Serrano Intermediate
Bazic Products backpack
David M
Heritage Oak Private Education
Zoom call with Elio Morillo
David S
Mendez Fundamental Intermediate School
Sky Zone guest pass
Eliana C
Mendez Fundamental Intermediate School
Sky Zone pass
Elina P
Running Springs Elementary
Zoom call with Elio Morillo
Enily A
Serrano Intermediate
Zoom call with Elio Morillo
Ethan D
Heritage Oak Private Education
Zoom call with Patricia Newman
Evan C
Canyon Rim Elementary
Zoom call with Patricia Newman
Gabriel V
Santiago STEAM Magnet Elementary
Zoom call with Elio Morillo
Jackaroni and cheese D
Serrano Intermediate
Sandisk tour
Jared M
Mendez Fundamental Intermediate School
Sky Zone guest pass
Jayden J
Woodbury Elementary (Irvine)
Bytes & Bots gift certificate
Josiah L
Homeschool
Sandisk tour
Julia R
Sequoia Elementary
Sandisk tour
Katya A
Mendez Fundamental Intermediate School
30 Second Dance Party button
Larisa S
Romanian Readers
Zoom call with Elio Morillo
Logan T
Falcon Academy of Science and Technology
Ferris Wheel tickets
Lucas M
Serrano Intermediate
Sky Zone guest pass
Lukas F
Serrano Intermediate
Mini Mod™ Launch Set
Maddox R
Serrano Intermediate
Coding lessons
Madelyn M
VanDamme Academy
Zoom call with Elio Morillo
Mario A
Mendez Fundamental Intermediate School
30 Second Dance Party button
Mirisch R R
Brywood Elementary
Club for the Future bundle
Nicolas E
Don Juan Avila Middle
30 Second Dance Party button
Olivia M
Sycamore Junior High
Irvine Lanes giftcard
Owen G
Santiago STEAM Magnet Elementary
Zoom call with Elio Morillo
Raveena D
Fairmont Private Schools Anaheim Hills
Sandisk tour
Rinal J
Heritage Oak Private Education
Sandisk tour
Ritsika T
Beacon Park
30 Second Dance Party button
Sahas Y
Brywood Elementary
Sandisk tour
Samuel M
Costa Mesa High
Sandisk tour
Sana M
Esencia
Zoom call with Patricia Newman
Santiago G
Mendez Fundamental Intermediate School
$20 Amazon giftcard
Sarah K
Mendez Fundamental Intermediate School
30 Second Dance Party button
Saul V
Mendez Fundamental Intermediate School
30 Second Dance Party button
Sean C
La Paz Intermediate
Zoom call with Patricia Newman
Solange M
Mendez Fundamental Intermediate School
Bazic Products backpack
Sophia H
Mendez Fundamental Intermediate School
Andrea Brown book bundle
Tifanny K
Glenknoll Elementary
Zoom call with Patricia Newman
Tiff M
Melrose Elementary
Focus Dance Lessons
Wyatt G
Santiago STEAM Magnet Elementary
Zoom call with Patricia Newman
