10 Lesser-Known MG/YA First-in-Series FREE Books

Do you follow all the lists about which middle grade/YA books you, your kids, or your students should be reading? Are you tired of seeing the same well-known books on all the lists? Have you tried finding lists with lesser-known books? Here is a list of ten middle grade/YA books in a series with the first book free. Each book has over 20 reviews. The way I see it, you have nothing to lose. And maybe you will find a new series to enjoy.

Go ahead. Check it out:

1. Treasure (Seed Savers) – environment, adventure, Big Brother government, “Fahrenheit 451 meets Little House on the Prairie”

2. Aunt Jeanie’s Revenge (The Bex Carter Series) – friendship, making choices

3. Guardians Inc.: The Cypher (Guardians Incorporated Book 1) – secret societies, magic

4. The Thirteenth Unicorn (The Ben Alderman Series Book 1) – fantasy, adventure

5. Johnny B. Fast: The Super Spy 1 – adventure, gadgets

6. The Candle Star (Divided Decade Trilogy Book 1) – historical fiction, civil war era

7. Cycles (Cycles Series Book 1) – sci-fi, action, suspense

8. Blast of the Dragon’s Fury (Andy Smithson 1) – fantasy, medieval

9. Jayden & the Mysterious Mountain (The Sanctum Series) – action, spy, sci-fi

10. Okay, well, I was looking for something that wasn’t fantasy. Something contemporary, realistic … maybe you know just the book? Leave it in the comments below…

18 comments on “10 Lesser-Known MG/YA First-in-Series FREE Books”

The Story Reading Ape January 21, 2015 at 3:20 am Reply

Reblogged this on Chris The Story Reading Ape's Blog….. An Author Promotions Enterprise! and commented:
MG/YA READERS – Sandra did the research so YOU did’t have to – go say THANK YOU 😀
- authorssmith January 21, 2015 at 7:04 am Reply
  
  Many thanks :).
  - The Story Reading Ape January 21, 2015 at 7:06 am
    
    My pleasure – I’m all for encouraging kids AND their parents to read 😀
LRWLee January 21, 2015 at 10:02 am Reply

Thanks so much for including my series 🙂
- authorssmith January 22, 2015 at 6:13 am Reply
  
  You’re very welcome.
mgill0627 January 21, 2015 at 5:59 pm Reply

These all sound great. I know I have Candle Star. I’m a huge Michelle Isenhoff fan. I’ll have to check out these others. I too write MG and always looking to read it as well.
- authorssmith January 22, 2015 at 6:13 am Reply
  
  I love historical fiction. Ms. Isenhoff certainly deserves a larger audience.
W. D. Newman January 21, 2015 at 6:24 pm Reply

Thanks! If anyone reads The Thirteenth Unicorn, shoot me an email and let me know. My email address is in the back of the book. BTW, grandparents seem to enjoy the story line even more than the 8 to 12 year old target audience. Whoever gives it a try, I hope you enjoy it too.
Thanks again!!!
-W. D. Newman 🙂
dale339 January 21, 2015 at 6:27 pm Reply

Yes, very kind of you to introduce these books to potential readers. Much appreciated.
-W.D. Newman. 🙂
- authorssmith January 22, 2015 at 6:11 am Reply
  
  You’re welcome.
  
  The Thirteenth Unicorn certainly has a lot of glowing reviews. I wish I could say I have read all of these, but reading on devices still sort of bugs my eyes…
Lois D. Brown January 22, 2015 at 7:44 am Reply

Hi Sandy, Thanks for the shout out about my book. I shared on Twitter and FB. Now I’m going to check out the other titles you mention. Great blog.
- authorssmith January 22, 2015 at 5:27 pm Reply
  
  Thanks. The Cycles series sounds great!
Jemima Pett January 22, 2015 at 2:51 pm Reply

Well, I can’t fill that slot with The Princelings of the East because it’s only on something like 18 reviews – and its fantasy. But the first one’s free and they’ve all got good reviews 🙂
- authorssmith January 22, 2015 at 5:29 pm Reply
  
  Maybe I should make some genre lists. 🙂 Thanks for stopping by!
M T McGuire January 23, 2015 at 2:51 am Reply

Cool, lots of stuff for my to read list! Thanks!

For the 10th book, I guess there’s always a science fiction fantasy adventure – with a dash of romance (without the squelchy bits). Most of the reviews contain the line, “I don’t normally read fantasy but…” somewhere.

Few Are Chosen, K’Barthan Series: Part 1 is free on all platforms and has over 30 positive reviews on the zon both sides of the pond. It’s about a young outlaw, living in a parallel version of reality, who is a complete coward. He becomes a getaway driver because his custard coloured bravery genes make him very good at running away. It is a bit out there although I doubt it beats Jemima’s for out thereness because hers has guinea pigs in it! How brilliant is that?

Cheers

MTM
- authorssmith January 23, 2015 at 7:20 am Reply
  
  And I do appreciate you adding to the list. There seem to be a lot of fantasy books that fit the bill; I was looking for something real life and contemporary. I’m sure I could have found something, but I had already spent way too much time on the post. I’m not a fast blogger…
  - M T McGuire January 23, 2015 at 8:07 am
    
    You and me both, my posts seem to take weeks! 😉
Courtney M. Wendleton January 24, 2015 at 12:46 am Reply

Reblogged this on Books and More.