Kid’s books aren’t just for kids.

If you haven’t read a kids book in a while, it might be time to consider dipping your toes back in. Kids books, specifically middle grade books have broad appeal. They are quick, satisfying reads and can be a real palette cleanser when your favorite genre starts to feel stale.

Themes of finding one’s true voice/ strength, found family, and the magic within are common. So are exploring history, health and mental wellness through the eyes of teens with more intense themes put into graspable concepts.

Here are five middle grade books worth your time:

• The Vanquishers by Kalynn Bayron
  A fresh take on vampire hunters. Suspense in a world after all of the vampires have been eliminated. Or have they?
• Safiyyah’s War by Hiba Noor Khan
  Intergenerational story telling centered around a real mosque in World War II Paris that helped Jews flee Nazi capture.
• Louder than Hunger by John Schu
  A powerful model for muffling the destructive voices inside, managing and articulating pain, and embracing self-acceptance, support, and love.
• Clash of Steel by C.B. Lee
  A Treasure Island retelling that features two girls hunting for a legendary treasure on the deadly high sea. Rooted in the legend of Chinese pirate queen Ching Shih.
• My Dear Henry by Kalynn Bayrun
  A Jekyll and Hyde remixed classic told through the eyes of Gabriel as he has to rebuild his life after scandal. This retelling explores the queer subtext that has been long debated―and often erased altogether