Middle School
A long-running comic series about Rafe Khatchadorian and his family. Follow the publisher’s numbered order; one numbered volume is an interactive activity book, so it is excluded from this novel sequence. Start with Middle School: The Worst Years of My Life and follow the numbered publication sequence. These books are connected by recurring characters or a continuing fictional world; the series page and linked guide show where each novel fits. Readers can branch to other James Patterson series afterwards, but no outside series is required to understand this route.
Start with Middle School: The Worst Years of My Life, then read the 16 Middle School novels in publication order. The order follows the publisher’s sequence and is the simplest way to track the returning characters and any story developments.
Related reading guides
Reading Orders
Books in Series
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the first Middle School book?
Middle School: The Worst Years of My Life is the first book in the publisher-listed sequence and the recommended starting point.
Should I read Middle School in order?
Yes. Publication order is the clearest route through this 16-book series and preserves the intended character and story progression.
