Middle School Series
Reading Order.
Start Middle School Series by James Patterson with "The Worst Years Of My Life", then follow the publication sequence. This order preserves the intended narrative twists and world-building progression.
Rafe Khatchadorian attempts to break every single rule in his middle school's code of conduct.
Reader's Guide
This series spans 11 main titles released between 2011 and 2022. For the best experience, we recommend following the Publication Order below to preserve key plot reveals.
Short Answer:
Start with "The Worst Years Of My Life"
To experience the narrative as intended, read the main sequence in Publication Order.Ignore novellas and side stories until you finish the first 3 core novels. This resolves all timeline confusion and preserves every major twist.
Community Consensus
"The comments analyze reading orders for two distinct fantasy series: the Realm of the Elderlings (RotE, featuring Fitz, Farseer, Tawny Man, Liveship) and the Drizzt/Forgotten Realms series (featuring Dark Elf and Icewind Dale). For RotE, the recommended order is generally publication order (all 5 series). However, if following only the Fitz books, the third series (Tawny Man) is absolutely essential and unskippable before the fifth series (Fitz and the Fool). The second series (Liveship Traders) is widely praised for quality and highly recommended, but considered optional for understanding the bare minimum Fitz plot. For the Drizzt series, the recommendation is split between chronological order (Dark Elf Trilogy first) and publication order (Icewind Dale Trilogy first). Many detailed comments suggest starting with Icewind Dale (publication order) as the books were designed to be read this way, followed by Dark Elf, and then proceeding in overall publication order."
If reading the Realm of the Elderlings (Fitz books), Tawny Man (the third series) is a mandatory read before the final trilogy. For Drizzt, read either Icewind Dale or Dark Elf trilogy first, then follow publication order for subsequent books.
At a Glance
- First Book:The Worst Years Of My Life
- Latest Book:Best Nerds Forever
- Timeline:2011 - 2022
Why This Order Is Confusing
Many reading lists for Middle School Series conflict because early publishers often labeled short story collections as standalone novels, or rearranged internal chronologies for marketing. This guide follows original author intent and narrative continuity to settle the debate for good.
Can I skip the short stories?
Technically yes, but we strongly advise against it for Middle School Series. The shorter volumes often establish the core character motivations and world-building that the main saga assumes you already know.
I watched the show/movie first — where should I start?
Ignore the screen adaptations' timeline. Start with "The Worst Years Of My Life" to see the original depth of the world. The books offer a significantly different (and usually more complete) experience than the on-screen versions.
Why do people disagree on the order?
Disagreement usually stems from the conflict between purely chronological order and publication order. Most long-term fans recommend publication order to preserve the emotional arc and mystery reveals.
Recommended Reading Order Strategy
The authoritative way to read the "Middle School Series" series is in Publication Order. Start with the first published book. It's the way the author intended the world to be revealed.This ensures you experience character reveals and plot twists exactly as the author intended.
Complete Series Reading Order
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View on Amazon →Frequently Asked Questions
Is it okay to skip books in the Middle School Series series?
We recommend ignoring novellas and short stories until you finish the core sequence. However, main sequence novels should never be skipped as they contain critical character development and plot progression.
What is the best order to read Middle School Series?
The final answer for the best experience is to start with "The Worst Years Of My Life" and proceed in publication order. This sequence preserves character developments and plot reveals exactly as James Patterson intended.
Can I read Middle School Series books in any order?
No. The main narrative is strictly sequential. Skipping volumes or reading out of order will lead to significant plot spoilers and confusion regarding character arcs.
Are there spin-offs or companion books?
Yes, the Middle School Series universe includes several companion works. These are marked as 'Optional' in our guide and can be read at any time without disrupting the main storyline.