I just finished The Alchemist's Cat by Robin Jarvis. This is a prequel to The Dark Portal series which I'd heard a lot of people talking about. This was a VERY spooky book! It's for middle school kids, but it gave me chills. Another book set in Cheapside, London (like my faves the Jacky Faber books.) In this one we have a newly orphaned boy, Will Godwin, following his desire to see a long-lost uncle in London. He is swiftly captured by a very creepy alchemist and made to work and live as "his dog." Will discovers a family of cats whom he convinces the alchemist, Dr. Spittle, to take in.
The cats (Imelza, Leech, Dab, and Jupiter) are much smarter than the humans think. Things get crazy and interesting from then on.
I haven't read any of his other books yet, but looking at them it seems like they are about the secret world of animals and conflicts arising from one of the creepy cats mentioned above.
(But scary!) If your middle schooler likes creepy books they will love this.
