Aaron Starmer Books in Order

How to Start Reading Aaron Starmer's Books

Aaron Starmer is a master of blending the ordinary with the surreal, crafting stories where kids and teenagers confront bizarre, speculative realities. Because his works span different age demographics and genres—ranging from middle-grade adventures to dark young adult thrillers—the best place to start reading depends on what you are looking for.

For Young Adult Readers: Start with Spontaneous (2016). It is a darkly hilarious, high-energy standalone novel about a high school class facing sudden spontaneous combustion. It perfectly showcases Starmer's signature blend of morbid humor and raw emotional truth. It was also adapted into a critically acclaimed feature film in 2020.

For Fantasy and Mystery Enthusiasts: Begin with The Riverman (2014), the first book in his acclaimed Riverman Trilogy. This series is a mind-bending, psychological portal fantasy that explores the power and danger of imagination.

For Middle-Grade Readers: Start with The Magic Eraser (2020), which kicks off the highly creative Locker 37 series, or pick up A Million Views (2022), a contemporary story about a young boy chasing internet fame.

The Riverman Trilogy Reading Order

This is Aaron Starmer's signature fantasy series. It follows Alistair Cleary, a boy who is asked by his neighbor, Fiona Loomis, to write her biography. Fiona claims she has traveled to a magical world called Aquivania, where children's imaginations build realities—but a sinister presence known as the Riverman is stealing their stories and souls. The trilogy must be read in publication order to understand the ongoing mystery, character development, and psychological plot twists.

1. The Riverman (2014) - Alistair is drawn into Fiona's strange stories and begins to question if they are fantasy or a metaphor for a darker, real-world trauma.
2. The Whisper (2015) - The story expands as Alistair continues his search for Fiona, dealing with the shifting boundaries of Aquivania and the real world.
3. The Storyteller (2016) - The final installment brings the psychological and fantastical threads to a head, providing a complex and emotional conclusion to the mystery.

Locker 37 Series Reading Order

Targeted at middle-grade readers (ages 8 to 12), the Locker 37 series centers on Hopewell Elementary School. In each book, a student facing a personal crisis discovers a magical school locker that provides them with an unusual gadget or item to solve their problem. While the stories are somewhat episodic and feature different protagonists, reading them in publication order is recommended for the best experience.

1. The Magic Eraser (2020) - Carson Cooper uses a mysterious eraser that can wipe out real-world mistakes.
2. The Rewindable Clock (2020) - Keisha Turner finds a pocket watch that lets her repeat and fix moments in time.
3. The Ridiculous and Wonderful Rainbow Hat (2020) - A new student discovers a hat that lets them read minds or influence others.
4. The Interdimensional Fish Sticks (2021) - Bryce Dodd eats magical fish sticks that transport him through parallel dimensions.

Standalone YA and Middle-Grade Novels

Starmer has written several standalones that showcase his versatility, from contemporary realism to sci-fi and retro supernatural mystery. These can be read in any order:

• Dweeb (2009) - Starmer's debut novel. A group of gifted students at a school for geeks attempt to save their headmaster's job from a scheming superintendent.
• The Only Ones (2011) - A post-apocalyptic speculative novel focusing on a young boy navigating a lonely, changed world.
• Spontaneous (2016) - A dark comedy where seniors at Marauder High School begin to explode without warning, forcing them to confront their mortality and relationships.
• Meme (2020) - A neo-noir psychological thriller. Four teens conspire to cover up a crime, only for a screenshot of their video confession to become a viral internet meme.
• A Million Views (2022) - A middle-grade novel about Brewster Gaines, a boy who seeks to escape family grief by teaming up with classmates to create a viral video channel.
• Night Swimming (2025) - A nostalgic supernatural mystery set in the summer of 1994, following two graduates trying to swim in every pool in town until they discover a mysterious, hypnotic pool in the woods.
• You Are Now Old Enough to Hear This (2026) - A middle-grade mystery centering on 12-year-old Roman Barnes unraveling his late grandfather's bizarre family secrets and magical artifacts.

Non-Fiction and Collaborative Travel Writing

Before writing full-time fiction, Starmer worked as an editor and travel writer. His contributions to travel guides include:

• The Best in Tent Camping: New York State (2007) - Co-authored with Cate Wells and Timothy Starmer, this guidebook helps campers locate peaceful, car-accessible campsites.
• New York City (Insight City Guide) (2012) - Starmer contributed as a writer/editor to this travel guide highlighting neighborhoods and attractions.

What to Know Before You Start

Aaron Starmer's work stands out because of his distinct creative philosophies. Notably, he has stated in interviews that he refuses to reread his own books once they are published, prefering to keep his creative focus moving forward. His stories often lean into high-concept premises that act as metaphors for youth struggles, such as spontaneous combustion representing the unpredictability of teenage life, or magical portal worlds serving as escapes from domestic trauma. Readers should expect an honest, sometimes dark, but always deeply empathetic exploration of childhood and adolescence.