Maximum Ride was a really good book, and it had slight love but nothing like overly romantic. It was just a side to the main plot, so it wasn't overpowering. It was a REALLY good book, I've wanted wings ever since lol. You should give it a try. ~Z
Um, I don't know if you would consider this "exciting" but there's this memoir of the Chinese Cultural Revolution, it's called "Red Scarf Girl." It isn't boring even though it's based in like the 70's or early 80's or somewhere around there. Please at least read the first chapter, you'll love it.....unless you've already read it. Middle school appropriate, exciting things happen, there was gore in the Cultural Revolution but the author (who is the main character, it's all true story) left all that out because it's meant for middle school. It's reeeealllyyyyy good, I highly reccommend it. ^.^
Try the Enchanted Forest chronicles. Witty, fantasy and full of adventure. No soppy love with a no-nonsense main character. Good read for middle schoolers.
I loved "Go Ask Alice" female main character, Fast Paced, not really any "love" or gore. But it deals with drug addiction and annorexia, if it is too much I am looking through my books but I don't think I have anything else that matches that, its not reccommended for middle school age but thats when I read it
