Middle Readers

It's a summer of family, friendship, and fun fiascos in this semi-autobiographical novel that's as irresistible as a fresh-baked cookie. Eleven-year-old Ellis Johnson has the summertime blues. He dreamed of spending the summer of 1976 hanging out with friends, listening to music, and playing...

From the author of the highly acclaimed How High the Moon comes a moving and heartfelt novel about how a girl's family and friendships are turned upside down—just as the world is changing in 1970s Los Angeles. Stevie’s life is fluctuating rapidly. She's starting over in a brand new middle...

A young boy attempts to transform his aunt’s boring children’s book into an exciting one in this funny, fast-paced adventure perfect for fans of the Book Scavenger series! Books aren’t supposed to be dangerous. Are they? Alex Harmon prefers running over sitting still reading. But when his...

This spellbinding fantasy about a girl from the shadows and a boy from the sea is perfect for fans of The Girl Who Drank the Moon and The Book of Boy.In which a story is spun. And unspun. Clothilde has lived her whole life in the shadows with her (sometimes) thieving and (always) ailing father...

"Funny, bursting with heart, goofy, wise, and did I mention– wildly wonderfully funny." —Jon Scieszka, First National Ambassador of Young People's Literature and Founder of Guys Read A hilarious and heartfelt young YA comedy about the misadventures of an aspiring young rapper as he navigates...

In this life-affirming novel of trauma and recovery, a girl searches for a path forward after being forced to confront the reality of gun violence, for fans of Dusti Bowling and Jasmine Warga. Stevie Jane Cohen-Kaplan’s sheltered suburban life is shattered by a mass shooting at a festival...

In this hair-raising and hilarious novel by New York Times bestselling author Chuck Wendig, a boy must face his many fears to save his town from a cursed videotape—before “The Scariest Movie Ever Made” devours his friends and family. Ethan Pitowski is afraid of everything. Luckily, his...

A heartfelt middle grade story about changing friendships, peer pressure, and the courage to speak up when lines are crossed, perfect for fans of Starfish and Finally Heard. Sophie Valentine would rather be at home, doing school virtually. Instead, she’s waiting in a crowded middle school...

A meteorite comes crashing down on the lives of three middle schoolers changing everything they know about family, friendships, and community in this charming and heartfelt novel with a light STEM touch. The space rock is just the latest thing to land, uninvited, in Vega Lucero’s...

How far would you go to have the best day of your life? This funny and thrilling time travel adventure tackles questions of fate and free will. Noah Nicholson has plenty to be grateful for. He has solid grades and great friends, he’s finally becoming closer with Lucy Martinez—his...

Told through "moments of despair, heartbreak, laughter, and triumph" (Kirkus), this "inspiring" (Booklist) and "hopeful" (School Library Journal) memoir tells the true story of how a modern teen girl and her Holocaust-survivor friend fought against hate to create change. In 2018...

The Line Tender meets The Secret Horses of Briar Hill in this hopeful, heartfelt story about one girl's search for legendary horses and her quest to piece her family back together. Twelve-year-old Claire Barton doesn't like the "flutter feeling" that fills her chest when she worries about the...

The second book in New York Times bestselling author Marieke Nijkamp’s immersive medieval fantasy trilogy! A shadowy conspiracy threatens the city, and two determined misfits must uncover the secret plot—and reveal their own secrets—in order to save everyone. For fans of B. B. Alston...

Raised in a sanctuary hotel for spies, the daughter of one of its top agents is determined to follow in her mother’s footsteps and use her hard-won spy skills to help others in Confessions of a Junior Spy, a fun, fast-paced, middle grade series opener by Rosaria Munda. Bea dreams of becoming a...

From award-winning and bestselling author Jewell Parker Rhodes comes a powerful coming-of-age survival tale exploring issues of race, class, and climate change.​ Addy is haunted by the tragic fire that killed her parents, leaving her to be raised by her grandmother. Years later, Addy’s...

Newbery Medalist Tae Keller continues the fantasy adventures of Mihi Whan Park and her friends as they revisit the fairy tale realm to solve a giant problem. After just barely surviving their last trip to the Rainbow Realm, Mihi Whan Park and her friends Reese and Savannah know that stepping...

Moishe “Mushy” Luftmensch, age 10 and a half, has a big problem: He’s a very good kid...in a very bad world (and we mean very, very bad! We’re talking “tangerine peanut butter and garlic milkshakes” bad!). When Mushy proves to be too good for his, well...own good...he’s summarily shipped off to a special camp for “good eggs” like him. It’s no surprise we end up at a particularly unique camp where kids like Mushy are turned from really good to really bad...just like they’re supposed to be.

How did the United States become the country it is today? What led to its creation? Adapted from Pulitzer Prize–winner Rick Atkinson’s deeply researched and stunningly vivid The British Are Coming, the young readers edition explores these questions and so much more as it delves into the...

Packed with humor and thrilling sports action, this "wonderful story of friendship and the unique ability of kids to overcome a challenge" (#1 New York Times bestselling author Mitch Albom) "will get in your heart and won't get out" (#1 New York Times bestselling author Mike Lupica). Back in his...

From a bestselling and award-winning husband and wife team comes an innovative, beautifully illustrated novel that delivers a front-row seat to the groundbreaking moments in history that led to African Americans earning the right to vote. "Right here, I'm sharing the honest-to-goodness." --...