At YA Books Central we hope that your spring is off to a great start!
We are looking to help you enjoy reading Middle-Grade books once again in the warmer weather and teamed up with wonderful publishers to organize a great giveaway to help it happen!
The Kid
Author: Jeff Schill
Publisher: Charlesbridge Moves
Release Date: May 7, 2024
The Kid is the quickest draw in the West. Little does anyone know he isn’t real. A fast-paced, cleverly woven, witty middle grade western adventure.
It’s 1881 in Destiny, Colorado. Fourteen-year-old Henry Upton’s parents have died, and he’s trying to keep his three younger brothers together on the farm. Henry writes a story about The Kid, the fastest draw in the West, to keep people away from their parts. But his stories will soon put more than his family and the farm at risk.
Meanwhile, Herbert might lose his job as an editor at Gunslinger Magazine in Philadelphia if he can’t find out why the author of The Kid stories recently stopped sending them. The soft city slicker is headed out west to find the author.
And Snake-Eye Sam has set his sights on The Kid, whom he thinks is real. Sam has evil in his heart and jealousy in his veins. Breaking out of prison to shoot down The Kid is about the only thing that can cure the itch running down Sam’s spine.
Three storylines–plus Gunslinger Magazine’s The Kid stories–intertwine and come together just as Snake Eye Sam and Herbert both arrive in Destiny. On Main Street at high noon, a master plan is put in place at the same time that Henry and the Destiny sheriff get what they need to keep the Upton brothers together.
Pull up for a tall frothy glass of sarsaparilla and enjoy this engaging and satisfying Western tale, full of quirky characters, snappy dialogue, and heart.
The Secret Library
Author: Kekla Magoon
Publisher: Candlewick Press
Release Date: May 7, 2024
Travel through time with National Book Award Finalist Kekla Magoon in a page-turning fantasy adventure about family secrets and finding the courage to plot your own life story.
Since Grandpa died, Dally’s days are dull and restricted. She’s eleven and a half years old, and her exacting single mother is already preparing her to take over the family business. Starved for adventure and release, Dally rescues a mysterious envelope from her mother’s clutches, an envelope Grandpa had earmarked for her. The map she finds inside leads straight to an ancient vault, a library of secrets where each book is a portal to a precise moment in time. As Dally “checks out” adventure after adventure—including an exhilarating outing with pirates—she begins to dive deep into her family’s hidden history. Soon she’s visiting every day to escape the demands of the present. But the library has secrets of its own, intentions that would shape her life as surely as her mother’s meticulous plans. What will Dally choose? Equal parts mystery and adventure—with a biracial child puzzling out her identity alongside the legacy of the past—this masterful middle-grade fantasy rivets with crackling prose, playful plot twists, and timeless themes. A satisfying choice for fans of Kindred and When You Reach Me.
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The Wishkeeper’s Apprentice
Author: Rachel Chivers Khoo
Publisher: Candlewick Press
Release Date: April 23, 2024
Wishes do come true—with some help from Felix and his quirky mentor, Mr. Beewinkle—in this magical adventure brimming with the power of hope.
When ten-year-old Felix drops a penny in the wishing fountain at the center of town, he really doesn’t expect his sixteen-year-old sister to suddenly like him again, or to offer to share a cinnamon bun or watch cartoons like they used to. She hasn’t even remembered she was supposed to give him a ride home! But someone else is at the fountain too: a strange old man with a fishing pole who claims to be invisible. To Felix’s amazement, he learns that the old man is a Wishkeeper, and he needs an apprentice! But being a Wishkeeper’s apprentice isn’t just about organizing incoming wishes and untangling wish snags: a strange wolf-man who’s been haunting Felix’s dreams is real and a threat to every wish that has ever been granted in the town of Whittlestone, the town’s Wishkeeper, and Felix himself. With lively illustrations, this sweet adventure bubbles with charm and heart.
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The Minor Miracle
Author: Meredith Davis
Publisher: WaterBrook
Release Date: May 7, 2024
What happens when a seemingly average seventh grader discovers he has superpowers . . . and then realizes his life just got super complicated? Find out in this action-packed adventure perfect for young readers.
“A spectacular new superhero.”—Kathi Appelt, Newbery honoree and National Book Award finalist
As a baby, Noah Minor miraculously—and mysteriously—survived a fall from a sixteen-story balcony. But ever since then, Noah’s life has been pretty boring.
As he enters seventh grade, Noah is hoping to be less ordinary and more extraordinary, like his best friends, trumpet prodigy Rodney and the practically perfect Haley. So Noah’s sure his star is on the rise when during a standard vision test, he learns he can manipulate gravity and is recruited to train with Gravitas, a top-secret government agency!
Noah thinks his life will now be awesome, but instead, he has a whole new set of problems. The biggest one: His great-uncle Saul is on Gravitas’s most-wanted list . . . but might also be the only person who can help Noah reach his full potential.
The Tenth Mistake of Hank Hooperman
Author: Gennifer Choldenko
Publisher: Alfred A. Knopf (Random House Kids)
Release Date: 6/11/2025
Readers will be rooting for a happy ending for Hank in Newbery-Honor-winner Gennifer Choldenko’s gripping story of a boy struggling to hold his family together when his mom doesn’t come home.
When eleven-year-old Hank’s mom doesn’t come home, he takes care of his toddler sister, Boo, like he always does. But it’s been a week now. They are out of food and mom has never stayed away this long… Hank knows he needs help, so he and Boo seek out the stranger listed as their emergency contact.
But asking for help has consequences. It means social workers, and a new school, and having to answer questions about his mom that he’s been trying to keep secret. And if they can’t find his mom soon, Hank and Boo may end up in different foster homes–he could lose everything.
Gennifer Choldenko has written a heart-wrenching, healing, and ultimately hopeful story about how complicated family can be. About how you can love someone, even when you can’t rely on them. And about the transformative power of second chances.
Explorer Academy: Vela
Author: Trudi Trueit
Publisher: National Geographic Kids Books
Release Date: April 24, 2024
Sailor York and the daring recruits of Explorer Academy uncover an elusive animal-smuggling ring in the first electrifying book in this new companion series.
Soon after Cruz, Sailor, Emmett, and Lani return for their second year at Explorer Academy, their sense of calm is shattered when Sailor’s older sister goes missing. Amidst incredible expeditions to far-flung destinations and competitive classes, Sailor bravely steps into the lead to discover how her sister’s sudden disappearance may be linked to an illegal and deadly animal-trafficking ring.
Despite winning the prestigious North Star Award and being surrounded by close friends and teachers who she has traveled the world with, Sailor’s never felt less sure of herself. As the team faces puzzling obstacles and follows complex clues aboad the new ship, Vela, Sailor grapples with a secret of her own. Will she she risk everything and choose to embrace her destiny?
Darkness & Demon Song
Author: M.R. Fournet
Publisher: Feiwell & Friends
Release Date: June 18, 2024
The Sky King
Author: Polly Holyoke
Publisher: Viking Books for Young Readers
Release Date: May 7, 2024
In this soaring adventure for fans of Skandar and the Unicorn Thief and Wings of Fire, a new kind of monster launches an attack on the empire of Prekalt. Who can Kiesandra and her skysteed turn to for help in this life-and-death battle?
Fresh from their victory over the frightening chimerae monsters, Kie and N’Rah are looking forward to a quiet life on her uncle’s orchard, far from the turmoil of the capital city. They miss the friends they made there, but as sky couriers, their job keeps them busy.
Then Kie unexpectedly receives a message from the emperor himself! He has an urgent mission for Kie and N’Rah—they need to find the Sky King, the elusive ruler of the wild skysteeds that soar across the land. After losing so many fighters in the Battle of a Thousand Chimerae, the empire is in desperate need of hundreds of winged horses to bind with new skyfighters. The wild herds are their only hope, but bitter betrayals in the past have made the Sky King distrustful of humans.
Kie’s unique ability to communicate with all skysteeds makes her the best person for the job, but it would take a miracle for the Sky King to trust a young human. Then a new threat emerges in the form of huge birds of prey called vultiren. With the fearsome creatures heading straight for the wild skysteeds’ hidden refuge, Kie must convince the Sky King to ally with her and her companions—before their world is destroyed forever.
The Egg Incident
A JUNIOR LIBRARY GUILD GOLD STANDARD SELECTION
A joyous reversal of the traditional Humpty Dumpty tale of caution!
Humphrey is an egg. An egg with very overprotective parents. “Remember Humphrey; never run, never jump and never ever EVER sit on a wall. You remember what happened to your uncle…”.
Humphrey lives a very quiet and cautious life, until the day he bumps into Princess Jean (PJ) in the park. An adventurer through and through, PJ can’t understand why Humphrey doesn’t allow himself to have any fun. She tells him tales of all her antics and mishaps and they don’t notice the park is closing.
Oh no! How will Humphrey get home? There’s only one way out. Over. The. Wall! When Humphrey finally faces his darkest fears, a surprising revelation lies on the other side.
The Egg Incident is a laugh-out-loud graphic novel that will delight middle-grade readers who are tiptoeing towards independence themselves. It is a Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection.
Written by Ziggy Hanaor, author of the critically acclaimed graphic novel, Alte Zachen: Old Things (Cicada, 2022), and hilariously brought to life in Daisy Wynter’s emotive illustrations.
A fast-paced, laugh-out-loud fantasy adventure with a unique cast of characters, tonnes of heart, and gasp-inducing moments – perfect for fans of Ben Miller, Tom Fletcher and Terry Pratchett.
An island of magic and mayhem floating above the flooded Earth, Bastion has long been the last country left in the world. Then one day best friends Kurt (an eight-foot mushroom with a fear of heights) and Flicker (a tiny, tough-talking gemstone faerie) stand on the edge of the land and see the impossible: a plane from nowhere is heading straight for them.
Kurt and Flicker join forces with a rag-tag band of friends – including wood-nymph twins (one bounty hunter, one bookworm) and a gruff, shapeshifting wolf – to rescue the pilot and face a dangerous enemy. Can the Cloudlanders save their island from crashing into the Endless Sea and the terrifying tentacles of a massive monster?
Ellie is ready to have the best summer ever.
She’s especially excited to draw under her favorite tree and hang out with her big brother, Ben. But all Ben seems to care about is impressing the new lip-glossy neighbor, Sara. And all Sara seems to care about is turning Ellie’s brother into a Hawaii husband!
Luckily, Ellie’s best friend, Ling, has the marriage list–a top-secret tool to track the lovebirds and stop a wedding before it starts. But nothing goes to plan, and while trying to rescue Ben, Ellie ends up putting the weeping willow in her garden in danger. Faced with losing everything she loves most, can Ellie find a way to win back her brother and save her beloved tree?
An utterly charming story about a lovable 10-year-old with Down syndrome whose extra sparkle never fails to shine bright.
Ultraviolet
Author: Aida Salazar
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Release Date: April 02, 2024
Sometimes life explodes in technicolor.
In the spirit of Judy Blume, award-winning author Aida Salazar tells it like it is about puberty, hormones, and first love in this hilarious, heartwarming, and highly relatable coming-of-age story. Perfect for fans of Jason Reynolds, Kwame Alexander, and Adib Khorram.
Meet Me on Mercer Street
Author: Booki Vivat
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Release Date: September 5, 2023
Harriet the Spy meets Front Desk in this funny, surprising graphic novel by Booki Vivat, author-illustrator of the New York Times bestselling Frazzled series.
Aspiring artist Kacie spends most of her time on Mercer Street with her best friend, Nisha, people-watching and doodling whatever is happening in their neighborhood. But when she comes back from a summer away, the local corner store is boarded up, the adults in town are all on edge, and Nisha is nowhere to be found! Everything is changing, and Kacie’s not sure what to do about it. Especially without Nisha to help her.
But Kacie has a knack for noticing things, and with her sketchbooks and observational skills, she just might have what it takes to figure out what’s really happening on Mercer Street.
Filled with both cartoons and graphic comic panels, Booki Vivat draws a hilarious-yet-deeply-perceptive portrait of a changing neighborhood, a mysterious disappearance, and the girl who’s determined to understand how she fits in to the picture.
Timid
Author: Jonathan Todd
Publisher: Graphix
Release Date: April 16, 2024
A semiautobiographical middle-grade graphic novel about frenemies, fitting in, and finding your voice.
Cecil Hall and his family have just moved from Florida to Massachusetts, near Boston. Cecil is anxious about making friends because he doesn’t know where he’ll fit in. His older sister, Leah, thinks he should befriend the other black kids at his new school, but Cecil isn’t sure how he’d go about doing that. He wants to be known for his comics-making talent, anyway. But the few kids who are impressed by Cecil’s art aren’t always nice to him. When one of his drawings is misused and gets him into serious trouble, can Cecil stand up for himself and figure out who his real friends are?
Curveball
Author: Pablo Cartaya
Publisher: Disney Hyperion
Release Date: May 7, 2024
Roller Girl meets Cardboard Kingdom in this original, contemporary graphic novel from award-winning author Pablo Cartaya and New York Times best-selling illustrator Miguel Díaz Rivas.
Baseball is Elena Rueda’s entire life: She may be the only girl on her team, but she’s the best player and everyone knows it. Except . . . Elena has stopped having fun, and it’s time to leave the sport behind.
The problem is, Elena has no idea who she is without a bat in her hand. Can a summer spent with her brother’s quirky friends in an empty sandlot that offers a world of possibility show Elena who she is—and teach her to love to play again?
The Last Rhee Witch
Author: Jenna Lee-Yun
Publisher: Disney Hyperion
Release Date: May 14, 2024
You couldn’t hold onto everything and everyone. You had to choose. And Ronnie only had two hands.
Since her mother died when she was five years old, it’s always just been Ronnie Miller and her dad. Two Korean Americans who, thanks to Ronnie’s dad’s adoption by white parents, have never felt all that Korean. But Ronnie is okay with that—as long as she has her dad and her best friend Jack, Ronnie is 99% certain she can get through anything.
But as much as she wants everything to stay the same, the world—and her dad—has other plans. Now, Ronnie and Jack are headed away to sleepaway camp for the first time ever. Camp Foster promises all of the outdoorsy activities that Ronnie has so far managed to avoid: ropes courses, scavenger hunts, kayaking on the lake. Ugh. But she can do this. As long as she has Jack.
As it turns out, an old manor in the woods is the kind of place that’s crawling with secrets. Secrets like a mysterious gwishin haunting the grounds, a blood-red scarf wrapped too tightly around her ghostly neck. And a witch-hunting dokkaebi intent on finding and silencing the last Rhee witch. And the strange habit all the counselors have of rhyming when they speak . . . just like Ronnie has begun to do lately.
For a girl who wants everything to stay the same, nothing is scarier than all the changes Camp Foster brings. New friends. New foes. Souls with unfinished business. And, possibly worst of all, revelations that disprove everything Ronnie knew to be true.
Jenna Lee-Yun combines magic, mystery, suspense, and humor into a ghostly action-packed contemporary fantasy.
Storm Dragons: Lightningborn
Author: Julie Kagawa
Publisher: Disney Hyperion
Release Date: April 2, 2024
REMY spends his days trying to survive the mean streets of Cutthroat Wedge—one of the many islands floating in the gravitational pull of the magical Maelstrom raging below. But his life changes forever when a violent storm brings a baby dragon to his doorstep, and he feels a bond he has never felt with anyone. Remy names the dragon Storm and vows to protect this new friend, no matter the cost.
GEM longs for the day when she call herself a true mage. That is, if she can convince her teachers and peers that just because she’s a princess doesn’t mean she’s lazy and spoiled. But when Gem learns that the floating islands that make up her kingdom are rapidly sinking into the Maelstrom, she makes it her mission to save her world. Against the king’s wishes, she accesses forbidden research and discovers the secret to saving humanity may lie in a True Dragon—a dragon capable of intelligent thought and able to cast and use magic. But True Dragons are extinct . . . aren’t they?
Remy’s and Gem’s lives will never be the same when their fates collide, thanks to Storm. With an evil pirate mage named Jhaeros determined to claim the rare dragon for himself, the two must learn to trust in each other as they team up with a shifty pirate captain and her crew, stand together against impossible odds, and embark on the adventure of a lifetime.
~ Giveaway Details ~
One winner will receive a copy of each book from the MG Spring Buzzworthy Giveaway ~US Only!
*Click the Rafflecopter link below to enter the giveaway*
These books would be great additions to my MS library.
It would be great to win these!
All of these books look wonderful!
What a great line up!
So many great books, my kids will love them!
So many amazing titles, from dragon eggs, to magical adventures and fantastical worlds.
If I win these I will post a review for each in my insta, blog, storygraph, bookbub, amazon, GoodReads and B&N as always. Therearenobadbooks
What a great selection! My students would love these 🙂
I have these on my wish list and must-read list. This is an excellent collection!
Oh they all look so cool – I think my son will like Cloudlanders!
This is an amazing assortment of books! Looking forward to reading a lot of these titles and adding them to my school’s media center collection.