What Buzzworthy Books is everyone talking about for Middle-Grade books?
Check out our favorites listed below! Plus enter to win the giveaway where you could win them all!
From Blue Slip Media :
Title: Fenris & Mott
Author: Greg Van Eekhout
Publisher: HarperCollins
Release Date: August 2, 2022
A girl and her puppy face down the end of the world—which the puppy’s partly responsible for—in this middle grade story from acclaimed author Greg van Eekhout, perfect for fans of Gordon Korman and J.C. Cervantes.
When Mott finds a puppy abandoned in a recycling bin, she’s ready to do everything she can to protect him. What she doesn’t realize, however, is that this is the legendary wolf Fenris, who’s prophesied to bring about the end of the world by eating the moon.
Now Mott has found herself in charge of making sure the hungry pup—who’s busy munching on lampposts, cars, and water towers—doesn’t see all of California as an appetizer, while also hiding him from the Norse gods who are hot on his trail, determined to see the prophecy come true.
Mott vows to protect Fenris, rescue him from his destiny, and prevent the world from ending. But will she be able to keep her promise? Or has she bitten off more than she can chew?
From Penguin Random House:
Title: TALES TO KEEP YOU UP AT NIGHT
Author: Dan Poblocki; Illustrations by Marie Bergeron
Publisher: Penguin Workshop
Release Date: August 16, 2022
Title: DAYBREAK ON RAVEN ISLAND
Author: Fleur Bradley
Publisher: Viking Books for Young Readers
Release Date: August 23, 2022
Title: POWER OF FLIGHT #1
Author: Hena Khan and Andrea Menotti; Illustrated by Yancey Labat
Publisher: Penguin Young Readers; Penguin Workshop
Release Date: May 3, 2022
Title: Be Real, Macy Weaver
Author: Lakita Wilson
Publisher: Viking Books
Release Date: July 12, 2022
Title: The Devouring Wolf
Author: Natalie C. Parker
Publisher: Razorbill
Release Date: August 2, 2022
Title: Thirst
Author: Varsha Bajaj
Publisher: Penguin Young Readers / Nancy Paulsen Books
Release Date: July 19, 2022
Title: Miraculous
Author: Caroline Starr Rose
Publisher: Penguin Young Readers / G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers
Release Date: July 26, 2022
Title: Empty Smiles
Author: Kathrine Arden
Publisher: Penguin Young Readers / G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers
Release Date: August 9, 2022
Title: Surely Surely Marisol Rainey
Author: Erin Entrada Kelly
Publisher: Greenwillow Books
Release Date: August 9, 2022
“Anyone who has ever had trouble feeling brave will be empowered by Marisol.”—NBC News
Everyone loves sports . . . except Marisol! The stand-alone companion to Newbery Medal winner and New York Times–bestselling Erin Entrada Kelly’s Maybe Maybe Marisol Rainey is an irresistible and humorous story about friendship, family, and fitting in. Fans of Clementine, Billy Miller Makes a Wish, and Ramona the Pest will find a new friend in Marisol.
Marisol Rainey’s two least-favorite things are radishes and gym class. She avoids radishes with very little trouble, but gym is another story—especially when Coach Decker announces that they will be learning to play kickball.
There are so many things that can go wrong in kickball. What if Marisol tries to kick the ball . . . but falls down? What if she tries to catch the ball and gets smacked in the nose? What if she’s the worst kickballer in the history of kickball? Marisol and her best friend Jada decide to get help from the most unlikely—and most annoying—athlete in the world: Marisol’s big brother, Oz.
Told in short chapters with illustrations by the author on almost every page, Erin Entrada Kelly’s stand-alone companion novel to Maybe Maybe Marisol Rainey celebrates the small but mighty Marisol, the joys of friendship, the power of being different, and the triumph of persevering. Surely Surely Marisol Rainey is ideal for readers of Kevin Henkes, Meg Medina, Judy Blume, and Beverly Cleary.
Features black-and-white art throughout by Erin Entrada Kelly.
From West Margin Press:
Book title: All that Glitters (The Zee Files #2)
Author: Tina Wells
Publisher: West Margin Press
Release Date: July 12, 2022
See where London takes Zee next in Book 2 of The Zee Files, the spin-off series to the bestselling Mackenzie Blue books!
The crew can’t stop talking about the school’s biggest event and talent show of the year, the Creative Arts Festival. But while Zee’s excited to see her friends and schoolmates perform, she’s not sure if she’ll ever be ready for the stage. She’s never performed in front of so many people before, or
without her bandmates—or in England, no less!
With the Festival slowly approaching, classes also get harder while things with her friends and family become more complicated. Will Zee be able to pull it all together in time?
From Tom Doherty Associates (Macmillan/Starscape):
Title: Lacey’s Story
Author: W. Bruce Cameron
Publisher: Macmillan Publishers (Starscape)
Release Date: August 30, 2022
Lacey’s Story is a brand new Puppy Tale from #1 New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the A Dog’s Purpose Series, W. Bruce Cameron!
Lacey is a very special dog with a very important purpose. After an accident, Lacey must get used to being followed around everywhere by a funny cart with wheels. Sometimes it makes her go too fast or in the wrong direction! But that doesn’t stop Lacey from having fun with her human girl Wenling and her best dog friend, Cooper. And when a tornado strikes, putting Wenling’s and Cooper’s families in danger, only Lacey and her cart can save the day.
The latest addition to the successful Puppy Tales series by #1 New York Times bestselling author W. Bruce Cameron is the inspiring and joyful story of a special needs pet who overcomes adversity and learns to live her best life after she is fitted with a mobility cart.
From Pajama Press:
Title: Berani
Author: Michelle Kadarusman
Publisher: Pajama Press
Release Date: August 16, 2022
An honest and stirring novel about the choices made by young environmental activists, and the balancing act between consequence and triumph.
Malia has had a privileged upbringing in Indonesia, but since her Indonesian father died, her Canadian mother wants to return to her own family on the other side of the world. Malia is determined to stay. Indonesia is her home, and she loves it. Besides, if she leaves, how can she continue to fight for her country’s precious rainforests?
Ari knows he is lucky to be going to school and competing on the chess team, even if it means an endless round of chores at his uncle’s restaurant. Back in his home village, he and his cousin Suni dreamed about getting a chance like this. But now he is here without her, and the guilt is crushing him. As if that weren’t enough, he’s horribly worried about Ginger Juice, his uncle’s orangutan. The too-small cage where she lives is clearly hurting her body and her mind, but where else can she go? The rainforest where she was born is a palm oil plantation now.
In Berani, Governor General’s Award finalist Michelle Kadarusman spins together three perspectives: Malia, who is prepared to risk anything for her activism, Ari, who knows the right path but fears what it will cost, and Ginger Juice, the caged orangutan who still remembers the forest and her mother. The choices the young people make will have consequences for themselves, for Ginger Juice, and for others, if they are brave enough—or reckless enough—to choose.
Awards and Honours:
2022 Junior Library Guild selection
2022 Quill & Quire “Our Environment: A Helping Hand” Feature
Title: The U-nique Lou Fox
Author: Jodi Carmichael
Publisher: Pajama Press
Release Date: August 9, 2022
Award-winning author Jodi Carmichael, who has ADHD herself, affirms and celebrates those who struggle with their uniqueness and triumphantly discover its gifts.
It isn’t easy being Louisa Elizabeth Fitzhenry-O’Shaughnessy—especially with dyslexia. She prefers Lou Fox, the dream name she’ll use one day as a famous Broadway playwright. In the meantime, Lou is stuck in fifth grade with Mrs. Snyder, a total Shadow Phantom of a teacher who can spot a daydream from across the room but doesn’t know anything about ADHD. Mrs. Snyder’s constant attention is ex-cru-ci-a-ting. If only she would disappear.
Fortunately, life isn’t all a-tro-cious. There’s The Haunting at Lakeside School, the play Lou is writing and directing for her two best friends. And soon she’ll be a big sister at last. Nothing could ruin the joy of those things…right?
Title: Harvey Takes the Lead
Author: Colleen Nelson
Illustrator: Tara Anderson
Publisher: Pajama Press
Release Date: May 17, 2022
The award-winning Harvey Stories are back with a new story of acceptance, understanding, and the loving comfort of everyone’s favourite Westie.
There’s nothing quite like the loving companionship of a loyal dog. When Harvey’s status as Brayside’s comfort dog comes into question, the elderly residents are quick to stand up for him.
Mr. Kowalski, a longstanding Brayside resident, is struggling with his wife’s recent hospitalization. As Harvey watches over him, Mr. Kowalski shares stories of his youth during World War II—tales which fascinates Harvey’s friend Austin. At the same time, the newly appointed Assistant Director Hilary Appleby, the person who wants to get rid of Harvey, also creates unreasonable rules which make the residents of Brayside miserable.
The new school season for Austin and Harvey’s owner Maggie proves to be harder than expected. Maggie’s audition for the school play of Annie doesn’t go as planned, with the role she wanted going to Ndidi, who rarely comes out to rehearsals. Austin, for his part, is battling shame around not being able to afford a school trip.
Award-winning author Colleen Nelson and illustrator Tara Anderson team up once again to deliver another engaging story where Harvey’s exceptional nose leads Maggie and Austin to find resolution to the many challenges they face.
Themes of acceptance, understanding, and intergenerational friendships are the strengths of this middle-grade novel.
From HarperCollins:
Title: Amari and the Great Game
Author: B.B. Alston
Publisher: HarperCollins/Balzer + Bray
Release Date: August 30, 2022
Sequel to the New York Times bestseller Amari and the Night Brothers!
Artemis Fowl meets Men in Black in this magical second book in the New York Times and Indie bestselling Supernatural Investigations trilogy—perfect for fans of Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky, the Percy Jackson series, and Nevermoor.
After finding her brother and saving the entire supernatural world, Amari Peters is convinced her first full summer as a Junior Agent will be a breeze.
But between the fearsome new Head Minister’s strict anti-magician agenda, fierce Junior Agent rivalries, and her brother Quinton’s curse steadily worsening, Amari’s plate is full. So when the secretive League of Magicians offers her a chance to stand up for magiciankind as its new leader, she declines. She’s got enough to worry about!
But her refusal allows someone else to step forward, a magician with dangerous plans for the League. This challenge sparks the start of the Great Game, a competition to decide who will become the Night Brothers’ successor and determine the future of magiciankind.
The Great Game is both mysterious and deadly, but among the winner’s magical rewards is Quinton’s last hope—so how can Amari refuse?
Title: The First Cat in Space Ate Pizza
Author: Mac Barnett
Illustrator: Shawn Harris
Publisher: HarperCollins/Katherine Tegen Books
Release Date: May 10, 2022
As seen on The TODAY Show! New York Times bestselling Mac Barnett and Caldecott Honor award-winning illustrator Shawn Harris turn their massively popular The First Cat in Space Ate Pizza live cartoon into an action-packed and hysterical graphic novel series—perfect for fans of Dav Pilkey, Raina Telgemeier, and Jeff Kinney. A Kids’ Indie Next List Pick and an Indie Bestseller!
Something terrible is happening in the skies! Rats are eating the MOON!
There’s only ONE hero for the job, a bold and fearsome beast bioengineered in a secret lab to be the moon’s savior and Earth’s last hope! And that hero is . . . a cat. A cat who will be blasted into space!
Accompanied by the imperious Moon Queen and LOZ 4000, a toenail clipping robot, the First Cat in Space journeys across a fantastic lunar landscape in a quest to save the world. Will these unlikely heroes save the moon in time? Can a toenail-clipping robot find its purpose in the vast universe? And will the First Cat in Space ever eat some pizza?
Title: Swim Team
Author: Johnnie Christmas
Publisher: HarperCollins/HarperAlley
Release Date: May 17, 2022
“Combines wonderful characters and history to create a story that will make you want to dive right in!” JERRY CRAFT, author of the Newbery Medal–winning New Kid
A splashy, contemporary middle grade graphic novel from bestselling comics creator Johnnie Christmas!
Bree can’t wait for her first day at her new middle school, Enith Brigitha, home to the Mighty Manatees—until she’s stuck with the only elective that fits her schedule, the dreaded Swim 101. The thought of swimming makes Bree more than a little queasy, yet she’s forced to dive headfirst into one of her greatest fears. Lucky for her, Etta, an elderly occupant of her apartment building and former swim team captain, is willing to help.
With Etta’s training and a lot of hard work, Bree suddenly finds her swim-crazed community counting on her to turn the school’s failing team around. But that’s easier said than done, especially when their rival, the prestigious Holyoke Prep, has everything they need to leave the Mighty Manatees in their wake.
Can Bree defy the odds and guide her team to a state championship, or have the Manatees swum their last lap—for good?
~GIVEAWAY~
One winner will receive a copy of each title from the Mega Book Giveaway (Middle-Grade)! ~US ONLY
*Click the Rafflecopter link below to enter the giveaway*
Some of these look super fun!
Great selection of books. My kids would love them.
Amazing set of wonderful books!
This is a great selection!
This is a great mix of books! I’d love to add them to my school’s collection.
A great selection of books!
Some of these looks so so good!
My daughter would freak out to win this prize pack – so many great titles, and cute covers, too!
Middle grade books are my favorite!! I would love to share these with my community!!
Middle grade books are my favorite!! What an amazing set of books!
All of these exciting books are on my TBR. I love the covers.
wow these are very nice