22 Most-Anticipated Middle Grade Books Coming Spring 2024
How are there so many great books coming out in just three months? It’s wild. I love it, but I wish I had time to read them all. Since I’m so late getting this posted, I’ve read a few of these already, and they’ve been excellent! I can’t wait to read the rest of them. The list includes a mix of contemporary and fantasy novels, graphic books, and mystery. Here are my 20 most-anticipated middle grade books coming spring 2024.
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22 Most-Anticipated Middle Grade Books Coming Spring 2024
What You Need to Know: A girl’s complex relationship with her alcoholic mom and the value of her support system. Sensitive, beautiful, and packed with emotional depth.
What You Need to Know: A book about grief, saying goodbye, living life outside the box, and embracing adventure. Fabulous characters. Poignant and fun.
What You Need to Know: A girl hears music everywhere in a land where music and magic are forbidden. Sounds like a sweeping fantasy exploring the impact of colonialism.
What You Need to Know: A secret island ruled by a pirate king. A dangerous island-eating monster. A desperate boy in need of a miracle. By the author of The Storm Keeper’s Island series.
What You Need to Know: A novel in verse and fictionalized account of the author’s personal experiences with disordered eating. Looks haunting and powerful.
Published March 19, 2024 | My Review to Come
The Deadlands: Survival (The Deadlands #3) by Skye Melki-Wegner
What You Need to Know: The thrilling finale of a trilogy I couldn’t get enough of. An unlikely alliance of dinosaurs must save their herds from the Carrion Kingdom’s powerful weapons.
What You Need to Know: Tired of being second-favorite, these two girls plot to get their parents’ attention and affection in this goofy, heartfelt story.
What You Need to Know: A boy moves to a new apartment where a series of robberies occur. He and his new friend vow to find the culprits. An energetic, fun mystery.
What You Need to Know: A girl spending the summer with her estranged grandma and dealing with big feelings about her identity and mom’s depression. Deep, wise, and lovely.
What You Need to Know: A boy who saved the world once already must find the Tree of Life to wake his sister from a coma. Looks like a wild adventure from a great author.
What You Need to Know: A girl with an elderly best friend in cognitive decline. I’m expecting all the storytelling power Lowry never fails to deliver in this sweet, loving story.
What You Need to Know: The third installment in the series promises more unicorn magic, challenges to family bonds, and the power of true friendship. I can’t wait!
What You Need to Know: A girl discovers a magical library where each book is literally a portal to an adventure. Part mystery, part adventure, part exploration of identity. I’m in!
What You Need to Know: A child and their father visit the B&B her grandmother never opened and face deadly puzzles and strange messages. Looks super imaginative and packed with family drama– my favorite!
What You Need to Know: A girl sets out to rescue her mother from powerful alchemists and save her world in the sequel to one of my favorite MG books from 2023.
Published May 14, 2024 | My Review to Come
The Mine Wars: The Bloody Fight for Workers’ Rights in the West Virginia Coalfields
What You Need to Know: The gripping true story of the largest labor uprising in American history and how it led to protection for workers. Seems pretty relevant to me!
Published May 14, 2024 | My Review to Come
What most-anticipated middle grade books coming spring 2024 did I miss?
I am not as good at keeping up with middle grade fiction as I am with young adult fiction, so there are always titles that didn’t make my radar or somehow got missed.
What upcoming MG titles are you looking forward to? Have you read any of the books on my list? Let me know in the comments!
It’s Top Ten Tuesday again! This week’s theme is best books for summer, which is a perfect chance to talk about beach reads… but I’m not much of a beach girl? I burn way too easily. So, instead, let’s talk about another favorite summer activity: summer camp!
Whether it’s the story of a first-time camp experience or simply the tale of camp attendance as a means to an end, excellent summer camp books capture the immersive experience of being away from home. They spin stories of unexpected friendships and wacky inside jokes. They remind us to celebrate being in nature and being part of a team or group.
I’ve included six middle-grade books and twelve young adult books in this list, so technically it’s my top eighteen, but I couldn’t help it. They’re all great books that made me feel big summer camp vibes.
Note: Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jana at That Artsy Reader Girl in which bloggers share their top ten favorites in the week’s theme. Check out this week’s list of posts about summer reading!
Also: This post contains affiliate links that don’t cost anything for you to use but help support this blog. Thank you for shopping with them!
Super-Fun Summer Camp Books: Middle Grade
Here are six middle-grade books featuring summer camp adventures. From LARPing to twins swapping places to discovering a hidden world of magic, all these books immersed me in summer camp feelings and celebrated the unexpected friendships and adventures that a few weeks away from home inevitably bring.
What you need to know: A girl signs up for what she thinks is a LARPing (live-action roleplaying) camp only to discover the other campers are actually monsters. Totally fun. The camp setting makes this a perfect summer read, but the monster elements would make this a good fall/Halloween season read, too.
What you need to know: A richly written novel in verse about twin girls who’ve grown apart and dare one another to switch places at summer camp. One twin has undiagnosed anxiety. I loved the relationship between the sisters in this one.
Release Date:
Amari and the Night Brothers (Supernatural Investigations #1) B. B. Alston
What you need to know: Men In Black meets Percy Jackson, but better. Amari learns her missing brother was part of a supernatural organization (think FBI plus magic) which she joins after learning it can help her discover what happened to him.
What you need to know: Four girls meet for the first time when they’re assigned to Firefly Cabin. Will secrets, competition, and other classic summer camp adventures bind them together as friends or tear their cabin apart? Perfectly captures and celebrates summer camp experiences.
What you need to know: Not all summer camps are sleep-away– here’s one celebrating day camp for a girl whose family has just moved to a new town. Discusses grooming and consent in a clear, age-appropriate way. Great family elements.
Release Date: February 4, 2020
Ways to Grow Love (A Ryan Hart Story) by Renée Watson
What you need to know: The second book in the Ryan Hart series. Ryan braves her nerves about summer camp and changing friendships. A perfect blend of the power of resilience, friendship, and summertime fun.
What you need to know: An elite writing summer intensive challenges Julieta to post her writing publicly. A mysterious collaborator begins contributing to the story. She’s determined to figure out which of the three boys she’s maybe interested in could be her online partner. Perfect for fans of Kasie West or Jennifer E. Smith.
What you need to know: Soccer camp! Rivals to lovers! A layered story exploring romance, pride, and perfectionism. I loved the relationships between characters, and the descriptions of the soccer practices and games made me feel like I was right there on the sidelines.
What you need to know: First love and Deaf pride… at summer camp. A book about embracing identity and finding the friends you didn’t know you needed. This one is at the top of my summer reading list.
What you need to know: Summer camp… horror! A research trip to Antarctica turns deadly when an unidentified something tries to kill the retreat members. One of the best books I read last year, and I’m not a big horror girl. Check my review for content warnings.
What you need to know: A homeschooled girl whose parents decide she needs more experience with peers attends the Connecticut Shakespearean Summer Academy in exchange for their permission for her early admission to Oxford. Competitive antics and rivals-to-lovers romance ensue. Great for fans of Lily Anderson.
What you need to know: An intense summer program for aspiring web developers. A suitor in a potential arranged marriage. A girl who couldn’t be less interested in romance. All the fun of Sandhya Menon’s fluffy romance… at summer camp!
What you need to know: When a DNA service reveals a younger sister, Abby signs up for summer camp to meet her unknown sibling. Packed with secrets about to burst and an adorable friends-to-lovers romance. My favorite of Emma Lord’s books so far.
What you need to know: Jesus camp… but not from a religious perspective. This one tackles issues concerning consent, celebrates girl friendships, and delivers a simmering summer romance.
What you need to know: Ballet camp! In Paris! Plus, a sweet romance and a quest to prove family lore that says her relative sat for a painting by Edgar Degas. Perfect for fans of Jenna Evans Welch.
What you need to know: A girl desperate to escape from under her controlling father’s thumb. A rustic team-building retreat center in the middle of nowhere. Awkward, cute, and fun.
What you need to know: It’s been a while since I’ve read this one, but I remember it being a fun read packed with references to camp songs and the emotional highs and lows of being in close quarters with strangers for weeks. It’s a Christian book and has a faith-positive message.
What you need to know: This is one from my current summer reading list! When his twin sister dies after running all the way home from her summer camp experience, he vows to go to the camp himself and find out what happened to her. Looks creepy and intense. I’m excited about it.
What you need to know: Another one that just came out! A bookish girl forced into summer leadership camp. Girl friendships and an unexpected summer romance that may demand she learn to stand up for herself and, well, lead.
Release Date: May 16, 2023
What are your favorite summer camp stories?
Do you have favorite stories about summer camp? What books feel like summertime to you? Leave a comment and let me know! I would love to chat about them.
Seems like every month I have a harder time figuring out my review calendar. There are just too many amazing books coming out these days. I want to read them all! This winter is no exception. Lots of these titles are by authors of books I read last year (or earlier) and loved, so I’m really excited about their newest titles. There are a fair amount of romance titles on here, but some fantasy, historical and murder mysteries, too.
These are the 23 most-anticipated young adult books coming winter 2023 that I’m most looking forward to. I’ll post a list of my most-anticipated winter middle grade titles separately.
What you need to know: This one had me at TO ALL THE BOYS I’VE LOVED BEFORE meets PRIDE AND PREJUDICE. I love those rich colors on the cover, too. I can’t wait to get into it.
What you need to know: Tobias Madden’s debut made me laugh out loud and outright sob. This one is about a boy who joins a local production of Chicago to meet his online crush. Sounds like so much fun!
What you need to know: The cover copy calls this “a remarkable reckoning with our present moment, a call to action, and a plea for a more just future.” Includes a photo insert featuring memorials for victims of unlawful killings. This is one I really need to read this year.
What you need to know: Mica begins dating the perfect guy–and winning at life– only to discover his family roots mean she’s living in a horror novel. Looks like a lot of fun.
What you need to know: The cover copy says this one delivers the thrills of MAD MAX: FURY ROAD and the icy magic of FROZEN. Looks like a magical rebellion kind of story, and I’m excited to check it out.
What you need to know: I loved Meg Long’s debut, COLD THE NIGHT, FAST THE WOLVES, and this novel follows a minor character that I loved from that book, so I absolutely cannot wait to read it.
What you need to know: The premise of this one reminds me of THE CODE FOR LOVE AND HEARTBREAK, so I’m kind of hoping for those vibes plus humor and hijinks.
What you need to know: Monsters, magic, and wicked fae. Hassan’s middle grade fantasy, THE PRINCE OF NOWHERE, was one of my favorite middle grade titles this past year. I loved the writing and complex characters, so I’m hoping for more of those things in this one.
What you need to know: A group of people bonded by grief over a lost loved one. A story of grief, hope, and finding the courage to love again. Looks really heartfelt and sweet.
What you need to know: College (mis)adventures and a pirate radio station. I’m in. I’ve discovered a love for a “just kiss already!” romance, so I’m excited about this one from an author whose books I’ve enjoyed.
What you need to know: A D&D master– yes, please!– and a girl who keeps her emotions under wraps. Love over the course of a year’s worth of holidays. This sounds different and sweet.
What you need to know: THE BONE SPINDLE was my absolute number one favorite book last year, and I’m desperate to read this sequel. I need more of Red and Shane, and I have to know what happens with Fi and her prince in this gender-flipped Sleeping Beauty reimagining.
What you need to know: A band of kids try to free a city with the help of a mysterious Architect. The cover copy promises: sinister schemes, bumbling superheroes, unexpected friendships, and plenty of humor and plot twists. I’m intrigued.
What you need to know: A trans-boy who feels like he’s always almost enough. A piano competition he resolved to win. The ex he needs to win back. And the new boy… who seems to truly see him like no one else does. Yes, please.
What you need to know: A masked killer targeting frat boys. A sole survivor of a world-famous murder spree. Last year I read two horror novels that were really good, so this year I picked a couple more to try. This one could be chills-inducing good, or over the top for me. We’ll find out!
What you need to know: A missing girl who was never found. A true crime podcast featuring the case. Two girls who must decide whether the secrets they uncovered would destroy an innocent man or identify Clarissa’s murderer. Looks twisty and intense.
What you need to know: This is part of the Remixed Classics that I’ve been following but haven’t managed to read yet. I’m super excited to read Kalynn Bayron’s reimagining of Jekyll & Hyde. I really enjoyed her middle grade novel, THE VANQUISHERS, last year.
What you need to know: A Renaissance Faire under new management. A girl who liked the old faire better. A boy who pulls her into the new theatrical experience. I have loved both Ashley Schumacher’s other novels, so I’m dying to read this one.
What you need to know: A girl chosen to represent Britain in Europe’s first air race for youth. Sabotage and secrets. Maybe even… murder?? I’ve loved both the books I read by this author before, so I’m expecting the same great storytelling and unforgettable characters here.
What you need to know: A best friend and first love disappears, leaving only snapshots of grief and secrets behind. This one looks like the kind of book that can wreck you. I’m totally in.
Buy links and cover art to come after the cover reveal in Jan!
What you need to know: CASTELON is the final book in the Wraithwood series, which I’ve really been enjoying. It’s got some Merlin-based lore and magic. A slow-burn romance. I have to know how it all ends.
What you need to know: This looks like magical realism or maybe a portal story? A girl who supports her family by scavenging elf corpses. The elf prince whose fate is tied to hers. Looks like it could have some THE LUMINARIES vibes?
What you need to know: A best friendship nearly wrecked by a summer fling. A surly new stepsister. A community theater production in jeopardy. Sounds like Junie is juggling a lot of big things, and they’re all about to come crashing down. I loved Markum’s debut, and this one looks like it’ll deliver the same sparky tension and hilarity.
What amazing young adult books coming winter 2023 are you most looking forward to? What genres do you think you’ll read the most of in the next few months? Are you reading any books outside your normal habits?
How are there so many great books coming out in the next few months? It gets harder and harder to limit my calendar to the books I can actually read, because it seems like there are so many great ones out there. I read three to five middle grade titles in an average month, but I wish I could read more. These books will all be published from January to March 2023. My list is mainly contemporary, historical, and fantasy novels. Here are the middle grade books coming winter 2023 that I’m most looking forward to reading.
Amazing Middle Grade Books Coming Winter 2023
The Librarian of Auschwitz: The Graphic Novel by Antonio Iturbe, Salva Rubio, and Loreto Aroca
What you need to know: The story of a fourteen-year-old girl imprisoned in Auschwitz becomes the guardian of 8 books slipped past the guards as a graphic novel. I really want to read this.
What you need to know: Described as “WHERE’D YOU GO, BERNADETTE with a #METOO message.” A girl uncovers what’s behind a classmate’s fall from popularity. I’ve loved both books by Claire Swinarski that I’ve read, so I’m really looking forward to this one.
What you need to know: Described as “a brilliant middle-grade survival story that traces a harrowing family secret back to the Holodomor, a terrible famine that devastated Soviet Ukraine in the 1930s.” I’m excited to finally read a book by Katherine Marsh!
What you need to know: The true story of two Austrian-Jewish brothers who experienced the atrocities of the Holocaust in very different ways adapted from an adult book. Looks heartbreaking and moving. There are still so few stories of Jewish Holocaust survivors or victims– I am eager to read this one.
What you need to know: A cursed princess waiting for a prince to break her curse… or ready to take matters into her own hands and save her kingdom herself. The cover is lovely, and I’m super intrigued by the description of the story.
What you need to know: A twelve year-old school shooting survivor living in the National Quiet Zone– a place where there is no internet. I loved Erin Bow’s YA books, so I was really excited to see this MG title.
What you need to know: A world inspired by pre-Shogun era Japan. A girl who will go to the ends of the earth to save her sister. I love sister books, so I can’t wait to read this one.
What you need to know: A girl who can discovers she can borrow others’ talents for a day tries to save her dad’s failing planetarium. Looks like a funny, sweet story.
Release Date: February 7, 2023
The Swallowtail Legacy 2: Betrayal by the Book by Michael D. Beil
What you need to know: A young writer and her favorite author. A writer’s conference and a suspicious death! The first book in this series was fantastic, so I’m really excited to see what happens to Lark and her friends next.
What you need to know: A boba tea shop in trouble. A girl determined to save it by selling handmade amigurumi dolls. A story about friendship, family, and entrepreneurship. This looks super sweet.
What you need to know: Described as “THE PARENT TRAP meets THE HOLIDAY.” Two girls who become friends when their families swap houses for the summer. I loved GLITTER GETS EVERYWHERE, so I’m super excited to read another book by Yvette Clark.
What you need to know: Two siblings fight to save the marsh they love and learn the story behind a statue revealed by a drought. I think I’ve read every novel Gillian McDunn has written– which I can’t say for many other authors. I can’t wait to read this one.
What you need to know: 14th Century Europe. A lost girl who can’t remember her name traveling from Norway to England looking for safety from the plague. A really intriguing premise from an author I’ve enjoyed before.
What you need to know: Identical twins drifting apart agree to swap places for the summer. Whoever does a better job impersonating her sister gets to decide where they’ll go to school in the fall. This looks like a fun, fresh spin on a sister story– and I am desperate to read it.
What you need to know: Celtic mythology. A magical boarding school. A girl who must overcome her people’s prejudices against her to recover a stolen artifact before the world is plunged into darkness. I didn’t read the first book in this series, but this one looks awesome.
Release Date: March 28, 2023
What titles are on your reading list this winter?
What are your most-anticipated middle grade books coming winter 2023? Are you planning to read any of the titles on my list? Have titles to recommend? Leave a comment so I can add more books to my reading list!
