10 Witchy Middle Grade Books for Fall
Here in Florida, we have to use a little more imagination to feel the seasons. As we approach Halloween, I’m always looking for books with a cozy, witchy vibe that I can enjoy with a pumpkin-flavored treat. Today, I’m sharing a list of ten witchy middle grade books perfect for fall and the upcoming holiday.
Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jana at That Artsy Reader Girl. This week’s theme is a Fall Freebie, giving us bookish bloggers a chance to share lists related to any fall or Halloween theme we want.
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10 Witchy Middle Grade Books for Fall
Maybe There Are Witches by Jude Atwood
What you need to know: In a small town with deep history, a girl with a magical diary must stop a great evil bent on destroying the town. Perfect for the Halloween season.
Published: June 13, 2023 | My Review | Author Q&A
Just a Pinch of Magic by Alechia Dow
What you need to know: A girl desperate to save her family’s struggling magical bakery casts a (slightly illegal) spell that backfires. Lots of delicious descriptions of baking and magical hijinks from one of my favorite authors.
Published: October 10, 2023
Howl’s Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones
What you need to know: I first read this in 2022, I think, but I’ve reread the book several times since. It’s a whimsical, funny fantasy novel about a girl under a curse that makes her look and feel old who hides from the world in a wizard’s castle and discovers some remarkable things about herself. I highly recommend the audiobook version performed by Jenny Werlin.
Published August 1, 2001 (Orig. 1986) | My Review
Witchwood (Ravenfall #3) by Kalyn Josephson
What you need to know: Anna and Colin journey to Witchwood where Anna learns about her dad’s side of the family. I’m a huge fan of Max (the cat-who-is-not-a-cat) and Anna. I love that we’re seeing more of her coming into her own in this book. I’ve enjoyed the whole series so far.
Published October 1, 2024 | My Review to Come
The Beetle Books Series (Beetle and the Hollowbones) by Aliza Layne
What you need to know: This is the perfect series to pick up around Halloween. The artwork reminds me of The Nightmare Before Christmas, but it has all the cozy vibes of fall in between the eerie elements.
Published 2020 & 2025 | Beetle & the Hollowbones Review | Beetle & the Chimera Carnival Review
Witchlings Series by Claribel A. Ortega
My thoughts: I bought a copy of Ghost Squad when it came out, but I still hadn’t managed to read it when I saw an invitation to a blog tour from Rockstar Book Tours for The Golden Frog Games. Tour participants also received a PDF version of the first book in the series, so I figured I’d start there and review both. I loved the village and all the pageantry surrounding becoming a witchling and part of a coven. It felt fresh and clever and reminded me a bit of Cattywampus by Ash Van Otterloo, which I also loved. I heard another book influencer talk about the way that Ortega writes middle grade without ever talking down to readers, and I totally agree. The books feel young, as they should, and yet bear a wisdom beyond the years of the characters that never interferes with the joy of reading them.
Published 2022-present | Witchlings Review | The Golden Frog Games Review
Garlic and the Witch (Garlic #2) by Bree Paulsen
My thoughts: I loved the first book in this series and always intended to read more. It’s such a sweet, cozy story about vegetables that have come alive. This was one my seven-year-old really enjoyed.
Published September 6, 2022 | My Review to Come
Hooky (Hooky #1) by Míriam Bonastre Tur
My thoughts: I keep seeing this book everywhere, and the story (two twin witches who go on the run) sounded cute. Some of the chapters felt a bit episodic, but considering this story began as a webcomic, I suppose that’s to be expected. I enjoyed the quirky characters and fun elements.
Published September 7, 2021 | My Review
Cattywampus by Ash Van Otterloo
Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads | Review
What You Need to Know: The cover copy calls this one “folksy” and “fresh” and it totally is! I loved the southern feel of the town and characters, and the exploration of identity and magic in this book.
Published August 4, 2020 | My Review
Do you love witchy middle grade books?
What are your favorite witchy books? Have you read any of the middle grade books on my list? Let me know if any of those titles sound like ones you’d like to add to your reading list this fall.
These look fun! Here is our Top Ten Tuesday. Thank you!
I love this! I used to read a lot more MG and I miss it. I loved The Girl Who Drank the Moon & Howl’s Moving Castle! I’m going to add these others to my TBR. 🙂
Yay! Thanks, Leslie. I hope you have a great Halloween!
Cattywampus sounds fun! I need to add that and Beetle and the Hollowbones to my list!
Great picks! I hope you enjoy reading them. 🙂
You’ve got some great choices. I really enjoyed Howl’s Moving Castle and Cattywampus.
Thanks, Natalie! Those are two of my favorites. 🙂
These all look so fun!
Thanks, Lydia. 🙂
Great topic and list! I don’t read much MG these days, but I did really enjoy Howl’s Moving Castle! I know I’ve read some older witchy MG too (The Witch of Blackbird Pond comes to mind)…
Understandable. 🙂 Oh! I didn’t even think of The Witch of Blackbird Pond, but I remember really liking that one. Thanks!
Oh well done, young readers would love some of these.
Here’s a link to my TTT post
https://rosieamber.wordpress.com/2025/10/28/%f0%9f%93%9a-toptentuesday-halloween-special-10-chilling-tales-of-horror-from-author-john_f_leonard-tuesdaybookblog-booktwitter-bookx/
Thanks, Rosie! I’m excited to see your list. 🙂