Home > Searchable Reading Lists > Favorites Award Lists > 2025 Middle-Grade Favorites

2025 Middle-Grade Favorites

6th to 8th Grade book recommendations for kids, educators, booksellers, librarians, and caregivers of the best children’s books in 2024.

 
The Adventures of the Flash Gang, Episode Two—Treasonous Tycoon

The Adventures of the Flash Gang, Episode Two—Treasonous Tycoon

By: M.M. Downing and S. J. Waugh
ISBN: 9781646034031
Fiction, 7-12, Historical Fiction
 
Ain’t it Funny

Ain’t it Funny

By: Margaret Gurevich
ISBN: 9780593659434
Fiction, 7-12, Neurodiversity
 
All Mixed Up

All Mixed Up

By: Raj Tawney
ISBN: 9781223188553
Fiction, 7-12, Coming of Age
 
All The Ways to Go

All The Ways to Go

By: Jessie Janowitz
ISBN: 9781728272504
Fiction, 7-12, Family / Community
 
Alone Together—A Curious Exploration of Loneliness

Alone Together—A Curious Exploration of Loneliness

By: Petti Fong
Illustrated by:
Jonathan Dyck
ISBN: 9781459837232
Nonfiction, 7-12, Mental / Physical Health
 
Alterations

Alterations

By: Ray Xu
Illustrated by:
Ray Xu
ISBN: 9781454945840
Fiction, 7-12, Coming of Age
 
Amil and the After

Amil and the After

By: Veera Hiranandani
ISBN: 9780525555063
Fiction, 7-12, Historical Fiction
 
And Then, Boom!

And Then, Boom!

By: Lisa Fipps
ISBN: 9780593406328
Fiction, 7-12, Family / Community
 
Another First Chance

Another First Chance

By: Robbie Couch
ISBN: 9781665935302
Fiction, 7-12, Action / Adventure
 
Answers to Dog

Answers to Dog

By: Pete Hautman
ISBN: 9781536234886
Fiction, 7-12, Animals
 
Blood City Rollers

Blood City Rollers

By: Veronica Park Anderson
Illustrated by:
Tatiana Hill
ISBN: 9780593485712
Fiction, 7-12, Fantasy
 
The Books of Clash Volume 3—Legendary Legends of Legendarious Achievery

The Books of Clash Volume 3—Legendary Legends of Legendarious Achievery

By: Gene Luen Yang
Illustrated by:
Kendall Goode and Alison Acton
ISBN: 9781250816306
Fiction, 7-12, Action / Adventure
 
Cactus Kid and the Battle for Star Rock Mountain

Cactus Kid and the Battle for Star Rock Mountain

By: Emmanuel Guerrero
ISBN: 9781913123215
Fiction, 7-12, Fantasy
 
Chasing Stars

Chasing Stars

By: Meg Gaertner
ISBN: 9781631637902
Fiction, 7-12, Family / Community
 
The First State of Being

The First State of Being

By: Erin Entrada Kelly
ISBN: 9780063337312
Fiction, 7-12, Friendships
 
The Girl Who Sang

The Girl Who Sang

By: Estelle Nadel and Sammy Savos
Illustrated by:
Sammy Savos
ISBN: 9781250247773
Nonfiction, 7-12, Biography / Memoir
 
Here I Am, I Am Me

Here I Am, I Am Me

By: Cara Bean
ISBN: 9781523508051
Nonfiction, 7-12, Mental / Physical Health
 
The Hoop Con (Play the Game #1)

The Hoop Con (Play the Game #1)

By: Amar Shah
ISBN: 9781338840315
Fiction, 7-12, Sports / Games / Recreation
 
HoverGirls

HoverGirls

By: Geneva Bowers
ISBN: 9781547611188
Fiction, 7-12, Fantasy
 
Impossible Creatures

Impossible Creatures

By: Katherine Rundell
ISBN: 9780593809860
Fiction, 7-12, Fantasy
 
In Search of Superpowers—A Fantasy Pin World Adventure

In Search of Superpowers—A Fantasy Pin World Adventure

By: Briana Lawrence
Illustrated by:
Joanna Cacao
ISBN: 9781524880705
Fiction, 7-12, Fantasy
 
It Came from the Trees

It Came from the Trees

By: Ally Russell
ISBN: 9780593646977
Fiction, 7-12, Horror
 
It Watches in the Dark

It Watches in the Dark

By: Jeff Strand
ISBN: 9781728277592
Fiction, 7-12, Horror
 
Jax Freeman and the Phantom Shriek

Jax Freeman and the Phantom Shriek

By: Kwame Mbalia
ISBN: 9781368064736
Fiction, 7-12, Action / Adventure
 
The Last Rhee Witch

The Last Rhee Witch

By: Jenna Lee-Yun
ISBN: 9781368099073
Fiction, 7-12, Fantasy
 
A Magic Fierce and Bright

A Magic Fierce and Bright

By: Hemant Nayak
ISBN: 9781665921817
Fiction, 7-12, Action / Adventure
 
Mani Semilla Finds Her Quetzal Voice

Mani Semilla Finds Her Quetzal Voice

By: Anna Lapera
ISBN: 9781646143719
Fiction, 7-12, Coming of Age
 
Matt Sprouts and the Curse of the Ten Broken Toes

Matt Sprouts and the Curse of the Ten Broken Toes

By: Matt Eicheldinger
ISBN: 9781524888695
Fiction, 7-12, Action / Adventure
 
Maya Plays the Part

Maya Plays the Part

By: Calyssa Erb
ISBN: 9781773218519
Fiction, 7-12, Art / Performing Arts
 
The Mythmakers—The Remarkable Fellowship of C.S. Lewis & J.R.R. Tolkien (A Graphic Novel)

The Mythmakers—The Remarkable Fellowship of C.S. Lewis & J.R.R. Tolkien (A Graphic Novel)

By: John Hendrix
Illustrated by:
John Hendrix
ISBN: 9781419746345
Nonfiction, 7-12, Biography / Memoir
 
The New Girl—A Graphic Novel (The New Girl #1)

The New Girl—A Graphic Novel (The New Girl #1)

By: Cassandra Calin
Illustrated by:
Cassandra Calin
ISBN: 9781338762457
Fiction, 7-12, Humor
 
The Old Willis Place Graphic Novel

The Old Willis Place Graphic Novel

By: Mary Downing Hahn
Illustrated by:
Meredith Laxton
ISBN: 9780358650157
Fiction, 7-12, Horror
 
Popcorn

Popcorn

By: Rob Harrell
ISBN: 9780593697924
Fiction, 7-12, Friendships
 
Read at Your Own Risk

Read at Your Own Risk

By: Remy Lai
ISBN: 9781250323354
Fiction, 7-12, Horror
 
The Reckoning

The Reckoning

By: Wade Hudson
ISBN: 9780593647776
Fiction, 7-12, Cultural Diversity
 
Safiyyah’s War

Safiyyah’s War

By: Hiba Noor Khan
ISBN: 9780063351868
Fiction, 7-12, Historical Fiction
 
Secret Society of Rebel Girls—Nina and the Mysterious Mailbox

Secret Society of Rebel Girls—Nina and the Mysterious Mailbox

By: Marti Dumas
Illustrated by:
Kristina Kister
ISBN: 9798889641018 
Fiction, 7-12, Mystery / Thriller
 
Spooky Lakes—25 Strange and Mysterious Lakes that Dot Our Planet

Spooky Lakes—25 Strange and Mysterious Lakes that Dot Our Planet

By: Geo Rutherford
Illustrated by:
Geo Rutherford
ISBN: 9781419770531
Nonfiction, 7-12, Science / Nature
 
The Squad—A Graphic Novel (The Tryout #2)

The Squad—A Graphic Novel (The Tryout #2)

By: Christina Soontornvat
Illustrated by:
Joanna Cacao
ISBN: 9781338741315
Nonfiction, 7-12, Biography / Memoir
 
Stealing Little Moon—The Legacy of the American Indian Boarding Schools (Scholastic Focus)

Stealing Little Moon—The Legacy of the American Indian Boarding Schools (Scholastic Focus)

By: Dan SaSuWeh Jones
ISBN: 9781338889475
Nonfiction, 7-12, Biography / Memoir
 
A Suffragist’s Guide to the Antarctic

A Suffragist’s Guide to the Antarctic

By: Yi Shun Lai
ISBN: 9781665937764
Fiction, 7-12, Social Emotional Learning
 
Summer at Squee

Summer at Squee

By: Andrea Wang
ISBN: 9780593111314
Fiction, 7-12, BIPOC Characters and Creators
 
Taxi Ghost (A Graphic Novel)

Taxi Ghost (A Graphic Novel)

By: Sophie Escabasse
ISBN: 9780593565971
Fiction, 7-12, Fantasy
 
True Colors

True Colors

By: Abby Cooper
ISBN: 9781662620614
Fiction, 7-12, Fantasy
 
Ultraviolet

Ultraviolet

By: Aida Salazar
ISBN: 9781338775655
Fiction, 7-12, Coming of Age
 
Wild Dreamers

Wild Dreamers

By: Margarita Engle
ISBN: 9781665939751
Fiction, 7-12, Fantasy
 
Wings to Soar

Wings to Soar

By: Tina Athaide
ISBN: 9781623544317
Fiction, 7-12, Immigrant Experience
 
Winston Chu vs. the Wingmeisters

Winston Chu vs. the Wingmeisters

By: Stacey Lee
ISBN: 9781368075398
Fiction, 7-12, Folklore / Fairytales / Myths
 
The World-Famous Nine

The World-Famous Nine

By: Ben Guterson
Illustrated by:
Kristina Kister
ISBN: 9780316484442
Fiction, 7-12, Mystery / Thriller
 
The Worst-Case Scenario Survival Handbook For Kids

The Worst-Case Scenario Survival Handbook For Kids

By: David Borgenicht and Justin Heimberg
Illustrated by:
Wenke Kramp
ISBN: 9781683694564
Nonfiction, 7-12, Action / Adventure
Back to Top