I’m a picturebook writer, and my kids are all grown up. But I know that many of you out there have both picturebook readers and older children ready for more mature storytelling challenges.
Whether you’ve got reluctant readers or kids who devour every novel under the sun, finding books you know will make for worthwhile reading can be a challenge. That’s why I decided to put together this list of interesting middle grade books coming out in the next several months.
The Secret Language of Birds
by Lynne Kelly
Do you have a burgeoning environmentalist in your midst? Nurture their love of nature with this story about a girl trying to protect a pair of endangered birds while doing her best to fit in at summer camp. The Secret Language of Birds is about a girl striving to find her own (wait for it) flock.
Hummingbird Season
by Stephanie V.W. Lucianovic
A verse novel focusing on the early part of the Covid-19 pandemic, Hummingbird Season is about the things that make us feel alone, and the things that bring us together.
Daydreamer
by Rob Cameron
In Daydreamer, a lonely, bullied boy survives by reimagining the real struggles he’s dealing with as things in a fantasy realm. But when some fantasy villains move into his apartment building, he is forced to face reality.
The Liars Society
by Alyson Gerber
An elite boarding school in New England. Stolen class funds. Unspoken rules. Dark pasts. In The Liars Society, five kids join together to solve the mystery of the money – but end up discovering things about each other’s pasts.
Just Keep Walking
by Erin Soderberg
In the tradition of Hatchet, 12-year-old Jo sets out to hike a 100-mile trail with her mom – to prove to her dad they can do it without him. But along the way, Just Keep Walking becomes a test of survival, resilience, and endurance that is far more about the mother and daughter bond.
Read These Books – and Have Conversations with Your Kids
This list barely scratches the surface of what’s out there, but hopefully it provides you with some interesting choices for books that will speak to your kids on their level – and give you something valuable to talk about.
