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New Middle Grade and Series Books March 2026 |
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The Celestial Seas
by T. a. Chan
A tale of identity, love, and the hunt for vengeance in the darkest corners of space--perfect for fans of Iron Widow and Aurora Rising! Ishara Ming is the sole survivor of a spacefaring whaler destroyed by the Ballena, a legendary sentient spacecraft that haunts the darkness between stars. The fatal encounter left her with a metal-plated arm, a faulty memory chip, and a burning need for revenge. To take on the Ballena, Ishara assembles a crew of capable misfits. Among them is Quinn--her trusted first mate, the girl with wildfire eyes, and the only person who always stands by her side, even when everyone else thinks Ishara is a delusional captain who hallucinated the Ballena. That is, until Augustus, a ship mech armed with his own mysterious reasons for vengeance, convinces Ishara to let him join the crew. He brings the one thing Ishara's never had before: a tracking method tailored for finding the Ballena. Pulled between Quinn's and Augustus's gravitational forces, the pressure to issue increasingly risky orders, and the feeling that her past is rapidly catching up with her future, Ishara has to decide what--or who--she is fighting for before she loses another ship.
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The Setback
by Lynn Leitch
Liam has been dreaming of attending Camp Jackman, the ultimate summer camp for athletic kids, and all he needs is one more All-Star team for his application. But when Liam is cut from the baseball team, he will need to find a different sport--and fast--to get in.
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Ape Escape
by Stuart Gibbs
In the tenth novel in New York Times bestselling author Stuart Gibbs's FunJungle series, super sleuth Teddy Fitzroy is on the case to rescue an abducted young gorilla When a baby gorilla is stolen from an orphanage in Rwanda, Teddy, his parents, and an old family friend find themselves in a race against time to save it. Teddy has to piece together clues to figure out where the little ape is being taken while traveling through some of the most incredible--and dangerous--terrain in the world. At the same time, he's long-distance consulting with Summer to help solve another mystery back at FunJungle. Between facing down lions on the Serengeti and chasing poachers through the bazaars of Zanzibar, will Teddy be able to find the baby gorilla before it's too late?
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The Hybrid Prince (Wings of Fire, Book 16): Volume 16
by Tui T. Sutherland
The #1 New York Times bestselling series is back with a brand new tale Discover what happens next in this thrilling addition to the Wings of Fire saga.Umber was never supposed to be a hero . . . .As the youngest sibling of his MudWing hatching, Umber doesn't have the responsibilities of his bigwings, Reed, nor the heroic destiny prophesied for his brother, Clay. He's always been content with his role as the cheerful, goofy, little brother. But when his sister, Sora, causes a tragedy at Jade Mountain Academy, Umber finds himself on the run and thrown into a whole new role--that of protector.Umber and Sora fly south in search of a place where they can live far away from other dragons . . . until a kind, hybrid dragon named Mulberry saves him from a kraken attack, and Umber realizes they don't have to survive alone after all. In fact, there's an entire community living on a forgotten island, full of dragons hiding from their own dark pasts.As the two MudWings settle into the Court of Refuge, they start to realize that nothing in this place is quite what it seems, and the protection it offers comes with a price. Even as Umber falls for Prince Mulberry, he learns he must find a way to unlock the past of this mysterious island to ensure he and Sora have a future. And when the dragons in power try to stop him, he'll have to decide what he cares about most . . . and whether he can be the hero these dragons need after all.
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Falling to Fairyland
by Sarah Jean Horwitz
In this sinister and whimsical adventure, a changeling boy embarks on a magic quest of self-discovery through a Grimm-inspired Fairyland, perfect for fans of Kelly Barnhill and Aubrey Hartman. Cricket has lived with the Fairy Witch for as long as he can remember. She may be moody and cold, and sure, maybe even a little bit evil, but she raised him as her own--even though he's a human changeling with a rare and dangerous magic. But as his thirteenth Change Day approaches, Cricket worries she may kick him out of her tower if he can't prove his worth soon. When a knight from the human world falls (literally) into Fairyland, Cricket sees his chance. He knows the knight can lead him to a coveted missing piece of the Night Sky sure to impress Cricket's fickle guardian. But after chasing him out of the tower, Cricket learns the knight has been cursed and will die soon without help. Embarking now on a quest to break the curse and steal the piece of the Night Sky, the two are thrust into a Fairyland wider, weirder, and more beautiful than they expected. As they encounter delightful characters, eerie magic, and a mischievous narrator, Cricket and the knight may discover more than they bargained for--about who they are, who they can be, and who really has their best interests at heart. In this wildly imaginative, episodic fairy tale for the modern reader, acclaimed author Sarah Jean Horwitz delivers a powerful message of identity, independence, and self-love.
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Bat and the Case of the Yips
by Elana K. Arnold
The fifth installment in the Schneider Award Honor-winning young middle grade series starring an unforgettable young boy on the autism spectrum, from National Book Award finalist Elana K. Arnold.For Bixby Alexander Tam (nicknamed Bat), nothing is more important than Thor, his pet skunk. Especially not baseball, even though it's the favorite sport of his dad and his best friend, Israel. And when baseball season arrives and Israel wants Bat to join a team with him, Bat's dad makes him a deal: If Bat plays baseball this year, Dad will let him bring Thor to his apartment when Bat stays with him. It's an offer that Bat can't refuse.Before long, Bat discovers that being a part of a team requires more than he'd bargained for. But he can't quit the team without giving up time with Thor or letting Israel down....can he?
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Small Wonder
by Ross Montgomery
A heartwarming middle-grade adventure about the bond between two brothers, their faithful horse, and a surprising legacy. A deserving follow-up to I Am Rebel from a beloved author twice short-listed for the Costa Children's Book Award Remember everything I taught you, Small Wonder. Take care of Leaf. Take care of Pebble. I've done all I can. The rest is up to you . . . Tick, called Small Wonder by his grandfather, lives peacefully at the edge of Ellia, along with his little brother and faithful horse. But then a deadly assassin arrives. Enemies are invading and the kingdom is in danger. Tick has six moons to get to Kings' Keep and warn their ruler. Traveling through forests and over mountains, encountering bandits and rogue knights, Tick is determined to honor his grandfather's last words of advice . . . Make it count.
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All That Chandni Knows
by Khushboo Patel
A novel in verse set in India at the turn of the millennium that follows a twelve-year-old girl as she navigates new beginnings, difficult truths, and a crush.
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Tested
by Anna Monders
When a DNA test reveals that her elite genetic status belongs to another girl, fourteen-year-old Mikayla grapples with her place in an unjust society.
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Warriors: Changing Skies #3: Chasing Shadows
by Erin Hunter
Erin Hunter's #1 bestselling Warriors series continues with the third book in the Changing Skies arc. Two cats--an elder and an apprentice--believe that only they can save the Clans from certain destruction.Moonpaw finally confesses to her Clanmates that her dead sister has been torturing her in her mind, and the Clan rallies around her in support. But as Moonpaw grows closer to Goldenpaw, her sister's threats become more ominous, and even turn bloody. Moonpaw worries she's a danger to her entire Clan. Would Thunderclan be better off without her?Tawnypelt is sure that the prophecy she received from Bluestar is a dire warning--and she believes that only the Elders can see the Clans through the oncoming danger. Frustrated with his mother, Tigerstar bans her from speaking of the prophecy, so Tawnypelt takes refuge in ThunderClan. She begins to wonder if her true place is in the Clan of her birth.Amidst all this, Starlingpaw grows bolder in his belief that he alone must save the Clans. But can an apprentice really hold the key to their salvation?
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Wilderness Hacks
by Joslin Brorsen
Hatchet meets Survivor in this high-action, humor-filled middle grade adventure about two kids stranded in the wilderness, whose annoyance with each other rivals the roaring rapids and ferocious predators they must face. 12-year-old Sadie Hahn didn't plan to eat grubs on camera to win a contest. And she definitely didn't plan to win first prize--a guest appearance on a Youtube show hosted by America's favorite 13-year-old survivalist Radley Shaw. But she'll do anything to cheer up her little brother Silas, who's too young to qualify. Rad has millions of followers and exactly zero real-life friends, so the contest is a great chance for him to hang out with kids his own age. But it's hate-at-first-sight when Silas throws a wrench in his plan and Sadie decides Rad is just a clueless poser who doesn't know the first thing about survival. Disaster strikes when their scripted rafting trip turns into a real fight for survival. Lost in the mountains, Rad and Sadie must find shelter, build a fire, forage for food and try not to become food for a hungry predator. But can they stop bickering long enough to hack it in the wilderness? And will that be enough to keep them alive?
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Awake Among the Stars
by Jordan Quinn
Prince Lucas and Lady Clara try to change the future set in the stars in this twenty-third magical adventure of The Kingdom of Wrenly series! The Kingdom of Wrenly's latest trend is reading your fortune written among the stars. Prince Lucas is skeptical until his unlucky fortune starts coming true, too. Can stars really decide your luck? Lucas and Clara embark on a nighttime adventure to find out--but no prediction could have prepared them for meeting mysterious constellations that have come to life! With easy-to-read language and illustrations on almost every page, The Kingdom of Wrenly chapter books are perfect for emerging readers.
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The Blue Dress
by Rebecca Morrison
For fans of Jasmine Warga and Starfish, an Iranian American girl navigates complicated relationships with her mother, her best friend, and her body image in this unflinching and ultimately uplifting middle-grade debut.
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Grandpere's Ghost Swamp
by Rachel M. Marsh
Sixth-grader Basil Theriot is haunted by her grandfather's ghost and must reconnect with her Cajun roots in order to help him pass on..
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The Queen's Granddaughter
by Diane Zahler
Embark on a sweeping journey of self-discovery in this adventurous middle grade novel perfect for fans of Karen Cushman and Gary Paulsen.
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Relic of Thieves
by Shana Targosz
With Senka's help, twelve-year-old Anya must rescue her best friend Lizzie from captivity in the underworld and face the consequences of stealing Persephone's keys.
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You Are Now Old Enough to Hear This
by Aaron Starmer
There's always more to the story. In the latest middle grade speculative novel from Spontaneous author Aaron Starmer, Roman follows the twisted threads of bizarre family legends and magical secrets to write his own chapter in his peculiar family narrative. A triumph of imaginative storytelling...--Booklist, starred review The Toe Beast looms large in the Barnes family lore--a tale concocted by twelve-year-old Roman's grandpa to explain his missing toe. But Roman has never actually heard the full story, and after his grandpa dies suddenly, it seems like he never will. That is, until Roman is tasked with clearing out his grandpa's house, and stumbles upon some strange things. An old mason jar full of formaldehyde, a mysterious handwritten book about a girl and a pack of dogs, a rusty metal bucket with peculiar abilities. And they all tie back to extraordinary secrets from the distant past. By unraveling even more unbelievable stories that have been hidden from him, Roman is forced to rethink how he fits into his family's history. Now it's up to him to see his own story through to the end. Because the Toe Beast was only the beginning . . .
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Mission Microraptor
by Philip Kavvadias
A school trip to the Alps turns dangerous when Finn and Milo must protect a hatchling microraptor they discovered from a squad of army-trained mercenaries determined to capture it.
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Red River Rose
by Carole Lindstrom
This adventurous historical novel by bestselling author of We Are Water Protectors Carole Lindstrom offers readers a dramatic portrayal of a young Métis girl who takes a stand to protect her way of life. Perfect for fans of Linda Sue Park and Pam Muñoz Ryan.
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Breakout
by Christina Wyman
From the USA Today-bestselling author of Jawbreaker and Slouch, Breakout is a fresh and funny middle-grade novel about a girl with chronic acne figuring out how to feel good in her own skin.
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The Curse Breaker
by Jen Calonita
After twelve-year-old Benny finally reaches the Isle of Ever, she must play a challenging new gamefind the lost piece of pirate treasure needed to break the curse once and for all.
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Glory Be
by Jamie Sumner
Nine-year-old Glory searches the city of New Orleans for her missing dog, Roux, while navigating a difficult relationship with father, who may have something to do with her pup's disappearance.
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Hafsa's Way
by Aisha Saeed
Hafsa, a determined Pakistani girl who dreams of becoming a doctor despite her familys disapproval, is begrudgingly allowed to attend an elite summer science camp in Lahore, where she faces isolation, unexpected challenges, and family pressures but refuses to let anything derail her ambitions.
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Landslide
by Betty Culley
Nathan, a perceptive ten-year-old who lives across from the town's controversial landfill, notices it shifting and must find a way to stop a looming garbage landslide and save his father, who works atop the heap driving the compactor.
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Mystery on Macaw Mountain
by MarÃa José Fitzgerald
When eight endangered macaws are stolen from a bird sanctuary in the Mayan ruins of Copan, four sleuthing cousins must find out who took them-and why.
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No Way Never Sisters
by Chantel Acevedo
Two girls refuse to be related and try and keep their parents apart, only to find acceptance in the end.
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Queso, Just in Time
by Ernesto Cisneros
Queso wishes under the full moon to see his late father again, and suddenly finds himself back in 1985 with twelve-year-old Pancho, the boy who will grow up to be his dad-and who needs Queso's help to imagine a better future.
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Wolf Girl #3: The Secret Cave
by Anh Do
The Secret Cave is the third book in the Wolf Girl series, a thrilling middle grade series about a young girl, separated from her family, who has to learn to survive with only her new canine family by her side, from Australian bestselling author and stand-up comedian Anh Do.Gwen has been searching for her family for a long time. Just when she feels she is close, the soldiers following her start to close in. Then one of her dogs is injured, and the gang must slow down to care for him...Who can Gwen trust? And how will she keep her pack safe from dangerous enemies? Does this spell disaster for the one and only Wolf Girl?With black-and-white illustrations on every page, The Secret Cave is perfect for action fans and emergent middle grade readers. It's the third book in the long-running series from Anh Do, beloved comedian, bestselling author of The Happiest Refugee and the WeirDo series, and Dancing with the Stars runner-up.
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The Academy V: Cup of Nations
by T. Z. Layton
When fourteen-year-old Leo joins the junior national team, he learns a valuable lesson about leadership as he strives to take an underdog team from the United States to victory.
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Aku: Journey to Ibra
by Micah Johnson
A boy discovers an astronaut helmet that takes him to the planet Ibra where he must save the universe.
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Energy Thief
by Linda Chapman
In the 14th installment of the Star Friends series, Mia, Lexi, Sita, Violet, and Maddie are determined to find out who was doing dark magic at a recent charity run. But when they learn that someone is secretly watching them practice magic in the woods, can they figure out what's going on? At a recent charity run, Mia and the other Star Friends suspected that someone was involved in dark magic and vowed to find out who it was. Now, Mia is having magic dreams--someone is secretly watching the group practice magic in the woods! Does this have anything to do with what happened at the charity run? With black-and-white illustrations throughout. In the Star Friends chapter book series, Mia and her friends Lexi, Sita, Violet, and new friend Maddie all discover that they are Star Friends -- they can communicate with the animals that have traveled from the Star World. The animals show the girls how to use their unique magic abilities to do good. A whole world of magical adventures awaits!
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The Magic of Someday Soon
by Michelle Lee
Twelve-year-old Zoe, who longs to settle down after years on the road, and Teddy, who is determined to save her family's crumbling Fossil Gardens theme park, meet and together uncover family secrets, discover unexpected magic, and form a lasting friendship.
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Magnitude
by Jennifer A. Nielsen
From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Iceberg and The Free State of Jax comes the harrowing story of the fight for survival during the Great San Francisco Earthquake of 1906 and the desperate race to find survivors.San Francisco, 1906.When Cora leaves her house in the early morning hours of April 18th, she expects trouble to find her, like it somehow always does. But as she makes her way to the San Francisco docks to look for her father, the earth begins to shake and suddenly, Cora realizes that she's not just in trouble--she's in danger.Soon after, the last thing Cora remembers seeing is a tall building swaying overhead, before everything goes dark.When Cora wakes up, she's trapped underground with Chi, whom she met by accident on the way to the docks. They're running short on air and time, when miraculously, Cora's friend Oliver pulls them from the rubble. Once she's above ground again, Cora is shocked to find herself in a city that has been decimated by a massive earthquake.Together, Cora, Chi, and Oliver begin a desperate search for their families, all the while trying to evade terrifying fires that are tearing through the wreckage and a gang of thieves who are pursuing Cora and a valuable secret she holds.From beloved #1 New York Times bestselling author Jennifer A. Nielsen comes a thrilling, suspenseful story about courage, friendship, and the strength it takes to survive one of the most terrible natural disasters this country has ever seen.
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Midnight Mayhem
by Christina Uss
Kaz Jakobsen can't sleep.Ever again. Kaz Jakobsen knows things will never be the same after his family's sudden move to Philadelphia. He'll have to make new friends, which isn't his strong suit. But an even bigger change arrives at a restaurant where he orders a bagel sandwich. Kaz eats a potent combo of the world's greenest mustard and rootiest rootbeer and loses his ability to sleep. Scientifically, brain + no sleep = kablammo. The longest a human insomniac has gone without sleep is eleven days. What will happen to Kaz without sleep for more than seventy years? How will he survive the lonely boredom? Kaz luckily meets Floyd, a fellow non-sleeping kid, at a sleep study lab. Floyd thinks being sleepless is a super-power, a chance to try a million new things. He takes Kaz on madcap midnight adventures, introducing him to all the things kids are allowed to do at night in Philadelphia. And a few things they aren't. The bad news: his ideas always seem to lead to mayhem. Kaz wants to keep Floyd's friendship but lose the mayhem. When he learns there's an antidote to a lifetime awake, he has a tough choice to make. If Kaz cures his sleeplessness, will he lose the best friend he's ever had?
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Phoenix
by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley
Eleven-year-old Harper, struggling with the implosion of her family, finds connection with an abused horse, rides for the first time, and makes cautious friendships with a group of kids training at the stable next door.
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Roohi and Nate Are Not on the Same Page
by Supriya Kelkar
From award-winning author-illustrators Supriya Kelkar and Jarrett Lerner comes an illustrated middle-grade novel about a pair of unlikely friends determined to save the library that brought them together.Roohi and Nate are not friends. Their paths have crossed a handful of times over the years--and the outcome has never been good. Nate thinks Roohi is a snobby know-it-all, and Roohi thinks Nate is nothing but a slacker.But that begins to change when they both somewhat reluctantly join a reading club that meets during lunch at their school library. The Lunch Bunch allows Roohi to open up about feeling disconnected from her friends on the track team after a broken toe sidelined her for the season.Nate, who has always struggled in school, shares how tired he is of constantly being compared to his genius older brother. Despite their differences, and maybe because of them, Roohi and Nate form a friendship unlike any other they've ever had, with each other and with the other kids in the club.As the Lunch Bunch gets stronger, though, things seem to be falling apart at the library. When the kids learn that their beloved librarian, Mrs. Sharp's, job may be in danger due to budget cuts, they band together to find a solution . . . which proves to be easier said than done.Can Roohi and Nate's new friendship survive outside of the Lunch Bunch in order to save the place that brought them together?
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The Unlikely Tale of Chase and Finnegan
by Jasmine Warga
From the Newbery Honor-winning and #1 New York Times bestselling author of A Rover's Story comes the moving story of a cheetah who forms a friendship with a rescue dog-a bond that will change their lives forever. Perfect for fans of Katherine Applegate and Rosanne Parry.
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When Tomorrow Burns
by Tae Keller
Three former friends reunite to find a book that could save their lives and friendship.
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The Stowaway
by Griffin McElroy
From Griffin McElroy, co-author of the New York Times bestselling graphic novel series The Adventure Zone, comes a laugh-out-loud science fiction thrill ride you won't be able to put down. Choose Your Own Adventure books-the 4th bestselling children's series of all time-are back and as much fun as you remember. Kids and adults agree, these are the books that get 9- to 12-year-olds reading. In the farthest reaches of a war-torn galaxy, a military transport cruiser barrels toward a supermassive black hole. The crew has vanished. The security drones have gone haywire. And the ship has flown light years off-course. It falls to a single passenger to decide the fate of this doomed voyage: A stowaway tucked into a pocket of the ship's hull. Unfortunately for the reader, YOU are that stowaway. It's your turn to sit at the table with your friendly neighborhood Game Master Griffin McElroy as he guides you down paths both hilarious and harrowing. Can you evade deadly robots, find the missing crew, and escape the ship before it reaches its final, fatal destination? Or will the Astral Order get you first?
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Lola Levine and the Dinosaur Scene
by Monica Brown
During Dinosaur Week at school, Lola Levine goes on a class trip to the Museum of Natural History with her brother Ben.
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Mave Makes It Work (Forever Fairies #8): Volume 8
by Maddy Mara
Join the four Alpha Wings on their adventures in the Magic Forest These Forever Fairies will need to do all they can to help save the day.Welcome back to the Magic Forest The day of the Midblossom Ball has finally arrived, but the evil snake spirit Serpentina has struck again. She's kidnapped all the trolls Mave and the other Alpha Wings must do everything in their power to bring them home safely. But the only thing Serpentina wants is to control the Forever Tree. Can the fairies figure out a way to save both their friends and their home before the ball?
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