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New & Coming Soon Books for Middle Schoolers May 2026 |
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Listen to the Girls
by Chrystal D. Giles
Calla has always had smart-girl energy. She's Josiah the track star's practical younger sister. Charlee and Jacoby's problem-solving best friend. Attorney Dionne Howard's model daughter. So it's nice when someone seems to see her for her, outside of all that. But what if that person is a grown-up who maybe isn't as trustworthy as Calla thought? Calla's mom likes to say Always do what you know is right. But what if you don't know what the right thing is? These are the questions Calla faces on the last day of seventh grade, when she finds out that her favorite teacher has been accused of inappropriate conduct at his old school. Calla doesn't know what really happened. She does know that people are saying mean things about the girls who have spoken out--and that can't be right... can it? Inspired by her favorite newsblogger, EboniNews (whose motto is Amplify. Connect. Truth. ACT.), Calla has an idea. Can she find a way to ACT?
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Making Waves
by Lee Heart
Emma is so excited for summer vacation to officially start. She's going on a cruise with her family for five amazing days The first day they board the boat, the most awesome thing happens. She meets Justin, who is probably the cutest guy ever. And he's smart and nice and Emma thinks he might like her But between drama with her twin stepsisters and being busy making new friends on the boat, it's hard to find Justin anywhere. And Emma doesn't think he's even going to the farewell dance Will she be able to talk to Justin before the trip is over?
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Styx and Stones
by Gary D. Schmidt
Simon expected more from life than being orphaned in ancient Greece and stuck in the Underworld for eternity. Determined not to forget who he is, he commits himself to escaping Hades. Along the way, he faces the monster Cerberus, befriends the tormented Sisyphus, and becomes Persephone's favorite servant. Then, after centuries of failed attempts, he is finally thrust into modern times--and into the stall of a middle school bathroom. Naked. With the help of Zeke, a nerdy rich kid on the social fringes, Simon learns to navigate this amazing and bewildering world. And with Simon's help, Zeke begins to question his comfortable life and understand the true meaning of friendship. Everything seems to be going great . . . until the god of the Underworld sends a demon girl to bring Simon back. And suddenly, it's not just the secret of Simon's past that's threatened, but their very lives--and everyone's around them, too. Is their friendship strong enough to withstand the Will of Hades and save St. Nikolaos Academy Middle School?
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The Second Life of Snap
by Erin Entrada Kelly
Bright Valley Subsidized Camp #5 is not a perfect place to live. It's dusty, there are no trees to provide respite from the beating sun, the trailers are falling apart, and the water supply is heavily rationed. But to twelve-year-old Zuzu Santos and her three best friends, Bright Valley is home. When Zuzu's dad loses his job at Lockwood, the corporation that controls everything from rations to education, he isn't given money or food or water as severance, but a dated, first-generation robot. They do not provide a working charging station. Zuzu names the robot Snap, and he soon becomes part of the Bright Valley family. But Snap's battery is dwindling every day, and though Snap is prepared for his inevitable reset, Zuzu isn't. She would do whatever it takes to keep Snap alive. The problem is, Snap would do the same for Zuzu and her friends, no matter the cost.
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This Could All Go Bad
by Spencer Hall
One night can change everything in this hilarious and heartfelt novel perfect for young teens about to start high school. Perfect for former fans of Diary of a Wimpy Kid.
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The Chismosas Only Book Club
by Laekan Zea Kemp
Cat, Sofia, Ana, and Mari are best friends. Nothing, nada, can break their bond. When Cat's mom scolds them for their loud cackling at the bookstore, calling them a bunch of chismosas, the name sticks. Cat creates the The Chismosas Only Book Club, giving the girls a way to stay connected as they begin high school. But ninth grade is hard, and it seems like no amount of conchas y libros y risas at Milagro's Books, founded generations ago by Cat's great-great-great-grandmother, can repair the ever-growing cracks in their friendship. But maybe the spirit of Milagro herself can... Brimming with whimsy and heart, and woven with black-and-white graphic novel chapters, this enchanting book celebrates the magic of friendship, the embrace of ancestors, and the power of stories to hold us together.
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Double Crossed: The WWII Spies Who Saved D-Day
by Rebecca E. F. Barone
In the fall of 1943, German troops controlled nearly all of continental Europe. The one chance the Allies had of punching through the German front meant keeping the enemy distracted and in the dark. They had to take the Germans by surprise on D-Day. The mission: trick the Germans into believing the Allies would strike anywhere but their true target, the beaches of Normandy. Featuring historical photos and breathtaking true accounts, Double Crossed tells the exhilarating story of Operation Bodyguard, the mind-boggling effort to lay a false trail for the Germans using fake armies, decoy landings, and the covert work of double agents and spies who risked their lives. With millions of lives hanging in the balance, victory--or defeat--in World War II depended on the Nazis being caught unaware.
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Color Me Country: A Celebration of Black Women Who Shaped Country Music
by Book Author
In 2020, Linda Martell, the first Black woman to play on the legendary Grand Ole Opry, celebrated the fifty-year anniversary of her debut album. That record, Color Me Country, marked a vital milestone for generations of Black and brown female musicians. Mining a bounty of stories and packed with resources, this collective tribute to artists like Martell--who have defiantly loved a genre that didn't always love them back--pairs nearly twenty mini-biographies with playful portraits in full color by Rhiannon Giddens, a musical legend in her own right. Each profile is a love letter to pioneers in country, Americana, and roots music who set the stage--or grace it today--with guts and soul.
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Clock Hands: A Graphic Novel
by Marieke Nijkamp
Vale has always dreamed of being a metalworker's apprentice. But in Siannerra, the guilds rule with an iron fist, and their apprenticeship fees are impossibly high. So Vale and their guildless family must make do with the pennies and scraps they're able to cobble together with work on the docks or in the market. Until Maestro Giuseppe arrives from abroad, determined to build the city's first astronomical clock. He doesn't care for fees or exclusionary practices--and he sees Vale's talent. He invites Vale into his workshop, and for a while Vale believes all their dreams are coming true. But everything in Siannerra belongs to the guilds, and if anyone tries to break free, there are consequences. Sometimes the gravest of consequences. Still, Vale refuses to stop dreaming. Or fighting. With the help of their friends, they plan to take on the might of the guilds. And together, they may just be strong enough to bend iron to their will.With nuanced and instantly loveable characters and a fully realized, vibrantly illustrated setting, bestselling author Marieke Nijkamp and illustrator Sylvie Bi show once again how anyone--no matter their age--can change their world. An excellent choice for fans of the Lightfall and Wingbearer series.
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The New Girl: First Crush: A Graphic Novel (the New Girl #2)
by Cassandra Calin
Lia is finally feeling settled into her new life. Her friends are amazing, her French is improving, and her periods... ugh, those are still terrible. But Lia's crush, Julien, is noticing her. Lia thinks he likes her, but she can't tell for sure. And while she's obsessing over him, Lia's not noticing another person's growing crush on HER. With so many big feelings and even bigger changes, could things get any worse?
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Opting Out
by Maia Kobabe
Saachi is a storyteller. At school, she's surrounded by kids she's known forever -- including her best friend, Lyla, who shares Saachi's love of fantasy novels and creating new worlds. But as seventh grade starts, kids are changing. Suddenly, it matters who you like and if you can find a boyfriend or girlfriend. Even Lyla seems more interested in hanging out with her new boyfriend than in writing and drawing with Saachi anymore. Saachi's not interested in any of that boy/girl stuff. Why can't things just stay the way they were? Saachi also doesn't love all the ways her body is changing. What if she doesn't feel like a girl -- or like a boy, either? In a world where there is so much either/or, Saachi is going to need to find her own options... and create her own story.
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Queer and How We Got Here: A (Personal) History
by Hazel Newlevant
Queer and How We Got Here weaves queer history with personal narrative to paint a nuanced and poignant picture of gender expression and queer experience in today's world.
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Sunflowers and Lavender: A Graphic Novel
by Maisy Valais
Awkward romantic Penny and shy musician Bianca are thrown together by mishaps from an accidental dognapping to rival bakeries as they navigate stage fright, shifting friendships, and first love.
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