The Best Children’s and YA Books of August 2021

by the Brightly Editors

Welcome to the dog days of summer! There are just a few weeks left for kids to read as many non-school-related books as they want. So, whether your kids love soaking up the sunshine or staying inside and out of the heat, it’s a good idea to have a few books on hand to keep them occupied and entertained. From heartfelt picture books to heart-pounding thrillers, here are the best children’s and YA books releasing this month.

  • Chapter Books & Middle Grade

  • J.D. and the Family Business

    by J. Dillard, illustrated by Akeem S. Roberts

    Available from:

    Young entrepreneurs will love this illustrated chapter book series about a boy who starts a haircutting business and earns a chair at the local salon. In this sequel to the first book, J.D. and the Great Barber Battle, J.D. and his sister team up to take over the world of hairstyling. The strong-willed siblings must learn to work together if they want to succeed.
    (On sale: 8/3/21)

    Also available from:
  • Dead Wednesday

    by Jerry Spinelli

    Available from:

    This middle grade novel is a classic in the making from one of the most beloved authors for children. On a day when eighth-graders are supposed to be invisible, Worm Tarnauer gets the fright of his life when the ghost of a dead teen appears. Even worse — this ghost is bossy! But she also befriends and challenges Worm in all the right ways. Young readers will love this thought-provoking story about a boy who discovers himself through an unusual friendship.
    (On sale: 8/3/21)

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  • Kingdom of Secrets

    by Christyne Morrell

    This fast-paced fantasy adventure already has early readers raving about it. In a kingdom surrounded by an enormous wall, only the hot air balloons come and go as they please. When Prismena gets blackmailed into smuggling something over the wall in her father’s balloon, he gets arrested. Desperate to save her father, she teams up with her blackmailer and gets caught up in a revolution. Twists, turns, action, and humor combine into a novel that kids will find irresistible.
    (On sale: 8/3/21)

  • Black Boy Joy

    edited by Kwame Mbalia

    Available from:

    If you’re on the hunt for a book with plenty of feel-good vibes, don’t miss this delightful collection of upbeat stories featuring Black boys. With 17 stories that include comics, realistic fiction, science fiction, and more, there’s something here for everyone.
    (On sale: 8/3/21)

    Also available from:
  • Dark Waters

    by Katherine Arden

    Available from:

    With Halloween just around the corner, now is an excellent time to read a spooky story. The third book in the Small Spaces series takes readers on a spine-tingling wilderness survival adventure with a group of friends, a monster, and a villain who loves to play sinister games. Kids that enjoy books with thrills, chills, and things that go bump in the night will want to devour this novel in one sitting.
    (On sale: 8/10/21)

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  • Pizza and Taco: Super-Awesome Comic!

    by Stephen Shaskan

    Available from:

    Your two favorite foods are back with the third goofy graphic novel in the Pizza and Taco series for readers ages 5-8. In this installment, the foods team up to create a comic book, resulting in a hilarious (and tasty) battle of artistic wills, superpowers, and imagination.
    (On sale: 8/10/21)

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  • Dinosaur

    by DK

    Available from:

    Aspiring paleontologists and fans of the TV show Dino Hunters will love this new book about dinosaurs. Readers will learn all about the giant animals, from what they ate to where and when they lived, by studying their fossils. It’s filled with kid-friendly facts and information that will keep young readers engrossed for hours at a time.
    (On sale: 8/24/21)

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  • Fast Pitch

    by Nic Stone

    Available from:

    Kids interested in sports, history, and friendship stories will love the latest release from #1 New York Times bestselling author Nic Stone. Shenice is the captain of her all-Black softball team, which she hopes to take to the Fast Pitch World Series. When she learns an upsetting secret about her great-grandfather, Shenice searches for the truth, neglecting her team in the process.
    (On sale: 8/31/21)

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  • Witches of Brooklyn: What the Hex?!

    by Sophie Escabasse

    Available from:

    Send your child on a witchy graphic novel adventure with this sequel to Witches of Brooklyn. Effie loves her group of friends and has been making slow but constant progress with her magic skills. But when friendship drama arises, and an evil force pops up in town, Effie must lean on her budding magical abilities to help her through.
    (On sale: 9/7/21)

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  • YA

  • Both Sides Now

    by Peyton Thomas

    Available from:

    Teen readers will fall head-over-heels in love with this story about a trans teen named Finch who dreams of going to college in Washington D.C. and becoming a congressman. But before he can do that, he needs to tackle his senior year of high school, including unexpected crushes, debate tournaments, and self-advocacy.
    (On sale: 8/24/21)

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  • Dark and Shallow Lies

    by Ginny Myers Sain

    Available from:

    Take a trip deep into Louisiana, where psychics are on every corner and girls go missing without a trace. So when her best friend disappears, Grey tries to find out what happened. But everyone in her small Southern town has a secret, and nobody is willing to talk. This dark, supernatural mystery thriller will keep you on the edge of your seat!
    (On sale: 8/31/21)

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  • The Woods Are Always Watching

    by Stephanie Perkins

    Available from:

    From the New York Times bestselling author of There’s Someone Inside Your House comes another quick and creepy slasher novel that will keep you reading well past your bedtime. Before they head off to separate colleges, Neena and Josie decide to spend an epic weekend camping and hiking. But their trip takes a sinister turn when they leave the trail and run into something far deadlier than the local wildlife.
    (On sale: 8/31/21)

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  • A Lesson in Vengeance

    by Victoria Lee

    Available from:

    Dust off your plaid, tweed, and worn leather because it’s time for a dark academia novel! Boarding school, buried secrets, and multiple murders combine in this atmospheric and utterly captivating YA thriller. If you’re in the mood for a spooky book that will send shivers down your spine, add this to your reading stack!
    (On sale: 8/31/21)

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  • Take Me With You When You Go

    by David Levithan and Jennifer Niven

    Available from:

    When Ezra’s sister Bea runs away from home, she leaves everything behind, including an email address meant just for him. While Bea makes a new life for herself, Ezra remains at home with their abusive and neglectful parents. Each sibling must find out who they are while hanging on to the last shred of family they have left — each other. This heartfelt novel from the authors of All the Bright Places and Every Day is the perfect book to end the summer.
    (On sale: 8/31/21)

    Also available from: