The Best Middle Grade & Chapter Books of 2024
by Janssen Bradshaw
2024 has been a BANNER year for middle grade books! This year brought exciting stories from debut authors, continuations of favorite series, and new titles from beloved creators. In this list, I’ve rounded up the best middle grade and chapter books published in 2024. Whether your kid loves adventurous stories, humorous books, or more serious topics, these fantastic options are waiting to be cracked open!
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The Bletchley Riddle
Buy from:The collaboration between these two bestselling authors makes me want to drop everything and read this book immediately. This middle grade historical fiction novel follows two siblings in WWII as they try to improve their lives. Older brother Jakob works to help solve the Nazi’s Enigma cipher, while Lizzie attempts to find their missing mother.
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Popcorn
Buy from:Rob Harrell, the author of the bestselling book Wink, hit the shelves with a new story about anxiety and OCD, but with a humorous spin on it! Andrew’s biggest worry is making it through Picture Day. As his anxiety bubbles up, he hears news that his grandmother with Alzheimer’s is missing! Can he use his coping skills to make it through this awful day?
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Impossible Creatures
Buy from:Christopher’s life changes forever when he finds out about Archipelago, a group of unmarked islands that house magical creatures. On the same day, he meets a girl named Mal, who is on the run. The two team up for a crazy adventure and search for clues behind the island's weakening magic. An instant #1 New York Times bestseller, this book is not to be missed!
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Puggleton Park #1
Buy from:The cover of this book has me swooning! Penelope, a well-mannered and happy pug, lands in a pickle when she gets lost at the park. Luckily, Lady Diggleton swoops her up, and Penelope quickly grows to love her. The only problem is Lady Diggleton is trying to find her previous owner, and Penelope doesn’t want to leave her new home.
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Sing It Like Celia
Buy from:When Salva's life takes an unexpected turn, she clings to her love for Celia Cruz and her passion for singing. Relocating to a remote RV campground with her dad, Salva soon makes new friends and discovers they've formed a band. Captivated by her stunning voice, they eagerly invite her to join. Through the magic of music, Salva finds her voice, uncovers her true self, and embraces a vibrant new community. A heartwarming journey perfect for fans of Merci Suárez Changes Gears.
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The Night Librarian: A Graphic Novel
Buy from:Page and Turner are twins who love to read (no surprise with names like those!). They spend their afternoons in the New York City library until the villains from classic books escape and start causing mayhem. The twins must act quickly to save their beloved library from utter destruction!
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Louder Than Hunger
Buy from:This middle grade realistic fiction book tells the story of Jake, who isn’t like the other kids at school. He enjoys working at the nursing home because he would rather be around people who aren’t his age. He also struggles with not eating enough. Jake feels a sense of power when he doesn’t eat, even though he knows it isn’t good for him. This beautifully written book delivers a timely message of self-acceptance, supporting one another, and honesty.
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It Came From The Trees
Buy from:Get ready for a spine-tingling adventure, in this modern Bigfoot story! When Jenna's best friend Reese goes missing in the woods, no one believes her wild story about a mysterious creature. Determined to find Reese, Jenna teams up with her new scout troop to uncover the truth. With giant footprints, eerie noises, and a lurking monster, can Jenna and her friends survive the night?
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Bisby Cross and the Bad Apple
Buy from:Bisby Cross is a positive, perky, all-things-are-peachy kind of eight-year-old. She is thrilled to head back to school because she loves school, but Bisby’s new teacher isn’t too keen on her. After her teacher puts a significant damper on Bisby’s science fair project, Bisby struggles to keep a positive attitude. This is an excellent chapter book series for lower elementary school students.
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We Are Big Time
Buy from:Kids who have loved Roller Girl and The Crossover will enjoy this colorful graphic novel. After moving from Florida to Wisconsin, Aliya is excited but nervous about starting at a new Islamic school and joining the girls’ basketball team, which happens to be terrible. As the girls improve their skills on the court, they realize they also need confidence and teamwork to make the wins start rolling in.
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Max in the House of Spies
Buy from:A young Jewish boy becomes a British spy to return to war-torn Berlin to look for his parents. With two tiny traveling companions on his shoulders, Max sets off on the adventure of a lifetime. This quirky, funny book delivers an irresistible and essential story for historical fiction lovers.
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The Secret Library
Buy from:Imagine finding a secret library where each book is a portal to a specific time period! 11-year-old Dally experiences this after her grandfather dies and leaves her an envelope containing a map to this incredible library. Will Dally continue living outside reality by immersing herself in the secret library, or will she learn to face her problems head-on?
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The Adventures of Invisible Boy
Buy from:Would you love to be invisible? Stanley sure would and can’t believe his luck when an unfortunate spill at the science fair makes his dream come true. This new graphic novel series is perfect for those who love adventure and mayhem!
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Amil and the After
Buy from:Amil and his twin sister Nisha are unsure of their new surroundings in India. Moving from what is now Pakistan to a new country left them feeling unsettled. Amil uses his drawings to tell his story during this time of uncertainty and vulnerability.
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May the Best Player Win
Buy from:When May Li’s middle-school chess team wins the state championship and is headed to nationals, she earns praise and recognition; an award for top female player and a feature in a major chess magazine! But some teammates, including her friend Ralph, are questioning her skills. Determined to prove herself, May bets that she can win the school tournament and become team captain. As pressure mounts, she wonders if she can still enjoy playing chess while also playing to win. Can she balance fun and competition?
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The Frindle Files
Buy from:I loved Frindle and was delighted to see a follow-up book! Although the two books can be read together, they also can stand alone. Do you know a kid who loves gaming? That’s Josh Willet. This tech-savvy boy gets frustrated when his new ELA teacher won’t let them use technology. When Josh discovers his teacher is hiding a secret about his past involving technology, Josh and his friends team up to uncover the mystery.
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The Misfits #1: A Royal Conundrum
Buy from:Kids who have outgrown The Bad Guys will love this highly illustrated series starter from Newbery Honoree Lisa Yee and Caldecott Medalist Dan Santat. It’s about a group of pre-teen misfits at a boarding school for amateur crime fighters. They must work together to stop a major heist and save the school from closing. If your kid obsesses over heist stories, add this book to their New Year’s reading list!
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All the Best Dogs
Buy from:Four dogs and their sixth-grade owners meet at a dog park on a weekend in June. Each individual (including the dogs) has something they are worried about, some bigger than others. The kids and dogs experience many unexpected and life-changing events throughout the day. This is an excellent pick for readers who love animals and silliness.
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Magnolia Wu Unfolds It All
Buy from:Magnolia hangs onto every lost sock at her parent’s laundromat, hoping to return them to their owners. Along with her new friend Iris, Magnolia takes the sock collection and her thirst for adventure on an unforgettable journey through New York City. The girls meet interesting characters, make memories, and return the socks one by one.
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The School for Invisible Boys
Buy from:Hector would love to disappear. After his best friend turns into his biggest bully, Hector wishes for invisibility like never before. But when his wish comes true and he turns invisible, he meets another boy named Orson, who has been stuck in an invisibility state for years. Hector quickly learns invisibility isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.
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