The Best Middle Grade & Chapter Books of 2025 (So Far)
by Janssen Bradshaw
Looking for the most captivating middle grade and chapter books of the year so far? We’ve rounded up the standout titles that are sparking imaginations, inspiring young readers, and flying off the shelves in 2025. From magical adventures to relatable everyday moments, these books are sure to become new favorites.
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Amina Banana and the Formula for Friendship
Buy from:When Amina moves with her family from Syria to Indiana, she comes up with the perfect formula to make friends at her new school. But starting over in a new place is more difficult than she anticipated. Spunky, determined, and lovable, this STEM-loving girl is perfect for fans of series like Jada Jones and Yasmin.
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A Song for You and I
Buy from:When Rowan’s eagerness to prove her value as a ranger ends in disaster and injures her horse, she embarks on a meandering journey alongside a sheepherder named Leone. Although they don’t get along initially, they slowly grow closer together, and Rowan learns to depend on Leone’s unwavering support. This gentle fantasy novel will capture the hearts of romance and adventure lovers alike.
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Halfway to Somewhere
Buy from:As if moving to Kansas from Mexico wasn’t bad enough, Ave learns that her parents are getting divorced. Now, Ave is the new kid in a new country, learning a new language, surrounded by an unfamiliar landscape. This heartfelt graphic novel is a must-read for any kid who has experienced significant changes in their life.
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It's All or Nothing, Vale
Buy from:Vale is the top athlete at her fencing gym until an accident forces her to take time to rest and recover. The road to recovery is littered with setbacks and unexpected challenges. Even as her body recovers, Vale finds that overcoming her fears proves equally as challenging. This thoughtful novel in verse is an excellent read for kids who love sports or who have experienced a considerable setback.
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Junie B. Jones and the Stupid Smelly Bus: The Graphic Novel
Buy from:Brightly colored artwork, a hilarious story, and a beloved character combine in this irresistible graphic novel. This adaptation of Barbara Park’s classic children’s novels introduces a new generation of readers to the iconic and memorable character! Kids will love reading about June B. Jones, her dynamic personality, and the mischief she gets into.
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The Burning Season
Buy from:Instead of attending seventh grade like other girls her age, Opal lives at the top of a fire watchtower. When her mom and Gran are both away from the tower, Opal spots smoke against the horizon, and knows she has no choice but to fight the fire herself. This action-packed survival story in verse will keep young readers captivated from start to finish.
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The Midwatch Institute for Wayward Girls
Buy from:Send your reader on a mystery-solving adventure with the students at the Midwatch Institute for Wayward Girls. Maggie never expected to become a mystery-solving, bad-guy-catching detective, but that’s precisely what she learns to do at the institute. When a woman vanishes, Maggie and her new friends set out to solve the case. This funny and adventurous novel is sure to become a favorite among young readers!
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Cinderella and the Beast (or, Beauty and the Glass Slipper)
Buy from:If there is any genre that I gravitate toward, it’s a fractured fairy tale. Ella loves to imagine not living with her evil step-family. One morning, her dream comes true when she wakes up in a castle housed by a temperamental beast. Meanwhile, Belle works hard to save her family’s business through a royal competition but winds up with a stepfamily who refuses to let her enter.
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A Copycat Conundrum (The Misfits)
Buy from:The Misfits may be an awkward group of kids fighting crime, but they pass with flying colors whenever they receive a new mission. However, Zeke, the nicest kid in the school, receives some threatening notes while earthquakes send ripples through San Francisco. Do the two things correlate, or is it a coincidence?
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On Thin Ice
Buy from:Twins Dex and Phoebe love being on the ice for different reasons. Dex loves hockey, while Phoebe competes in pairs figure skating. Unfortunately, Phoebe’s partner gets injured, and Dex gets cut from the hockey team. Can the two siblings become unstoppable figure skating partners despite their differences?
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Speak Up, Santiago!
Buy from:Santi is thrilled to spend the summer in Hillside Valley, filled with Spanish-speaking kids. Santi may be Colombian, but his Spanish isn’t great. He worries he won’t be able to keep up with everyone and stresses about not digging deep enough into his Colombian culture. This is an excellent book about community and friendship.
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Glitch Girl
Buy from:This poignant novel in verse follows J— from fifth to seventh grade as she grapples with ADHD, the loneliness of middle school, her overwhelming crush on a girl named Junie, and her gender identity. With the help of a growing friendship with Sam, a nonbinary classmate, J— begins to realize that it’s okay to defy conventional norms and expectations.
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Whale Eyes
Buy from:Are you looking for a middle grade book that isn’t the regular run-of-the-mill? This is the one. It is a memoir told through stories and interactive visuals, allowing readers to see the world through the author’s disabling eye conditions. This unique book is perfect for book lovers who want an interactive experience.
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The Green Kingdom
Buy from:International, award-winning, and New York Times best-selling children’s author of The Inkheart Trilogy Cornelia Funke pens a story about twelve-year-old Caspia who has to spend the entire summer with her parents in Brooklyn. She hates big cities, especially New York – too many people, too loud, too dirty. When she discovers mysterious, old letters from a girl who traveled the world with her botanist father, each one opening with a puzzle, Caspia soon finds herself on a quest to solve them all.
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Creaky Acres: A Graphic Novel
Buy from:Nora is used to living in her suburban area with her close group of friends. But her world is turned upside down when her mom accepts a job in a poor, rural area. She must adjust to being the new kid at school and attending a new barn called Creaky Acres, where she continues her horseback riding hobby.
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