
DOG STAR by Megan Shepherd
I've been a fan of Megan Shepherd since her YA novel Grim Lovelies. I'm currently devouring her Middle Grade book The Secret Horses of Briar Hill, and just ordered her newest Middle Grade, DOG STAR, on my Kindle. The beginning of DOG STAR took…

DEAR STUDENT by Elly Swartz
I received an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) of this book on NetGalley, and it was such an engaging read! Elly Swartz does a great job at capturing what it's like to have social anxiety and changing friendships in middle school, with the extra-fun…

JADIE IN FIVE DIMENSIONS by Dianne K. Salerni
I first interviewed Dianne K. Salerni back in 2016 about her Young Adult title The Caged Graves. When I first saw her newest Middle Grade book, JADIE IN FIVE DIMENSIONS, I completely fell in love with the premise. Have a look:
Jadie…

LOLA BENKO, TREASURE HUNTER: THE MIDNIGHT MARKET by Beth McMullen
I was lucky to feature Beth McMullen's Mrs. Smith's Spy School for Girls series back in 2019. Her new series, starting with LOLA BENKO, TREASURE HUNTER and now its follow-up LOLA BENKO, TREASURE HUNTER: THE MIDNIGHT MARKET, promises to deliver…

THE PLENTIFUL DARKNESS by Heather Kassner
I saw a post about THE PLENTIFUL DARKNESS by Heather Kassner on Twitter and completely fell in love with the cover. Even though it came out in August, this spine-chilling middle grade novel is perfect for Halloween:
In order to…

KEEPING IT REAL by Paula Chase
Paula Chase writes both teen and upper middle grade books that offer a glimpse into what tween and teen life is really like. Her latest novel, KEEPING IT REAL, comes out on October 19, 2021. It stars Marigold, the only Black kid at her fancy…

PARTLY CLOUDY by Tanita S. Davis
Tanita S. Davis is an award-winning children's author, and any library would be lucky to have her books in their collection. Her latest novel, PARTLY CLOUDY, offers a nuanced exploration of middle school through the eyes of a young Black girl…

THE RAVEN HEIR by Stephanie Burgis
As soon as I saw THE RAVEN HEIR by Stephanie Burgis, I couldn't wait to feature it. I'm happy to report that the book is now released and out in the world:
Deep within an enchanted forest lies a castle where a set of triplets…

SEEKERS OF THE WILD REALM: LEGEND OF THE REALM by Alexandra Ott
I first featured Alexandra Ott's RULES OF THIEVES series, and it was so enjoyable I also featured the first book in her current series, SEEKERS OF THE WILD REALM. (I also nabbed it immediately when I saw it at my local Barnes and Noble). The…

THE VERDIGRIS PAWN by Alysa Wishingrad
I stumbled across this book on Facebook, and when I saw the cover, I knew I had to feature it. THE VERDIGRIS PAWN is a middle grade fantasy that offers a richly built world and unforgettable characters:
A boy who underestimates…