So far, 2026 has been an amazing year for middle grade fiction! There have been so many powerful novels that offer humor, heartbreak, heroism, and healing. These are a few of our recent favs; what are some of yours?

Dante N. Ferno is NOT a Loser by Brian Gordon

The Moon Without Stars by Chanel Miller

Goodbye, French Fry by Rin-Rin Yu

Birdy by N. West Moss

The Lions’ Run by Sara Pennypacker, illus. by Jon Klassen

A Scar Like A River by Lisa Graff

Thank you to Christy Ottaviano Books, Little, Brown BFYR, Balzer + Bray, FSG Young Readers, MacKids Books, Nancy Paulsen Books, Philomel, and Penguin Young Readers for copies of these!