Fantasy and adolescence just seem to go hand in hand, which is probably why middle grade fantasy is such an enduring genre. When kids are looking for an escape as they figure out the world, middle grade fantasy provides elements of both: realms of mystical magic and answers to real-life questions.

Here are a few of our favorite recent and upcoming middle grade fantasy titles; which ones are you looking forward to?

Invisible by Eloy Moreno

Middle School and Other Disasters: Worst Wish Ever! by Wanda Coven, illus. by Anna Abramskaya

Middle School and Other Disasters: Freakiest Trip Ever! by Wanda Coven, illus. by Anna Abramskaya

The Cat Prophecies: Claw Quest by Nick Korpon & Jorge Enrique Paz

Destiny and Disaster: The Problem with Prophecies & The Drama with Doomsdays by Scott Reintgen

Aurora and the Orc: A Graphic Novel by Lewis Trondheim, trans. by Montana Kane

The Wondrous Tale of Lavender Wolfe by Karen Foxlee

Big thanks to Sourcebooks, Aladdin BFYR, Sarah Barley Books, SimonKIDS, Labyrinth Road, Random House Children’s Books, First Second Books, and MacKids Books for copies of these books!