I officially just finished reading my first middle grade book for 2024: Gail D. Villanueva’s new MG Fantasy, Lulu Sinagtala and the City of Noble Warriors. I’m so excited to talk more about it (and how much I enjoyed it) on my bookstagram soon. But I’m just as excited to list and share my most highly anticipated 2024 middle grade books below:
- Lulu Sinagtala and the City of Noble Warriors by Gail D. Villanueva
- Amil and the After by Veera Hiranandani
- Drawing Deena by Hena Khan
- The First State of Being by Erin Entrada Kelly
- Sona and the Golden Beasts Rajani LaRocca
- Cece Rios and the Queen of Brujas by Kaela Rivera
- Running in Flip Flops From the End of the World by Justin A. Reynolds
- Isabel in Bloom by Mae Respicio
- The Door Is Open : Stories of Celebration and Community by 11 Desi Voices
- Safiyyah’s War by Hiba Noor Khan
- The Supernatural Files of CJ Delaney by Carol Williams
- With Twice the Love, Dessie Mei by Justina Chen
- Lei and the Invisible Island by Malia Maunakea
- The Cookie Crumbles by Tracy Badua, Alechia Dow
- The Crossbow of Destiny by Brandon Hoang
- Tessa Miyata Is So Unlucky by Julie Abe
- The Science of Friendship by Tanita S. Davis
2024 Middle Grade Books Reading List
Lulu Sinagtala and the City of Noble Warriors by Gail D. Villanueva
The first book in an action-packed middle grade fantasy duology by Gail D. Villanueva (author of My Fate According to the Butterfly and Sugar and Spite) steeped in Tagalog mythology and perfect for fans of Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky.
Amil and the After by Veera Hiranandani
Amil and the After is a companion to the beloved and award-winning Newbery Honor novel The Night Diary, by acclaimed author Veera Hiranandani. At the turn of the new year in 1948, Amil and his family are trying to make a home in India, now independent of British rule.
Drawing Deena by Hena Khan
From the award-winning author of Amina’s Voice and Amina’s Song comes a tenderhearted middle grade novel about a young Pakistani American artist determined to manage her anxiety and forge her own creative path.
The First State of Being by Erin Entrada Kelly
Michael Rosario, a twelve-year-old Filipino boy living with his single mother in an apartment complex in Delaware, meets a mysterious boy from the future in this suspenseful stand-alone novel by the award-winning and bestselling Erin Entrada Kelly. For fans of Rebecca Stead’s When You Reach Me.
Sona and the Golden Beasts by Rajani LaRocca
Sona hears music everywhere, even though it has long been outlawed in the land of Devia. This latest middle grade novel by Newbery Honor and Walter Award–winning author Rajani LaRocca will sweep readers into Sona’s quest across the land of Devia as she grapples with the lasting impact of colonial rule and learns to fight for what she knows is right. A must-read for fans of Roshani Chokshi and Sayantani DasGupta.
Summer at Squee by Andrea Wang
From Newbery Honor–winning author Andrea Wang, a new middle grade novel about a Chinese American tween who attends a Boston-based Chinese cultural overnight camp—and the many ways it transforms her.
Cece Rios and the Queen of Brujas by Kaela Rivera
Cece Rios and her friends have escaped Devil’s Alley, but the fight to save their world is just beginning. This stunning conclusion to the Cece Rios trilogy is perfect for fans of J.C. Cervantes and Kwame Mbalia! Cece Rios and her friends have escaped Devil’s Alley, but the fight to save their world is just beginning.
Running in Flip Flops From the End of the World by Justin A. Reynolds
A hilarious middle-grade from justin a. reynolds that asks: What happens when five unsupervised kids face the apocalypse under outrageously silly circumstances?
Isabel in Bloom by Mae Respicio
Making new friends in a new city, a new country, is hard, but joining the gardening and cooking club at school means Isabel will begin to find her way, and maybe she too, will begin to bloom. Through a special garden, she discovers a connection between her home in the Philippines and her new home in the U.S. In this beautifully rendered novel-in-verse, Mae Respicio explores how growth can take many forms, offering both the challenges and joy of new beginnings.
The Door Is Open Stories of Celebration and Community by 11 Desi Voices edited by Hena Khan
Discover stories of fear, triumph, and spectacular celebration in this warm-hearted novel of interconnected stories that celebrates the diversity of South Asian American experiences in a local community center.
Safiyyah’s War by Hiba Noor Khan
Inspired by the true story of how the Grand Mosque of Paris saved the lives of hundreds of Jews during World War II, this breathtaking tale of suspense, compassion, and courage stars an extraordinary young heroine readers will never forget.
The Supernatural Files of CJ Delaney by Carol Williams
When a boring old skatepark opening becomes the scene of a supernatural occurrence, CJ Delaney can’t believe her luck. Unmasking evil witches, rescuing kidnapped pets, saving the town from evil–exactly what kid reporter CJ Delaney had in mind for summer vacation.
With Twice the Love, Dessie Mei by Justina Chen
Award-winning author Justina Chen delivers her middle grade debut in this moving story about Dessie Mei, who moves to Seattle and meets a girl who looks exactly like her. The girls learn they were adopted from the same orphanage in Hunan. But only Dessie was adopted into a white family, and her twin was adopted into a Taiwanese American one. Perfect for fans of Janae Marks and Kelly Yang.
Lei and the Invisible Island by Malia Maunakea
An exciting follow-up to Lei and the Fire Goddess features a mysterious, invisible island, dangerous spirits, and a newcomer who does not need Lei’s help . . . or does she?
The Cookie Crumbles by Tracy Badua & Alechia Dow
Laila gave Lucy a cupcake on the second day of kindergarten, and they’ve been inseparable ever since. The Great British Bake Off meets Knives Out in this fun and propulsive middle grade novel following two best friends who must solve the mystery behind a baking competition gone awry.
The Crossbow of Destiny by Brandon Hoang
Author Brandon Hoang takes readers on a high-stakes adventure through Vietnam in search of an ancient magical crossbow with the power to decimate entire armies. For fans of Percy Jackson!
Tessa Miyata Is So Unlucky by Julie Abe
In this thrilling new adventure, Tessa Miyata and her best friend Jin must battle the gods… and win. With magic abound and stakes higher than ever, this is a perfect pick for fans of Amari and the Night Brothers!
The Science of Friendship by Tanita S. Davis
A friendship hypothesis—and one failed experiment—leads one girl to investigate the science of middle school friendship makeups and breakups. A hopeful and heartwarming story from Tanita S. Davis, author of Partly Cloudy and Serena Says.
Which 2024 Middle Grade Books are you most excited about?
