Last week I wrote about the complexities of the middle grade genre, and today I’m sharing with you some of the recent middle grade titles I am excited about reading soon.

Get 20% off for 1 year

My favorite middle grade books are contemporary realistic fiction with deeper themes, and I love these stories in all formats. I long ago decided to read within my preferences and trust other sources for recommendations for genres I don’t love to read ~ that’s why review journals and other librarians exist! When I used to review for School Library Journal I was very explicit about what types of books I like because I know that I can’t review fantasy and science fiction or slapstick humor fairly. As a librarian I pride myself on knowing how to use my resources for reader advisory, and reading the synopsis and knowing read alikes for all new arrivals to my collection. But reading every single book? That’s just not possible! I also love to rely on recommendations from my students ~ when I find a reader who loves and reads deeply in a certain genre, I make them a genre expert and have them help other students find those books. Empowering students + peer recommendations = WIN!

Subscribe now