Today’s post is sponsored by Kip Wilson and Backpack, Boy, Berlin!
Title Backpack, Boy, Berlin
Author Kip Wilson
Intended Target Audience Middle Grade
Publication Date November 3rd 2026 by Candlewick
Find It On Goodreads ● Amazon ● Chapters ● Blackwell’s ● Barnes & Noble ● IndieBound
This is the true story of a boy risking it all to deliver secret anti-Nazi messages while navigating dark times and changing friendships in World War II–era Berlin. The haunting and immersive verse novel comes from critically acclaimed author Kip Wilson.
It’s 1938, and ten-year-old Don Heath Jr. moves with his mother and American diplomat father to Berlin, Germany. This move is different — now they are under the nose of the Führer Adolf Hitler. Over the next three years, Don falls in love with this diamond of a city, makes heart-deep friends, and watches the country descend into a propaganda-fueled state of terror and danger. He fears for his Jewish friends, their families torn apart. He becomes increasingly wary of his friend Mole, whose actions seem at odds with the Hitler Youth uniform he wears — for now. When Don’s tutor, Mildred Harnack, gives him a banned book with a secret note inside, he jumps at the chance to become a covert courier between his parents and the resistance — a perilous prospect in a city where anyone could be an enemy.
This remarkable true story delves into the fear, hope, anger, and paranoia of World War II Berlin. Back matter includes an author’s note with more information about the people in the story, a glossary, and a selected bibliography.
I look forward to making Pop! Goes The Reader’s most-anticipated lists every single year! While being a mood reader means I’m not always able to strictly stick to a to-be-read list, it’s exciting to explore what’s being published in the months ahead. Posts like this help me better organize my thoughts and decide what I ideally want to prioritize and read first, not to mention give me lots to look forward to!
Please Note: If you’re a middle grade author with a novel being published in 2026 and don’t see your book on one of Pop! Goes The Reader’s Most-Anticipated lists, please don’t be hurt or upset! These lists are entirely subjective and based on my own personal reading taste. My favourite genres are contemporary and realistic fiction fiction, horror and historical fiction, which is why you won’t see many books outside of those genres on this list. While I try my best to remain up-to-date about upcoming releases, it’s also entirely possible that I simply haven’t learned about your book yet! If you’re the author of a 2026 middle grade novel that you think might make a good fit for me and Pop! Goes The Reader, please don’t hesitate to reach out – I would love to hear from you!
For even more wonderful middle grade novels being published in 2026, please check out this Goodreads list, which currently features more than 150 middle grade books being published this year for you to choose from. Hopefully you’ll be able to find the perfect book for you. Happy reading!
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The publication dates listed below might be subject to change.
Publication Date October 6th 2026 by Scholastic Inc.
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It’s The Parent Trap…with best friends and dogs! This multiple POV story is both relatable and realistic to the experience of shifting friendships at the start of middle school, while also being funny and so much fun.
Grace and Mia are best friends, and so are their dogs! Penny is a pug who hates squirrels but loves playing with her best friend, Otis, a Frenchie with an impressive vocabulary. Grace and Mia are excited to start middle school together, but they soon find out that it’s anything but smooth sailing. The girls have no classes together and they find themselves drawn to different activities. Penny and Otis hatch a plan to get them to spend more time together, but they only end up making things worse!
As the girls start drifting apart, it looks like the forever in BFF may have a time limit. But Penny and Otis cannot accept a friendship breakup between their girls. Soon they’re conspiring to heal the friendship, but will two rambunctious, forgetful dogs be able to save the day?
Publication Date October 6th 2026 by Scholastic Press
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From the award-winning author of Attack of the Black Rectangles, a novel about standing up to bullies – whether they’re kids or adults.
There’s something in the water at Lorane Creek. It smells really bad. It’s a strange color. And it’s making people sick.
Katy and her best friend, Joel, decide to document the strangeness at the creek, trying to solve the mystery of what’s going on. They discover a sinister man dumping bad things into the water. Even when he’s told to stop, he goes ahead and keeps doing it.
The bullies at school are just like that, too. Katy and Joel are learning that bullies do what they do because they think they can get away with it, because they think they’re bigger than the rules.
Katy, Joel, and the rest of the town have to find a way to stand up to them before the bullies ruin the creek (and so many other things) forever.
Publication Date October 13th 2026 by Nancy Paulsen Books
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An inquisitive bookworm explores a whole new world when her family moves north during the Great Migration in Coretta Scott King Honor winner Brenda Woods’s stand-alone companion to The Unsung Hero of Birdsong, USA.
It’s 1946 when eleven-year-old Abigail and her parents move from Birdsong, South Carolina, to Detroit, where her parents say there are more opportunities for people of color. This promise is fulfilled when her father gets a good job at an auto factory, and on her visits to the city’s impressive library, where she not only gets to walk through the front door for the first time but also meets her first Black librarian. And though her parents encourage her to focus on the new possibilities, it doesn’t take long for Abigail to see that some of the limitations imposed by segregation also exist in the North.
Abigail keenly observes it all, as she’s determined to become a writer, even though not everyone takes her seriously. The Motor City offers plenty of inspiration, and she writes poems about Caesar, her funny neighbor, and the goings-on at the fancy hotel for wealthy Black folks where her mom gets a job. But before long, Abigail becomes more than an observer when a tragedy occurs after a homeless boy robs her. When she and her friends set out to help the boy’s younger brother, she is confronted with uncomfortable realities about poverty. Throughout her summer of adventures and unexpected happenings, Abigail keeps her light shining as she reluctantly sheds her country-girl beginnings and starts to embrace Detroit as home.
Publication Date October 20th 2026 by Annick Press
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An emotional and deeply funny middle-grade novel about our public and private personas, and how sometimes it’s worth letting others see your true self—no matter how embarrassing.
Twelve-year-old Phoebe Ogawa wants everyone at school to know that she does not care what they think. She definitely does not care about the fact that they’re still laughing about her heartfelt performance at last year’s talent show. Most of all, though, she tries to prove to everyone that she isn’t struggling as much as she actually is with her Grandma Yumi’s passing. To her surprise, her family discovers that Yumi, a world-renowned pop star, left Phoebe a mysterious note that hints at her last song, which has been seemingly lost for decades. Phoebe decides to find it and secretly pass it off as her own to finally show everyone that she is not someone to be laughed at. But as she starts delving deeper into Grandma Yumi’s past, Phoebe starts to realize that maybe everyone feels vulnerable from time to time, and that some people might be worth letting in and showing your true, even embarrassingly heartfelt self.
Incredibly poignant and relatable, Sara Truuvert’s debut middle grade novel explores the ever-relevant themes of the dissonance between our public and private personas, and the courage and vulnerability it takes to allow others to see what happens when the two connect. Alongside journal entries and letters from the characters, readers will also view glimpses of the behind-the-scenes of songwriting.
Publication Date October 20th 2026 by Knopf Books for Young Readers
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Everyone in the Brittle family has a magical talent – except Shiloh. But she’s determined to unlock her own greatness in this charmingly quirky novel about family and forgiveness from Newbery Honor winner Kate O’Shaughnessy.
Nearly every member of the Brittle family has an extraordinary talent — except Shiloh.
Her aunt makes pickles that tell your fortune. Her great-aunt brews tea that gives you good dreams. Her sister can grow pumpkins the size of a small house. And her older brother — who died before Shiloh was born — had a gift no one will talk about. Her mom says Shiloh doesn’t need a talent to be special. But Shiloh knows she’s destined for greatness. And with the Brittle family reunion coming up, she’s determined to prove it to all her relatives.
When Auntie Dee’s fortune-telling pickles reveal that Shiloh does have a talent — and that it’s somehow connected to her late brother—Shiloh feels more confused than vindicated. Why would her mom have kept this from her?
The pickles’ prophesy offers cryptic clues for finding her talent—something involving an oven? and a new friend?—and Shiloh throws herself into the search. But discovering the truth about herself means digging up secrets her mom would rather keep buried.
This year’s family reunion may well be the most dramatic one yet…
Newbery Honor winner Kate O’Shaughnessy gives us a moving, magic-tinged story about family, friendship, forgiveness…and fortune-telling pickles!
Publication Date October 20th 2026 by Union Square Kids
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An accessible, masterfully told story about understanding why not fitting in and occasionally standing out is not only okay ― it might be the key to being understood.
Asher Abrams has his ADHD under control ― most of the time – even if he asks a lot of questions, can be forgetful, and is often impulsive. But he’s also creative and clever and fearless when it comes to standing up for the people he loves. Like his best friend, Gillian Benjamin. At least, she used to be his best friend until last summer when they had a huge fight, one that he’s never quite understood. After he catches her shoplifting in the grocery store, Asher learns that Gilly’s life has changed dramatically; her mom has disappeared, leaving her and her dad with nothing but a pile of debt.
When Gilly’s period arrives unexpectedly at school, she is bullied. Asher is determined to normalize periods so no one gets shamed about this natural part of life. It doesn’t bother him that he’s a boy talking about the stigma around periods – that’s the whole point, isn’t it? Asher convinces Gilly to help film a movie about periods for his school passion project. When their silly PSA goes viral will their newly healed friendship be able to handle the attention?
Author Joanne Levy captures the heartbreakingly funny story of a remarkable protagonist living with ADHD. In pitch-perfect first-person narration, readers gain insight into the challenges and celebrations of this neurodevelopmental disorder. Asher’s doodles, (semiotics like footnotes, sketches, storyboards) featured throughout the book, amplify the storytelling and give further insight into how Asher’s mind works.
Publication Date October 20th 2026 by Atheneum Books for Young Readers
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Howl’s Moving Castle meets Dungeons & Dragons in this debut cozy illustrated middle grade fantasy adventure that follows an unlikely heroine who rallies a ragtag team to face a dark wizard, uncovering her own magic along the way.
Peri has been waiting for her magic to show up, but there’s been no sign of it since she was chosen as an Apprentice Shopkeeper a year ago. Now she travels with a magical shop that equips adventurers for their quests, unsure if she’ll ever do more than stock shelves, mend mittens, and knit non-magical hats that don’t do anything but keep heads warm.
Then a dark wizard kidnaps the Master Shopkeeper, intent on using her power to create an unstoppable army.
To save her master, Peri must leave the cozy shop and seek help from the closest adventuring party, who is really good at arguing and really bad at working together. As Peri’s magic unexpectedly begins to show itself in the items she’s knitting, it’s up to her and her team to stop the dark wizard before war breaks out — or it won’t be just her shop at stake but the entire kingdom.
Publication Date October 20th 2026 by Quill Tree Books
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In this new middle grade novel by Schneider Award-winning author Sally J. Pla, two neurodivergent tweens, one of whom is nonverbal, forge a friendship against the backdrop of their feuding families.
Rowan Monahan has lived in the town of Friendship Prairie forever. He knows everyone, and they know him. Some folks judge him, too, for being a slow learner. But Rowan knows in his heart that he’s capable of more than people think.
Gemma Caplan is new in town. Back in the city, people understood she used her assistive device (AAC) to speak. But here in tiny Friendship Prairie, she’s afraid she won’t fit in.
When Rowan and Gemma meet, they form an instant, magic bond. But just as the two are growing close, their mothers start a feud: they’re running terribly nasty campaigns against each other for school board.
Since their moms detest each other, Gemma and Rowan feel they must keep their connection a secret.
When they’re discovered and punished, Rowan and Gemma decide it’s time to take a stand – and show their families what a place called Friendship Prairie is supposed to be about.
Publication Date October 27th 2026 by Pixel+Ink
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In this suspenseful series launch, adventure and mystery abound during a multigenerational family trip to an exclusive resort.
Cousins Sam, Lily, and Jordan meet up on family vacation every year. This year, their grandmother is paying for them to stay at Paradise, an exclusive tropical resort!
Paradise offers a gorgeous beach, multiple pools, all-you-can-eat buffets, and any adventure you can imagine. The kids can come and go as they please, while their parents zone out at the beach. It’s supposed to be fire.
But in this place where the other guests all seem like billionaires and celebrities, the cousins start acting like people they’re not. They test new identities, break some rules, and start to mingle with other kids who should raise red flags.
Pretty soon the trio is beginning to see another side of this gleaming resort.
And as the resort’s many secrets come into focus…family secrets start coming to the surface, too.
Publication Date October 27th 2026 by Macmillan Children’s Books
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Head to Tinseltown in this hilarious and heart-warming adventure by the UK Children’s Laureate 2024-2026 and bestselling, award-winner Frank Cottrell-Boyce. The Blockbusters! is fabulously illustrated in black and white throughout by Steven Lenton.
When new boy Rafa and his friends accidentally stray onto the set of a Hollywood blockbuster, the last thing they expect is to become part of the action. Rafa’s likeness to the famous movie star, BB, gives him VIP access all areas, including the banquet of catering doughnuts!
But Rafa isn’t the only one having an adventure. His big brother, Cillian, is missing. He sent Rafa a clue to his location, but he can’t really be in actual Hollywood, can he? It’s up to Rafa to keep acting the part of a movie star, if he is to find his brother – and home.
Publication Date November 3rd 2026 by Scholastic Inc.
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Backcountry meets Megan E. Freeman’s Alone in this survival/adventure middle grade about a boy who must rediscover his Indigenous culture while adventuring in Glacier Bay National Park with a team of loyal dogs.
Emmett wants nothing more than to just stay in one place – finish school with the same friends, live in the same house, sleep in the same bed. His mother’s work means that they’re always moving around. But this time is different. This time, she’s promised not to move them anymore. But when she gets a once-in-a-lifetime job working as a Tlingit clan-house caretaker in Glacier Bay National Park, Emmett is forced to leave his familiar home (again) and enter a whole new world, a world full of trees, breathtaking mountains, snow bluffs, and giant lakes – lots of pups!
He doesn’t know much about his mother’s small hometown of Hoonah, Alaska, or about the Tlingit culture she was born into. And when they arrive, he meets Kaasteen, a cousin he’s never known and who seems to have infinitely more knowledge about their culture than he does. She’s lived in Alaska all her life, and her family has lived beside Glacier Bay National Park for generations. She talks to animals, has way more dogs than Emmett cares to count, and even speaks a language that he doesn’t understand. Could she be any more annoying?
Emmett would love to go back to his old friends and old home, and he’s happy to let Kaasteen hear about it. But when the two get into an argument that leads to Kaasteen getting lost in the park, Emmett will have to utilize the skills he’s learned from his family to save her. Will they be enough?
Publication Date November 3rd 2026 by Atheneum Books for Young Readers
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A girl from a family of bakers discovers she has a talent for solving mysteries in this “deliciously sweet” (Kirkus Reviews) first book in a mischief-filled, highly illustrated middle grade whodunit series perfect for the fans of The Great British Bake Off and Escape From Mr. Lemoncello’s Library.
Cinnamon Crumb is better at burning cakes than baking them. Her family’s bakery, once the pride of the town of Marzipan, is now a scraggly slice of icing squished between two pastry powerhouses: Victoria Sponge’s Tea Emporium and Madeleine Macaron’s Mouthwatering Delights. And Cinnamon certainly isn’t the baker to change that.
But when a suspicious request lands her in the town’s legendary baking competition, Cinnamon finds herself at the center of a nefarious plot. Someone might be cheating to win this year’s Twelve-Tiered Crown — and Cinnamon’s been roped into finding out who. With her best friend Rafi, she’s soon sneaking through patisserie kitchens and unearthing more than a few secrets. Can Cinnamon crack the case, rise to the occasion, and prove that even the crumbliest underdog has what it takes to win?
Publication Date November 3rd 2026 by Beach Lane Books
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A young girl must unmask a murderer at a penguin research ranch in Antarctica to prove her mother’s innocence in this thrilling mystery from the author of The Amelia Six.
Twelve-year-old Nova Hoffman is going on the trip of a lifetime to Antarctica! Her scientist mom works there studying penguins. Nova loves penguins but hates that her mom is gone for so many months out of the year. Her secret goal for the visit is to convince Mom to come home. Luckily, Nova’s best friend, Emilee, will be there for emotional support — and to share in the penguin cuteness. But shortly after the girls arrive at Penguin Ranch, Mom’s assistant dies under mysterious circumstances. Now, Nova’s mom is a prime suspect, and her research grant is at risk of being frozen…for good.
To clear her mom’s name, Nova must put aside her mixed feelings about Mom’s work. With help from Emilee and their new friend, Alex, Nova begins an investigation that takes them away from their cozy station and across the ice to uncover who’s responsible. But Antarctica is a very dangerous place — and with a murderer on the loose, no one is safe.
Publication Date November 3rd 2026 by Candlewick
Goodreads ● Amazon ● Chapters ● Blackwell’s ● Barnes & Noble ● IndieBound
This is the true story of a boy risking it all to deliver secret anti-Nazi messages while navigating dark times and changing friendships in World War II–era Berlin. The haunting and immersive verse novel comes from critically acclaimed author Kip Wilson.
It’s 1938, and ten-year-old Don Heath Jr. moves with his mother and American diplomat father to Berlin, Germany. This move is different — now they are under the nose of the Führer Adolf Hitler. Over the next three years, Don falls in love with this diamond of a city, makes heart-deep friends, and watches the country descend into a propaganda-fueled state of terror and danger. He fears for his Jewish friends, their families torn apart. He becomes increasingly wary of his friend Mole, whose actions seem at odds with the Hitler Youth uniform he wears — for now. When Don’s tutor, Mildred Harnack, gives him a banned book with a secret note inside, he jumps at the chance to become a covert courier between his parents and the resistance — a perilous prospect in a city where anyone could be an enemy.
This remarkable true story delves into the fear, hope, anger, and paranoia of World War II Berlin. Back matter includes an author’s note with more information about the people in the story, a glossary, and a selected bibliography.
Publication Date November 17th 2026 by Holiday House
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In this stunning novel in verse, a boy watches his town grow bitterly divided from behind the lens of his camera…until he finds the courage to stand up for what’s right. A story of bravery, allyship, and risks worth taking.
Twelve-year-old Ulysses is new in town. Between his unusual name and the port-wine stain splashed across his face, he’s hardly looking for more attention. Uly is happiest hidden behind the lens of a camera, where he can obscure his appearance while taking in the world around him.
Luckily, his middle school needs a photographer for their mural project, and Uly gets to watch (and snap) as students come together to paint a local artist’s design. The mural is perfect: powerful words, images from nature, and even a painting mistake transformed into a tiny rainbow.
Except that tiny rainbow becomes a GIANT problem.
Murals are supposed
to bring communities together.
What does it say about
our community,
that our mural
must be destroyed over
something as innocent
as a rainbow?Activism, art, and identity collide in this courageous story based on real-world events. Told in captivating, accessible verse, Rhonda DeChambeau captures a town in crisis and the unlikely heroes who step in to bring their community back together.
