40 Most-Anticipated Middle Grade Books: January-March 2026

Today’s post is sponsored by Jenn Naughton and The Bookish Society!

Every parent wants to raise a reader but a staggering number of adults haven’t read a book since graduating from high school. Too often reading in school is conflated with books written by dead dudes, waxing on about topics kids find irrelevant and (ahem), boring. What’s to love about reading if it doesn’t excite and engage?

At The Bookish Society we aim to change the trajectory of our juvenile and young adult readers. We know that reading can and should be a lifelong passion. As such, we do what we know works to raise readers and not just English class students — provide irresistible books that kids actually want to read, along with a community of readers to support, encourage and engage one another. Whether it’s digging into topics and issues kids want to know more about, as we do in in our Women’s Studies Class, or treating the middle schooler’s obsession with graphic novels as a worthy passion in our Tween Graphic Novel Round Table, or enjoying getting lost in another world in the plethora of middle grade fantasy in our Advanced Kids Round Table, there’s something at The Bookish Society that will appeal to every kid.

Let us be part of your child’s journey to becoming a reader for life.

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 148 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 January 6th 2026 by Candlewick
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Maple is running for president of the sixth grade against popular Sonia Shah in this contemporary story of friendship, family, and community action, a follow-up to Welcome Back, Maple Mehta-Cohen set in a dyslexia-friendly font.

Maple has made it to sixth grade at last, and her friend Jack thinks she’d make a great class president. At first, Maple’s mind isn’t on politics — she feels her old friends drifting away, her family can’t afford a new rent increase, and her favorite historic tree is taken down by the city, leaving only a stump with hundreds of rings. But when Maple realizes she might be able to achieve something good, like starting a community garden, she jumps into the race.

When a fire sweeps through a local building, Maple’s priorities change. What if her class could help the families displaced by the disaster? Unfortunately, campaigning on the idea of giving away the class fund isn’t too popular, especially when Maple’s opponent, Sonia Shah (who has a cool new haircut), promises new tablets for everyone instead. Maple is further disheartened by anonymous attacks on her struggles with reading. But she is determined to see this campaign through, win or lose, with a slogan that shows her truest heart: Maple for the people!

Publication Date January 6th 2026 by Sourcebooks Young Readers
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From the author of Coop Knows The Scoop and The Mystery of the Radcliffe Riddle comes a quirky whodunnit that explores friendship, small town secrets, and a twisty mystery that will keep readers guessing.

In the small, southern town of Everson, goats can run for mayor, the mail is always late, and nothing all that bad ever happens. That is, until thirteen-year-old Tucker finds Miss Geraldine dead at the bottom of her stairs. At first glance, it looks like an accident. But Tucker has always had a knack for noticing details that others overlook, and the details surrounding Miss Geraldine’s death just aren’t adding up.

Miss Geraldine was miserable and mean. Miss Geraldine was murdered.

The whole town seems to have reason to want her dead, which makes Tucker’s search for the truth nearly impossible. The more he investigates for clues, the more danger he finds himself in, and the more he realizes that maybe Everson was never as safe as he once thought it was. Anyone could be the killer, and in a small town that loves to gossip, if Tucker isn’t careful, he could be the next one to have an “accident”.

Publication Date January 6th 2026 by Delacorte Press
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From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Mystery of Locked Rooms, when a centuries old crypt key is lost — unleashing a dark force — it’s up to the son of the local crypt keeper to end the haunting for good.

Thanks to his mother’s job at a local graveyard, twelve-year-old Will Stone has some unique talents. For one, he knows exactly how a burial vault works and why they’re used. For another, he’s great at genealogy and can decode centuries old records. Not your normal every day after school activities, that’s for sure!

But when a centuries old crypt key is lost, his normally peaceful existence at Graceland cemetery is shattered. Trees wither and die. The lake becomes covered with a sinister green slime that threatens to choke out anything living in it. And suddenly, the graveyard’s reputation isn’t the only thing in jeopardy…Will and his friends’ safety is, too.

Suddenly, Will is forced to consider that the lost key might be an even bigger problem than he originally thought. A dark force has been unleashed within the cemetery gates, and along with his friends Stash, Michelle, and Henry, Will must use his unique skill set to figure out which restless spirit is draining the graveyard of life, and how to end the haunting for good.

Publication Date January 13th 2026 by Philomel Books
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What’s the deal with middle school, anyway? Newbery Honor-winning author and artist Chanel Miller explores the glorious mess that is middle school — and the way growing up, finding friends, and discovering who you are can be both awkward and empowering.

At the beginning of seventh grade, Luna knows who she is: an observant, quiet girl who loves writing and making zines with her best friend, Scott. But when one of their zines takes off, somehow Luna is swept up into the popular group and learns just how much of herself she’s going to have to compromise to stay there. Will she give up her writing? Her best friend? What about her own beliefs about who she is and what she stands for?

In a contemporary novel that feels like today’s Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret, Newbery Honor winner and bestselling author Chanel Miller explores what it means to lose and then find yourself again in the middle of middle school.

Publication Date January 13th 2026 by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
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What happens when a sporty foster kid from the suburbs meets her glamorous birth mom in the big city? This slice-of-life novel is perfect for fans of Judy Blume and Wendy Mass.

Brady Mason couldn’t care less about fashion. She likes what she knows: baseball, comfortable clothes, and pork roll with egg and cheese. When Brady’s friends notice that she looks strangely like fashion editor Elena Lavigne, they start the rumor that Brady is Elena’s long-lost daughter. They’ll make a few TikTok videos, get some fun buzz online about their similarities, and that will be the end of it.

But when a DNA test confirms that Brady is Elena’s long-lost daughter, she’s summoned to Manhattan to live with her. The only problem: Elena’s high-fashion life clashes with Brady’s tomboy antics, and Elena doesn’t know how to be a mother any more than Brady knows how to be a daughter. But the more time passes, the more Brady sees what they have in common, and she starts wondering…if she and Elena are both searching for a family, could the two of them be the right fit?

Balancing humor and heart, here is a winning story of hard-fought growth and found family.

Publication Date January 13th 2026 by Quill Tree Books
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In this poignant, magical tale by the acclaimed author of Eventown, two girls find themselves dropped into each other’s world — and must face down dragons they’ve only imagined.

Auden “Denny” Greene is happiest with her friend Runa, creating stories set in their imaginary land of Sorrowfeld, where princesses rule and cursed dragons are a constant danger. But now that they are turning twelve, Runa seems ready to give up on the magic of Sorrowfeld just when Denny needs it the most…

Princess Auden is the last remaining princess of Sorrowfeld — and on her twelfth birthday, she will be expected to vanquish the dragons that took her family. Only, when a swarm attacks her birthday celebration, all she can do is run…

But suddenly. Auden is in Denny’s world. And Denny is in Auden’s.

The two Audens have switched places. No one but them has any idea. And now, each girl must come into her own power in order to fight the other’s dragons.

The magical beasts of Impossible Creatures meet the body-swap of Freaky Friday, set in a world as fantastical as Wicked’s Oz!

Publication Date January 13th 2026 by Quill Tree Books
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In this illustrated middle grade novel by bestselling author Adiba Jaigirdar, a curious and competitive girl travels to celebrate Ramadan with her family in Bangladesh, where she learns about the country’s climate crisis — and the true meaning of her favorite holiday. A must-read for fans of Saadia Faruqi and Kelly Yang!

Even though Nadia Islam is excited to meet her cousins on her summer trip to Bangladesh, she is disappointed not to be celebrating her first Ramadan fasting alongside her best friend, Yasmin. Then again, she just might find the news story that will get her picked to be her school paper’s editor-in-chief!

As soon as she lands, Nadia realizes she has a lot to learn about Bangladesh. Fortunately, her favorite aunt (and fellow journalist) is spending the summer researching the disastrous flooding in the region — and she just might need Nadia’s help to get the inside scoop about the country’s climate dangers.

Meanwhile, Nadia’s cousins are almost as competitive as she is, and suggest a contest to see who can keep the most fasts. Between her journalism and her determination to win the Ramadan Race, Nadia is sure to have the best Ramadan ever — right?

Adiba Jaigirdar’s middle grade debut, with lovely interior artwork by Avani Dwivedi, celebrates family, faith, and community, and will inspire young readers looking to make their own difference in the world.

Publication Date January 13th 2026 by Roaring Brook Press
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Impossible Creatures meets The Inquisitor’s Tale in this immersive middle grade fantasy adventure that follows a girl who must use her remarkable sense of smell to save the world from a terrifying plague.

Every scent tells a story.

The last thing Nia wants is to be branded a “Sinsory.” Where she comes from, that’s just as deadly as the plagues that sweep through the land. That’s why she keeps her unusually keen sense of smell a secret. Only two people in the city of Yerat know of her special abilities: her beloved Auntie and her best friend, Fox. But when the worst plague in a century hits their desert continent, all of that suddenly changes.

An invitation arrives in the shape of a jar of blackcurrant jam. Nia is asked to attend the Cloister, a select and secluded school for children with heightened senses. There she meets Scentiers, like her, but also Gazers, Whisper-Gatherers, and many more, whose sensory powers go far beyond what regular folk can smell, see, or hear.

It’s there that Nia learns her nose knows far more than she ever dreamed…maybe enough to find the cure for the plague. Or even sniff out the sinister secrets hiding in the Cloister’s walls.

Publication Date January 13th 2026 by Knopf Books for Young Readers
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From the three-time Coretta Scott King Honor winning author of The Skin I’m In comes a poignant story about a southern girl far from home at an elite girls boarding school in the north, who must find the courage to be herself and to dream of a brighter future, set against the backdrop of the great migration in South Philly.

Hattie Mae hails from Seed County, North Carolina. She knows hard work: milking cows, plucking chickens, minding the garden. Her hands are made for manual labor — her feet for dirt — that is according to Lisa and some of the other girls at Miss Abigail’s School for Exceptional Young Ladies in Philadelphia. Hattie could never be a doctor or a scientist or anyone worthy cause she’s a hick from the south.

Hattie is afraid they might be right. She sticks out like a sore thumb from the way she dresses to the way she eats to the way she carries herself. Hattie has more in common with the hundreds of Black folks pouring into the city looking for better opportunities away from Jim Crow’s south. She doesn’t belong and doubts that she ever will.

A moving coming-of-age story about finding the courage to be yourself and chasing a better life, lifting other folks up with you along the way.

Publication Date January 20th 2026 by Bloomsbury Children’s Books
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The Princess Diaries meets From The Desk of Zoey Washington in this story about a girl who is reconnected with her birth family, only to discover that she is an African princess and the key to unlocking an ancient curse.

For her twelfth birthday, the only thing Zahara-Grace wants is to figure out who she is. She knows she has the best mom and grandpa around, she knows she loves her friends, and she knows she likes to make a difference in her community. But she also knows she’s adopted, and she wants to learn more about that side of herself. Zahara-Grace is thrilled when her mom let’s her take a DNA test, but she never could have imagined that her biological grandfather would find her. And she definitely never imagined he’d be the king of a small African country!

Now torn between two worlds, Zahara-Grace is even less sure of who she is. Her worlds collide when a mummy exhibit opens at the local museum, showcasing the history and legends of her biological family’s country – including an ancient cult who believes with the help of a living heir, they can awaken the mummified remains of a powerful king and conquer the world. Learning she’s a princess may have turned Zahara-Grace’s life upside down, but now her life is in actual danger. And in order to survive, she must find a way to embrace both sides of herself.

Publication Date January 20th 2026 by Feiwel & Friends
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A girl accused of killing a famous wolf must solve his murder while on the run, in this thrilling and adventurous twist on Little Red Riding Hood, perfect for fans of Zootopia and The Bad Guys 2!

At twelve years old, Ruby Calvino is the youngest competitor in the Tooth & Claw championship. It’s her fast legs and even faster mind that leaves her as the last human in the arena during the final game, and she’s ready to claim victory. But when the undefeated Alarick ― the wolf player hunting her ― is finally upon her, he…drops dead?

With poison found in Ruby’s bag, all fingers (and paws!) point to her. Desperate to prove her innocence, she teams up with a young wolf accused of helping her commit the crime. But figuring out who killed Alarick certainly won’t be easy while on the run from cops and another vicious wolf.

Luckily, Ruby’s Tooth & Claw training just might come in handy!

Publication Date January 27th 2026 by Holiday House
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Even in outer space there are frenemies.

Priscilla Cobb has spent her whole life dreaming of space. The underground scientific labs on the Moon are the stuff of legend. So when an international student research voyage to the Moon is announced, Priscilla trains day in and day out.

But as Priscilla discovers, research will not be the priority of the trip. In fact, the whole trip starts to feel like a vacation for the ultrarich and famous. And when a surprise secret guest is revealed (someone Priscilla hoped to never cross paths with again), she decides enough is enough. It’s time for science to fight back.

Combining classic middle school growing pains with a near-future space setting, The Star of Moon Village is a smart and empathetic read perfect for fans of Stacy McAnulty’s The Miscalculations of Lightning, Jennifer L. Holm’s The Lion of Mars, and Jasmine Warga’s A Rover’s Story.

A Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection

Publication Date January 27th 2026 by Andrews McMeel Publishing
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When a crow brings twelve-year-old Mo Tan a mysterious locket, she embarks on an unforgettable adventure through New York City to find its original owner. This is the first book in an new series about mysteries, friendship, and the fabulous world of birding.

Mo just moved across country with her mom, and she’s not happy about it. New York City is loud, it’s cramped, and worst of all: it’s the beginning of summer and she has no friends. When a crow lands on her fire escape one day and brings her a mysterious locket with a picture inside, Mo decides to try and find the owner.

From the Upper East Side, to Brooklyn, to exploring her heritage in Chinatown, Mo’s adventures with the crow show her everything her new city has to offer. With themes like divorce, moving, and making new friends, Mo & The Crow combines heartfelt moments with non-stop adventure that’s perfect for fans of Turning Red and Maizy Chen’s Last Chance.

Publication Date January 27th 2026 by Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR)
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For fans of Inside Out and Back Again, Other Words For Home, and A Place To Hang The Moon, Eureka is a gorgeous and emotionally resonant novel-in-verse by multiple-award-winning poet Victoria Chang that sensitively and lyrically renders the tragic events surrounding the 1885 expulsion of Chinese Americans from Eureka, California.

Love illuminates the dark.

The year is 1885. San Francisco is dangerous for Chinese immigrants like twelve-year-old Mei Mei. She must venture on her own, without her family or friends, to Eureka, California, where it is supposedly safe.

But 300 miles from home, Mei Mei misses her Ma Ma’s kindness, helping out in her Ba Ba’s store, and playing hide-and-seek with her best friend, Hua Hua. Despite her fear and the increasing violence against her community, she finds hope in an unexpected friend, the giant Redwood trees, and a new dream: learning how to read in English. As the world around her grows more scary, Mei Mei discovers her own power, as well as the joy of found family, the importance of courage, and the nature of freedom.

Publication Date February 3rd 2026 by Carolrhoda Books
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Thirteen-year-old Alondra was born into a musical family.

Her dad, the former frontman of a famous alt-rock band, expects her and her sisters to follow in his footsteps. The girls have formed their own band, which will open for their dad during his comeback tour.

Despite secretly liking quieter music, Alondra is committed to preparing for the tour. She’ll do whatever it takes: Change the sound of her voice. Suppress her discomfort with some fans’ behavior. Act the part of a hardcore riot grrrl.

But when a classmate invites her to join a choir club, Alondra discovers a new way of making music. Choir lets her express herself in ways that the band doesn’t.

Afraid to upset the delicate balance in her family, Alondra secretly practices with the choir between shows with her sisters’ band ― until her secrets are exposed. Will she be forced to choose between her two voices, or can she bring the different parts of her life into harmony?

Publication Date February 3rd 2026 by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
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A young girl finds her voice — and discovers the power of speaking up for herself and her community — in this sweet and humorous chapter book by award-winning and #1 bestselling author Kwame Alexander, perfect for fans of Ivy + Bean and Ruby and The Booker Boys.

When Macy gets book one of The Mighty Zora series for her birthday, she stays up until 11:34pm finishing the book. But the next day, when Macy gets to her school library, eager to check out book two, she finds the door locked with a sign explaining that the library will now only be open a few days a week due to budget cuts. Even worse, she finds out her father won’t be home to help her figure out what to do, as he will be traveling to a museum in Montgomery, Alabama to read a poem about civil rights. With help from her fellow third graders, support from her mom, and encouragement from poems written and hidden for her by her father, Macy must find her voice and learn the power of advocating for herself and her community.

Can Macy learn to be Mighty?

Publication Date February 3rd 2026 by Aladdin
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A budding scientist must figure out how to help save her family’s cafe and impress at her new school’s science fair in this charming young middle grade read, perfect for fans of the Meena Zee and Front Desk series.

Curious ten-year-old Saffron Speiser-Green loves science — unfortunately, her “experiments” tend to end in more messes than actual answers. (Just ask the broken alarm clock that’s still at the bottom of her backpack.) Saffron has a plan, though — a blue ribbon in her school’s Project Showcase will show the world she means business.

But when Saffron’s beloved volcano project ruins the walls at Mama’s job and gets her fired, Saffron will do anything to make things right — including helping Mama convince her other mom, Mimi, that they should move to the Silicon Valley to run Gran’s coffee shop. Mama’s dream job is worth giving up the blue ribbon. Right?

Luckily for Saffron, her new friends in the Silicon Valley are busy preparing for a STEM Expo, and Saffron is determined to find a project “smart” enough to show everyone she belongs there. But the coffee shop? No customers, no vision, and…tons of debt. And if it closes, Saffron’s family will have to move again. After a class trip to the STEAMology Museum in San Francisco, though, Saffron knows how to save the café — and what to do for her STEM Expo project. But she’s going to need a lot of help.

Can Saffron prove she’s more than a mess-maker and rescue the family business?

Publication Date February 3rd 2026 by Norton Young Readers
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A group of code–busting friends races to find a powerful ring before their rivals can use it for dark magic.

Emma Avery has always loved solving puzzles and codes, and now that she’s processing a recent autism diagnosis and facing down seventh grade at a new school, they’re even more important to her.

Then Emma meets Nate Lin. He’s popular and funny and…loves codes, too. He introduces Emma to the Codebreakers, a group of his friends dedicated to cracking codes that have been discovered in the ruins of a nearby ghost town, which are believed to lead to magical objects. But they’re not the only ones on the hunt, and when their sinister rivals close in on an object that grants unlimited wishes, the Codebreakers must race to beat them to it before they use it for dark magic.

The Wish Ring Cipher is a fast-paced adventure brimming with magic and warmth that introduces a tenacious and endearing heroine on a quest to save the world ― and to make some friends along the way.

Publication Date February 3rd 2026 by Calkins Creek
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Here is the story of Henrietta Wood, who was enslaved twice — but who demanded justice and was awarded the largest reparations ever granted for enslavement.

A nonfiction book for ages 9–12 that puts a human face on the current issue of reparations.

Henrietta Wood was born enslaved. As a teen she was ripped from her family and sold. Years later, a miracle happened, and she was given freedom papers. But Henrietta’s freedom was short-lived. She was tricked back into enslavement and sent to a Mississippi cotton plantation.

On June 19, 1865 — Juneteenth — she was emancipated. Finally free for good, Henrietta Wood sued the man who had kidnapped her back into enslavement — and she won! Henrietta was one of the few people in United States history to ever receive a reparation payment for slavery.

Twice Enslaved is a true story of cruelty, resilience, and ultimately triumph, told lyrically for middle-grade readers by Selene Castrovilla and illustrated in full color by artist Erin Robinson.

Publication Date February 3rd 2026 by Aladdin
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A young empath spending the summer with her grandfather stumbles upon a bit of magic in this middle grade novel about letting in the light, perfect for fans of Barbara Dee and Jamie Sumner.

Sixth grader Lucy thinks people are seriously overrated. People come with feelings, and Lucy can’t escape them because of her so-called “gift” of empathy. She can feel the tension when her parents fight and can’t escape the truth of what went wrong in her relationship with her former best friend. So when Lucy’s parents suggest spending her summer vacation with her reclusive grandfather at his isolated cabin on Prince Edward Island, she jumps at the chance to get away from people, feelings — all of it.

Lucy arrives at her grandfather’s with a small suitcase and the only thing she really needs: her camera. From behind the lens, she can watch the world without having to feel any of it. While exploring her new home, Lucy finds her grandmother’s old camera and a darkroom that hasn’t been used since Nana passed away five years ago. Lucy starts taking pictures of the people in her grandfather’s town and developing photos the old-fashioned way.

The finished photos reveal everything about the subjects — their deepest fears and hidden desires. Along with a quirky neighbor and her reluctant grandfather, Lucy sets out to get to the bottom of the photographic magic. But can she uncover the truth of her grandmother’s legacy and figure out what to do with the magical photos before summer ends?

Publication Date February 17th 2026 by Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
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In her first book for young readers, New York Times bestselling author and New York magazine writer-at-large Rebecca Traister draws material from her award-winning books and articles to show girls their anger has the power to be a force of change, just like for many trailblazers before them.

From an early age, young girls are taught anger isn’t an emotion they should express. They’re told — either implicitly or explicitly — to spend their lives keeping their fury locked inside for the benefit of others. But partly, Traister argues, that’s because the anger of women and girls has been a crucial catalyst for change, putting in motion some of the most defining social and political movements in our nation’s history. And it’s that anger that will blaze the path forward for the future.

Traister chronicles a concise history from the colonial era to the Women’s March of 2016 demonstrating how women’s rage has forged coalitions and created political change through movements for women’s and civil rights and more, and how the past decade has created an inflection point for women and girls who have yet to experience rights equal to men’s in the United States.

Publication Date February 17th 2026 by Quill Tree Books
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From the Edgar Award nominated author of What Happened to Rachel Riley? comes an engrossing, timely, and propulsive story of two girls in Paris — one living under Nazi rule in the 1940s; the other in present day — and the mysterious painting that unites them. Perfect for fans of The Bletchley Riddle and When We Flew Away.

Paris, present day. Penny Marks has never felt so alone. Forced to move to France for some fancy job her mom couldn’t turn down, she’s now miles away from her old life. If she hadn’t quit art after all that drama went down last year, she’d at least have something to keep her mind off the fact that life back home is moving on without her.

Paris, 1943. Marie Bonnet has never felt so afraid. When the German army seized power over France, she and her sister Heloise watched their father get taken away, leaving them on their own. Then Marie finds evidence that Heloise has secretly been working for the French Resistance — a group of rebels determined to take the Nazis down — and while it has danger written all over it, she’s desperate to join. Any small act of uprising could help their country…but it could also cost them their lives.

Penny and Marie’s worlds collide when an old painting resurfaces in present-day Paris after decades of being hidden. Along with it is a note whose message may lead Penny to Marie…and the fate that awaited her.

Publication Date February 17th 2026 by Nancy Paulsen Books
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A sparkling debut novel featuring a Chinese American girl doing her best to stay true to herself in a world that often judges.

Some days Ping-Ping feels like she just can’t win. She was born in the US, so it’s frustrating when people are surprised by how American she is, but her Chinese relatives feel she’s not Chinese enough. But the things bugging her the most lately are her classmate Lee Beaumont, who has taken to calling her “French Fry” because of the tofu sticks she eats at lunch, and the possibility that her family will have to relocate to Kenya for her father’s UN job. Of all the things Ping-Ping loves, her home and best friend are at the top of the list, and she’d hate to have to leave them. What’s a girl to do when she can’t be in as much control as she’d like to be? Well, good thing Ping-Ping is a wiz at taekwondo — she’s learning how to kick her frustrations away, and there’s almost nothing she can’t master if she puts her mind to it.

Rin-rin Yu has written a warm and funny family story that will have kids rooting for Ping-Ping — a girl who is ready to kick all the assumptions made about her aside!

Publication Date February 24th 2026 by Viking Books for Young Readers
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For fans of Race To The Sun and the Aru Shah series, this epic fantasy adventure inspired by Indigenous American mythology follows a band of misfit children who must pull off an impossible heist in order to save the world!

Thanks to a prophecy revealed when he was little, thirteen-year-old Kyta always knew that he was destined to save the world. But waiting for that moment has kept him on edge his whole childhood, preventing him from having fun like other kids in his tribe. So when the ground quakes and the trees whisper that something is wrong, Kyta leaps into action, desperate to fulfill his destiny.

He is horrified to find that the precious Egg of the World Turtle, on whose vast shell everyone and everything lives, has been stolen by invaders. The Turtle is angry and grief-stricken, threatening to upend the very land under their feet. The invaders refuse to heed the warning of the tribes and return the Egg…so Kyta comes up with a plan to steal it back!

It’s risky and dangerous…but abandoning the Egg is certain doom. Kyta assembles other kids who could sneak into the invaders’ fortress and pull off the heist, but getting four very different personalities to work together is harder than he thought. And when they discover that the Egg is being guarded by an evil collector, his savage ogres, and a beast so terrible that it defies description, their odds seem all but impossible! Will Kyta be able to fulfill his destiny, or did he set himself up to fail…and the world to fall?

Inspired by the Indigenous American folktales, this thrilling and heartwarming fantasy shows the importance of teamwork, respect for nature, and believing in yourself.

Publication Date February 24th 2026 by Delacorte Press
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In this middle-grade mystery, a twelve-year-old obsessed with Agatha Christie suspects every guest at her mother’s bed-and-breakfast of hiding secrets. That is until a real crime rocks the quaint B&B, and her mother is framed for it.

When the wealthy Willoughby family checks into her mother’s bed-and-breakfast for the weekend, Amber Adler is certain a crime is going to be committed right under their roof. And she should know – she’s read every Agatha Christie novel in the library and her father is a world-famous detective. Sure, Amber has made a few false accusations (and once got the SWAT team sent to her math teacher’s house), but this time, she’s positive that one of their guests is up to no good.

So it comes as no surprise to Amber when someone steals a priceless ruby belonging to the crotchety Willoughby patriarch. But what she didn’t expect was for her mother to be framed for it. Now, Amber must call on everything she knows about solving mysteries to find the stone and catch the real culprit before the family checks out – and learn that sometimes, people are the greatest mystery of all.

Publication Date March 3rd 2026 by Scholastic Press
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India Hill Brown meets Sharon Draper in a spooky, poignant, tour-de-force from Shakirah Bourne – an ode to Black Boy friendships, the richness of Caribbean history, and the power that comes from reclaiming your past.

Jermaine is NOT destined to be popular at his new elite school. First, he’s the poorest kid in class – no phone, no cool sneakers, no chance. Second, he loves science and can’t keep himself from gushing about geology. But after being bullied at his old school, he’s desperate for the status and protection that comes from joining the “Turbo Jets”…even if that means abandoning Brody, a fellow outsider who truly wants to be Jermaine’s friend.

As part of a hazing ritual, the Turbo Jets dare Jermaine to break into the notorious “haunted Chase Vault” – the crypt that once housed one of the cruelest enslavers in Barbados and his family. Then they lock him inside as a “joke.”

Luckily, Jermaine makes it out unscathed. There’s just one problem.

Someone else left the crypt with him.

Someone desperate to learn how she died…and get her revenge.

Jermaine is relieved someone else can see the ghost: his ex-best friend Brody. But freeing her won’t be easy. It means ditching the Turbo Jets, teaming up with Brody, and unearthing ugly secrets from the island’s colonial past. Will Jermaine really risk everything to help the suffering spirit find peace?

Publication Date March 3rd 2026 by Random House Books for Young Readers
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Three middle school students embark on a quest to find a book that may just save their lives in this spectacular novel about fate and friendship, from the Newbery Award-winning author of When You Trap A Tiger.

Once there was a tree. For two hundred years, there was a tree. There was a tree. There was a tree. Until the tree fell in a forest – and then there was a book.

When best friends Nomi, Vi, and Arthur were younger, they discovered a book of prophecies. It was so very comforting to know what was coming. But as the kids grew older, they forgot about the book.

Until the final prophecy started coming true.

Now, as seventh grade tests their friendship and wildfires threaten Seattle, the final prophecy promises fire and destruction. Nomi tries everything to prevent calamity. The only problem? She needs help…but Vi’s acting strange and Arthur stopped talking to her.

Vi can’t tell Nomi, but she’s been texting the coolest boy in school, and it’s going well – until that boy makes an unexpected request, and she must decide who she wants to be.
Meanwhile, Arthur joined the cross-country team, but he can’t outrun the real reason he ended his friendship with Nomi. The best he can do is try to hide it.

As the prophecy escalates, past and present intersect, fate and friendship collide, and secrets spread like wildfire. Together, Nomi, Vi, and Arthur must face the future…even, and especially when it’s so uncertain.

Publication Date March 3rd 2026 by Carolrhoda Books
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Months after catching a common virus, twelve-year-old Ivy still hasn’t recovered.

Ivy doesn’t even have the energy to play music. Hoping a change of scenery will help, she’s spending the summer in North Carolina’s Blue Ridge Mountains, where her uncle has converted an old house into a bed and breakfast. The Everly House has a long history ― including a stint as a sanatorium, a treatment center for tuberculosis patients, in the 1920s.

Ivy starts having dreams about a girl named Jessie Pearl, a TB patient who stayed at the house a hundred years ago. Like Ivy, Jessie was an adventurous musician who struggled to adapt to her sickness. But at the Everly House, she was able to rest, listen to her body, and find new ways to fill her time.

As Ivy delves into the history of the house, hoping to find out what happened to Jessie, she makes other discoveries that turn her summer in the mountains into a new beginning.

Publication Date March 3rd 2026 by Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR)
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For fans of Barbara O’Connor, The Magic of Someday Soon is a hopeful middle grade novel overflowing with light, love, and adventure as two girls find the extraordinary joys of every day.

Zoe longs to one day put down roots. Since her dad’s death, twelve-year-old Zoe September has drifted from place to place with her artist mother, the Up-cycle Magician. Then a new art project for her mom brings them to Maravel, Florida ― her dad’s hometown. In Maravel, she discovers a delicious, enchanting secret among the sweet brews of her grandmother’s tea shop. But how will Zoe ever leave when her mom wants to get back on the road?

Teddy dreams of the day she can save her past. Twelve-year-old Teddy Martin has a mission: restore her great-grandparents’ legacy, Fossil Gardens, a theme park of artistic recreations of prehistoric animals. Desperate to rescue the last remaining sculptures, Teddy enlists the Up-cycle Magician’s help before they disappear forever. But with sinkholes threatening to swallow the decaying fossils, is Teddy in over her head?

Never underestimate the magic of someday soon. Things bubble and steam between Zoe and Teddy when they team up. But in working together to save Fossil Gardens, the girls discover something even more special ― the possibility of your deepest wishes coming true in unexpected ways and a friendship that feels like home.

Publication Date March 10th 2026 by Quill Tree Books
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Pura Belpré Award-winning author Ernesto Cisneros takes readers “back to the future” in this funny and heartfelt time-travel tale about family, grief, and love that stretches across the years. Give to readers who love Erin Entrada Kelly, Gordan Korman, and Jason Reynolds!

Quetzalcóatl Castillo — Queso for short — has had an ache in his heart that won’t go away ever since his father’s death. More than anything, he wishes he could spend time with his dad again.

After whispering that wish one night under the light of the moon, Queso wakes up the next morning in 1985. With twelve-year-old Pancho — the kid who will grow up to be his dad.

Even though he has no idea what to do, Queso is just happy to be by his dad’s side again. But while Pancho is confident when scoring on the foosball table or standing up to bullies, he doesn’t think he’s smart enough to reach for his dreams.

If only Pancho believed in himself the way Queso does, who knows what his story could be?

Publication Date March 10th 2026 by Aladdin
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Two classmates scheme to break their parents up before they get married and ruin the girls’ lives forever in this hijinks-filled middle grade novel.

Melisa Flores and Roxy Romero are not fans of each other. Roxy is sporty while Meli is artsy. Meli keeps her friend circle small while Roxy is pals with everyone. Their little brothers might get along like fruit in a delicious smoothie, but Meli and Roxy do not mix.

So when their parents announce their engagement, the girls are horrified. Previous experience has told them they’ll never be friends, much less sisters. Meli and Roxy decide they have to do something to prevent this future blended family from ruining all their lives.

The girls scheme to show their parents exactly how incompatible their families are by sabotaging the renovations of the house they’re supposed to live happily ever after in. From home improvement store catastrophes to disastrous paint jobs, it’s clear the girls are good teammates when it comes to causing chaos. Could it be enough to convince their parents to call off the wedding?

But as the girls plot to show their parents exactly how incompatible their families are, they start to actually like each other — causing major complications when their plan begins working a little too well…

Publication Date March 10th 2026 by Knopf Books for Young Readers
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Birds of a feather solve crime together in this riveting middle grade mystery! When eight endangered macaws are stolen from a bird sanctuary in the Mayan ruins of Copán, four sleuthing cousins must find out who took them — and why.

Nico and his cousins don’t have much in common, but they’re all excited to visit the Mayan ruins at Copán and witness the release of the scarlet macaws. Nearly extinct in Honduras, eight of these majestic birds are about to be introduced to a brand new bird sanctuary. But on the eve of the big day the birds are stolen!

Who could have planned this bewildering bird heist — and why? Nico and his cousins are determined to find out — and anyone could be a suspect: poachers, developers, Mama’s annoying novio…The investigation will take them from bustling downtown Copán to the mist-shrouded ruins of Macaw Mountain, uniting the cousins as they unravel a plot far stranger than any of them could have imagined.

Publication Date March 17th 2026 by Labyrinth Road
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Amid magic and monsters, a queer seventh-grader discovers a world where he can be himself but has to decide if he will fight for it…even if it means becoming the villain.

Clementine has always felt like the villain of his story. Most of the time, he’s a socially anxious kid who knows it’s not “normal” for a boy to wear pink shoes to school. While he’s there, his teachers won’t call him by the right name (even though Clementine is a boy’s name, if a boy has it), his classmates tease him about his obsessive love for spiders (even though they’re beautiful), and he’s the only one who can see the floating faces that haunt the surrounding woods.

But all that changes when a boy named Beetle breaks through his bedroom window and warns him about monsters. Soon, Clementine is drawn into a world of magic and imagination. Every night in the woods, everything he and his new friends Beetle, Cricket, and Anise spend hours in a play-pretend world that seems to be seeping into reality. Clementine has never had a friend like Beetle — a boy who teaches him to howl at the moon, who dreams of being a hero and says the whole sky is beautiful while looking right at Clementine and not at the sky at all.

But Clementine wants to use the power fueling their adventures to make things better outside the forest — not later, when he’s grown up, but now. And when he discovers the source of the magic, Clementine has to decide: Does he become a hero with Beetle and protect a world that hates him? Or does he finally become the villain, ready to build a new world whatever the cost? In this joyful and uninhibited celebration of imagination, empathy and all things monstrous, debut author Noah Corey tells the story of a queer kid who is exactly and exquisitely himself. This book is a love letter to villains and heroes, and all the ways they make us brave.

Publication Date March 17th 2026 by Margaret K. McElderry Books
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A middle schooler navigates the challenges of feeling invisible — literally and figuratively — as she comes to terms with her asexual identity in this poignant speculative novel perfect for fans of Ellie Engel Saves Herself and Jennifer Chan Is Not Alone.

Seventh grade has just started, but Olivia Gray already knows this year is different. Her brother ignores her for his crush, and all her friends talk about is who likes who, something Olivia has never cared about — even when Robbie, the most popular boy in school, asks her to the fall formal. After unknowingly rejecting him, Olivia goes viral on the social app KruShh. As the chatter about Robbie and dating grows, Olivia starts to feel left out to the point of feeling invisible — literally.

Seen only by her new librarian and a friendly kid named Jules, Olivia flickers in and out of sight whenever the topic of romance comes up. As she begins to realize she might be asexual, Olivia struggles to actually use the label because of the negative perception behind it. All she wants is to be normal, but can she really fit in without disappearing completely?

Publication Date March 17th 2026 by Bloomsbury Children’s Books
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This adventurous historical novel by bestselling author Carole Lindstrom offers readers a dramatic portrayal of a young Métis girl who takes a stand to protect her way of life.

Rose, her family, and the Métis people have lived on the land for generations. She spends afternoons tracking rabbits and gathering roots with her best friend, Ambroise, and her little sister, Delia. She loves to watch the ferry arrive, delivering goods and the latest news to their remote community.

But then Rose’s parents start speaking in hushed tones, discussing whether they should “join the Resistance.” When she learns that the government wants to push the Métis off their land again, Rose feels angry. This is the home they love – and the land they tend to with care and respect. Determined to help preserve their way of life, Rose sets out on an adventure that will test her bravery more than she ever expected.

Set amid the Northwest Resistance of 1885, where the Métis people fought to defend the land, this powerful historical tale by New York Times bestselling author Carole Lindstrom illuminates the often forgotten side of life on the prairie.

Publication Date March 24th 2026 by Random House Books for Young Readers
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Sprout has always hidden from the world—having antlers growing out of your head will do that. But when she hears that someone else like her might exist, she’s willing to risk her safety — and that of her town — to get to the truth. A fantastical middle grade adventure that is sure to grow on you.

Sprout has gotten used to hiding. Having antlers growing out of your head makes you a bit of a loner. But when she learns that another girl with wild antlers has been spotted, Sprout is determined to see if there is someone else out there who understands the strangeness she feels.

Soon she attracts the attention of E.B., a fellow oddball, who remembers everthing he has ever seen, read, or heard. And he’s not the only one fascinated by Sprout. A curious doctor and a set of terrifying twins are tracking Sprout’s every move. But nothing could have prepared Sprout for the dark secrets that have taken root in her town. Digging up the truth might help Sprout understand her past–or it might spell the end of her town forever.

Acclaimed author Taylor Tyng delivers a fast-paced, quick-witted, and marvelously fantastical adventure about learning to embrace who you are – thorns and all.

Publication Date March 24th 2026 by Roaring Brook Press
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Embark on a sweeping journey of self-discovery in this adventurous historical middle grade novel perfect for fans of Karen Cushman and Gary Paulsen.

Twelve-year-old Blanca of Castile is the granddaughter of Queen Eleanor of Aquitaine, once the wife of both the king of France and the king of England. When Eleanor comes to select the girl who will marry the prince of France, all expect her to pick Blanca’s much older, and much prettier, sister. But Queen Eleanor has always loved surprises.

To meet her destiny, Blanca, along with her best friend Suna, must set out over the Pyrenees Mountains for France. But the journey there is not easy. The group, which includes knights, attendants, and Queen Eleanor herself, faces blizzards and hunger, treacherous roads and even a kidnapping.

As Blanca overcomes the many perils of the journey, she will need to learn how to protect herself and those around her – and discover what it takes to follow in the footsteps of a queen.

Publication Date March 24th 2026 by Penguin Workshop
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There’s always more to the story.

In the latest middle grade speculative novel from Spontaneous author Aaron Starmer, Roman follows the twisted threads of bizarre family legends and magical secrets to write his own chapter in his peculiar family narrative.

The Toe Beast looms large in the Barnes family lore — a tale concocted by twelve-year-old Roman’s grandpa to explain his missing toe. But Roman has never actually heard the full story, and after his grandpa dies suddenly, it seems like he never will.

That is, until Roman is tasked with clearing out his grandpa’s house, and stumbles upon some strange things. An old mason jar full of formaldehyde, a mysterious handwritten book about a girl and a pack of dogs, a rusty metal bucket with peculiar abilities. And they all tie back to extraordinary secrets from the distant past.

By unraveling even more unbelievable stories that have been hidden from him, Roman is forced to rethink how he fits into his family’s history. Now it’s up to him to see his own story through to the end. Because the Toe Beast was only the beginning…

Publication Date March 24th 2026 by Greenwillow Books
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Ferris meets Ghosts of Tupelo Landing in this cozy ghost story about family, environmental activism, food, and friendship.

Basil Theriot has spent her entire life in New Orleans — in her family’s famed Cajun restaurant in the French Quarter, really — but she’s never been out to the bayou where her grandfather grew up. She’s also never seen a ghost, even though dozens of ghost tours pass by the restaurant every day and her best friend Tommy is determined to be a ghost hunter.

But then Grandpere’s ghost appears. And he has a mission for her.

Basil wouldn’t mind being haunted if Grandpere could be helpful and share his secret recipe that might save the restaurant. But instead, he’s intent on connecting Basil with her Cajun heritage. He sends her out to the bayou to meet his friends: an airboat captain, a shrimper, and a scientist rebuilding Louisiana’s fast-disappearing coastline.

For fans of Gracie Under The Waves and A Strange Thing Happened in Cherry Hall, Grandpere’s Ghost Swamp has a little bit of everything: a pinch of spookiness, a dash of environmental activism, and a heaping of family.

Publication Date March 31st 2026 by Knopf Books for Young Readers
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Hatchet meets Survivor in this high-action, humor-filled middle grade adventure about two kids stranded in the wilderness, whose annoyance with each other rivals the roaring rapids and ferocious predators they must face.

12-year-old Sadie Hahn didn’t plan to eat grubs on camera to win a contest. And she definitely didn’t plan to win first prize — a guest appearance on a Youtube show hosted by America’s favorite 13-year-old survivalist Radley Shaw. But she’ll do anything to cheer up her little brother Silas, who’s too young to qualify.

Rad has millions of followers and exactly zero real-life friends, so the contest is a great chance for him to hang out with kids his own age. But it’s hate-at-first-sight when Silas throws a wrench in his plan and Sadie decides Rad is just a clueless poser who doesn’t know the first thing about survival.

Disaster strikes when their scripted rafting trip turns into a real fight for survival. Lost in the mountains, Rad and Sadie must find shelter, build a fire, forage for food and try not to become food for a hungry predator. But can they stop bickering long enough to hack it in the wilderness? And will that be enough to keep them alive?