Middle Readers

The Legend of Greyhallow

by Summer Rachel Short

available in July, hardcover, Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers

My son fielded this one for me and reports: This book is about very brave siblings, on a quest to find the secrets of Mr. Ripley, the previous owner of their new house and a famous director of the well-known Greyhallow movies. The story is rich with surprises and plot twists, and from sirens to sorcerers, there’s a bit of everything in this book. –Erin

The Labors of Hercules Beal

by Gary D. Schmidt

available now, hardcover, Clarion Books

From award-winning author Gary D. Schmidt, a warm and witty novel in the tradition of The Wednesday Wars, in which a seventh-grader has to figure out how to fulfill an assignment to perform the Twelve Labors of Hercules in real life—and makes discoveries about friendship, community, and himself along the way.

Falling Out of Time : Running Out of Time Book 2

by Margaret Peterson Haddix

available now, hardcover, Katherine Tegen Books

What would you do if you found out you weren’t really living in 2023? Zola finds herself in a similar situation, except in 2193. Haddix writes time travel like no other. In fact, her newest title transported me right back to reading the Missing series in my elementary school library. –Sophie

Tessa Miyata is No Hero

by Julie Abe

available in August,, hardcover, Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

Graphic Novel Out There

by Seaerra Miller

available in June, paperback, Little, Brown Ink

When a festival commemorating the 75th anniversary of the infamous UFO crash in New Mexico rolls around, Julia turns down a dream vacation to Hawaii with her best friend, Sara, to join her dad for a weekend trip to Roswell, where he expects the aliens to make contact.

There Flies the Witch

by Mayonn Paasewe-Valchev available now, hardcover, Greenwillow Books

Red tells us her story, about living a life she thinks she loves. Until she doesn’t. Sometimes our familiarity with our current environment keeps us from experiencing something more. The writing style used by author Mayonn Paasewe-Valchev allows the story to flow like a poem rather than a normal chapter book. If you are a fan of spoken word, I would highly recommend this read and especially to anyone looking for a sense of belonging. –Anna

Code Red

by Joy McCullough

available in June, hardcover, Atheneum Books for Young Readers

In the spirit of Judy Blume, this empowering and heartfelt middle grade novel celebrates finding yourself, making new friends, and standing up for what’s right as a girl becomes involved in menstrual activism.

When Tessa Miyata and her two sisters are told that they will be staying at their grandparents in Japan, Tessa is thrilled. A summer in Japan could be her chance to go on an adventure worthy of impressing her classmates back home. But when she breaks the Miyata family’s precious heirloom, accidentally releases the malicious samurai god Taira Masakado. She discovers a hidden part of the city where gods and mythological creatures walk among humans—including their new companion, a mischievous mythical nine-tailed fox who may be more trouble than he is help.