Kid Reads

Find new releases for kids.
Updated March 18, 2026
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The Cartoonists Club: A Graphic Novel
Raina Telgemeier
Paper Book
#1 New York Times bestselling cartoonists Raina Telgemeier and Scott McCloud team up for a one-of-a-kind friendship story about creativity and self-expression that blends how-to and comics magic. Welcome to the club! Makayla is bursting with ideas but doesn't know how to make...
New Kid
Jerry Craft
Paper Book
Winner of the Newbery Medal, Coretta Scott King Author Award, and Kirkus Prize for Young Readers' Literature!  Perfect for fans of Raina Telgemeier and Gene Luen Yang, New Kid is a timely, honest graphic novel about starting over at a new school where diversity is low and the struggle...
Swim Team
Johnnie Christmas
Paper Book
"Combines wonderful characters and history to create a story that will make you want to dive right in!" JERRY CRAFT, author of the Newbery Medal-winning New Kid A splashy, contemporary middle grade graphic novel from bestselling comics creator Johnnie Christmas! Bree can't wait for...
Amari and the Night Brothers
B. B. Alston
Paper Book
New York Times bestseller! Artemis Fowl meets Men in Black in this exhilarating debut middle grade fantasy, the first in a series filled with #blackgirlmagic. Perfect for fans of Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky, the Percy Jackson series, and Nevermoor. Amari Peters has...
Candle Island
Lauren Wolk
Paper Book
A moving portrait of loss and the restorative power of art from Lauren Wolk, the Newbery Honor-winning author of Beyond the Bright Sea. Lucretia Sanderson has a secret. Lucretia and her mother have come to tiny Candle Island, Maine (Population: Summer,...
The Poisoned King
Katherine Rundell
Paper Book
#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER * THE SECOND BOOK IN THE LANDMARK NEW FANTASY SERIES THAT BEGAN WITH IMPOSSIBLE CREATURES "Rundell is back with a sequel . . . which offers magical thrills for young readers and adults alike."--The New York Times
Speechless: A Graphic Novel
Aron Nels Steinke
Paper Book
From Eisner Award-winning author Aron Nels Steinke comes a heartfelt and funny middle-grade graphic novel about friendship, anxiety, and expressing yourself. Middle school was supposed to be a fresh start for Mira, who struggles to speak in class even though she can speak at home...
The swag is in the socks
Baptist, Kelly J.
Paper Book
Xavier Moon is stepping out of the shadows when his great-uncle gives him some outlandish socks and some even stranger requests. A story about heart, confidence, and standing on your own two feet that is perfect for fans of The Season of Styx Malone and The Parker Inheritance....
The Trouble with Heroes
Kate Messner
Paper Book
An instant New York Times bestseller! A USA Today bestseller! Read with Jenna Jr. Summer Reading List Pick! "Genuinely moving." --The New York Times Book Review "Explores the healing power of...
Isle of ever
Calonita, Jen
Paper Book
Winner of a 2025 Good Housekeeping Best Kids' Books Award! A New York Times Bestseller Read with Jenna Jr. Summer Reading List Pick! "[An] atmospheric fantasy ride."--Publishers Weekly, STARRED REVIEW "Fast-paced and satisfying."--School Library Journal,...
Pocket Bear
Katherine Applegate
Paper Book
An instant New York Times Bestseller! Meet Pocket, created as a good luck charm for soldiers going into battle, whose bravery and loyalty lives on long after the war. From Katherine Applegate, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Odder and...
Please Pay Attention
Jamie Sumner
Paper Book
Three starred reviews! A girl with cerebral palsy navigates loss, grief, and the aftermath of trauma following a school shooting in a world that wasn't built for her in this "intimate, lyrical" (Publishers Weekly, starred review) novel in verse from Jamie Sumner, the...
Pilar Ramirez and the Escape from Zafa
Julian Randall
Paper Book
The Land of Stories meets Dominican myths and legends come to life in Pilar Ramirez and the Escape from Zafa, a blockbuster contemporary middle-grade fantasy duology starter from Julian Randall. Fans of Tristan Strong and The Storm Runner, here is your next...
Into the rapids
Braden, Ann
Paper Book
Sometimes even a girl who likes to rely only on herself needs to be brave enough to ask for help. When a super-storm hits Addy's remote mountain town, knocking out the bridge and cutting her home off from the main road, she worries that she won't be able to get to the survival...
The City of Lost Cats
Tanya Lloyd Kyi
Paper Book
When Fiona wanders into an abandoned mansion down by the harbor, she discovers the house is full of stray cats (and two chaotic budgies). Fiona feels a great deal of sympathy for the animals; she understands what it's like to need a safe home. Ever since her parents died, she's been struggling to...
Return to Sender: A Novel
Vera Brosgol
Paper Book
*An Instant New York Times Bestseller* Magic, mystery, and a marvelous mailbox take two kids on an incredible journey in this middle grade adventure novel from bestselling comics creator Vera Brosgol. Perfect for fans of Greenwild and The Lost...
Operation sisterhood
Rhuday-Perkovich, Olugbemisola
Paper Book
Fans of the Netflix reboot of The Babysitters Club will delight as four new sisters band together in the heart of New York City. Discover this jubilant novel about the difficulties of change, the loyalty of sisters, and the love of family from a prolific award-winning author. ...
Scarlet Morning, Book 1
ND Stevenson
Paper Book
AN INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER * USA TODAY BESTSELLER * NATIONAL INDIE BESTSELLER * NPR BEST BOOKS OF 2025 * KIRKUS BEST BOOKS OF 2025 * BOOKLIST 2025 EDITOR'S CHOICE * NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY BEST OF YEAR * CHICAGO PUBLIC LIBRARY BEST OF YEAR * ...
Twins
Varian Johnson
Paper Book
Coretta Scott King Honor author Varian Johnson teams up with rising cartoonist Shannon Wright for a delightful middle-grade graphic novel!Maureen and Francine Carter are twins and best friends. They participate in the same clubs, enjoy the same foods, and are partners on all their school projects....
Moonleapers
Margaret Peterson Haddix
Paper Book
From Edgar Award-winning author Margaret Peterson Haddix comes a suspenseful duology opener about a girl whose first phone connects her to a network of time travelers who want to change the world. This New York Times bestseller--now available in paperback--is perfect for fans of...
Finding the lost one
Leer, Samantha van
Paper Book
A middle grade debut by New York Times bestselling co-author of Between the Lines stars 13 year old Ava, who helps run her family's refuge for extraterrestrials. But a sudden attack on the zoo leads to her discovering a government conspiracy that upends everything she believed to be...
The Court of the Dead
Rick Riordan
Paper Book
New York Times #1 best-selling authors Rick Riordan and Mark Oshiro collaborate again on a new adventure in which Nico di Angelo teams up with his half-sister Hazel Levesque to protect . . . monsters? A few months after returning from the depths of Tartarus, demigods Nico...
What is Juneteenth?
Jewel, Kirsti
Paper Book
Discover more about Juneteenth, the important holiday that celebrates the end of chattel slavery in the United States. On June 19, 1865, a group of enslaved men, women, and children in Texas gathered around a Union solder and listened as he read the most remarkable words they...
The Nine Moons of Han Yu and Luli
Karina Yan Glaser
Paper Book
NEWBERY HONOR-WINNER INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES AND USA TODAY BESTSELLER * INDIE NEXT PICK * SIX STARRED REVIEWS! Named a Best Book of the Year by Kirkus Reviews, School Library Journal, ALA Booklist, Publishers Weekly,...
Rez Dogs
Joseph Bruchac
Paper Book
Renowned author Joseph Bruchac tells a powerful story of a girl who learns more about her Penacook heritage while sheltering in place with her grandparents during the coronavirus pandemic. Malian loves spending time with her grandparents at their home on a Wabanaki reservation...
Stuntboy, in the meantime
Jason Reynolds
Paper Book
A Schneider Family Award Honor Book for Middle Grade From Newbery Medal honoree and #1 New York Times bestselling author Jason Reynolds comes a hilarious, hopeful, and action-packed middle grade novel about the greatest young superhero you've never heard of, filled with...
One Wrong Step
Jennifer A. Nielsen
Paper Book
From #1 New York Times bestselling author Jennifer A. Nielsen comes a brand-new, spine-tingling adventure about two kids and their fight for survival on the unforgiving trails of Mount Everest. Jennifer Nielsen's storytelling climbs to new heights in this epic about loss, letting go, and...
Candace, the Universe, and Everything
Sherri L. Smith
Paper Book
A speculative middle grade novel about three generations of Black girls connected across time and space through a wormhole in their school locker. A School Library Journal and Chicago Public Library Best Book of the Year What if your locker was...
The Experiment
Rebecca Stead
Paper Book
"Many twists await in this fast-moving and optimistic story by one of today's most inventive writers for readers ages 8-12." --The Wall Street Journal From the Newbery Medalist and national-bestselling author Rebecca Stead, here is a bold story that will appeal to fans of...
What Is Congress?
Jill Abramson
Paper Book
Whether Congress is in session or not, here is an enthralling overview about the branch of our government closest to average Americans. Best-selling adult author and the first woman to become executive editor of The New York Times, Jill Abramson is a self-confessed...
Kaya Morgan's crowning achievement
Tew, Jill
Paper Book
A vibrant and heart-warming novel about the unforgettable joys of the Renaissance Faire, overcoming grief through cherished memories, and remaining true to yourself-even in cosplay. For as long as she could remember, Kaya Morgan has spent her summers with her dad at the greatest...
Invisible
Gonzalez, Christina Diaz
Paper Book
A USA TODAY and Indie Bestseller! For fans of New Kidand Allergic, a must-have graphic novel about five very different students who are forced together by their school to complete community service... and may just have more in common than they thought. ...
Dear Jackie
Bagley, Jessixa
Paper Book
A middle schooler's plan to fit in with her new friends by writing herself a fake love letter backfires spectacularly in this funny and all-too-relatable graphic novel perfect for fans of Raina Telgemeier and the Berrybrook Middle School series. Jackie and Milo have been best...
The Wish Switch
Lynn Painter
Paper Book
Magic and mayhem collide in beloved #1 New York Times bestselling author Lynn Painter's hilarious children's book debut, perfect for fans of Sarah Mlynowski and Wendy Mass. Emma Rockford knows it will take bonafide magic to make middle school everything...
The Gate, the Girl, and the Dragon
Grace Lin
Paper Book
A New York Times and IndieBound bestseller! A Boston Globe Best Book of the Year! A Kirkus Best Book of the Year! A BCCB Best Book of the Year! From award-winning and bestselling author...
Busted
Dan Gemeinhart
Paper Book
"A humdinger doozy of a read filled with humor, heart, and incredible characters you won't soon forget!" --Chris Grabenstein, #1 New York Times-bestselling author of the Mr. Lemoncello's Library series "Busted is about to be your kid's new favorite." --...
The Extraordinary Orbit of Alex Ramirez
Jasminne Paulino
Paper Book
A powerful debut novel in verse about a neurodivergent seventh grader who dreams of traveling to the stars one day. A School Library Journal Best Book of the Year "This story is about a boy who is certain of his own magic in the midst of the doubtful adults...
Shirley and Jamila's Big Fall (Shirley & Jamila, 2)
Gillian Goerz
Paper Book
For fans of Raina Telgemeier and Victoria Jamieson, this middle grade graphic novel series tells the story of Shirley and Jamila, two girl detectives on a mission to stop their school's biggest bully once and for all As Jamila settles into the rhythms of classes and after...
Free piano (not haunted)
Gardner, Whitney
Paper Book
From beloved graphic novelist Whitney Gardner comes a big-hearted, touching, and spooky coming-of-age story about a young aspiring songwriter who forms a ghostly partnership with the pop star who haunts her secondhand piano. The piano is free, but fame has a price. ...
We Are Family
LeBron James
Paper Book
Kids have big dreams. And when those dreams are on the line, how far are they willing to go to achieve them? When Jayden and his teammates find out there's not going to be a Hoop Group this year--and maybe ever again--they have to learn to lean on each other if they want to save their...
A Hero's Guide to Summer Vacation
Pablo Cartaya
Paper Book
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER * Reality proves more epic than fantasy in this family road trip story starring a reluctant young hero and his curmudgeonly grandfather. A Pura Belpré Children's Author Honor Book Gonzalo Alberto Sánchez García has never...
Last Gate of the Emperor
Kwame Mbalia
Paper Book
From Kwame Mbalia and Prince Joel David Makonnen comes an Afrofuturist adventure about a mythical Ethiopian empire. Sci-fi and fantasy combine in this epic journey to the stars. Yared Heywat lives an isolated life in Addis Prime -- a hardscrabble city with rundown tech, lots of rules, and not...
Band Nerd
Sarah Clawson Willis
Paper Book
2025 Chicago Public Library Best of the Best Books A heartfelt coming-of-age story about music, family, and friendship--perfect for fans of Roller Girl and New Kid. For twelve-year-old Lucy Carver, music isn't just a way of life, it's an escape from...
Bat and the Business of Ferrets
Elana K. Arnold
Paper Book
A Schneider Family Book Award Honor Winner! The bestselling Bat returns! Bat and the Business of Ferrets is the fourth title in National Book Award finalist Elana K. Arnold's heartfelt and widely acclaimed series featuring an unforgettable young boy on the autism spectrum. ...
Let’s Get Together
Brandy Colbert
Paper Book
Boston Globe-Horn Book Award-winning author Brandy Colbert gives The Parent Trap a fresh, funny, and delightfully unexpected update in this story of two girls--one raised by her single father, the other in the foster care system--who meet by chance...only to discover they're identical twins. ...
Odder
Katherine Applegate
Paper Book
Over 100 weeks on the New York Times bestseller list! From #1 New York Times bestselling author of Wishtree and The One and Only Ivan, Katherine Applegate, a touching and lyrical tale about a remarkable sea otter, perfect for summer...
War Games
Alan Gratz
Paper Book
An instant #1 New York Times bestseller! A USA Today bestseller A Publishers Weekly bestseller From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Refugee and Heroes comes this heart-pounding, high-stakes take on...
Graciela in the Abyss
Meg Medina
Paper Book
"A thrilling, action-packed journey filled with heart, bravery, and ghostly exploits." --Kirkus Reviews (starred review) A sea ghost, a mortal boy, and a dangerous enchanted harpoon . . . A Newbery Medalist takes us far beneath the waves in this extraordinary foray into...
Finding Lost
Holly Goldberg Sloan
Paper Book
A stray dog leads to major change for Cordy and her grieving family in this heartwarming novel by the beloved author of Counting by 7s. "It's impossible to read a book by Holly Goldberg Sloan without coming away wiser, kinder, and happier. She is a singular talent indeed."-...
Tiger honor
Lee, Yoon Ha
Paper Book
Young tiger spirit Sebin wants nothing more than to join the Thousand World Space Forces and captain a battle cruiser. But when their acceptance letter finally arrives, it's accompanied by the shocking news that their uncle, Captain Hwan, has been declared a traitor, having abandoned his duty,...
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