Middle Grade 
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Sensorial descriptions immerse readers in Wolk’s exquisite tale about a tween synesthete, new to Candle Island, Maine, who finds herself at the center of a simmering feud between the islanders and the seasonal vacationers. Leisurely pacing allows space for quiet contemplation about establishing one’s place in the world, culminating in a cathartic and resounding celebration of unconditional love and personal expression.
When a mortal boy’s mission to dispose of an enchanted harpoon is waylaid by the weapon’s creator, he must team up with an ocean spirit to protect the living and the dead. Intricately interwoven timelines and perspectives maintain suspense, while the Balbussos’ lush b&w illustrations convey haunting elements of magical realism in this insightful high-stakes adventure, Medina’s fantasy debut.
Vibrant watercolors render this reverent graphic novel that chronicles Miyares’s father’s childhood in 1950s Cuba. Even as the Cuban Revolution gains momentum, the protagonist’s family remains hopeful, relying on one another’s support to weather financial strain, political unrest, and tumultuous change. It’s an intimately told glimpse into the events’ effect on Cuban citizens and their future generations.
In this powerfully perceptive tale, a Black middle schooler in a mostly white, sports-obsessed town experiences the downside of fame upon joining the high school football team. The indomitable 13-year-old’s POV excels in its depiction of a self-assured teen opting to reject popularity to stand up for—and with—his community as they oppose systemic racism and police brutality.
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Propulsive, conversational text traces Malcolm X’s life in this expansive biography of a renowned activist as he cultivates his anti-racist ideology. Across succinct yet richly detailed passages, Kendi connects the figure’s experiences with their impact on contemporary literature, politics, and society, accessibly highlighting Malcolm X’s complex journey toward learning “how to stand up to what’s wrong. Even in oneself.”
Twenty animals each give a lecture on a species of their choice in this comedic all-dialogue collection, which suggests that the dread (or excitement) of an oral presentation isn’t exclusive to humans. Tak’s irreverent text recounts critters’ attempts to provoke, cajole, and heckle their peers, while van Haeringen’s mixed-media sketches stylishly depict a chaotic interpretation of a classroom discussion gone rogue.
A culinary wunderkind raccoon finds herself guardian to a baby crow and determines to return the hatchling to his forest home in Song’s heartwarming graphic novel. Amiable creatures are always eager to lend a hand throughout the duo’s simultaneously serendipitous and harrowing adventure, relayed in fluid ink and watercolor, which celebrates the joy of making—and sharing—a meal.
Polished prose depicts two tweens—one in 731 Chang’An, China, the other in New York City’s Chinatown during 1931—embarking on parallel journeys to resolve their families’ respective medical and financial situations. Each meticulously researched timeline of this absorbing fantasy offers bustling adventure grounded by Yan Glaser’s b&w pencil sketches, making for an endearing tribute to bravery and friendship.
Siblings navigate their mother’s sudden absence with the help of a maternal robot in Guojing’s evocative graphic novel tale of sacrifice and compassion, set amid a somber desert landscape devastated by pollution and climate change. Soft lines, delicate pencil shading, and large uncluttered panels emphasize the characters’ youthful vulnerability and optimism, amplifying the narrative’s cozy ambiance.
A cat’s grudging POV injects humor into a gently sophisticated tale chronicling the lives of the misfit toys she watches over in the apartment she shares with mother-daughter refugees from Ukraine. Santoso’s detailed illustrations expertly complement Applegate’s nuanced renderings of the dwelling’s unique residents in this treasure of a book that evokes laughter, tears, and introspection in equal measure.
Via lucid and empowering poems, Águila reimagines the history of Roberto Alvarez vs. the Board of Trustees of the Lemon Grove School District, a 1930–1931 court case. Brief, stirring free verse depicts fictionalized tween Roberto’s struggles navigating segregated education and shifting relationships, resulting in an impeccably researched account that imparts timely, resonant messages about personal identity and community activism.
Seamlessly layered plotting builds to a captivating climax in Sneve’s gentle chapter book about a Lakota youth immersing himself in his heritage while visiting his grandparents at their Rosebud Reservation home. As the summer progresses, he simultaneously contends with intense loneliness and gains valuable skills and confidence, experiences conveyed visually in Littlebird’s vivid colored pencil drawings.
Messner draws on personal experience to present a moving and profoundly funny verse novel about a tween who’s forced to hike all 46 Adirondack High Peaks in a single summer as penance for vandalizing a cemetery. Charmingly disgruntled narration relays the protagonist’s adventure grappling with the elements, even as he gains new perspectives on anger, grief, and the solace offered by nature.
Via accessible, morally complex life-after-death scenarios, Hartman delivers a passionate folktale about an usher of wandering souls who must confront his own loneliness and fear of death. Vulnerable narration from a flawed, fully realized character navigating realistic feelings encourages bravery in the face of the unknown; the creator’s illustrations enhance this deeply emotional story’s wistful atmosphere.
A transgender teen teams up with a golem to dismantle an evil supernatural conversion therapy program in this extraordinarily satisfying adventure. Unique interpretations of Jewish mysticism, paired with the protagonist’s own raw emotional journey, flesh out the thrilling fantastical plot as Lukoff tackles weighty real-world problems that disproportionately affect queer youth, including homelessness and suicide.
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