It’s back to school time. Lucky for us, we have a back pack full of middle grade new releases to carry us into the fall.
Take a look at what’s going to fill story and library shelves this September – including an old favorite with a new look, some interesting new heroes, and a bunch of mysteries.
Ravenguard: A Ravenfall Novel by Kalyn Josephson
A girl with psychic abilities and a boy with mysterious powers must unravel secrets and battle dark forces in order to save their world in the final Ravenfall adventure.
As whispers of winter beckon, Anna Ballinkay and Colin Pierce brace for change. The Ravenfall Inn, a magical nexus between worlds, is bustling with preparations for the Winter Solstice ball, which will bring together a mix of otherworldly guests and festive enchantments.
Amid the festivities, a young boy named Declan arrives and claims his new identity as a Raven, sparking a mission to rebuild the legendary Ravenguard.
While the inn buzzes with excitement, a sinister mystery unfolds: Supernatural beings are found lifeless, drained of their magic. As suspicion mounts, Anna, Colin, and their allies must uncover the cause before Ravenfall is destroyed.
Can the Ravenguard rise in time, or will the magic of Ravenfall be lost forever? Ancient legends stir and loyalties are tested in Kalyn Josephson’s thrilling series conclusion.
The Better to Eat You With by Tehlor Kay Mejia
From award-winning author Tehlor Kay Mejia comes a spine-tingling tale of transformation, mystery, and the monsters we face—inside and out.
What big teeth…
For twelve-year-old Evan, summertime has always meant carefree days with her family and unlimited time with her best friend, Billie. This year, with her parents on the brink of divorce, she’s staying at Billie’s summer cabin. But Billie only seems to care about crushes these days, and to make matters worse, Evan’s mom’s health obsession has climbed to new heights. The more Evan tries to appease her mom and control her hunger, the sharper it seems to get, until it threatens to drag her under.
As Evan tries to cling to the good things in her life, a sinister presence in the woods begins to stir. Kids are scared, and adults think everyone should go home. Determined to stay, Evan starts hunting for the creature and begins to wonder—is it just her imagination, or is the monster inside her?
Mystery James Digs Her Own Grave by Ally Russell
Abandoned in a cemetery and raised in a funeral home, a girl who can see and smell the supernatural must solve the mystery of a priceless heirloom stolen from her family’s business. Perfect for fans of Netflix’s Wednesday and Beetlejuice!
13-year-old Mystery—who was abandoned in a cemetery and raised in a funeral home—is plagued by sleep paralysis and the smell of ghosts, but she’s used to that. Even though her life might seem “strange” on the outside, she loves it.
That is until a priceless heirloom goes missing and her family’s funeral home is in danger of being shut down. To clear her Tia’s good name, Mystery embarks on an adventure to figure out what really happened to the misplaced necklace.
But to do so, she must contend with the angry patriarch of the town’s wealthiest family, a sleep paralysis demon, a graverobber, and the ghastly half-vampire, half-ghost that’s lurking in the Olde Ellis Town Cemetery.
Tuck Everlasting: The Graphic Novel by Natalie Babbitt and K. Woodman-Maynard
Celebrate Tuck Everlasting’s 50th anniversary with the stunning graphic novel adaptation of this beloved and spellbinding children’s classic that has sold more than 10 million copies.
What if you could live forever?
In this timeless story about immortality, friendship, and growing up, young Winnie Foster learns of a hidden spring in a nearby wood and meets the Tuck family, whose members reveal their astonishing discovery of the spring’s life-changing power. Now Winnie must decide what to do with her newfound knowledge—and the Tucks must decide what to do with her. But it’s not just the curious girl who is interested in their remarkable tale. A suspicious stranger is also searching for the Tucks, and he will stop at nothing until he finds them and uncovers their secret.
From Newbery Honoree and E. B. White Award winner Natalie Babbitt, Tuck Everlasting is a modern-day masterpiece that has been a staple on home bookshelves and in classrooms and libraries for half a century. Drawing closely from the original text, it is now brought to visual life in K. Woodman-Maynard’s gorgeous watercolor artwork. The perfect book for new readers and long-devoted fans alike, Tuck Everlasting: The Graphic Novel is sure to be an all-time favorite for every generation.
Bridget Vanderpuff and the Great Airship Robbery #3 by Martin Stewart and David Habben
Follow the brilliant Bridget Vanderpuff on another action-packed adventure as she sets off for Paris in this middle grade novel perfect for fans of The Great British Baking Show and Beth Lincoln!
Someone has stolen Mr. Vanderpuff’s golden whisk! If Bridget and her new friend Stacy don’t find it by midnight, the world’s best baker will never mix again.
And as the girls chase a chain of impossible puzzles through the secrets and shadows of Paris, Tom and Pascal find trouble in Belle-on-Sea…
Can Bridget and her friends crack the case and save the bakeshop in time?
The Poisoned King by Katherine Rundell and Ashley Mackenzie
Christopher Forrester woke to find a dragon chewing on his face—and his heart leapt for joy! He’d been dreaming of going back to the Archipelago, the secret cluster of islands where all the creatures of myth still live, and here was his summons.
But there is a poison spreading in the Archipelago. Rooting it out will involve a daring rescue mission on the back of a sphinx, a stealthy entrance to a dragon’s lair, and a death-defying plan to save a prisoner held in the heart of a castle. At the center of this storm is Anya: a small girl with a flock of birds at her side, a new-hatched chick in her pocket, and a ravenous hunger for justice.
Katherine Rundell’s second thrilling installment in the Impossible Creatures series involves castles, dragons, and revenge—the things of which great stories are made. The splendors within are brought to life with fifty illustrations, including a map and a bestiary of magical creatures.
North for the Winter by Bobby Podesta
From Pixar star animator Bobby Podesta comes a middle-grade classic holiday story about Virginia, a girl who must help one of Santa’s reindeer back to the North Pole before Christmas.
What would you think if you saw a reindeer fly? When this happens to Virginia, she isn’t sure what to do – she’s just lost her mom, she’s in a new city, and everything seems so hard. But when she reluctantly confesses what she saw to her neighbor, Benny, he’s convinced that flying reindeer can only mean one thing: this is Santa business.
In this stunning graphic novel debut from Pixar director Bobby Podesta, two kids and a lost reindeer go up against obsessive hunters, suspiciously convincing department store elves, and radar operators for the Continental Air Defense Command Center. No matter the odds, Virginia’s going to get Christmas back on track!
Big Nate: No Harm Done!: Volume 33 by Lincoln Peirce
Sixth grade renaissance man Nate Wright is bombastic, enthusiastic, and larger than life–it’s why his friends call him “Big Nate.” But behind the bravado, Nate is a faithful friend whose antics crack up his classmates, impart life lessons to readers, and bring a smile to comics fans everywhere.
It’s back-to-school time for sixth-grader Nate Wright, and this just might be the best year ever! Rumors are flying that the villainous Mrs. Godfrey is now teaching EIGHTH grade. Chad is on the verge of destroying Gina in the race for class president. And could Nate finally realize his dream of changing the school mascot to . . . a sea cucumber? Hey, why not? He’s a can-do kind of guy. So when the Weekly Bugle needs a story, Nate’s happy to make headlines–by (allegedly) starting an epic food fight in the cafetorium! In this latest collection of gut-busting Big Nate comics, Nate’s always stirring things up, but at the end of every day, P.S. 38 is still standing. In other words: NO HARM DONE!
Roswell Johnson Saves the Galaxy! by Chris Colfer
Guardians of the Galaxy meets The Land of Stories in this sequel to Roswell Johnson Saves the World! Packed with humor, heart, and action, the second book in this adventure series will take middle grade readers on another epic journey, this time, to save the galaxy!
Something very strange is happening in our galaxy. People, spaceships, and whole stars are disappearing without a trace. The Milky Way Galactic Alliance can’t explain the bizarre phenomena, prompting Roswell and his alien friends to solve the mystery themselves. Along the way, Roswell discovers new technology that puts our entire solar system in grave danger, and he learns he’s closer to the problem than he ever thought possible.
See anything you like? Let us know in the comments.
This month’s topic is near and dear to my heart. My father is a Physical Education teacher and Coach. Probably due to his influence, I’ve played my fair share of sports (one of my favorites being volleyball). I am also a scientist/engineer, and some of my books connect STEM with various sports. So I was excited to delve into the books for this month. Those I read are:
Janet Slingerland has written over 2 dozen books for young readers, including 
