Archives de catégorie : Middle Grade

REGINA AND THE KNAVES de Bonnie Maisen

In Bonnie Maisen’s thrilling middle-grade debut, an accomplished amateur thief must join forces with the knaves—the most infamous thieves in all of Solaris—in order to reclaim the magical heritage that’s been kept from her.

REGINA AND THE KNAVES
by Bonnie Maisen
Aladdin/Simon & Schuster, Spring 2027
(via Writers House)

Meet thirteen-year-old Regina Fletchley: orphan, powerless Golden, and one of Solaris City’s most wanted thieves. As « The Prince, » she’s built her reputation by breaking into the supposedly impenetrable mansions of the Golden class. But despite her talents—and she’d be the first to tell you they’re considerable—one prize remains out of reach: her lumencoin, the key to both her dormant magic and last connection to her parents. The one heist Regina most longs to pull off is to steal back her lumencoin—but that task is impossible to pull off. Or at least it’s impossible to pull off alone…

 Enter the Knaves: the only thieves in Solaris whose reputation eclipses Regina’s own. They make an offer Regina can’t refuse: if she can help them pull off an ambitious job, they’ll consider hitting the archives where her birthright is hidden next. As Regina struggles prove herself to the crew, something unexpected happens: she begins to feel like a part of something for the first time ever. But when her recklessness put the Knaves in jeopardy, Regina will need to orchestrate her boldest scheme yet to save her newfound family.

Bonnie Maisen writes stories of magic and mayhem for her three sneaky children. She has published flash fiction at GoHavok.com and is a former editor of their Mystery Monday genre.

MOSTLY AWFUL GROWNUPS de River Clegg & Lúthien Leerghast

Sold in a heated US auction, the first book in this debut middle-grade series is as hilarious, fast-paced and mysterious as it is full of heart. Featuring wonderful black and white illustrations by Lúthien Leerghast, this title is perfect for fans of A Series of Unfortunate Events.

MOSTLY AWFUL GROWNUPS
by River Clegg
illustrated by Lúthien Leerghast
Stonefruit Studio/Sourcebooks, March 2027
(via Writers House)

Twin siblings Cole and Willow are smart, resourceful, brave, and kind. But they are not safe. From the moment they return home to find their parents mysteriously missing, they are whisked into a whirlwind of narrow escapes and daring rescues, forced to flee from a cadre of menacing (and mostly awful) grownups intent on pursuing them.

As sensitive, artistic Cole and bold, clever Willow fight to figure out who they can trust and struggle to uncover secrets their parents have buried for years, they are drawn ever deeper into the orbit of a shadowy organization called the Keepers. The twins must face down uncountable obstacles in their journey—a woefully incompetent newspaper, adults who cannot identify alpacas, a vastly unhelpful desk clerk, a malicious (and bored) piranha named Reginald, and, worst of all, the looming realization that they may never have known their parents at all.

Amidst the clever plot twists and whimsical locales, it’s the tender, realistic relationship between the twins that occupies the heart of this novel. Cole and Willow love each other as only siblings can—fiercely, argumentatively, and unconditionally—and their bond breathes life into their wild and wonderful series of escapades. But perhaps even more vital is the novel’s moving and honest portrayal of the unavoidable pitfalls of growing up. As Clegg’s narrator informs his readers, “Stories are to help us make sense of our lives.” And (MOSTLY) AWFUL GROWNUPS provides empathy and clarity to young readers struggling to comprehend, perhaps for the first time, that grownups aren’t infallible, and parents can’t always be there. It’s a novel that stages an inevitable, powerful wrestling with maturation within the realm of the fantastic, rendering it at once an unmistakably timely and fresh story with the trappings of a classic.

River Clegg is a Brooklyn-based copywriter, creative director, and TV writer. His work has frequently appeared on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert and in The New Yorker’s “Shouts & Murmurs” section.

THE SECOND GREATEST THIEF de Christine Cohen

This steampunk fantasy will have you on the edge of your seat as a young and clever thief must pull off a major heist with a life changing prize. This debut has it all—adrenaline-spiking action, heartwarming family dynamics, and a colourful cast of characters impossible not to love!

THE SECOND GREATEST THIEF
by Christine Cohen
Viking, Spring 2027
(via Writers House)

Twelve-year-old Lira Angleson has only one goal: to become a Master Thief. If she’s successful, she’ll be the youngest in New York City’s Thieves Guild to accomplish it, and she won’t ever have to worry about being hungry again. But when her final heist to earn the title goes wrong, she’s about to lose everything she’s worked so hard for. Desperate, she strikes a devilish deal with the Guild’s sinister Grandmaster: If she can complete an upcoming heist so dangerous that most thieves aren’t willing to try, he will grant her the coveted title. 

There’s just one catch. Lira’s brother, William, famously known as the city’s greatest thief, has his own reasons for needing to win the prize. Can Lira outsmart her brother to snatch it first, or will she forever be the city’s second greatest thief?

 Christine Cohen was born and raised in the Pacific Northwest. After writing some really terrible Lord of the Rings fanfiction as a teenager, she started creating her own fictional worlds after college, and she hasn’t stopped since. The Second Greatest Thief is her debut middle-grade novel.

THE MOON WITHOUT STARS de Chanel Miller

The Newbery Honor–winning author of Magnolia Wu Unfolds It All explores the way growing up, finding friends, and discovering who you are can be both awkward and empowering in this heartfelt middle school novel.

THE MOON WITHOUT STARS
by Chanel Miller
Philomel Books, January 2026
(via Sterling Lord Literistic)

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, Luna is somehow 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?

Featuring author-illustrator Chanel Miller’s signature line drawings, The Moon Without Stars is a deeply personal and often funny novel about what it means to lose and then find yourself again during the vulnerable, life-changing years of middle school.

« Authentic and raw, this story is at once a timeless account of growing up and a tale that’s specific to this generation . . . Genuine and poignant; has the makings of a modern classic.” —Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

“Subtle, original, and lightly suspenseful, Luna’s journey toward learning to balance the complex ins and outs of social interaction with her own desires will resonate with those seeking community and understanding.” —Publishers Weekly, starred review

“Miller accurately captures stigmas that persist through middle-school life, from periods to peer pressure. But young readers won’t only see a reflection of their experiences on these pages, they’ll find new perspectives . . . An unflinching, nuanced take on contemporary middle-school life.” —Booklist, starred review

“Miller (Magnolia Wu Unfolds It All) writes Luna’s voice with authenticity and warmth, capturing the awkward humor, emotion, and self-discovery that define early adolescence . . . An authentic coming-of-age story that encourages empathy, accountability, and confidence.” —School Library Journal, starred review

“Miller has crafted a sensitive, authentic voice for the protagonist . . . Readers will find comfort in the moments of levity and small acts of kindness in the story that balance these darker plot lines while also knowing that they, like Luna’s bibliotherapy subjects, are not alone.” —The Horn Book, starred review

Chanel Miller is a writer and artist. Her first children’s book, Magnolia Wu Unfolds It All, was a Newbery Honor winner and an instant New York Times bestseller. It was also a TODAY show Read with Jenna Jr selection, a Good Housekeeping Best Kids’ Book Awards winner, a New York Times for Kids pick, a The Week Junior book club selection, a People magazine summer reading pick, a Junior Library Guild selection, and an Indie Next pick. Her memoir, Know My Name, was a New York Times bestseller, a New York Times Book Review Notable Book, and a winner of the National Book Critics Circle Award, the Dayton Literary Peace Prize, the Ridenhour Book Prize, and the California Book Award. It was also a best book of the year in TIME, The Washington Post, Chicago Tribune, NPR, and People, among others. She was named one of the Forbes 30 Under 30 and a Time Next 100 honoree and was a Glamour Woman of the Year honoree. You can visit her online at Chanel-Miller.com or follow her on Instagram @Chanel_Miller.

THIS IS A DOOR de Daniel Nayeri

A groundbreaking hero’s journey from National Book Award and Newbery Honor winner, Daniel Nayeri! A young boy, a mouse, and a dog set out to find their purpose in this fairy tale adventure told in an innovative visual format that offers a one-of-a-kind reading experience.

THIS IS A DOOR
by Daniel Nayeri
Stonefruit Studio/Sourcebooks, October 2026

This is the tale of a boy named Nothing the Younger, who lives in a city on the mountaintop of a far-off and long-lost country. Everyone calls him Ing, and while he has no parents, he does have two friends: a dog, Pöppy, and a mouse, mOmO. When King Cyrus calls for a hero to find and defeat the Giantess ravaging the countryside, the king’s son, the Wander Prince, answers the call and Ing decides to follow. Along the journey, Ing (and his friends) must traverse the Land of the Dead, survive an encounter with the terrifying wimmelworm, and discover the truth of his mother and father . . . so that he may find what he’s been seeking all along―his best purpose. 

The text on each page snakes, climbs, jumps, and explodes into shapes and forms that unravel the story. This Is a Door is full of fun surprises and poignant musings that flip the classic hero’s journey on its head―all in an artistic and inventive package that is a wonder to behold.

Daniel Nayeri was born in Iran and spent some years as a refugee before immigrating to Oklahoma at age seven with his family. He is the author of several books, including Everything Sad is Untrue (A True Story), winner of the Michael L. Printz Award, the Christopher Medal, and the Middle Eastern Book Award, The Many Assassinations of Samir, the Seller of Dreams, winner of the Newbery Honor, and The Teacher of Nomad Land, winner of the National Book Award. He lives in the U.S. with his wife and son.