Archives de catégorie : Middle Grade

ASTRA FOX AND THE RISE OF THE WONDERWORKERS d’Isaac Fitzsimons

An orphan with big dreams becomes entangled in the corrupt magic system of her city in this gripping middle-grade fantasy adventure from critically acclaimed author Isaac Fitzsimons—perfect for fans of Chronicles of Whetherwhy and School for Thieves.

ASTRA FOX AND THE RISE OF THE WONDERWORKERS
by Isaac Fitzsimons
Aladdin, September 2026
(via JABberwocky)

Astra Fox longs to be a wonderworker, traveling the world and casting fantastical illusions. But as a ward of the awful Sisters of Sorrows’ Foundling Home for Friendless Children, her dreams seem impossible. Then Astra’s fate takes an incredible turn when she’s granted an apprenticeship with the Bellamys, a prominent family who made their fortune manufacturing wonderwork into everyday products.

Surrounded by wealth and glamor, Astra is captivated by her new world and feels closer to her ideal future than ever before. But when rumors of a mysterious figure who sparks rebellions reach the city, Mr. Bellamy places Astra in his gilding factory as a spy, promising sponsorship and an opportunity to explore the world as a wonderworker in exchange.

Now working in the same factory from which her sister disappeared years earlier, Astra experiences firsthand the perils and injustices suffered by the employees and discovers a larger plot that puts them all in danger. With the help of her new friends and some unexpected allies, can Astra put her dreams aside to save Empire City?

Isaac Fitzsimons writes so that every reader can see themselves reflected in literature. His debut novel, The Passing Playbook, received numerous accolades, including being named a Junior Library Guild Gold Standard selection, a Kirkus Best Young Adult Romance of 2021, and a 2022 Lambda Literary Award finalist. Isaac has previously dabbled in performing sketch comedy and learning how to play the banjo. His dream vacation would be to travel around Europe via sleeper train and see every top-tier soccer team play a home game. He currently lives outside Washington, DC.

THE DIARIES OF EMILY THE STRANGE: THE LOST DAYS de Rob Reger

For fans of Wednesday Addams, Emily the Strange is the ultimate weird girl and proud of it. Fierce individuality is the name of the game for this eternal 13-year-old, and DIY is her aesthetic—from her souped-up inventing lab to her motto: “Be your own hero.”

THE DIARIES OF EMILY THE STRANGE: THE LOST DAYS
by Rob Reger
HarperPop, September 2026

Witty, offbeat, and lavishly illustrated in black-and-red, in this irresistible and markedly singular diary, Emily the Strange grapples with a wicked case of amnesia while on a mysterious mission with her black cat posse.

Rob Reger is the founder of the aesthetic- and design house, Cosmic Debris and the creator of Emily the Strange, an icon of empowerment for outsiders of all stripes. He received a BFA from UC Santa Cruz, and an MFA in printmaking from the San Francisco Art Institute. He lives in the Bay Area.

A former high school English teacher, Jessica Gruner is the author of Emily the Strange novels and comics. She lives in the Bay Area.

Buzz Parker endlessly illustrates Emily the Strange comic books and novels. He lives in Arcata, California.

EXPLORER: THE MAGIC FRIENDS de Kazu Kubuishi

Edited by the New York Times bestselling comics creator Kazu Kibuishi, this new entry in the Explorer series offers a collection of 11 stories written and illustrated by an award-winning roster of comics artists.

EXPLORER #4: THE MAGIC FRIENDS
edited by Kazu Kubuishi
Abrams Fanfare, September 2026

A boy and his dog cross a mysterious ravine, an evil alien attacks a far-off planet, and a wish comes true . . . with unexpected consequences. Funny, fast-paced, spooky, and spectacular, these 11 bite-size adventures bring together an all-star list of comics creators in this beautifully illustrated anthology.

Edited by New York Times bestselling creator Kazu Kubuishi, who is also a contributor, Explorer: The Magic Friends includes stories from Johant Matte (Explorer: The Mystery Box and Explorer: The Hidden Door), Kean Soo (the Jeallaby series), Phil Craven (the Flight series), Jake Parker (the Missile Mouse series), Steve Hamaker (colorist of Jeff Smith’s Bone series), Ben Hatke (the Zita the Spacegirl series), Rad Sechrist (the Flight series), Bannister (the Elsewhere Chronicles), and Matthew Armstrong (the Flight series).

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Kazu Kibuishi is the author of Amulet, the award-winning New York Times bestselling graphic novel series; the illustrator of the new paperback covers for J. K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series; and the editor of eight volumes of Flight, the Eisner-nominated anthology series. He lives in Bellevue, Washington.

BRITTLE MAGIC de Kate O’Shaughnessy

Everyone in the Brittle family has a magical talent – except Shiloh. But she’s determined to unlock her own greatness in this charmingly quirky novel about family and forgiveness from Newbery Honor winner Kate O’Shaughnessy.

BRITTLE MAGIC
by Kate O’Shaughnessy
Knopf Books for Young Readers, October 2026
(via Park, Fine & Brower)

Nearly every member of the Brittle family has an extraordinary talent—except Shiloh.

Her aunt makes pickles that tell your fortune. Her great-aunt brews tea that gives you good dreams. Her sister can grow pumpkins the size of a small house. And her older brother—who died before Shiloh was born—had a gift no one will talk about. Her mom says Shiloh doesn’t need a talent to be special. But Shiloh knows she’s destined for greatness. And with the Brittle family reunion coming up, she’s determined to prove it to all her relatives.

When Auntie Dee’s fortune-telling pickles reveal that Shiloh does have a talent—and that it’s somehow connected to her late brother—Shiloh feels more confused than vindicated. Why would her mom have kept this from her?

The pickles’ prophesy offers cryptic clues for finding her talent—something involving an oven? and a new friend?—and Shiloh throws herself into the search. But discovering the truth about herself means digging up secrets her mom would rather keep buried.

This year’s family reunion may well be the most dramatic one yet…

Newbery Honor winner Kate O’Shaughnessy gives us a moving, magic-tinged story about family, friendship, forgiveness . . . and fortune-telling pickles!

Kate O’shaughnessy is a 2025 Newbery Honor winner for The Wrong Way Home. She is also the author of The Lonely Heart of Maybelle Lane and Lasagna Means I Love You, both of which received numerous starred reviews. A book nerd, animal lover, former chef, and outdoor enthusiast, Kate lives in California with her family.

THE WANDERING SHOP SERIES: SOCKS & SECRET QUESTS de Triona Murphy

In a land where heroic quests are assigned and undertaken in an orderly manner (with perhaps too much red tape), Peri of the Southern Plains does not play the role of a hero—she merely outfits them for their journeys. . . until she must strike out on an illicit adventure of her own. The Wandering Shop series is a charming illustrated middle-grade fantasy, perfect for fans of The Adventurers Guild and Wilderlore.

THE WANDERING SHOP SERIES: SOCKS & SECRET QUESTS
by Triona Murphy
Atheneum/Simon & Schuster, September 2026
(via Writers House)

Peri has been waiting for her magic to show up . . .

But there’s been no sign of it since she was chosen as an Apprentice Shopkeeper a year ago. Now she travels with a magical shop that equips adventurers for their quests, unsure if she’ll ever do more than stock shelves, mend mittens, and knit non-magical hats that mostly just keep heads warm.

Then a dark wizard kidnaps the Master Shopkeeper, intent on using her power to create an unstoppable army.

To save her master, Peri must leave the cozy shop and seek help from the closest adventuring team, who are really good at arguing and really bad at working together. As Peri’s magic unexpectedly begins to show itself in the items she’s knitting, it’s up to her and her team to stop the dark wizard before war breaks out—or it won’t be just her shop at stake, but the entire kingdom.

Triona Murphy designs (unfortunately non-magical) knitting patterns, which provided the inspiration for Peri’s unique magic. She lives near Portland, Oregon, with her husband and three kids in a house overflowing with board games and books.