Middle grade books 2024
The Book That No One Wanted to Read by Richard Ayoade, illustrated by Tor Freeman
Have you ever thought about how it feels to be a book?
To be left under a whiffy pant pile or shelved, forever collecting dust? To have your pages bent backwards or your spine BROKEN? What if you don't have a sparkly unicorn or dragon adorning your cover - who will pick you out of the bookshop then?
This is the story of the sadly neglected Book That No One Wanted To Read - can its destiny change when it finally meets the right reader? Spoiler alert: yes.
Little House by Katya Balen, illustrated by Richard Johnson
Juno’s furious about being sent to stay with her grandfather for the summer. She’ll miss all the fun she and her friends had planned for the holidays. She’ll also miss her mum, but it’s her mum’s fault for leaving anyway.
Then Juno discovers a long-forgotten little family in her grandfather’s attic. As she works to carefully craft a new home for them, can she learn to forgive her mum and understand her reasons for going away?
Starlet Rivals by Puneet Bhandal, illustrated by Jen Khatun
12-year-old Bela has always dreamed about becoming a famous Bollywood star, and now the opportunity might finally be within her grasp. When a reality TV show gives her the chance to dance in front of the nation, she knows that she is performing for a place at the most prestigious stage school in Mumbai.
Can Bela win the Dance Starz competition to bag a place at the Bollywood Academy and move one step closer to her dreams of stardom? And will child star Monica, the most "in" girl at school, see her as a friend or a rival?
Nina Peanut is Amazing by Sarah Bowie
Nina dreams about being as popular as class queen bee Megan Dunne, who films NOT AMAZING AT ALL content of her pampered dog, Princess Trixie Bell.So, when Nina's stinky cat Les wanders into one of Megan's videos by accident, and goes viral, Nina and Les are suddenly internet famous! But is overnight stardom as wonderful as Nina always imagined it would be?
Call me Lion by Camilla Chester
Ten-year-old Leo dreams of performing in the West End. His love of dancing is getting him through the Luton heatwave, but his selective mutism is putting his spot in the end-of-summer dance show on the line.
When chatty Richa moves in next door, Leo finds it easy to bond with her. She talks enough for the both of them ... at least to begin with. But when he learns her secret it's clear that Richa needs Leo's support as much as he needs hers.
Maddy Yip’s Guide to Life by Sue Cheung
Maddy Yip lives happily with her Mam, Dad, Agung (Chinese grandad) and two annoying brothers. Until the day she realises that all her family and friends have at least one talent – something they are really good at.
The only thing Maddy is good at is armpit farts. And so begins the quest to discover what else Maddy can do really well.
The Wondrous Prune by Ellie Clements
Uprooted by her single mum along with her troublesome older brother, eleven-year-old Prune Robinson is trying to settle in a new town. She figures she can't burden her hard-working mother with the fact she's being bullied. Or the fact that her drawings have started coming to life.
But with her brother soon in danger, Prune comes to realise that she can't hide her power forever; in fact, it might just be the one thing that brings her family back together and saves them all.
Pop Art by Emilie Dufresne, illustrated by Danielle Rippengill
This is pop art! One of the most fascinating art movements in history, the techniques and personalities of artists will engage readers from their first look.
A friendly gallery worker guides readers through the specifics of pop art as well as what an art gallery is. Fun activities invite readers to try out famous pop artists' techniques for themselves.
Trixie Pickle Art Avenger by Olaf Falafel
Trixie loves art and hates bullies - and so decides to become an Art Avenger, righting wrongs at her school through art. She uses Picasso, Pollock and Ofili to teach bullies a lesson, get out of lessons and help those in need, like an arty Robin Hood.
The Spectaculars: The Four Curses by Jodie Garnish
When three figures arrive at Harper's window in a flying canoe, informing her that she is due to start her apprenticeship, Harper discovers she is a Spectacular - a magical performer, gifted special powers from the stars.
Harper is thrilled to be part of the Spectaculars' travelling theatre and boarding school, until everything is plunged into great danger.
With her new friends Trick and Thief, Harper sets out to save her school... But while dreams come true at the Wondria, nightmares might just be lurking in the wings.
How I Feel: 40 Wellbeing Activities for Kids by Becky Goddard-Hill, illustrated by Assia Ieradi
Sometimes it can be hard for children to know exactly how they feel. Talking about feelings makes them easier to understand and helps them choose how to react to them.
Go on a happiness hunt, play animal charades, feed your worry monster and do the cushion walk!
Clementine Florentine by Tasha Harrison, illustrated by Mya Mitchell
An ingenious 'reverse Parent Trap', this illustrated comedy centres Clementine and her school nemesis Callum, who have to join forces to break their respective parents up - before they fall in lurrrve and Clementine and Callum end up as siblings!
It's extra high-pressure because they both have a talent for poetry and are determined to be the best writer. But then an unlikely friendship with an ageing punk icon - along with her chatty pet parrot Viv - helps Clem to start seeing things differently.
I Am the Wind: Irish Poems for Children Everywhere edited by Lucinda Jacob & Sarah Webb, illustrated by Ashwin Chacko
A fully illustrated collection of Irish poems, ranging from medieval to modern poems in English and Irish. This includes old favourites and new voices.
Kiki Kallira Breaks a Kingdom by Sangu Mandanna
Kiki Kallira has always been a worrier. Did she lock the front door? Is there a terrible reason her mum is late? Recently her anxiety has been getting out of control, but one thing that has always soothed her is drawing. Kiki's sketchbook is full of fantastical doodles of the Hindu myths and legends her mother has told her since she was tiny.
One day, her sketchbook's calming effect is broken when her mythological characters begin springing to life and Kiki is pulled into the mystical world she drew.
There, she discovers an ancient, monstrous god bent on total destruction. Kiki must overcome her fear and anxiety to save both worlds - the real and the imagined - from his wrath.
But how can a girl armed with only a pencil defeat something so powerful?
Music and How It Works by DK Children’s/Charlie Morland, illustrated by David Humphries
Take a visual journey through the world of music and learn the science behind it, too!
Instruments and genres from across the world are featured, with "playlists" of key pieces encouraging kids to look up pieces to hear for themselves. Delve into the psychology and math behind music, from how it affects our mood to how it can improve our minds.
Covering India's Ragas, Indonesia's Gamelan, Japan's city pop, and more, this book will help children discover a love of music.
Marvin and the Book of Magic by Jenny Pearson, illustrated by Aleksei Bitskoff
Marvellous Marvin braves the stage to showcase the magic that can be found in true friendship in this hilarious and heartfelt tale.
After being humiliated by a badly behaved squirrel on national television, Marvin has vowed NEVER to perform magic in public again. But when he acquires a mysterious book that promises to show those with the gift of magic how to use it properly, his best friend Asha persuades him to make a comeback in the school talent show.
Watch Marvellous Marvin take to the stage to demonstrate the magic that can be found in true friendship!
Secret Hen House Theatre by Helen Peters
Since the death of her mother, Hannah's family life has been somewhat chaotic. Her father is absorbed by running their farm, and the four children are increasingly left to their own devices.
These include "farming" each room of the house, looking after an enormous pet sheep called Jasper, and writing and directing plays in a disused hen house. But when the farm is threatened with demolition, Hannah determines to save it and realise her dreams at the same time...
This is a brilliant story of eccentric family life where the children's imaginations run as free as the farmyard animals.
The Piano at the Station by Helen Rutter, illustrated by Elisa Paganelli
Lacey's smart tongue and quick temper are constantly getting her confined to isolation at school. But when Lacey gets sent to lunch-time music lessons to keep her out of trouble, she discovers a love and talent for the piano that opens up a whole new world for her.
Just as she’s really beginning to make progress, her music teacher has to leave, which throws Lacey back into turmoil. Will she go back to her self-destructive ways or will music offer her a way to save her from herself?
Dreamweavers: Roar of the Hungry Beast by Annabelle Sami, illustrated by Forrest Burdett
Meet the ultimate Dream Team!
Tito LOVES spending his nights dreamweaving with Neena! Not only is it fun seeing his dreams come to life but he is also getting stronger. But with Darkweavers on a mission to break down the barrier between the dream and waking worlds, the Dream Team are on high alert!
Then a mysterious creature starts hounding their teacher’s dreams – making them cranky (to say the least) and turning school into an ACTUAL nightmare. Will Tito be ready to put his skills to the test and face the beast?
Rani Reports on The Missing Millions by Gabrielle & Satish Shewhorak, illustrated by Navya Raju
I’m Rani Ramgoolam – roving reporter. And I think I’ve found the perfect story for the junior journalism competition run by the local paper. An eccentric millionaire has created a treasure hunt with a reward for the first person who figures out the clues.
Luckily, my mischievous Nani is visiting from Mauritius. She’s promised to help me work out what a priceless painting, a minotaur and a glass eye have in common. The race is on and I’ll need all the help I can get. Especially when some people are resorting to sneaky tricks to get their hands on the prize…
Grimwood by Nadia Shireen
Fox cub siblings Ted and Nancy are on the run from Princess Buttons, the scariest street cat in the Big City. They flee for Grimwood, expecting to find refuge in the peaceful countryside.
Instead, they are met with thieving eagles, dramatic ducks, riotous rabbits and a whole host of unusual characters. Grimwood is... weird. But when Princess Buttons tracks them down, Nancy and Ted and the animals of Grimwood must unite in a mind-bending race against time...
Juniper Mae: Knight of Tykotech City by Sarah Soh
Building her own gadgets in her dad's repair shop, Juniper Mae is a certified kid wonder. She builds jet packs, socks that keep your feet warm and dry, floating fish bowls.
But a slight malfunction with one of her latest inventions causes her to crash-land in the dangerous forests around her city, and there she discovers a whole world of mystery, ancient knights and even a small green tama-tama friend, Albie.
I Can Be… Creative by Shalini Vallepur, illustrated by Jasmine Pointer
Be bold like Boudicca, as adventurous as Amelia Earhart and super sporty like Usain Bolt! How did Galileo make important discoveries and how did Frida Kahlo overcome hardship? This series will inspire you to be whatever you want to be.
The Wildstorm Curse by Eve Wersocki Morris
A fabled witch. A powerful curse. A monster out for revenge.
13-year-old Kallie Tamm can't wait to spend a week of her summer holidays at the Wildstorm Theatre Camp: she's determined not to let her dyslexia hold her back from achieving her dream of becoming a playwright.
But as soon as she arrives, Kallie discovers that the cast will be performing a play written by a 17th Century witch, Ellsabet Graveheart, and strange, scary things start happening.
Red Sky at Night, Poet’s Delight by Alex Wharton, illustrated by Ian Morris
From Children’s Laureate Wales Alex Wharton comes Red Sky at Night: A Poet’s Delight – a second collection of funny and thoughtful poems, aimed at developing a love of language and self-expression.
A Year of Black Joy curated by Jamia Wilson, illustrated by Jade Orlando
A Year of Black Joy celebrates the joy, talent, and contributions of 52 Black people from around the world.
Each contributor is an expert in their own field, and the book covers a multitude of topics, from astrology and astronomy to beekeeping and baking.
Finally Seen by Kelly Yang, illustrated by Natelle Quek
A gripping middle-grade novel about Lina, who leaves China to live with her parents and sister in the US, after five years apart. She's been waiting for this moment but it's not exactly like the postcards.