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Teen Librarian Karen Jensen shares 5 of her favorite YA reads for 2024, and 2 Printz Award predictions
A handful of 2024 releases and a bunch of 2025 releases round out this final book mail post of the year.
Sometimes the simple act of adding some books to my own personal endless TBR stack or list is all it takes for me to want to do a Take Five list.
Check out these 25 middle grade titles coming out in 2025!
From a bilingual book about Cuba to a graphic novel poetry collection, these diverse titles are sure to delight a wide range of young readers.
Kwanzaa is an African American and pan-African holiday that celebrates family, community, and culture. These board books, picture books, and audiobooks will help young children learn more about it and get into the spirit of the holiday.
PREMIUM
Alina in the Deep
A unusual, loving purchase. Naji serves Calgary, Alberta, well, showing it off as a Canadian, multicultural haven. Alina’s problems are our problems, and solutions are universal.
PREMIUM
I Cannot Find My Belly Button!
A highly enjoyable body-part adventure; correctly named body parts in rhyming text will resonate with readers who are interested in their own bodies.
PREMIUM
My First Book of Hiking
Encouraging children and their families to enjoy time outdoors, this is perfect guidance for this demographic that can be carried along on adventures, or enjoyed as a daydream.
Fabulous characters and an excellent plot hook readers from the start and keep them reading. Highly recommended for all libraries.
An excellent science fiction story with just enough creep factor and excellent pacing to keep readers tearing through the pages to the gripping climax. Nix uses his superb writing powers to control and thrill readers throughout this fantastic novel.
Existing fans will most likely be eager to read this installment, but, with its very familiar beats, it’s hard to imagine a new generation of readers connecting with “Dork Diaries.”
Recommended for readers of fantasy, and especially those who enjoy playful language and highly imaginative settings.
PREMIUM
Mai’s Áo Dài
Add this to the shelf! It fills an important gap with charm, fun, and heart; it’s a must-have for holiday collections.
PREMIUM
Unicornia: A Magical Birthday
Usually putting “unicorn” in a title is part of a recipe for success, but this light offering is flimsy.
Full of drama and heart, this is the story of a heroic man of faith who boldly spoke out against slavery; his story has a place in all library collections serving upper elementary students. Highly recommended.
This outstanding book with great information is endearing as well, demonstrating the power of perseverance, love, and commitment. A first purchase wherever children flock.
A strong addition wherever animal and ecology books are popular.
PREMIUM
We Are the Scrappy Ones
A meaningful work for children with disabilities and those who interact with them, this is a purchase for all collections.
PREMIUM
Take Me Out to the Ball Game!
A great angle for a global sport, and a recommended purchase for all libraries.
Teachers and librarians will be able to use this as a mentor text for research projects; young readers and their families will love poring over the pictures and telling friends about the new facts they’ve learned. A must-have for any elementary library.
No matter the level of reader familiarity with spirituals, this title brims with lyricism and soul-lifting strength through its emotional illustrations and compelling text.
PREMIUM
Six Little Sticks
A unique and well-done spin on the subtraction caused by disappearing animals trope, and a good purchase for picture book collections.
PREMIUM
Twigs and Stones
This book is a perfect read-aloud and is excellent for the classroom, teaching readers the value of kindness through humor.
A unique and stellar piece about taking time to look at what others have made before you, and to wonder, this is a mesmerizing glimpse into art and the past; a must for all collections serving children.
PREMIUM
Maybe Just Ask Me!
For elementary libraries lacking books that address this specific message, this is an important purchase.
PREMIUM
Rose Weaves a Garden
An important volume that celebrates the value of family and cultural heritage.
Where books on kindness are in short supply, this is safe purchase.
PREMIUM
Piet Cools Off
A highly entertaining tale with interesting information on how different creatures cope with hot days, this is recommended for all collections for an engaging blend of science and story.
This book celebrates culture, connection, and the universal journey of finding where one belongs. It is an inspiring, enjoyable story that will resonate long after the last page.
Kindergarten teachers may want a copy to read annually, but most public libraries can skip this one.
A perfect transitional book for those leaving their teenage years behind and stepping forward into the vastness of uncertainty that is adulthood.
PREMIUM
The Mirror of Beasts
This sequel to Silver in the Bone is an excellent end to a clever and creative duology. Recommended for purchase.
PREMIUM
Stranger Skies
A complex and highly rewarding series entry that will follow readers beyond the final page. Highly recommended.
PREMIUM
The Kiss of the Nightingale
For teens interested in titles that blur the line between YA and new adult, this is an entertaining romance that starts as cotton candy and ends with the satisfying chew of a macaron.
Cashore threads fiction with fact in a three-generational story of love, loss, and friendship. For mature readers and a must for all collections.
Sisterhood, vampire romance, and the immigrant history of Manhattan makes this novel a triumph.
PREMIUM
Bane of Asgard
A satisfying conclusion to a complex duology; recommended for collections that have the first installment.
PREMIUM
On a Wing and a Tear
Taylor-Corbett warmly invites readers to join a transformative multigenerational, multispecies journey through struggles and adventures, past and present.
A humorous way to engage with a serious topic. Recommended as a secondary purchase for middle school libraries.
Visually engaging and with approachable text, Sick! is chock-full of super interesting information about animals and is recommended for middle school science collections.
This compendium is perfect for science buffs, true-crime lovers, herbalists, and teens drawn to the macabre. A must-have for anyone with a curiosity about nature’s most sinister secrets.
Being vulnerable on the page hasn’t been easy. Opening myself up to judgement—both good and bad is terrifying.
New planets, secret headquarters, extraterrestrial creatures, and other cosmic delights fill the pages of these works for elementary through high school readers.
Caregivers can read these poems to children to help them on their journey to slumber.
PREMIUM
Life Is Beautiful
A substantial addition to any collection, especially those dealing with tough topics.
PREMIUM
My Name Is a Gift
A solid addition to collections, but with an important caveat: it encourages readers to write in the book’s final pages.
PREMIUM
Insha’Allah, No, Maybe So
Relatable to any child, regardless of religion, who is trying to navigate a world of grown-up nuance. A valuable window and mirror for readers.
PREMIUM
Agent Unicorn
Using a graphic novel format, this slyly humorous picture book about dreaming big, accidentally solving a mystery, and doing right by those who have been wronged is sure to be a hit.
PREMIUM
Miles Comes Home
A tender look at adoption from a shy and sensitive boy’s perspective, this book is a necessary addition to the shelves.
Bolstered by dynamic art and a deep understanding of figure skating elements, this manga shines, just like Inori’s skating. Highly recommended.
PREMIUM
Your Letter
With stunning visuals and a cast of relatable characters, this manga illustrates that by finding the right people in life who offer respect and support, there are no boundaries on what one can achieve. Recommended.
PREMIUM
The Teen Exorcist, Vol. 1
With a promising, action-packed start, ancient Japanese folklore gets a fresh spin as a new hero follows the path of those who came before him, making this a series worth jumping into from the very beginning.
This adorable manga about identity delves into topics of injustice and advocacy and is a great option for middle school readers. Recommended.
PREMIUM
Gracie Under the Waves
A must-purchase tale of conservation and coming of age for children and adults.
The perfect blend of education and entertainment, this series, particularly this volume, is highly recommended.
PREMIUM
Make My Wish Come True
Despite the disparity in quality between the two alternating perspectives of this book, teens who enjoy lighthearted queer love stories by authors like Jason June, Mason Deaver, and Jennifer Dugan will enjoy this candy cane–sweet holiday romance.
Humorous, relatable elementary school situations make this a perfect suggestion for a reluctant reader.
An exceptional book about Ramadan that celebrates the breaking of the daily fast and the sharing of the transcendent power of food.
Only for those who want a slimmed down adaptation of the original.
PREMIUM
Athletes Who Changed the Game
Browsers and sports fans will be drawn to these concise yet engaging vignettes and will want to learn more about and cheer on these noteworthy athletes.
Great and engaging nonfiction.
Primarily for browsers; but offers plentiful food for thought on this critical topic.
Despite the sloppy presentation, this book is a valuable addition and a good resource for a language that its speakers are diligently working to keep alive.
PREMIUM
Transport
This book is packed with fun facts and charm; add to collections where Richard Scarry’s “Busy Town” or Raul the Third’s “¡Vamos!” series are popular.
Regardless of classroom uses, young readers will enjoy this one immensely; it’s a first choice for libraries needing nonfiction about diving and deep ocean travel.
A series opener that will leave readers aching for the next installment. Not to be missed, this is one enemies-to-lovers trope that lives up to the name.
PREMIUM
Desert Echoes
This novel suffers from a rough start, but the second half makes it worthy of consideration in collections short on stories about addiction, loss, and generational trauma.
A growth spurring psychological horror with broad appeal that stretches to fans of supernatural action manga.
PREMIUM
HappyHead
This novel excels in delivering a fast-paced and unique dystopian thriller with a cliffhanger ending.
An exquisitely depicted journey of a found family that reminds readers of empathy’s role in creating a kinder world.
With strong art, premise, and message, this is a great read and an excellent way to empower teens to defy expectations.
A triumph; Green has crafted an unforgettable coming-of-age story that is poignant and hopeful. With a blend of humor and resilience, this work deserves a place in the hearts of readers, especially those navigating similar journeys in a world that doesn’t always welcome difference.
With the hackers as vigilantes premise wrapped around a critique of the surveillance state, this thrilling manga will speak to teens.
A sweet and simple story about high schoolers falling in love, perfect for younger romance readers. Recommended.
One of the best pieces of suspense fiction, this brilliant psychological manga belongs on all shelves.
PREMIUM
Splatoon 3: Splatlands, Vol. 1
This action-packed adventure is perfect for young manga fans. Purchase where Splatoon is popular or younger readers are begging for manga.
A moving story appropriate for a younger audience. This is an essential purchase.
A must buy for school libraries; kids will be clamoring for the continuation of Big Jim’s story.
PREMIUM
Where to Hide a Star
Any new title from Jeffers is sure to attract attention. Due to the book’s complex plot line, young readers will be more enamored of the whimsical, characteristic artwork.
Nestled in the pages between its poetry and inspired art is a highly recommended book that readers of all ages will love.
PREMIUM
Squirrel-ish
A playful and engaging story that encourages children to appreciate themselves just as they are.
PREMIUM
Between You and Me
Both an engaging group read-aloud and a book to prompt deeper discussion between a child and their grown-up.
From historical works to books influenced by personal history to those with characters who must examine the past to move forward, these five titles are strong Printz contenders.
From board books that invite the littlest readers to hippity-hop to anthologies that encourage older readers to explore deep themes in narratives, these 11 titles celebrate the Festival of Lights in a variety of ways.
This Thanksgiving season, I’ve been thinking about all the ways libraries have influenced my life.
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