My TOP 10 Middle-Grade Books of 2024

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I look forward to these end of the year reflection posts all year long…but I also dread them. How am I supposed to narrow down a full year of reading into just a few favorite books? Impossible I tell you…impossible. It was a fantastic reading year…and as always, some of my favorite books of the year were Middle-Grade titles. So, I have gone ahead and done the impossible…I have narrowed down my favorite reads into a wee-tiny list of 10. I loved ALL of these books with my whole heart…and I hope you will too! So, without further ado…here are My TOP 10 Middle-Grade Books of 2024!

Olivetti by Allie Millington

I am not one to play favorites…but if I were…I would have to choose Olivetti by Allie Millington. Even though I finished this book 9 months ago…I still think about it all the time. It was so beautifully written, heartwarming, charming, witty…just absolute perfection. If you are a fan of Kate DiCamillo or Katherine Applegate…then please grab this one. You can read a full review on my blog here. I loved that the story was told from the perspective of two very unique characters…an extremely witty typewriter and an introverted young boy with a penchant for words. Be-still my heart. It was just perfection and I will read anything and everything Allie Millington writes!

The One and Only Family by Katherine Applegate

Speaking of Katherine Applegate…let’s chat about The One and Only Family! Oh how I loved this book. This was the perfect ending to a much beloved book series. In true Katherine Applegate style my emotions were all over the place. I would go from laughing to choked up in a matter of pages but it was just a beautiful ending. If you have loved the One and Only Ivan books then definitely give The One and Only Family a read…I know you will love it just as much as the rest of the books. You can read a full review here.

The Ghost Rules by Adam Rosenbaum

Next up we have The Ghost Rules by Adam Rosenbaum. This book was fantastic. I went into this book expecting a traditional ghost story…and that is definitely not what I got. This was definitely a ghost story…and a great one…but it wasn’t your tradtional jump-scare kind of story. At it’s heart, it was a story about grief…and it dealt with the difficult topic so beautifully. While it definitely tugged at my heartstrings, this book was also laugh-out-loud hysterical. It was just such a well-rounded and fantastic book….I hope you will add it to your TBR! You can read a full review on the blog.

Fowl Play by Kristin O’Donnell Tubb

For those of you who know me personally…you know that my Book Nerdery and Bird Nerdery go hand in hand. I had been SO looking forward to reading this book…so when author Kristin O’Donnell Tubb reached out to me and offered to send me a signed copy for review…well, I just about jumped out of my chair. Fowl Play was everything that I had hoped it would be. It was heartwarming, emotional, absolutely hysterical, and full of mystery. I loved every page. She perfectly balanced the humor, heart, and mystery and I adored it. Highly recommend this one!

The Legendary Mo Seto by A.Y. Chan

This book was absolutely fantastic. It was action packed, funny, fast-past, so full of heart, and had the most amazing tiny powerhouse of a main character. I fell absolutely in love with Mo and I know that you will too! This is perfect for readers who love sports…especially Taekwondo, movies, adventure, and short well paced chapters. I loved watching the story unfold and the mystery kept me guessing until the end. This was easily a 5 star read for me. Sending a huge thank you to author A.Y. Chan and the publisher for sending me a copy of The Legendary Mo Seto!

The Wand Keepers- A Sky Full of Dragons by Tiffany McDaniel

Get a paper and a pen and add this book to your 2025 TBR. I am thrilled to share that this is the first book in a brand new Fantasy series and I loved every page of book one. The Wand Keepers- A Sky Full of Dragons by Tiffany McDaniel is everything that I look for in a Middle-Grade Fantasy novel. It was full of magic, creativity, adventure, humor, and heart. You could absolutely feel all of the love and dedication that went into making this book. The characters are some of the most endearing that I have read in a long time…head over heels in love with Spella, Tolden, Aunt Cauldroneyes, and all of the Hats! It was atmospheric and enchanting and just a book of pure magic. Author Tiffany McDaniel writes with such creativity and attention to detail that it just brings the story to life. 5 big stars!

Popcorn by Rob Harrell

Our next book is Popcorn by Rob Harrell. Whew, did I love this book. This is the story about a young boy named Andrew who struggles with both anxiety and OCD, and man was this book spot on. As someone who has dealt with anxiety and is a Mama to a kid who suffers with anxiety and OCD, I can tell you that this book is so well done. The feelings and descriptions are so accurate, the coping mechanisms are so helpful, and the comic style illustrations are the perfect visual representation of anxiety and OCD. While this book does tackle a very sensitive topic, it is also so clever and hysterical. It was so relatable, so fun, and truly an amazing resource. I wish that this book had been around when my daughter was younger because I think it would have helped her realize that she wasn’t alone…and so many people share many of the same feelings. Just a great book!

The Girl Who Kept the Castle by Ryan Graudin

The Girl Who Kept the Castle by Ryan Graudin is Howl’s Moving Castle meets Nevermoor with some Cressida Cowell vibes thrown in and I loved it so much. This is such a fun book that is full of magic, laughter, whimsy, and heart. I absolutely loved the main character, Faye. Author Ryan Graudin has such a charming and witty writing style that is full of humor and heart. If you love books with dragons, wizards, and potions then you are dfefinitely going to want to check this book out. Can I share the first line with you so you can see what I mean? “Wizard West was dead for nearly an entire day before he noticed…” Laugh out loud funny and so clever!

Find Her by Ginger Reno

Next up we have an Upper Middle-Grade book. I would definitely say this was geared more for the 10-12 year old age group rather than the younger end of the spectrum because it does deal with some really heavy topics. This was so beautifully written and so gut-wrenching on so many levels. Find Her by Ginger Reno looks at the very real topic of missing Indigenous women. This is the story of Wren. Wren’s mother is one of hundreds of Native Americans considered missing or murdered in Oklahoma. Wren feels like everyone besides her and her grandmother have given up the search for her mother. She decides to hone her detective skills by trying to solve the mystery of some missing pets in her area. She is determined to uncover who is behind this terrible animal abuse (strong trigger warning here…there were parts that were very difficult to read) and hopes that she can do the same for her mom’s case. This was an excellent book and brings to light a very serious and important topic.

The Millicent Quibb School of Etiquette for Young Ladies of Mad Science by G. Edwina Candlestank as told to Kate McKinnon

Last, but certainly not least, is The Millicent Quibb School of Etiquette for Young Ladies of Mad Science by G. Edwina Candlestank (as told to Kate McKinnon). When I tell you that I laughed, snorted, and quite possibly chortled my way through this entire book…I am not exaggerating in the least. This is hands down one of the FUNNIEST books I have ever read. This is the kind of book that makes you want to look directly into the mind of the author because it is just brimming with imagination, creativity, and zany antics. From it’s lovable and quirky characters, to its fast-paced story line, to the endless amounts of fun…this was just an all around hit. If you love Lemony Snicket, The Mysterious Benedict Society, and Roald Dahl…then please grab this book. This is the first book in a new series and I have a feeling that G. Edwina Candlestank (and Kate McKinnon) have lots more up their sleeves! Oh, and I adore that this book champions women in science and breaking down those barriers!!!

Happy 2025 Reading!!!

Did we read any of the same books? What were some of your stand-out Middle-Grade reads of 2024? I would LOVE to hear your thoughts!

Now, we are on to 2025…and there are some incredible new Middle-Grade titles coming this year. I can’t wait to read them.

I hope you had an excellent start to your new year and look forward to chatting books with you throughout 2025!

Happy Reading, Friends!