AudioFile Magazine curated this audiobook list exclusively for The Children’s Book Review.
The Best New Audiobooks for Middle-Grade Listeners
From fantastical adventures to real-life peril, these audiobooks, all delivered with stellar performances, will captivate young listeners. Plus, a 50th Anniversary recording of a children’s literature classic offers an opportunity to introduce a new generation to a timeless story, and a new monster mystery will be just the thing for anyone impatient for Halloween season to start.
Tuck Everlasting: 50th Anniversary Edition
Written by Natalie Babbitt, Gabrielle Zevin [Intro.]
Read by Alexis Bledel, Gabrielle Zevin [Intro.]
AudioFile Earphones Award
Macmillan Audio | 3.25 hrs.. | Ages 9-12
Narrator Alexis Bledel superbly imparts the magical realism in this classic, which contains an insightful new introduction. One morning in a long-ago village, Winnie discovers a magical spring and the secret of the extraordinarily long-lived Tuck family. To protect their secret, Mae Tuck and her sons spirit Winnie away to their home. Bledel deftly highlights their differences: Winnie sounds forthright and deliberate, and the four Tuck family members are steeped in kindness. Review»
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The Midwatch Institute for Wayward Girls
Written by Judith Rossell
Read by E.A. Castillo
AudioFile Earphones Award
Listening Library | 6.75 hrs. | Ages 8-12
E.A. Castillo brings enchanting charm to this captivating adventure. After a misstep, Maggie is sent to the Midwatch Institute. Maggie and her fellow first-year students quickly discover that the school is engaged in solving mysteries and keeping the city safe. Each character is vividly portrayed, with distinct variations in pacing, tone, and inflection that convey their nationality, age, and gender. With an imaginative setting, a clever plot, and a stand-out performance, this audiobook is a delight and a must-listen. Review»
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Please Pay Attention
Written by Jamie Sumner
Read by Erin Moon
AudioFile Earphones Award
Simon & Schuster Audio | 3 hrs. | Ages 10+
It’s impossible to hear Erin Moon’s delivery of this affecting story without experiencing the same emotions as its first-person protagonist. Bea is a middle-grade student in a small school who has cerebral palsy and uses a wheelchair. When a shooter enters the building, she becomes tragically aware of her disadvantaged situation. This novel in verse recounts in present tense the events before, during, and after the shooting. Moon creates a thoroughly likable Bea. Review»
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Max in the Land of Lies: A Tale of World War II
Written by Adam Gidwitz
Read by Euan Morton
AudioFile Earphones Award
Listening Library | 9 hrs| Ages 8-12
Thirteen-year-old Max, a German Jew trained by British spies, returns to Berlin amid the horrors of the Nazi regime in this sequel to MAX IN THE HOUSE OF SPIES. His official mission? Infiltrate the heart of radio propaganda. His personal mission? Find his parents. Euan Morton’s narration has an almost visual quality. His depictions are flawless and his tones on target, and the story’s well-woven themes are elegantly rendered. Review»
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Elvira Vance and the Monster Mystery
Written by Kacy Ritter
Read by Gail Shalan
AudioFile Earphones Award
Harper Audio | 6.5 hrs. | Ages 8-12
Narrator Gail Shalan gives a spirited performance of this ghoulish mystery. Elvira, a half-siren who lives in a trailer park for monsters, is very skeptical of the human world outside it. When they learn that a human detective is on the case of the missing Marfa Monster Festival crown, Elvira and her friends decide to investigate on their own. Shalan’s performance brings the trailer park setting to life, adds fun to the world-building, and projects just enough suspense to keep kids listening. Review»
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The article “Best New Audiobooks for Middle-Grade Listeners” was curated by AudioFile. AudioFile is an independent source of audiobook reviews and recommendations, with a clear focus on performance and the listening experience. AudioFile Earphones Awards are given to exceptional audiobooks. To learn more, visit audiofilemagazine.com, BlueSky @audiofilemagazine.bsky.social, Facebook @audiofilemagazine, and Instagram @AudioFileMagazine
