A booklist of the best middle grade books of 2020.
The Children’s Book Review
Even though there are so many things from the year 2020 that we wish did not happen, there are a lot of amazing books that were released that year. Here’s a list of 30 books (middle grade novels and graphic novels for kids) that we hope you have already read or will hustle to the bookstore or library and read as soon as possible. You’ll be so glad you did!
30 Must-Read Novels for Kids
Clean Getaway
Written by Nic Stone
Ages 9-12 | 239 Pages
Publisher: Thorndike Striving Reader | ISBN: 978-1432882167
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Woke: A Young Poet’s Call to Justice
Written by Mahogany L. Browne, Elizabeth Acevedo, Olivia Gatwood, Theodore Taylor III, and Jason Reynolds
Ages 8-12 | 56 Pages
Publisher: Roaring Brook Press | ISBN: 978-1250311207
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The One and Only Bob
Written by Katherine Appelgate
Ages 8-11 | 352 Pages
Publisher: HarperCollins | ISBN: 978-0062991317
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The List of Things That Will Not Change
Written by Rebecca Stead
Ages 9+ | 224 Pages
Publisher: Wendy Lamb Books | ISBN: 978-1101938096
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I Wish
Written by Toon Tellegen
Ages 8-12 | 105 Pages
Publisher: Elsewhere Editions | ISBN: 978-1939810328
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Once Upon an Eid
Written by S.K. Ali and Aisha Saeed
Ages 8-12 | 272 Pages
Publisher: Amulet Books | ISBN: 978-1419740831
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The Blackbird Girls
Written by Anne Blankman
Ages 9-12 | 352 Pages
Publisher: Viking Books for Young Readers | ISBN: 978-1984837356
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Echo Mountain
Written by Lauren Wolk
Ages 9+ | 368 Pages
Publisher: Dutton Books for Young Readers | ISBN: 978-0525555568
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Efrén Divided
Written by Ernesto Cisneros
Ages 8-12 | 272 Pages
Publisher: Quill Tree Books | ISBN: 978-0062881687
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Fighting Words
Written by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley
Ages 10-12 | 272 Pages
Publisher: Dial Books | ISBN: 978-1984815682
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From the Desk of Zoe Washington
Written by Janae Marks
Ages 10-12 | 304 Pages
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books | ISBN: 978-0062875853
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A Game of Fox and Squirrels
Written by Jenn Reese
Ages 10-14 | 224 Pages
Publisher: Henry Holt and Co. | ISBN: 978-1250243010
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King and the Dragonflies
Written by Kacen Callender
Ages 8-12 | 272 Pages
Publisher: Scholastic Press | ISBN: 978-1338129335
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Leaving Lymon
Written by Lesa Cline-Ransome
Ages 8-12 | 208 Pages
Publisher: Holiday House | ISBN: 978-0823444427
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The Only Black Girls in Town
Written by Brandy Colbert
Ages 8-12 | 368 Pages
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers | ISBN: 978-0316456388
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Anisha, Accidental Detective
Written by Serena Patel
Ages 9-12 | 256 Pages
Publisher: USBORNE CAT ANG | ISBN: 978-1474959520
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Go With the Flow
Written by Lily Williams and Karen Schneemann
Ages 9-11 | 336 Pages
Publisher: First Second | ISBN: 978-1250305725
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Buy the Book
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Class Act
Written by Jerry Craft
Ages 9-12 | 256 Pages
Publisher: Quill Tree Books | ISBN: 978-0062885500
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Brother’s Keeper
Written by Julie Lee
Ages 8-12 | 320 Pages
Publisher: Holiday House | ISBN: 978-0823444946
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Before the Ever After
Written by Jacqueline Woodson
Ages 10-13 | 176 Pages
Publisher: Nancy Paulsen Books | ISBN: 978-0399545436
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The Deep & Dark Blue
Written by Niki Smith
Ages 8-12 | 256 Pages
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers | ISBN: 978-0316485982
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Eva Evergreen, Semi-Magical Witch
Written by Julie Abe
Ages 8-12 | 400 Pages
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers | ISBN: 978-0316493888
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Land of the Cranes
Written by Aida Salazar
Ages 8-12 | 283 Pages
Publisher: Scholastic Press | ISBN: 978-1338343809
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On the Horizon
Written by Lois Lowry
Ages 10-12 | 80 Pages
Publisher: Clarion Books | ISBN: 978-0358129400
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A Thousand Questions
Written by Saadia Faruqi
Ages 10-12 | 320 Pages
Publisher: Quill Tree Books | ISBN: 978-0062943200
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When the Stars Are Scattered
Written by Victoria Jamieson and Omar Mohamed
Ages 10-12 | 320 Pages
Publisher: Dial Books | ISBN: 978-0062943200
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The Best Middle Grade Books of 2020 was curated by Bianca Schulze. Discover more books like these titles by following along with our reviews and articles tagged with friendship, adventure, and middle grade books.