New books for middle school in June
As part of our Mind the Middle project focusing on middle grade books, I will try to create weekly take-five lists—that is, five books on a particular topic.
Here are a few (well, five, I guess!) new middle grade books coming out this month. As always, the list of five titles is just a small portion of what’s new this month. Check your local library for more new releases!
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These Take Five lists can help you with collection development, presentation, reading lists, and more. I have a pretty long list of possible Take Five topics, but if you absolutely need a list for something, let me know! All descriptions are from the editors.
“The New Girl” by Cassandra Calin (ISBN-13: 9781338762464. Publisher: Scholastic, Inc. Release date: June 4, 2024, Ages 8-12)
Instagram sensation and Tapas webcomic superstar Cassandra Calin makes her long-form debut with this funny, feel-good graphic novel about change for middle graders.
Goodbye, old life…
Lia and her family wait to fly across the Atlantic, leaving behind her family, friends and Romania – the only home Lia has ever known. But Lia’s grief is overshadowed by the discomfort of her first period. As if that wasn’t difficult enough! Now Lia is thrust into a world where everything is different: her home, her language and even her body. With so many changes at once, Lia struggles with schoolwork, has trouble communicating with classmates and doesn’t know how to deal with her uncomfortable periods. Will she ever feel like herself again?
Inspired by the author’s own immigration experience, The new girl is a funny and charming story about change and acceptance.
Asking for a Friend by Ronnie Riley (ISBN-13: 9781339027647. Publisher: Scholastic, Inc. Release date: June 4, 2024, Ages 8-12)
Eden Jones has exactly three friends. And they are all fake.
From a web of lies and fear to true friendship and queer joy, this is the wonderful second book from the author of the Indies Introduce and Indie Next List selection, Jude saves the world.
Why go through the stress of making friends when you can just pretend? It works for Eden and her social anxiety… until her mom announces she’s throwing her a birthday party and inviting all her friends.
Eden’s “friends,” Duke, Ramona, and Tabitha, are all real kids from school… but Eden has never spoken to them. Now Eden will do anything to convince them to be her friends – at least until the party is over.
As things go better than expected and the group begins to bond, Eden becomes entangled in a lie that only gets worse the longer she holds on to it. What happens when her now quasi-real friends discover that Eden hasn’t been honest with them from the start?
Author Ronnie Riley creates a world full of queer joy and all the ups and downs of true friendship. This book is perfect for fans of Offal or Don’t forget me.
The legendary Mo Seto by AY Chan (ISBN-13: 9781665937320 Publisher: Aladdin Release date: June 4, 2024 Series: The Legendary Mo Seto No. 1, Ages 8-12)
A fast-paced debut with a lot of momentum, Tiger and Dragon – The Hidden Dragon meets Stand up, Yumi Chung When a young taekwondo fighter uses an old book to save her dreams – and her father.
Twelve-year-old Modesty “Mo” Seto dreams of becoming a taekwondo champion. Although her mother disapproves, Mo can always count on her father, who is her biggest fan and supporter. Lately, Mo has been on a losing streak, and it doesn’t help that she keeps losing to her arch-nemesis Dax, who is much bigger than her. If only she were faster, stronger, and not so petite. Mo can’t even lean on her father like she usually does because he’s so distracted lately.
When Mo learns she has the chance to audition for the role alongside her idol, legendary martial artist and movie star Cody Kwok, she knows this is her chance to prove to her father, the world, and herself that she can take on anyone, no matter their size. Unfortunately, Dax is also in the audition. While Mo and her arch-nemesis move on to callbacks, someone tries to sabotage the film set and Mo’s father disappears – and both events seem to be linked to a mysterious book that Book of Joy.
The book contains information about Xiaoxi Fu, a secret dance-like martial art developed by Mo’s grandmother. Armed with these secret moves and an unexpected ally, Mo embarks on a thrilling adventure to save her father, save the movie, and discover an unexpected joy in being small.
“The Cookie Crumbles” by Tracy Badua and Alechia Dow (ISBN-13: 9780063254589 Publisher: HarperCollins Release date: June 11, 2024, Ages 8-12)
The great British baking duel meets Knife out This entertaining and gripping middle school novel is about two best friends who must solve the mystery behind a baking competition gone wrong.
Laila gave Lucy a cupcake on their second day of kindergarten and they’ve been inseparable ever since. But the summer before eighth grade, they find out they’ll be going to different high schools because they live on opposite sides of town. Yuck!
Then Laila is invited to enter the Golden Cookie competition, where the winner will win admission and a full scholarship to the prestigious boarding school in Sunderland. It’s the perfect opportunity. Not only does Sunderland have a world-class culinary program, but it also has a top-notch journalism program. If only hopeful news anchor Lucy could build a compelling portfolio to impress the scholarship committee.
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But when one of the celebrity judges collapses after tasting Laila’s showpiece, rumors of a crime begin to circulate, and Laila is at the top of the suspect list. Worse still, a severe storm has virtually cut off all communication with the outside world.
Can the girls find the real culprit and clear Laila’s name before it’s too late?
Dinner at Brake Fast by Renee Beauregard Lute (ISBN-13: 9780063324909 Publisher: HarperCollins Release date: June 25, 2024, Ages 8-12)
Dinner at Brake Fast is a hilarious and emotional story about road trip mishaps, a murderous rooster, overcoming fears and unexpected friendships that is a must-read for readers who The science of unbreakable things And The first rule of punk.
Tacoma Jones loves working at her family’s truck stop restaurant, Brake Fast. All day long, she pours coffee and serves eggs and muffins to the truckers. But tonight, she’s finally going to pull out her cookbook collection and try out the best Dinner that Washington State has ever seen.
However, her joy is dampened when she learns that Dad is having a bad day and can hardly get out of bed because of his depression.
Tacoma knows she can’t cure her father’s depression. But what she may All she has to do is steal her arch-nemesis, the evil crocodile Kyle, his precious photo of his second-best day – and at the same time plan a dinner that is guaranteed to brighten up his bad day.
Maybe she just needs an accomplice or two to pull off the robbery. . . .
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