Award category archive

Publishers Weekly Best Books – Middle Grade Winners

Browse Publishers Weekly Best Books Middle Grade winners and nominees by year. This archive follows one award category across the full Publishers Weekly Best Books history.

Publishers Weekly Best Books Middle Grade Cross-year archive

2025

Publishers Weekly Best Books Middle Grade results for the 2025 award year.

View full 2025 awards

Candle Island

Wolk, Lauren

Standalone · General Fiction

Apr-2025 Publishers Weekly Best Books Middle Grade *

Graciela in the Abyss

Medina, Meg

Standalone · General Fiction

Jul-2025 Publishers Weekly Best Books Middle Grade *

How to Say Goodbye in Cuban

Miyares, Daniel

Standalone · General Fiction

Oct-2025 Publishers Weekly Best Books Middle Grade *

The Incredibly Human Henson Blayze

Barnes, Derrick

Standalone · General Fiction

Sep-2025 Publishers Weekly Best Books Middle Grade *

My Presentation Today Is About the Anaconda

Tak, Bibi Dumon

Standalone · General Fiction

Feb-2025 Publishers Weekly Best Books Middle Grade *

Night Chef: An Epic Tale of Friendship with a Side of Deliciousness

Song, Mika

Standalone · General Fiction

Nov-2025 Publishers Weekly Best Books Middle Grade *

The Nine Moons of Han Yu and Luli

Glaser, Karina Yan

Standalone · General Fiction

Sep-2025 Publishers Weekly Best Books Middle Grade *

Oasis

Guojing

Standalone · General Fiction

Feb-2025 Publishers Weekly Best Books Middle Grade *

Pocket Bear

Applegate, Katherine

Standalone · General Fiction

Sep-2025 Publishers Weekly Best Books Middle Grade *

A Sea of Lemon Trees

Aguila, Maria Dolores

Standalone · General Fiction

Sep-2025 Publishers Weekly Best Books Middle Grade *

The Summer of the Bone Horses

Sneve, Virginia Driving Hawk

Standalone · General Fiction

Apr-2025 Publishers Weekly Best Books Middle Grade *

The Trouble with Heroes

Messner, Kate

Standalone · General Fiction

May-2025 Publishers Weekly Best Books Middle Grade *

The Undead Fox of Deadwood Forest

Hartman, Aubrey

Standalone · General Fiction

Mar-2025 Publishers Weekly Best Books Middle Grade *

A World Worth Saving

Lukoff, Kyle

Standalone · General Fiction

Feb-2025 Publishers Weekly Best Books Middle Grade *

2024

Publishers Weekly Best Books Middle Grade results for the 2024 award year.

View full 2024 awards

Beti and the Little Round House

Atinuke

Standalone · General Fiction

Oct-2024 Publishers Weekly Best Books Middle Grade *

Bye Forever, I Guess

Meadows, Jodi

Standalone · General Fiction

Oct-2024 Publishers Weekly Best Books Middle Grade *

Carnival Chaos

Baptiste, Tracey

Moko Magic Series · Book 1 · General Fiction

Aug-2024 Publishers Weekly Best Books Middle Grade *

Felix Powell, Boy Dog

Kelly, Erin Entrada

Standalone · General Fiction

Jul-2024 Publishers Weekly Best Books Middle Grade *

Impossible Creatures

Rundell, Katherine

Impossible Creatures Series · Book 1 · Fantasy

Sep-2023 Publishers Weekly Best Books Middle Grade *

Island of Whispers

Hardinge, Frances

Standalone · Fantasy

Sep-2024 Publishers Weekly Best Books Middle Grade *

Max in the House of Spies

Gidwitz, Adam

Operation Kinderspion Series · Book 1 · Historical

Mar-2024 Publishers Weekly Best Books Middle Grade *

Quagmire Tiarello Couldn't Be Better

Larsen, Mylisa

Standalone · General Fiction

Sep-2024 Publishers Weekly Best Books Middle Grade *

Shark Teeth

Winston, Sherri

Standalone · General Fiction

Jan-2024 Publishers Weekly Best Books Middle Grade *

Sylvia Doe and the 100-Year Flood

Beatty, Robert

Standalone · General Fiction

Oct-2024 Publishers Weekly Best Books Middle Grade *

Weirdo

Weaver, Tony, Jr.

Standalone · General Fiction

Sep-2024 Publishers Weekly Best Books Middle Grade *

2023

Publishers Weekly Best Books Middle Grade results for the 2023 award year.

View full 2023 awards

Bea Wolf

Weinersmith, Zach

Standalone · General Fiction

Mar-2023 Publishers Weekly Best Books Middle Grade *

A Dictionary of Scoundrels

Lincoln, Beth

The Swifts Series · Book 1 · Mystery

Feb-2023 Publishers Weekly Best Books Middle Grade *

Duel

Bagley, Jessixa

Standalone · General Fiction

Nov-2023 Publishers Weekly Best Books Middle Grade *

The Eyes and the Impossible

Eggers, Dave

Standalone · General Fiction

May-2023 Publishers Weekly Best Books Middle Grade *

Gone Wolf

McBride, Amber

Standalone · General Fiction

Oct-2023 Publishers Weekly Best Books Middle Grade *

Jawbreaker

Wyman, Christina

Standalone · General Fiction

Oct-2023 Publishers Weekly Best Books Middle Grade *

Mexikid

Martin, Pedro

Standalone · General Fiction

Aug-2023 Publishers Weekly Best Books Middle Grade *

The Otherwoods

Winans, Justine Pucella

Standalone · General Fiction

Sep-2023 Publishers Weekly Best Books Middle Grade *

The Probability of Everything

Everett, Sarah

Standalone · General Fiction

Jul-2023 Publishers Weekly Best Books Middle Grade *

Remember Us

Woodson, Jacqueline

Standalone · General Fiction

Oct-2023 Publishers Weekly Best Books Middle Grade *

Shira and Esther's Double Dream Debut

Jordan, Anna E.

Standalone · General Fiction

Oct-2023 Publishers Weekly Best Books Middle Grade *

Simon Sort of Says

Bow, Erin

Standalone · General Fiction

Feb-2023 Publishers Weekly Best Books Middle Grade *

The Story of Gumluck the Wizard

Rex, Adam

Standalone · General Fiction

Aug-2023 Publishers Weekly Best Books Middle Grade *

2022

Publishers Weekly Best Books Middle Grade results for the 2022 award year.

View full 2022 awards

Alte Zachen / Old Things

Hanaor, Ziggy

Standalone · General Fiction

Sep-2022 Publishers Weekly Best Books Middle Grade *

Black Bird, Blue Road

Pasternack, Sofiya

Standalone · General Fiction

Sep-2022 Publishers Weekly Best Books Middle Grade *

The Door of No Return

Alexander, Kwame

Standalone · Historical

Oct-2022 Publishers Weekly Best Books Middle Grade *

Freestyle

Galligan, Gale

Standalone · General Fiction

Oct-2022 Publishers Weekly Best Books Middle Grade *

Frizzy

Ortega, Claribel A.

Standalone · General Fiction

Oct-2022 Publishers Weekly Best Books Middle Grade *

Jennifer Chan Is Not Alone

Keller, Tae

Standalone · General Fiction

May-2022 Publishers Weekly Best Books Middle Grade *

The Last Mapmaker

Soontornvat, Christina

Standalone · Fantasy

Apr-2022 Publishers Weekly Best Books Middle Grade *

Northwind

Paulsen, Gary

Standalone · General Fiction

Jan-2022 Publishers Weekly Best Books Middle Grade *

The Ogress and the Orphans

Barnhill, Kelly

Standalone · Fantasy

Mar-2022 Publishers Weekly Best Books Middle Grade *

The Patron Thief of Bread

Eagar, Lindsay

Standalone · Historical

May-2022 Publishers Weekly Best Books Middle Grade *

A Rover's Story

Warga, Jasmine

Standalone · General Fiction

Oct-2022 Publishers Weekly Best Books Middle Grade *

Serwa Boateng's Guide to Vampire Hunting

Brown, Roseanne

Serwa Boateng Series · Book 1 · General Fiction

Sep-2022 Publishers Weekly Best Books Middle Grade *

The Sheep, the Rooster, and the Duck

Phelan, Matt

Standalone · General Fiction

Mar-2022 Publishers Weekly Best Books Middle Grade *

Twin Cities

Pimienta, Jose

Standalone · General Fiction

Jul-2022 Publishers Weekly Best Books Middle Grade *

You Only Live Once, David Bravo

Oshiro, Mark

Standalone · General Fiction

Sep-2022 Publishers Weekly Best Books Middle Grade *

2021

Publishers Weekly Best Books Middle Grade results for the 2021 award year.

View full 2021 awards

The Beatryce Prophecy

DiCamillo, Kate

Standalone · General Fiction

Oct-2021 Publishers Weekly Best Books Middle Grade *

Black Boy Joy

Mbalia, Kwame

Standalone · General Fiction

Aug-2021 Publishers Weekly Best Books Middle Grade *

How to Become a Planet

Melleby, Nicole

Standalone · General Fiction

May-2021 Publishers Weekly Best Books Middle Grade *

The Insiders

Oshiro, Mark

Standalone · General Fiction

Sep-2021 Publishers Weekly Best Books Middle Grade *

Katie the Catsitter

Venable, Colleen A.F.

Katie the Catsitter Series · Book 1 · General Fiction

Jan-2021 Publishers Weekly Best Books Middle Grade *

The Last Cuentista

Higuera, Donna Barba

The Last Cuentista Series · Book 1 · Fantasy

Oct-2021 Publishers Weekly Best Books Middle Grade *

Playing the Cards You're Dealt

Johnson, Varian

Standalone · General Fiction

Oct-2021 Publishers Weekly Best Books Middle Grade *

The Raconteur's Commonplace Book

Milford, Kate

Standalone · General Fiction

Mar-2021 Publishers Weekly Best Books Middle Grade *

Samira Surfs

Guidroz, Rukhsanna

Standalone · General Fiction

Jul-2021 Publishers Weekly Best Books Middle Grade *

Sisters of the Neversea

Smith, Cynthia Leitich

Standalone · General Fiction

Jun-2021 Publishers Weekly Best Books Middle Grade *

Starfish

Fipps, Lisa

Standalone · General Fiction

Mar-2021 Publishers Weekly Best Books Middle Grade *

Stuntboy, in the Meantime

Reynolds, Jason

Standalone · General Fiction

Dec-2021 Publishers Weekly Best Books Middle Grade *

2020

Publishers Weekly Best Books Middle Grade results for the 2020 award year.

View full 2020 awards

Becoming Muhammad Ali

Patterson, James; Alexander, Kwame

Standalone · General Fiction

Oct-2020 Publishers Weekly Best Books Middle Grade *

Class Act

Craft, Jerry

New Kid Series · Book 2 · General Fiction

Oct-2020 Publishers Weekly Best Books Middle Grade *

Daring Darleen, Queen of the Screen

Nesbet, Anne

Standalone · General Fiction

Apr-2020 Publishers Weekly Best Books Middle Grade *

Echo Mountain

Wolk, Lauren

Standalone · Historical

Apr-2020 Publishers Weekly Best Books Middle Grade *

Fighting Words

Bradley, Kimberly Brubaker

Standalone · General Fiction

Aug-2020 Publishers Weekly Best Books Middle Grade *

King and the Dragonflies

Callender, Kacen

Islands of Blood and Storm Series · Book 1 · General Fiction

Feb-2020 Publishers Weekly Best Books Middle Grade *

The List of Things That Will Not Change

Stead, Rebecca

Standalone · General Fiction

Apr-2020 Publishers Weekly Best Books Middle Grade *

Mananaland

Ryan, Pam Munoz

Standalone · General Fiction

Mar-2020 Publishers Weekly Best Books Middle Grade *

Skunk and Badger

Timberlake, Amy

Skunk and Badger Series · Book 1 · General Fiction

Sep-2020 Publishers Weekly Best Books Middle Grade *

Snapdragon

Leyh, Kat

Standalone · Fantasy

Feb-2020 Publishers Weekly Best Books Middle Grade *

Ways to Make Sunshine

Watson, Renee

A Ryan Hart Novel Series · Book 1 · General Fiction

May-2020 Publishers Weekly Best Books Middle Grade *

When Stars Are Scattered

Jamieson, Victoria; Mohamed, Omar

Standalone · General Fiction

Apr-2020 Publishers Weekly Best Books Middle Grade *

When You Trap a Tiger

Keller, Tae

Standalone · General Fiction

Feb-2020 Publishers Weekly Best Books Middle Grade *

2019

Publishers Weekly Best Books Middle Grade results for the 2019 award year.

View full 2019 awards

All the Greys on Greene Street

Tucker, Laura

Standalone · General Fiction

Jun-2019 Publishers Weekly Best Books Middle Grade *

Dream Within a Dream

MacLachlan, Patricia

Standalone · General Fiction

May-2019 Publishers Weekly Best Books Middle Grade *

The Line Tender

Allen, Kate

Standalone · General Fiction

Apr-2019 Publishers Weekly Best Books Middle Grade *

Look Both Ways

Reynolds, Jason

Standalone · General Fiction

Oct-2019 Publishers Weekly Best Books Middle Grade *

The Lost Girl

Ursu, Anne

Standalone · General Fiction

Feb-2019 Publishers Weekly Best Books Middle Grade *

My Jasper June

Snyder, Laurel

Standalone · General Fiction

Sep-2019 Publishers Weekly Best Books Middle Grade *

New Kid

Craft, Jerry

New Kid Series · Book 1 · General Fiction

Feb-2019 Publishers Weekly Best Books Middle Grade *

The Next Great Paulie Fink

Benjamin, Ali

Standalone · General Fiction

Apr-2019 Publishers Weekly Best Books Middle Grade *

Other Words for Home

Warga, Jasmine

Standalone · General Fiction

May-2019 Publishers Weekly Best Books Middle Grade *

Pay Attention, Carter Jones

Schmidt, Gary D.

Standalone · General Fiction

Feb-2019 Publishers Weekly Best Books Middle Grade *

Queen of the Sea

Meconis, Dylan

Standalone · Historical

Jun-2019 Publishers Weekly Best Books Middle Grade *

Sal and Gabi Break the Universe

Hernandez, Carlos

Sal and Gabi Series · Book 1 · Science Fiction

Mar-2019 Publishers Weekly Best Books Middle Grade *

The Strangers

Haddix, Margaret Peterson

Greystone Secrets Series · Book 1 · Fantasy

Apr-2019 Publishers Weekly Best Books Middle Grade *

This Was Our Pact

Andrews, Ryan

Standalone · General Fiction

Jun-2019 Publishers Weekly Best Books Middle Grade *

Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky

Mbalia, Kwame

Tristan Strong Series · Book 1 · Fantasy

Oct-2019 Publishers Weekly Best Books Middle Grade *

2018

Publishers Weekly Best Books Middle Grade results for the 2018 award year.

View full 2018 awards

Amal Unbound

Saeed, Aisha

Standalone · General Fiction

May-2018 Publishers Weekly Best Books Middle Grade *

Dactyl Hill Squad

Older, Daniel Jose

Dactyl Hill Squad Series · Book 1 · Fantasy

Sep-2018 Publishers Weekly Best Books Middle Grade *

Front Desk

Yang, Kelly

A Front Desk Novel Series · Book 1 · General Fiction

Jun-2018 Publishers Weekly Best Books Middle Grade *

It Wasn't Me

Levy, Dana Alison

Standalone · General Fiction

Nov-2018 Publishers Weekly Best Books Middle Grade *

Merci Suarez Changes Gears

Medina, Meg

Merci Suarez Series · Book 1 · General Fiction

Sep-2018 Publishers Weekly Best Books Middle Grade *

The Parker Inheritance

Johnson, Varian

Standalone · Historical

Apr-2018 Publishers Weekly Best Books Middle Grade *

Sanity & Tallulah

Brooks, Molly

Sanity & Tallulah Series · Book 1 · Fantasy

Oct-2018 Publishers Weekly Best Books Middle Grade *

Small Spaces

Arden, Katherine

Small Spaces Quartet Series · Book 1 · Mystery

Sep-2018 Publishers Weekly Best Books Middle Grade *

Sweep: The Story of a Girl and Her Monster

Auxier, Jonathan

Standalone · General Fiction

Sep-2018 Publishers Weekly Best Books Middle Grade *

The Truth as Told by Mason Buttle

Connor, Leslie

Standalone · Mystery

Jan-2018 Publishers Weekly Best Books Middle Grade *

We Rise, We Resist, We Raise Our Voices

Hudson, Wade

Standalone · General Fiction

Sep-2018 Publishers Weekly Best Books Middle Grade *

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