Middle Grade Matters - Books by Podcast Guests

Heroes of Havensong: Dragonboy

Heroes of Havensong: Book #1

By: Megan Reyes
Narrated by: Mark Sanderlin
Length: 11 hours 46 minutes

This timeless fantasy debut follows four unlikely heroes—a boy-turned-dragon, his reluctant dragon rider, a runaway witch, and a young soldier—bound by the Fates to save their world, and magic itself, from being destroyed.

Blue, River, Wren, and Shenli grew up on different sides of a war they didn’t start. Their land has been torn apart over... Read more

With Twice the Love, Dessie Mei

By: Justina Chen
Narrated by: Vyvy Nguyen
Length: 8 hours 3 minutes

Award-winning author Justina Chen delivers a powerful and heartfelt novel about a young girl who accidentally discovers she has an identical twin sister. This uplifting novel about reunited adoptee sisters experiencing new family traditions, foods, and customs together is perfect for fans of Janae Marks, Kelly Yang, and Meg Medina. Dive into a... Read more

Mid-Air

By: Alicia D. Williams
Narrated by: Landon Woodson
Length: 4 hours 57 minutes

Longlisted for the National Book Award

A tender-souled boy reeling from the death of his best friend struggles to fit into a world that wants him to grow up tough and unfeeling in this stunning illustrated middle grade novel in verse “full of vulnerability and hope” (Booklist, starred review) from the Newbery Honor–winning author of Genesis... Read more

Drawing Deena

By: Hena Khan
Narrated by: Reena Dutt
Length: 5 hours 23 minutes

From the award-winning author of Amina’s Voice and Amina’s Song comes a “nuanced and quietly powerful” (Kirkus Reviews, starred review) middle grade novel about a young Pakistani American artist determined to manage her anxiety and forge her own creative path.

Deena’s never given a name to the familiar knot in her stomach that appears when her... Read more

Olivetti

By: Allie Millington
Narrated by: Christopher Gebauer & Simon Vance
Length: 4 hours 33 minutes

“Olivetti is an antique typewriter with a quick wit and a heart of gold. His family is going through a hard time, but can the secrets only he knows help unlock a hopeful future? Twelve year old Ernest is determined to find out. This charming, big-hearted debut novel from Atlanta author Allie Millington is a moving tale of family, friendship,... Read more

The Thirteenth Circle

By: MarcyKate Connolly & Kathryn Holmes
Narrated by: Laura Knight Keating
Length: 8 hours 39 minutes

CAT KNOWS ALIENS ARE REAL, AND SHE’S DETERMINED TO PROVE IT.

By studying the Weston Farm Circles, her town’s legendary crop circle phenomenon, she’ll not only demonstrate the existence of extraterrestrial life, but also win the McMurray Youth Science Competition—a feat she’s sure will impress her distant NASA scientist father.

Dani most certainly... Read more

Road Trip Rescue

Road Trip Rescue

By: Becca Wierwille
Narrated by: Talon David
Length: 5 hours 1 minute

A heartwarming adventure for kids ages 8-12 with a missing dog, a determined girl, a pink-haired aunt, and themes of faith and friendship.
Twelve-year-old Kimmy trusts dogs more than people.
After all, her dog Bo never made fun of her for having one hand. But two years ago, Bo disappeared.
When Kimmy stumbles across a magazine photo of a dog in... Read more

The Order of Things

By: Kaija Langley
Narrated by: Karen Murray
Length: 3 hours 9 minutes

A heart-rending novel-in-verse about a girl beginning to learn it is possible to go on even after a great loss.

Eleven-year-old April Jackson loves playing the drums, almost as much as she loves her best friend, Zee, a violin prodigy. They both dream of becoming professional musicians one day. When Zee starts attending a new school that will... Read more

Coyote Queen

By: Jessica Vitalis
Narrated by: Katie Anvil Rich
Length: 5 hours 6 minutes

“Winningly intense.” —Kirkus Reviews“A powerful novel of tremendous empathy and optimism.” —Gary D. Schmidt, Newbery Honor winner and National Book Award finalist“Exquisitely written and painfully real.” —Megan E. Freeman, award-winning author of AloneWhen a twelve-year-old decides that she must get herself and her mother out of a bad situation,... Read more

Courtesy of Cupid

By: Nashae Jones
Narrated by: Jade Wheeler
Length: 7 hours 37 minutes

In this “sweetly romantic coming-of-age story with fun, magical touches” (Kirkus Reviews), a girl uses her newfound ability to make people fall in love to sabotage her rival.

Erin Johnson’s thirteenth birthday unfolds like any other day, from her mom’s quirky and embarrassing choice of outfit to racing her nemesis, Trevor Jin, to the best seat in... Read more

The Dreamatics

By: Michelle Cuevas
Narrated by: Megan Hilty
Length: 7 hours 6 minutes

In this exhilaratingly original novel, a fantastical theatre and its troupe perform a young girl’s dreams, until nightmares take over. Will one devoted stagehand be able to bring joy back into the spotlight?

Have you ever awakened from a dream and thought, what was THAT?! A platypus waddling through my school while singing the word farfanoogle?... Read more

You Owe Me One, Universe

Thanks a Lot, Universe: Book #2

By: Chad Lucas
Narrated by: Ruffin Prentiss & Mark Sanderlin
Length: 7 hours 4 minutes

“You and Brian seem really close. Just wondering if you’re, like, together.”
“Like a couple? No. But he’s my best friend. I care about him a lot.”
“I know.”

Brian knows that anxiety and depression aren’t magically fixed overnight, but he still doesn’t understand why it’s all hitting him so hard right now. Sure, his dad is in prison and middle... Read more

The Sky King

Skyriders: Book #2

By: Polly Holyoke
Narrated by: Emily Woo Zeller
Length: 8 hours 24 minutes

In this soaring adventure for fans of Skandar and the Unicorn Thief and Wings of Fire, a new kind of monster launches an attack on the empire of Prekalt. Who can Kiesandra and her skysteed turn to for help in this life-and-death battle?

    Fresh from their victory over the frightening chimerae monsters, Kie and N'Rah are looking forward to a... Read more

Skyriders

Skyriders: Book #1

By: Polly Holyoke
Narrated by: Emily Woo Zeller
Length: 8 hours 11 minutes

“Full of highflying adventure, Skyriders is a great read for kids who love fantasy adventure with strong, smart, determined heroines and heroes who are underestimated by the adults ruling the world. Kai has been training her whole life in the old ways of fighting the evil Kaimerey, but never thought she would be faced with the horrible reality... Read more

Airi Sano, Prankmaster General: New School Skirmish

AIRI SANO, PRANKMASTER GENERAL: Book #1

By: Zoe Tokushige
Narrated by: Sara Matsui-Colby
Length: 7 hours 35 minutes

A hilarious story of new-school hijinks, filled with friendship, family, and plenty of pranks--perfect for fans of Dork Diaries and Diary of a Wimpy Kid!

Meet Airi Sano. After spending her entire childhood moving from one military base to another, she's excited to be settling down for the long-term in Hawai'i. She's less excited about her new... Read more

Airi Sano, Prankmaster General: Public Enemy Number One

AIRI SANO, PRANKMASTER GENERAL: Book #2

By: Zoe Tokushige
Narrated by: Sara Matsui-Colby
Length: 6 hours 44 minutes

Airi is back for another hilarious story of friendship and pranks, and this time, there's drama--literally! Perfect for fans of Dork Diaries and Diary of a Wimpy Kid!

It's the spring semester, and Airi Sano is on top of the world! Her grades are up, she has real friends at her side, and she’s joined the school play. She’s even keeping out of... Read more

What Happened to Rachel Riley?

By: Claire Swinarski
Narrated by: Ferdelle Capistrano, Alexandra Hunter, Karla Serrato, Gail Shalan, Reena Dutt, Caitlin Davies, Andrew Eiden & Kirby Heyborne
Length: 5 hours 49 minutes

ALA Notable Children's Book Regional Indie Bestseller Audie Award Winner Edgar Award Nominee Cybils Award Nominee YALSA Best Fiction for Young Adults New York Public Library Best Book of the Year Chicago Public Library Best of the Best Amazon Best Book of the Year SLJ Best Book of the Year Texas Lone Star Reading List Capital Choices Noteworthy... Read more

Mèo and Bé

By: Doan Phuong Nguyen
Narrated by: VyVy Nguyen
Length: 5 hours 5 minutes

Just before the United States enters the Vietnam War, eleven-year-old Bé and her three-footed kitten Mèo must rise above the injustices of war to find the comfort, safety, and love of a found family.



Eleven-year-old Bé hasn't spoken a word since her mother left. She hangs on to the hope that one day they will be reunited, but after two years of... Read more

A Place to Hang the Moon

By: Kate Albus
Narrated by: Polly Lee
Length: 8 hours 5 minutes

For fans of The War That Saved My Life and other World War II fiction, A Place to Hang the Moon is the tale of three orphaned siblings who are evacuated from London to live in the countryside with the secret hope of finding a permanent family.



It is 1940 and William, twelve, Edmund, eleven, and Anna, nine, aren't terribly upset by the death of... Read more

Nothing Else But Miracles

By: Kate Albus
Narrated by: Carrie Coello
Length: 7 hours 16 minutes

Twelve-year-old Dory Byrne lives with her brothers on New York City's Lower East Side, waiting impatiently through the darkest hours of World War II for her pop to come home from fighting Hitler. Legally speaking, Dory's brother, Fish, isn't old enough to be in charge of Dory and her younger brother, Pike, but the neighborhood knows the score... Read more