{"id":29291,"date":"2023-07-30T00:01:06","date_gmt":"2023-07-30T04:01:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.alsc.ala.org\/blog\/?p=29291"},"modified":"2025-04-01T14:44:29","modified_gmt":"2025-04-01T18:44:29","slug":"best-middle-grade-novels-of-2023","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.alsc.ala.org\/blog\/2023\/07\/best-middle-grade-novels-of-2023\/","title":{"rendered":"My Favorite Middle Grade Novels of 2023 (So Far!)"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Image courtesy of Robert Beatty Books<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

We are halfway through 2023 and wow, there are some amazing middle grade books that need a shout-out! From graphic novels to fantasy<\/a>, tweens have plenty to choose from. With diverse characters and compelling storytelling, I would highly recommend these titles and declare them as some of the best of 2023!<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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Image courtesy of Simon and Schuster<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

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Best Fantasy Novel<\/strong>: Serafina and the Black Cloak: The Graphic Novel<\/em><\/a> by Robert Beatty<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This gothic fantasy graphic novel includes a strong female lead and beautifully haunting illustrations that can remind readers of the Amulet series<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Best Realistic Fiction Novel<\/strong>: Code Red<\/em><\/a> by Joy McCullough<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This novel focuses on a young girl’s shift from gymnastics to tackling period poverty in her community. This is an amazing novel for young activists on the rise!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Best Historical Fiction Novel<\/strong>: In the Tunnel<\/em><\/a> by Julie Lee<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Set during the Korean War, this novel tells the story of a boy’s experience as a refugee. This is certainly for historical fiction fans of books like The War that Saved My Life<\/a><\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Image courtesy of Penguin Random House<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

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Best Horror Novel<\/strong>: Infected<\/em><\/a> by Terrance Crawford<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For fans of the video game Piggy<\/em>, this book has plenty of scares and action through its terrifying characters and plot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Best Mystery Novel<\/strong>: What Happened to Rachel Riley?<\/em><\/a> by Claire Swinarski<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why did Rachel Riley go from hero to zero in her school? A #MeToo mystery for tweens, this novel is perfect for mystery-lovers!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Best Novel in Verse<\/strong>: Aniana del Mar Jumps In<\/em><\/a> by Jasminne Mendez<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This poetic novel about a Dominican American swimmer diagnosed with juvenile arthritis is a moving story filled with ups and downs that readers can connect with on some level.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What middle grade novel of 2023 would you recommend?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

We are halfway through 2023 and wow, there are some amazing middle grade books that need a shout-out! From graphic novels to fantasy, tweens have plenty to choose from. With diverse characters and compelling storytelling, I would highly recommend these titles and declare them as some of the best of 2023!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":374,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_uf_show_specific_survey":0,"_uf_disable_surveys":false,"footnotes":"","_members_access_role":[],"_members_access_error":""},"categories":[2581,47],"tags":[513,145],"class_list":["post-29291","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-blogger-ariel-barreras","category-collection-development","tag-collection-development-2","tag-tweens"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.alsc.ala.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29291","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.alsc.ala.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.alsc.ala.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.alsc.ala.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/374"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.alsc.ala.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=29291"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.alsc.ala.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29291\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.alsc.ala.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=29291"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.alsc.ala.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=29291"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.alsc.ala.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=29291"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}