The Best Middle Grade Books of 2020


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 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 People'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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Anisha, Accidental Detective

Written by Serena Patel

Ages 9-12 | 256 Pages

Publisher: USBORNE CAT ANG | ISBN: 978-1474959520

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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 & 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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Wink

Written by Rob Harrell

Ages 10+ | 320 Pages

Publisher: Dial Books | ISBN: 978-1984815149

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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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Snapdragon

Written by Kat Leyh

Ages 10+ | 240 Pages

Publisher: First Second | ISBN: 978-1250171115

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City Spies

Written by James Ponti

Ages 10+ | 384 Pages

Publisher: Aladdin | ISBN: 978-1534414914

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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 Jerry Craft

Ages 8-12 | 320 Pages

Publisher: Holiday House | ISBN: 978-0823444946

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Any Day with You

Written by Mae Respicio

Ages 8-12 | 224 Pages

Publisher: Wendy Lamb Books | ISBN: 978-0525707578

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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

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 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.

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June 8, 2022 at 09:22PM Bianca Schulze