Best junior and middle grade books of 2023
Every year our staff vote for their favourite books of the past 12 months. Here are the best junior and middle grade books of the year, as voted by Readings' staff, and displayed in alphabetical order by author.
Leaf-light by Trace Balla
Have you ever had a special place that was just yours? 12-year-old Miri has one, it's high up among the dappled leaf light. When she's on the ground though, she spends time with her neighbour Wingo, two joeys, and even a wombat. When a baby emu needs looking after, Miri forms a special bond with the small creature, but is she getting too attached? Narrated by Miri, Leaf-light is a story about connection and caring for one another set on Djaara Country in Western Victoria. It is an utterly spellbinding graphic novel about friendship, community and an appreciation of the natural world which will be treasured by nature lovers aged 6+.
Copycat by Kelli Anne Hawkins
11-year-old Skye Starling loves egg sandwiches, her cat Admiral Mittens, and writing mystery stories about detective Red Fox. She spends her days writing and sleuthing around the town of Seagulls Nest with her friend Bailey. So, when her freshly finished Red Fox novel is stolen – and the crimes within start happening in real life! – Skye is the perfect, and possibly only, detective for the case. Can she catch the criminal behind it all? With everyone in the town of Seagull’s Nest acting suspicious it's up to her to uncover the culprit and save the town.
This cozy small town mystery is packed with humour and perfect for ages 8+. Don't forget a notebook for your clues!
The Skull by Jon Klassen
Jon Klassen has crafted a genuinely macabre haunted house narrative ... and we absolutely love it.
Otilla is running, completely alone, through dark and treacherous woods. Why? We aren’t quite sure. All we know is she's been running for so long that she doesn’t recognise where she is anymore. Tired and scared, her only chance at refuge appears; a frightfully old and immensely large abandoned house, set atop a barren hill. It calls to her and she seeks safety within its walls. At first, things seem okay. She meets a friendly skull – yes, a skull – who invites her to stay the night. But as time goes on, it becomes clear that they aren’t the only ones in the big house. Can Otilla save them both?
A beautifully reimagined folktale for brave readers aged 8+.
Ghost Book by Remy Lai
July Chen is completeeeeely normal, apart from one thing – she can see ghosts – but she likes to keep that part on the down-low. Generally speaking, July tries to pretend they don't exist, but when Hungry Ghost month rolls around each year this becomes much harder. You might not know this, because you probably can't seem them, but during Hungry Ghost month the Gates of the Underworld open right up and ghosts are free to do as they please in the living world. This year things get even more complicated when July saves a boy ghost, William, from being eaten. Afterward, William becomes July’s first ever friend and she soon discovers he isn't a ghost at all: he's a lost soul trapped between life and death. Together they set out on an adventure to the underworld where they discover their lives, and deaths, are inextricably intertwined.
Inspired by Chinese mythology, this is a dazzling and humorous graphic novel about friendship and sacrifice. For ages 9+.
Jamie by L.D. Lapinski
It’s the final year of primary school as 11-year-old non-binary kid Jamie is content in their friendships and looking forward to the year ahead. That is, until Jamie realises that year six means choosing where you’ll go to secondary school. The problem? Their area only has two schools and they’re both split by gender – one for boys and one for girls. Jamie doesn’t identify as either, so what are they supposed to do? Along with their two best friends Daisy and Ash, Jamie begins to raise awareness for the issue they’re facing. Will they figure out a way forward in time?
A powerfully uplifting story about being true to yourself and changing the world for the better. For ages 10+.
Songlines: First Knowledges for Younger Readers by Margo Neale, Lynne Kelly & Blak Douglas (illus.)
Margo Ngawa Neale and Lynne Kelly invite you on a journey through the oldest, biggest library of knowledge on Earth. This knowledge isn't held in books: you will find it in songlines of the land, sea and sky. Learn about history, art, song, science and more in this engaging and inviting introduction to Indigenous traditional knowledges, how they apply today and how they can help all people thrive into the future.
Fully illustrated and with plenty of bite-sized snippets of fascinating information, this young reader’s edition of Songlines is an endlessly interesting book for all kids 8+.
Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Chalice of the Gods by Rick Riordan
The Chalice of the Gods welcomes the return of the original heroes from The Lightning Thief in a brand-new epic Percy Jackson adventure.
Percy is hoping for a quiet finish to the school year. He's saved the world too many times to count and just this once would enjoy some teenage regularity over battling Titans, giants and monsters. Unfortunately, the Greek gods don’t share this dream and Percy is given three new quests to complete. The first quest, with the help of his friends Annabeth and Grover, is to find a missing magical golden chalice before it is discovered by the enemy. Why the rush? If a mortal drinks from this cup they'll become a God themselves which is, needless to say, an outcome that could get quite messy. Finding the cup is the first challenge, but is resisting the cup themselves the real one?
Rick Riordan stories endure for their epic tales of heroes and heart, and we're thrilled to have a new chapter. Suitable for ages 10+.
Impossible Creatures by Katherine Rundell
While visiting his grandfather, Christopher discovers a way between the non-magical world and the Archipelago, a cluster of magical islands where every mythical creature imaginable lives. The worlds should be separated, but the barrier has worn thin and soon both humans and magical creatures will be in danger. When Christopher passes through to the magical realm, he immediately finds himself knee-deep in adventure and hijinks. Christopher must help a young girl named Mal save her baby griffin, who is being hunted by a killer. Together, Mal, Christopher and the griffin undertake a voyage to the ends of earth to save both worlds. What they discover is quite astounding.
Impossible Creatures is full of wonderful characters that are rich and real – a giant Berzerker who is so gentle with the children, evil unicorns and wise sphinxes. This epic fantasy adventure is a worthy successor to Phillip Pullman’s Northern Lights and will have both children and parents engrossed. For ages 11+.
The Lost Library by Rebecca Stead & Wendy Mass
Master storytellers Rebecca Stead and Wendy Mass reunite for their second joint venture and we're pleased to tell you it's an absolute treasure.
Can a book change your life? After eleven-year-old Evan takes two tattered books from the shelves of a mysterious street library, his whole world changes. Evan and his best friend Rafe soon discover that one of the old books is connected to an event from long ago. Neither of their parents have ever wanted to discuss it, but now with this book as their guide, they begin to ask more questions. As they search for answers, what they discover will transform both their own futures and the town of Martinville itself.
Featuring a ghost librarian and a delightful cat named Mortimer, this is a magical mystery about the power of stories ages 8+.
Tamarra: A Story of Termites on Gurindji Country by Violet Wadrill, Topsy Dodd Ngarnjal, Leah Leaman, Cecelia Edwards, Cassandra Algy, Felicity Meakins, Briony Barr & Gregory Crocetti
This beautifully illustrated science book describes the connection between termites and the Gurindji People. Written in traditional Gurindji, Gurindji Kriol and English, Tamarra explores the life of termites, including how they find food and build their mounds, and the important role they play in Gurindji practices. A collaboration between First Nations and non-Indigenous contributors, it takes the reader on a fascinating and informative journey. Suitable for children aged 7+.