Middle grade fantasy favourites of 2022
This year has really seen a boom in brilliant magic, fantasy, and science fiction stories for readers aged 8-13. Read on to discover a selection of our favourite books for young speculative fiction readers published this year.
Book of Wondrous Possibilities by Deborah Abela
Arlo has lived above the bookshop with his uncle and a pet mouse since his mother’s unusual death. That is, until the feisty Lisette barrels into the bookshop holding a grimoire – a magical book that can bring stories into reality – and asks Arlo for help. All at once Arlo is thrust into a series of thrilling adventures including a kidnapping, a prison escape and delicious carrot cake!
This is a spellbinding and magical story of overcoming grief and celebrating the power of stories and books.
Ages 10 and up.
A Girl Called Corpse by Reece Carter
Corpse is a ghost, forced to haunt the Witches’ sea shack. But she has also gained a physical form through building herself a body out of candle wax and treasures from the sea. One day, an unexpected message arrives that sends her on a quest to uncover the truth about her past, her family, and where she really belongs.
Filled with creepy spiders, funny ghosts and evil male witches, this story is a delicious fusion of Roald Dahl, Tim Burton and Neil Gaiman. It’s an exciting adventure about friendship, family and discovering where you belong, set in a truly spooky world.
Ages 9 and up.
The Last Cuentista by Donna Barba Higuera
Petra wants to be a storyteller, like her abuelita, but the earth is reportedly soon to be destroyed by a comet and Petra is one of the lucky few chosen to travel far from earth to start a new life. When she wakes up after hundreds of years on a space ship, she discovers the ship has been taken over by rebels who have erased the memories of everyone apart from her. She alone carries the stories of their past and must fight for their future.
This time-travelling space odyssey interweaved with Mexican folklore deservedly won the Newberry Medal this year.
Ages 10 and up.
The Wrath of the Woolington Wyrm by Karen Foxlee
Ten-year-old Mary-Kate suffers from anxiety, but she doesn’t let that stop her from helping her archaeologist mother to track and protect monsters. When they travel to the village of Woolington to investigate some interesting old bones in a well they get caught up a current-day mystery. What is the source of the strange noises and could there be a real-live monster hiding in the town?
Written by the award-winning author of Lenny’s Book of Everything, this is the first book in a new series which includes delightful illustrations and is perfect for early readers keen to read longer stories. Book two in the series has also just been published.
Ages 8 and up.
The Raven’s Song by Zana Fraillon and Bren MacDibble
Shelby and Dave live in a quiet, low-tech community of only 350 people. When they find a hole in the perimeter fence and decide to go through it to explore the surrounding jungle, it changes their lives forever. What they find in the outside world is both astonishing and dangerous. They'll need to use all their daring and determination to discover what happened in the past and ensure that it does not repeat itself.
This is a powerful and compelling dystopian story, set in two time periods, co-written by two of top children’s writers.
Ages 8 and up.
The Wintrish Girl by Melanie La’Brooy
In the Province of Arylia, the Wintrish people who remain after losing the war are forced to be servants to the royal family. Wintrish girl Penn longs to be free from Princess Seraphine and return to her homeland, but she understand her fate is set. So when the princess is kidnapped on Talisman Day, a day all children are given powerful magic objects, Penn must go on the run and try to clear her name.
With the help of a dragon and some unusual friends, Penn discovers her own powers and a way to rescue the princess. This is an action packed, thrilling adventure set in a truly unique magical land.
Ages 9 and up.
The Chameleon Thief by Mat Larkin
This funny story features quirky Attica Stone, whose best friend has done a very bad thing and who also suddenly, inexplicably, hates her. Attica decides to fix the bad thing, and hopefully fix the friendship, but this epic task requires the support of friends, a chameleon, and some rude bunnies.
This charming prequel to The Orchard Underground is a hilarious tale of friendship, razor-sharp wit and dodgy magic tricks. It doesn’t require any knowledge of the previous book and will be loved by those who enjoy fun mystery stories with a touch of magic.
Ages 9 and up.
Hedgewitch by Skye McKenna
Cassie Morgan has been abandoned at boarding school by her mother, who she hasn’t seen for seven long years. When a letter arrives announcing that her mother is missing, presumed dead, Cassie refuses to believe it and decides to go find her. As she begins her dangerous quest, she is chased by goblins and befriended by a flying broom and a talking cat. They take her to the village of Hedgely, where she discovers she is descended from a long line of witches.
This is an epic hero’s journey that will have readers thrilled and terrified in equal measure.
Ages 9 and up.
The Dangerous Business of Being Trilby Moffat by Kate Temple
Trilby’s mother catches a terrible sickness, which causes her to speak dead languages and then fall into a sleep she cannot awaken from. Trilby must then rely upon her only other surviving relative, a 300-year-old aunt who runs an antique shop. With her mother unable to be awakened, Trilby inherits (read: is accidentally given) the very important – extremely high stakes – job of Time Keeper and must travel out into the Sea of Time. But Trilby is being pursued by a man in a top hat who, for some strange reason, is trying to kill her.
This is an exciting adventure that not only plays with time itself but also features lashings of cake and bad-tempered cats.
Ages 8 and up.
Zadie Ma and the Dog Who Chased the Moon by Gabrielle Wang
Zadie Ma is a girl who can write stories that sometimes come true. What she wants most in the world is a dog, and so she writes the story of Jupiter, a poor unwanted dog, who is waiting to be rescued. Zadie sets off one day to find Jupiter, and she does, but the real story has a few more complications than her fictional one. Can she find true happiness with her new dog?
Using fable and graphic novel elements, this is a magical story that animal lovers will adore.
Ages 8 and up.
Mars Awakens by H.M. Waugh
Set on Mars far into the future, this compelling story features two rival colonies: one filled primarily with females, and the other with males. When a mysterious meteor crashes onto the planet, a girl rushes to the crash site, only to discover a boy from the rival colony is already there. Together they must overcome their mistrust and misunderstandings about one another to help investigate the crash and save life on their planet.
This exciting science fiction novel for young readers is the first in a duology.
Ages 10 and up.
Dusty in the Outwilds by Rhiannon Williams
When Dusty’s beloved Gran gets sick, she decides the only one who can help is her aunt Meg, who she has never met, because everyone says she lives in the Outwilds. So Dusty goes looking for the Outwilds with her friend and his little sister, discovering not only a world with fantastical creatures, but also the truth behind the stories of her family.
This magical adventure by the author of the brilliant Ottilie Colter trilogy, is a heartfelt story about magical worlds and family secrets.
Ages 9 and up.
The Lost Ryū by Emi Watanabe Cohen
This fantasy story set in Japan is about ryū (dragons), a family legacy, and uncovering the secrets of the past. Kohei has a little pet ryū, but somewhere within him is the memory of a giant ryū, even though everyone says they are now extinct. He is determined to rediscover them to bring his Ojiisan (his grandpa) back to health.
An imaginative and compelling adventure featuring magical dragons that readers will love.
Ages 9 and up.
Zachary Ying and the Dragon Emperor by Xiran Jay Zhao
Zachary Ying has never learned about his Chinese heritage. So when he’s chosen to host the spirit of the First Emperor of China for a vital mission, he is woefully unprepared. As a result, the Emperor botches his attempt to possess Zack’s body and binds to his AR gaming headset instead. Now, with the legendary tyrant yapping in his headset, Zack must journey across China to steal magical artifacts and defeat figures from history and myth.
This middle grade fantasy is perfect for readers who enjoy a high-stakes quest, especially those who enjoy stories by Rick Riordan.
Ages 9 and up.