Nikki Van De Car
Young Witch's Guide to Living Magically
A solid, low-stakes entry into the 'hidden magic' genre that prioritizes character growth over plot twists.
Read this next
All picks after this →
Kpop Demon Hunters
by Jessica Yoon
Middle grade · ages 9–12 · 720L
A genuinely fun adventure that centers K-pop fandom and Korean-American identity without preaching — the kind of book kids reach for because the premise alone hooks them, and they stay for the character work.
Blood Moon
by Britney S. Lewis
Middle grade · ages 10–14 · 760L · 2025
A confident supernatural coming-of-age that doesn't sugarcoat racism or queerness — the protagonist's magic matters, but so does her voice in a world that tried to silence both.
Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz
by L. Frank Baum
Middle grade · ages 8–12 · 720L · 2018
The fourth Oz book is looser and more digressive than The Wonderful Wizard, with a genuine earthquake as inciting incident and stranger magical lands; kids who love worldbuilding over tight plotting will devour it.