Kay Davault
Misfit Mansion
A cozy supernatural mystery that feels like a middle-grade 'House of Anubis' — great for kids who want ghosts but not genuine terror.
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The BFG
by Roald Dahl
Middle grade · ages 8–12 · 730L · 2019
Dahl at his best — hilarious, genuinely thrilling, and quietly heartbreaking about what it means to be small and unwanted in a world built for giants.
Verity Vox and the Curse of Foxfire
by Don Martin
Middle grade · ages 8–12 · 720L · 2025
A solid middle-grade adventure with a genuinely original magic system (voice as power) and a protagonist who feels like an outsider; the pacing is brisk and the curse mystery lands, though the emotional stakes are moderate.
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.