New Middle-Grade Books in 2022: Gripping Stories for Ages 8+

Find your kid’s next favourite read in this collection of new books by bestselling authors, including Tim Harris, Felice Arena, Nat Amoore, Gabrielle Wang, Shivaun Plozza and more.

Rockstar Detectives by Adam Hills

When a priceless painting goes missing, 12-year-old singing sensation Charley and her budding comedian friend, George, are shocked to discover that they are the prime suspects.

Themes: Humour, mystery, wheelchair representation. Ages 9+.

Buy a copy of Rockstar Detectives here.

Dear Greta by Yvette Poshoglian

Everything is going wrong for Alice in Year Six. First, she is assigned Greta Thunberg as her pen pal for the fictional writing assignment (why not Taylor Swift?!), and then she’s put in charge of the Harmony Day Food Fair, which has to go completely online, and now seems impossible.

Themes: Epistolary novel, Australian-Armenian lead, activism. Ages 9+.

Buy a copy of Dear Greta here.

Mr Bambuckle’s Remarkables Join Forces by Tim Harris and James Hart

Everyone’s favourite teacher, Mr Bambuckle, is back with more hilarious stories, shenanigans and silliness at Blue Valley School! This is the fifth book in the Mr Bambuckle’s Remarkables series.

Themes: Humour, ridiculous, schoolyard. Ages 9+.

Buy a copy of Mr Bambuckle’s Remarkables Join Forces here.

The Unstoppable Flying Flanagan by Felica Arena

This is Specky Magee meets The Boy and the Spy – a funny, entertaining and moving story set against the backdrop of WWII in Australia, the women’s movement and the little-known history of women’s football. Determined to put on an all-girl football game to raise money for the troops, Maggie Flanagan is about to break all the rules.

Themes: Historical fiction, AFL, ethics. Ages 8+.

Buy a copy of The Unstoppable Flying Flanagan here.

Frankie Best Hates Quests by Chris Smith

An accessible Pixar-like fantasy for ages 8+ from the bestselling co-author of Kid Normal. Frankie is stuck at Grandad’s with her annoyingly nerdy brother for a whole week while her parents swan off to the Arctic. Worse still, Grandad gets kidnapped by gnoblins, forcing Frankie to embark on a rescue mission across a magical realm filled with strange creatures, dangerous enemies, and – worst of all – absolutely no WiFi.

Themes: Fantasy, humour, adventure. Ages 8+.

Buy a copy of Frankie Best Hates Quests here.

Seven Days by Fleur Ferris

While enduring a boring school holidays in the country together, cousins Ben and Josh begin to unravel mysteries and discover shocking crimes after stumbling upon their great-great-grandfather’s journal – the final entry being from one hundred years ago, right after he was shot.

Themes: Crime fiction, mystery, action-packed. Ages 9+.

Buy a copy of Seven Days here.

Princess Olivia Investigates: The Wrong Weather by Lucy Hawking

Olivia is delighted to finally give up her boring princess lessons and learn about real things, like volcanoes and the ocean and space! But Olivia is completely unprepared for the world that awaits her. With the help her some new friends, Olivia sets out to solve the mystery and save the Kingdom of Alez from climate destruction before it’s too late. Out May.

Themes: Fantasy, science, climate activism. Ages 6+.

Buy a copy of Princess Olivia Investigates: The Wrong Weather here.

We Run Tomorrow by Nat Amoore and Mike Barry

The bestselling author of Secrets of a Schoolyard Millionaire has joined forces with acclaimed graphic novelist Mike Barry to create a story of four kids – and four superheroes – who are taking their future into their own hands. Out May.

Themes: illustrated novel, friendship, resilience. Ages 9+.

Buy a copy of We Run Tomorrow here.

Zadie Ma and the Dog who Chased the Moon by Gabrielle Wang

Zadie Ma has a passionate for telling stories, and she has a superpower – sometimes her stories come true. Zadie’s dearest wish is to have a dog of her own, so she starts to write the story of a poor unwanted dog called Jupiter, who’s just waiting to be rescued by a loving girl called Zadie. Jupiter is found, but a series of unlucky events means Zadie can’t write the happy ending she dreams of. Out June.

Themes: Historical fiction, Chinese-Australian lead, magical realism.

Buy a copy of Zadie Ma and the Dog who Chased the Moon here.

All Four Quarters of the Moon by Shirley Marr

A big hearted story of love and resilience. Making mooncakes with Ah-Ma for the Mid-Autumn Festival was the last day of Peijing’s old life. Now, adapting to their new life in Australia, Peijing is noticing the cracks in her family as they face uncertainties around every corner. Out July.

Themes: Family, Chinese-Australian, culture shock. Ages 9+.

Buy a copy of All Four Quarters of the Moon here.

Cop and Robber by Tristan Bancks

A new nailbiter for ages 10+ from the bestselling author of Two Wolves. If your mum was a cop and your dad was a crim who needed your help to commit a crime, would you do it to save him? At what cost? Out July.

Themes: Crime fiction, family, ethics. Ages 10+.

Buy a copy of Cop and Robber here.

A Reluctant Witch’s Guide to Magic by Shivaun Plozza

Willa is just an ordinary non-magical girl, living in the Wild – a city squished between two warring witch covens. She spends her days dodging wayward spells – from raining frogs to dancing chickens – all because of the witch war! No wonder she hates witches. But one day Willa discovers she is not ordinary at all. Out July.

Themes: Fantasy, witches, magic.

Buy a copy of A Reluctant Witch’s Guide to Magic here.

The Midnighters by Hana Tooke

The bestselling author of The Unadoptables is back! A missing friend, a gothic city, a secret society full of wonder, invention and maybe a hint of magic . . . welcome to the world of the Midnighters. Out July.

Themes: Mystery, adventure, magic. Ages 8+.

Buy a copy of The Midnighters here.

What About Thao? by Oliver Phommavanh

From the author of Thai-riffic comes a funny and heartfelt novel for ages 10+. Thao is a city kid who has recently moved to a small country town and is enjoying being the new kid at his tiny two-teacher school – until Kadir arrives and shakes things up. Out August.

Themes: Rural communities, Thai-Australian lead, belonging. Ages 10+.

Buy a copy of What About Thao? here.

The Silver Sea by Belinda Murrell

In this beautiful sequel to The Golden Tower, Sophie returns to the world of Tuscia – filled with magic, mystery, mischievous creatures and danger at every turn! Out August.

Themes: Historical fantasy, bravery, magic. Ages 9+.

Buy a copy of The Silver Sea here.

The Book of Wondrous Possibilities by Deborah Abela

Arlo Goodman lives with his uncle in a run-down flat above their bookshop. He has no friends, except for his pet mouse, Herbert. But when a girl called Lisette bursts into the shop and begs him to hide her from a murderer, Arlo’s life changes forever. Out August.

Themes: Adventure, magical realism, fast-paced. Ages 8+.

Buy a copy of The Book of Wondrous Possibilities here.