2027 Mock Newbery List (47 books)

Listopia > 2027 Mock Newbery List

Welcome to all lovers of children's literature! This is a serious book list intended for those wishing to explore new writing deserving of the Newbery Medal. I have begun the list with highly anticipated middle-grade books coming out in 2026 and invite your input. Please vote for any books on this list that you find to exhibit exemplary writing for children, and please also suggest other 2026 children's books that you love and that meet the award criteria. Happy reading!

Please only add books for children published in 2026 that meet the terms and criteria for the Newbery Award: https://www.ala.org/alsc/awardsgrants...

Terms and Criteria include:
The book should... be a form of written text (fiction, non-fiction, poetry, graphic novel; picture book; etc.); have an intended audience of children up to and including age 14; have a publication date and/or was first available for purchase in the year 2026; be in English (though it may include words from other languages); and be a self-contained, original work that is distinguished and demonstrates excellence of quality among the following considerations: interpretation of theme or concept; accurate, clear, organized presentation of information; development of plot; delineation of characters and setting; and appropriateness of style for children.

Note: the criterion that most often excludes a work on this list is the requirement that the author(s), who receives the award, must reside in or maintain a residence in the US.

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All Votes Add Books To This List

1	The Moon Without Stars by Chanel Miller 4.28 avg rating — 801 ratings score: 595, and 6 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
2	The Lions' Run by Sara Pennypacker 4.37 avg rating — 1,137 ratings score: 396, and 4 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
3	When You're Brave Enough by Rebecca Bendheim (Goodreads Author) 4.54 avg rating — 59 ratings score: 283, and 3 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
4	The Ordinary and Extraordinary Auden Greene by Corey Ann Haydu (Goodreads Author) 3.74 avg rating — 76 ratings score: 272, and 3 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
5	A Scar like a River by Lisa Graff 4.36 avg rating — 321 ratings score: 199, and 2 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
6	A Year Without Home by V.T. Bidania (Goodreads Author) 4.46 avg rating — 284 ratings score: 195, and 2 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
7	The Unlikely Tale of Chase and Finnegan by Jasmine Warga (Goodreads Author) 4.26 avg rating — 530 ratings score: 193, and 2 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
8	X Marks the Haunt by Lindsay Currie (Goodreads Author) 4.21 avg rating — 233 ratings score: 177, and 2 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
9	Secrets of the Broken House by Taryn Souders (Goodreads Author) 4.34 avg rating — 192 ratings score: 172, and 2 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
10	Building 903 by Lois Lowry (Goodreads Author) 3.82 avg rating — 71 ratings score: 164, and 2 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
11	Perfect Enough (Good Different #2) by Meg Eden Kuyatt (Goodreads Author) 4.54 avg rating — 24 ratings score: 163, and 2 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
12	This Is a Door by Daniel Nayeri 4.88 avg rating — 8 ratings score: 157, and 2 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
13	Styx and Stones by Gary D. Schmidt 3.79 avg rating — 53 ratings score: 156, and 2 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
14	Orris and Timble: Star Stories by Kate DiCamillo (Goodreads Author) 4.62 avg rating — 26 ratings score: 100, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
14	Eva to the Max by Rebecca Caprara (Goodreads Author) 4.61 avg rating — 18 ratings score: 100, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
16	Shook by Julian Randall 4.44 avg rating — 18 ratings score: 98, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
17	Each and Every Spark by Claire Swinarski (Goodreads Author) 4.35 avg rating — 215 ratings score: 95, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
18	The Mighty Macy by Kwame Alexander 4.13 avg rating — 153 ratings score: 94, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
19	You Are Now Old Enough to Hear This by Aaron Starmer really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 34 ratings score: 92, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
20	When Tomorrow Burns by Tae Keller (Goodreads Author) 4.04 avg rating — 214 ratings score: 91, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
21	Saber-Tooth: A Novel in Verse by Robin Gow (Goodreads Author) 3.56 avg rating — 95 ratings score: 90, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
22	The Queen's Granddaughter by Diane Zahler (Goodreads Author) 4.02 avg rating — 50 ratings score: 89, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
23	Eureka by Victoria Chang (Goodreads Author) 3.88 avg rating — 157 ratings score: 88, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
24	Phoenix by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley (Goodreads Author) 3.95 avg rating — 339 ratings score: 87, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
25	The Mysterious Magic of Lighthouse Lane by Erin Stewart (Goodreads Author) 4.11 avg rating — 47 ratings score: 86, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
26	Breakout by Christina Wyman (Goodreads Author) 3.98 avg rating — 63 ratings score: 85, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
27	Red River Rose by Carole Lindstrom (Goodreads Author) 3.51 avg rating — 63 ratings score: 84, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
28	Landslide by Betty Culley (Goodreads Author) 4.54 avg rating — 28 ratings score: 82, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
29	Mythspeaker by Christopher Roubique (Goodreads Author) 4.37 avg rating — 59 ratings score: 81, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
30	Nell O'Dell Hates Quests by Emily B. Martin 4.55 avg rating — 22 ratings score: 80, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
31	All That Chandni Knows by Khushboo Patel 4.28 avg rating — 36 ratings score: 79, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
32	Queso, Just in Time by Ernesto Cisneros (Goodreads Author) 4.27 avg rating — 115 ratings score: 77, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
33	Wilderness Hacks by Joslin Brorsen (Goodreads Author) 4.42 avg rating — 65 ratings score: 76, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
34	Some of Us Are Brave by Saadia Faruqi (Goodreads Author) 4.13 avg rating — 166 ratings score: 75, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
35	Hattie Mae Begins Again by Sharon G. Flake 3.87 avg rating — 85 ratings score: 73, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
36	A Tale of Plagues and Perfumes by Jake Halpern 4.17 avg rating — 150 ratings score: 71, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
37	The Eyes, the Fire & the Avalanche Kingdom by Dave Eggers it was amazing 5.00 avg rating — 4 ratings score: 70, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
38	Wombat Waiting by Katherine Applegate (Goodreads Author) 4.45 avg rating — 75 ratings score: 69, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
39	The Forgotten War: A World War II Battle on American Soil by Candace Fleming (Goodreads Author) really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 1 rating score: 68, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
40	Mind vs. Machine: The Chess Match That Changed the World by Steve Sheinkin 4.67 avg rating — 6 ratings score: 66, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
41	Ida B. Wells and the Untold Truth of a Country by Lesa Cline-Ransome (Goodreads Author) it was amazing 5.00 avg rating — 1 rating score: 65, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
42	No Place on Earth by Andrea Beatriz Arango (Goodreads Author) 4.50 avg rating — 10 ratings score: 64, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
43	Bad Badger: A Family Story by Maryrose Wood (Goodreads Author) 4.50 avg rating — 18 ratings score: 62, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
44	Kestrel Takes Flight by Joy McCullough (Goodreads Author) 4.53 avg rating — 17 ratings score: 61, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
45	Sleepless by Gordon Korman 4.35 avg rating — 26 ratings score: 60, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
46	The Write Thing: Kwame Alexander Engages Students in Writing Workshop by Kwame Alexander 4.38 avg rating — 133 ratings score: 59, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
47	The Second Life of Snap by Erin Entrada Kelly (Goodreads Author) 4.27 avg rating — 75 ratings score: 57, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars