2027 Mock Newbery List (49 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 4.26 avg rating — 970 ratings score: 795, and 8 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 4.36 avg rating — 1,596 ratings score: 594, 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
3	The Ordinary and Extraordinary Auden Greene by Corey Ann Haydu (Goodreads Author) 3.67 avg rating — 99 ratings score: 370, 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
4	Styx and Stones by Gary D. Schmidt 3.82 avg rating — 131 ratings score: 354, 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
5	When You're Brave Enough by Rebecca Bendheim (Goodreads Author) 4.49 avg rating — 132 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
6	Building 903 by Lois Lowry (Goodreads Author) 3.74 avg rating — 136 ratings score: 264, 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
7	The Second Life of Snap by Erin Entrada Kelly (Goodreads Author) 4.21 avg rating — 214 ratings score: 255, 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
8	A Year Without Home by V.T. Bidania (Goodreads Author) 4.44 avg rating — 371 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
8	A Scar like a River by Lisa Graff 4.34 avg rating — 507 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
10	The Unlikely Tale of Chase and Finnegan by Jasmine Warga (Goodreads Author) 4.15 avg rating — 912 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
11	You Are Now Old Enough to Hear This by Aaron Starmer 3.80 avg rating — 138 ratings score: 191, 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	When Tomorrow Burns by Tae Keller (Goodreads Author) 3.96 avg rating — 351 ratings score: 188, 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	X Marks the Haunt by Lindsay Currie (Goodreads Author) 4.22 avg rating — 279 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
14	Secrets of the Broken House by Taryn Souders (Goodreads Author) 4.19 avg rating — 262 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
14	Some of Us Are Brave by Saadia Faruqi (Goodreads Author) 4.10 avg rating — 222 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
16	Perfect Enough (Good Different #2) by Meg Eden Kuyatt (Goodreads Author) 4.51 avg rating — 41 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
17	Bad Badger: A Family Story by Maryrose Wood (Goodreads Author) 4.41 avg rating — 69 ratings score: 160, 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
18	This Is a Door by Daniel Nayeri 4.75 avg rating — 16 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
19	Orris and Timble: Star Stories by Kate DiCamillo (Goodreads Author) 4.51 avg rating — 119 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
19	Eva to the Max by Rebecca Caprara (Goodreads Author) 4.49 avg rating — 39 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
21	Shook by Julian Randall 4.21 avg rating — 28 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
22	Birdy by N. West Moss (Goodreads Author) 4.44 avg rating — 197 ratings score: 97, 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	Basket Ball: The Story of the All-American Game (American Sports Histories, 2) by Kadir Nelson 4.24 avg rating — 92 ratings score: 96, 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	Each and Every Spark by Claire Swinarski (Goodreads Author) 4.29 avg rating — 291 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
25	The Mighty Macy by Kwame Alexander 4.12 avg rating — 215 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
26	Saber-Tooth: A Novel in Verse by Robin Gow (Goodreads Author) 3.53 avg rating — 118 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
27	The Queen's Granddaughter by Diane Zahler (Goodreads Author) 3.96 avg rating — 85 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
28	Eureka by Victoria Chang (Goodreads Author) 3.83 avg rating — 220 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
29	Phoenix by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley (Goodreads Author) 3.91 avg rating — 522 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
30	The Mysterious Magic of Lighthouse Lane by Erin Stewart (Goodreads Author) 4.09 avg rating — 70 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
31	Breakout by Christina Wyman (Goodreads Author) 4.06 avg rating — 88 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
32	Red River Rose by Carole Lindstrom (Goodreads Author) 3.48 avg rating — 120 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
33	Landslide by Betty Culley (Goodreads Author) 4.38 avg rating — 42 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
34	Mythspeaker by Christopher Roubique (Goodreads Author) 4.28 avg rating — 68 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
35	Nell O'Dell Hates Quests (The Golden Crossroads, #1) by Emily B. Martin 4.48 avg rating — 61 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
36	All That Chandni Knows by Khushboo Patel 4.21 avg rating — 57 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
37	Queso, Just in Time by Ernesto Cisneros (Goodreads Author) 4.28 avg rating — 186 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
38	Wilderness Hacks by Joslin Brorsen (Goodreads Author) 4.38 avg rating — 127 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
39	Hattie Mae Begins Again by Sharon G. Flake 3.88 avg rating — 109 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
40	A Tale of Plagues and Perfumes by Jake Halpern 4.16 avg rating — 187 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
41	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
42	Wombat Waiting by Katherine Applegate (Goodreads Author) 4.37 avg rating — 403 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
43	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
44	Mind vs. Machine: The Chess Match That Changed the World by Steve Sheinkin 4.27 avg rating — 11 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
45	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
46	No Place on Earth by Andrea Beatriz Arango (Goodreads Author) 4.19 avg rating — 21 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
47	Kestrel Takes Flight by Joy McCullough (Goodreads Author) 4.48 avg rating — 29 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
48	Sleepless by Gordon Korman 4.22 avg rating — 36 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
49	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