2027 Mock Newbery List (53 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 Lions' Run by Sara Pennypacker 4.35 avg rating — 1,989 ratings score: 990, and 10 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 Moon Without Stars by Chanel Miller 4.25 avg rating — 1,111 ratings score: 894, and 9 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	A Scar like a River by Lisa Graff 4.31 avg rating — 682 ratings score: 494, and 5 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	When You're Brave Enough by Rebecca Bendheim (Goodreads Author) 4.46 avg rating — 204 ratings score: 482, and 5 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	You Are Now Old Enough to Hear This by Aaron Starmer 3.73 avg rating — 252 ratings score: 389, 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
6	The Second Life of Snap by Erin Entrada Kelly (Goodreads Author) 3.99 avg rating — 533 ratings score: 376, 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
7	The Ordinary and Extraordinary Auden Greene by Corey Ann Haydu (Goodreads Author) 3.67 avg rating — 123 ratings score: 365, 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
8	When Tomorrow Burns by Tae Keller (Goodreads Author) 3.92 avg rating — 467 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
9	Some of Us Are Brave by Saadia Faruqi (Goodreads Author) 4.10 avg rating — 278 ratings score: 268, 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
10	Styx and Stones by Gary D. Schmidt 3.70 avg rating — 309 ratings score: 267, 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
11	Building 903 by Lois Lowry (Goodreads Author) 3.72 avg rating — 287 ratings score: 261, 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
12	Perfect Enough (Good Different #2) by Meg Eden Kuyatt (Goodreads Author) 4.39 avg rating — 112 ratings score: 260, 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
13	The Forgotten War: A World War II Battle on American Soil by Candace Fleming (Goodreads Author) 4.73 avg rating — 11 ratings score: 254, 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
14	Bad Badger: A Family Story by Maryrose Wood (Goodreads Author) 4.40 avg rating — 141 ratings score: 253, 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
15	This Is a Door by Daniel Nayeri 4.66 avg rating — 32 ratings score: 250, 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
16	A Year Without Home by V.T. Bidania (Goodreads Author) 4.42 avg rating — 465 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
17	The Unlikely Tale of Chase and Finnegan by Jasmine Warga (Goodreads Author) 4.10 avg rating — 1,196 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
17	Birdy by N. West Moss (Goodreads Author) 4.46 avg rating — 286 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
19	Each and Every Spark by Claire Swinarski (Goodreads Author) 4.26 avg rating — 368 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
20	Eureka by Victoria Chang (Goodreads Author) 3.84 avg rating — 275 ratings score: 187, 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
21	Phoenix by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley (Goodreads Author) 3.91 avg rating — 640 ratings score: 182, 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
22	Mythspeaker by Christopher Roubique (Goodreads Author) 4.26 avg rating — 89 ratings score: 178, 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
22	Red River Rose by Carole Lindstrom (Goodreads Author) 3.50 avg rating — 165 ratings score: 178, 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
24	X Marks the Haunt by Lindsay Currie (Goodreads Author) 4.18 avg rating — 332 ratings score: 175, 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
25	A Wish with Wings by Sarah Guillory (Goodreads Author) 4.14 avg rating — 36 ratings score: 171, 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
26	Secrets of the Broken House by Taryn Souders (Goodreads Author) 4.16 avg rating — 335 ratings score: 170, 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
27	Queso, Just in Time by Ernesto Cisneros (Goodreads Author) 4.21 avg rating — 246 ratings score: 167, 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
27	All That Chandni Knows by Khushboo Patel 3.99 avg rating — 77 ratings score: 167, 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
29	Orris and Timble: Star Stories by Kate DiCamillo (Goodreads Author) 4.51 avg rating — 168 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
29	Eva to the Max by Rebecca Caprara (Goodreads Author) 4.31 avg rating — 75 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
31	Shook by Julian Randall 4.37 avg rating — 43 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
31	Where Ella Went by Laurie Morrison (Goodreads Author) 4.37 avg rating — 152 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
31	One Word, Six Letters by Adib Khorram (Goodreads Author) 4.29 avg rating — 898 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
34	Basket Ball: The Story of the All-American Game (American Sports Histories, 2) by Kadir Nelson 4.25 avg rating — 112 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
35	The Mighty Macy by Kwame Alexander 4.11 avg rating — 264 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
35	Rialto by Kate Milford (Goodreads Author) 4.11 avg rating — 245 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
37	Saber-Tooth: A Novel in Verse by Robin Gow (Goodreads Author) 3.43 avg rating — 143 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
38	The Queen's Granddaughter by Diane Zahler (Goodreads Author) 3.94 avg rating — 119 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
39	The Mysterious Magic of Lighthouse Lane by Erin Stewart (Goodreads Author) 4.12 avg rating — 92 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
40	Breakout by Christina Wyman (Goodreads Author) 4.09 avg rating — 115 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
41	Landslide by Betty Culley (Goodreads Author) 4.15 avg rating — 72 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
42	Nell O'Dell Hates Quests (The Golden Crossroads #1) by Emily B. Martin 4.36 avg rating — 124 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
43	Wilderness Hacks by Joslin Brorsen (Goodreads Author) 4.32 avg rating — 187 ratings score: 74, 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	Hattie Mae Begins Again by Sharon G. Flake 3.92 avg rating — 131 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
45	A Tale of Plagues and Perfumes by Jake Halpern 4.17 avg rating — 231 ratings 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
46	The Eyes, the Fire & the Avalanche Kingdom by Dave Eggers it was amazing 5.00 avg rating — 4 ratings score: 67, 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	Wombat Waiting by Katherine Applegate (Goodreads Author) 4.20 avg rating — 1,228 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
48	Mind vs. Machine: The Chess Match That Changed the World by Steve Sheinkin 4.52 avg rating — 31 ratings score: 63, 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	Ida B. Wells and the Untold Truth of a Country by Lesa Cline-Ransome (Goodreads Author) 4.50 avg rating — 2 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
50	No Place on Earth by Andrea Beatriz Arango (Goodreads Author) 4.33 avg rating — 27 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
51	Kestrel Takes Flight by Joy McCullough (Goodreads Author) 4.36 avg rating — 74 ratings score: 58, 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
52	Sleepless by Gordon Korman 4.14 avg rating — 113 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
53	The Write Thing: Kwame Alexander Engages Students in Writing Workshop by Kwame Alexander 4.37 avg rating — 134 ratings score: 56, 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