10 Great New Middle Grade Books Out in March 2025
As we head towards spring, plenty of new middle grade releases are appearing along with the first flowers of the year — and, once again, we have a fantastic crop of new stories for this age group (and anyone else who loves reading middle grade!) Some of March 2025’s new middle grade releases round off excellent existing series, while others are debut publications by brand-new authors. Fans of magical school stories have plenty of new sorcerous institutions to visit, whether it’s a school for budding villains and monsters, or a marvellous institution full of deep secrets. Unsurprisingly for the middle grade category, there are many delightful animal stories, often bringing in more serious themes such as grief, fear of the unknown, or the need to be empathetic to all beings.
This March we have middle grade horror, fresh takes on Greek mythology, and graphic novels that touch on complicated friendships. These new publications range from funny and zany to thoughtful and deep. There are plenty of options for readers of all levels, whether the middle grade reader in your life is happy to delve through epic, intricately-written worlds, or prefers shorter books that still tell a great tale. These are just some of the new books coming out this March — check them out for your middle grade reader’s TBR pile!
School of Doom by Sarah Harrison
This fun fantasy story follows Eddie, a girl who can eat literally anything — including metal. Her spooky superpower gets her a place at the School of Doom, with plenty of other unusual children who are encouraged to be the worst they can be. With her new friends, Eddie has to decide if she’s going to play the villain, or be a hero and save the school.
The Deadly Fates by Dhonielle Clayton
The third book in Dhonielle Clayton’s stellar series The Marvellers, The Deadly Fates sees Ella and her friends returning to the Arcanum to continue their magical training — and uncover a conspiracy that dates all the way back to the founding of the school. To find out the truth, they have to dig deep into the dangers of the Marveller world, facing old foes and new villains alike.
Wolf Siren by Beth O’Brien
In this reimagining of Little Red Riding Hood, O’Brien explores the balance between human communities and wild nature, and takes a middle grade friendly look at moral panics and distrust of the unknown. Red loves the forest near her house, but the other people in her village believe it’s dangerous, especially when a woodcutter goes missing. As tensions rise, the villagers plan to take action against the wolves, and Red is the only one who can restore peace.
Vanya and the Wild Hunt by Sangu Mandanna
Vanya and the Wild Hunt is a fun magical school story by the author of The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches. Vanya is a young girl who can communicate with books, and her power, as well as a frightening monster attack, means she is sent to Auramere, a school where she will learn to use her talents. When the school is threatened by the Wild Hunt, Vanya has to save her new home.
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Puloma and the Bear by Jasbinder Bilan, illustrated by Skyler White
A story dealing with belonging, found family, and animal rights, Puloma and the Bear follows a young girl who runs away from her bullying aunt and joins the circus. Although Puloma finds her place amongst the circus people, she hates that one of the circus acts is a dancing bear named Nyla. Knowing that Nyla is being harmed to make her perform, Puloma sets out to free her new friend.
Serial Chillers: The Witch in the Woods by Jennifer Killick
The latest from the queen of middle grade horror, Serial Chillers: The Witch in the Woods tells the story of Travis and his friends, who live in the spooky town of Hazard. Hazard has always been a slightly supernatural place to live, but Travis’ school project leads him to discover the reason why — an ancient witch who lives in the nearby woods, and may be the cause of all the town’s creepiness.
The Underwild: River of Spirits by Shana Targosz
River of Spirits, a debut fantasy drawing on Greek mythology, follows Senka, an assistant to the ferryman Charon, who works in the Underworld. Senka meets a living girl, Poppy, who has come to the Underworld to try to find her dead brother. When she chooses to help Poppy and make sure she doesn’t slip away into the afterlife forever, Senka discovers that there’s more to her world than she previously imagined.
The Trouble with Sunshine by Yamile Saied Méndez
In this sensitive story tackling grief and how to keep going in the face of adversity, Dorani is dealing with the loss of her beloved mother, whose death Dorani feels responsible for. After moving in with her aunt on her ranch, Dorani starts taking care of a horse, Sunshine, who has also been through trauma. As she cares for Sunshine, Dorani begins to feel more like herself again, and decides to honour her mother through fighting for what is right.
The Strongest Heart by Saadia Faruqi
The Strongest Heart tackles difficult themes with sensitivity and nuance. Mo lives with his father, who has mental health issues that can cause him to have explosive episodes of anger. The two move in with Mo’s aunt and cousin, and Mo begins to find his place in the world, but knows that the change in environment does not mean that his father’s illness no longer exists.
Speechless by Aron Nels Steinke
This sweet middle grade graphic novel looks at shyness, anxiety, and friendship problems. Mira is confident at home but struggles to talk in class, and school has become even more difficult since a falling-out with her former best friend, Chloe. Mira’s safe space at home is compromised when Chloe has to temporarily stay with Mira’s family, and Mira has to learn to face her fears and speak up.
If you have a middle grade fantasy lover in your life, try 10 Epic Fantasy Books for Middle Grade Readers. For fans of scary stories, try 10 Spooky Middle Grade Reads for the Bravest Bookworms.
