I am always looking out for the places and people to add to my own little community of middle grade bookworms. There’s nothing better than swooning over beautiful covers, becoming an author’s newest fan, and comparing thoughts with a friend on a book you can’t stop thinking about.

I know sometimes finding your place online is tough, so I’m here to help with a list of my favorite places to go for a daily dose of bookish fun. If your niche is the same as mine, I hope to see you around!

 

A Novel Mind

This database is dedicated to promoting books that specifically address neurodiversity and mental health topics. In addition to wonderful book recommendations, their blog is a great place to learn something new, find encouragement, or get behind-the-scenes tidbits from favorite authors.

 

Afoma Umesi

Afoma’s blog is an excellent resource for readers and educators alike. Her book lists are extensive, well organized, and full of interesting recommendations for every age range, genre, and topic under the sun. Some all-ages bloggers tend to favor their YA audience, but Afoma’s MG content is really well curated.

 

Batch of Books

Blogger extraordinaire, Dena, does a lot of really fun things on her blog like giveaways, quizzes, and book lists for readers of all ages. It’s the kind of site that you’d be happy to browse with a kiddo on your lap so you can enjoy all the goodies together.

 

Chattering Librarian

I’m really fond of how Valerie creates topic-based reading lists that range from sports to settings, historical periods to family dynamics. It’s a great way to educate yourself on a subject or simply find more of the kinds of books you already enjoy.

 

C. J. Milbrandt

C. J. is a regular reviewer on Goodreads and acts as one of the moderators on the Great Middle Grade Reads group (another fantastic place to check out, but the way!). She shares mini reviews of her most current reads on her blog, which are usually just enough of a teaser to get you curious.

 

Everywhere Book Fest

With events canceling for obvious reasons, Everywhere Book Fest is one of the virtual alternative to the book fairs, cons, and debut parties we’re all sorely missing out on. The event runs May 1 and 2, so be sure to mark your calendar and sign up for their mailing list to stay in the loop.

 

Jess Keating

Jess is a picture book & middle grade author, cartoonist, and scientist. Her site is an excellent resource of educational material, creative encouragement, and good old fashioned fun. I always enjoy seeing her pop up on my social media feed, even if it’s not always strictly about books.

 

Lindsay Meave Schubert

Lindsay is a book reviewer whose recommendations are always full of heart and adventure. Her reviews are thoughtfully written and make you want to pick up the book ASAP! I’m also a big fan of her author interviews, which often delve into fun behind-the-scenes tidbits.

 

#MiddleGradeMonday

On Twitter, Mondays are unofficially dedicated to middle grade reads! As far as I know, this is an unhosted event, so simply share what you’re reading or check out what others are recommending. It’s a fun way to find new friends and great books.

 

MG Book Village

The collaborators at MG Book Village have an eye toward providing resources, news, and community for middle grade readers. They’ve got a little bit of everything, from blog articles, cover reveals, lists, seasonal events, and more. They also host a weekly #MGBookChat on Twitter, which is a lot of fun.

 

Middle Grade at Heart

This book club is run through MG Book Village. Their monthly newsletter includes a book of the month and activities related to the selection. Author interviews and discussions make it easy to connect with the story and with other readers. It’s especially nice as a resource for teachers or newly (cough) “homeschooling” (cough) parents.

 

Of Maria Antonia

Maria is an active reader and reviewer of middle grade books. I enjoy reading her reviews, which usually include a short pros and cons list that makes it easy to digest and decide whether I’d like to give the book a go for myself.

 

Owl Crate Jr.

This book subscription service is designed specifically for kids aged 8-12. Their boxes are filled with goodies and books that fit a monthly theme, which makes the whole thing a lot of fun. Their reps on Instagram take really lovely photos, too, which you can enjoy even if you’re not a subscriber.

 

Pop! Goes the Reader

One of my favorite bloggers, Jen, does a really beautiful job rounding up eye-catching content for readers of all ages. Her famed series, Do! Judge a Book by Its Cover is where I find out about a lot of upcoming titles and debut authors.

 

Middle Grade Carousel

The feature attraction at #MGCarousel is their themed reading challenge, which is designed to be fun for readers of middle grade regardless of age. The site also has a monthly book bingo board and games for readers with a sharp memory.

 

Middle Ground Book Fest

This virtual book festival is designed for educators, librarians, writers, and readers of middle grade. Their free first annual event begins August 1 and promises to include helpful resources and a platform for conversations about diversity and representation.

 

Middle Grade Mojo

These groovy bloggers share writing tips and book recs that provide a positive environment for KidLit creatives. If you happen to be a writer and a reader of middle grade, this is the perfect place to hang out.

 

Mr. Schu Reads

As official Scholastic ambassador for school libraries, Mr. Schu is another amazing resource for what’s new in KidLit. His positive energy and passion for what he does is always a good thing to have on your Twitter feed.

 

Ms. Yingling Reads

If you want to see what’s newest in middle grade, nobody beats Ms. Yingling in speedy reviews for upcoming titles. This school librarian reads and reviews an extensive amount of books in just about every genre for MG, which makes her a valuable resource.

 

 

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Are you an MG blogger? Do you know someone who has all the best recommendations? Add your voice to our community in the comments!