The Best Kids' & YA Books of 2024

As the year comes to a close, we have fun putting together a collection of the best books of the year (according to us). Our collection of 130+ titles span the full range of genres and categories. Over the next few weeks, we'll be taking a closer look at some of these titles with a focus on specific genres. This edition features 2024's best books for kids & young adults (YA).

Kids

Knight Owl and Early Bird by Christopher Denise
Early Bird wants to be just like Knight Owl, but despite her best intentions, she can't quite get it right. In this exciting adventure, a follow-up to the Caldecott-winning picture book, the unlikely pair must learn to work together to keep themselves and the kingdom safe. (Ages 4–7)

Buffalo Fluffalo by Bess Kalb
I'm the Buffalo Fluffalo. I heave and I huffalo. Leave me alone because I've had enuffalo. Introducing a sweet and silly buffalo who tries to bluff and fluff his way into being bigger than he really is, this laugh-out-loud picture book by an Emmy-nominated comedy writer shows it's okay to be yourself. (Ages 4–8)

The Most Boring Book Ever by Brandon Sanderson and Kazu Kibuishi
Spoiler alert: This rip-roaring fantasy created by two bestselling authors is definitely not boring. The boy at the center of the tale is, in one sense, having an ordinary day. But at the same time, an extraordinary adventure unfolds around him involving pirates, dragons, and other unexpected perils. (Ages 4–8)

Go Forth and Tell: The Life of Augusta Baker, Librarian and Master Storyteller by Breanna J. McDaniel and April Harrison
Before Augusta Baker became a storyteller, she was an excellent story listener. From an award-winning author-and-illustrator team comes this picture book biography about a beloved librarian and storyteller—the first Black coordinator of children's services at all branches of the New York Public Library. (Ages 5–8)

Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Hot Mess by Jeff Kinney
The pressure is building for Greg Heffley, who discovers that when you mix heaps of family, a tiny beach house, and sweltering heat, it's a recipe for disaster. Can Greg unpack all of his family's mysteries before their vacation is over? Or will he just stir the pot? It's volume nineteen of this beloved middle-grade series.

Dog Man: The Scarlet Shedder by Dav Pilkey
After being sprayed by a skunk, Dog Man is dunked in tomato juice. Now the stink is gone but the scarlet color remains. Will he rise up to save the citizens who shunned him? Our canine superhero returns in this hilarious middle-grade graphic novel from the author of Captain Underpants.

Percy Jackson and the Olympians: Wrath of the Triple Goddess by Rick Riordan
Now a high school senior, Percy Jackson needs three recommendation letters from the Greek gods to get into New Rome University. He earned one by retrieving Ganymede's chalice. His second challenge: Pet-sitting Hecate's polecat, Gale, and mastiff, Hecuba, over Halloween week. Piece of cake, right? (Middle grade)

The One and Only Family by Katherine Applegate
In the final installment of this poignant middle-grade series, silverback gorilla Ivan lives amongst friends in a wildlife sanctuary, where he and his mate Kinyani have welcomed a set of twins to their family. As Ivan navigates new parenthood, he can't help but recall his childhood in the jungle—and his own twin.

Buffalo Dreamer by Violet Duncan
Summer and her family always spend relaxed summers in Alberta, Canada, on the reservation where her mom's family lives. But this year is turning out to be unusually eye-opening. A National Book Award finalist, this illuminating middle-grade novel draws from the author's own family history.

Unraveled by Shannon Messenger
While his friends faced their own challenges in Stellarlune, Keefe was trying to ensure their safety by journeying to the human world. Where did he go? Who did he see? And what shocking secrets were revealed to him? The newest fantasy in the middle-grade Keeper of the Lost Cities series follows a fan favorite.

Olivetti by Allie Millington
Recently replaced by a computer, Olivetti, the Brindle family's typewriter, feels forgotten, even though he still remembers every word they've typed on him. But when Ernest Brindle's mom, Beatrice, goes missing, the twelve-year-old turns to Olivetti to help find her in this heartfelt middle-grade mystery.

Waverider by Kazu Kibuishi
In the thrilling conclusion to the middle-grade Amulet graphic novel series, Emily has gained a new understanding of the stone's power and what she must do to defend Aledia from the shadows. As she travels to Typhon to help her mom and Navin, Prince Trellis returns to the Kingdom of the Elves to save his countrymen.

The Misfits: A Royal Conundrum by Lisa Yee and Dan Santat
When a notorious thief is out for priceless treasure, who are you gonna call? An elite team of crime-fighting underdogs, that's who! This middle-grade mystery written by a Newberry honoree and illustrated by a Caldecott medalist is the first installment in an exciting new series.

Finally Heard by Kelly Yang
This middle-grade novel, a sequel to Finally Seen, finds ten-year-old Lina learning to navigate social media. After she sees her mom's video go viral, Lina becomes captivated by the potential to be seen and heard by the world. But she discovers that not everything online is what it seems.

Impossible Creatures by Katherine Rundell
The day that Christopher saved a drowning baby griffin from a hidden lake is also the day he met Mal—a girl on the run, in desperate need of his help. Mal and Christopher embark on a wild adventure to save the world's last magical place in this wildly imaginative fantasy for readers aged ten and up.

YA

The Prisoner's Throne by Holly Black
In the stunning conclusion to the Stolen Heir duology, Prince Oak is paying for his betrayal. Imprisoned and bound to the will of a monstrous new queen, he relies on charm and calculation to survive. Now he must decide whether to attempt regaining the trust of the girl he's always loved or to remain loyal to Elfhame.

Reckless by Lauren Roberts
The kingdom of Ilya is in turmoil. After surviving the Purging Trials, Ordinary-born Paedyn has killed the King and kickstarted a Resistance throughout the land. Now she's running from the one person she wants to run to: Kai. It's a struggle between duty and desire in the second installment of the sizzling Powerless trilogy.

Murtagh by Christopher Paolini
The world is no longer safe for Murtagh and his dragon, Thorn. An evil king has been toppled, and they are left to face the consequences of the role they played in his reign of terror. In this gripping addition to The Inheritance Cycle, the Dragon Rider must discover what he stands for in a world that has abandoned him.

Ariel Crashes a Train by Olivia A. Cole
Ariel is afraid of her own mind. She has never felt like she fits the mold of a "good girl." And now, as violent fantasies take over, Ariel isn't sure if her careful rituals will keep those around her safe anymore. This lyrical novel-in-verse conjures a haunting yet hopeful portrait of a teen struggling with OCD.

The Grandest Game by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
Seven tickets. An island of dreams. The chance of a lifetime. The Grandest Game is an annual high-stakes competition run by billionaire Avery Grambs and the four infamous Hawthorne Brothers. This new series brings readers back to the lush, romantic and puzzle-filled world of the bestselling Inheritance Games.

The Reappearance of Rachel Price by Holly Jackson
Sixteen years ago, Rachel Price vanished. Her daughter Bel, now eighteen, has come to terms with the fact that her mother is gone. When the Price family agrees to participate in a true crime documentary, the impossible happens. Rachel Price reappears and upends everything.

If Only I Had Told Her by Laura Nowlin
Finn loves Autumn. But he can't tell her. Finn's best friend, Jack, just wants them to be happy. Autumn wants to write her own destiny, but will she get a new chapter? This companion novel to If He Had Been With Me is a love story brimming with truth, tragedy, and the unexpected bonds that heal us.

Everything We Never Had by Randy Ribay
Longlisted for the National Book Award, this emotionally charged novel traces four generations of Filipino American boys grappling with identity, masculinity, and their fraught father-son relationships. Starting in 1930s California to present-day Philadelphia, each Maghobol boy must forge his own path.

Heir by Sabaa Tahir
Set in the same world as the An Ember in the Ashes series, this ruthless and romantic new fantasy introduces a new generation of characters as they grapple with power, treachery, love, and the devastating consequences of unchecked greed, on a journey that may cost them their lives—and their hearts.

Skyshade by Alex Aster
The pulse-pounding third novel in the Lightlark Saga finds Isla Crown reeling in the wake of a brutal battle and the devastating truths it exposed. With the clock ticking on her destiny and the survival of two warring kingdoms hinging on her own shattered heart, Isla will either save the world—or destroy it.

Nothing Like the Movies by Lynn Painter
For a few beautiful months, Wes had his dream girl: strong-willed girl-next-door Liz. But as they prepared to set off to UCLA together, an unexpected tragedy struck. In the sequel to Better Than the Movies, Wes and Liz struggle to find their way back to one another while adjusting to becoming college students.

Heartless Hunter by Kristen Ciccarelli
In the aftermath of a devastating revolution, Rune spends her days posing as a vapid young socialite. But at night, she's the Crimson Moth, a witch vigilante who rescues her kind from being purged. Then she meets the handsome Gideon, a notorious witch hunter who she can't help but find herself falling for.

A Tempest of Tea by Hafsah Faizal
In this series, young orphan Arthie Casimir is an unlikely criminal mastermind and collector of secrets. Her prestigious tearoom transforms into an illegal bloodhouse by night, catering to vampires. But when her establishment is threatened, Arthie hatches a bold plan to save it, striking a deal with an alluring adversary.

Sweet Nightmare by Tracy Wolff
Most schools are about being the best. But not the Calder Academy. For rogue paranormals like vamps, werewolves, witches, and dark fae, it's a scary place. Especially for Clementine, who's only there because her mom is in charge. When a freak storm leaves the school in chaos, Clementine finds a surprising ally.

Be sure to check out our last post featuring 2024's best in literary fiction & nonfiction. Upcoming editions will focus on mystery & sci-fi/fantasy and romance & horror.

Let your fellow readers know if we missed any of your favorite 2024 reads in the comments below. And be sure to check out our full collection for additional categories like memoir, cookbooks, and book-to-screen.

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Read more by Ashly Moore Sheldon