42: The Best Books of 2025 So Far... Shannon Balloon and Karen Reeder chat about some new favorites

What are the best middle grade books that have released in 2025? Shannon Balloon from Middle Grade Matters and Karen Reeder from Book Huddle talk about their favorites of the year so far. There were so many new wonderful books released January through June this year that we didn't have time to talk about them all. Check out our socials and other podcast episodes to hear more about the rest of these amazing new releases!
BookHuddle https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLIKGkApvUuSFcalbEr6NvQdX9qgiPUxyr&si=i3QgKEG6xKPoq6EQ
Middle Grade Matters https://www.shannonballoon.com/podcast
https://www.instagram.com/middlegradematterspodcast/
https://www.instagram.com/readgab/

Chapters
00:00 Meet the hosts behind Middle Grade Matters and Book Huddle podcasts
4:50 Inkbound Meticulous Jones and the Skull Tattoo by Philippa Leathley
06:50 The Secret of Honeycake by Kimberly Newton Fusco
09:00 Max in the Land of Lies by Adam Gidwitz
11:45 Candle Island by Lauren Wolk
14:55 Right Back at You by Carolyn Mackler
17:48 Away by Megan Freeman
23:22 The Undead Fox of Deadwood Forest by Aubrey Hartman
27:10 Theodora Hendrix series by Jordan Kopy
29:08 Afia in the Land of Wonders by Mia Araujo
31:06 All My Best by Britnee Meiser
35:51 The Gate, The Girl and the Dragon by Grace Lin
38:20 Graciela in the Abyss by Meg Medina