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=i3QgKEG6xKPoq6EQMiddle Grade Matters https://www.shannonballoon.com/podcasthttps://www.instagram.com/middlegradematterspodcast/https://www.instagram.com/readgab/Chapters00:00 Meet the hosts behind Middle Grade Matters and Book Huddle podcasts4:50 Inkbound Meticulous Jones and the Skull Tattoo by Philippa Leathley06:50 The Secret of Honeycake by Kimberly Newton Fusco09:00 Max in the Land of Lies by Adam Gidwitz11:45 Candle Island by Lauren Wolk14:55 Right Back at You by Carolyn Mackler17:48 Away by Megan Freeman23:22 The Undead Fox of Deadwood Forest by Aubrey Hartman27:10 Theodora Hendrix series by Jordan Kopy29:08 Afia in the Land of Wonders by Mia Araujo31:06 All My Best by Britnee Meiser35:51 The Gate, The Girl and the Dragon by Grace Lin38:20 Graciela in the Abyss by Meg Medina