Middle Grade in 2025: What’s Next?

Graphic Novels, Laugh-Out-Loud Reads, and Why Authors Might Be on LinkedIn

GOOD MORNING!

I hope everyone had a great Christmas and New Years and whatever goals you set for yourself, you are still focused on.

As we kick off the new year, it’s the perfect time to take a quick glance back at the current state of middle grade and see if we can guess what might be coming next. The last few years have definitely been... interesting. Major publishers have been shifting gears, Barnes & Noble has made some big moves, and it’s all led to a lot of head-scratching and uncertainty. But hey, let’s try something fun. I want to quickly summarize an article I recently read that tries to peek into the future of middle grade in 2025. Spoiler: there’s some interesting stuff ahead!

Photo by Beau Carpenter on Unsplash

1. Graphic Novels Are Taking Over
   A few years ago, graphic novels accounted for about a quarter of all middle grade sales, and guess what? That number is still going up. These books are dominating the bestseller lists and keeping kids hooked. And let’s face it—who wouldn’t want to see more of these vibrant, fun stories filling up our shelves? Long live graphic novels! But at the same time I feel a little bummed. To me this screams that big book stores, and publishers aren’t pushing real books, you know, with words and chapters, near enough.

2. Middle Grade Authors Might Be Hanging Out on LinkedIn?
   Okay, this one’s a curveball. With all the chaos on platforms like X, Instagram, and TikTok, LinkedIn has quietly become a peaceful oasis for authors. It’s not just for job seekers anymore—it’s actually starting to feel like a space for meaningful discussions. In fact, a recent survey showed that LinkedIn came in second (after Instagram) as the platform authors plan to focus on in the near future. Weird, right? But hey, maybe 2025 will be the year the middle grade community embraces some professional networking with a side of book talk. However, this survey left out places like BlueSky and Substack, which I think messes with the results.

3. More Laughs, Less Doom and Gloom
   Librarians across the country are noticing something: kids want to laugh. After dealing with all the heaviness in recent years, they’re ready for humor. In a survey, one librarian said, “They just want to laugh.” So, whether it’s contemporary, fantasy, or anything in between, we might be seeing more funny, lighthearted books filling the middle grade shelves. And who could complain about that? We could all use a good laugh.

4. Author Tours Are Out, Bookstore Events Are In
   Okay, the big nationwide author tours may be on their way out. Turns out, sending authors across the country to promote books isn’t as effective as it used to be. But here’s the good news—local indie bookstores are getting creative with events to bring readers and authors together in fun new ways. Small, intimate events are on the rise. Let’s see more of that in 2025!

5. Shorter Books, More Fun Formats
   Remember when middle grade fantasy novels used to be doorstopper-length epics? Well, things are changing. Booksellers and librarians are reporting that kids’ attention spans are shrinking, probably because of our tech-filled, fast-paced world. As a result, we might see more shorter books, with different formats and fun storytelling styles. Bring on the bite-sized adventures!

So, that’s the scoop on middle grade in 2025. What do you think? What trends do you see coming down the pipeline? Let’s talk about it!