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Five Faves: New Dragon Chapter Books for Middle Grade

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As a kid I was OBSESSED (all caps!) with dragons.  Dragons can be scary, majestic, loyal, greedy, but what they all have in common is how fun they are to read about!  Check out the dragon books below for some fun new reads!
Dad Rock Dragon Quest
Written by Joan Reardon
New York : Aladdin, 2025. Fiction. 342 pgs.

Dad Rock Dragon Quest follows 12-year-old aspiring rockstar Zadie Drake, whose summer plans to bond with her super cool, if sometimes absent, daredevil park ranger dad get complicated when her mom’s boring new boyfriend tags along. After they arrive at her dad’s cabin, a poacher kidnaps her dad’s ice-breathing dragon, revealing her dad's secret role protecting magical creatures and thrusting the family into a high-stakes rescue mission. Along the way, Zadie begins to rethink her relationships with both her father and her mom’s boyfriend. 
Written by Struan Murrya
New York, NY : Dutton Children's Books, 2025. Fiction. 320 pgs.

Dragonborn follows 12-year-old Alex Evans, who has lived under strict rules from her overprotective mother since her father’s death.  One day, it's too much, and her bottled-up frustration bursts out as literal fire, revealing she’s a dragon in human form. Drawn to the hidden island of Skralla, Alex begins training with other young dragons to unlock her dormant powers and learn to control her transformation. As she struggles with fear and growth, dark forces led by the ancient dragon Drak Midna begin to rise, threatening both dragons and humans and forcing Alex to confront her destiny. 
Written by Shana Targosz
New York : Aladdin, 2025. Fiction. 416 pgs.

River of Spiritsfollows Senka, a girl who lives between the realm of the Living and the realm of the Dead as the ward to Charon, the Ferryer of souls. When a girl from the Living world named Poppy enters the Underworld searching for her brother’s ghost, Senka decides to help her, defying the strict rules she’s been taught.  The two are swept far from home into the dangerous wilds of the Underworld. As they face malevolent spirits, demigods, and terrifying dragon chimera, Senka begins to uncover hidden secrets about her guardian and her own mysterious origins. Can Senka’s courage and loyalty save both Poppy and herself?
Written by Jane Yolen
Watertown, MA : Charlesbridge Moves, 2025. Fiction. 111pgs.

Sea Dragons is a historical fantasy adventure set in 1890s Fife, Scotland, where 14-year-old Cat Douglas trains with a monster-hunting society to protect her village from dangerous creatures. When rumors spread that a fearsome sea dragon has breached the village’s defenses, Cat and her fellow hunters must confront the threat and prove their worth. 
Written by Sangu Mandanna
New York : Roaring Brook Press, 2025. Fiction. 277 pgs.

Vanya and the Wild Hunt follows 11-year-old Vanya Vallen, a British-Indian girl with ADHD who has always felt out of place and discovers she can talk to books that talk back. When a monster attacks her family, she learns her parents have been hiding magical secrets and is whisked away to Auramere, an enchanted library and school where she begins training with archwitches and archivists. While Vanya starts to find belonging and friendship in this magical world, the ominous Wild Hunt begins to threaten everything she’s come to love. She must use her courage and creativity to uncover the Hunt’s leader and protect her new home.
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