2025 GMGR A to Z Challenge

[C.J.]

The goal of this challenge is to read 26 middle-grade books during 2025, one for each letter of the alphabet. Some letters are trickier than others! If you need inspiration, scroll through this thread (participants will be updating their lists throughout the year), scan past years' lists, or scroll through some of the middle-grade alphabet lists on this site.

Steps:

1. Create a comment on this thread.
2. Copy, paste, and edit the alphabet set in the first post below.
3. Update your comment throughout the year, adding the books you finish during 2025.

Guidelines:

1. Titles need to match a letter of the alphabet. Use the "add book/author" button to create links to the books here on Goodreads.
2. Drop "A," "An," and "The" from titles. For example, The Body Under the Piano (by Marthe Jocelyn) would be listed for B, and A Girl, a Raccoon, and the Midnight Moon (by Karen Romano Young) would be listed for G.
3. Exception! Q, X, and Z are especially challenging letters to work with. You may choose a book that has a word in the title that starts with Q or Z. For example, The Pale Queen (by Ethan Aldridge) can count for Q, and Mighty Jack and Zita (by Ben Hatke) will work for Z. And we'll accept a word beginning with EX for your X book, like The Extremely Inconvenient Adventures of Bronte Mettlestone (by Jaclyn Moriarty) or The Expeditioners and the Treasure of Drowned Man's Canyon (by S.S. Taylor).
4. If your title begins with a number, convert it to a letter by spelling it out. For example, The 11:11 Wish (by Kim Tomsic) would be listed for E, and 2095 (by Jon Scieszka) would be listed for T.
5. It's okay to add multiple titles under each letter, but there's no extra credit.
6. Only list middle-grade titles. No picture books, YA, or adult books about kids.
7. You can add a rating and review link. For example ***** My review is here.
8. For an added challenge, see if you can read your books in alphabetical order.
9. Have fun!

[C.J.]

Copy, paste, and edit this for your own list. You will then be able to search the thread for your name to find your list quickly.

[Your name here] 2025 A to Z List:
A:
B:
C:
D:
E:
F:
G:
H:
I:
J:
K:
L:
M:
N:
O:
P:
Q:
R:
S:
T:
U:
V:
W:
X:
Y:
Z:

[C.J.]

Middlegrade is where I do most of my reading, with definite fantasy/mystery/adventure leanings. Once again this year, my goal is to get through the alphabet twice!

CJ's 2025 A to Z List:
A: The Amelia Six Kristin L. Gray
— Ash's Cabin Jen Wang
B: The Bletchley Riddle Ruta Sepetys
— The Bellwoods Game Celia Krampien
C: Charlie Thorne and the Last Equation Stuart Gibbs
— The Case of the Girl in Grey Jordan Stratford
— The Clockwork Crow Catherine Fisher
D: The Deadly Daylight Ash Harrier
— Drawing Deena Hena Khan
— Dogtown Katherine Applegate & Gennifer Choldenko
E: Elf Dog and Owl Head M.T. Anderson
F: The First State of Being Erin Entrada Kelly
G: The Girl from Earth's End Tara Dairman
— The Green Kingdom Cornelia Funke
H: Hate That Cat Sharon Creech
I: In the Key of Us Mariama J. Lockington
J: Jed Greenleaf Kieran Larwood
K: King of the Wind Maguerite Henry
L: The Lost Library Rebecca Stead & Wendy Maas
M: My Not-So-Great French Escape Cliff Burke
N: Nothing Interesting Ever Happens to Ethan Fairmont Nick Brooks
— Nevermoor: The Trials of Morrigan Crow Jessica Townsend
O: Obie Is Man Enough Schuyler Bailar
P: Peril at Price Manor Laura Parnum
Q: Quagmire Tiarello Couldn't Be Better Mylisa Larsen
R: Ronan Boyle and the Bridge of Riddles Thomas Lennon
S: Saving Winslow Sharon Creech
— Swing Audrey Meeker
— The Silver Gate Kristin Bailey
T: Trex Christyne Morrell
U: The Undead Fox of Deadwood Forest Aubrey Hartman
V: The Vindico Wesley King
W: What Came from the Stars Gary D. Schmidt
— Waylon! One Awesome Thing Sara Pennypacker
— Weird Kid Greg Van Eekhout
X: The Extraordinary Education of Nicholas Benedict Trenton Lee Stewart
Y: You Are Here: Connecting Flights Ellen Oh
Z: Zahrah the Windseeker Nnedi Okorafor

Completed the A to Z Challenge (in alphabetical order): July 25, 2025
Second Time through the alphabet (any order): ongoing!

In Chronological Order:

[C.J.]

...since I usually run out of room (there's a character limit), I'm reserving an adjacent comment!

[Harley]

Harley's 2025 A to Z List:
A:
B: The Bellwoods Game***** by Celia Krampien
C:
D: Dangerous Allies***** by Lisa McMann
The Doll in the Garden: A Ghost Story***** by Mary Downing Hahn
E: Edenville Owls***** by Robert B. Parker
F: The False Prince***** by Jennifer A. Nielsen
G: Gilda Joyce: Psychic Investigator** by Jennifer Allison
Greetings from Witness Protection!***** by Jake Burt
H: Hollow Dolls***** by MarcyKate Connolly
The House at the Edge of Magic***** by Amy Sparkes
I: I, Coriander***** by Sally Gardner
Iceberg***** by Jennifer A. Nielsen
J:
K: Kat Wolfe on Thin Ice***** by Lauren St. John
Kat Wolfe Takes the Case**** by Lauren St. John
L: The Last Cuentista***** by Donna Barba Higuera.
The Last Great Heir*** by Carina Finn
M: Molly McGinty Has a Really Good Day***** by Gary Paulson
The Mystery of Locked Rooms***** by Lindsay Currie
N: Nim at Sea***** by Wendy Orr
Nim's Island***** by Wendy Orr
O: Olivetti***** by Allie Millington
P: The Peculiar Incident on Shady Street***** by Lindsay Currie
Q:
R: Rose***** by Holly Webb
Rose and the Lost Princess**** by Holly Webb
Rose and the Magician's Mask***** by Holly Webb
Rose and the Silver Ghost***** by Holly Webb
The Runaway King***** by Jennifer A. Nielsen
S: Stepping on the Cracks**** by Mary Downing Hahn
The Secret of Roan Inish***** by Rosalie K. Fry
T: Tuck Everlasting***** by Natalie Babbitt
U:
V:
W: The Whale Rider***** by Witi Ihimaera
X:
Y:
Z:

reply | flag

[Katie]

Hoping to have some great reads this year!

Katie's 2025 A to Z List:
A: Amari and the Despicable Wonders B.B. Alston (this was so good! really liked the pacing of the story.)
B: Blue Moon James Ponti (liking the origin story)
C: Champions of the Fox Kevin Sands (This is now one of my favorite series.)
D: Dead City James Ponti (fun read)
Dark Days James Ponti (unique spin on zombie lore)
E: Emil and the Detectives Erich Kastner (This was a fun caper classic)
Escape from Aleppo N.H. Senzai
The Egypt Game Zilpha Keatley Snyder (had a strong 70's feel to it that I loved)
The Elephant's Girl Celesta Remington (enjoyed this ghostly mystery)
F: The False Prince Jennifer A Nielsen (Really enjoyed this one)
G:The Great Gilly Hopkins Katherine Paterson (I loved the character Gilly and her inner thoughts as she conversed with others)
The Girl Who Saved Christmas Matt Haig (cute and whimsy)
Greetings from Witness Protection! Jake Burt (Fun story)
H: Here's to You, Rachel Robinson Judy Blume ( a sequel to a childhood favorite)
I:
J:Jacob Have I Loved Katherine Paterson (mixed feelings about this one)
K:
L:London Calling James Ponti (One of my favorite MG series right now)
Leeva at Last Sara Pennypacker (cute with a Roald Dahl vibe)
Lodestar (one more down in the series)
M: Morning Sun in Wuhan Ying Chang Compestine (stream of consciousness that tells the story of community and cooking during pandemic; enjoyed it.)
Moongarden (a great reimagining of Secret Garden) Michelle A. Barry
The Magician's Elephant: Kate DiCamillo (sweet and whimsy with a touch of sombre)
My Side of the Mountain Jean Craighead George (loved the nature setting)
N:Neverseen Shannon Messenger (one more down in the series. I enjoy these, but they are BIG books.)
Nevermoor: The Trials of Morrigan Crow Jessica Townsend (A new series to start this year)
O: An Old-Fashioned Girl Louisa May Alcott (always enjoy a classic with some humor and a sweet story)
The Outcasts of 19 Schuyler Place (set in the 80's, had a throwback feel)
P:A Place to Hang the Moon Kate Albus (sweet story)
Playing Atari with Saddam Hussein (living through that time from an Iraqi's perspective was insightful)
Q:
R: The Runaway King Jennifer A. Neilsen (really enjoying this swashbuckling adventure.)
Rewind Lisa Graff (heartwarming and hearfelt.)
The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise Dan Gemeinhart
S: Seekers of the Fox Kevin Sands (I love the audio for this series. The narrator is fantastic.)
The Sign of the Chrysanthemum Katherine Paterson 12 century Japanese culture with a little Oliver Twist vibe)
The Shadow Throne Jennifer A. Neilsen (this one slowed a little in the middle but still good)
Scary Stories for Young Foxes Christian Heidicker McKay (much darker than I expected, but really liked it)
T: A Taste of Blackberries Doris Buchanan Smith (a Somber novella about friendship and losing a loved one)
U:
V:
W:What Katy Did Susan Coolidge (cute classic)
X:
Y:
Z: Zeely Virginia Hamilton (I always enjoy her writing)

[Ann]

My first full year participating.

Ann's 2025 A to Z List:

A: Athlete vs. Mathlete 5/5
B:
C: Call Me Adnan 1/7
D: The Demon Sword Asperides 1/30
E: Eb & Flow 2/18
F: Farther Than the Moon 2/11
-- The Firefly Summer 5/5
G: Greetings from Witness Protection! 8/16
H: Hands 6/13
-- Happy Town 7/9
I: It Found Us 3/3
-- It’s Boba Time for Pearl Li! 3/9
J: The Jigsaw Jungle
K:
L: The Labors of Hercules Beal 3/23
-- The Lost Year 4/20
M: Mid-Air 8/26
N:
O:
P:
Q:
R: The Ruby Code 4/2
S: Summer of the Mariposas 6/14
T: Table Titans Club 6/23
U:
V:
W: Will on the Inside 1/7
X:
Y: A Year in the Life of a Complete and Total Genius 6/15
Z:

COVERS...
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[Kara]

Kara's 2025 A to Z List:

A:
B:
C:
D:
E: Enigma Girls: How Ten Teenagers Broke Ciphers, Kept Secrets, and Helped Win World War II
F:
G: The Gilded Girl
H: A High Wind in Jamaica
I:
J:
K:
L: The Light in the Lake
M:
N:
O:
P: Posted
Q:
R:
S:
T:
U:
V:
W:
X:
Y:
Z:

[Ms PA]

MS PA's] 2025 A to Z List:

A:
B:
C:
D:
E:
F:
G:
H:
I:
J:
K:
L: Louisiana's Way Home
M:
N:
O:
P:
Q:
R:
S:
T:
U:
V:
W: The Wild Robot
X:
Y:
Z:

reply | flag

[Gia]

Gia's 2025 A to Z List:

A: The Anybodies by N.E. Bode
- All Four Stars by Tara Dairman
B: Bubbles by Abby Cooper
C:
D:
E: Encyclopedia Brown Cracks the Case by Donald J. Sobol
F: Ferris by Kate DiCamillo
G: The Girl with the Glass Bird by Esme Kerr
H: The Hotel Balzaar by Kate DiCamillo
I:
J: Just Like Jackie by Lindsey Stoddard
K: Keeping Pace by Laurie Morrison
L: Liar & Spy by Rebecca Stead
M: Mystery of Mordach Castle by William MacKellar
N:
O: On Snowden Mountain by Jeri Watts
P:
Q: Quest for the Neptius by A.H. Benjamin
R: Raymie Nightingale by Kate DiCamillo
S: The Space We're In by Katya Balen
T: The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo
U: Unplugged by Gordon Korman
V:
W: The Woods by R.L. Toalson
X: The Exact Location of Home by Kate Messner
Y: The Year of Billy Miller by Kevin Henkes
Z:

[Brianna]

Brianna's 2025 A to Z List

*Social Studies and ELA teacher here, trying to read through her library and purge/cull/restock for next school year!

A: Among the Hidden by Margaret Peterson Haddix
B:
C: The Curse of Eelgrass Bog by Mary Averling
D: Dungeoneer Adventures 1: Lost in the Mushroom Maze by Ben Costa & James Parks
E: An Elephant in the Garden by Michael Morpurgo
F: The Firelight Apprentice by Bree Paulsen
Fossil Hunter: How Mary Anning Changed the Science of Prehistoric Life
G: Ghost Squad by Claribel A. Ortega
Ghost Boys by Jewell Parker Rhodes
Glitch by Laura Martin
H:
I:
J:
K:
L:
M:
N: Number the Stars by Lois Lowry
O: Old Yeller by Fred Gipson
P:
Q:
R:
S:
T:
U:
V:
W:
X:
Y:
Z:

In chronological order:

[Becky]

Becky’s 2025 A to Z List:

A: Awkward
B: Ben Archer and the Cosmic Fall
C: City Spies
City of the Dead
D: A Dictionary of Scoundrels
E: An Elephant in the Garden
F: Forbidden City
G: Glitch
Golden Gate
H: Houdini and Me
I: Inside Out & Back Again
J:
K: King of the Wind: The Story of the Godolphin Arabian
L: London Calling
The Last Dragon on Mars
M: Mission Manhattan
N:
O: Out of My Mind
P: Podkin One-Ear
Q:
R: Rooftoppers: Winner of the Waterstones Children's Book Prize
S:
T:
U: The Underdogs of Upson Downs
V: The Vanderbeekers and the Hidden Garden
W: The Wild Robot
X:
Y:
Z:

In Chronological Order:

[Katie]

C.J. wrote: "Middlegrade is where I do most of my reading, with definite fantasy/mystery/adventure leanings. Once again this year, my goal is to get through the alphabet twice!

CJ's 2025 A to Z List:
A: [book..."
I enjoyed Elf Dog and Owl Head last year. Quirky and whimsical with some mystery thrown in for fun.

[Brandee]

Brandee's 2025 A to Z List:
A:
B: A Bird Will Soar by Alison Green Myers
Big Tree by Brian Selznick
C: The Crossover by Kwame Alexander
The Care and Feeding of a Pet Black Hole by Michelle Cuevas
D:
E:
F:
G:
H:
I:
J:
K:
L: The Line Tender by Kate Allen
Lasagna Means I Love You by Kate O'Shaughnessy
M: Masterpiece by Elise Broach
N:
O:
P: The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster
Q:
R: Rebellion 1776 by Laurie Halse Anderson
A Rover's Story by Jasmine Warga
S:
T: A Tale Dark & Grimm by Adam Gidwitz
U:
V:
W:
X:
Y:
Z:

[C.J.]

Commenting to give the thread a bump! : )