For this week’s Butler Bookshelf, we’re taking a look at middle grade fantasy. Full of magic, mythology, and mythical creatures, this selection has something for any reader who wants to venture beyond the fabric of reality. Our feature pick is The Aftermyth by Tracy Wolff. Penelope Weaver arrives at Anaximander’s Academy certain of her path — she and her twin brother, Paris, will be placed in Athena Hall, just like their parents and their parents’ parents before them. But on her first day, everything seems to go wrong, and Penelope isn’t claimed by Athena. Instead, she ends up separated from Paris and stuck in Aphrodite Hall, where parties are prioritized over studying, and everyone seems to think there’s no point in even trying to win the yearly hall contest. But as more and more strange things start to happen, Penelope learns that she has a lot to uncover about herself — and the history and mythology that Anaximander’s legacy is built on.

Check out more middle grade fantasy below!

The Aftermyth
Tracy Wolff
Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing/Aladdin
Available now!

The Curse Breaker
Jen Calonita
HarperCollins Publishers/Clarion Books
Available now!

Lola Gillette and the Summer of Second Chances
Kimberly Behre Kenna
Between the Lines/Willow River Press
Available now!

Hilo Presents: The Mighty: (A Graphic Novel)
Judd Winick
Random House Children’s Books/RH Graphic
Available now!

Rialto
Kate Milford
HarperCollins Publishers/Clarion Books
Available April 14, 2026