14 August 2023
The middle grade years are often called the golden age of reading, a time when kids connect fiercely with characters and stories. Some of the all-time bestsellers in children's literature (think Harry Potter and Diary of a Wimpy Kid) are middle grade books. But while there have been a number of surprising breakout YA hits in the past several quarters, overall, the middle grade category has fallen behind. According to Circana BookScan, 2022 ended with year-over-year middle grade sales down 16% overall and 19% in hardcover. This year has seen overall middle grade sales down 8% year over year, while hardcover sales in the category are down 7% for a total $18.8 million decline.
