We’re continuing our&nbsp;Best&nbsp;Books&nbsp;of 2025 coverage with a special episode dedicated to middle grade. First,&nbsp;Adam Gidwitz&nbsp;joins us to discuss&nbsp;Max in the Land of Lies: A Tale of World War II&nbsp;(Dutton, February 25). Then young readers’ editors Laura Simeon and Mahnaz Dar discuss more of the year’s best books. Thanks to our sponsors:<ul><li> <a href="https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/lance-lee/the-tale-of-the-wicked-old-woman-and-the-very-nice/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">The Tale of the Wicked Old Woman and the Very Nice 'Beast' of Crouch End</a> by Lance Lee, illus. by Nathalie T. Retivoff</li><li><a href="https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/pk-edgewater-pen-name-for-paul-caldron/passages-Edgewater/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Passages</a> by P.K. Edgewater</li><li><a href="https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/l-galuppo/eco-reign-galuppo/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Eco Reign</a> by L. Galuppo</li><li><a href="https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/tom-diggs/rom-com-for-dummies/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Rom-Com for Dummies</a> by Tom Diggs</li></ul>See Privacy Policy at <a href="https://art19.com/privacy" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://art19.com/privacy</a> and California Privacy Notice at <a href="https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info</a>.

<description>
 &lt;p&gt;We’re continuing our&amp;nbsp;Best&amp;nbsp;Books&amp;nbsp;of 2025 coverage with a special episode dedicated to middle grade. First,&amp;nbsp;Adam Gidwitz&amp;nbsp;joins us to discuss&amp;nbsp;&lt;em&gt;Max in the Land of Lies: A Tale of World War II&amp;nbsp;&lt;/em&gt;(Dutton, February 25). Then young readers’ editors Laura Simeon and Mahnaz Dar discuss more of the year’s best books.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Thanks to our sponsors:&lt;/p&gt;&lt;ul&gt;&lt;li&gt; &lt;a href="https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/lance-lee/the-tale-of-the-wicked-old-woman-and-the-very-nice/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"&gt;&lt;em&gt;The Tale of the Wicked Old Woman and the Very Nice 'Beast' of Crouch End&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/a&gt; by Lance Lee, illus. by Nathalie T. Retivoff&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/pk-edgewater-pen-name-for-paul-caldron/passages-Edgewater/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"&gt;&lt;em&gt;Passages&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/a&gt; by P.K. Edgewater&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/l-galuppo/eco-reign-galuppo/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"&gt;&lt;em&gt;Eco Reign&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/a&gt; by L. Galuppo&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/tom-diggs/rom-com-for-dummies/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"&gt;&lt;em&gt;Rom-Com for Dummies&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/a&gt; by Tom Diggs&lt;/li&gt;&lt;/ul&gt;&lt;p&gt;See Privacy Policy at &lt;a href="https://art19.com/privacy" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"&gt;https://art19.com/privacy&lt;/a&gt; and California Privacy Notice at &lt;a href="https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"&gt;https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;
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n a special episode celebrating the Best Middle Grade Books of 2025, Megan talks with Adam Gidwitz (Max in the Land of Lies) and young readers’ editors Laura Simeon and Mahnaz Dar.

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Best Middle Grade Books of 2025 with Adam Gidwitz

Best Middle Grade Books of 2025 with Adam Gidwitz

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