Fact or Fable: cryptids in middle-grade literature, a guest post by Jackie Eagleson

Unique, mysterious, sometimes a little stinky… no, I’m not talking about middle-grade readers. I’m talking about cryptids!
The following is a selection of middle-grade books that investigate cryptids. Cryptids are creatures that some people believe are real, but there is no scientific evidence to prove they exist. Reports of cryptids have occurred for centuries. Some stories have been passed down for generations others come from modern-day cryptid hunters. Cryptid investigators, or cryptozoologists, travel to remote locations to investigate reports and gather evidence in the hopes of finding indisputable proof. Luckily, readers won’t have to trek through forests or dive into deep waters; these books bring the elusive creatures straight to them.
Featured in this list are middle-grade books in a range of reading formats, including traditional novels, graphic novels, hi/lo books, and poetry. The content also offers something for everyone.
Realistic fiction fans will appreciate the themes and subjects addressed. The characters in these stories encounter many of the experiences that middle-grade readers often face, such as friendship troubles, first crushes, and grief. Readers may also relate to the cryptids themselves. Cryptids are often portrayed as being misunderstood and out of place; this may mirror the feelings that middle-graders have as they navigate the challenges of growing up.
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Those who enjoy fantasy will be drawn to the idea that these cryptids could exist in their own backyard. From aliens to lake monsters, readers will encounter creatures that blur the lines between what’s real and imagined. These books also serve as a bridge for readers who are curious about the fantasy genre but are unsure of diving deep into a new world.
Since some cryptids are unique to geographical areas and cultures, the adventurer will discover new people and places. The hunt for cryptids will take readers across the world from places like Scotland, in search of Nessie, to Puerto Rico, the origin place of chupacabras.

Thirteenth Circle by Marcykate Connolly and Kathryn Holmes (2024)
As the only two entrants from their middle school, Cat and Dani are forced to partner up for the McMurray Youth Science Competition. Besides their shared love of science, the two couldn’t be more different. For the competition, they plan to investigate the crop circles that appear in their town every 13 years and are due to appear again. While Cat plans to prove that aliens exist, Dani is on a secret mission to prove the crop circles are a hoax. As the girls’ friendship grows, curious circumstances begin to threaten their science competition win.

Spotting Dottie by Gail Anderson-Dargatz (2024)
This hi/lo novel follows the story of Charlotte and her grandmother, who are on a mission to prove the existence of Dottie, a monster rumored to live in the local lake. Charlotte’s grandmother has spent her life studying Dottie, and Charlotte has joined in. Charlotte hopes to use her new drone to catch footage of Dottie. When she does capture a video, she shares it online, and the footage goes viral. The video gains the attention of both Dottie enthusiasts and school bullies. When the lake becomes overrun by boats hoping to spot Dottie, Charlotte needs to find a way to save the creature.

Saving Chupie by Amparo Ortiz (2023)
Violeta and her family are in Puerto Rico to help her abuela reopen her restaurant after Hurricane Maria. After an incident at a local farm, the town suspects a chupacabra is threatening local livestock. Violeta is skeptical that the mythical creature exists. When she meets Diego and Lorena, two kids her age who are on the hunt for the chupacabra, Violeta joins eager for the chance to make friends. The three split up, and Violeta discovers a baby chupacabra, which she believes is harmless. She rescues the creature who she names Chupie, and must find a way to keep him a secret.

Dear Mothman by Robin Gow (2023)
Noah is lonely after the death of Lewis, his best friend. As a way to deal with his grief, Noah is determined to find evidence of Mothman for his science project. Through letters Noah writes to Mothman, he finds a connection with the creature, relating to being an outsider and feeling misunderstood. In this novel in verse, Noah grapples with grief and honoring the memory of his friend, making new friends, his trans identity, and his anxiety about growing up.

Bigfoot Mountain by Roderick Grady (2021)
Minnie lives with her stepfather, Dan, on the small campground her mother built. Both are grieving the death of Minnie’s mother, and the relationship between the two is sometimes difficult. When Minnie and her friend Billie venture off the path into the woods, they discover signs of a bigfoot. Unknown to Minnie, those footprints belong to Kaayii, a member of a tribe of bigfoots fleeing a forest fire. As Minnie and Kaayii’s stories intertwine, this novel explores grief, friendship, stepparents, and environmental protection. Minnie and Kaayii’s stories continue in the sequel Bigfoot Island.

The Big Break by Mark Tatulli (2020)
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This graphic novel follows the story of best friends and amateur cryptozoologists Andrew and Russ. They’ve been studying the Jersey Devil for years and are now making a film about it in hopes of winning a video competition. When Russ begins dating Tara, the boys grow apart, and Russ loses interest in the project. After multiple sightings of the Jersey Devil occur, the two begin their investigation again, now with a group of their peers, on a camping trip to look for the creature.

Nessie Quest byMelissa Savage (2020)
It’s summer break and Ada Ru hopes this is finally the summer her family will vacation in Disney World. She is very disappointed when she learns that her family is instead spending the entire break in Scotland. When they arrive, she has low expectations for the trip; however, as she begins to make friends, things start to turn around. One of these friends is Hammy Bean, an amateur cryptozoologist on a mission to prove the Loch Ness monster exists. Ada Ru joins Hammy Bean and another new friend, Dax, in the quest to find Nessie. Melissa Savage also wrote about cryptids in Lemons and The Truth About Martians.
The selections here are set in (mostly) realistic worlds, each featuring a single cryptid, and were published in the last five years. It also includes only one book per cryptid (otherwise, this could have been a list about Bigfoot alone!). Have a reader who wants something more fantastical? Try Plain Jane and the Mermaid by Vera Brosgol. Trying to catch more than one? How about Deja Ross Speaks to Freaks by Lisa Naffziger or The Cryptid Catcher duology by Lija Fisher. Can’t get enough Bigfoot? Try the Littlest Bigfoot series by Jennifer Weiner. This only scratches the surface! There is a cryptid (and book) for everyone!
Meet Our Guest Blogger

Jackie Eagleson is an Information Literacy Librarian for the Social Sciences at Appalachian State University. Jackie holds a Master of Library and Information Studies from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. She is a native of North Carolina, home of the Beast of Bladenboro, Normie, and the Boojum.
Filed under: Middle Grade, Middle Grade Fiction, Mind the Middle, Mind the Middle Project

About Karen Jensen, MLS
Karen Jensen has been a Teen Services Librarian for almost 32 years. She created TLT in 2011 and is the co-editor of The Whole Library Handbook: Teen Services with Heather Booth (ALA Editions, 2014).
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