Several popular series for children and teens closed the final chapter of their stories this season. We’ve rounded up series finales that marked the end of an era for readers who have grown up alongside beloved characters.
American Royals IV: Reign by Katharine McGee (Delacorte, Aug. $19.99 ISBN 978-0-593-42974-7). McGee brought royal drama stateside in her YA series American Royals, which debuted in 2019. The original deal with Alloy Entertainment and McGee was for two books but expanded into four and has sold more than half a million copies (print and digital combined). Random House Children’s Books reached out to American royalty (aka celebrities) as a major part of the marketing and publicity strategy, with recent events including appearances from Bachelor contestant Catherine Giudici Lowe and influencer Amy Havins.
Champions of the Fox by Kevin Sands (Viking, Nov. $18.99 ISBN 978-0-593-62095-3). The closer of Sands’s Thieves of Shadow, a middle grade fantasy trilogy, follows Callan and his friends on their last quest to be freed from the Eye. The series has earned several awards, including the Rocky Mountain Book Award and the Forest of Reading Red Maple Award.
Defiant by Brandon Sanderson (Delacorte, Nov. $21.99 ISBN 978-0-593-30971-1). Defiant marks the close of the Skyward series, which started in 2018 with the book of the same name, following Spensa, a young pilot fighting for the survival of humanity. Sanderson’s series closed on a high note, returning to the New York Times bestseller list. The author also held Dragonsteel Con, his annual convention celebrating his fall release, with more than 5,000 guests attending to bid farewell to the Skyward universe.
The Final Goal by Mary Amato (Holiday House, Nov. $17.99 ISBN 978-0-8234-4913-2). In the conclusion to the Star Striker middle grade series, Albert and the intergalactic soccer team Zeenods prepare for their final competition on a planet that forces Albert to face his greatest fears and contains evidence about the ongoing war. Booksellers were able to get a first peek at the series finale at the ABA’s regional trade shows this fall, and Amato has events lined up for the series send-off in New Jersey this month.
Lights by Brenna Thummler (Oni Press, Sept. $16.99 ISBN 978-1-63715-231-7). Thummler made her debut in 2018 with Sheets, kicking off the graphic novel trilogy of the same name. Delicates, the second book in the series, was a 2021 Cybil Award nominee and a 2022 Excellence in Graphic Literature finalist. In Lights, Marjorie and Eliza help Wendell, their ghost friend, uncover the secrets behind his death. See our interview with Thummler on closing her debut series.
The Ruined by Renée Ahdieh (Putnam, Dec. $19.99 ISBN 978-1-984812-64-3). In the fourth and final tale of the Beautiful YA quartet, which started in 2021, Celine and Bastien find themselves separated and preparing for a deadly battle between the Sylvan Vale and the Sylvan Wyld that will determine the fate of the kingdom. The Beautiful series has more than 300,000 copies in print worldwide. Ahdieh embarked on a five-stop tour to celebrate the close of the series.
The Vanderbeekers Ever After by Karina Yan Glaser. (Clarion, Sept. 19 $19.99 ISBN 978-0-358-43458-0). The Vanderbeeker family first started their adventures in The Vanderbeekers of 141st Street, published in 2017. The seven-book series has sold more than half a million copies in the U.S. and has been translated into 13 languages. Amy Poehler’s production company, Paper Kite, has optioned the first book for TV/film. Yan Glaser’s final events included a radio satellite tour featuring interviews with local radio stations across the country, a five-city tour with school and hospital visits, bookstore events, and book festivals. See our interview with Yan Glaser on saying goodbye to her series.
