Fast-paced plots with cliffhanger endings, shorter page counts, numerous illustrations, and accelerated publishing schedules are hallmarks of Scholastic’s NEXT line of middle grade fiction, designed to entice kids accustomed to consuming visual and digital content. The line rolls out in September with the debut books of two series, The Luckies by Christina Soontornvat and Sarah Mlynowski, illustrated by Madi Wong; and Rival High by Candace Buford, featuring art by Jamie Green.

There were several sources of inspiration for the creation of NEXT—and multiple Scholastic colleagues involved. Editorial director Aimee Friedman credited David Saylor, SVP and creative director of Graphix, and associate publisher Abby McAden for getting the project underway.

“David spearheads our manga publishing program and was interested in ‘light novels,’ another bestselling category in Japan,” Friedman said. “When he showed examples of them to Abby, they were inspired to create a new publishing program geared to middle-grade readers, which would feature short, serialized commercial fiction interspersed with art—and that’s how NEXT was born.”

First Out of the Gate

In the opening novel of The Luckies, a three-book series, five siblings adjusting to their newly blended family and a move to a new town navigate family rivalries, school drama, friendships, and crushes. Serendipitous timing and a decade-long friendship brought Soontornvat and Mlynowski into NEXT’s inaugural lineup. The coauthors, who also collaborated on 2023’s Best Wishes: Time After Time for Scholastic Press, were in the midst of plotting a new joint project—an adult novel—when Friedman contacted Mlynowski to tell her about NEXT.

“I thought the line sounded new and fresh and exciting, and I immediately called Christina to see if we should pause our adult book and put an idea together for NEXT,” Mlynowski recalled. “She said yes and we were off and running. We asked Scholastic if they wanted to see something that was Sweet Valley High meets The Brady Bunch, and when they said yes, we pitched them the world of the Luckies.”

Calling School to Session

In Rival High, NEXT’s second launch series, after two rival schools merge, four freshmen form an uneasy alliance amid the ensuing drama—and might even become friends. Each of the series’ four novels is told from the perspective of one of the quartet.

“It was a real team effort,” senior editor Orlando Dos Reis said of shaping the series, noting that he and McAden “worked together to nail down the basic series concept and a general outline of potential storylines. Of course, we wanted the author to have input as well and really make it their own. From there we plotted out the first book, paying close attention to vocabulary, chapter length, and overall word count.”

After a colleague recommended Buford as a potential author, Dos Reis read her novel Whatever Happens, based on the Netflix series Julie and the Phantoms. “I immediately felt that Candace, who has written across age groups and categories, could capture the nuanced, authentic voice we were looking for,” he said. “And she really knocked it out of the park!”

Pleased to be at the authorial helm of Rival High, whose installments will be released between September and fall 2027, Buford told PW she recognizes the importance of books that help kids build reading stamina—and interest. When she was a children’s bookseller at Third Place Books in Seattle, she said, “I always met parents and kids who were interested in bridging the gap between chapter books and upper middle grade,” adding, “I was the same way when I was growing up. Thick tomes were intimidating to me. Illustrations and shorter page counts increase accessibility. It’s so satisfying to read a short book with pictures and fly through a chapter. That kind of confidence in reading carries you through the book. It also carries you into a love of reading that pushes you to pick up another book.”

Next Up…

McAden shared some insight into what lies ahead for the new line. “Right now, we are hoping to launch a new series every season—we have new projects planned for the next few seasons,” she said. “We’re planning to publish new installments in every series about every four to six months. Given the rapid-fire cadence of these, we’re going to have a lot of books quickly!”

The goal, McAden added, is to provide readers with “bingeable” reading options. “When they find something they like, the next book will be lined up and ready for them. New storylines are introduced at the end of each book and readers will know what they have to look forward to.”

Though details are still under wraps, she offered hints of what’s in store, adding, “We’re importing a huge hit in Japan, as well as a new series about a popular overachiever who has her digital diary leaked.”

Finally, McAden added, “We’re also talking about expanding outside the contemporary category, because the illustrated format is really well-suited to the fantasy and mystery genres.” And readers beware: “I think we are headed into the unstoppable horror genre next!”