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Novels & chapter books

Middle grade novel writer

Adventure, fantasy or mystery for ages 8–12.

An adventure, fantasy or mystery novel for ages 8–12 (30k–55k words), with optional chapter-opener vignettes.

5.5 × 8.5 inBlack & white · cream paper208 pagesPaperbackHardcoverKindle eBook
Make a middle-grade novelSee the KDP specs

Default book ≈ 927 credits · estimate shown before launch

Printed middle-grade novel made with kdpbook.io, lying open on a desk
What’s inside

How a middle-grade novel is laid out

15 to 25 chapters of 1,500 to 2,500 words. An optional small B&W vignette opens each chapter. 12 to 13 pt on 5.5x8.5.

The default voice is adventurous: momentum, discovery, brave choices. You can change the audience, tone and length in the Story step.

Pages
208
120–360 possible
Illustrations
–
text or code-generated pages
Words
40,000
25,000–60,000 typical
Credits
≈ 927
for the default book
KDP specs

The numbers KDP will check

These are the specs of the default middle-grade novel, computed from our KDP rulebook: the same code that lays out your pages and sizes your cover. Change the trim, paper or page count and every number updates.

Paperback

Available ✓

5.5 × 8.5 in, black & white · cream paper, 208 pages by default.

Hardcover

Available ✓

5.5 × 8.5 in, black & white · cream paper, 208 pages by default.

Kindle eBook

Available ✓

Reflowable EPUB: text adapts to the reader's screen and font size.

Default middle-grade novel · paperback

Default trim
5.5 × 8.5 in
Ink & paper
Black & white · cream paper
Bleed
No
Interior page size
5.5 × 8.5 in
Pages (default)
208 · template 120–360
KDP page range
24–776 for this ink & trim
Minimum margins
0.5 in gutter · 0.25 in outside
Spine width
0.52 in at 208 pages
Full cover (wrap)
11.77 × 8.75 in
Printing cost (US)
$3.50 per copy
Minimum list price
$6.99
Expanded Distribution
Eligible

At a $8.99 list price, KDP pays about $1.00 per copy sold on Amazon.com. Check any price with the royalty calculator.

Recommended styles

Styles that suit a middle-grade novel

All styles →
Who it’s for

Audiences

Middle grade (8–12)

Fonts, type size, sentence length and vocabulary follow the audience you pick, and children’s books get the reading-age field for your KDP listing.

Publishing tips

Before you publish

  • The story bible (characters, places, timeline) is written before the chapters, and each chapter is written with a running summary for continuity.
  • Cream paper is the norm for fiction and makes the spine slightly thicker than white paper.
Step by step

How to make a middle-grade novel for KDP

  1. 01

    Describe the book

    Write one sentence about your middle-grade novel, or import your own manuscript.

  2. 02

    Choose the style

    Pick an illustration style, or describe your own.

  3. 03

    Confirm the KDP format

    Start from 5.5 × 8.5 in, black & white · cream paper, or change trim, paper and page count.

  4. 04

    Generate and edit

    Watch the pages build, then edit text, images and fonts with a live preview and a KDP preflight check.

  5. 05

    Export for KDP

    Download the interior PDF, the cover PDF, the Kindle EPUB and the listing sheet, then upload them to KDP.

Middle-grade novel questions

What trim size is best for a middle-grade novel on KDP?

kdpbook.io starts middle-grade novels at 5.5 × 8.5 in on black & white interior, cream paper. You can switch to 5 × 8 in, 5.25 × 8 in, 6 × 9 in; the layout and cover are recalculated for the new size.

How many pages should a middle-grade novel have?

Our middle-grade novel template runs 120–360 pages and defaults to 208. For this ink and trim, KDP accepts 24–776 pages. KDP counts every page, including front matter and blank pages, and rounds odd counts up to an even number.

How much does it cost to print a middle-grade novel on KDP?

At the default 208 pages, 5.5 × 8.5 in, black & white · cream paper, KDP's printing cost on Amazon.com is $3.50 per paperback copy, so the lowest list price KDP allows is $6.99. At $8.99 you would earn about $1.00 per copy sold on Amazon.com. Printing costs change with the marketplace, trim and page count.

Can I publish a middle-grade novel as a Kindle eBook?

Yes. Reflowable EPUB: text adapts to the reader's screen and font size. It is exported from the same project as the paperback and hardcover.

How many credits does a middle-grade novel cost on kdpbook.io?

The default middle-grade novel (208 pages, about 40,000 words) is estimated at 927 credits. You see the exact estimate before you launch, only what is produced is charged, and the rest of the hold goes back to your balance.

Is a middle-grade novel a low-content book on KDP?

No. KDP's low-content category only covers notebooks, planners, journals with repeating pages and logbooks. A middle-grade novel is published like any other book and can use the free KDP ISBN.

Do I have to tell Amazon the book was made with AI?

Yes. KDP asks every publisher to declare AI-generated text, images and translations when publishing. kdpbook.io books are AI-generated, and the export sheet lists what to declare for yours.

Related book types

Made with kdpbook

Read novels & chapter books other authors made with kdpbook, free in the 3D book player.

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Make it with kdpbook

Make your middle-grade novel today.

Describe it in one sentence. kdpbook writes, illustrates and lays it out at 5.5 × 8.5 in, then gives you the interior, cover and listing for KDP.

Make a middle-grade novelSee pricing

600 free credits · no card required