Category Archives: Middle Grades

May 29, 2023 · 2:21 pm

Knights of the Square Table by Teri Kanefield

Knights of the Square Table by Teri Kanefield

The first half of Knights of the Square Table was really good. While it wasn’t realistic at all that young teens would take over to help a plane full of crash victims survive in the middle of nowhere, I was willing to suspend disbelief due to the grade level the book is aimed at and just enjoy the story. But then the second half just went weird. It was so unbelievable as to make my disbelief unable to be suspended. At that point the story became mostly not enjoyable. The end, when the pilot from the stranded flight comes and has lunch with the kids, was incredibly ridiculous. Because of the second half I don’t recommend this book.

3 (out of 5) Stars
Books Read in 2023: 62
Pages Read in 2023: 19.611

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May 22, 2023 · 9:49 am

Nothing But the Truth by Avi

Nothing But the Truth by Avi

Nothing But the Truth is set up as if it is a book documentary telling a true story entirely through transcripts of conversations and excerpts of diary entries, news articles, memos, and speeches. It very effectively demonstrates that there are multiple sides to every story and shows how errors show up as that story is passed around, even something as simple as a news reporter’s mistake that a student is in tenth grade instead of ninth. It’s a quick read at less than 200 pages. It’s a bit dated simply because it was written over three decades ago, though the lessons are still completely applicable today. I recommend this book to middle schoolers and up.

5 (out of 5) Stars
Books Read in 2023: 60
Pages Read in 2023: 18,989

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May 11, 2023 · 7:47 am

The Unforgettable Logan Foster by Shawn Peters

The Unforgettable Logan Foster by Shawn Peters

The Unforgettable Logan Foster is a very cute middle grade book about an autistic foster kid with an eidetic memory whose foster parents turn out to be actual superheroes. It’s great read for about second grade and up to read to themselves and would make a fantastic family read aloud. I recommend this to people of all ages, especially if they are into superheroes.

5 (out of 5) Stars
Books Read in 2023: 53
Pages Read in 2023: 17,255

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March 22, 2023 · 1:53 pm

Twelfth by Janet Key

Twelfth by Janet Key

Twelfth is perfect for any theater nerd. There’s a mystery wrapped up in lines from a Shakespeare play set on the backdrop of a middle school theater summer camp. It’s a fun book with lots of representation. Sometimes it had my heart pumping fast with worry for the characters as they solved the clues and got into increasingly dangerous situations. I recommend this book to anyone who is a fan of working in the theater.

5 (out of 5) Stars
Books Read in 2023: 38
Pages Read in 2023: 12,516

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February 11, 2023 · 4:03 pm

A Rover’s Story by Jasmine Warga

A Rover’s Story by Jasmine Warga

Telling the story from the viewpoint of an anthropomorphized Mars rover, A Rover’s Story combines facts about the rovers and their missions with things that haven’t happened (like finding a really neat rock formation) or we can’t do yet (like bringing the rovers back to Earth). The story is really cute and includes several letters to the rover written by the daughter of one of the rover’s coders in order to give information the rover itself wouldn’t know. I recommend this book to any kid interested in space exploration. It would make an excellent family read aloud.

5 (out of 5) Stars
Books Read in 2023: 20
Pages Read in 2023: 6569

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January 11, 2023 · 9:26 am

Pandora Gets Jealous by Carolyn Hennesy

Pandora Gets Jealous by Carolyn Hennesy

Based on the Pandora’s Box myth, young Pandora accidentally opens the box with all the ills of the world and she (along with her two friends and her dog) must go and collect them and put them back in the box. Pandora Gets Jealous is the first in the series. It’s a very cute book, and often quite funny. The main characters are well rounded and have distinct voices and personalities. I found it to be quite enjoyable, and a quick read. It’s one that can be used as a family read aloud or given to kids to read on their own with no concerns. I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys Greek mythology.

5 (out of 5) Stars
Books Read in 2023: 3
Pages Read in 2023: 1063

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September 21, 2022 · 12:41 pm

Ban This Book by Alan Gratz

Ban This Book by Alan Gratz

Ban This Book is an excellent way to help middle grade kids understand why so many right now are trying to get books some deem inappropriate removed from schools and why that’s a bad thing. The point that it’s okay for parents to say you, their child, cannot read a book, but it’s not okay for someone to say no one’s child can read it is very clearly made. It also teaches kids to speak up to people who can change something if it doesn’t seem right. The kids in the book are all likable and even the “villain” (the woman leading the charge of banning books from the school library) is portrayed as a very good, nice person. I very highly recommend this book to kids who may be confused by why their favorite books are being questioned or removed and also to parents. It’s a great book for spawning a discussion with your late elementary/early middle school age children about book banning.

5 (out of 5) Stars
Books Read in 2022: 84
Pages Read in 2022: 29,840
Graphic Novels: 2

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July 17, 2022 · 6:52 pm

Lottie’s Courage: A Contraband Slave’s Story by Phyllis Hall Haislip

Lottie’s Courage: A Contraband Slave’s Story by Phyllis Hall Haislip

During the Civil War, if slaves made it to Fortress Monroe, they were declared contraband of war and so were considered free and protected by the Union soldiers. Lottie’s Courage is a gentle story showing what life was like in Grand Contraband Camp through the eyes of a young girl. It’s a quick read, and is historical fiction done right. I very highly recommend it to children and adults who enjoy historical fiction.

5 (out of 5) Stars
Books Read in 2022: 71
Pages Read in 2022: 25,719
Graphic Novels: 1

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April 4, 2022 · 1:16 pm

A Wish in the Dark by Christina Soontornvat

A Wish in the Dark by Christina Soontornvat

A Wish in the Dark is a creative twist on Les Miserables. Pong is Jean Valjean and Nok is Javert. I found the story very engaging. I was pulled right in and really cared about the characters and what happened to them. It’s written on a middle grade level with young characters, but it’s very long so definitely for kids on the upper end of that age range. I highly recommend it to tweens and up.

5 (out of 5) Stars
Books Read in 2022: 36
Pages Read in 2022: 12,893
Graphic Novels: 1

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March 28, 2022 · 7:48 am

In a Dark Land by Christina Soontornvat

In a Dark Land by Christina Soontornvat

In a Dark Land is the second Changelings book, picking up several months after the first one ends. It’s a fun, action-packed adventure. You get to see more very imaginative places and creatures of Fairy and get to know some of the other Changelings as well. Izzy’s very interesting origin story is also revealed. I very much enjoyed this book. I highly recommend it to people of all ages. It would make an excellent family read aloud!

5 (out of 5) Stars
Books Read in 2022: 34
Pages Read in 2022: 12,166
Graphic Novels: 1

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