Tag Archives: middle grade fiction

Food, Friendship, and Immigration – Measuring Up and A Place at the Table

Here are two and a half reviews of books for middle grade readers that combine cooking (or eating together) with making friends and the immigrant experience. What could be yummier? Measuring Up by Lily LaMotte and Ann Xu. Harper Alley, … Continue reading

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Shifting Friendships: a Middle School Book List

When my teen librarian, Ms. D, and I started talking about a realistic fiction list for middle school, the way that formerly close friendships often start shifting in middle school came up as a particularly relevant topic. I’d been working … Continue reading

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Book Club Picks for 4/5s on Hoopla

Here’s a small selection of books available on Hoopla that I think fourth and fifth graders would enjoy reading and discussing. Continue reading

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The Copycat by Wendy McLeod MacKnight

Here’s a school- and family-focused contemporary fantasy for fans of fantasy and realistic fiction. Continue reading

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12 Middle Grade Books for Fans of Role-Playing Games

Every so often I come across books that feel like they would make a great start to a role-playing game. I love the collaborative story-telling they encourage. And while the fantasy dungeons of Dungeons & Dragons are where it started, any setting with an ensemble cast and the possibility for adventure will do. Continue reading

Posted in Books, Fantasy, Lists, Middle Grade, Mystery, Realistic | Tagged , , , , , | 6 Comments

Malamander and Gargantis

Continuing on with important topics, Rosemary at Mom Read it put together a great list of anti-racism resources from multiple places, while author Shanna Miles put together list of Black Kids Living books, saying on Twitter “Buy a book about … Continue reading

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Everything I Know about You and Halfway Normal by Barbara Dee

Here are some more books I read for my KidLitCon panel on taboo topics in middle grade this year.  I’d previously read and very much enjoyed her Star Crossed, but she has written a lot of books, all with very … Continue reading

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Where the Heart Is and Still a Work in Progress by Jo Knowles

Kidlitcon happened!  Providence was beautiful!  I plan to pull together my notes from that soon, but for now, a couple of books by the wonderful Jo Knowles, who was on my panel called “You Can’t Say That in Middle Grade”, … Continue reading

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Macy McMillan and the Rainbow Goddess by Shari Green

Last time, I reviewed this year’s Schneider Family Teen award winner, You’re Welcome, Universe.  Here’s the middle grade winner. Macy McMillan and the Rainbow Goddess by Shari Green. Pajama Press, 2017 Macy is in sixth grade and struggling.  She’s horrified … Continue reading

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A Face like Glass by Frances Hardinge

This was a book that I had been waiting for five years to be published in the US, and had hoped in vain that some family member would buy for me from the UK.  I had already read and enjoyed … Continue reading

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