Hi Friends,
I have decided that each Monday for the foreseeable future I will add to this blog post and post an instagram post of a new Middle Grade novel I have read and reviewed recently. Instagram is all about the regular posting and theme day stuff so why not plan my Mondays for the next few weeks. It might also help when I'm back at school losing my mind! So check back each wee and see what I've been reading.
Week 1: August 1, 2022
It's ... August...? This can't be right! Summer JUST started... I had better make August last by getting lots of relaxing and reading in!
Today's Middle Grade Monday choice is Morning Sun in Wuhan By: Ying Compestine
This exquisite Middle Grade story follows a young girl named Mei as she grapples with a quickly changing Wuhan at the beginning of the pandemic. Mei lives alone with her father now that her mother is no longer with them, but he is a busy doctor at a local hospital, so she doesn't think much of it when he is suddenly working even longer hours and home even less frequently. But once he starts to tell her about wearing masks to school, buying excessive amounts of groceries and telling her not to leave the house, she starts to wonder if this virus people are talking about really is a big deal after all.
Through a love of community and a commitment to help others, Mei joins a number of volunteer efforts, connects with community members (in mask and from a distance) and manages to handle the pressures of a pandemic almost completely independently. Told in a narrative that is interspersed with discord chats, plans made over WeChat and a fun game called Chop Chop, readers will get the connection to the internet and social media that is so important to the middle grade age group, while also enjoying a fairly straight forward chapter-based storyline. Another thing that makes this book unique and wonderful is that there are recipes throughout that are relatively easy for middle grade students to make, have cultural ties to the setting of the book, and help remind readers that even in a pandemic, food can bring us together. It's a nice touch that I think really enhances the book's worth.
As a grade 3 teacher not only would I definitely buy a copy of this book for my classroom library, but I also think that it would be a great addition to my list of read alouds. I think that the own voices and diverse perspectives that this story has to offer young readers who grew up in a pandemic but not at the epicenter, is a really valuable opportunity for teaching and learning. I would highly recommend this book to parents and teachers of children in the age 7-12 range. This book is being publisher in early November, but you can preorder a hard cover copy today! Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me the opportunity to read and review this excellent book!
Week 2: August 8, 2022
J R Silver Writes Her World
Melissa Dassori
This middle grade fantasy tells the story of a girl named J.R. who is adjusting to a new grade, and worried about losing her best friend. Over the course of the story she learns that writing is a great way to express herself and reflect on her world and the challenges she faces. When her teacher gives her a new writing assignment and she starts to notice that the things she writes end up coming true she must learn how to use this special magical power without getting out of hand. Even though her teacher is very inspiring and supportive, she is only with the class until Christmas break and it shows the impact that teachers have on students but also emphasizes the short time we have in which to connect with our students. There is also a bit of conflict and worries around a community bookstore potentially closing that is very hard on the characters and they plan to work together to solve the problem.
I noticed other reviewers commented on the book being anticlimactic, and I would agree, in general the book is a bit slower there is not a lot of problem resolution, but I think that younger middle grade readers wont mind that too much. My grade 3s write stories with no problems or resolutions all the time, I think that for this audience group large character arcs and too many problems to resolve actually gets complicated quickly. The book also has short chapters and some black and white illustrations which is really helpful for those beginning middle grade readers who are transitioning into longer chapter books. J.R. Silver Writes Her World also covers a lot of great middle grade themes including growing independence (but still needing parents!), appropriate use of technology, friendship, standing up for what you believe in. I would definitely recommend this book to parents and teachers of children in the grades 2-6 range. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.
Week 3:August 15, 2022
Jo Jo Makoons The Used-to-Be Best Friend
By: Dawn Quigley Ills: Tara Audibert
I was really excited to check out the Jo Jo Makoons Series for a couple of reasons. First, it is written and illustrated by Indigenous people, Quigley is from the Turtle Mountain Band of Ojibwe in North Dakota and Audibert is Wolatosqey/French from New Brunswick. Second, it features an average little girl but yet brings in so much Ojibwe and Michif language and culture, which is the true advantage of diverse books!
In this Jo Jo Makoons story we learn that her home best friend, Mimi the cat, is going for her vaccinations at the vet. Jo Jo is quite concerned so she brings Mimi to school with her in an attempt to at least be with her when she leaves for the vet, this doesn’t work out so well and Mimi pees in the class tipi during story time, and mom still takes Mimi to the vet with out Jo Jo the next day! Outside of the Mimi problems, Jo Jo learns about friendship and being kind (or “friendly”) to others, she learns about rhymes from her not very helpful teacher, and she shares her love of art and her proud Ojibwe heritage when her artwork of a tipi is chosen for a poster about an upcoming event on her reservation.
With black and white illustrations, large, accessible font and short chapters, this book makes a perfect early chapter book. I would recommend this book for readers who are just about ready for novels but still benefit from the decoding and comprehension supports a picture book offers. I think this book would be a perfect addition to early years classroom and school libraries and would recommend it for students in the grade 1-4 range. I could also see this being a great, short read aloud for students in the same grade range, I would discuss things like the culture and traditions, the language, concepts like rhyming and social aspects like friendship. Additionally, though this book is set in the U.S. on a fictional reservation called the Pembina Ojibwe Reservation, I would guess that it would be set near the Manitoba/North Dakota border, which makes it super relevant for my students in Manitoba. While it is set in America and some terminology is different, for example reservations vs reserves and Native American vs Indigenous, I think those terminology issues could quickly be discussed and the content of the book would actually be much more fitting than reading a Canadian Indigneous story that is set in Toronto or Vancouver, as the Ojibwe in Manitoba and North Dakota have more similarities than two Indigenous groups on opposite sides of Canada. I really enjoyed this early middle grade book and can’t wait to check out the rest of the books in the series!
Week 4: August 22, 2022
Eeeek. I'm going back in to school tomorrow... where did summer go?! Well it definitely went to reading and reviewing books, that's for sure, but I'm not ready for it to be over yet! This week I read Ginger Mancino, Kid Comedian By: Wendi Aarons.
This middle grade novel tells the story of a child star comedian who suddenly has to trade in late night comedy clubs for cafeteria food as she heads to middle school. Having grown up in the spotlight and no where near a school, Ginger struggles to find her place in a classroom and other situations where she is not in the spotlight or making people laugh. Readers follow the ups and downs of Ginger's new life in a much more relatable context for middle grade readers to connect with. Additionally, learning to make friends, show the world your true self and trying not to take yourself too seriously are all important lessons for both Ginger and the readers. The only thing I didn't love about this book is that Ginger looks up to famous comedians such as Tina Fey, Amy Poehler and Mindy Kahling, who are all fabulous, but may not be familiar for readers in this age range. It made the story really enjoyable for me as an adult who loves those comedians, but I feel like some of those connections will go over the heads of young readers. It's nothing inappropriate or problematic, it just might not have the intended effect. I would recommend this book to parents and teachers of students in the grades 3-6 level. It checks all of my boxes for a great middle grade novel and I will definitely be recommending it to parents and students.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me the chance to read this book!
Week 5: August 29th, 2022
Well this is the last week before the craziness hits and I'm trying to get as much relaxing in as possible while also trying to keep up with everything school related! I'm excited to share this series with you though, and am also looking forward to sharing it with my kiddos!
This series consists of 3 middle grade chapter books about a girl named Hayley who is the star of a kids mystery tv series, and also solves mysteries of her own. In each book there are about 20 chapters, and about 5 pages per chapter for a total near 180 pages. Each chapter has a very detailed black and white picture, some take up a whole page while others are small. The illustrations are definitely in the current popular style and would draw in children much like the cover would. In addition, it is written by a 13-year-old social media influencer, so I think that would bring in the pre-teens as well!
Haunted Studio
In this book Hayley and her friends set out to figure out what is causing all of the strange things happening in their studio, like lights flickering and maybe even a ghost in the rafters? This book is a mystery so there are a few “scary” elements, but it is mostly just things like a small fire that everyone easily escapes or a “ghost” in the rafters. Definitely nothing for parents or teachers to be worried about. The story also has some positive lessons such as friendship, working together and being kind to others.
The Missing Jewels
(Pub date: Sept 6, 2022)
Sadie and her friends have another case to solve when jewelry and other items start disappearing from the set. What’s worse is they are sure the wrong person is being blamed! This one is super tame with the only “scary” part being the fact that things seem to have been stolen.
The Secret on the Set
(Pub Date: Nov 8, 2022)
The third book in the series has a much more spooky feel and is the perfect book to be released the week after Halloween! With vampires and costumes and even a carnival, there is a lot of excitement going on in this book. This one is definitely a bit more scary as the kids think they saw a dead body. In the end it was just a person hiding in a dark room, so nothing gory. I don’t think it is anything for parents or teachers to be worried about, but this one is a bit scarier than the first two books in the series. The story also has some positive lessons about jealousy and resolving misunderstandings with friends.
I could definitely see my Grade 3 students reading and enjoying this series. The books are slightly longer than most early chapter books but I think that it wouldn’t be too intimidating for new chapter book readers. I would recommend this series for children in grades 3-6, with the target audience probably being grades 4&5.
I really appreciate the opportunity from Netgalley and the publisher, Source Books Young Readers, to read and review an advance copy of these books! I am looking forward to purchasing a copy for my students in the future!
Week 6: September 5th, 2022
Ahhhhhh! How is it the last day of summer vacation?! I'm excited but definitely am going to miss relaxing and reading (especially with the views I had at the lake!) and taking my time each day to do the things I love. But I also love teaching, and I am sure there will be lots of great days ahead.
For my last pre-school year #middlegrademonday let's check out a popular series, Puppy Tales and Lacey's Story by W. Bruce Cameron:
This cute chapter book tells the story of a dog named Lacey through her perspective. Children love books like this because it plays to their imagination and it is easy to make things funny and entertaining because talking dogs can describe things in an interesting way that might be intentionally different than people. Lacey has been in an accident and uses a cart with wheels to help her get around, though she just thinks it is following her. By including this accessibility issue in the story, Cameron also opens the opportunity for discussion about disability and inclusion. Even though Lacey is a dog, readers may be able to relate to the challenges she faces or make connections to humans facing the same difficulties. Lacey and her cart help save the day after a tornado strikes, which is just enough action to keep kids entertained without being too scary! This is a really relatable and age-appropriate problem for the middle grade age group. As a grade 3 teacher, I would recommend this book to parents and teachers of children in the age 6-10 range. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher, Starscape (@tordotcompub) for giving me the chance to read and review this book!
Week 7: September 12
Well I'm officially back with my (almost) middle graders! I call them almost middle graders because at the beginning of Grade 3 we are still a bit on the young side of the middle grade age range, but I do have a few friends who are ready or almost ready for some of the books I've recommended so far. This week's book is probably a bit too advanced for my kiddos, but will be a great fit for adventure or survival loving readers at the middle school or early teen range!
I really enjoyed reading this new Middle Grade survival novel. The story features a 14 year old girl named Annie who is grieving the recent death of her mother and living with her father, brother and male cousin in Maine near a port. She is also struggling with confusion related to the changing friendship of a long term friend who has begun to shift her priorities towards being popular and having cool friends or maybe a boyfriend. When planning to go on a picnic as part of a larger group, Annie and her (former) friend Mirra set out on the boat and encounter a storm. The girls end up being stranded on an island and surviving for several days alone, until a stranger named Roman in his late teens also appears on the island. The girls aren't totally sure if they should trust him and worry about whether or not they will ever be rescued!
I love that this book has some survival content in it, such as building a shelter, starting fires, conserving supplies. I think that middle graders love this type of content. There is also a tiny bit of "pushing the envelope" such as having a crush, sneaking out on the boat without asking, gossiping in the bathroom etc, that young teens and preteens find interesting, without having any sex/drugs/other inappropriate content. As a teacher, I feel this book would be perfect for students in the Grade 5-8 range, but wouldn't stop a grade 3 or 4 from reading it if they were interested and reading at a higher level. I would recommend this book to other teachers in the grades I mentioned, as well as to families of middle graders looking for appropriate and interesting novels for their children.
Week 8: September 26, 2022
I missed last week, I had so many book tour posts that I figured taking one week off of Middle Grade Monday might be a good idea, and part of me is really glad I did, because it gave me the chance to actually sit down and read a Middle Grade Book I've been looking forward to!
Cilla Lee-Jenkins Future Author Extraordinaire written by Susan Tan and illustrated by Dana Wulfekotte is definitely making its way onto my read alouds list for this year. The story is narrated by an 8 year old named Pricilla (who goes by Cilla) and tells of her life with her parents, classmates, friends and grandparents as she navigates elementary school. Cilla is especially disappointed by the fact that a blob she saw in a grainy ultrasound picture is about to become her new baby sibling. Light hearted and fun, while also tackling issues young people face like disagreements with a best friend, being teased for enjoying a cultural delicacy uncommon to other preschoolers and learning how to be a big sister. I think that kids will connect with Cilla while also finding her versions of what is going on around her silly and funny. I am looking forward to sharing it with my students later this year!
This novel also reminds me a bit of Stella Diaz Has Something to Say by Angela Dominguez and Ways to Make Sunshine by Renee Watson, in that it is about a young girl's unique perspective as she navigates the world, including difficulties she faces related to her race because microaggressions happen even to second graders! One section that stands out to me and will probably stay with me for a long time comes when Cilla is asked by a random stranger "where are you from?". Cilla pauses, then states her address. He then clarifies by adding "originally" to his initial question so Cilla pauses again and then replies: "my mom's stomach" (p. 101). I had to laugh because it is a hilariously accurate response in terms of what a kid would probably say, while also shaking my head that a random grown adult would ask this of a child who is multiracial.
Week 9: October 10, 2022
This week I'm doing a double feature, partly because I missed last week, and partly because there are two series I want to showcase!
Aven Green Music Machine - Early Chapter Book
Dusti Bowling
This fun early chapter book is the third in the Aven Green series. Based on the middle grade series, Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus by the same author, this early chapter book brings a fabulous character to younger readers. Aven, a third grade girl who was born with no arms, shows readers that physical disabilities can't stop hilarious, resilient and determined kids like her.
At around 120 pages divided into 18 chapters including black and white illustrations, this book is the perfect length for early chapter book readers in the age 7-10 range. The font is large, accessible and well spaced, making this book look less daunting than middle grade texts. I would highly recommend this book to parents and teachers of children who are ready for chapter books and looking for a loveable, diverse character. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me the opportunity to read and review this beautiful book!
Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus - Higher Level Middle Grade
Dusti Bowling
This middle grade text tells the story of Aven, a middle school student who was born with no arms. I read this book about a year ago, and didn't write down her age, but I think it was around 12 or so. I loved the book, but feel it is a bit too mature for my 3s, not that anything really inappropriate happens, I just remember feeling like grades 5-8 might be more the target audience for this book. The fact that this brilliant author recognized that and also wrote an early chapter book series, is pretty amazing!
Aven and her adoptive parents move the family from Kansas to Arizona where they are taking over managing a run down Western theme park called Stagecoach Pass. Aven deals with average middle grade problems like making friends at a new school and joining a new soccer team where no one knows her abilities, while also facing additional challenges because she has no arms. Aven befriends a boy named Connor who has Tourette's Syndrome and she invites him to visit Stagecoach Pass. The kids unlock a mystery at the park, and the mystery ends up being something very personal and related to Aven's history and biological family.
Despite facing many difficulties, Aven often takes a positive approach and handles situations with a sense of humour and a belief that she can do anything. That being said, both prominent disabilities/disorders (inc. Connor's) are showcased as being real challenges and not easily overcome. This realistic approach reminds readers that people with disabilities do struggle to navigate our able-body-designed world and mental health challenges are real.
This is an excellent middle grade realistic fiction chapter book that features diverse characters and promotes the importance of inclusion. At under 300 pages, it is a great length for middle grade readers who are ready for longer texts with problems and conflicts that take time to resolve. I highly recommend it to parents and teachers of children in the age 10-13 range.
Note: There is a second book in the series where Aven attends high school. I have not yet read it, but think it would probably fall in between the Middle Grade and YA genres.
Week 10: October 17, 2022
This week's Middle Grade Monday is featuring an early chapter book celebrating it's 1 year Pubday Anniversary!
The Adventures of Tree Fairy was written by a Singaporean author, Tina Ong, during the pandemic. Sharing both fun and adventures, while teaching lessons of kindness and the importance of friendship, this book has all of the qualities both parents and kids love! With the added message of the importance of protecting and not hurting trees, there is also an environmental advocacy piece throughout!
This fun and colourful chapter book includes full page illustrations by Abigail Tan that will help support children in visualizing the stories. Each chapter can be read as it's own short story, or the book can be read as one cohesive chapter book, perfect for a quick bedtime read, or an opportunity for sustained independent reading for young readers ready to read longer texts on their own! The font is very large and accessible, using black on a white background and with adequate spacing, making it an A+ book for beginning readers. I definitely recommend checking this book out if you are a parent or teacher of children in the age 5-9 range, especially those who are looking for longer books but with simplified plots and short chapters. Thanks to Katie and Brey PA for the opportunity to read and review this book right around it's anniversary!
Week 11: October 24, 2022 I've been waiting a while to post these ones, thinking it would be good to post them close to their release dates, and that time has finally come!
The Secret of the Jade Bangle & The Power of the Pearl Earrings
Written By: Linda Trinh Ills. Clayton Nguyen
Published by: Annick Press
These two early chapter books are part of a 3 book series, all coming out in 2022 and 2023. Each of the three books focuses on a child in the Nguyen family who receives a magical item from their grandmother. In the first book, The Secret of the Jade Bangle, Anne, the eldest child, receives a Jade Bangle. And in the second book, Liz, the middle child, receives a pearl earrings. The books are written by a Vietnamese-Canadian from Winnipeg (where I live!) who understands the challenges young children may face growing up as part of a minority culture in Canada. The books tackle issues like microaggressions, stereotypes and racism as well as exploration of one's identity, in a way that is accessible and relatable for young readers.
As an early chapter book, each novel contains about 14 chapters, with about 7 pages per chapter. There are full page pictures, usually at least 1 per chapter, as well as a few partial page pictures along with text. Full pages of text are in an accessible size of font, with about 100 words per page. I would recommend this book to children in grades 2-5, with a target audience probably being about Grade 3. I could definitely see my students reading this book and would definitely recommend it to other teachers in my grade range. I love that the characters are Vietnamese and that the issues approached in this series are common for IBPOC children. It is important for children to see themselves in the books they are reading, and going further to address issues related to racism is even more valuable. Additionally, being written by a Canadian author and set in Winnipeg, this is also a great opportunity for Canadian families and teachers to support a local author. I will definitely be buying a set of this series for my classroom once they are officially published! Thanks so much to Netgalley and the publisher for giving me the opportunity to read and review this wonderful book!
My local bookstore is doing a hybrid launch event through youtube on October 28th, check out this link for more info: https://www.mcnallyrobinson.com/event-18321/Linda-Trinh-Hybrid-Book-Launch#.Y1cR4uzML8w
Week 12: November 28, 2022
In a slightly different #Middlegrademonday style I decided to post in my stories about my favourite Middle Grade Novel. I plan to do a full review and post once I read it again with my kiddos in the new year, but for now here's a quick tribute to Out of My Mind by Sharon Draper.
Week 13: December 4, 2022
Well, today I went wedding dress shopping!!!
Here's a pensive moment in a dress I did not choose just because I feel like I need to document the experience here...
So in honour of wedding dress shopping I have chosen a super fun book for this week's Middle Grade Monday.
Say No to the Dress
By: Keren David
This book tells the story of a girl who is suddenly a bridesmaid in both of her siblings' weddings, in the same summer! Miri is going through those awkward teen years where nothing fits right and her body doesn't look the way she wants it to, she also really feels like dresses are not her style and will never feel comfortable and look right on her - this is a major problem for a bridesmaid! She's also not so sure about the partners her siblings have chosen to suddenly have shot gun weddings with int he coming months, especially because her brother's fiancee is the sister of one of the meanest girls in school!
Through the course of the novel, Miri learns that it is ok to love your body for what it is, that there are different styles and clothes out there for all body types, that you don't need to go to bootcamp three times a week or starve yourself to feel good about your body and that you really can't let anyone else treat you in ways that make you feel bad about your appearance. She also learns that true love and weddings do not require perfect appearances and rushing something as importance as a wedding isn't healthy for a relationship. In general I think that the messages in this novel are ones that pre-teen and teen girls need to hear! I also love that there are a variety of blended families and relationships represented to give readers a chance to see what a healthy relationship/family may or may not look like.
I was confused when I saw the age rating for this one, so I thought it might be helpful to share my thoughts on that. This book would definitely appeal to the young adult/teen crowd. There is talk about high school drama, siblings getting married, fashion and diet culture, things that would feel relevant for teens. That being said, the content is totally appropriate, and would be something that preteens could read, if they were interested. As a grade 3 teacher, I think my students are a bit young, but in the past I have definitely had grade 4s and 5s who are ready for something a bit more "high school" without all of the content that YA books can have. I think that more mature preteens who are interested in the themes in this book would really enjoy reading it and I would have no problem recommending it to them. So my age range recommendation would probably be 10+ or so.
It is also worth noting that the book (and I believe most or all books from this publisher) is published in a Dyslexia-friendly font and written in a way that reluctant and struggling readers can more easily access. I'm a huge proponent of the importance of accessible text, whether it be for children/readers with disabilities, or even just a preference, making a text as accessible as possible uses the principles of Universal Design, meaning that it benefits all readers and doesn't hinder any! Just one more great reason to check out this book!
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher, Barington Stoke for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book!
Week 14: December 19, 2022
by Jarrett Pumphrey, Jerome Pumphrey
Publisher: Norton Young Readers
Publish Date: March 2023
This middle grade book fuses together a graphic novel and a novel style as it alternates format throughout. In the graphic novel style chapters, there are approximately 3-6 boxes per page and the pictures, while in black and white only, are easy to understand. The text bubbles are in a fairly large font and relatively easy to read. The novel-style sections are short chapters and continue the story from where the graphic novel section left off. The chapters are short, about 2-5 pages usually and there are pictures as well. I think that the choice to alternate between the writing styles is fantastic! Often parents and even some teachers worry that graphic novels are "too easy" or "not really a chapter book" when in reality they require a lot of special skills to read. That being said, chapter books can also be difficult for middle grade readers, especially those without pictures. As a result, I feel that this book is at a good complexity level, with enough substance and interesting writing that it will appeal to both kids and the adults who buy them books.
The basic premise of the story is there are two young brothers who are trying to create and save their own imaginary world. There are lots of typical middle grade ideas that will win over readers, including: underwear, crazy pranks, and attempts to try to pull one over on the adults and babysitters in their lives. There are also positive messages such as working hard, being flexible and taking care of family members. There is a scene where one of the brothers is suddenly naked, covered by a cereal box, you can see his bum in one of the pictures but it is related to turning invisible, having to leave clothes behind so that he is not seen and then reappearing in real-life without clothes, nothing sexual.
I would definitely recommend this book to parents and teachers of children in the age 8-11 or grade 3-5 range, perfect for the middle grade/early chapter book audience.
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