Middle Grade

Eagle Drums / Nasuġraq Rainey Hopson, Irene Bedard (narrator)

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Eagle Drums
By: Nasuġraq Rainey Hopson, Irene Bedard (narrator)
Genre: Middle Grade, Fantasy
Number of Pages: 256
Published: September 12, 2023
Publisher: Roaring Brook Press
Dates Read: October 6, 2023 - October 9, 2023
Format: ARC / eBook / Audiobook

Trigger Warnings: Death of siblings, grief, animal death, depictions of depression and anxiety

As his family prepares for winter, young hunter, Piŋa must travel up the same mountain where his brothers died in order to collect obsidian for knapping. When he reaches the mountaintop, he’s immediately confronted by an eagle god named Savik who gives him a choice: come with me, or die like your brothers.

What follows is the origin story of the Iñupiaq Messenger Feast, a Native Alaskan tradition.

99% of this I listened to as an audiobook on my way to and from my hometown (2.5 hours each way, perfect amount for the 5 hour audiobook). I’m glad I listened to it because I would have been pronouncing everything incorrectly and I already do enough of that in English (and that’s my first language).

This is a beautifully written, fast paced middle grade novel that gives the important origin story of the Native Alaskan tradition of the Iñupiaq Messenger Feast – a story that has been heavily relied on the Elders’ accounts of it from when they were children after encroachment of the missionaries into Indigenous territories and communities. Nasuġraq Rainey Hopson’s writing mixed with Irene Bedard’s narration made me feel like I was sitting around a campfire listening to the stories of long ago.

This is a story of grief, courage, honor, and community mixed in with lessons about leading, sharing, and communicating.

I know this is aimed at the Middle Grade reading level, but I can see many age groups reading and enjoying it, especially since it is about a part of a culture that was on the verge of being snuffed out because it wasn’t Christian.

*Thank you Roaring Brook Press and NetGalley for an advanced digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

The Marvellers / Dhonielle Clayton

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The Marvellers
By: Dhonielle Clayton, Khadijah Khatib (Illustrator)
Genre: Middle Grade, Fantasy
Number of Pages: 432
Published: August 29, 2023
Publisher: Square Fish
Dates Read: September 15, 2023 - September 18, 2023
Format: Audiobook, Paperback

Ella Durand is the first (and right now only) Conjuror to attend the Arcanum Training Institute for Marvelous and Uncanny Endeavors – a magical school up in the clouds where Marvellers from all around the world come to practice and learn their craft. 

Despite her eagerness to both learn and make friends, Ella soon finds out it’s not going to be easy. A lot of Marvellers mistrust her Conjuroring – they say it’s “bad and unnatural” and some aren’t in support of the new student entry into their school. But soon, Ella makes friends; a boy named Jason, a boy with a fondness for magical animals, Brigit, her new roommate who wants nothing to do with this world, and her mentor, Masterji Thakur.

When a dangerous criminal escapes prison, rumored with the help of a Conjuror, tensions grow extra tight in the Marvellian world and Ella gets a lot of extra attention. Worse, Masterji Thaku mysteriously disappears and Ella’s teachers are lying about it. With the help of her friends and the powers growing every day, Ella must find a way to clear her family’s name and save her teacher before it’s too late.

I had such a fun time listening and reading this novel this past weekend. I can definitely see this being a new favorite in Middle Grade (and even YA when it gets up there as the kids get older) readers who love reading about adventures in a magical school.

I love that it took us so long to find out which house the students get sorted into – it gives us so much to look forward to in the second book. I’m pretty stoked about the fact that by the time I read this, it’s right before the second book comes out. And you can bet I’m going to be going out and getting the second one on publication day

*Thank you Square Fish and BookishFirst for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

Enemies in the Orchard / Dana VanderLugt

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Enemies in the Orchard
By: Dana VanderLugt
Genre: Middle Grade, Novel in Verse
Number of Pages: 288
Published: September 12, 2023
Publisher: Zonderkidz
Dates Read: September 14, 2023
Format: ARC / eBook

It’s October 1944 and Claire’s dad needs help with the orchard – especially since Danny’s off to fight in World War II. With no one responding to the help wanted ad in the paper, he hires a group of German POWs to help with the apple harvest. Claire wants absolutely nothing to do with the enemies, afterall, it’s men like them that are currently shooting at Danny’s overseas. But then she meets Karl, a soft-spoken, hardworking POW and her mind begins to change.

Meanwhile, Karl battles with the role he ended up playing within the lies of Hitler’s regime. After he begins working with Claire, it gives him hope that he can change and become a person he wants to be – not the one that’s been forced on him.

It still surprises me a bit when I read another novel set during WWII that showcases something I wasn’t aware had happened during that time. This one being that the United States had POW work camps on their own soil, and that the POWs would be “lent out” to local farmers.

Besides having a focus on WWII and the POWs in the United States, this also focuses a lot on Claire and her journey and fight for going against the norms for females during that time. Claire wants to continue school past an eighth grade education and her single room schoolhouse that she goes to and go on to become a nurse. Her father is very supportive of this plan, but not everyone else.

Though this book is aimed at Middle Grade readers, I can see everyone enjoying it. The writing provides readers with a compelling and easy to follow format that, even with the word count being low from it being a novel in verse, it still provides beautiful descriptions. I, myself, am going to be keeping an eye out for my own physical copy to purchase. 

*Thank you Zonderkidz and NetGalley for a digital advance copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review

Mascot / Charles Waters & Traci Sorell

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Mascot
By: Charles Waters & Traci Sorell
Genre: Middle Grade, Novel in Verse
Number of Pages: 256
Published: September 5, 2023
Publisher: Charlesbridge
Dates Read: September 3, 2023
Format: ARC / eBook

When an eighth grade honors English teacher assigns her students a debate about their school’s mascot, they must decide if it should stay, or go. When some of the students end up getting really involved, the issue turns the DC suburb upside as everyone chooses sides.

This is a wonderful novel in verse that really showcases a diverse group of six students’ backgrounds and beliefs as they talk about the subject of their school’s mascot. With each student, we see them change and grow as they think about the mascot and what it means to them. Some change their opinion about it, while others keep what they thought in the beginning.

A lot of the reasoning why one of the kids didn’t want to change it had a lot to do with generational stuff (their parents also went to the same school and were also the mascot) and I think, as a kid, that’s all the reasoning you need to not change something. There’s more to it, of course, but I enjoyed that the novel did show so many different perspectives.

The changing of the names of sports teams and mascots have been in the news for many years. It is nice to see it written out in a way that middle schoolers would be able to understand it.

Though this aimed at middle grade, I believe those who are older would also get something out of it as well.

Alone / Megan E. Freeman

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Alone
By: Megan E. Freeman
Genre: Middle Grade, Novel in Verse
Number of Pages: 404
Published: January 12, 2021
Publisher: Aladdin
Dates Read: August 27, 2023
Format: Library Book / Hardcover

Trigger Warnings: food and water scarcity, injury, animal death, mentions of dead animal bodies

After plans fall through for her secret sleepover with her best friends, Maddie still stays over at her grandparents’ empty apartment – but she wakes to a nightmare. Maddie’s alone. Everyone in Millerville, Colorado has been evacuated and the town has been completely abandoned.

With her only companion being a Rottweiler named George, Maddie slowly learns how to survive on her own with no power, no running water, no phone or internet access, and a town deserted. As months pass, Maddie and George survive natural disasters, ruthless looters, wild animals, and the elements of nature with stride. It’s the loneliness that is slowly getting to Maddie. Can her will to survive continue to get her through the most frightening experience of her life?

I love novels in verse stories as well as post-apocalyptic novels, and this has been a story I’ve been wanting to read for the longest time and I finally picked it up at my library. I read all of this in one setting. It was that captivating. The language is gorgeous and the breaking up of the verses really showcase and capture Maddie’s loneliness, heartache, and still – hope. 

I also loved George and the companionship he provided for Maddie <spoiler> there were TWO TIMES I thought George had passed away and BOTH TIMES I was ready to throw the book across the room in sorrow</spoiler>. Plus, you need to have a furry sidekick during the apocalypse, and a big Rottweiler named George is one of the best.

I can see audiences of middle grade readers and up enjoying this. Though, I will say there is a scene of animal cruelty <spoiler> specifically the death of a kitten</spoiler> that I do think should be taken into consideration for a younger reader. Otherwise, this was such a wonderful and captivating read (again, I read all 400+ pages in one setting). I am for sure keeping an eye out to purchase my own copy and will be giving this title out on plenty of recommendations.

White Bird / R.J. Palacio

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White Bird
By: R.J. Palacio
Genre: Graphic Novel, Middle Grade
Number of Pages: 224
Published: September 3, 2019
Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers
Dates Read: August 14, 2023
Format: Library Book / Hardcover

Trigger Warnings: Holocaust 

In White Bird, readers are told Julian’s (who you meet in Wonder) Grandmère’s story as a young Jewish girl hidden away in the barn of a classmate’s in Nazi-occupied France during World War II.

I’ve been meaning to read this book for a while now and I needed something I knew I would enjoy before my next read. So, I grabbed this from my library.

There is a bit of a tie in to events in recent days. Which brings up the quote shared at the very beginning of the book,

“Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” – George Santayana.

I don’t think the author is pointing at comparing what’s happening at the US/Mexico border to the Holocaust as a whole, but more of what the beginning of it looked like. The main character, Sara even mentions the fact that even though she was limited to certain places, or stopped from going into others, that it didn’t really bother her at the beginning. Overall, there is no reason to be unjust to any specific group of people. 

I enjoyed the story and how it was told, especially for the middle grade age group it’s targeted for. Sara’s story is a page turner with many moments of tension. The author does an amazing job at still showing the horrors of war while still making it suitable for middle grade readers. There are also resources in the back few pages to expand the story as well as lists of organizations, biographies, and photos.

Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret. / Judy Blume

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Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret.
By: Judy Blume
Genre: Middle Grade
Number of Pages: 192
Published: April 20, 2014 (1st Published January 1, 1970)
Publisher: Atheneum Books for Young Readers
Dates Read: August 5, 2023
Format: Library Book / Hardcover

Margaret has no religion, but that doesn’t mean she doesn’t have a close relationship with God. It’s not until she moves from New York to New Jersey and begins hanging out with new friends does she realize it’s probably weird that she talks with God the way that she does. So, for a school assignment, Margaret sets out to do an experiment on religion and what that means for her.

So, I’m going to blame the fact that I didn’t read this novel until my 30’s because I was at such a high reading level as a kid, I basically skipped reading middle grade books for the most part and went directly to Young Adult. I totally should have read this as a kid because a lot of the novel is something nearly every young girl can relate to (minus maybe the religious parts of it).

It brought back a lot of memories as a young girl growing up. Exceptions for me: I didn’t want to wear a bra and fought my mom and older sister about it until I basically had to. And, when I got my first period, it was at the public library’s restroom, I shouted to my friend in the next stall I started, to which she replied, “Can I see?!” before I told her “NO!” and to “Go get my Mom!”

This book also talks about a young girl’s relationship with religion and how that affects her. Her parents are trying their hardest to raise her as nonreligious, so that she can choose a religion when she’s older. But, all of Margaret’s friends have some relationship with God, through Christianity or Judaism, and she feels almost like she’s left out.

Even though this book was written and set in the 1970’s it still applies to everyday pressures young girls still face. Margaret is trying to figure things out for herself but runs into a lot of misinformation or more of people’s opinions rather than facts. I remember a lot being a problem growing up.

Overall, I wish I knew of this book growing up. I think it would have helped me feel seen and know the fact that almost every preteen/sixth grader probably went through a version of the exact same thing.

Moving Through Walls / Ryan Wolf

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Moving Through Walls
By: Ryan Wolf
Genre: Middle Grade, HiLo, Novel in Verse
Number of Pages: 160
Published: August 16, 2023
Publisher: West 44 Books
Dates Read: July 29, 2023
Format: ARC / eBook

After getting kicked from a lunch table at his new school Dennis ends up sitting at the Deadliest Poets Society’s table. There he meets a new group of friends who tell him all about talking with ghosts through knocking. But, instead of finding ghosts, Dennis finds the sludge, and it’s much worse.

This book really reminded me of Goosebumps, but simpler – which makes sense since it’s a HiLo, Novel in Verse, and for Middle Grade. Because of that, this was a super quick read for me.

I feel like younger kids will really enjoy this book – especially those who may be new(er) to the middle grade reading level. The story itself is pretty descriptive and really allows you to walk through the halls as Dennis. This is perfect for 11-13-year-olds who are seeking a bit of a paranormal mystery.

*Thank you West 44 Books and NetGalley for an advance digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

Global / Eoin Colfer, Andrew Donkin, Giovanni Rigano (Illustrator)

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Global
By: Eoin Colfer, Andrew Donkin, Giovanni Rigano (Illustrator)
Genre: Graphic Novel, Middle Grade
Number of Pages: 144
Published: April 11, 2023
Publisher: Sourcebooks Young Readers
Dates Read: July 16, 2023 - July 17, 2023
Format: Library Book / Hardcover

Global is a YA graphic novel about two young children as they face the effects of climate change in what could possibly be the near future.

Sami and his grandfather live in a village along the Indian Ocean. They earn their living by fishing but they’re having to go further and further out to sea – something dangerous while in their tiny boat.

Yuki lives in the far north of Canada where rising temperatures are melting the snow and ice around her. Polar bears have less food they’re able to hunt and therefore are wandering into town to look for something to eat. There may even be a new species of bear – the grolar, a crossbreed between brown bears and polars bears. Yuki, alongside her dog, Lockjaw are determined to save them.

The novel alternates between the two children as we follow their struggle with climate change.

I’m a sucker for animal companions, so I was immediately drawn to Locky and Yuki’s story (Lockjaw).

I loved the art in this. It was bright and colorful – even in the middle of rain storms.

The adventures the kids have are a bit unrealistic, but it is a Middle Grade story that has important information in it; both within the story and information at the back of the novel. The younger generation are unfortunately the ones who have to really live with and deal with the impacts of global warming the most and this book really hits on the fact that younger kids can still be impactful.

Overall, I’d recommend this to middle grade, YA, and adult readers alike. This is an action packed, beautifully drawn graphic novel about the effects of climate change that I feel all could benefit from.

The Song of Us / Kate Fussner

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The Song of Us
By: Kate Fussner
Genre: Middle Grade, Novel in Verse
Number of Pages: 208
Published: May 20, 2023
Publisher: HarperCollin/Tegen
Dates Read: July 7, 2023
Format: Library Book / Hardcover

The Song of Us is a middle grade, novel in verse about love at first sight for seventh graders Olivia and Eden. Olivia is capital P, Poet and started a Poetry Club at her school, and Eden is the new girl in school who thinks she wants to be a musician. When Eden walks into the Poetry Club one day, everything changes.

Eden isn’t out and there are rules Olivia needs to follow: don’t call, don’t tell her friends, and don’t let anyone know.

But when jealousy waves its ugly head, Olivia’s words are what push Eden away. As Eden tries to find herself in this new school, Olivia begins the journey of getting back to Eden – using her most powerful weapon; her poetry.

This book is aimed for Middle Grade readers, but I’m 31 and I absolutely devoured it a single day in two settings (the curse of work).

I’m not usually one for romance stories in YA, yet alone Middle Grade, but this one was super cute and about your first crush/love. The novel even touches on the fact that they are seventh graders, and yea, most likely relationships won’t last, but it doesn’t mean the feelings being felt aren’t real. Even though the sections were shorter than your typical prose novel, the author was still able to develop both characters well and through their verses, you were able to connect with them. The pacing was good and everything felt realistic. 

Overall, this is an amazing, tender debut novel-in-verse about first love and finding the right words that I can see everyone who’s looking for a sweet romance would enjoy.

*Thank you HarperCollin/Tegen and Edelweiss+ for an advance digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review