Every year I have the joy and privilege of going into local schools and sharing my favorite books with fourth and fifth grade students. I read lots of middle grade fiction year-round, but only the top twenty or so make it into the final cut. A few of the books are general crowd pleasers, there are several interesting non-fiction titles, some graphics, and hopefully there are some amazing books that I know most students would pass up because of the cover or subject matter. I am excited to present you with this year's list! Click on the images to reserve a copy of a book.
GRAPHIC NOVELS
"Explorer: The Mystery Boxes" by Kazu Kibuishi
Editor Kazu Kibuishi has gathered seven different short graphic stories about mystery boxes. Each story is written and illustrated by a different artist, and they cover a wide variety of genres--sci fi, paranormal, and fantasy. It's a great intro into the world of graphic novels if you haven't given them a try yet. If you like "Explorer," you can get ready for the next installment, which is about mystery islands!
Instead of going to his new school, Bud accidentally gets on an intergalactic bus filled with aliens who are terrified of earthlings. With help from his new friend Gort, Bud has to figure out how to save the earth and get back home. This is a funny and sweet adventure story with vibrant artwork everyone can enjoy. For a more in-depth review, click the link above.
"Little White Duck" by Na Liu and Andres Vera Martinez
In this touching autobiography, An Liu chronicles her growing up years in a pro-communist family during the Mao era in China. We see so many stories about the evils of communism that it's fascinating to see China through the eyes of a child who doesn't know what Communism means.
Claudette wants to be brave and fight evil. So one day she sets off to challenge the local giant with her friends, only to find that things are not the way they seem. With bold artwork and a spunky/naughty heroine, this graphic novel is sure to please everyone. For a more in-depth review, click the link above.
HISTORIC FICTION
"Crow" by Barbara Wright
Moses Thomas lives in one of the most integrated cities in the south at the turn of the last century. African Americans serve on the city council, run businesses, and participate in all aspects of civic life. Moses' daddy is a reporter for the African-American run newspaper. Making a new white friend and entering an ad-writing contest puts Moses in danger when white supremacists start ruining Wilmington, North Carolina. This is the tragic story of the only successful coup on American soil as seen through the eyes of a boy.
"The Prairie Thief" by Melissa Wiley
Louisa is heartbroken when her Pa is accused of theft and taken to jail. To make matters worse, she's forced to stay with her crotchety neighbors, who just happen to be the folks that made the accusation. Louisa knows that her Pa did not steal the items that were found in their dugout, but she has no idea who it could have been. At least until she discovers a pair of eyes under a pointy hat in a dark hole. Enlisting the help of her new friend, Jessamine, Louisa takes a remarkable journey into town to free her pa.
"Katerina's Wish" by Jeannie Mobley
When Katerina's family moves to America to follow Papa's dream of having his own farm, nothing works out the way it should. Papa ends up working in a Colorado mine, and instead of living their dream, the family works extra-hard just to survive. Seeing the poverty and suffering around her, Katerina gives up on dreams until one day she finds a magic fish in the creek. She impulsively makes her sisters' wishes, and the results are completely unexpected. Through a series of events, Trina starts her own business in spite of bullying opposition, and even catches the eye of Mark, the boy next door. But will the mine officials let Trina and her family succeed, or will her dreams be destroyed yet again? Filled with Czech fairy tales and details of life in a mining camp, this story relates the experience of so many immigrants to America in vivid detail.
"May B." by Caroline Starr Rose
May B.'s family is low on money, so she is pulled from school to be hired help for a couple fifteen miles across the prairie. Isolated from her family and town, May watches as the neighbor's new wife grows unhappy with her life and ultimately leaves. When her husband doesn't return after a frantic search for his missing wife, May is left completely alone on the prairie. It will be several months before her father returns to pick her up, so May B has to use her wits and skills to survive. Written in sparse verse, this is a gripping tale of perseverance and survival.
REALISTIC FICTION
Beloved by fifth- and sixth-graders the country over, this is the book that took the world by storm last year. In it, Auggie attends school for the first time in fifth grade, trying to overcome the prejudice of others because of his malformed face. For a more in-depth review, click on the link above.
"Rebel McKenzie" by Candice Ransom
Rebel McKenzie can belch all thirteen original colonies in one breath, and she's going to enter a beauty contest. She'd rather be at archeology camp, but Rebel has been forced to spend her summer babysitting her odd nephew in her sister's trailer park. Plus, she doesn't have the money for camp. But then she meets Bambi Lovering, local pageant queen and queen snob, and Rebel convinces her new friend Lacey Jane to compete with her against Bambi in the Miss Frog Level Volunteer Fire Department Beauty Pageant. Learning the ways of pageants from a local aged hand model, Rebel has to wrangle her nephew, a giant cat named Doublewide who pees in the toilet, and her own ambition to win the pageant.
One of my favorites from this past year, this a beautiful tribute to all things winter, specifically about the wonder of ice. For a more gushing review complete with quotations, click on the link above.
The novel after winning a Newbery Award must be daunting to write, but Stead did well with this one. In fact, I like it better than "When You Reach Me." In it, new friends Georges and Safer practice their spying skills as they try to discover the secret of the man in black and his suitcases. But who's really the spy, and who is doing the lying? For a more in-depth review, click on the link above.
Adventure/Mystery
This year's Newbery winner is a tearjerker! Ivan the captive gorilla has to find a way to save his new friend, Ruby. For a longer review, click the link above.
This is the most unusual of my favorites from the past year. In it, a boy gets into a boat with a bear to cross the ocean on a perilous adventure. To find out why it's so strange and yet wonderful, click on the link above.
"Three Times Lucky" by Sheila Turnage
One night during a nasty hurricane, Moses LoBeau washes up in Tupelo Landing, North Carolina. Mo is rescued by an amnesiac known only as the Colonel and then adopted by Miss Lana, who promptly opens the only cafe in Tupelo Landing. Along with her best friend Dale Earnhardt Johnson III, Mo is on a quest to find her "upstream mother." But when the town crank turns up dead one day, Moses and Dale use their sleuthing skills to save their town from double-crossers. Filled with quirky characters and dialog, an intriguing mystery, and the charming Mo, this story is sure to catch your attention.
"Starry River of the Sky" by Grace Lin
Rendi is not a happy boy. When his hiding place in a wine-merchant's cart is discovered, he is left with his unhappiness in the small Village of Clear Sky. All day and night he hears the sky moaning and doesn't know why. Rendi does his chores for Master Chao, antagonizes his daughter Peiyi,and is generally grumpy about everything. Then one day, Madame Chang becomes a guest at the inn, and the slow-witted Mr. Chan is awakened by the arrival of a toad. Madame Chang challenges Rendi to smile and tell stories, and he slowly begins to take an interest in the life of the village. As he discovers other people's problems, Rendi begins to reveal a few of his own. When men show up one night to hunt him down, the whole village is thrown into a series of events that will change everything. But will Rendi have the courage to do what he has to? Filled with retold Chinese folk tales, this is a perfect book for those who are tired of traditional Western fairy tales.
"Cold Cereal" by Adam Rex
Giant talking rabbits. A leprechaun. A giant dragon. Unicorns. Sasquatch. An evil plot to take over the world. And the main character is named Scottish Play Doe. No joke. "Cold Cereal" is a weirdly fantastic adventure filled with friendship, fantasy, and evil manipulation. You'll never look at breakfast the same way again!
For a rollicking good adventure, catch up with the Ashtown Burial series with "The Dragon's Tooth," then read book two, "The Drowned Vault." In book two, Cyrus Smith, heir to the magic and adventurous Order of Brendan, wakes his dangerous ancestor, John Smith, to save his brother and friends. This is by far my favorite new magic and adventure series for middle grade readers. To read why I like it so much, click on the link above.
The bumbling Princes Charming set out to save their respective kingdoms from Zaubera, the evil witch who plans to destroy them all. This book will make you laugh out loud. Keep your eyes open for the next book in the series, "The Hero's Guide to Storming the Castle." To read more about this hilarious adventure, click on the link above.
"Goblin Secrets" by William Alexander
Rownie wants to find out where his older brother Rowan disappeared to. When he joins up with a troupe of goblin actors in hopes that they know where his brother is, Graba the witch is enraged and sets out to destroy them all. With mechanical police, a witch on mechanical bird legs, and sentient masks, "Goblin Secrets" is an adventure like no other.
NON-FICTION
"100 People Who Made History" by Ben Gilliland
Do you ever wonder who people are talking about? Or who made what--like the car, Facebook, or the vacation? Then check out this fascinating book filled with fun pictures and bits of info about people who did cool stuff.
"Spits and Squirts: How Animals Survive" by Robin Koontz
What do cows, sea cucumbers, squids, and flies have in common? Why spitting and squirting, of course! This book details interesting and disgusting facts of secretions throughout the animal kingdom. Did you know that silk is really worm spit? Or that snake venom is used in medicine? Read the book to find out more!
"The World in Your Lunch Box" by Claire Eamer
This is the history of all your favorite foods! From 200 year old cheese to men who ate boots, learn all kinds of wild stories about food you thought was boring!
This adorable book documents all things cute, explains why they are cute, and sprinkles random facts about cute things throughout. It's also hilarious. Did you know that a town in Peru is powered by burning guinea pig poo? Read the book to learn more.
I hope you saw something you liked!
--Andrea W., H.Q.
