Category: Award Winners

cover of Sherlock Society Art Attack features an illustration with four kids looking for clues with flashlights in a building
Posted in Award Winners, MG Novels, So Many Good Books

The Sherlock Society Art Attack

Posted on by Susan Uhlig

Marvelous Middle Grade Monday

I got a sneak peek* at the upcoming The Sherlock Society Art Attack (Simon & Schuster/Aladdin, September 2026) by James Ponti and it was a fun romp. It may be the third book in a series, but the story sands alone just fine. (I have not read the others, but now I want to.)

Twelve-year-old Alex Sherlock, best friend Yadi, sister Zoe, new friend Lina, and former journalist grandpa make up the Sherlock Society in Miami, Florida. They agree to take on the case of finding who the graffiti artist Funky Monkey is for a developer who wants to hire the artist to do a mural. The team of five divide their search up into the five Ws: who, what, when where, and why. Along the way they meet a number of people in the tagging scene via Grandpa’s girlfriend, plus get involved with a podcaster who features Funky Monkey, and get involved in a some city arson cases.

The inside look at graffiti artists was interesting, although a bit too detailed in a few places. But I really enjoyed getting to know the characters, and their solving of multiple mysteries. It’s also fun how fluent the kids are with technology, and how they manage when that isn’t available. Can you say, “grounded”?

Check out this page for more about the series including a fun book trailer for the second book.

Read about the bestselling author of four series here and see all his awards here–it’s impressive! James will be doing a number of events for this book, which you can find here.

*I received access from the publisher to a digital advanced reader copy.

cover of Mascot, illustration of white bricks with a painted out mascot logo, two feathers and a tomahawk blade are visible
Posted in Award Winners, MG Novels, So Many Good Books

Mascot

Posted on by Susan Uhlig

Marvelous Middle Grade Monday

Mascot (Charlesbridge, 2023) by Charles Waters and Traci Sorell is a fascinating multi-point of view novel in verse that should be in all school libraries.

Six kids, six opinions about the middle school mascot, a tomahawk-wielding brave, and the first pep rally of the year.

For Callie (Cherokee Nation), it’s hate, fear, and disgust. Franklin (Black) loves the team and the fight song, “We are the mighty, mighty Braves!” and gets his face painted in red and yellow stripes. Luis (El Salvador) thinks all this celebrating should be for futbol–the greatest sport in the world. Priya (grandparents from India) believes the rally is racist. Sean’s (white) too shy to get his face painted but thinks the Braves bring people together. Previously home-schooled vegan Tessa (white) is shocked and thinks it should be stopped. All are in the same eighth grade honors English class.

The assignment: “Persuasive Writing and Oration, “Subject: Pros and Cons of Indigenous Peoples as Mascots.” Each student is matched up with a partner and the pair are told whether to be pro or con on the topic, no matter what they personally believe. No two agree on the issue.

I love how the emotions come through as each express their differences of opinion. Can each student change their partner’s point of view?

The book has received an American Indian Youth Literature Award Honor and a Jane Addams Children’s Book Award Honor.

Read about the co-authors here (Charles) and here (Traci). Traci’s books are here and Charles’ here. Previously, I recommended Powwow Day by Traci.

cover of Flying Through Clouds - blue and cloudy sky background with a brown outline of a biplane
Posted in Award Winners, MG Novels, So Many Good Books, YA Novels

Flying Through Clouds

Posted on by Susan Uhlig

Marvelous Middle Grade Monday

Flying Through Clouds (independently published 2017) by Michelle Morgan was a really good historical read. Though technically a YA book, I think many middle graders will enjoy it.

Set in Australia in the 1930s, Joe wants to be an aviator, but his parents are against it. And there’s trouble with the bookkeeping business his father runs, which Joe helps with but doesn’t get paid much. If only he can save up enough money for flying lessons.

I loved the character’s voice. Read the opening lines: “The house is quiet – too quiet. I close the front door carefully, trying not to make any noise. It’s not so much that I’m late, as I shouldn’t have gone out in the first place.” How could one not read on?

In an interview Michelle said, “Flying through Clouds was inspired by two historical events – the opening of the Sydney Harbour Bridge in March 1932, and the landing and take-off of Southern Cross by Sir Charles Kingsford Smith on Seven Mile Beach in January 1933.” Both of these events are mentioned in the story. Read more of the interview here.

This book is a Winner of the 2017 SCBWI Spark Award for Older Readers. 

I’m disappointed the writer hasn’t published any books since, but it looks like she’s too busy with her songwriting and singing with her husband. Read about her here.

cover of Right Back at You. Hanging from the O as if it is a key chain are a clock face set to ten:10, a single blue sneaker, a baseball glove, a gold Star of David, An @ symbol, and a red and white striped lollipop.
Posted in Award Winners, MG Novels, So Many Good Books

Right Back at You

Posted on by Susan Uhlig

Marvelous Middle Grade Monday

Right Back at You (Scholastic Press, 2025) by Carolyn Mackler was so good and had a surprising ending. I enjoyed it immensely.

It’s 2023, and 12-year-old Mason’s parents have split up, plus he’s being bullied at school, partially about his dad leaving. Mason says his life, “sucks” and is the equivalent of a “black hole.” Told to write a letter about his troubles to someone, Mason chooses Albert Einstein. Embarrassed by what he wrote, Mason throws it in his closet, but when he decides to destroy it, the letter is missing. In it’s place is a letter from a girl named Talia who claims it’s 1987.

Talia is also 12 and has troubles of her own–her best friend ditching her and a boy at school teasing her about being Jewish. How did Mason get a letter in her closet?! Especially since he says he lives in New York and she lives in Pennsylvania…

The book is a National Jewish Book Award Finalist and a Sydney Taylor Book Award Notable Book.

Carolyn writes both middle grade and young adult books. Read about the award-winning author here. And here’s an interview with Carolyn about this book.

Cover of book 24 Hours in Nowhere - a reddish orange desert scene, bright blue sky, hot yellow sun, a trailer house, and four kids silhouetted as the climb.
Posted in Award Winners, MG Novels, So Many Good Books

24 Hours in Nowhere

Posted on by Susan Uhlig

Marvelous Middle Grade Monday

24 Hours in Nowhere (Stirling Children’s Books, 2018) by Dusti Bowling is a fantastic tale of events that happen in 24 hours. (Honestly, I didn’t plan to recommend two books with the same time frame two weeks apart–I just happened to read them both now.)

13-year-old Gus can’t wait to get out of the town of Nowhere, Arizona. Their town is number one in things like poverty, high school drop outs, and drunken mine deaths. His hope is the SAT, which will get him to college. But meanwhile, Rossi gave up her motorbike to the local bully to save Gus from eating a cholla (nasty cactus), and Gus has to buy it back. His only hope is gold from the dangerous Dead Frenchman Mine.

I loved seeing how Gus grew and how his relationships changed on this adventure that involves a cave-in, a mountain lion, a black underground lake, and of course, a failing light source. Definitely a compelling read.

Check out all the awards for this book:
A Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection
One of Shelf Awareness’s Best Books of 2018
A Golden Kite Honor Winner
A Silver Nautilus Award Winner
A Bank Street Best Children’s Book of the Year

Last year I recommended Dusti’s book Holding on for Dear Life. Dusti’s newest book is a YA coming out this October–The Drowning Game. She has many other books I haven’t read…yet. Go to her website for more info.