Amal Unbound (Nancy Paulsen Books, 2018) by Aisha Saeed is SO Good! I’d been hearing a lot about this New York Times bestseller and am really glad I’ve now read it.
Twelve-year-old Amal loves school, but now she has to stay home and watch her little sisters while her mother recovers from the birth of another baby. Amal wants to be a teacher herself someday, so missing this much school is worrying. Her dreams are shattered one day when she is rude to the wrong man–a member of the ruling family in their Pakistani village. For her effrontery, she is taken away from home to be Jawad Sahib’s servant. How can she survive the intrigue among the Khan’s servants? Will she ever be allowed to return home?
This book would make a fantastic movie. As my previous recommendation, I wish kids all over America could read it.
Previously, I’ve recommended Aisha’s YA novel, Written in the Stars. You can read about it here.
I love this list of Fourteen Things about the author.
Category: MG Novels
middle grade novels (for 8-12 yo)
Front Desk
Front Desk (Arthur A. Levine Books, 2018) by Kelly Yang is a book I wish everyone could read. (Especially those who take what they have for granted…)
Mia Tang’s parents told her that America was this amazing place. But so far, no house, no dog, and very little money.
Ten-year-old Mia doesn’t want the kids at school to know where she lives–a motel, but better than when they lived in their car. She does like working the front desk. And making new friends. Although she wishes she could speak native English. And write it, too.
But Mr. Yao, the motel owner, is making it harder and harder on her parents. Will they all have to move and find jobs yet again?
Front Desk was named a “Best Book” many times over. See them all here.
Read the real story behind this wonderful story.
Besides being a children’s author, Kelly is a journalist and educator. Read more here.
The Truth as Told by Mason Buttle
The Truth as Told by Mason Buttle (Katherine Tegen Books, 2018) by Leslie Connor has such a sympathetic character. I couldn’t wait to find out what had happened.
Mason is the biggest, tallest kid in seventh grade. He also has a sweating problem. And writing is extremely difficult for him. Of course, that means he’s bullied. But Ms. Blinny believes he has stories in him and lets him use a computer that translates his spoken words into text. Maybe Lieutenant Baird can read those printouts and will believe Mason’s oft-told story of what he knows about his friend Benny’s death.
Life gets better with a new funny friend, Calvin. But when Calvin goes missing, the Lieutenant suspects Mason for this too.
The book is a National Book Award Finalist and is on a number of “Best Book” lists for 2018.
Read more about the author here.
I’ve recommended another of her books here.
Somewhere Among
Somewhere Among (A Caitlyn Dlouhy Book, 2016) by Annie Donwerth-Chikamatsu is such a good book. It’s told in verse and the sparse language works so well.
Ema has a Japanese father and an American mother. Usually, she gets to spend the end of the summer in California with her mom and Grandpa Bob and Nana. But this year, her mother is expecting a baby and needs rest, so beginning in June, she and Ema will stay with Jiichan and Obaachan in western Tokyo. And it’s not going to be easy–especially with Papa working so far away. Then shortly after school starts, the whole world changes with the attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon on September 11, 2001.
Listen to Ema herself:
At home
with Mom and Papa
I am
between
two cultures
two languages
two time zones
every day.
Everywhere I go
here or there
I am different.
Doesn’t that just pull your heartstrings?
Read about the author and her family here.
The Wizard’s Dog
If you like dogs, humor, and magic (or at least two of the three), then The Wizard’s Dog (Crown Books for Young Readers, 2017) by Eric Kahn Gale is the book for you.
The story is told from Nosewise’s viewpoint. (He’s the dog.) His master, the Wizard Merlin, and his pack mate Morgana, keep shutting him out of the study. He knows that Morgana is the favorite pet, but why is she allowed in when he isn’t? One day Nosewise has had enough at being left out and barks and claws at the door. Morgana thinks it should be okay for him to be in the room, so Merlin gives in. Watching Morgana work on a spell, Nosewise wants to learn more tricks than sit! and stay!. When Merlin is kidnapped, it’s a good thing Nosewise is not only interested in magic, but wants to get his master back.
The story made me laugh so often as I read and makes me smile just to think about it again. I also love the front cover and the spot illustrations by Dave Phillips.
You can watch a trailer for the book here.
This is the author’s third book and was inspired by his own dog, Bowser. Read more about Eric and his other books here.