Rhyme Schemer (Chronicle, 2014) by K.A. Holt is a novel written in verse that will appeal to kids looking for a quick and interesting read. It is also an Amazon Best Book for Kids and Teens, and a Bank Street Best Book of the Year.
Kevin is in seventh grade and he keeps getting in trouble and sent to the principal–sometimes he deserves it, but other times not. He writes in a notebook about his classmates and teachers, and his real trouble starts when his notebook is lost and another student finds it. Now only is Kevin being blackmailed but he’s also being called Poetry Boy. As he says, however, “I’m not a poet.”
Even though the main character, Kevin, is a troublemaker, I found myself sympathizing with him.
I love how author Kari Anne Holt introduces herself in a short poem on the main page of her website. It’s also interesting seeing the variety of books she writes. Plus on her website for this book there’s a Common Core Discussion Guide.
Category: MG Novels
middle grade novels (for 8-12 yo)
Switch
Switch (Dial, 2015) by Ingrid Law is the third book in her series that started with Savvy*. Like the two other books, it grabbed me and was hard to put down.
Gypsy Beaumont gets her savvy like her siblings on her 13th birthday, but the excitement is spoiled with the news that mean Grandma Pat is going to move in with them because she has Alzheimers. But then something very strange happens. Gypsy’s savvy switches to something different and so do the savvies of the other family members at home. Is the switch permanent? And will the disaster her first savvy predicted come true?
On her website, Ingrid answers this question:
If you had a savvy what would it be?
If I could have any power, I’d want the ability to teleport. Then I could go anywhere I wanted, anytime! (I’m always changing my answer to this question… maybe I really want to have a different power every day!)
Read more on her FAQ.
*Savvy was a 2009 Newbery honor book. The sequel is Scumble. Switch just came out in September.
The Last Child of Hamelin
The Last Child of Hamelin (Spencer Hill, 2014) by Ray Ballantyne follows up on what happened after the Pied Piper took all the children.
It’s 60 years later and twelve-year-old Pieter, sometimes just has to escape from Hamelin. Escape from his abusive father, from the other boys who pick on him, and from where he’s forbidden to express the music that wells up inside of him. Up on the mountain he meets the old man Simon–the only child who didn’t follow the piper–and Pieter hears the music of the piper himself.
I love how much the author has made me care about Pieter. I think you’ll find yourself caring for him too in this intriguing fantasy.
I’ve met the author in person. You can visit Ray on his Facebook page.
The Cabinet of Earths
The Cabinet of Earths (Harper 2012) by Anne Nesbet is a creepily good book. Here’s the first line: “It was his own grandmother who fed Henri-Pierre to the Cabinet of Earths, long ago when he was only four.” See what I mean about creepy? If you like fantasy, or spooky books, I think you’ll like this one.
Chapter two takes off by introducing us to Maya Davidson, a 12-year-old from California who with her family is currently in France. She’s interesting, smart and brave. Will she solve the mystery of the missing children and be able to protect her little brother from the danger facing him? Read it and find out.
Author Anne Nesbet’s website is appropriately subtitled “curious books for curious people.” There I found she has two other titles I need to check out!
A Box of Gargoyles is a sequel to The Cabinet of Earths. Yea, more Maya!
I also like this entry on Anne’s blog: Shadows and Wonders: Or, Write Your Novel Like an Eclipse. It talks about seeing differently. Her comments are not just for writing, but for life!
Unusual Chickens for the Exceptional Poultry Farmer
Marvelous Middle Grade Monday
Unusual Chickens for the Exceptional Poultry Farmer (Knopf Books for Young Readers, 2015) written by Kelly Jones and illustrated by Katie Kath is a fun peek into Sophie Brown’s experience with super powered chickens. Written in letters, starting with one from twelve-year-old Sophie to Redwood Farm Supply requesting a catalog, which is way more fun than it sounds, to letters to her dead Abuelita and her dead Great Uncle Jim, whose farm the family is now living on, this story is a great read. You’ll also find quizzes, to do lists, a correspondence course, and a bad typist. You’ll meet a small white angry chicken, Agnes from Redwood Farm, a chicken thief, a mailman, a librarian, and even learn a bit about raising chickens yourself.
This story makes me smile every time I think about it. Debut author Kelly Jones makes me laugh on her website, too, with her witty comments about school visit experiences. Check it out: http://curiosityjones.net/. From there you can follow links to interviews with Kelly.
I think you’ll also enjoy the delightful illustrations that add to this book. Illustrator Katie Kath is new to the field and already has a bunch of books lined up. Read about how her career got it’s jump start and see what she’s working on here: http://www.ktkath.com. Make sure you click on Kids and Middle Grade to see a variety of illustrations!