Marvelous Middle Grade Monday
A Snicker of Magic (Scholastic Press, 2014) by Natalie Lloyd reminds me a bit of Savvy by Ingrid Law–I think it’s Natalie’s wonderful use of language. I like the fullness of hope in this story, too.
Felicity Pickle sees and collects words from everywhere, like magic. And magic might just be what she is looking for. She and her little sister Frannie Jo are facing yet another new town and new school. But this time is different–Midnight Gulch is the town where their mother grew up. Maybe they’ll get to stay. And, maybe Felicity can undo the curse that sent the magic away all those years ago.
This is author Natalie Lloyd’s first book, but according to her blog we can expect more as she’s working on revisions… Yea! And you should take a look at her blog just to see pictures of her dog Biscuit.
Category: MG Novels
middle grade novels (for 8-12 yo)
Three Times Lucky
Marvelous Middle Grade Monday
Three Times Lucky (Dial Books for Young Readers/Penguin, 2012) by Sheila Turnage is a murder mystery that won a Newbery Honor. I love how it opens: “Trouble cruised into Tupelo Landing at exactly seven minutes past noon on Wednesday, the third of June, flashing a gold badge and driving a Chevy Impala the color of dirt.” 11-year-old Mo and her best friend Dale don’t know it, but they’re going to get mixed up good in the trouble that has come to town.
A sequel came out this year, The Ghosts of Tupelo Landing, which features Mo and Dale working to solve another mystery in their unusual small town. I haven’t read it yet, but am looking forward to it!
On her website, author Sheila Turnage has a page for Questions Kids Ask Me AKA Report Homework–it’s fun. Plus on her site you can read about her other books.
Chained
Marvelous Middle Grade Monday
Chained (Farrar Straus Giroux, 2012) by Lynn Kelly is a story about a young boy in India rescuing others. First, it’s his mother, then it’s a baby elephant.
10-year-old Hastin thought that working at a circus taking care of an elephant would be fun. But he doesn’t like the cruel treatment of the Nandita, who has become his best friend. Can he escape his master? Can he help Nandita escape, too?
While doing research for this book, author Lynn Kelly came across some interesting elephant facts, which she shares here. There’s also a Chained website that includes deleted scenes and more, such as information about the elephant bell.
This book is a 2013 Crystal Kite winner–the award selected by SCBWI peers.
And here’s the cover for the book published in India–just because I like it.
Rose
Marvelous Middle Grade Monday
Rose (Sourcebooks Jabberwocky, 2013) by Holly Webb is book one in a charming series that first came out in the UK and we’re fortunate it made it’s way across the pond.
10-year-old Rose is thrilled to be leaving the orphanage to go earn her own living as a maid–it’s her dream of an ordinary life. But the master is a magician and the house hums with magic. Rose finds she can understand the master’s cat and he can understand her. Next, Rose turns out to be better than the master’s apprentice at magic, even though she doesn’t want to have any magic. But when girls are missing all over, and when one of them happens to be a friend of hers, Rose will do what she has to do.
Check out all the other books on Holly Webb’s site–there are 3 more Rose books and lots of other books. Something else fun on Holly’s site is the pictures of her pets. Go here and click on the picture of the cat in the frame on the mantel.
Oh, and I just found this article about Holly’s top tips for writing stories set in the past.
Super Heroes Galore – Geeks, Girls, and Secret Identities & Please Don’t Tell My Parents I’m a Supervillain
If you love super heroes, these two books are must reads. Both are fast paced and funny.
First, is Geeks, Girls and Secret Identities (Scholastic, 2012) by Mike Jung. Vincent Wu and his friends love Captain Stupendous. But when Vincent learns the Captain’s secret identity, he and his friends have to act to save Captain Stupendous, because the Captain is really a girl who doesn’t know anything about being a super hero!
The opening line of the book: “There are four Captain Stupendous fan clubs in Copperplate City, but ours is the only one that doesn’t suck.” This story definitely doesn’t suck either. In fact, it’s so appealing my copy was recently stolen… No kidding!
Read author Mike Jung’s description of himself on his blog to laugh, too. But besides being a funny guy, he’s honest about how difficult life can be. Can’t wait to see his next book.
Next, is Please Don’t Tell My Parents I’m a Supervillain (Curiosity Quills Press, 2014) by Richard Roberts. In this case Penelope Akk knows she could be a superhero, because her parents are ones. But as her powers begin emerging she finds it is so much fun being a villain instead.
The opening line of the book: “On the last day before I got my super power, I was sulking because I didn’t have a super power.” You can probably tell that Penny is a teen.
This is author Richard Roberts’ fourth book. Read more about him and his other books here.
Hmm, I wonder if these two authors have ever met… Who would dominate the world?!