Category: MG Novels

middle grade novels (for 8-12 yo)

Posted in MG Novels, So Many Good Books

Double Vision

Posted on by Susan Uhlig

Secret Agents – Junior Style

doublevision.png

Double Vision (Harper, 2012) by F.T. Bradley is the first book in a very fun series. On the first page, 12-year-old Linc tells us a field trip to a chicken farm ends up changing his life. Funny, right? And the rest of the book does NOT disappoint.
Here’s a brief intro:
Lincoln wanted to be good on the field trip, but when the farmer wouldn’t let them near the chickens, temptation was just too great–Linc pushed the big lever which let the chickens out of their cages. To get his family out of the resulting lawsuit, Linc agrees to go with two secret agents on a trip across the world.
I loved book one with it’s unexpected twists and humor.
doublevision711.pngThe next book Double Vision Code Name 711 just came out last month–I need to get it. There’s a website where you can keep up on the books: www.doublevisionbooks.com.
You can also check out the author’s website here: http://ftbradley.com/.

Posted in MG Novels, So Many Good Books

Wooden Bones

Posted on by Susan Uhlig

WoodenBones12Wooden Bones (Simon & Schuster, 2012) by Scott William Carter is a dark retelling of Pinocchio. I love this sentence on the first page: “So although something extraordinary had certainly happened in this little town at the edge of a great forest, the first strange person didn’t show up asking about it until nearly winter.”
Here’s a brief intro: Pino has been working as an apprentice with Geppeto, his papa for 6 weeks. “It had been long enough that he’d started to forget all about his terrible old life.” Then a stranger comes to the door and talks to Papa. When the second one comes, Pino gets an idea of what these strangers want–for Geppetto to bring back a lost one. When Pino finds he can bring wood to life, the two must flee before an angry mob.
I won’t spoil the story with any more details. But it’s a very good book!
Read about Scott and his books here.

Posted in Award Winners, MG Novels, So Many Good Books

Splendors and Glooms

Posted on by Susan Uhlig

splendors.jpgLooking for something spooky or creepy? Then read Splendors and Glooms (Candlewick, 2012) by Laura Amy Schlitz which won a 2013 Newbery Honor.
The book told in multiple viewpoints features:

12-year-old Clara, child of wealthy parents, who wants the puppet master to perform at her birthday party. She wants something to be different from her other birthdays, where she has to open presents from her dead siblings.

Lizzie Rose and Parsefall work for the puppet master Grisini. They’re always hungry and neglected. When Clara is found missing, Lizzie Rose suspects their master has something to do with it.

We also have viewpoints of a witch.

I love how this historical story is mixed with magic. It definitely deserved the honor it has received. Laura is a 2008 Newbery winner for Good Masters! Sweet Ladies! Voices from a Medieval Village.

You can read about Laura here. And here’s an interesting video.

Posted in MG Novels, So Many Good Books

Drizzle

Posted on by Susan Uhlig

drizzle.jpgContemporary Fantasy or Magical Realism

Whatever you call it, I loved Drizzle (Dial Books for Young Readers, 2010) by Kathleen Van Cleve. It reminds me a bit of Ingrid Law’s books–Savvy and Scumble.
11-year-old Polly lives on a farm where it always rains precisely at 1 pm on Mondays and tourists come to ride the giant umbrella. And that’s not the only thing odd about the farm and her family. You can imagine how things go at school. To top it off, Polly’s best friend is a chocolate rhubarb plant.
But then . . .
The rain stops. Polly’s brother gets ill. And they might lose the farm!
Polly’s a great kid. I was with her worrying, rooting for her, and even wanting to defend her.
I hope Kathleen is busy writing more imaginative fun stories. Here’s her website.

Posted in Award Winners, MG Novels, So Many Good Books

The One and Only Ivan

Posted on by Susan Uhlig

ivan.pngThe One and Only Ivan (HarperCollins, 2012) by Katherine Applegate is a heartbreaker and touching story. Animal lovers will especially like this book that won the 2013 Newbery award–though be prepared to be upset at what happens…

Ivan is a gorilla. In captivity. He doesn’t remember much of his life before. He lives at the Exit 8 Big Top Mall and Video Arcade, where he’s the main attraction. He watches TV, talks to his friends: an elderly elephant named Stella and a stray dog named Bob, and paints pictures. Like Julia, the mall cleaner’s daughter, he’s an artist. But people are coming less and less to see Ivan. Finally his owner, Mack, buys a baby elephant to be the new attraction. The dying Stella makes Ivan promise to find a better life for Ruby, the baby elephant. What can Ivan do to keep that promise?

Find out about the real Ivan who inspired the story here.