Category: MG Novels

middle grade novels (for 8-12 yo)

cover of Across So Many Seas
Posted in Award Winners, MG Novels, So Many Good Books

Across So Many Seas

Posted on by Susan Uhlig

Marvelous Middle Grade Monday

Across So Many Seas (Nancy Paulsen Books, 2024) by Ruth Behar is about immigrants–it covers four time periods and explores a variety of reasons why people leave their country.

We start in Spain in 1492 when Jews are forced to leave or face death. Twelve-year-old Benvenida’s family goes to Turkey where they are allowed to live freely. Of course, it wasn’t an easy journey. Next, we meet twelve-year-old Reina whose father ships her off to Cuba because of a small act of disobedience–there she is promised to marry a stranger. The story picks up in 1961 Cuba with Reina’s daughter, twelve-year-old Alegra, who becomes a brigadista teaching country people how to read. Again, the family has to leave their home–this time for the United States. In 2003 Miami, we meet Alegra’s twelve-year-old daughter Paloma, who with her family makes an amazing trip back to Spain.

Ruth was inspired by her two grandmothers, a Polish Jew, and a Turkish Jew, both who sailed on different ships to Cuba. She obviously had to do a lot of research into the times and places for this story, and makes them each feel real.

Read her fascinating bio here and check out all her books here–it also shows all the awards this book has won.

Previously, I recommended Ruth’s Lucky Broken Girl, another immigrant story.

cover of War Games
Posted in MG Novels, So Many Good Books

War Games

Posted on by Susan Uhlig

Marvelous Middle Grade Monday

War Games (Scholastic Press, 2025) by Alan Gratz is more fictional than his usual historicals, but it is good nevertheless.

Thirteen-year-old gymnast Evie is in Berlin for the 1936 Olympic games and is determined to bring home a gold medal to help her displaced “Okie” family. But a mysterious note to help her “take home the gold” and tell no one, leads her on an adventure where she experiences what Hitler doesn’t want the Olympians to see.

Make sure you read the author’s note at the end.

Check out the bestselling author here and discover his other novels here. Alan also writes graphic novels and short fiction.

My previous recommendations of books by Alan include: Ban this Book and Allies.

cover of How to Tell a True Story
Posted in MG Novels, So Many Good Books

How to Tell a True Story

Posted on by Susan Uhlig

Marvelous Middle Grade Monday

How to Tell a True Story (Margaret Ferguson Books, Holiday House, 2025) by Tricia Springstubb is a fascinating story of dealing with trauma–a family home burning down.

Seventh grader Amber Price divides her world into Before and After. Before, hardly anyone noticed her. After, she’s the fire girl. And not only do students know her name, but they want to do a fundraiser for her family. However, she knows Dad would say, “the Prices don’t take charity.” Somehow the fundraiser goes ahead, and she’ll have to confess to Dad. Worse, though, her brother, the hero who saved Amber from the fire, is keeping secrets.

This book is a Junior Library Guild Gold Standard selection.

Previously, I recommended her book Moonpenny Island. I need to find more of Tricia’s books. You can check them out here and read about the author here.

cover of Best of All Worlds
Posted in MG Novels, So Many Good Books, YA Novels

Best of All Worlds

Posted on by Susan Uhlig

Marvelous Middle Grade Monday

Best of All Worlds (Scholastic Press, 2025) by Kenneth Oppel was fascinating, mysterious, and a freaky story of survival.

Thirteen-year-old Xavier hadn’t wanted to go to the cottage with his dad and pregnant stepmom–he’d rather be gaming at home with Mom and his brother–but when he wakes up the first morning, it’s as if the cottage has been removed from one place and plunked down somewhere else. Have they been abducted by aliens, as Xavier expects, or by the government for a secret project?

Later in the story, three years have passed, and Xavier is 16, so this book may not be appropriate for younger readers. I don’t know how else the author could have ended the book, but it wasn’t as satisfying as I’d hoped.

Read about the award-winning author here and check out more books here. (Note: the website appears to not have been updated recently.)

Cover of Leeva at Lasst
Posted in MG Novels, So Many Good Books

Leeva at Last

Posted on by Susan Uhlig

Marvelous Middle Grade Monday

Leeva at Last (Balzer + Bray, 2023) by Sara Pennypacker with pictures by Matthew Cordell is a delightful bittersweet story.

Leeva’s parents only think of two things: fame and money. And since she’s only 8 or 9, she can’t help with either. But she can fix the food, wash the dishes, and never leave the house! But wondering what people are for, Leeva sneaks out through the hedge surrounding the backyard and discovers the library next door and the amazing librarians who share books and cookies with her. Discovering what people are for, ends up with Leeva changing the whole community.

Read about the author here and check out all of Sara’s books here.

Read about the illustrator here. Matthew is also an author.