Tag: art

Cover of Each and Every Spark - shows a diagonally split page with a girl in Paris with WW2 planes flying and a girl in modern Paris
Posted in MG Novels, So Many Good Books

Each and Every Spark

Posted on by Susan Uhlig

Marvelous Middle Grade Monday

Each and Every Spark (Quill Tree Books, 2026) by Claire Swinarski is a duel timeline story set in Paris, where the past intersects with the present. (Isn’t that a beautiful cover?!)

Penny Marks is unhappy her family has moved to Paris for Mom’s new job and has no difficulty in sharing her displeasure. But her interest in Paris of 1943 is sparked by finding a letter from a girl in the past.

Marie Bonnet lives with her sister Heloise under the fear of the German occupation. Will their father ever return? When she discovers her sister is part of the Resistance, Marie wants to join.

Both girls are keeping secrets. Both girls must change. Plus there’s a mysterious painting that connects both girls.

Read about the author here and check out her other middle grade books here.

cover of Georgia Watson and the 99 Percent Campaign
Posted in MG Novels, So Many Good Books

Georgia Watson and the 99 Percent Campaign

Posted on by Susan Uhlig

Marvelous Middle Grade Monday

Georgia Watson and the 99 Percent Campaign (Fitzroy Books/Regal House, October 2025*) by Sara F. Shacter was so good it was a one-sitting read. Ask your libraries to order it. I mean it!

Georgia and her one friend Izzy are entering 6th grade and thrilled to be in Mr. C’s class. (They both love science which he teaches.) But when Izzy’s former friend, mean Nicole, tries to squeeze Georgia out, Georgia is so mad she does something mean back with unfortunate consequences. Will she lose Izzy now? And what will their other classmates think? Worse yet Mr. C is disappointed in her. What a horrible start to the school year that may mean Georgia doesn’t get her wish for the two of them to go to science camp together next summer.

I love how what they’re learning in class effects Georgia’s actions, and how class assignments help her to see others differently. We all want kids to have teachers like fun and inventive Mr. C. Georgia’s science themed t-shirts are great, too. I also like that this ISN’T the typical “mean girl” story.

This is the author’s first middle grade novel. Read about Sara here and check out her picture books here.

*I got to read an Advanced Reader Copy.

cover of Painting the Game
Posted in MG Novels, So Many Good Books

Painting the Game

Posted on by Susan Uhlig

Marvelous Middle Grade Monday

Painting the Game (Margaret K. McElderry Books, 2024) by Patricia MacLachlan is a tender and wonderful book.

It’s baseball time and 11-year-old Lucy thinks the pitcher’s mound is scary. But her father is a great pitcher for a minor league team and she wants to “paint the game” just like he does. She starts practicing in secret. However, she’s not the only one who has a secret.

The characters in this book are so great.

Patricia MacLahlan was the Newbery Medal winner for Sarah, Plain and Tall, which has also been made into a movie. (If you missed these, you really should check them out!) This was her last book. Read about her and all her books here.

cover of When Sea Becomes Sky
Posted in MG Novels, So Many Good Books

When Sea Becomes Sky

Posted on by Susan Uhlig

Marvelous Middle Grade Monday

When Sea Becomes Sky (Bloomsbury Children’s Books, 2023) by Gillian McDunn is super good. I don’t think I’ve fallen in love with a middle grade book so much as this one. And been so surprised.

It’s summer and siblings Bex and Davey are spending time in the salt marsh and discover an underwater hand. It’s part of a statue, but development may destroy not only their favorite place, but this amazing piece of artwork, so the two have to do something.

The book is a Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection, a Kids Indie Next List Pick (March/April 2023), an Amazon Best Books March 2023 and Editors’ Pick, plus a Southern Book Prize Finalist.

Learn about Gillian here and check out her five other books here.