Tag: friendships

cover of Chirp
Posted in MG Novels, So Many Good Books

Chirp

Posted on by Susan Uhlig

Marvelous Middle Grade Monday

I probably missed Chirp (Bloomsbury Children’s Books, 2020) by Kate Messner due to the pandemic, but am very glad to have caught up with it now.

The summer after 7th grade, Mia and her family move back to Vermont and she wishes the two years in Boston had never happened. Mom is making her choose two activities–one for her brain and one for her body–when Mia would rather just stay on the couch like she’s mostly been since her accident. New friendships, helping out Gram out with her cricket farm that she was supposed to sell, keeps her busy, but things keep reminding her of the secret she’s hiding.

This book is sooo good. It’s not just a making friends story, or a kid moving story, but so much more. So many layers.

And, yes, the bestselling author did eat crickets in her research for this story. Read more about Kate here and check out all her books here.

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

Wonderland

Posted on by Susan Uhlig

Marvelous Middle Grade Mnday

Wonderland (Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2018) by Barbara O’Connor is a sweet story I’m glad I found. It’s told in three viewpoints, including a dog’s!

It’s the summer between fourth and fifth grade and Mavis Jeeter’s mother is moving them again. Mavis wants to have a best friend. How can she do that if they don’t stay anywhere long enough? She wants this new home in Alabama to be permanent. She’s decided that Mom’s employer’s daughter will be her new best friend and tells her so.

Ten-year-old Rose Tully doesn’t fit in with the others in Magnolia Estates. But then this strange new girl, Mavis, arrives makes her believe she can have a friend, besides Mr. Duffy, the gateguard.

Then there’s Henry, a dog on the run.

See the awards for this book here.

Last year I recommended Barbara’s book Wish. Here’s a link to this bestselling author’s FAQ.

cover of Stay, Girl, shows a beagle running to a girl
Posted in MG Novels, So Many Good Books

Stay, Girl

Posted on by Susan Uhlig

Marvelous Middle Grade Monday

Stay, Girl (Crow & Pitcher Press, 2024) by Angelica R. Jackson was a compelling read.

It’s 1953 in Sacramento, CA and 13-year-old Bet’s dying mother makes her promise to go to her Uncle Earl. The moment Mom dies, Bet packs up a few things and steals hidden money from her crooked stepfather, and is on the run. She plans to only stay a few days with her uncle and then go on to Oregon, but a small injured dog needs some care, so Bet decides to stick around a bit longer.

I enjoyed the details of small town life in this story and was rooting for Bet to have a real home in Amberfields, CA. And, of course, the dogs were fun.

Besides being a writer, Angelica has also rescued some dogs, which you can read about here. Read about the author here and see her other novels here.

Posted in MG Novels, So Many Good Books

Wink

Posted on by Susan Uhlig

Wink (Dial Books for Young Readers, 2020) by Rob Harrell is a serious yet funny read enhanced by comic panels of Batpig and other drawings. It’s hard to put down this touching book.

Look at the first line, “I’m lying on a steel table, all too aware of the giant ray gun pointed in my direction.” How could you not read on?

Seventh grader Ross Maloy just wants to fit in but his diagnosis of a rare eye cancer makes him standout. He feels like if he gives this thing as little energy as he can, it’ll just fade away. Best friend Abby reminds him he has the “Ultimate Excuse” for not having homework done. But things “go from bad to catastrophic.” Not only does he have a permanent winking eye, but now he has to wear a wide-brimmed hat everywhere–including inside–to keep the sun off his face. And now someone is sharing supposedly funny Instagram drawings of him via text to his classmates.

I love how unexpected people become Ross’ friends and how he finds a new interest. I wish the story had been written more chronologically as I sometimes got confused. But still a good read.

The story is based on Rob’s own experiences. Read about the author/illustrator here and check out his other books here. His newest book, Popcorn, comes out in September.

cover of Shouting at the Rain
Posted in MG Novels, So Many Good Books

Shouting at the Rain

Posted on by Susan Uhlig

Marvelous Middle Grade Monday

I loved Shouting at the Rain (Nancy Paulsen Books, 2019) by Lynda Mullaly Hunt so much! It had such good lines that I want to savor, such as, “The sun is always in the sky–it just gets hidden sometimes.”

Delsie never really thought of herself as an orphan until her friend wants to use her as inspiration. Then when Delsie’s summertime friend shows up, she’s not really interested in Delsie and what they used to do anymore. It’s not comfortable being on the outside looking in at friendships nor whole families.

The book is a Junior Library Guild Selection and a NY Times bestseller. Don’t miss this good story!

Read about Lynda here and check out her other two books here.