historical – Susan Uhlig

Award Winners, MG Novels, So Many Good Books

A Place to Hang the Moon

Posted on September 21, 2026September 14, 2026 by Susan Uhlig

Marvelous Middle Grade Monday

A Place to Hang the Moon (Margaret Ferguson Books, 2021) by Kate Albus is marvelous. I loved it so much.

It’s the beginning of World War II in London, and siblings William, Edmond, and Anna have just lost their sole relative, their grandmother. With no appointed guardian, the solicitor decides the best thing to do is to send the children to the countryside with others their age who are being evacuated. Perhaps there they can find a suitable family to become their guardians. But first they can not tell the secret that they have no one to care for them in London and that they’ll inherit their grandmother’s money.

At twelve, William, is in charge of his siblings, eleven and nine, and it’s his duty to take care of them and keep them together. But, who would want to take in three child evacuees after all? Or keep them. Suffering is ahead for all three. But at least there’s a library.

I read this award-winning book almost in one sitting–the children in the story were so cold I had to stop and make myself some hot chocolate.

This historical novel is an SCBWI Crystal Kite Award Winner, a New York Public Library Best Book for Kids, Kids Indie Next List pick, a ALSC Notable Children’s Book, a CCBC Choice, and a Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection.

Read about the author here and check out Kate’s books here.

MG Novels, So Many Good Books

Each and Every Spark

Posted on August 31, 2026August 30, 2026 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 Adventures in the City of Stories shows three kids in front of one of the lions at the NY Public Library

MG Novels, So Many Good Books

Adventure in the City of Stories

Posted on August 10, 2026August 4, 2026 by Susan Uhlig

Marvelous Middle Grade Monday

Adventure in the City of Stories (Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2026) by Emma Otheguy and illustrated by Poly Bernatene is a fun novel of time travel that just came out in July.

Seventh grader and honor roll student Camilla is crying because she got in trouble with the school principal for bringing inappropriate books* to her Miami school, and now a letter has been sent to all the parents talking about how they were confiscated. Cami thinks she can’t ever go back to school. To cheer her up, Jorge shows her their aunt’s old folktale book and puppets. But when an eighth grade bully threatens to throw the book in the dumpster, the two jump into a magic tinajón (large pot) to escape and get transported in time and place. Back to 1930s New York. Where more trouble awaits.

I loved the mix of contemporary and historical in this story. It was a pleasure to “meet” some people from the past, including Pura Belpré, the first Latina librarian at the New York Public Library. I learned some Spanish as well as history. And who doesn’t love magic?

The book is a companion to Cousins in the Time of Magic, which I hadn’t read, but now want to. This story definitely stands alone. (I was given a copy of the book from the publisher for review.)

Read about the author here and see Emma’s other books here.

Read about the illustrator here–there are spot illustrations throughout the book. See Poly’s books here (he’s an author as well) and check out his his kid friendly illustrations here.

*The books were in Spanish about Latino students.

Award Winners, MG Novels, So Many Good Books, YA Novels

Flying Through Clouds

Posted on June 8, 2026June 3, 2026 by Susan Uhlig

Marvelous Middle Grade Monday

Flying Through Clouds (independently published 2017) by Michelle Morgan was a really good historical read. Though technically a YA book, I think many middle graders will enjoy it.

Set in Australia in the 1930s, Joe wants to be an aviator, but his parents are against it. And there’s trouble with the bookkeeping business his father runs, which Joe helps with but doesn’t get paid much. If only he can save up enough money for flying lessons.

I loved the character’s voice. Read the opening lines: “The house is quiet – too quiet. I close the front door carefully, trying not to make any noise. It’s not so much that I’m late, as I shouldn’t have gone out in the first place.” How could one not read on?

In an interview Michelle said, “Flying through Clouds was inspired by two historical events – the opening of the Sydney Harbour Bridge in March 1932, and the landing and take-off of Southern Cross by Sir Charles Kingsford Smith on Seven Mile Beach in January 1933.” Both of these events are mentioned in the story. Read more of the interview here.

This book is a Winner of the 2017 SCBWI Spark Award for Older Readers.

I’m disappointed the writer hasn’t published any books since, but it looks like she’s too busy with her songwriting and singing with her husband. Read about her here.

Award Winners, MG Novels, So Many Good Books

Across So Many Seas

Posted on February 16, 2026February 12, 2026 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.