Marvelous Middle Grade Monday
Three Times Lucky (Dial Books for Young Readers/Penguin, 2012) by Sheila Turnage is a murder mystery that won a Newbery Honor. I love how it opens: “Trouble cruised into Tupelo Landing at exactly seven minutes past noon on Wednesday, the third of June, flashing a gold badge and driving a Chevy Impala the color of dirt.” 11-year-old Mo and her best friend Dale don’t know it, but they’re going to get mixed up good in the trouble that has come to town.
A sequel came out this year, The Ghosts of Tupelo Landing, which features Mo and Dale working to solve another mystery in their unusual small town. I haven’t read it yet, but am looking forward to it!
On her website, author Sheila Turnage has a page for Questions Kids Ask Me AKA Report Homework–it’s fun. Plus on her site you can read about her other books.
Tag: Marvelous Middle Grade Monday
Chained
Marvelous Middle Grade Monday
Chained (Farrar Straus Giroux, 2012) by Lynn Kelly is a story about a young boy in India rescuing others. First, it’s his mother, then it’s a baby elephant.
10-year-old Hastin thought that working at a circus taking care of an elephant would be fun. But he doesn’t like the cruel treatment of the Nandita, who has become his best friend. Can he escape his master? Can he help Nandita escape, too?
While doing research for this book, author Lynn Kelly came across some interesting elephant facts, which she shares here. There’s also a Chained website that includes deleted scenes and more, such as information about the elephant bell.
This book is a 2013 Crystal Kite winner–the award selected by SCBWI peers.
And here’s the cover for the book published in India–just because I like it.
Rose
Marvelous Middle Grade Monday
Rose (Sourcebooks Jabberwocky, 2013) by Holly Webb is book one in a charming series that first came out in the UK and we’re fortunate it made it’s way across the pond.
10-year-old Rose is thrilled to be leaving the orphanage to go earn her own living as a maid–it’s her dream of an ordinary life. But the master is a magician and the house hums with magic. Rose finds she can understand the master’s cat and he can understand her. Next, Rose turns out to be better than the master’s apprentice at magic, even though she doesn’t want to have any magic. But when girls are missing all over, and when one of them happens to be a friend of hers, Rose will do what she has to do.
Check out all the other books on Holly Webb’s site–there are 3 more Rose books and lots of other books. Something else fun on Holly’s site is the pictures of her pets. Go here and click on the picture of the cat in the frame on the mantel.
Oh, and I just found this article about Holly’s top tips for writing stories set in the past.
Wonder
Marvelous Middle Grade Monday
Wonder (Random House, 2012) by R.J. Palacio is a wonder of a book. It’s about ten-year-old Auggie Pullman who has a facial deformity, who himself says “Whatever you’re thinking, it’s probably worse.” Due to all his surgeries he’s never gone to school before, but now in fifth grade is going to go. He knows kids will stare. But what he wishes they knew was how ordinary he is inside. Takes one brave kid to face being the new kid in these circumstances.
The story begins with Auggie’s viewpoint, but we also hear from his older sister Via and others in his life. The book has rightfully earned a lot of starred reviews and is so appropriate for our times. May all the kids who read it have compassion on those who are different.
I love this comment the author makes about the book in an interview: “… I love that people are responding so well. I love that they’re getting that this really isn’t just a book about a kid with a facial anomaly: it’s a celebration of kindness. The impact of kindness. I think that’s why people are so moved by parts of the book. We like to see people doing good, rising beyond our expectations to do something noble. It’s not the big heroic gestures but the small moments of kindness that shape the world.” Read more about her and the book here.
The Hop
Marvelous Middle Grade Monday
The Hop (Disney-Hyperion, 2012) by Sharelle Byars Moranville is a fun adventure story told in two alternating viewpoints: a kid and a TOAD!
Tad, a small toad, lives in Toadville-by-Tumbledown which is in grave danger and he’s been selected to save it by kissing a human girl. Ughh. (Isn’t that an interesting twist?) But not just any girl–it has to be the Queen of the Hop. His trip is quite the adventure as he follows directions and ends up in . . . no, I’m not telling you where.
Taylor’s favorite place is the pond next to her grandmother’s, but the property has been sold and it’s going to be turned into a strip mall. What can she do to save it? And then there’s the complication that her grandmother, Eve, is having chemotherapy and she can’t stay with her all the time anymore, especially this time when her parents go to Reno.
Of course, our two heroes have to meet and kiss, but nothing is as you expect it will be.
There are fun illustrations by Niki Daly to add to the story. (You might want to check out more of his work here.)
Love this book–it makes me smile every time I think about it.
The author in her “questions from readers” tells how she came to name the toads. On the same page, you’ll find out how Sharelle came up with “night-smacky-goo.” You know you want to know…