Tag: MMGM

Bright yellow cover with red words POPCORN, half of a face of a boy in glasses and a collared shirt
Posted in Award Winners, MG Novels, So Many Good Books

Popcorn

Posted on by Susan Uhlig

Marvelous Middle Grade Monday

Popcorn (Dial Books for Young Readers, 2024) by Rob Harrell is such a good book–full of humor and heart! And it only covers one day in the of the main character. Well worth a read.

Seventh-grader Andrew has problems. His grandmother, G, is living with them and has Alzheimer’s, he has to hide his odd behaviors at school, there’s always the threat of Mean Gene, and it’s school picture day. If that’s not enough to provoke anxiety in anyone, it’s worse for Andrew who struggles with anxiety. His biggest fear is to explode into a panic attack at school.

Andrew was inspired by the author’s own experiences with anxiety, so comes across as very real. I had such sympathy for Andrew and for others in the book. I loved his relationship with his best friend, Jonesy. I enjoyed all the mishaps during his day.

Popcorn received a Schneider Family Book Award for Middle Grades (2025) and has been nominated for others this year. Inside are sketches “by” Andrew of what his life is like.

Read about Rob here and see his other books here.

cover of City Spies - three kids under the base of the Eiffel Tower.
Posted in Award Winners, MG Novels, So Many Good Books

City Spies

Posted on by Susan Uhlig

Marvelous Middle Grade Monday

City Spies, Book 1 of 7, (Aladdin, 2020) by James Ponti is a fun romp with kid spies. It’s also an award winner: Florida Sunshine State Young Readers Award 2021.

12-year-old Sara Martinez hacked into the New York City foster care system to expose her abusive foster parents, but she’s the one arrested in jail. Ready to be convicted a man shows up saying he’s her new lawyer, but really he’s recruiting her for his MI6 spy team in Scotland. Sara says yes and is flown to meet the other four kids on the team with a mission only three weeks away. Can she fit in and learn the ropes before they go to Paris?

It’s very fun that the kids in the story are mostly from different countries.

The author has several other series–see them here. Read about James here.

cover of The Outlaws Scarlett and Browne, both characters are jumping, she's chewing bubble gum, money is falling in the background
Posted in MG Novels, So Many Good Books

The Outlaws Scarlett and Browne

Posted on by Susan Uhlig

Marvelous Middle Grade Monday

The Outlaws Scarlett and Browne (Knopf Books for Young Readers, 2021) by Jonathan Stroud was a fun and harrowing adventure story. This is book one of the trilogy (Although it definitely stands on its own.)

Red-headed Scarlett McCain is an outlaw in a dystopian Britain. After robbing a bank, she accidentally saves skinny and weak Albert Browne from a horrific bus accident and the Tainted. Both have secrets and are the run (The Brothers-Scarlett, and people from Stonemoor-Browne).

Albert is especially a sympathetic character. Though aimed at younger audience, I think many YA readers would enjoy this book too.

Read about the author here and see his many books here.

cover of The Unfinished Business - features a row of attached buildings with lights in windows at night, with a girl looking out the top window and ghosts floating above
Posted in MG Novels, So Many Good Books

The Unfinished Business

Posted on by Susan Uhlig

Marvelous Middle Grade Monday

The Unfinished Business (Fitzroy Books, 2026) by Stephanie Campisi is a beautifully written book about letting go.

Dari can see the ghosts who stick around. It creates awkward moments when her mother only hears Dari’s half of the conversation, but Dari is used to her odd life. A worried school counselor signs her up for orchestra, which might help Dari make friends. When Dari’s neighbor Maude dies, Maude’s ghost asks her for help in “finishing” unfinished business. While dealing with ghosts, Dari realizes she might have some unfinished business of her own.

This book was really fun–the ghosts are not at all creepy–and is the first book in a series, so hopefully we’ll get to meet Dari and her friends again. Note: the language is sophisticated and it may be difficult for younger middle grade readers. You can purchase the book in paperback or special edition hardcover here.

Read about the Author here and you can also see a list of all her published books on the same page. Many book covers are on the home page.

cover of The Labors of Hercules Beal
Posted in MG Novels, So Many Good Books

The Labors of Hercules Beal

Posted on by Susan Uhlig

Marvelous Middle Grade Monday

The Labors of Hercules Beal (HarperCollins, 2023) by Gary D. Schmidt is another winning story.

The smallest kid in his class, Herc Beal is named after Hercules. Yep, the mythical hero. His homeroom teacher at Cape Cod Academy for Environmental Sciences assigns him the task of completing the hero’s twelve feats. Like that’s possible. But his new teacher, Lieutenant Colonel Hupner, doesn’t care. On top of that Herc’s parents are dead, his brother Achilles is dating a vampire, and Achilles gets him a rabbit named Honey Bunny instead of the Dog Herc wants. Can life get any worse?

This award-winning author has other great books. I’ve previously recommended Orbiting Jupiter; Pay Attention, Carter Jones; and Okay for Now. Read about all his books here, where you can order signed copies.