Tag: MMGM

cover of The Accidental Stowaway
Posted in #Giveaway, MG Novels, So Many Good Books

The Accidental Stowaway

Posted on by Susan Uhlig

Marvelous Middle Grade Monday

I just finished reading the fun romp, The Accidental Stowaway (Candlewick, 2022) by Judith Eagle and illustrated by Jo Rioux.

Twelve-year-old Patch Leonard didn’t mean to stowaway on the RMS Glorious steamship. But when she’s erroneously accused of stealing a plate of toffee, she runs. Right up on the gangplank. Before she knows it the ship has sailed and she’s stuck. Patch makes new friends, has to avoid being caught by the chief steward, and overhears criminals plotting a kidnap. And that’s only part of her problems.

Read about the author’s other books here.

Read about the illustrator here and check out her art here. Jo is also an author and you can see her books here.

I have a gently-read paperback (Walker, 2025) for one lucky winner who comments. (Let me know if you share this post on Social Media for extra tickets.)

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

Sam

Posted on by Susan Uhlig

Marvelous Middle Grade Monday

Sam (DCB Young Readers, 2025) by Eric Walters is as disturbing as its cover. But it’s also a good story with a hopeful ending.

Orphaned Sam can’t stay out of trouble. When a run-in with high schoolers ends badly, Sam is sentenced to Johnson “Blue Gables” Juvenile Center for six weeks. There he’s assigned to read a book about another redheaded orphan, Anne of Green Gables, which of course, Sam thinks is stupid. But despite himself, he gets interested in the story.

When I started reading this book, I didn’t even like the main character. However, the writing was so good, I pressed on. And my opinion of Sam changed as he did. I’m glad I persevered.

Read about this prolific Canadian author here. Here’s a list of many of his novels.

cover of Loon Cove Summer
Posted in #Giveaway, MG Novels, So Many Good Books

Loon Cove Summer

Posted on by Susan Uhlig

Marvelous Middle Grade Monday

Loon Cover Summer (Wild Trail Press, 2025) by Donna Galanti is a heart-warming tale of family, friends, and healing. Plus disappearing loons.

Thirteen-year-old Sarah Richardson has planned a great summer, then finds out her best and only friend will be gone for six weeks. What will she do? Yeah, still work at the wild bird rehabilitation center. Yeah, still do her jobs at the Maine campground her father owns. Gemmi recommends a “Summer Dream Do List” and they each choose five things. Number one on Sarah’s list is “save a loon,” but how can she do that when she hasn’t been able to face going out on the lake since her mother died of cancer?

Readers of The Trouble with Heroes by Kate Messner and The Honest Truth by Dan Gemeinhart will enjoy this story.

You can watch a book trailer of Loon Cover Summer here, read about the author here, and check out Donna’s other books here.

I have a gently-read paperback copy to share (US only). For a chance to win, comment on this post. Get an extra entry by telling me where you shared this post on social media–please include a link. Drawing will take place September 10th.

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

Elsetime

Posted on by Susan Uhlig

Marvelous Middle Grade Monday

Elsetime (Everything with Words, 2020) by Eve McDonnell is a fascinating historical set in two time periods (1864 and 1928) with time travel, and was inspired by the 1928 Great Flood of London.

First we meet orphaned Glory, an eleven-year-old looking for a job, who is dressing up to look older. She’s been expelled from school because of her wooden hand–it would be a waste to educate her. But not only is she determined to get a job, she plans to own an emporium someday. Meanwhile, she and her older sister must earn enough to keep the landlord at bay.

Then the story switches to Needle, also eleven, whose father is missing. A mudlark who digs up lost treasures at the river’s edge, Needle senses the story behind each piece. He takes his found bits and pieces and makes beautiful things to sell so he and his mother can survive.

What connects them? A crow named Magpie and a list of who will die in the flood.

The novel has won awards: Winner Children’s Book Award (pre-publication) Wells Festival of Literature 2017,  Book of the Year 2020: Halfway Up Books, and  Children’s Book of the Year 2020: Bridge Street Books.

Read about this Irish author here and check out her other books here. Eve is also an artist!

cover of The Trouble with Heroes
Posted in MG Novels, So Many Good Books

The Trouble with Heroes

Posted on by Susan Uhlig

Marvelous Middle Grade Monday

The Trouble with Heroes (Bloomsbury Children’s Books, 2025) by Kate Messner is a compelling read.

Finn Connelly is about to fail seventh grade. He’s not a hero like his dad was. He’s never been in the news like Dad, until now. For vandalizing a cemetery. The daughter of the dead woman will drop the charges, if he will climb all forty-six Adirondack High Peaks this summer. And he has to bring along the dead woman’s dog!

I love the first two lines: “If I were a better kid, this story would start with my seventh-grade diploma. Instead, is starts with this.” What follows is a news clipping with the headline “Local Cemetery Vandalized.” How could you not read on after that?

See this prolific author’s books here and also sign up for her newsletter on the same page. And, yes, Kate has climbed all those mountains that her character Finn climbs!!!