The following are middle-grade books (listed in no particular order) I think deserve recognition, even though I haven’t read them yet.
Browsing: ages 10 & up
If your father left for a trip and never came home, would you believe that he’s not coming back? That’s the premise of Lily’s Mountain, by Hannah Moderow.
Mira Bartók’s The Wonderling is set in a slightly steampunk Victorian land that borders between Dickensian realism and fairytale magic.
With Embers of Destruction, J. Scott Savage could have easily coasted. Instead he continues to build his characters and world in a fresh and exciting way.
I’ve never been a fan of soccer. So when I received Ten: A Soccer Story, by Shamini Flint, I opened it with some trepidation. I was pleasantly surprised.
Patricia Forde has crafted a world that is terrifyingly realistic. There’s nothing that screams, “this is imaginary,” and that’s why The List works so well.
A week ago, I read Ann Dee Ellis’ latest novel, You May Already Be a Winner, and I couldn’t put it down. It’s one book I will read over and over again.
Mary Downing Hahn’s One For Sorrow is a well-written book that is delightfully creepy, but without at least one sympathetic character, it fell flat.
In anticipation of the release of Philip Pullman’s latest novel, The Book of Dust (Oct. 19), His Dark Materials is being rereleased with updated covers.
Lauren Wolk’s Beyond the Bright Sea is a beautiful read. And though its target audience is upper middle grade, it should appeal to YA readers and beyond.