

The Night Journey by Kathryn Lasky - 8/10
Rachel has always been instructed not to discuss the past with her great grandmother - it will only upset Nana Sashie. Stories need to be...
Dec 25, 2023


Walls Within Walls by Maureen Sherry - 9/10
When a family moves into an old New York apartment, it soon becomes clear to the three eldest children that their building is far from...
Dec 18, 2023


Top 5 Finds in 2023 - Middle Grade Novels
As we near the end of the year, I would like to share my top finds from the past twelve months! Browsing thrift stores for middle grade...
Dec 11, 2023


Wonder by R. J. Palacio - 10/10
August is going into grade five, and for the first time in his life will be attending a mainstream school. Having been born with a facial...
Dec 10, 2023


Amulet by Kazu Kibuishi - 7/10
After losing their father in a tragic accident, Emily and Navin move to an old family home in the country with their mother. It soon...
Nov 30, 2023


Last Day on Mars by Kevin Emerson - 9/10
For years Liam has watched the sun expanding - slowly swallowing up the solar system. Having been born in one of the many Mars camps,...
Nov 27, 2023


Record Breaker by Robin Stevenson - 7/10
The year is 1963 and, while the rest of the world is struggling with the prospect of war, Jack's family is struggling in another way....
Nov 15, 2023


Robot Army Rampage by "Science Bob" Pflugfelder and Steve Hockensmith - 7/10
This book is a fun mystery, with real robot-building instructions interspersed. The plot is good, and not too predictable! My only issue is
Nov 5, 2023


Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus by Dusti Bowling - 9/10
Aven is a middle-schooler who loves soccer and plays the guitar... and also happens to have been born without arms. Being armless has...
Nov 1, 2023


North of Nowhere by Liz Kessler - 8/10
A week in the sleepy seaside town of Porthaven was not what Mia had in mind for a perfect vacation. Some new and mysterious friends...
Oct 15, 2023


The Candymakers by Wendy Mass - 9/10
The new candy competition has kicked off and Logan, Miles, Daisy, and Phillip are eager to start working on their sweet creations. The...
Sep 6, 2023


Breadcrumbs by Anne Ursu - 8/10
Ever since Hazel was six years old, Jack has been her best friend. They understand each other in a way that no one else can. When Jack...
Jul 17, 2023


Pages & Co: Tilly and the Bookwanderers by Anna James - 9/10
Some people have a deeper connection with stories than others. Growing up in a huge bookstore, books have always been a part of Tilly's...
Jul 4, 2023


The Super Life of Ben Braver by Marcus Emerson - 8/10
Superheroes aren't real. At least, that's what Ben Braver thought up until now. After a trip to the corner store goes terribly wrong, Ben...
Jul 2, 2023


Becca Fair and Foul by Deirdre Baker - 9/10
To Becca and Jane, a summer production of Shakespeare's The Tempest seems like the perfect way to raise money for a new sailboat, and a...
Jun 27, 2023


The Leak by Kate Reed Petty and Andrea Bell - 9/10
Journalism has always been one of 12 year old Ruth's passions. Each week she posts articles about local happenings on her own newsletter....
Jun 22, 2023


The Twistrose Key by Tone Almhjell - 6/10
Rufus was buried under the rose bush in Lin's garden. Lin misses her beloved rodent very much, and spends much of her time standing by...
Jun 4, 2023


Flying Over Water by Shannon Hitchcock and N. H. Senzai - 9/10
Noura's family is on their way to start a new life in America. They are refugees from Syria and, though they have left the war behind,...
May 28, 2023


Eventown by Corey Ann Haydu
Elodee's family is going through a hard time, and their entire community is in agreement that the family needs a fresh start. The perfect...
Dec 6, 2022


A Perfect Gentle Knight by Kit Pearson
Ever since their mother's death, the six Bell children have been a tightly knit group. They have an ongoing game where they act as the...
Oct 18, 2022


Flying Geese by Barabara Haworth-Attard
A series of mishaps and tragedies force Margaret's large family to leave their farm and move to Ontario. As Margaret adjusts to this new...
Jun 2, 2022