Top Ten Tuesday – Top Ten Christmas Gift Books for Middle Graders (Gr. 5-8) 2022

Welcome back to my Christmas Book Gifting blogs! Last week, I featured books to gift the younger readers in your life. You can check that list out HERE. This week, I’m excited to share some of my favorite middle grade novels and graphic novels perfect for gift giving to readers in grades 5-8! From the animal lover, to the Sci-Fi enthusiast, to the writers and actors in your life – there is a book on this list for everyone!

I have divided the list – the first section are books recommended for Grades 4-6, followed by recommendations for Gr. 6-8. And yes, I had trouble counting to ten – AGAIN!

RECOMMENDED FOR READERS IN GRADES 4-6

Abby In Between: Ready or Not – Megan Ebryant

Perfect for your grade 4 reader, this new middle-grade series features nine-year-old Abby as she navigates all the chaos that can come from growing up. I loved Judy Blume books when I was growing up and this one certainly had a modern Judy Blume vibe! It’s a great book to introduce the topic of puberty as I feel it offers a realistic portrayal of the emotions, experiences, and feelings of a young girl. I appreciated the understanding doctor and the un-embarrassed mother.

Odder – Katherine Applegate

How can you NOT fall in love with this adorable sea otter? You can never go wrong with a book written by beloved author Katherine Applegate. I love how she manages to weave important issues into her books with such respect and grace wrapped up in gorgeous writing and endearing characters. Told in verse, this book tells the tender tale of an injured sea otter who is rescued by humans. Inspired by the true story of a Monterey Bay Aquarium program that pairs orphaned otter pups with surrogate mothers. A PERFECT gift for the animal lover in your life!!!

Growing Pangs – Kathryn Ormsbee

Great coming of age theme in this cute graphic novel that includes topics like homeschooling, theater, friendship, summer camp, OCD, and anxiety. They say “books are mirrors” and I really like that there are so many authors books for middle graders who are trying to find their place in the world and be proud of who they are.

The Ice Cream Machine – Adam Rubin

Such a clever and original idea! This book is a collection of six short stories in a variety of genres and settings, all featuring ice cream! A great introduction to different genres and a very relatable storyline. Don’t forget to read th author’s notes at the beginning and end of the book!

The First Cat in Space Ate Pizza – Mac Barnett

Likely your kids will recognize this title from the massively popular The First Cat in Space Ate Pizza live cartoon. Now the cartoon has been turned into an action-packed and hysterical graphic novel series–perfect for fans of Dav Pilkey, Raina Telgemeier, and Jeff Kinney. Perfect for kids who like wacky, zany, LOL books! This series is targeted for 7-9 year olds.

A Rover’s Story – Jasmine Warga

For fans of Sci Fi space exploration – this is a MUST READ story about the journey of a fictional Mars rover. But don’t let the premise fool you – this book is unique and deeply moving and took me completely by surprise! (Think “The Wild Robot” meets “The One and Only Ivan”) This one will tug at the heartstrings, no question! This would be a great read for ANY age!

RECOMMENDED FOR READERS IN GRADES 6-8

Swim Team – Johnnie Christmas

This graphic novel follows Bree, a Math wiz, who moves with her dad to a new state and has to begin at a new school. She ends up having to take swimming class because all the other electives are full. Despite knowing nothing about swimming, Bree ends up competing in the state swim meet. A powerful coming of age story that explores sports, the meaning of friendship, family struggles, bullying, and stereotyping.

The Tryout – Christina Soontornvat

What could be more horrible than trying out to be a cheerleader in front of the your entire grade seven class? Not to mention, having your best friend say she doesn’t want to be your partner for the tryouts! This graphic novel, based on the author’s childhood, captures the many cringe-worthy moments of middle school life.

J.R. Silver Writes Her World – Melissa Dassori

This book will be a HUGE hit for the writer in your life! It has just about everything you could want in a book – mystery, art, history, friendship, and a pinch of magic! During a writing assignment at school, J.R. discovers she has a peculiar power – stories she writes come true! Soon J.R. is getting a cell phone, scoring game-winning goals, and triggering school cancellations. But she soon realizes that each new story she writes creates as many conflicts as it does solutions. This book is heartfelt and SO GOOD!

Operation Do-Over – Gordon Korman

The latest by Canadian great Gordon Korman weaves themes of friendship, first crushes, loyalty, promises, consequences, and regret mixed in with a little magic and time travel! WOW! The story follows seventh-grader Mason and and his best friend Ty, who in order to save their friendship, make a pact to avoid their mutual crush on classmate Ava. But when a freak storm brings Mason and Ava together, Mason breaks the pact and loses his best friend. Five years later, Mason is lonely and friendless — until he gets the magical chance to change the past with a “do-over”.

Marvellerverse #1 The Marvellers – Dhonielle Clayton

For the Fantasy fans in your life – this brand new adventure series set in a global magic school in the sky is getting a lot of “book buzz”! A little Harry Potter mixed with The Lightening Thief and you get this latest story of a trio of friends attending a magical school. Non-stop action, magical creatures, marvelous abilities – this is the first in what I believe will become a very popular series.

Looking for a spooky ghost story? You have come to the right place! Ghostlight is the latest fast-paced, spooky fantasy by the great Canadian author Kenneth Oppel. Set in Toronto, the story follows Gabe who lands a summer job giving a ghost tour of a lighthouse. While telling ghost stories to tourists, he accidentally connects with Rebecca, the ghostly daughter of the former lighthouse guardian, who asks Gabe for help to kill the evil ghost-eater Viker before he starts killing again. Oooooooo – SCARY!!!

WARNING: This book includes some frightening descriptions and themes and I would recommend for 13 years and older.

Twelfth – Janet Key

For all budding actors and theater fans! This book centers around a theater summer camp preparing to perform the play Twelfth Night. Strong protagonist and fun cast of characters (including some great LGBTQ+, anxiety, and depression representation), throw in an interesting mystery, duel timelines (2015 and 1940-50’s), and a pretty good twist and you get this great coming-of-age novel!

Two Degrees – Alan Gratz

I LOVED the book Refugee so was excited to see Alan Gratz’s new book Two Degrees. In this book, he focuses on climate change and does so in the same action-packed, page-turning adventure of his other books.  It follows three separate story lines and individual characters – a wildfire in California, a Polar Bear attack in Canada, and a hurricane in Florida to illustrate the immense damage being done to the planet through global warming. Each individual story is very compelling, as the teens figure out how to survive in extremely dangerous situations. A great book for your middle grade reader!

Jennifer Chan Is Not Alone – Tae Keller

Jennifer Chan is the new quirky girl obsessed with aliens, making her the subject of ridicule. At school, she is rejected by the cool clique and even the nerds. And then she goes missing. WOW! This book takes a deep dive into the mentality of bullying, belonging, and popularity. It is so, so thought provoking, real, and powerful. A gripping magical-realism plot that flips between “Then” and “Now” chapters. Every middle schooler needs to read this book! Based on the author’s own experience with bullying – HIGHLY recommend this one!

Thanks for stopping by! I hope you found one or two books to gift the middle grade readers in your life this holiday season!

Next week, I will be featuring some favorite new Christmas picture books for sharing and gifting! See you then!

Top 10 Tuesday -10 Must Have Middle Grade and Graphic Novels for 2022 (Part 1)

I don’t post about novels very often because it takes me so long to read enough books to make a post! But a new school year is always a great time to highlight some of my favorites of the year so far. In my experience, one of the best way to inspire your students to read is to get them excited about books! I love having a few new “hot picks” to share those first weeks of school. Giving book talks and sharing “book trailers” or choosing that perfect “read-aloud” book to launch the new year can be just the thing to inspire your students to dive into books this year! Many of these books are also excellent choices for reading aloud, whole class novel study, or to add to your Lit Circle choices.

Trends this year? I’m noticing authors tackling tough topics such as homelessness, poverty, activism, and bullying. There are also many “coming of age” stories with tweens navigating emotional and physical changes as they mature. If you teach those middle graders or are a teacher librarian – here are my favorite new novels (so far) of 2022:

I have divided this post into two parts. This week, I am featuring books I would recommend for UPPER middle grades (mature grade 6 to grade 8) and next week, I will share my favorites for LOWER middle grades (grades 4-early 6). As with ANY book you bring into the classroom, PLEASE READ FIRST to ensure it is an appropriate fit for your students.

Gabe in the After – Shannon Doleski

Themes of grief, loss, community, hope, friendship, and first crush run through this post-apocalyptic story inspired by Anne of Green Gables. (sounds weird, but it works!) Set two years after a global pandemic, twenty survivors, most of them children, have moved from their coastal town to a smaller island where they all live in a mansion. During Gabe’s turn to look for survivors, he finds Relle Douglas and brings her home. That new friendship, coupled with another tragedy, spurs him to wonder if there are other survivors out there and he sets out to search for them. Anne of Green Gables fans will see many parallels, others will enjoy the light romance and COVID connections.

Swim Team – Jonnie Christmas

Swim Team is a middle grade graphic novel that follows Bree, a girl who moves with her dad to a new state and has to begin at a new school. Bree is a math whiz but ends up having to take swimming class because all the other electives are full. Bree knows nothing about swimming, but thanks to an older lady in her building who was once a swim champ, and a little tenacity, Bree ends up competing in the state swim meet. A powerful coming of age story that explores sports, the meaning of friendship, family struggles, bullying, and the stereotype of Black people not swimming.

A Duet for Home – Karina Yan Glasser

An important, eye-opening look at homelessness but filled with gentleness and hope. Told in dual perspectives, A Duet for Home shares the stories of June and Tyrell, two biracial tweens currently living at the Huey House homeless shelter whose stories are intertwined by a prank gone wrong. Full of community, family, music, activism, and speaking out against injustice. This is a must read middle grade novel that will make both a great read aloud and Lit Circle choice.

Ghostlight – Kenneth Oppel

No middle grade novel list would be complete without the latest from Canadian author Kenneth Oppel! Once again, Oppel creates a creates a fast-paced, spooky fantasy set in Canada (Toronto) with GREAT characters. This story follows Gabe who lands a summer job giving a ghost tour of a lighthouse. While telling ghost stories to tourists, he accidentally connected with Rebecca, the ghostly daughter of the former lighthouse guardian, who asks Gabe for help to kill the evil ghost-eater Viker before he starts killing again.

WARNING: This book includes some scary descriptions and themes and I would recommend for 13 years and older.

The Last Mapmaker – Christina Soontornvat

Get ready for a high-seas, coming-of-age adventure set in a Thai-inspired fantasy world! Sai pretends to be from a wealthy family in order to get an apprenticeship with a mapmaker. She hides that her father is a criminal, and uses her skills as a forger to help the mapmaker copy maps and documents. When the mapmaker goes on a sea voyage to explore new regions of the world, Sai is eager to leave her past behind and start a new life. Compelling girl-power fantasy, great adventure, and don’t forget the dragons!

The Tryout – Christina Soontornvat

What could be more horrible than trying out to be a cheerleader in front of the your entire grade seven class? Not to mention, having your best friend say she doesn’t want to be your partner for the tryouts! This graphic novel, based on the author’s childhood, captures the many cringe-worthy moments of middle school life while shining a light on the challenges of being biracial and dealing with racism. A great addition to the MG graphic novel world that invites LOTS of connections!

Operation Do-Over – Gordon Korman

The latest by Canadian great Gordon Korman weaves themes of friendship, first crushes, loyalty, promises, consequences, and regret mixed in with a little magic and time travel! WOW! The story follows seventh-grader Mason and and his best friend Ty, who in order to save their friendship, make a pact to avoid their mutual crush on classmate Ava. But when a freak storm brings Mason and Ava together, Mason breaks the pact and loses his best friend. Five years later, Mason is lonely and friendless — until he gets the magical chance to change the past with a “do-over”. Great for “What would you do?” discussions!

The Road to After – Rebekah Lowell

This powerful novel-in-verse is full of both sadness and hope. It’s told from the perspective of Lacey, a young girl escaping domestic violence with her mother and sister. I love how this book explores the range of emotions that Lacey and her family go through. Great parallels of Lacey learning to garden, growing a seed into a sunflower, just as she is starting to grow and heal herself. This is such an important book for everyone to read.

Thirst – Varsha Bajaj

Set in one of the poorest communities in Mumbai where access to clean water is limited, this story is about how one girl makes a a positive difference in her family, her community, and her own life. Minni, our wonderfully strong heroine, “struggles to juggle” when she has to temporarily take over her mom’s responsibilities while keeping hold of her dreams to get an education and make something of herself. Lots of important themes to unpack with older students including: the inequalities surrounding access to water and education; poverty; theft and corruption. Recommended for mature grade 6’s and older.

Forever Birchwood – Danielle Daniel

Set in the northern mining town of Sudbury, Ontario in the 1980’s, this is a tender, powerful story of Wolfe and her three best friends, on the cusp of turning 13 and all the changes that brings, trying to save their town’s trees and a historic site they discover. This is debut novel by Canadian indigenous picture book author Danielle Daniel has many themes including friendship, environmentalism, activism, and indigenous teachings about nature.

Jennifer Chan Is Not Alone – Tae Keller

Jennifer Chan is the new quirky girl obsessed with aliens, making her the subject of ridicule. At school, she is rejected by the cool clique and even the nerds. And then she goes missing.  WOW!  This book takes a deep dive into the mentality of bullying, belonging, and popularity.  It is so, so thought provoking, real, and powerful.  A gripping magical-realism plot that flips between “Then” and “Now” chapters.  Every middle schooler needs to read this book!  Based on the author’s own experience with bullying, this book would make an amazing read-aloud, whole class novel, or  literature circle choice.  One of the best middle grade books I have read about friendships and bullying, ever.

Thanks for stopping by! I hope you found one or two new books to add to your class or library collection! Leave a comment and let me know which books caught your eye! Stay tuned for PART 2 next week, where I will be featuring middle grade novels for grades 4-6.

Summer Reading for Middle Grades

I have been a bit behind with my book blog posts this year as I have been busy writing my new Poetry book… but have been recently trying to catch up on my middle grade novels. So, I’m VERY excited to be sharing some of my favorite middle grade novels so far of 2021 with you! There are SO many amazing novels this year, so if you have a tween looking for a new book to get lost in this summer, or are a middle school teacher looking for a new book to share with your class – I’m hoping you will find one or two titles in this list. The books this year are rich in diversity and include many novels written in verse (#ownvoicesnovel and culturally immersed adventures seem to be the trend this year!), fantasy, historical fiction, sci-fi, and contemporary fiction all layered with many important themes. Happy reading, everyone!

Red, White, or Whole – Rajani Larocca

A heartbreakingly, poignant and hopeful story written in verse. Reha is a young American Indigenous girl who feels torn between her two cultures. Her life is turned upside down when her mother is diagnosed with leukemia. The voice of this character is so believable and so relatable. Have your Kleenex handy.

Ancestor Approved – Intertribal Stories for Kids – edited by Cynthia Leitch Smith

I am SO excited about this book of short stories written by American and Canadian Indigenous authors, including local BC author, Monique Grey Smith.  The short stories are perspectives of a variety of Native tweens who are all attending a major powwow in Michigan. (major text-to-text connections to the adult novel There, There by Tommy Orange!) The stories are sad, joyful, funny, mysterious – and the voices weave together beautifully to bring the pow-pow to life. A must for school libraries!

The Frog Mother – Brett D. Huson

I had no idea that this series existed – but this is the fourth in the Mothers of Xsan series – a collection of stories that connects the world to the matrilineal society of the Gitxsan people of the Pacific Northwest Interior of British Columbia. Previous books include Sockeye Mother, Eagle Mother and Grizzly Mother. This book follows the life cycle of the spotted frog and the connection the Gitxsan people have at each stage of their lives. Gorgeous illustrations. Would be a wonderful series for integrating indigenous beliefs and knowledge into an exploration of life cycles.

The Mysterious Disappearance of Aiden S. (as told to his brother) – David Levithan

If you are looking for a portal fantasy to escape in – here it is! One night, 12-year-old Aidan disappears. He and his younger brother Lucas both go to bed (they share a room), and when Lucas wakes up the next morning, Aidan is gone. Police are called and the town searches everywhere. Six days late, Aiden turns up. Where had he been? And so begins the story of twists and turns, truth and reality, fantasy and belief. Love the relationship between the two brothers.

The Last Fallen Star – Graci Kim

This new series by Graci Kim weaves Korean culture and folklore into a thrilling, fast-paced contemporary fantasy. I learned so much about Korean culture. The story is funny, magical, and explores some complex family relationships, sisterhood, and food! I loved the spunk and determination of Riley, the main character, who tells the story. I believe this will be a popular series!

Unplugged – Gordon Korman

When Jett Baranov, rich, privileged, entitled tween, is sent to The Oasis wellness camp for six weeks (think low frills, no tech, vegetarian experience), he is bored and resistant. Enter a cast of diverse characters, pranks, a mystery, and the fun begins. Short, fun summer read told through multiple voices.

The Lion of Mars – Jennifer L. Holm

What would it be like to be an Earth kid, living in a small Mars settlement in 2091, populated by just a few kids and adults? This engaging sci-fi story about 11 year old Bell, who lives on Mars at the American Mars colony explores this question as well as topics of isolation (lots of connections to Covid isolation), problem solving, and living life to the fullest. Some really great character development in this one and I like how it combined science fiction with some “deep thinking” philosophical questions.

Alone – Megan E. Freeman

Another book I read in one sitting, heart in my throat, then sobbed at the end. Twelve year old Maddie wakes up one morning to discover that her entire town has been evacuated and she’s been left behind with her neighbour’s dog, George (best dog character ever!) The story, told in verse in Maddie’s brave voice, is harrowing, poignant, and thought-provoking. (Think contemporary version of Island of the Blue Dolphins) The language is gorgeous, with sparse text on each page – a great choice for both fluent and reluctant readers. The story was very emotional for me – sometimes quite intense but a perfect ending. (Warning – deals with the loss of an animal so be prepared) I loved everything about this book.

Starfish – Lisa Fipps

I finished this book in one afternoon. Loved it so much. It is written in verse and explores Elle’s heart-breaking and inspiring journey through being overweight and bullied into a place of self-worth, standing up for herself, and claiming her right to take up space in the world. It is so inspiring, beautifully written, and had me in reaching for my Kleenex several times.

Thanks a Lot, Universe – Chad Lucas

Set in Halifax Nova Scotia, this middle-grade novel featured two extremely likeable characters – Ezra and Brian. Chapters alternate between their perspectives amidst issues related to important topics including anxiety, bullying, family, and sexuality.  Love to have a new voice in Canadian middle grade novels – this one would be best suited for upper middle grades and early high school.

The Gilded Girl – Alyssa Coleman

A wonderful mix of of magic, quirkiness, enchantment, historical fiction, justice, privileges, friendship, and heart! Set in New York in 1909, this book, inspired by the classic The Little Princess, explores issues of inequality and social-economic status mixed into a fast-paced, highly visual, magical, historical fantasy. I LOVED this book and so good for many themes and discussions.

Cece Rios and the Desert of Souls – Kaela Rivera

Lots of excitement about this book and it’s actually the first Latinix fantasy books I have ever read. This book is SO MUCH FUN! (Think Pokemon meets Rick Riordan) It is a story about family, community, and power, and the inherent connection between all of those things. It weaves adventure, action, magic, supernatural creatures, Latinx-based mythology, friendship, and lots of emotion into one fast-paced, spirited story! Cece is a likeable protagonist and I feel a second book coming on! (or maybe a movie??)

Stamped – Jason Reynolds and Ibram X. Kendi

The children’s version of the groundbreaking bestseller Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You (available in both adult and YA), this book takes younger readers on a journey from present to past and back again. Readers will discover where racist ideas came from, identify how they impact America today, and meet those who have fought racism with antiracism. Along the way, they’ll learn how to identify and stamp out racist thoughts in their own lives. Powerful and one of the best introductions to the history (and present) of race, racism and antiracism for younger readers I have read. Short, easy to read chapters would be great to prompt class discussions.

Uncomfortable Conversations with a Black Boy – Emmanuel Acho

Wow. If you are looking for a great anchor book to help your younger readers better understand white privilege and racial issues – here it is! The nonfiction book is aimed primarily at white readers to better understand racial issues and should be in every school library across the country. It’s an adaptation of the viral video series by Emmanuel Acho called “Uncomfortable Conversations with a Black Man.” I would recommend using this as a class read-aloud to launch discussions rather than assign for independent reading as there is a lot to unpack. Each chapter focuses on a race issue including white privilege, microaggressions, bias, color blindness, systemic racism, the Confederate flag, etc. I would likely read one chapter at a time and then have a discussion. Such a great anchor book for Transform and the Knew-New strategies. It has a conversational tone and never feels as if it talks down to readers but OH, SUCH AN IMPORTANT BOOK!

Thanks for stopping by my blog! Would love to know what books are now on your TBR pile! Please share this list with your colleagues so we can get these amazing books into the hands of all the young readers we know! Thank you!