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Backlist Love · October 12, 2020

Backlist Love #3: 15 Middle-Grade Books on my TBR

Here again with another list of 15 backlist middle-grade books to dive into! I like making these lists because they help me find middle-grade books I didn’t even know existed. Many of these books are either under the radar because they did not get publicity when they were published or simply because it’s been while since they were published. However, they tackle several important vital topics, and make for excellent reading (going by reviews from trusted sources).

Many of these are sitting on my Kindle, and I’ve read one book from last month’s list which I loved and reviewed here.

But what do I mean by “backlist books”?

Backlist (noun)

back·list | \ ˈbak-ˌlist

: a publisher’s list of books published before the current season and still in print.

For my lists, I’ll be focusing on books published at least one full year prior. Pstt, many backlist titles are often less expensive than new releases (which you should definitely still purchase if you can) and readily available at your libraries.

I try to read and review past titles once in a while and often, many of them are SO GOOD. Some older titles I’ve read and reviewed include:

  • The Great Wall of Lucy Wu by Wendy Wan-Long Shang
  • What Momma Left Me by Renee Watson
  • Guts by Raina Telgemeier
  • Solving for M by Jennifer Swender
  • Braced by Alyson Gerber
  • Finding Perfect by Elly Swartz


The Last Grand Adventure

The Last Grand Adventure
buy on amazon

Published: March 20, 2018

I found this one while making my list of historical fiction for middle graders. It’s set in 1967 and features a grandma and granddaughter off on an adventure. Bea’s father has remarried and she’s stuck with a new stepsister, so she’s eager to leave with her grandmother who claims to be searching for her long-lost sister Amelia Earhart(!) I loved the last Amelia Earhart related story I read, so I’m eager to read this one. I have it saved on Scribd.


It All Comes Down to This

It All Comes Down to This
buy on amazon

Published: July 11, 2017

First off, I adore this cover. I haven’t read anything by Karen English and I desperately want to change that (I’m always looking for books by Black authors). This is another work of historical fiction set in 1965 about a girl whose parents’ marriage is on the rocks. Her big sister is off to college, but a brush with racism exposes her to the world of injustice in their mostly white neighborhood. I feel like Black historical fiction is rare, so this is perfect for fans of Rita Williams Garcia’s Gaither sisters series.


The Stupendously Spectacular Spelling Bee

The Stupendously Spectacular Spelling Bee
buy on amazon

Published: April 3, 2018

I’ve had my eye on this book since I first started reading middle-grade books two years ago. It follows a girl who enters a televised spelling bee contest, and it’s perfect for kids who like words and spelling. India’s family is also super lovable, and there’s a mean rich girl whom India has to deal with to reach her goals. Good news: this book is available on Kindle Unlimited (which I’m currently trying out). It’s also the first in a series which is excellent for kids who enjoy middle-grade series. It’s definitely on the younger side — recommended for advanced reading third graders and fourth graders as well.


Always, Abigail

Always, Abigail
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Published: August 5, 2014

I’ll admit: I squealed when I found this book! A parent had requested more book recommendations written in list format. Her daughter loved Annie’s Life in Lists, which is written entirely in lists. Well, so is (most of) this book! Abigail is in a pickle when she doesn’t make the cheerleading squad and is instead assigned to a letter writing project with the school outcast. Who doesn’t love books about unlikely friendships?


Let Me Fix That for You

Let Me Fix That for You
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Published: July 23, 2019

In this quirky upper middle-grade book, Glad is her school’s resident problem-solver. However, she realizes that maybe she’s fixing other people’s problems because she can’t fix the one in her home: her parents’ issues. It’s been on my radar for a while and I hope this is the year I get to it.


The Thing About Twinkie Pie

The Thing About Twinkie Pie
buy on amazon

Published: January 27, 2015

Ahh, a sister story with food, a cooking contest, and a move to a posh new neighborhood? Count me in! I truly love Asian middle-grade literature (and Asian lit in general) so this one has been sitting on my Kindle for a while. It was on my list of middle-grade books about food and it has so many rave reviews, I have a good feeling about it.


The Forget-Me-Not Summer

The Forget-Me-Not Summer
buy on amazon

Published: May 5, 2015

Three LA sisters visit their aunt in Cape Cod for the summer and must adjust to sharing a room, life in sunny Cape Cod, and a summer they did not plan. This sweet, feel-good summer story is perfect for those who enjoy books about sisters.


Waiting for Normal

Waiting for Normal
buy on amazon

Published: February 5, 2008

I’ve been wanting to read this 2008 release for a long time now, but it just seemed so heavy and there never appeared to be a right time to read it. Waiting for Normal is about a 12-year-old girl, Addie, whose mother has bipolar disorder. As a result, she is neglectful, and leaves Addie and her stepsisters at the mercy of Addie’s stepfather. Leslie Connor is an acclaimed author and I would love to finally read one of her books.


The Season of Styx Malone

The Season of Styx Malone
buy on amazon

Published: October 16, 2018

As you may have noticed, I don’t read many middle-grade “boy books.” Very few appeal to me, and many of those are written by women. But it’s something I’m actively working to improve. This book is about two boys who form a friendship with an older kid and it turns out not to be a good choice for them. The premise sounds intriguing and the author is also one I’ve never read before.


The Great Greene Heist

The Great Greene Heist
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Published: May 27, 2014

Varian Johnson is a brilliant storyteller, and his books are always captivating. Bonus points because this one is a mystery! Jackson Greene and his band of friends try to put the school bully in his place while ensuring a fair school election.


The Unteachables

the unteachables
read my review
buy on amazon

Published: January 8, 2019

A reader recommended this book after I shared a list of middle-grade books with inspiring teachers (in my newsletter). I was sold when I read the synopsis. The story is about a band of misfits who get stuck with a teacher with “worse attitude than them.” Of course, the year promises to be full of mayhem, but maybe also heartwarming surprises?


Let’s Pretend We Never Met

Let's Pretend We Never Met
buy on amazon

Published: June 13, 2017

A friendship story (my favorite kind of story) about two girls whose new bond formed over school vacation is tested by a return to school and the discovery that one is a bully’s target — and the other one just wants to fit in with the cool girls.


My Secret Guide to Paris

My Secret Guide to Paris
buy on amazon

Published: February 24, 2015

A super-duper feel-good story set in Paris, complete with croissants, stories from a fun grandma, and maybe even a love story?


High-rise Mystery

High-rise Mystery
buy on amazon

Published: April 4, 2019

Another mystery following a detective duo as they solve a murder mystery in their high-rise building. This book is set in the United Kingdom, for all you lovers of British middle-grade books. Reviewers have called it “vivid” and humorous.


Far from Fair

Far from Fair - backlist middle-grade books
buy on amazon

Published: April 4, 2019

I love road trip stories! This one is about a girl, Odette, whose parents take her and her brother on a road trip to visit their grandmother. But Odette is not happy about what they find when they reach grandma. If you’re interested in books about illness in the family, you’ll love this one.


Which of these backlist middle-grade books have you read and loved? I’d love to know where to begin! Want more backlist goodness? Check out this list I made last June. If you’re on the hunt for new/forthcoming middle-grade books, check out this list of 33 middle-grade books to read this fall!

If you’d like to find more middle-grade books with illness in the family, sign up for my newsletter. I’ll send you a PRINTABLE list of 10 favorites featuring sick (physically) siblings and parents.

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Posted In: Backlist Love · Tagged: backlist love

About the Author

Afoma Umesi is the founder and blogger at Reading Middle Grade. She's a writer and editor with a deep love for children's literature. Her favorite genre is contemporary realistic fiction, but she'll never say no to a graphic novel. Read More…

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Backlist Love #2: 15 Backlist Middle-Grade Books on My TBR
Backlist Love #4: 10 Middle-Grade Books on My TBR

Comments

  1. Stephanie Greene says

    October 12, 2020 at 7:17 am

    Afoma, you do readers and authors a great service by compiling this list. New books are published at such a frenetic pace now that great titles often sink under the weight and disappear. The books on your list have great merit. They are funny and/or thought-provoking, address contemporary issues and concerns children feel, and deserve readers. Thank you.

    Stephanie Greene

    Reply
    • Afoma Umesi says

      October 12, 2020 at 7:30 am

      Thank you so much Stephanie! For reading, and for such a kind comment. I appreciate it 🙂

      Reply
  2. Sam@WLABB says

    October 12, 2020 at 9:01 am

    I have a few of these, but have not read them yet. I see many that have been raved about too. You can’t go wrong with any of these.

    Reply
  3. Carol says

    October 12, 2020 at 1:03 pm

    Never too late to read a good book! 🙌😍

    Reply
  4. rosihollinbeck says

    October 12, 2020 at 6:29 pm

    I’ve only read a couple of these. I can highly recommend The Unteachables. I loved it. Thanks for the post.

    Reply
  5. Miriam Falk says

    October 16, 2020 at 8:51 am

    I have read a few of these — The Unteachables, Waiting for Normal, & Styx Malone — they are all very good. Start with Styx.

    Reply

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🕵️‍♀️ a new mystery for spelling bee fa 🕵️‍♀️ a new mystery for spelling bee fans

If you’ve been looking for more high-stakes mysteries for tweens, let me introduce you to THE WINTERTON DECEPTION! Meet 13-year-old twins Hope and Gordon. They’ve just found out that their dad was Brandon Winterton (of the wealthy dictionary magnate family). Unfortunately, Hope can’t stand rich people, especially since the twins and their mom are barely making ends meet and living in a motel. But their fortune is about to change.

When Gordon enters the family into the Winterton Bee, they’re thrust into into the midst of family’s secrets, with a deadly enemy, and a scavenger hunt set up by the family’s dead matriarch. 

This is a fast-paced mystery with plenty to gnaw on between the twin relationship, family drama, character development, and flashbacks that help readers learn more about the Winterton family.

So happy that more and more mysteries are coming out for readers in the 6th-8th grades. This one does touch a bit on addiction and there’s a scene where the kids’ lives are in danger but all ends well!

It’s out at the end of October! 🤩

#mysteriesforkids #middlegradebooks #bookstagram
👯‍♀️ TWINS in middle grade literature 💕 

I love seeing more twins in middle grade books. For a long time, the only twins I knew in middle grade lit were the Sweet Valley High girlies. Then, I got a glimpse of twin life with Issa and Jessie in @karinaisreadingandwriting’s THE VANDERBEEKERS. 

Since then, we’ve seen more depictions of twins, including Varian Johnson’s TWINS (a graphic novel about twin sisters Francine and Maureen entering 6th grade), MIRROR TO MIRROR by Rajani LaRocca, and Hope and Gordon in THE WINTERTON DECEPTION (review to come)!

And of course, these two books, TWIN CITIES and SAVING SUNSHINE (which I just started and am loving)! While these stories will appeal to twins, I think everyone who’s ever been curious about twins will love getting a glimpse into what life feels like as one half of a whole. 

Which middle grade twin stories have you read and loved? 😍 

#middlegrade #twinbooks #mglit #bookstagram #booksbooksbooks
📰 a beautiful graphic novel about speaking the 📰 a beautiful graphic novel about speaking the truth 

This stunning graphic novel follows Cinzia, Avvisi writer’s apprentice living in sunny Sianerra. Cinzia and her mestra write news stories/pamphlets to the city, but not everyone likes when they tell the truth. 

After an edition exposing the ruling family for extortion, cinzia and her mestra are arrested at night and she has to join forces with the princess to fight back against censorship. 

Besides the wonderfully imaginative and powerful storyline, loved the visuals and the diversity representation in this graphic novel. The main character has a bad leg and gets around with a walking stick, which is something rarely depicted in graphic novels (and it’s barely even discussed—it just is!).

Although, this book is closer to fantasy (but without magical elements), it’s set in a Renaissance-style Italian village, so it could work for lovers of realistic fiction too.

Look out for it in November! Have you read this graphic novel? Thoughts? Is it on your radar already?

#graphicnovels #mglit #booksforkids
🩰throwback Thursday - meet one of my favorites 🩰throwback Thursday - meet one of my favorites

Looking for an upper middle grade book about ballet, friendships, and body image? Meet TURNING POINT. 

This book focuses on Monique (Mo) and Rasheeda (Sheeda)’s friendship and how it changes over a summer when both girls are drawn into different pursuits. Mo is off at a ballet intensive with Mila, while Sheeda is stuck at church (with her church “friends”) feeling like she has no life.

At the ballet intensive, Mo comes face to face with her competitive attitude which is fueled by feelings of not “fitting in” with the mostly white, skinny ballet dancers. Even though she makes a couple of friends (who basically lovingly force her to befriend them), she’s insecure at times, afraid to be vulnerable because everything feels so different. On the other hand, Sheeda is desperate for something new. Unfortunately, she falls into a risky situation with Mo’s brother whom she happens to have a crush on.

Paula Chase is one of my favorite writers for this audience and this may be my favorite of hers so far. It’s in the same universe as two of her previous books, DOUGH BOYS and SO DONE but you don’t need to read them in order. 

I’d say her books are great for kids ages 12+
Have you read any books by this author? Which ones are your favorites?

#booksbooksbooks #mglit #bookstagram
🇲🇽Twins on opposite sides I’d seen this b 🇲🇽Twins on opposite sides

I’d seen this book floating around for ages but was never drawn to it (the cover maybe?) until I saw a review somewhere I can’t remember 🤪 I was pleasantly surprised!

Twins Luisa and Fernando find their paths diverging as they’re entering sixth grade. Luisa will be attending middle school in the US just across the border from Fernando’s school in Mexico. There, they come to face to face with different, but equally pressing challenges that threaten to tear them apart.

I really enjoyed this book. The side by side depictions of both kids parallel lives, the way the illustrations celebrate Mexican culture, living, and traditions, and the heartwarming way the twins find their way back to each other. 

I’d recommend this one to 6th graders and up (heads up for content warning: text mentions and depicts illicit drug use by a minor, although portrayed in a negative light) as a fascinating look into Mexican culture, life as a twin, and finding your own identity.

#kidlit #graphicnovels #mglit #booksforkids
♠️ on spades and what it means to be a man An ♠️ on spades and what it means to be a man

Ant isn’t your average 10 year old. He loves a good game of spades and he and his best friend are planning to revamp their reputation after losing badly at the last spades tournament. But things are changing in Ant’s life. His dad is acting weird, asking him to hide things from his mom. There’s a new girl in class who Ant maybe likes and who plays spades better than many boys he knows. 

When his best friend is grounded, Ant teams up with Shirley, hoping to impress his father and finally be tough like Joplin men should be. But instead, he learns what it really means to be a man—and it’s not about never crying.

There’s SO MUCH going on in this story, but the author does a stunning job of keeping all the threads in place. I was very surprised by all the protagonist has to manage at his age and the fact that it all remains believable. The story is told by Ant’s ancestor, lending a touch of magic realism. There are also many details about playing a game of spades and I loved, loved the audiobook narrator.

If you’re looking for a meatier middle grade book perfect for kids ages 9-12 (and older, really—love the cover!) looking for books that balance levity and relatability with real issues like toxic masculinity, parental addiction, friendship issues, and crushes.

#mglit #middlegrade #middlegradebookies #kidlit #booksforkids
❤️ a protagonist for the times Willow (Lolo) ❤️ a protagonist for the times

Willow (Lolo) Weaver’s summer is not going well. Her grandfather has recently died, her grandma isn’t herself and she’s given away her grandfather’s foster dog, Hank. Lolo’s mother is heavily pregnant and Lolo is in summer school because she didn’t do too well in her last exams. On top of that their lake town isn’t a lake town anymore because the lake’s been drained and smells awful now. 

Lolo wants to help her grandmother feel better and she’s convinced that getting back her grandfather’s dog will do the trick. The only problem is that the dog now belongs to someone else. So Lolo gets on Pop’s boat to steal Hank back—only to run into her summer school classmate, Noah (who’s the new dog owner).

I really enjoyed Lolo’s story. It’s strongly reminiscent of classics like Ramona and Lolo’s voice leaps off the pages. The setting is also an unmistakable part of this story and the story feels drenched in summer. My heart went out to Lolo who always feels like she’s the reason why everything’s gone awry. I also laughed plenty at her way of seeing the world. 

This book is perfect for family readalouds especially for kids in grades 3-5. Dog lovers and kids who like a good adventure with a sprinkle of mischief will love it too.

#mglit #summerbooks #booksforelementaryschoolkids #booksbooksbooks #bookstagram
🎸 believe the hype I was very nervous about re 🎸 believe the hype

I was very nervous about reading a book about a kid with cancer, but there’s no better author than Rob Harrell to do this. 

When Ross is diagnosed with a rare lacrimal gland cancer (in his eye), it’s like a new trial for his seventh grade existence. Add to that the fact that his mom died from cancer years before, he’s going blind in one eye, his best friend is moving away soon, and mean kids at school are making terrible memes about his illness and you have a dumpster fire of a year waiting to happen. Or is it?

As heavy as everything I’ve mentioned above sounds, this book is more hopeful than anything else. We follow Ross through radiotherapy and the painful, sad side effects of cancer medications, but also through learning to play the guitar, an unlikely friendship with a school bully, and a closer relationship with his dad.

I especially loved the audiobook version which has fun interdissions featuring Will’s comic alter-ego BatPig (with a different narrator, background jingles and everything). 

I would recommend this book to 6th graders and up looking for funny books with male protagonists. It’s also a great one to hand to kids coping with cancer or chronic illnesses. 

If you’re in the WINK fan club, you just got a new member 😉

#mglit #books #bookstagram
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