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    • Picture book
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    • Adult Fiction
    • Adult Non-Fiction
  • Author Interviews
  • Book Lists
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Reading Middle Grade

Books for Kids and Grown Ups

Book Reviews, Graphic Novels, Middle-Grade · October 30, 2020

Graphic Novel Review: Camp by Kayla Miller

Olive is excited to be going to summer camp this year, especially since her best friend Willow is also going. She’s looking forward to doing camp things and making new friends. As soon as the girls arrive, Olive jumps right into the friend-making and activities, but Willow is as adept as making friends and instead wants to follow Olive everywhere. Worse still, she tries to hold Olive back from making other friends or joining different activities, becoming sulky and giving her the silent treatment when she does.

At first, Olive handles things well, making compromises and forgoing opportunities to hang out with other campers just to keep Willow happy. Eventually, though, things start to get to her and the girls’ friendship becomes strained.

Readalikes · October 28, 2020

8 Books Like More to the Story by Hena Khan

Today’s pick is Hena Khan’s most recent middle-grade book More to the Story, a retelling of the beloved Little Women. I’ve never read Little Women, but I adored this book, which was one of my best books in 2019. Sisters Jameela, Bisma, Maryam and Aleeza are distraught when their father has to move abroad for work — and then one of the sisters falls ill. This is a truly heartwarming, feel-good book featuring a Pakistani-American Muslim family.

If you or your kids loved this book, here are more books like More to the Story.

Book Reviews, Middle-Grade · October 5, 2020

Review | A Thousand Questions

Maryam (Mimi) has a thousand questions for her dad who left her and her mother when she was younger, but her mom seems to have moved on and won’t talk to her about him. Her mother Samia is an artist and money is often tight for both of them in the city. One summer, Mimi’s mom decides they will take a trip to Pakisan (!) where Mimi’s grandparents live. Imagine how thrilled she is to learn that her dad (globe-trotting journalist) is also currently in Karachi.

Book Lists · September 3, 2020

25 Middle-Grade Books Set in the Summer

Ah, summer. Now that we’re wading into fall, I figured it’s a good time to share these middle-grade books set in the summer. There’s just a freedom about summer. Growing up in a tropical country meant it was warm all year round, but for us summer was about the time AWAY from school. It was in the late nights and sleep-ins and time with friends and nothing on the schedule. That’s what these middle-grade books set in the summer encapsulate.

Book Reviews, Middle-Grade · August 10, 2020

Review | The Distance to Home

The Distance to Home is Jenn Bishop’s debut middle-grade novel. I read and loved her most recent release, Things We Can’t Say about a boy dealing with parental suicide. The Distance to Home focuses on an equally sensitive subject: the death of a sibling. This summer, Quinnen isn’t playing baseball with her team — she decided to quit after her sister, Haley died the summer before. But when her family decides to host a player from a Minor League Baseball team, Quinnen starts to bond with the a couple of the players.

Book Reviews · July 29, 2020

Review | Summer at Meadow Wood

In Summer at Meadow Wood, Vic and her little brother have been sent off to summer camp for eight weeks. Although summer at Meadow Wood seems to be a regular occurrence, Vic is convinced that the reason they’ve been “shipped off” this time is different. Besides things are going poorly between her parents. As a result, she’s not excited to be there. Still, she tries to make it work, reconnecting with her friends in Yarrow camp while trying to be a good camp sister to a younger camper, Vera.

Book Reviews, Middle-Grade · July 23, 2020

Review | Caterpillar Summer

In Caterpillar Summer, Cat and her brother Chicken spend a lot of time together because no one knows how to calm him down like she does. Chicken hates loud noises and is obsessed with sharks. Since their father (who was Black) died, their mom (who is White) has had to work longer hours to provide for them. It doesn’t help that she actually LOVES her job and is sometimes a bit too eager to leave Cat in charge of her brother.

Book Lists, Middle-Grade · July 21, 2020

25 Best Middle-Grade Books About Summer Camp

These 25 best middle-grade books about summer camp capture that summer feeling! While I’ve never attended summer camp, I love to disappear into one between the pages of middle-grade or even YA books. For this list, I tried to find books featuring summer camps and all their customs. A few of them are set at day camps, but the majority are full-on sleep-away camp books, complete with all the required drama and camp spirit.

Book Reviews, Middle-Grade · October 11, 2019

REVIEW | THE MEMORY KEEPER

The Memory Keeper is an engaging middle-grade debut from Jennifer Camiccia, perfect for anyone who loves science, mysteries, and stories about strong bonds between grandparents and their grandchildren.

Book Reviews, Middle-Grade · September 18, 2019

REVIEW | Strange Birds: A Field Guide to Ruffling Feathers

In Strange Birds, four girls form an unlikely friendship that leads to activism. Ofelia Castillo (budding journalist), Aster Douglas (bookish foodie), Cat Garcia (bird aficionado), and Lane DiSanti (artist) are as different as can be. But when the Floras — their local Scout troop — plans to crown its next queen with a hat of feathers, the girls band together to fight for birds.

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