The Fire, the Water and Maudie McGinn by Sally J. Pla

The Fire, the Water, and Maudie McGinn by Sally J. Pla
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Maudie is an autistic middle schooler who looks forward to spending her summers with her Dad and the rest of the time with her mom and stepfather. This summer she has to keep a secret from her Dad & as soon as she arrives there are California wildfires that destroy his home. Her Dad decides to take them back to where he grew up, a beach town with waves and surfers beckoning to her. I loved Maudie, she was relatable as she tries to find strength to surf & tell the secret her mother warns her she must keep. I could not stop turning the pages; middle school kids will be turning those pages as they see & root for Maudie to succeed again and again.

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Trouble at the Tangerine by Gillian McDunn

Trouble at the Tangerine by Gillian McDunn
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I loved this enjoyable mystery book with Simon as a middle grade kid who is constantly on the move since his parents have a blog that details all their travels. Simon is tired of moving from place to place, and doing all the "things" the world expects to see from his mom and dad and Simon. When they arrive at Tangerine Pines, Simon vows to himself that this is the place he wants to stay, maybe even forever. Simon meets many characters but his favorite friend is Amaya and when a tenant's valuable necklace is stolen from her apartment, Simon and Amaya band together to solve the mystery. Simon wants to prove Tangerine Pines is a special place, but the tension mounts as other thefts begin to happen. Rooting for Simon, I was drawn to his determination, and with his sense of adventure yearned for Simon & Amaya to solve the mysteries. A must read!

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Louder Than Hunger by John Schu

Louder Than Hunger by John Schu
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book was riveting; Jake is a 7th grader who has increasingly suffered from self confidence, bullying, and loneliness leading to wanting to control himself through food with a voice taking over every step of his way. Readers will not be able to put this book down; then want to share it with everyone, it is that honest and real. John Schu has personal experience with this & much of Jake is his story.

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Restart by Gordon Korman

Restart by Gordon Korman
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

When Chase Ambrose falls off the roof of his house; he wakes up to find he does not remember anything about his life- total amnesia. And when he returns to school he gets many different looks- even from his step sister- a 4 year old! Since he can't play football; he joins the Video Club and really enjoys it except for the girl who threw yogurt on his head. What he does not remember & finds out all too soon is that he was a bully along with 2 other friends who drove yogurt girl's brother to another school & earned community service at a convalescent home. I could not stop turning the pages as I followed Chase on his journey and I liked the alternating chapter of friends & those he bullied. Middle grade students will really enjoy this book; a must read!

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The Eyes and the Impossible by Dave Eggers

The Eyes and the Impossible: by Dave Eggers
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I loved this book, plot, and the animals, especially Johannes, who runs so very fast, and reports to the leaders and has many friends who help him in his duties- this is a book middle grade children, YA & adults will all enjoy! The pictures are beautiful as well!

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Coyote Lost and Found by Dan Gemeinhart

Coyote Lost and Found by Dan Gemeinhart
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Just as I loved The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise so so much, this new Coyote Lost and Found was just as wonderful! Coyote is honest, quirky, brash, and one of a kind. Her latest adventure will involve a journey yet again, fierce, hiding secrets, and sometimes not being nice to Candace, her father's friend & neighbor, along for the ride on Yager during Covid. Readers will love every character on this bus; they support one another, enjoy singing, laughing, and the awesome pets on this trip to find where to settle Coyote's mom's cremated remains. Coyote's insights are hysterical, fierce, and bold and the author treats us to many beautiful, sad and happy times as Coyote and Rodeo remember painfully their loved ones. A must read for all ages!

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Mission Manhattan (City Spies Book, #5) by James Ponti

Mission Manhattan by James Ponti
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I continue to totally enjoy the City Spies series! This mystery thriller of kids solving crimes has the globe hopping spies protecting a young environmentalist from Europe to New York City. What I continue to love is each characters' specialty in solving crimes, working with each other and fooling adults to get results. A must read!

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Mirror to Mirror by Rajani LaRocca

Mirror to Mirror by Rajani LaRocca
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Another Rajani La Rocca winner; this novel in verse about twin sisters with very different personalities was awesome; middle grade and young adult readers will enjoy the format, the girls' drama, and their summer camp escapades. Will Maya & Chaya find each other as their differences threaten to tear them apart? Highly recommended!

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The Misfits #1: A Royal Conundrum by Lisa Yee, illustrated by Dan Santat

The Misfits #1: A Royal Conundrum by Lisa Yee
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Lisa Yee and illustrator, Dan Santat have crafted a great middle grade story of mystery, friendship, family that kept me turning the pages and rooting for these kids who become part of RASCH, trained to fight crime. A must read and a series I will be waiting to read and love!

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School Trip (New Kid, #3) by Jerry Craft

School Trip by Jerry Craft
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Jordan, Drew, Liam, Maury, and their friends are going to Paris for their class trip. What begins as an exciting adventure at the last minute many changes. Going to Paris without their beloved teacher chaperones, what will their time in Paris be like- fun or torture? Loved this graphic novel of humor, friendship, and growth!

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Squished: A Graphic Novel by Megan Wagner Lloyd Illustrated by Michelle Mee Nutter

Squished: A Graphic Novel by Megan Wagner Lloyd
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

What a great follow-up to Allergic---M W Lloyd's debut graphic novel! I loved the Lee family and there is always something going on with a family of 7 children and 2 parents. Avery is a responsible older sister, but this summer she wants her own room due to her sisters and brothers always needing her. But will Avery be happy with the outcome? A laugh a page!!!

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Things in the Basement by Ben Hatke

Things in the Basement by Ben Hatke
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Milo has just moved into a rambling old home and his Mom can't find his sister's pink sock and sends Milo to the basement to look. Oh boy does that open up another basement or 2 as he descends into various openings, doors etc. Along the way he meets "friends" who Milo trusts to help him find the sock. What adventures ensue, this is another great Ben Hatke graphic novel. Fantastic illustrations & a great plot!

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A Work in Progress by Jarrett Lerner

A Work in Progress by Jarrett Lerner
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Oh did I love this book---from the novel in verse & graphic novel format to the angst of a heavy middle grade student, Will, grabbed my heart and kept pushing my sorrow button. This is a must read for middle grade students!

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Lunch Lady and the Summer Camp Shakedown (Lunch Lady, #4) by Jarrett J Krosoczka

Lunch Lady and the Summer Camp Shakedown by Jarrett J. Krosoczka
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I love & recommend the Lunch Lady graphic novel series! Funny, relatable, and superheroes all in one!

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Lunch Ladies and the League of Librarians (Lunch Lady, #2) by Jarrett J. Krosoczka

Lunch Lady and the League of Librarians by Jarrett J. Krosoczka
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I love & recommend the Lunch Lady graphic novel series! Funny, relatable, and superheroes all in one!

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Lunch Lady and the Cyborg Substitute (Lunch Lady, #1) by Jarrett J. Krosoczka

Lunch Lady and the Cyborg Substitute by Jarrett J. Krosoczka
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I love & recommend the Lunch Lady graphic novel series! Funny, relatable, and superheroes all in one!


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Ruptured by Joanne Rossmassler Fritz

Ruptured by Joanne Rossmassler Fritz
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Being an only child isn't always great; Claire loves to read books and this summer she wants to do a lot of that but when her parents (who do not talk much to each other anymore) want to go to a vacation, Claire is all in. At a mother-daughter lunch Claire is astonished at a secret her mom has, but even worse---at that lunch her mom passes out & is hospitalized for a brain aneurysm. Will Claire be able to keep the secret and what will her mom be like after this??? A must read middle grade novel in verse based in part on the author's 2 brain aneurysms! Gripping and authentic!

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Dear Mothman by Robin Gow

Dear Mothman by Robin Gow
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A tough novel in verse about a 6th grade trans child Nora but his close family and friends call him Noah at this request. Noah was best friends with Lewis and they were both trans; after Lewis dies in a car accident, Noah tries to deal with his grief by writing in a journal and leaving it at a favorite tree for Mothman, a cryptid Lewis & Noah believe in. How will Noah survive without his best friend, this is a must read for everyone!

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Stuntboy, In-Between Time (2) by Jason Reynolds and illustrated by Raul the Third

Stuntboy, In-Between Time by Jason Reynolds
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I loved Portico, Zola and Herbert and their goals to help others while they deal with bullies, gangs, and divorce in their apartment building. Laughing constantly with Reynolds words and Illustrator Raúl the Third fantastic drawings, middle grade students will love this graphic novel! They are good kids but they also get themselves into a few scrapes, I could not stop turning the pages!

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Finally Seen by Kelly Yang

Finally Seen by Kelly Yang
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

When Lina Gao leaves her grandmother in China to finally live with her parents and little sister who went to America 5 years ago, Lina is hit with many things---this new country is strange, her family did not tell her the truth about their life in America, they may lose their home, their father works tirelessly for an organic farmer who is harsh and merciless and this causes fights between her parents. As Lina struggles in school, she meets friends and foes. I really liked the teachers who supported Lina and helped her find her voice. I also loved how Lina sees her family and is able to finally be seen by her mother, father and sister. A must read!

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