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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Simon Sort of Says by Erin Bow

Simon Sort of Says: by Erin Bow
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I loved Simon; he has suffered a major trauma and as a result, his family moves far away. In this new town Simon makes 2 friends, is glad there is no internet and gets used to the new life while also being well aware what he survived. There was so much to love about this book; the plot, the characters, the funeral home hijinks, the farm, his pastor father all combine to give the reader a story so important you cannot put it down. You will laugh and you will cry but Simon's many messages will resound with ALL readers! Highly recommended!

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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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First Ladies by Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray

The First Ladies by Marie Benedict
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I read this stellar historical fiction about the lifelong friendship of Eleanor Roosevelt & Mary McCloud Bethune, both powerhouses striving together to change the world, people's racism, and the wrongs of history. Awesomely Narrated by Robin Miles and Tavia Gilbert, this is the Albright College Ladies January selection. This is a must read, I learned so much from these 2 strong women who bonded, collaborated, and tirelessly worked for civil rights. This is a must read!

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Hidden Truths by Elly Swartz

Hidden Truths by Elly Swartz
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Loved this book of 2 middle grade friends who are really tested when a freak accident occurs on a camping trip. Dani and Eric have been friends since 2nd grade & really do everything together. But while on a camping trip, there is a fire one night in their camper & Danny blames himself for forgetting to turn off the stove...as he wrestles with telling Dani, she is burned & told she can't be on the baseball team she just got on! Also she runs into a cool girl while in the hospital & this further drives a wedge between the friends. What will happen to Dani & Eric? I could not stop turning the pages, loved the characters, plot, & different settings. Kids will love this book of friendship, loyalty, and identity! A must read.

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Wave by Diana Farid

Wave by Diana Farid
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Such a great book, everyone must read- they will love Ava (Persian American) and Phoenix's voices as OCD, cancer, surfing, families are discussed. The words are beautiful and the beauty of surfing and friendship made this reader so happy to have found this book!!!

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Class Act (New Kids, #2) by Jerry Craft

Class Act by Jerry Craft
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Loved this 2nd book in the New Kid graphic novel series- Gordon, Drew and Liam as 8th graders in private school with issues developing as the school year goes on. Will their friendship survive.

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Game Face by Shari Green

Game Face by Shari Green
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Jonah and his friend Ty love hockey; but Jonah is anxious about everything and Ty is the only one who knows. Also Jonah's Dad suffers from anxiety and it has only gotten worse since his mom died in a car accident. It is through working on class projects with his neighbor, Rosie, that Jonah shares his anxieties to Rosie just as she shares her grandmother's worsening dementia. This novel in verse captivated me from the first line; so much power in each word and line, middle grade students will be sharing this gem.

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The Brothers Hawthorne (The In heritance Games, #4) by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

The Brothers Hawthorne by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Loved this 4th in the series about the brothers! There was drama, humor, so much angst, but time and time again, the brothers always relied on what they learned from their grandfather and how it brought them thru life time and time again. I enjoyed the 4 boys get togethers to be there for each other. I am SO looking forward to a 5th book!!!

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All We Ever Wanted by Emily Giffin

All We Ever Wanted by Emily Giffin
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Teens at a party collide when a picture taken at a party reveals a drunken girl in a room in a compromising position. I could not stop turning the pages. I loved so many of the characters in this tense story---Nina, Tom, Lyla and Finch. Loved the resolution as well, a great read!

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Detour Ahead by Pamela Ehrenberg & Tracey Lopez

Detour Ahead by Pamela Ehrenberg
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I loved this story of the friendship between Jewish Gilah who is neurodiverse & Guillermo who has just moved to Washington, D.C. who becomes friends with Gilah as they navigate life, family & friendship in Washington, D.C. in this awesome middle grade novel in verse. A must read!

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Dear Student by Elly Swartz

Dear Student by Elly Swartz
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

As Autumn begins middle school, her best friend has moved away and she is devastated (but they do keep in touch!!!) She makes 2 new friends and is awarded the coveted SECRET Dear Students letters. This throws her life into turmoil because there are letters that cause much drama with Autumn caught between her 2 friends! What will she do? Keeping in touch with her friend who has moved away & the teacher who believes she is the best for this voice, help her as she navigates this year in school and life. I love Elly Swartz's book, everyone should read this one!

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Tomorrow, Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin

Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

When I was a HS librarian, I loved Gabrielle Zevins books and this adult/new adult book was awesome. Sadie meets Sam in a hospital as a teen, and they bond over video games as he recuperates after being hit by a car. This story follows them throughout their life as they graduate from high school and college and enter the world of business- which to them is a partnership in creating video games. But their friendship is fraught with things that are never said - and this kind of bothered me. But their story kept me turning the pages and it will keep you too. You do not have to be a gamer to enjoy this book---it is life and all the drama that comes with friendship, being partners in business, families, and things that are never said.

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Play Like a Girl by Misty Wilson

Play Like a Girl by Misty Wilson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Misty's 7th grade, being the only girl on the football team was so good! She loses her best friend who has changed, is a hit on the football team except for one nasty guy, and has the full support of her stepdad in all things having to do with the football team. I was glad to see Misty was able to have other girls from the cheer squad be her friends. The peer pressure was tough for Misty but she knew who she was (even when she tried to impress her friend who ditches her for a mean girl). A great middle grade graphic novel!

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Bloodmarked (Legendborn, #2) by Tracy Deonn

Bloodmarked by Tracy Deonn
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Such a great 2nd book in the Legendborn series! Bree is stressed to the max as she tries to rescue Nick, deal with Sel's changes, and fight the powers to be that want to keep secret the demon war. I could not put this book down, did not like the ending...so I NEED the 3rd book for the many questions I have--- for the many answers!!!! I hate Erebus and everyone in the Order as they seek to diminish Bree and her claim as Arthur's descendant with many powers- Medium, Bloodcrafter and Scion---but these powers do not always help her. I want Bree and her friends to be victorious in Book 3!

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Tiny T. Rex and the Impossible Hug by Jonathan Stutzman

Tiny T. Rex and the Impossible Hug by Jonathan Stutzman
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

My grandson loves dinosaurs and this book is one of his favorites! How a Tiny T. Rex figures out how to hug his sad best friend is the BEST! We will be reading the other books in this series too!

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Growing Pangs by Kathryn Ormsbee

Growing Pangs by Kathryn Ormsbee
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Another winner of the 2022 Nerdie Book Club Graphic Novels---Katie and Kacey are best friends until Kacey starts acting weird, but Katie has some ticks that she does not want anyone to know about because that would make her weird. Being home schooled she has her world of friends there but there are cracks in friendships, worry about getting braces & what is going on in her mouth? Middle Grade Readers will love Katie's story and enjoy her growth as she meets each challenge head on and has supportive parents who help her navigate the tough times. Highly recommended!

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