Today we are bringing you the ULTIMATE reading list for middle-grade girls! From fantasy to classics to historical fiction to modern mysteries, there are so many fantastic books on this list! Grab a title or two and meet us on the beach. Photo courtesy of penguinrandomhouse.com Prairie Lotus By: Linda Sue Park Prairie Lotus is incredible. It tells the story of Hannah, a Chinese-American girl living after the Civil War, who is often discriminated against because of her Chinese heritage. Since no townspeople want to associate with her, she struggles to stay in school, make friends, and reach her goals. Will this flower learn to bloom, even in a prairie town where she’s not wanted? Photo courtesy of Americangirl.com A Year of Mini Mysteries By: Kathy Passero Have you ever wanted to solve a mystery? Now you can! This book is full of little mysteries for YOU to solve. Have fun giggiling, speculating, and enjoying this book! Photo courtesy of Amazon.com Chopstick By: Sandra Byrd Friendships are complicated - just ask Paige and Kate, the two main characters in Chopstick. Their friendship starts out casually, but they quickly realize they are competing in the same youth music contest. The pair must figure out how to navigate their new friendship and seperate difficulties at home while also attempting to win the contest. It's told from both Paige and Kate's viewpoint, and should resonate with many teen girls going through the same struggles. Note: Chopstick is part of a four-book Forever Friends series, but this is my favorite. Photo courtesy of Barnesandnoble.com Black Beauty By: Anna Sewell This is a great book for any horse lover. It is filled with the life story of a magnificent horse. Photo courtesy of scholastic.com Through the Looking Glass By: Lewis Carroll If you like Alice in Wonderland, you will love Through the Looking Glass. Photo courtesy of Barnesandnoble.com Like Magic By: Elaine Vickers Three girls. Three challenges. Three personalities. When a mysterious box brings Jada, Grace, and Malia together, will they become friends, or will their connection wither away? Even more importantly, are these the friends each girl has been searching for? Like Magic is told from the perspective of all three girls and is lighthearted and relatable. Photo courtesy of amazon.com The Book of Secrets By: A.L. Tait All of a sudden, you're a 12-year-old boy in a medieval monastary, holding a precious manuscript written in a foreign language. What will you do? What will you say? Explore the world of Gabe in this phenomenal adventure book! Photo courtesy of penguinrandomhouse.com Across Five Aprils By: Irene Hunt B is in the middle of this book, and A has finished it, but both of us LOVE it! It is about a boy named Jethro, whose family is majorly affected by the Civil War. Photo courtesy of scholastic.com Bonanza Girl By: Patricia Beatty Bonanza girl is good, plain fun! It’s a fast-paced, humorous account of a girl and her family who move from Seattle, Washington to a teeny town in remote Idaho during the gold rush. It combines an exciting storyline with fun historical detail and unique characters, all wrapped up into one just-right sized book! Photo courtesy of Barnesandnoble.com Lena In the Spotlight By: Alena & Wynter Pitts In this fun three-book series, meet a sweet-tempered tween girl who becomes a famous actress! Plus, it's written by a girl-mom duo - all the more reason to check it out! Photo courtesy of barnesandnoble.com The Chronicles of Narnia By: CS Louis This seven-book fantasy series is a classic! Get wrapped up in the wonderful tale of the land of Narnia, along with the incredible things that happen there. Photo courtesy of amazon.com A Coal Miner's Bride By: Susan Bartoletti Read the diary of a Polish girl. She loves her life with her grandmother and brother, but one day she receives a letter that may change her life forever. Photo courtesy of Barnesandnoble.com The Mystery of Black Hollow Lane By: Julia Nobel Read as a tween girl is sent to an English boarding school. When she stumbles onto a mystery that puts her and her friends in danger, can she solve it? Photo courtesy of penguinrandomhouse.com The Night Diary By: Veera Hiranandani Be quiet. Travel fast. Don't talk to strangers. Drink only as much as you need to stay alive. These are the rules of the game that 12-year-old Nisha and her family must play by when they become refugees, on the run to "New India." Explore Nisha's joys and heartbreaks in this gripping book. Worth not only reading, but re-reading. Photo courtesy of paigebritt.com The Lost Track of Time By: Paige Britt Calling all lovers of fantasy, fun, wordplay, or doing nothing - this book is for you! The Lost Track is Time is about a girl who feels suffocated by her incredibly packed summer schedule. Then, she stumbles upon a blank day - a day so big she falls into it. She finds herself in the Realm of Possibility, going on mythical and mushroom-y adventures that will have you on the edge of your chair (or hammock). Photo courtesy of Katherinewoodfine.co.uk The Mystery of the Clockwork Sparrow By: Katherine Woodfine This is a MUST READ! Join Lil, Sophie, Joe and Billy as they sip tea and stop London’s most notorious villains. You will be entranced from the first to the last page! Photo courtesy of Barnesandnoble.com Prints in the Sand: My Journey with Nanea By: Erin Falligant In this awesome America Girl book, you choose what happens because YOU make the choices! Plus, it's historical fiction - how can you go wrong? Photo courtesy of Penguinrandomhouse.com Where The Red Fern Grows By: Wilson Rawls Just a warning, this book will make you want to laugh, cry, smile, frown, cheer, groan, and everything in between. Read the tale of a boy and his dogs, and their devotion to one another. They go through victories, and sorrows, but they never abandon each other. Photo courtesy of barnesandnoble.com Out of My Mind By: Sharon M. Draper Did you ever think about what it would be like to not be able to communicate? What if you couldn't speak, couldn't gesture accurately, but yet had a mind full of facts, thoughts, and questions? Melody Brooks knows what it is like, because she can't communicate like a "typical student." She's incredibly gifted, but has no way to get her thoughts and feelings "out of her mind". Read Melody's incredible insights, struggles, and final victory in this incredible book. Image courtesy of Christianbook.com Winnie the Horse Gentler By: Dandi Daley Mackall Winnie is a young farm girl who loves horses. Not only that, horses love her! Photo courtesy of Jessicadaygeorge.com Tuesdays At The Castle By: Jessica Day George A magic castle that grows new rooms every Tuesday, a girl with blonde hair and a bold personality, and royal parents away on a trip. What else is in store for this unique family? The Castle Glower series is fast-paced, dramatic, exciting, and sweet in all the right places. The series is absolutely perfect for reading out in the sun! Thank you for stopping by! Happy reading! With love, A&B You may also like:
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5/21/2020 0 Comments bound for oregonPhoto courtesy of penguinrandomhouse.com I just read this book for history......and wow...........just wow! Bound For Oregon is an amazing peek into the life of pioneers who traveled into the unknown, in hopes of a better life for their families in Oregon. This book is written from the perspective of Mary Ellen, a young girl who misses her family and friends. She only has a small bag of her own belongings, and a quilt that her beloved grandma made her, to call her own. The trail has dust, dirt, mud, prairies, deserts, mountains, and everything in between, and Mary Ellen has to walk them all. The terrain on the trail isn’t even the worst. Read as they encounter sickness, near accidents, Indian attacks, thefts, getting lost, and SO much more! Will they make it to Oregon? Or will they die trying?
Bound For Oregon is based on a true story. It will make you want to cry, celebrate, chew your fingernails off.....and repeat! It’s truly an amazing book. It took me a while to read Bound For Oregon, but that was partially due to the fact that I was reading a little bit at a time for school. I think it would be a medium sized read for the average reader. Happy trail riding! -B 5/15/2020 0 Comments The Book of secretsPhoto courtesy of amazon.com Adventure! Action! Questions! Bravery! Suspense! Outstanding!
These are the words that spring to mind when I think of Allison Tait's Book of Secrets. It's an incredible blend of historical fiction and adventure, with elements of mystery sprinkled in. The book chronicles the adventures of Gabe, an orphan who has lived in a monastary since he was abandoned as an infant. In a single night, Gabe's sheltered life is turned upside down when he is handed a brilliantlly illustrated, albeit unintelligibly coded, manuscript. Gabe's quest to discover what the manuscript means, as well as to keep it from falling into the wrong hands, may lead him beyond his home and into the uncharted territory of the forest. While Gabe is there, he meets a ragtag band of raiders and hunters who have their sights set on capturing valuable game - him. However, these criminals like to play with their capture before they settle in for the kill, or in this case, the kidnap. Will Gabe make it out alive? Will the book be intact? And will be ever make it back to the monastery? Find delightfully satisfying answers + surprising twists in The Book of Secrets! I didn't originally expect to like this book, but I totally did! It had just the right combination of friendship, adventure, mystery, and true-to-life historical fact to keep me engaged. It's a fast read (especially if you blaze through it in a day or two like I've been known to do!) and should keep you turning the next page in anticipation. Make sure to follow it up by reading the second book in the duology, The Book of Answers. Are you excited about this title?! With love, A 5/8/2020 0 Comments Robinson crusoeImage courtesy of barnesandnoble.com CRACK! Splinter! Whoosh! WHOA! Those might be the mental sound effects that run through your head when you read Robinson Crusoe. Read along as Crusoe travels the world finding treasures and living his dream life of a sailor. Unfortunately, his dreams get dashed upon a shore (quite literally) when he finds himself in a terrible shipwreck. He manages to salvage a few things from his ship and sets up camp on a deserted island. Witness as he comes in contact with Cannibals, runs low on food, and sets up shelter. You won’t be disappointed!
I highly recommend this book for anyone who does not mind reading old writing style. Have fun! -B Photo courtesy of barnesandnoble.com If you love mysteries, or even just like mysteries, stop reading right now. Go buy/borrow/beg this book. Then, you may come back to this post. You'll thank me later.
Ok, all kidding aside, this book is phenomenal. It is a collection of 12 chapter-length mystery stories, each one written by a different author. The crimes committed in the stories range from murder, to missing persons, to thefts, all organized into four sections: Impossible Mysteries, Canine Capers, Poision Plots, and Closed-System Crimes. Whether the delicasies of poision interest you, or you have a fondness for dogs, hot air balloons, or pearls, there is a short story for you in this book. I also love the collection of different ideas and writing styles. It is wonderfully exciting to get a taste of each individual author through the story that they wrote! I was able to read each short story in about 15-20 minutes, and since each mystery is self-contained, the book is perfect for reading a bit at a time. Or, if you get hooked, you can read it all in a 2-3 hour sprint - it's your choice. Either way, I think that every mystery enthusiast and book lover will find something to pique their interest in this head-scratching, uniquely engaging anthology (story collection). Will you be checking this book out? With love, A 4/24/2020 0 Comments Standing in The lightPhoto courtesy of scholastic.com Standing in the Light is a touching book that will have you nothing short of bawling. Read through the diary of Catherine Logan to discover her tale of her and her brother’s captivity. Indians have been causing trouble in her area an while Catherine feels scared, the feeling is nothing compared to what she feels when an Indian picks her up and hauls her off. When Catherine’s brother falls deathly ill, can she help him at all?
I am not joking when I say that I was crying while reading this book. It’s a great way to look at both ways of life, pioneers and Indians. I would highly recommend this book. -B Novels told in verse are just like regular novels, except for one key detail - instead of traditional sentences and paragraphs, they are comprised entirely of poems. Many authors have written incredible novels in verse for tweens & teens, but some of my favorites are the historical fiction ones. Be warned that these novels in verse are so well-written and personal that they just may make you cry. The absolute best ones may even challenge your outlook on life. I hope that you will love these unique books just as much as I do! Photo courtesy of scholastic.com Unbound By: Ann E. Burg Time Period: 1800's _________ Unbound was one of the first novels told in verse that I read. Let me start off by saying - it was incredible. Unbound is all about a tween girl named Grace, who is a slave in "the big house" on a 19th-century plantation. The author, Ms. Burg, lets us peek at Grace's life and gain a deeper understanding of the challenges Grace faces on a daily basis. It's an eye-opening and absolutely heartbreaking account of slavery in America that will leave you changed. I can't recommend it highly enough! Out of the Dust By: Karen Hesse Time Period: 1930s Out of the Dust is the story of 13-year-old Billie-Jo, who lives in a rural community during the dust bowl. We learn about the almost unbelievable hardships that families faced during that time period. On top of these struggles, an accident tears Billie-Jo's life and family apart. How will she handle this pressure? And will she ever make it out of the dust and into the life she dreams of? You'll have to read the book to find out! The suffering in this book is real, and it's definetely not a light read, so proceed with caution and a box of tissues. However, the themes of forgiveness and fresh beginnings make every sob-inducing moment worth it. Photo courtesy of scholastic.com Dust of Eden By: Mariko Nagai Time Period: 1940s ______ What would life be like if you weren't welcome in your own country, and if your home was taken from you because of that? Dust of Eden gives you an eye-witness account of teenager Mina Masako Tagawa's experiences losing her home and being sent to an internment camp with her Japanese-American family. It's very short, but it crams so much tear-jerking detail onto every page. The best part of the book is how Ms. Nagai weaves elements of hope, love, and freedom into a book with so much sadness. Dust of Eden is beautiful and perfect in a way that's incredibly difficult to describe! Thank you so much for reading!
With love, A Image courtesy of penguinrandomhouse.com Frank and Joe Hardy are off on an exciting adventure when they set upon solving a robbery. Suddenly, a bunch of little mysteries keep popping up that have the boys intrigued. They try their best to catch the crook, but when accidents and sabotage block their path, can they solve the mystery or will they be chased off the trail? I highly recommend reading this book. I love all of the Hardy Boys series and this is no exception. Frank and Joe are brothers who get their crime-solving minds from their dad, who is a detective. The brother duo are the highlight of every book but they have several friends, such as good natured Chet Morton, who help them along the way. Although Hunting for Hidden Gold has twenty chapters, it is a fairly quick read. Enjoy reading, -B You may also like:
Image courtesy of christianbook.com When I first opened up Indian Captive: The Diary of Mary Jemison last fall, I didn't expect to like it. But, ater a few chapters, I couldn't stop reading!
If you like strong, determined characters, adventures, and historical fiction, then this book is waiting for you! It's all about Molly Jemison, called Mary, who is kidnapped by Native Americans and adopted into their tribe. At first, she constantly rebels against the Native American way of life. She doesn't like to work hard, she is angry at her captors, and she wants life to go back to the way it was before. Gradually, she starts to accept the fact that this is her new lifestyle, and she needs to accept it. Women in the tribe teach Molly/Mary about patience and kindness, including how to be a nurse and take care of others. After she has been living with the Seneca Native Americans for several years, Mary learns that her familiy is dead. She is then faced with the difficult decision of whether to leave the tribe or to continue on living with them. To discover what she chooses, you'll have to read this phenomenal book! Love, A 3/27/2020 0 Comments The oregon trail seriesPhoto courtesy of hmhbooks.com Pictured is book 1, The Race to Chimney Rock Imagine you are a strong pioneer. Your family has just joined a wagon train to give you the best chance of making it to Oregon City. Just like everything, this trip brings many choices YOU need to make in this “You choose the trail” series. Will you take a shortcut through the desert or should you stay on the main trail? What medicine should you take if you get sick? What do you do if a wildcat threatens you?
There are 4 books in this series. I have read books 3 and 4 and they are really good! You don’t have to read them in order but I do recommend doing so. So what trail are you going to take? Are you going to read these books or not? Happy reading! -B |