Middle grade fiction

Ghost Book by Remy Lai

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Published by Henry Holt

Summary: July has “yin-yang eyes”, meaning that she can see ghosts, but she feels as invisible as a ghost most days.  Her mom died when she was born, her dad is too preoccupied with work to pay much attention to her, and teachers and kids at school often overlook her.  Desperate for a friend, she tries to summon a ghost.  William shows up instead–a boy who is in a coma, and whose spirit is wandering around trying to figure out if he is dead or alive.  As the two kids do some investigating, they discover that they have a life-long connection, and that only one of them is meant to be alive.  Their explorations take them into the underworld, where they hope to change fate so that they can both live.  There, they are pursued by a variety of spirits bent on their destruction, but their friendship saves the day and helps them to figure out a way forward for both of them.  320 pages; grades 3-6.

Pros:  I’m a big fan of Remy Lai’s graphic (and semi-graphic) novels, and her latest one does not disappoint.  Part ghost story, part friendship story, part adventure, this will keep kids turning the pages until the surprising but totally satisfying conclusion.

Cons:  This is a bit darker than Lai’s previous books.

The Museum of Lost and Found by Leila Sales

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Published by Harry N. Abrams

Summary:  Vanessa is mourning the loss of her friendship with former best friend Bailey when she discovers an abandoned museum near her house.  She decides to create an exhibit about Bailey to try to discover what went wrong between the two of them.  Although Vanessa tries to keep her museum a secret, before long her older brother and a few of her friends discover it and want to set up their own exhibits.  The group begins to bond as they create a map, admission fees, and a security system, and start inviting other kids to see their museum.  The most popular item on display is a mysterious painting Vanessa found in a back room of the museum.  Through some detective work, she eventually tracks down the artist, a move that ends up exposing the museum to adults.  This means the end of the museum as Vanessa has known it, but also an interesting new beginning.  Before long, other kids are creating their own museums all over town, including Bailey, who shows Vanessa her own take on their friendship that leads to the beginnings of a reconciliation.  304 pages; grades 4-7.

Pros:  Whew! I didn’t even touch on Vanessa’s trichotillomania, a disorder she discovers she has near the end of the story, or her active-duty military father with whom she has a complicated relationship.  There are a lot of issues explored, but Leila Sales does it with grace and plenty of humor, creating an imperfect but lovable protagonist in Vanessa and delving into a myriad of topics that will resonate with middle grade readers.

Cons:  Vanessa’s disorder takes the form of picking at her skin, especially her cuticles, which kind of made me cringe every time I read about it.

Buzzing by Samuel Sattin, illustrated by Rye Hickman

~ Janet Dawson ~ 2 Comments

Published by Little, Brown Ink

Summary:  The bees swarming around Isaac’s head represent the thoughts brought on by his obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).  They’re constantly reminding him that if he doesn’t tug his ear five times or keep the foods on his plate from touching, his house may burn down, or his car may crash.  When another kid at school makes friendly overtures, the bees remind Isaac how worthless and weird he is.  His overprotective mom keeps him on a strict regimen of therapies, causing his older sister Miriam to feel ignored and resentful.  Isaac’s talent for drawing fantasy creatures catches a classmate’s eye, and Micah invites Isaac to join a group playing Swamps & Sorcery, a role-playing game (think Dungeons & Dragons).  Isaac loves the group immediately, but his mother is less sure.  When she eventually prohibits him from playing the game, Isaac’s world goes into a tailspin.  Fortunately, Miriam is perceptive enough to see what is happening, and the siblings work together to finally break through to their mother and help her to accept Isaac exactly as he is.  Includes an author’s note about his own OCD and neurodivergence. 224 pages; grades 5-8.  

Pros:  This graphic novel perfectly captures the vibe of a group of middle school outsiders who have fully embraced their weirdness (their word).  Isaac’s joy at finding the group is shown by the switch from monochromatic illustrations at home to full color when he’s with his friends.  

Cons:  RPG fans will undoubtedly enjoy the fantasy subplot based on the kids’ game that’s woven throughout the main story, but I found those sections to be more of a distraction.

How to Stay Invisible by Maggie C. Rudd

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Published by Farrar, Straus and Giroux

Summary:  When Raymond realizes that his neglectful parents have left him for good, he feels that he has no choice but to camp out in the woods near his middle school.  He manages to survive there for the better part of a year, sleeping with his dog Rosie inside a hollow fallen tree, fishing and dumpster diving for food, and occasionally helped by a couple of kind new friends: Harlin and Lexi from school and an old man named Stigs who fishes in the same river.  It’s a pretty desperate existence, but Raymond finds it preferable to foster care, which he’s had some experience with.  A combination of a middle school bully and Mother Nature eventually catches up with Raymond, but with the help of his new friends, he finds what may be a happy ending.  240 pages; grades 4-7.

Pros:  Fans of Hatchet and other survival stories will enjoy getting to know Raymond, whose situation may feel a little closer to home than Gary Paulsen’s tale.  Despite his terrible parents, Raymond is a likable kid who finds himself drawn toward friendship and connection even as he tries to be self-sufficient.

Cons:  With one somewhat notable exception, most of Raymond’s teachers seem more concerned with his grades and behavior than any of the signs that all is not well with him at home.

The Year My Life Went Down the Toilet by Jake Maia Arlow

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Published by Dial Books

Summary:  Al is hoping her new doctor can make her stomach problems disappear, so she’s crushed to learn she has Crohn’s disease, which can be controlled but not cured.  Her flare ups seem to get worse with stress, and Al has plenty of that when her best friend Leo gets a part in the school play and has less time for her, and her mom and Leo’s mom start dating.  An IBS support group proves helpful in helping Al process some of her feelings about having a chronic disease and introducing her to some new friends who can relate to her experiences. Al develops a crush on one of the girls in the group and has to deal with the additional stress of coming out to her friends and family.  Communication proves to be the key, and after a rocky few months, Al finds her way back to those she loves the most.  288 pages; grades 4-7.

Pros:  I’ve gone my whole life without reading a book about a middle schooler with Crohn’s disease and now…two in less than a month.  Al’s story, like Will’s, conveys the difficulties of dealing with this illness and the grief of learning that it’s chronic, while at the same time containing universal and relatable middle school issues with family and friends. If you’re looking for an LGBTQ+ friendly book, every main character in this story falls into that category.

Cons:  Al spends a lot of the book being sulky and uncommunicative, behavior that is certainly understandable given her circumstances, but if I had to choose someone to hang out with from these two books, I’d have to go with Will.

Eerie Tales from the School of Screams by Graham Annable 

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Published by First Second

Summary:  Ms. Nomed has her students come up one by one to share a scary story with the rest of the class.  Each tale is illustrated with various shades of a single color to help differentiate one from the other.  Humorous commentary from the other kids at the end of each one lightens the mood a bit before plunging back into another creepy world where things are not always what they seem and monsters, ghosts, and zombies are real.  The final story turns out to be true, and the class has to join forces when Ms. Nomed reveals her true self.  368 pages; grades 4-7.

Pros:  A graphic novel scary story collection?  Someone has a finger on the pulse of elementary students!  Plan on buying multiple copies for the library, as this is sure to be a huge hit.  The artwork is excellent, and the stories are genuinely creepy.

Cons:  As always with scary stories for elementary kids, be aware that these may be disturbing for some readers.

Mexikid: A Graphic Memoir by Pedro Martin

~ Janet Dawson ~ 1 Comment

Published by Dial Books

Summary:  Pedro’s house feels pretty small with his parents and eight brothers and sisters, so when he learns that his grandfather is coming to live with the family, he’s not happy.  Not only that, but the whole family has to travel to Mexico to pick up Abuelito.  The kids are divided into two groups: the five oldest were born in Mexico, and the younger four, including Pedro, arrived after the family had moved to California.  The older group takes a pick-up truck for the big road trip, and the rest of the family travels in a used RV.  There are plenty of adventures both on the trip and during the weeks they spend in Mexico with their extended family.  Pedro is in awe of his grandfather, who was part of the Mexican revolution, but by the end of the trip, he’s shown he has a few heroic qualities of his own.  Available in both English and Spanish language editions.  320 pages; grades 4-8.

Pros:  This road trip graphic novel strikes the perfect balance between funny and poignant, featuring a memorable immigrant family with ties to both Mexico and the United States.  Readers of a certain age will appreciate the loving references to Star Wars, Fleetwood Mac, Happy Days, and other 1970’s touchstones.

Cons:  I found the font a little hard to read, particularly the lowercase d’s that looked more like a’s.

Hope in the Valley by Mitali Perkins

~ Janet Dawson ~ 1 Comment

Published by Farrar, Straus and Giroux

Summary:  Pandita is looking forward to a relaxing summer of reading in her favorite secret hiding place–the porch of the abandoned house next door, a place she and her late mother liked to spend time.  When she learns that the house is being torn down by developers, Pandita is horrified and becomes part of a group trying to save it for historical preservation.  Her research on the old house leads to some surprising discoveries, as well as some new friendships.  There are other changes afoot during the summer, including four weeks of drama camp and a potential new stepmother whose brash opinions cause Pandita to label her The Intruder.  At first reluctant to attend drama camp, Pandita eventually discovers a talent for singing and learns to overcome her fear of speaking in public, a lesson that serves her well in her fight for the house.  Although things don’t turn out exactly the way Pandita wants them to, she discovers that change can be a good thing sometimes, leading to new connections and experiences.  304 pages; grades 4-7.

Pros:  This engaging historical novel documents the rapid changes going on in Silicon Valley in the 1980’s.  Introverts will take Pandita’s struggles and triumphs to heart and cheer her on as she discovers new talents and makes new friends.

Cons:  Although The Intruder eventually won the family over, she seemed pretty obnoxious at times, and I foresee some rocky times ahead for her and Pandita.

What Happened to Rachel Riley? by Claire Swinarski

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Published by Quill Tree Books

Summary:  Anna’s new at her Madison, Wisconsin middle school.  She’s a little young for eighth grade and still trying to figure out how the middle school social hierarchy works, so when she notices that a girl named Rachel Riley is shunned by all her classmates, she’s curious to find out why.  Digging deeper into the mystery, Anna discovers that Rachel was one of the popular girls until the end of seventh grade, when a mysterious fire disrupted the end-of-the-year dance and awards ceremony.  A devoted podcast fan, Anna decides to make a podcast to answer the question, what happened to Rachel Riley?  In addition to her own narration, the story is told through texts, emails, letters, interviews, and news reports, which slowly reveal to Anna a tale of bullying and sexual harassment that has been ignored by teachers and administrators and laughed off by students.  As Anna uncovers the truth, she learns the importance of using her own voice to speak up in defense of truth and justice.  352 pages; grades 4-8.

Pros:  It’s not often that I wish I were still running middle school book clubs, but it happened as I read this perfect middle school story.  The format and the mystery elements make it a quick and engaging read, and the story raises important questions about sexual harassment and how it affects both boys and girls.

Cons:  The large cast of characters and story format left me feeling like I didn’t really get to know several of the secondary characters.

Boomi’s Boombox by Shanthi Sekaran

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Published by Katherine Tegen Books

Summary:  Boomi is reeling from the death of her father from Covid.  Remote school is isolating, her best friend seems distant, and the final blow comes when she fails an audition at her ballet school.  She receives an old boombox of her father’s under somewhat mysterious conditions, and when she tries to play the mixtape inside, she’s transported back to 1986 England.  There she meets her 12-year-old father, Jeevan, as well as his mysterious older sister, and a younger version of her grandmother, Paati, who lives with Boomi’s family in the present and suffers from dementia.  As Boomi travels back and forth between the present and the past, she learns about the racism that plagues her dad and his family, forcing Asian people to be silent and invisible in their mostly white community.  By helping them speak up, Boomi learns to accept what has happened in her life and to embrace her love of dancing, even if her body is not the size and shape her ballet teacher is looking for.  Working together, Boomi and Jeevan manage to heal the rifts within their families and change their lives for the better.  272 pages; grades 4-7.

Pros:  I wasn’t expecting the time travel twist, which allowed Boomi to get closure around her father’s death and to witness the racism that shaped both her parents’ early years.  Shanthi Sekaran deftly handles so many difficult topics including not only racism, but body image, grief, and the pandemic.

Cons:  I was actually in London in 1987, which doesn’t feel as much like ancient history as this book makes it seem.