This didn’t make my list of Newbery contenders, but here are five middle grade novels I enjoyed this year:

Small Spaces by Katherine Arden

Published by G. P. Putnam’s Sons

Everyone loves a good scary story, and this one has plenty of creepy details, plus three interesting main characters who have to fight off the evil forces.  Prepare to never look at scarecrows the same way again.

 

Ivy Aberdeen’s Letter to the World by Ashley Herring Blake

Published by Little Brown Books for Young Readers

I thought this might be a Newbery contender, but I haven’t seen it on anybody else’s list.  Although this seems like a “coming out” story (and it is…Ivy is attracted to a girl in her class), it’s also a story for everyone who has struggled to be themselves.

 

Lifeboat 12 by Susan Hood

Published by Simon and Schuster Books for Young Readers

This World War II novel in verse will appeal to fans of I Survived as well as history buffs.  Based on a true story, with obvious attention to detail and research.

 

Amal Unbound by Aisha Saeed

Published by Nancy Paulsen Books

Amal’s story is powerful, and a good one to share with American kids who may not be aware of the dangers she and other kids like her face in Pakistan.

 

The Nebula Secret (Explorer Academy) by Trudi Trueit

Published by National Geographic

This series has gotten off to a promising start with this action-packed adventure that introduces some interesting characters, a mysterious murder to investigate, and an evil librarian.

After my crushing defeat predicting the Newbery last year (0 out of 5), I have become a bit more philosophical (jaded?) about what I think deserves a Newbery versus what actually wins.  Well, the medal says it’s for “the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children”, and here’s what I thought met that criteria.

The Wild Robot Escapes by Peter Brown

Published by Little, Brown

I know, it’s a sequel, but I can dream, can’t I?  Roz is so loved at my school, and many readers (including me) liked the second book even better than the first.  Charlotte’s Web for the 21st century.

 

The Faithful Spy: Dietrich Bonhoeffer and the Plot to Kill Hitler by John Hendrix

Published by Harry N. Abrams

This one’s a little old for the Newbery (in my opinion), but I loved it so much and would be thrilled to see it get some recognition.  It would also make an interesting Caldecott choice.

 

The Parker Inheritance by Varian Johnson

Published by Arthur A. Levine Books

This may have been my favorite middle grade novel of the year, and I think it’s the most likely to get any kind of Newbery recognition.  I loved the flashbacks to the past that informed the story from the present, and the way it all came together in the end.  The mystery was fun, too, even if it figuring out the key clue seemed a little improbable.  It’s been a surprisingly tough sell at my schools, though.

 

Lu by Jason Reynolds

Published by Atheneum

Two years ago, I was rooting for Ghost.  Last year, it was Patina.  It’s probably a waste of space to put this on the list, but I loved the whole Track series and thought Lu was one of the best.  At least Jason Reynolds got his Newbery last year.

 

Front Desk by Kelly Yang

Published by Arthur A. Levine Books

The somewhat improbable (but feel-good) ending is a slight flaw in the writing, but the story has so much heart and so many memorable characters, I can forgive that.  It’s probably not quite Newbery caliber, but should it win, it would be an easy one to promote to the elementary school crowd.  Plus, it’s based on the author’s life, which is cool, and it speaks to the immigrant experience.

Published by Scholastic Press

Summary:  Jillian is excited to be getting a new baby sister, and when Emma is born, the family is thrilled.  But tests reveal that she has hearing loss, and Jillian’s parents have some difficult decisions to make about their new daughter.  Jillian turns to a friend from a tween fantasy online forum, a boy named Derek who is Deaf. He introduces her to the Deaf community, answers her questions, and straightens out some of her misconceptions.  He is also Black, as is Jillian’s aunt, and Jillian finds she has a lot to learn from both of them about racism. When one of Derek’s friends, a Deaf Black girl is shot and killed by police for not stopping when she is out for a run (she couldn’t  hear their shouts), Jillian realizes she still has a lot to learn about how the world around her works. The story concludes with three chapters: nine months later, three months after that, and three years after that, to show the reader how Jillian’s family has changed and grown as Emma has grown up.  256 pages; grades 4-7.

Pros:  This book fills a need for stories of Deaf kids and their families; I learned quite a lot about cochlear implants, American Sign Language and the Deaf community (including the capitalization of the word Deaf, a convention from the book I am continuing in this review, as well as capitalizing Black).  There were also a lot of thought-provoking conversations and situations about race, both with Derek and members of Jillian’s family.

Cons:  The story got bogged down with so many issues.  Derek and Aunt Alicia seemed to exist mainly to educate Jillian about race and the Deaf community; they needed a few more dimensions to make them seem more like ordinary mortals.

If you would like to buy this book on Amazon, click here.

Published by Delacorte Books for Young Readers

Summary:  When Theo’s photos are vandalized while on display in the middle school art gallery, five suspects are gathered to spend their vacation week in a justice circle, a sort of restorative justice program designed to uncover the truth.  The group has counterparts in the 1985 movie The Breakfast Club: the quiet, geeky kid; the jock, the weird girl; the smart, popular girl; and the jokester troublemaker boy.  Reluctantly at first, they begin to discover the stories behind the facades of each kid, and slowly the truth comes out, not only about who drew on the photos, but about who each of them really is.  Told by Theo, the story spans the vacation week from Monday to Friday; each day begins with every kid writing answers to the same questions; the responses change as the week goes on. Ms. Davis, the school principal, is the villain who opposes the program and its leader, school counselor Ms. Lewiston.  In the end, though, Ms. Lewiston’s method proves successful, and the six kids get to have the last word with their principal. 336 pages; grades 5-8.

Pros:  This will have wide appeal with middle schoolers, many of whom will recognize something of themselves in one or more of the characters.  The whodunit suspense builds nicely, although the final answer isn’t a huge surprise. All the characters’ voices are honest and believable, and there is plenty of humor despite the tense setting.

Cons:  This is the second book I’ve read this year where kids are left unsupervised in a public school for hours at a time.  Authors, that just doesn’t happen in schools, at least not in any I’ve worked in.

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Published by Atheneum

Summary:  Sixth-grader Isabella has a lot on her plate: her parents are divorced, and both get engaged to be remarried in the span of a few weeks.  Her mom is white and her dad is black, and Isabella has friends of different races. But when one of her friends is the victim of racist bullying, Isabella begins to feel like she has to choose sides.  Throughout the story, Isabella, a talented piantist, is preparing for a big recital.  A horrifying racially-charged incident on the way to that event derails her performance but leads to a reconciliation of sorts between the two sides of her family.  There are no easy answers, but Isabella emerges from the difficulties with a greater confidence borne of a greater sense of who she is. 320 pages; grades 4-7.

Pros:  Readers will connect with Isabella as she explores questions of how she fits into her world and deals with family difficulties that will undoubtedly be familiar to many.  The short chapters (all entitled “Mom’s Week”, “Dad’s Week”, or “Exchange Day” and Isabella’s honest voice will draw kids in right away.

Cons:  Isabella’s older stepbrother Darren was just a little too perfect to be true.

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