Middle grade books are any books designed for an audience 8-12 years of age. They can be of any genre and are typically around 50,000 words. Middle grade books are sometimes clumped in with children's books, but for the purpose of clarity, I am keeping these two age groups distinct.

Posts


[Review] You Wish (book 1) by Jeff Victor

Absolutely adorable. Great art, a quick compelling read, realistic dialogue, and relatable characters. This is a unique take on a genie story, told from the inside out. It had me smiling and giggling. I'm already eager for more. Lucky for me, the next book in the series will be released on June 3, 2025!

Read more »

[Review] It's Watching by Lindsay Currie

Yes! This book was mysterious and creepy with some serious ghost-story vibes. Set during Halloween and perfect for the Halloween season. I loved the hauntingly atmospheric details which imparted a great sense of unease and tension throughout. This book succeeds in actually feeling like a ghost story.

Read more »

[Review] What Fell From the Sky by Adrianna Cuevas

I generally love middle grade novels, but this one didn't garner a lot of interest for me. I did like the premise, and the book did a good job of illustrating the negative impacts of bigotry. I even appreciated that the book was loosely based on a historical event.

Read more »

[Review] A Wizard's Guide to Defensive Baking by T. Kingfisher

I was instantly enchanted with this book. It was so fun and clever. Extremely original. And, while a sentence or two summary of the plot would make the book sound a bit absurd, Kingfisher completely pulled it off. The worldbuilding was great. And the character development was spot on. The characters felt so real and universal that I was in tears by the end of the book.

Read more »

[Review] Heidi by Johanna Spyri (1880)

A sweet homage to pastoral life. Set in the Swiss Alps, this story celebrates family and nature. This was my first time reading this classic, and I was quite delighted be it. It is a great example of the joie de vivre that one finds in a bucolic outdoor setting.

Read more »

[Review] The Vanderbeekers of 141st Street by Karina Yan Glaser

A sweet story about family and community with an underlying message about the power of kindness. This feels a bit like contemporary fiction for a middle grade audience—regular people, living their regular lives, while trying to make the most of a bad situation. It felt slow in places and overly saccharine in others, but the writing was solid.

Read more »