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] 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 »

[Review] The Flicker by H.E. Edgmon

This is a lovely, character-driven novel set in a post-apocalyptic world. Tender and emotional, with an array of diverse characters. This book touches on a number of deep topics: gender identity, Indigenous culture, and the corrupting influence of power and greed. It also addresses the burden of being a caregiver—the pressure, the burnout, and the desire to take a break and do nothing (even when it is an impossible wish).

Read more »