Middle-Grade Novels
by Sam Sedgman
Amid a nationwide debate over "New Time," Isaac Turner joins his dad, Chief Horologist of England, in the belfry of Big Ben to set the weights and wind the clock. But then, his dad vanishes. Despite what the authorities conclude, Isaac is confident that his father was kidnapped and that his disappearance has something to do with the men and women determined to change England's system of time calculations. Would reverting to a 10-hour day streamline the country's way of life, as many in Parliament claim? And why would anyone want to change time anyway? If Isaac can answer these questions, maybe he can find his dad.
Please note: This is a fast-paced, kid-friendly thriller that contains two to three instances of God's name being used in vain. Additionally, Isaac's friend, Hattie, convinces him to sneak out of the house to look for his dad. She also lies to her own dad about having met Isaac before being introduced to him formally.
by Barbara Williams
Since his dad's death, thirteen-year-old Albert Trask has been the man of the house. But now, Grandmother and Uncle Clay have arrived in England and insist on bringing the family back to America. Albert, though not excited about conceding some of his independence, is excited about traveling across the Atlantic on the famed Titanic. If only Mother would stop worrying about his little sister Virginia, who, in Albert's estimation, is not as sick as she is pretending to be and is only acting ill to garner sympathy from others. But when the ship hits a giant iceberg, Albert has to put his irritation aside and act fast to save her.
Please note: Virginia is quite whiny and spoiled throughout the story. However, this is a necessary inclusion of the plot, which makes Albert's final sacrifices seem all the more heroic.
by Mary Louise Sanchez
The year is 1934. The Great Depression has forced 10-year-old Margarita Sandoval, her Mama, and siblings to leave their ancestral land in New Mexico and join her Papa and older brother Alberto in Fort Steele, Wyoming, where the two men have been working for the railroad. Although they are American citizens by birth, the Sandoval's are outsiders who speak with an accent. Alienated by their cultural differences, they set out to introduce their new Wyoming neighbors to the food, customs, and even holiday traditions of their people. Although many townsfolk welcome Margarita and her família, several old-timers see the Sandovals as a threat to the town and will stop at nothing to force them to return to New Mexico.
Fans of Little House on the Prairie and Sweet Home Alaska will appreciate how the family works together to overcome hardship. It is a beautiful portrait of frontier life and the day-to-day struggles experienced during the 1930s. Spanish words and phrases are sprinkled throughout the text and are either translated into the characters' dialogue or can be interpreted through context clues.
Please note: Because the Sandovals are Catholic, each chapter is named after a Catholic saint who is the patron of a particular adversity mentioned within the chapter. Additionally, one of the town naysayers buys beer and cigarettes from the general store, is later found drunk, and makes a decision that he hopes will ruin Papa's reputation.
Jasper and the Riddle of Riley's Mine
by Caroline Starr Rose
Smuggled aboard the steamer Queen headed from Kirkland, Washington, to the Klondike to escape their alcoholic father, brothers Jasper and Melvin Johnson hear rumors of the abandoned claim of an old coot named One-Eyed Riley. Apparently, before leaving the area, the grizzled miner left clues leading to his cache of gold. Armed with only a pocket watch and a washboard, the brothers set out to find the hidden treasure. But how can a pair of young boys find a payload that has eluded even the most experienced minors? Better yet, how can they survive a harsh Alaskan winter?
Please note: The scenes depicting their alcoholic father are not graphic and only appear in the first few chapters. Additionally, the books contains a few old-timey cuss words like "god-awful" and "gosh-durn."
Parents, Be Aware
by Laura Marx Fitzgerald
It all started when Theodora Tenpenny spilled a bottle of rubbing alcohol on a painting her grandfather had owned for years. As paintings go, this one was nothing special--just a simple rendering of an egg. But when the alcohol dissolves the top layer of paint, a new image surfaces. Thanks to all the many art lessons she received from her grandfather before his death, Theo is certain this is no ordinary portrait. In fact, she's quite sure it is La Fornarina, a work of the famed Renaissance painter Raphael that has been missing since American soldiers found it in a hidden Natzi bunker during WWII.
Before retiring, Grandfather worked as a security guard at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Could he have stolen this priceless portrait? All signs point to his guilt. But Theo knows he is innocent, and it's up to her and a ragtag band of neighborhood friends to prove it.
Things to know: Historians and art enthusiasts will love this who-done-it-style mystery. The book is free of language, violence, and modern agenda that would be problematic to most conservative families, but it does feature a few historical details about Raphael's life that, while accurate, could be considered inappropriate for middle-grade readers.
In chapter 7, when describing the painter's personal life, Theo concludes, "He strung along an engagement to the niece of a powerful cardinal for seven years while he fooled around with his mistress, even refusing to finish the Pope's frescoes unless she was bought to his villa for 'inspiration.' Vasari records his early death at thirty-seven as due to 'sexual excess'--a medical condition that I'm pretty sure has since been disproven."
Additionally, when defining "iconography," Theo's mother describes why a portrait shows Mary holding her breast, symbolizing that she was a nursing mother. Afterward, Theo thinks to herself, "It explained the hand on the boob."
Just for you, Mom
by Courtney Walsh
While walking down the sidewalk, hands laden with the coffee orders of her coworkers, overworked and undervalued junior book editor Kelsey Worthington gets hit by a car. While not exactly on her bucket list, the accident is just the wake-up call she needs to start living her life with intention.
She's placed in a shared hospital room with business mogul Georgia Tate. Hoping to glean valuable wisdom from the older, more accomplished woman, Kelsey questions Ms. Tate about her biggest life regrets. She has many, namely her estranged relationship with her husband and grown son. With her kidneys failing, she figures it's too late to make amends.
Kelsey sees Georgia's confession as an invitation--an opportunity to finally start living her own life well and help a dying woman make things right. She declares the upcoming months as "The Summer of Yes!" and insists that the pair agree to every adventure that comes across their paths. But when she meets Georgia's very single and startlingly handsome son, she realizes that some yeses might be too good to be true.