Middle-Grade Novels
by Graham Salisbury
7th grader Danny, his dad, and older brother Tyrell are Oregon cattle ranchers and local rodeo celebrities. Like most of their neighbors, they are no-nonsense when it comes to raising animals. But when Danny's dog, Banjo, is accused of attacking Mr. Brodie's sheep, Danny's heart wins out over his head. The law says that the dog must be put down, but Danny can't kill his best friend. Instead, he finds a way to hide Banjo until the charges against him can be disproven.
7th grader Meg is a horse trainer who lives a few towns away. When she finds an injured dog in the woods one day, she naturally becomes suspicious of the boy who claims to be the animal's owner.
This book is clean but complicated, giving readers an honest look at the under-represented life of American ranchers and modern cowboys who must view their animals as livestock, not pets.
Please note: Danny lies about killing Banjo but eventually owns up to the deceit and makes restitution. Ultimately, he sacrifices his own happiness for the sake of his dog. Additionally, the text includes one use of each of the following: "heck," "kick your butt," "danged," and "geezer."
by Frank Cottrell-Boyce
Alfie is supposed to be at school. Instead, he's playing hooky at the airport's lost property office, looking for his missing prosthetic hand. Instead of a hand, he finds an ancient-looking robot—or part of a robot. Eric is a 100-year-old rogue automaton wanted by the authorities.
Despite the threat level, Alfie sees Eric as a friend. In an age when most of the world is run by state-of-the-art robots, it will be difficult to hide one so ancient. But Alfie is determined. The two escape the airport and walk right into a grand adventure of chaos and catastrophe.
As the story unfolds, Alfie realizes that he's been suffering from amnesia. His memory returns and he realizes three things:
1. He was in a horrible traffic accident when he lost his hand.
2. He wasn't alone in the accident.
3. Eric is not guilty of the crime he's been accused of.
Please note: While the book is quite clean, it does start with Alfie skipping school and stealing the leftovers of someone's lunch. There is one use of God's name in vain and a mention of a frozen block of pee falling out of an airplane's bathroom mid-flight. Additionally, Alfie lies to a police officer about Eric being a medieval knight statue, which turns out to be somewhat accurate in the end.
by Ann Weil
In 1826, Capri was a small, rocky village with only enough tourists throughout the year to fill one inn run by fourteen-year-old Michelle and his parents. Every day was the same for the boy. Nothing ever happened in Capri. One day, however, a beautiful red-sailed ship arrived, bringing with it three unusual sailors. After landing, French adventurer Monsieur Jacque, English artist Lord Derby, and German philosopher Herre Nordstrom convinced Michele to help them uncover the truth about the mysterious caves surrounding the island.
This simple tale is based on the true story of German writer August Kopisch and his travel companion, painter Ernst Fries, who enlisted the help of a local fisherman to explore the Grotto of Capri.
After reading the book, be sure to check out photos of the Grotta Azzurra.
by Patricia MacLachlan
For as long as she can remember, eleven-year-old Lucy has watched her dad pitch a crazy knuckleball. He's currently on a minor league team but is hoping to make it to the Bigs. Lucy loves the game and even plays on a school team but is hesitant to pitch. She worries she won't live up to her dad's reputation. But she summons up enough courage to try. Each morning, while everyone else is asleep, she slips out onto the mound to practice. In time, her dedication pays off, and she surprises her family with a knuckleball of her very own.
This is a sweet, contemporary domestic fiction that will appeal to artists and baseball fans. The text is poetic but simplistic, making it an excellent book for struggling readers who want both depth of plot and ease of language.
Parents, Be Aware
by P.J. Peterson
Twelve-year-old Ryan is obsessed with video games. He's not good at outdoor activities like hiking and canoeing. His older brother Tanner, on the other hand, is an experienced camper and convinces Ryan to join him on an overnight kayaking trip. Shortly into their adventure, though, they hit some rough rapids. Tanner is knocked unconscious, leaving Ryan on his own to make his way out of the river. Employing the same skills he used in his favorite video game, Chopper Deamon, Ryan finds help and eventually rescues his brother.
Things to know: In one description of the video game, a skeleton rides a motorcycle across the screen and yells, "Eat dirt, Squirt." As he's making his way out of the ravine, Ryan names all the obstacles after parts of the video game—Deamon River, Deamon Cliff, Deamon Rapids, etc.
Just for you, Mom
by Tessa Arlen
When Marion Crawford arrives at the palace to take a temporary role as governess, princesses Elizabeth and Margaret are young girls living in the countryside with their parents. But then their uncle, Edward VIII, abdicates the throne to marry an American divorcee, and their lives turn upside down. They must leave their simple life and take their place as heir apparents to the English crown. Marion, or Crawfie, as they affectionately call her, becomes their anchor.
Time passes, and Elizabeth falls in love with Prince Philip of Greece. With family ties to Nazi sympathizers, Philip is the last person Queen Elizabeth I wants her daughter to marry. As always, the princess turns to her most trusted ally, Crawfie, for help in convincing her parents to agree to the match.
Based on a true story, this book recounts the events that led Marion Crawford, former governess to Queen Elizabeth II, to do something that no other royal employee before her dared to do--write a tell-all.
Be aware that this is not The Little Princessess--Crawford's notorious memoir first published in 1950. This is a fictionalized story that recounts why the tell-all was written in the first place.
Please note: The text includes several vain uses of God's name and the word "d*mned." In addition, the plot implies that an engaged Crawfie sleeps with her fiancé on one or two occasions before they are married. No details or descriptions are given about the premarital relations, however.