Middle-Grade Novels
Captain Gray
by Avi
In 1783, following the Revolutionary War, Kevin Cartwright's father—a wounded soldier—decides to leave Philadelphia to seek a peaceful life in the untamed wilderness of the New Jersey coast. During their journey, the family is ambushed by a ruthless band of pirates led by the mysterious and charismatic Captain Grey. The pirates claim to have killed Kevin's father and sister, taking the boy captive. Kevin discovers that Captain Grey has established his own independent "nation" on a remote part of the coast, funded entirely by piracy. As a prisoner of the "pirate king," Kevin is pressured to renounce his past and his country to join Grey’s lawless society. The story follows Kevin’s struggle to maintain his identity and his desperate search for a way to escape his captors.
Please note: At the end of one chapter, Kevin is sure he sees a ghost. By the beginning of the next chapter, much to his relief, he learns the true identity of the figure.
Ways to Make Sunshine
by Renee Watson
After Ryan’s father loses his job at the post office in Portland, Oregon, her family must move into a smaller "new (old)" house and sell one of their cars to save money. Ryan strives to live up to her unconventional name, which means "leader," while dealing with her family's financial struggles, overcoming her fear of public speaking, and finding her own unique talents, even though all her other friends already seem to shine.
Ryan learns that her true gift is kindness and the ability to find the "silver lining" in difficult situations.
This is a simple, contemporary story about a young girl's love for family and friends, and for building a life that celebrates both. Although not a Christian fiction, the book depicts the family attending church, praying, and speaking of faith.
Please note: At first blush, because the female protagonist has a traditionally male-sounding name, a reader might assume that this story includes transgender elements. It does not. The first chapter makes it very clear that Ryan's name was given to her because of its meaning, not its gender. She was born a girl and enjoys living up to her weighty name.
While unpacking in her new bedroom, Ryan discovers a box of old things from the previous owner. Her brother tries to convince her that they are items from a person who has probably died and may want the items back. He says, "Don't come crying to me when his spirit comes to haunt you." The siblings bicker throughout the book, but also stand together and show genuine love, respect, and pride for each other.
One character says, "Thank G*d for that," another says, "Shut up." When referring to the neighborhood that some friends moved into, which contains no other black families, Ryan's dad offhandedly remarks that the area is "too white."
Star in the Storm
by Joan Hiatt Harlow
Twelve-year-old Maggie Wells lives in a 1912 Newfoundland fishing village where a new law has outlawed all non-shepherding dogs. Trouble is, Maggie's best friend is her giant black Newf named Sirius. When a wealthy classmate, Tamar Rand, accuses the dog of killing one of her sheep, Maggie must find a way to hide him from being shot by her family in revenge. One day, a terrible storm hits the area, trapping a passenger ship in the bay. Determined to help her dog regardless of the outcome, Maggie commands Sirius to swim through the treacherous waves and carry a rope from the sinking vessel to shore, enabling a rescue effort that saves everyone on board, including Tamar's older sister and baby nephew.
Please note: As in many small villages in the early twentieth century, some of the folks in the story believe in silly superstitions, including Maggie herself, who at first accuses Tamar of acting like a witch. Despite the uncaring and spiteful behavior of the wealthy Rands, Mr. and Mrs. Wells exemplify integrity and kindness, encouraging Maggie to turn the other cheek and place her trust in God alone rather than in old wives' tales.
The story features a "town drunk" who, with Mr. Wells' mentorship, turns his life around.
At one point, Father says, "We are the masters of our own lives and fortunes." Additionally, while in a state of shock, one character uses God's name in vain.
This is not a Christian book; however, it includes many mentions of character, faith, and prayer.
Lemonade War
by Jacqueline Davies
After learning that his favorite (and only) younger sister, Jessie, will be skipping third grade to join his fourth-grade class, Evan Treski becomes nervous. Those nerves morph into jealousy, and through a series of misunderstandings, eventually anger. Feeling threatened and annoyed, he stops speaking to her and starts a lemonade stand with his friend, Scott. In response, Jessie starts her own stand with a new friend, Megan. Eventually, the siblings make a bet: whoever earns $100 first wins the loser’s total earnings. Instead of a friendly competition, this end-of-summer challenge becomes and all out war. As the rivalry intensifies, both siblings resort to dishonest tactics, wounding not just their own personal integrity but also their shared relationship.
Fans of The Pushcart War will enjoy this story that shows how small breakdowns in communication can quickly erode some of the very best friendships. Readers will gain a better understanding and appreciation for the tricks and tools of entrepreneurship.
Please note: Once the "war" begins, the once best-friend siblings begin to treat each other horribly, using words like "hate," "shut up," and "jerk." However, they both immediately regret their behavior and desperately want things to go back to the way they've always been.
The text includes one or two uses of God's name in vain.
Parents, Be Aware
Snoop
by Gordon Korman
Instead of focusing on the ski hill ahead of him, 12-year-old Carter Peregrine disobeys his dad and continues scrolling YouTube Shorts on his phone. Consequently, he doesn't see his little brother, who's lost control of his skis and is headed right to him. Needless to say, at the end of what was supposed to be a great vacation with the dad he hasn't seen much since his parents' divorce, Carter finds himself in a wheelchair with two broken legs. Later, trapped at home and bored, the screen-addicted Carter discovers that he can access public surveillance cameras throughout his town. His casual "snooping" quickly turns into an obsession as he uses the town's security feeds and his mother’s professional drone to spy on neighbors, classmates, and even his crush, Lacey. However, his remote espionage leads to major complications, false accusations, and, eventually, the discovery of a real-life crime ring.
Things to know: Instead of attending his classes on Zoom, Carter disobeys his mother again and again to use his computer to hack into both public and private cameras. He lies to his teacher about being sick, calls his little brother a "jerk face" and a "waste of time," calls a classmate a "dufus," and blames everyone else for his poor behavior.
Since his spying leads to the arrest of a few criminals, Carter is never held accountable for his actions. Even his transformation from screen-addicted, entitled middle-schooler to town hero smacks of narcissism and blame-shifting.
Just for you, Mom
by Jennifer Chiaverini
Born into slavery, Elizabeth Keckley uses her exceptional sewing skills to eventually purchase her own freedom and that of her son, George. After moving to Washington, D.C., she establishes a thriving business catering to the city's elite, including the wives of Jefferson Davis and Robert E. Lee. In 1861, she's hired by Mary Todd Lincoln and becomes far more than a seamstress, serving as a trusted friend who supports the First Lady through the death of her son, Willie, and the intense political pressures of the Civil War. After the assassination of the president and under immense financial pressure, Keckley, unfortunately, makes a decision that will change their relationship forever.
Best in Show
Fish in a Tree
by Lynda Mullaly Hunt
Ally's been labeled many things: troublemaker, dumb, and weird, to name a few. She's too embarrassed to admit that she can't read, and so she develops many unhealthy coping skills to get by in school. After spending years hiding behind excuses, she meets Mr. Daniels, a substitute teacher who uncovers what's really going on. Ally is dyslexic. With his help, she not only learns to read but also learns what it means to be a true friend.