Middle-Grade Novels
by Carol Ryrie Brink
The Mellen family of Minnesota unexpectedly inherits an outrageously bright pink Floridian beach-cabin motel from their late Uncle Hiram. Though Mr. and Mrs. Mellen initially want to sell the quirky property, their children urge them not to, and they agree to stay on for one season.
The motel attracts a delightfully charming assortment of winter guests, including an eccentric artist who can seemingly talk to beach creatures, a down-on-his-luck stage magician, a wise woodcarver, and a couple of suspicious men the children believe are gangsters. Alongside a new local friend, the family gets swept into a series of humorous adventures all while uncovering their late Uncle Hiram's hidden, legendary secret.
Please note: One of the guests jokes about using a magic wand to open a coconut, but later admits it was a joke.
The magician confesses that his tricks are just sleight-of-hand novelties.
War Horse
by Michael Morpurgo
In Devon, England, a young thoroughbred foal named Joey is purchased at an auction by a cruel, drunken farmer. The man's 15-year-old son, Albert, forms an instant, unbreakable bond with the horse and trains him to be useful around the farm.
With war looming and money desperately needed, the farmer secretly sells Joey to the British cavalry. The animal is then placed in the care of a kind officer, Captain Nicholls, and shipped to France. When Albert discovers what his father has done, he promises to find Joey soon and bring him home.
Unfortunately, Joey is quickly captured by the Germans and spends most of the war changing hands. Will Albert be able to enlist in time, and if so, will he ever find his beloved thoroughbred behind enemy lines?
This moving WWI tale, told through the eyes of Joey, the horse, was adapted for the screen in 2011. I haven't seen the movie, but it appears suitable for teens 13+.
Please note: Overwhelmed by his financial instability, Albert's father gets drunk.
There are a few instances of God's name used in vain, as well as two or three mentions of "hell."
Due to the nature of war, this book may be troubling for some sensitive readers.
by McCall Hoyle
Abandoned by humans and separated from her canine mentors, Millie is a mutt living in an alley behind a bakery. She survives in the shadows until animal control captures her. Lee Berry, a special education teacher and dog trainer, later adopts her from the shelter.
At school, Ms. Berry pairs rescued dogs with her students to help both the animals and the children learn coping skills. Recognizing that Millie and Tori Smallwood, a struggling reader who lives with her grandfather after her mother can no longer care for her, both suffer from severe abandonment issues, she teams them up. Just as Millie begins to drop her guard, an event challenges her sense of security, causing her to revert to her old habits of fleeing and growling. Ultimately, the two must rely on their shared training to trust one another and build a permanent family.
This is the third book in a series of stand-alone titles by McCall Hoyle, each narrated by a different stray dog. The books do not need to be read in any particular order.
Please note: Although it does not go into detail, the text mentions that Tori's mom is in rehab for an addiction to prescription pills after a back injury.
A Chameleon, a Boy, and a Quest
by J.A. Myhre
Ten-year-old Mu is an orphan living in the heart of Africa within his great-uncle's household. He is largely unloved, ignored, and burdened with menial chores. One day, while working, Mu meets a talking chameleon named Tita who greets him by name and invites him on an unexpected quest. Soon after setting off, Mu gains another unexpected ally: a large, loyal dog named Botu. Together, the animal guardians help guide and protect the boy.
While traveling, Mu encounters dangerous rebel fighters, the plight of child soldiers, hungry wildlife, and the devastating threat of the Ebola virus. In a moment of intense danger, Botu makes the ultimate sacrifice to protect Mu, forcing the boy to confront his own moral choices and flaws, and eventually repent in faith.
Fans of Patricia St. John's books like Treasures of the Snow and Star of Light, will enjoy this fictional missionary story.
Parents, Be Aware
by Avi
In a Colorado silver mining outpost camp in 1893, a restless young teen named Ollie dreams of striking it rich to escape poverty with his younger brother Gus and their widowed mother. He dreams of striking it rich, a hope that seems within reach when the children stumble upon a hidden cave filled with silver. With help from Bertram Blake, a visiting geologist who teaches Ollie to read the landscape and stake a legal claim, the boys try to establish their own mine. However, Elijah Gatchett, the ruthless town owner, thwarts their plans by illegally controlling all local prospecting and enforcing his rule with armed thugs.
Things to know: When giving the children a quick geology lesson, Bertram Blake says that the rocks are millions of years old.
Disobeying his mother and succumbing to the mining community's superstitions, Ollie uses a divining rod to help him find silver deposits.
Gus is often the voice of reason in the relationship but gets overruled by his foolhardy older brother, who thinks of nothing but getting rich.
There are several uses of old-timey swear words, including j*ck*ss.
Just for you, Mom
by Stephanie Dray & Laura Kamoie
This sweeping historical fiction chronicles the extraordinary life of colonial patriot Abigail Adams. Narrated in the first person and meticulously grounded in over 1,100 of her preserved letters, the novel highlights her role not just as a supportive political wife to John Adams, but as a fiercely independent force who managed their farm, made lucrative financial investments, and raised her children amidst the backdrop of war, illness, and intense personal loss.
As her husband's most trusted confidante, she famously urged him to "remember the ladies" while offering fearless counsel. The story follows her onto the world stage as a diplomat's wife in Europe and eventually as the nation’s second First Lady, highlighting her trailblazing advocacy for women's rights, her battle against political foes, and the heavy personal sacrifices her family's long legacy of public service demanded.
Best in Show
By Patricia MacLachlan
Answering an advertisement, Sarah Elizabeth Wheaton boards a train in Maine--the only home she has ever known--and heads to the prairie to be the mail-order mother for two children being raised by their widowed father. When she arrives, the dogs love her first. But with her simple ways and keen perception, she eventually wins over the heart of young Caleb. Anna, the eldest sibling and narrator of the story, is not so easily swayed. Unlike her brother, she still remembers their real mother and sees Sarah's arrival as a betrayal of the past.
This is the first in a 5-book series set in the late 19th century. The subsequent books follow the family's growth and are equally enjoyable.