Middle-Grade Novels
The Luminous Life of Lucy Landry
by Anna Rose Johnson
Ever since the tragic death of her sea-fairing father, Lucy has been afraid of the water. Orphaned, the young French-Ojibwean is sent to live with the Martins, a large homeschooling family who lives and works in a lighthouse on Lake Superior. While she's comforted by the idea of belonging and intrigued by the family's Native American heritage, she feels like an outsider--like a burden.
Determined to pull her weight in the home but steered off course by her overzealous imagination, she often leaves disaster in her wake. One particular curiosity continues to capture her thoughts when she should be working: a ruby necklace that's rumored to have gone down with a ship in a nearby bay. Will finding the lost treasure help her find her place in her new family?
Anne of Green Gables fans will enjoy this orphan and her fanciful ideals.
Please note: Instead of admitting she's afraid of the water, Lucy tells the Martin children that she's allergic to it.
Haven: A Small Cat's Big Adventure
by Megan Wagner Lloyd
Haven wants nothing more than to continue her cushioned life of indoor comfort. But when her elderly owner, Ma Millie, becomes ill, it is up to the little cat to find help. There's only one obstacle standing in her way: the dark, scary woods. On timid feet, she sets out. Alone. Little does she know, the forest is home to a cunning fox and a ferocious bobcat. One is a friend, and one is a foe. But will Haven see the difference? And can she convince either of them to help Ma Millie?
Please note: While Haven does get help for her owner, Ma Millie eventually passes away. Death is handled compassionately, similar to Charlotte's in Charlotte's Web.
by E.B. White
Louis is not like the other cygnets in his nest. His siblings all chirp, twitter, and trumpet. He can't seem to do any of those things. When it becomes clear to his father that Louis is mute, the old cob finds a way for his son to communicate. Even after learning to read and write, however, Louis remains lonely. The sad truth is that a trumpeter swan can not attract a mate if he cannot trumpet.
Again, the cob hatches a plan to help his son. Armed with a metal trumpet, he not only teaches Louis how to play beautiful music but also how to land a job, earn a living, and win the heart of his one true love, a young swan named Serena.
Louis turns his deficiency into a life-changing asset through determination and hard work.
by Gordon Korman
Imagine waking up in the hospital and not knowing who you are after a catastrophic fall off a roof. Worse yet, imagine discovering that your former self was not very nice. You were the school bully who made life miserable for so many kids. That's exactly what happens to Chase Ambrose, the star football player.
Suffering from temporary amnesia, Chase has an unexpected opportunity to start over. Can he be trusted, or is this likable guy persona just an act? His new reputation is tested when he must answer for a crime he committed before his accident. The old Chase would have deflected the blame to someone else or lied his way out of the punishment. The question is, what will the new Chase do?
Please note: In addition to occasional bully language by Chase's former crowd, like "moron" and "idiot," the text includes one or two uses of God's name in vain.
Parents, Be Aware
The Multiplying Mysteries of Mount Ten
by Krista Van Dolzer
Esther is supposed to spend her summer at a premier art camp. Instead, thanks to a terrible storm that caused her stepdad to take an unplanned detour, she's at Camp Archimedes, a math camp. When she accidentally solves a math equation that none of the other kids can answer, she makes enemies. Cryptic, coded notes begin to surface. She rallies a few of her fellow campers to help her solve the riddles. The more they discover about the mysterious messages, the more they become convinced that there is a murderer among them. Esther is the target. But who is the soon-to-be killer?
This math-themed book is filled with ciphers, logic puzzles, and encoded messages that even the most arithmetic-averse reader will appreciate.
Things to know: Although Esther eventually befriends most of the kids at the math camp, she is initially not very kind to them. She calls them "math nerds" and gives them all unflattering nicknames behind their backs. Her wild imagination convinces her that the so-called murderer is either a ghost or a serial killer. In reality, the person behind the menacing notes is another camper who wants Esther to like math as much as she does.
The text includes several mentions of alternative rock bands, the phrase "shut up," and a general tone of preteen angst.
Just for you, Mom
by Gabrielle Meyer
Like her mother, Libby is a Time Crosser. Each day finds her hopping from 1774 Colonial Williamsburg to 1914 Gilded Age New York City. She falls asleep in one era and wakes up in the other. In 1774, she has taken over her late father's printing press, is trying to pay back mounting debts amid the looming threat of war, and is falling in love with her childhood friend Henry. In 1914, she is the daughter of a wealthy social climber determined to marry her to a British aristocrat. The match will secure both wealth and title. But what of love? On her 21st birthday, she must decide which timeline to continue. Her choice won't be easy and will leave rippling consequences for all who know her.
First in a developing series, this is a story of redemption and forgiveness with an unexpected ending I didn't see coming! That said, I enjoyed the second book even more.
Please note: There are two mentions of marital rape by a drunken husband. No details are given, but the brief scenes may be triggering for some readers.