Middle-Grade Novels
A Place to Hang the Moon
by Kate Albus
When their grandmother passes away, orphaned siblings William, Edmund, and Anna are shipped off to the English countryside along with hundreds of other children who are escaping the air raids that threaten all of London. They have high hopes that their temporary guardians will want to keep them not just until the war ends, but permanently.
The Wild Robot
by Peter Brown
Roz is a robot that has been shipwrecked on a deserted island. Or so she thinks. Actually, the island is inhabited by all kinds of animals, most of which don't trust her high-tech ways. This is a story of sacrificial love, unlikely friendships, and an admirable work ethic. Readers of all ages, will no doubt learn quite a bit about the habits and instincts of wild animals while also developing a sense of compassion and understanding.
This is the first in a series of three books. The first two are great. Unfortunately, the third book takes a "save the world at all costs" turn. Additionally in book three, there is a conversation about how a Goby fish changes its gender. (Scientifically, this is true. Goby fish do change gender in their lifetimes.) The comment is used in context to help Roz feel OK that she's neither male nor female.
The Bark of the Bog Owl
by Jonathan Rogers
Aidan Errolson is just your average 12-year-old living with his family in the woods and swamps of Corenwald. But then one day, Bayard arrives and turns his life upside down. Skipping over all the older brothers of the family, the eccentric Truthspeaker declares Aidan the future king who will lead the country to its former glory. Trouble is, no one really believes the prophecy, not even Aidan himself. This is the first in the Wilderking trilogy, an allegorical fantasy series based on the life of King David. Book 1 sticks to the events of 1 Samuel almost beat for beat.
Please note: Most adults find the series to be unnecessarily silly. Kids, on the other hand, absolutely love its whimsical tone.
The Ostrich and Other Lost Things
by Beth Hautala
11-year-old Olivia Grant has reached an age when her older brother's autism diagnosis begins to mean new things for her and her family. She struggles to find her place in this delicate sibling relationship. In her misguided effort to help him find NORMAL, she learns a powerful lesson about unconditional love.
Parents, Be Aware
The One and Only Bob
by Katherine Applegate
In this middle-grade sequel to The One and Only Ivan, Bob must rescue Ivan and Ruby when their animal shelter is tragically struck by a tornado. Along the way, he searches for his long-lost littermate only to discover that she was killed by a poacher.
Things to know: This follow-up tale is quite a bit more violent in nature than the first and includes descriptions of animals in grave danger. While these scenes are handled with care, they may still be troubling for sensitive readers. In addition, page 90 includes the following paragraph, "Families, I've noticed, take a lot of different shapes. Jim and Joe, the penguins, adopted an abandoned egg, and they are the sweetest doting parents you ever saw. I see it with humans at the park, too. Families of all shapes and sizes and colors and genders and yep, they all seem to do just fine."
The Saturdays
by Elizabeth Enright
In this first book of a 4-part domestic fiction series, the four Melendy siblings decide to pool their allowance in order to send one of them out on a Saturday adventure each week. Although their plan, affectionately known as I.S.A.A.C. was intended to give them all their own independent fun, it actually finds all four kids having a month of Saturday misadventures together.
Things to know: While this book was written in the 1940s and is very clean, there is one chapter that includes a fortune teller and a discussion between the children and an elderly woman who tells them tales of her growing up. The text reads: “Then he tastes some of the dragon’s blood he has on his finger, and all of a sudden he can understand everything. The animals and birds in the forest are saying.” Later in that same chapter, it says, “When I began asking frightened questions, the gypsy came close to me and grabbed my arm. She told me that I was not going home, but far away, to my father, is ready to pay a price to get me back. When I cried and struggled, she called Bastion, and they bound my wrists and ankles, and tied a rag over my mouth. All night I lay on the floor in the dark room, feeling the wagon, lurch, and sway…”