Middle-Grade Novels
by Carole Estby Dagg
When the mill in Terpsichore's small Wisconsin town closes, leaving her family with little food and even less money, she secretly signs her parents up for the president's new economic plan. The year is 1934 and as part of his New Deal, midwestern families are encouraged to head to Palmer Alaska where they'll work alongside the Civilian Conservation Corp to establish a new colony of farmers. Terpsichore knows that life in the bush of Alaska won't be easy, but she's determined to help make the budding community a great place to call home.
This is a well-researched living book that paints a fascinating portrait of a little-known portion of American history.
Please note: on page 111, one of the characters says, "d*mn."
Heart of a Samurai
by Margi Preus
This is the true-ish story of Manjiro, a 14-year-old boy who is lost off the coast of Japan with several of his fishing companions. They get rescued by the "barbarians" of an American whaling vessel. Manjiro makes quite an impression on the captain and is given the opportunity to go to New England and establish a new life. After years in the States, however, the boy longs to return to his native land. But will they accept him now that he's been "polluted" with Western ideals?
The Only Game
by Mike Lupica
All seventh-grade baseball phenom Jack Callahan has ever wanted was to take his team to the Little League World Series. And this year, he and his fellow Tampa Bay Rays have a real shot at the top spot. But to everyone's surprise, Jack quits the team before the season even begins. Reeling from the unexpected death of his older brother, Jack begins to flounder on the field and in his friendships. He turns to Cassie, the bossy star of the girls' softball team, and Teddy, an overweight classmate who often gets bullied at school, and slowly learns to love the game again.
While it's not necessary to know and appreciate baseball while reading this book, it is helpful.
Please note: Due to the nature of middle school dynamics and the weight of family grief, I'd recommend this book to older middle-grade readers (10+) There are a few pop culture references to the movies Top Gun, Mean Girls, Happy Gilmore, The Hangover, and Sons of Anarchy. These films are not elaborated on in the slightest only casually mentioned in reference to posters hanging in Jack's older brother's room. In addition, "You're acting like an idiot," and "shut up," are used a handful of times in the text.
By the Great Horn Spoon
by Sid Fleischman
Desperate to save his aunt from impending poverty, 12-year-old city slicker Jack and his butler, Praiseworthy, head to California to strike it rich in the Gold Rush. Using only their wits and charm, they manage to stow away aboard a passenger ship, win a few street brawls, and earn plenty of gold--one haircut at a time.
Parents, Be Aware
Framed!
by James Ponti
Florian Bates has a skill. He notices things—tiny incidental things that go unnoticed by others. One day while touring the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., he notices something unusual about one of the other tourists. Later, when he learns that three valuable Impressionist paintings have gone missing, he knows exactly who’s to blame. He’ll join forces with the FBI to bring down a Romanian crime ring…or will he?
Things to know: This is the first in a series of three fast-paced spy thrillers starring Florian and his friends. The plot is quite complex and is best suited for 10+. The story is so well-written that even I didn’t see the ending coming!
The text includes one incident of the following: “stupid,” “God, help us,” and “sucks.” In addition, one of the characters refers to Romanian curse words (although he never actually says any of them), another makes a joke about the “zombie apocalypse,” and a criminal lies in order to protect the FBI agent who has caught him.
I have not read the other two books in the series.