Middle-Grade Novels
by Matthew Ross Smith
Seventh-grader Grant Falloon dreams of becoming the fastest kid in the world. When the massive Babblemoney sneaker company announces an international track competition with a $1 million prize, Grant is determined to win.
Because his eccentric, "non-conformist" parents raised him in a commune, they never obtained a legal birth certificate for Grant. This, unfortunately, disqualifies him from representing the United States in the race. His spot is eventually given to his best friend and rival, Jay Fa’atasi. Refusing to give up, Grant, with help from his social-media-obsessed younger brother, Franny, hatches a wild plan to "invent" his own country so he can still compete. Along the way, the pair discovers something fishy about the Babblemoney and must choose: expose the corruption and risk losing the prize money, or stick to the racing plan and risk losing their personal integrity.
Please note: Grant's family is very "off the grid." His self-professing hippie dad makes Halloween decor for a living, although the knick-knacks are not described in any detail. In one scene, Grant forges his mom's signature to enter the race, and in another, his brother confesses to lying about how many YouTube followers he has.
Additionally, there are a few sentences and phrases to note, including:
"I swear to god."
"Freaking"
"It's like a god has come down from the heavens and is sitting here with us."
"We can evolve as much as we want, build skyscrapers and space stations and stuff, dress up and wear fancy clothes...But deep down we'll always just be the insecure apes, looking around at the other apes, wondering do they like me?"
by Carolyn Crimi
Miss Lottie's home has become a shelter for abandoned dogs in need of a fresh start. Led by an insecure terrier named Gus, the pack includes Tank (a protective bulldog), Roo (a three-legged dog with a keen nose), and Moon Pie (a young, naive pug). All is well until Miss Lottie agrees to take in Decker, a manipulative hunting terrier who begins sowing discord. Unlike the others, Decker wants to be the "only dog" and will do whatever it takes to break the pack's bond. Will Gus be able to protect the other dogs in his care, or will he allow his own fears to get in the way?
Each chapter alternates between the stories of the dogs, Miss Lottie's reclusive cat, Ghost, and a young boy, Quinn, who helps her care for the animals.
Please note: Quinn faces his own struggles throughout the story, including the loss of his father and dog and being bullied by his brother's friends—mirroring the dynamics within the dog pack. However, like the dogs, Quinn and his brother eventually learn to rely on one another.
At the older brother's encouragement, a group of boys calls Quinn a moron and "the worst." There is one use of "Oh my L*rd" and one use of "Oh my G*d" in the text.
The Underdogs
by Mike Lupica
The town of Forbes, Pennsylvania, has gone belly-up. They can no longer afford to fund their youth football team, the Bulldogs. Intent on playing, 12-year-old Will Tyler writes a letter to the CEO of New Balance footwear, who agrees to sponsor the team with $5,000. Even with funding in place, however, the team lacks a large enough roster to register with the league. Will eventually recruits 11 players, including Hannah Grayson, a girl who becomes the team's star kicker despite initial skepticism from the boys. Together, the team must overcome their "underdog" status against wealthier, well-funded rivals like Castle Rock. The odds are stacked against them. Can Will rally his fellow players when it really counts?
Football fans will love this action-packed title, but so will football-averse readers. The strength of this book is in its heartwarming story of friendship and perseverance.
Please note: In an explosive display of bleacher-coaching, an overbearing dad calls his son a "jackwagon." In the end, this particular father, albeit incredibly abrasive at the beginning of the story, learns a few things about sportsmanship and teamwork.
Olivetti
by Allie Millington
Two things have gone missing from Earnest Brindle's life: his mother and her beloved typewriter, an ancient Olivetti that's been collecting dust ever since the family got a computer. Desperate to find the former, Earnest begins looking for the latter. With the help of a quirky and somewhat nosy new friend named Quinn, he tracks down Olivetti at a pawn shop and discovers that his mother had traded it in for exactly $126. But why?
In his grief, Earnest begins typing a letter to his mom and is shocked when Olivetti types back. Even more shocking...the words on the page sound a lot like his mother did before she was diagnosed with cancer.
What has happened to his mother, and will the typewriter be the key to finding her?
Using magical realism, dual-perspective narration, and the rich language of a protagonist whose favorite book is the dictionary, Allie Millington has woven a deeply moving story about a family's individual and collective response to a tragic diagnosis.
Please note: The publisher has pegged this as a book for 9-12-year-olds. However, because of the implied mental health struggles and the overarching theme of a mother's cancer diagnosis and subsequent disappearance, I feel it is more appropriate for 12+.
There are a few mentions of "crap," "dang," and "heck" in the text. Additionally, someone mentions having a "wedgie," and Quinn uses "womanly business" as an excuse to leave an uncomfortable situation.
Earnest sneaks Olivetti out of the pawn shop in hopes of learning more about his mother's whereabouts, but eventually returns it. Quinn takes some paper from the post office without asking permission.
Parents, Be Aware
by Jeanne Birdsall
Neglected by her "dreadful" parents, Gwen is sent to stay with her Uncle Matthew and his dog, Pumpkin. She discovers the Lahdukan--a secret society of eight-inch-tall, winged creatures with blue hair who live in the library's rafters. Traditionally, only children under the age of seven can see the Lahdukan. But since Gwen can both see and hear the fairy-like wonders, she learns that she is a Qalba, a chosen human leader from the MacKinnon family, destined to protect the clan. And protect them she must!
The library is about to undergo extensive renovations that will destroy the Lahdukan's ancient home. Gwen must overcome her deep-seated fears—particularly her fear of heights—to lead the Lahdukan on a dangerous journey to find a new home in the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston.
This is a found family story from the author of The Penderwicks series.
Things to know: Gwen comes from a troubled home. Her parents are divorced, and her father, who is said to drink quite a lot, is verbally and emotionally abusive.
The first time Gwen enters the library, she senses "the lingering benevolent spirit" of one of her ancestors. She later compares some teenage boys on the school bus to "lofty gods who don't notice lesser people."
There are mentions of books about demons and dragons, zombies and sorcerers. And there is one reference to "communing with the dead."
The Luhdukan live by ancient prophecies. Gwen refers to Pumpkin the dog as "the Ruler of all Creation."
Just for you, Mom
by Alice Ozma
When Alice was nine years old (in fourth grade), she and her father—a dedicated school librarian and single parent—made a pact to read aloud together for 100 consecutive nights. After meeting their initial goal, they celebrated with pancakes but realized they didn't want to stop. They continued the ritual, which they dubbed "The Streak," for 3,218 nights. But things had to change when Alice entered college.
This heartwarming memoir is written as a series of vignettes, with each chapter corresponding to a specific day in the streak or a specific life event of the author. It is a fascinating and inspiring look at the power of a parent-child bond over books.
Best in Show
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.