Books for Middle Readers
A great book that sheds light on a important piece of history. This is a story of two very different girls whose lives are uprooted after the nuclear accident at Chernobyl and how they find the resilience to survive. The subject matter isn’t easy - if your kids are anxious about environmental issues, abusive relationships or religious prejudice, you might want skip it. Worth reading WITH your kids though and using it to open some honest dialog. For fans of The War That Saved My Life and the HBO miniseries “Chernobyl”.
Recommended by Kristine
I liked this book. It starts off strong with Rhodes' poetic prose telling the story of a biracial prep school boy who is wrongly accused of delinquent behavior. Fast-paced and sparse, this is a good starting point for middle grade readers looking for discussions on a serious subject matter. I wish it were longer and slower. The characters, the details on the sport of fencing, as well as the legal and social commentary on racism, are worthy of many more pages.
Recommended by Kristine
I really enjoyed this one. The characters are complicated, worried, confused, and optimistic as only real kids can be. The setting of a demolished church in Florida comes to life through descriptions of the heat, rubble, wildlife, and papaya plants. Great for middle grade readers looking for realistic fiction with a dash of knights, gardening, and wildlife.
Recommended by Kristine
"A fun and timely graphic novel for fans of Raina Telgemeir, Jennifer Holms, and Victoria Jameison. The illustrations are good, Sunday comic style, and bring the 70's to life. A great message for young girls - that friendships take work and understanding, that boyfriends don't always last, and that you can do anything you put your mind to! Readers will cheer along as Cindy faces life head on and rises above gender and social issues to become her own person."
Recommended by Kristine
A warm-hearted, visually intriguing tale of reading and believing, and a world of possibility.
Funny, poignant, and deeply moving, The Line Tender is a story of nature's enduring mystery and a girl determined to find meaning and connection within it.
Winner of the Newbery Medal, Coretta Scott King Author Award, and Kirkus Prize for Young Readers’ Literature!
As the director of a school library and a middle school literature teacher at Inly School in Scituate, Massachusetts, I have the opportunity to read lots of books. Depending on the day of the week, I have many books that I consider my favorites. I received my masters at the Center for the Study of Children’s Literature at Simmons College in 2005. I am also the author of two biographies for young readers: John F. Kennedy: His Lifeand Legacy and Hammerin’ Hank Greenberg: Baseball Pioneer. Hammerin’ Hank Greenberg was named a 2012 Sydney Taylor Honor Book and a spring 2011 selection of the Junior Library Guild. I’ve been reviewing books for School Library Journal since April 2013.
My blog: http://sommerreading.wordpress.com