Middle grade fiction rocks! Elizabeth George Speare is exceptional, and The Penderwicks is perfect summer reading. I highly, highly recommend Anna Rose Johnson's books to fans of L. M. Montgomery and Maud Hart Lovelace. The Star That Always Stays, The Luminous Life of Lucy Landry, and The Blossoming Summer (forthcoming). Her blog is also an amazing source for recommendations new and old.
I love all those books you listed, Ruth. I'm pretty sure I read them because of you, and then I LOVED them so much I bought the Ghost series and The War That Saved My Life and The War I Finally Won. I really need to read them again. I've put a couple of Amy's recommendations on my TBR, too.
A series I've really enjoyed is the Vanderbeekers by Karina Yan Glaser. I haven't been paying attention because I just realized there's one I haven't read yet. They're just such a great family. Also, The Wednesday Wars by Gary D. Schmidt is excellent.
Oh my goodness, Anna. I loved reading this comment! Such a delight to hear that we've loved some of the same books. And you BOUGHT COPIES. I really should own more of these. They're worth it, and deserve lots of rereading.
I've read the Wednesday Wars but not the others you mentioned here, so I plan to look them up.
I loved this piece! YA and Middle grade novels are my love language! Thank goodness I have children clamoring to be read to so I can reread these beauties to my heart's content. I just reread Bronze Bow to my fourth son, and we are working our way through the Penderwick series. I truly don't get tired of well-written children's books. I sometimes think they are easier to reread than adult books, and I have wondered why: Wingfeather, Narnia, Green Ember, Ender's Game, Prydain, Anne of Green Gables... Why don't they get old? I just finished Once a Queen for my own fun reading, and before that it was Everything Sad is Untrue. Wow Nayeri is breathtaking. I think that might belong in my top ten, but I can't think of who I would bump down to give it room. I am going to check out all the books you recommend here because you listed so many of my favorites. I already know how Ruth feels about Emily of New Moon! :)
Yes, Iiked the pile of sequels as a version of getting to reread the first, though they have a Redwall-esque repetitiveness that I don't blame them for. :) props for Fairest - that book and The Two Princesses of Bamarre made me an inveterate checker of the Levine section of the library for most of my adolescence... Cuz back then I couldn't just google if she had a new book! 😂
I have not. My nieces loved it, so I did try it, but the opening chapters of the first book just didn't hook me, so I dropped out. It's been years, though, so I should try again. That happens sometimes - that a book isn't right for a particular moment.
This is a great post and I love the books you each picked. I have to especially celebrate The Bronze Bow, to which I was introduced in fourth grade, and it never gets old--and also I never hear about it anywhere.
Middle grade fiction rocks! Elizabeth George Speare is exceptional, and The Penderwicks is perfect summer reading. I highly, highly recommend Anna Rose Johnson's books to fans of L. M. Montgomery and Maud Hart Lovelace. The Star That Always Stays, The Luminous Life of Lucy Landry, and The Blossoming Summer (forthcoming). Her blog is also an amazing source for recommendations new and old.
Adding to my hold lists!
Great list! Thank you, wonderful reading friends!
I love all those books you listed, Ruth. I'm pretty sure I read them because of you, and then I LOVED them so much I bought the Ghost series and The War That Saved My Life and The War I Finally Won. I really need to read them again. I've put a couple of Amy's recommendations on my TBR, too.
A series I've really enjoyed is the Vanderbeekers by Karina Yan Glaser. I haven't been paying attention because I just realized there's one I haven't read yet. They're just such a great family. Also, The Wednesday Wars by Gary D. Schmidt is excellent.
Oh my goodness, Anna. I loved reading this comment! Such a delight to hear that we've loved some of the same books. And you BOUGHT COPIES. I really should own more of these. They're worth it, and deserve lots of rereading.
I've read the Wednesday Wars but not the others you mentioned here, so I plan to look them up.
I loved this piece! YA and Middle grade novels are my love language! Thank goodness I have children clamoring to be read to so I can reread these beauties to my heart's content. I just reread Bronze Bow to my fourth son, and we are working our way through the Penderwick series. I truly don't get tired of well-written children's books. I sometimes think they are easier to reread than adult books, and I have wondered why: Wingfeather, Narnia, Green Ember, Ender's Game, Prydain, Anne of Green Gables... Why don't they get old? I just finished Once a Queen for my own fun reading, and before that it was Everything Sad is Untrue. Wow Nayeri is breathtaking. I think that might belong in my top ten, but I can't think of who I would bump down to give it room. I am going to check out all the books you recommend here because you listed so many of my favorites. I already know how Ruth feels about Emily of New Moon! :)
EMILY FOREVERRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR
Have y'all read The Mysterious Benedict Society?? Fits the vibe of this list, for me. Was excited to see some I haven't read that I can now return to!
YES. I love that one! Was seriously debating including it here. The first book is the best IMO but the second is like unto it.
Yes, Iiked the pile of sequels as a version of getting to reread the first, though they have a Redwall-esque repetitiveness that I don't blame them for. :) props for Fairest - that book and The Two Princesses of Bamarre made me an inveterate checker of the Levine section of the library for most of my adolescence... Cuz back then I couldn't just google if she had a new book! 😂
I love The Two Princesses of Bamarre!!
I have not. My nieces loved it, so I did try it, but the opening chapters of the first book just didn't hook me, so I dropped out. It's been years, though, so I should try again. That happens sometimes - that a book isn't right for a particular moment.
This is a great post and I love the books you each picked. I have to especially celebrate The Bronze Bow, to which I was introduced in fourth grade, and it never gets old--and also I never hear about it anywhere.
Might I recommend another middle grade fiction book you may each enjoy? ☺️ (I don't know if it's a banger, but it definitely hits on significant topics, to your point.) https://www.etsy.com/listing/1438233838/trees-in-the-pavement