Category: Middle School

Posted in Fiction, Middle Grade, Middle School, Realistic Fiction, Tween Reads

On the Block: A middle grade anthology set in one building

Posted on by Rosemary Kiladitis

On the Block: Stories of Immigrant Families, edited by Ellen Oh, (Oct. 2025, Penguin Random House), $8.99, ISBN: 9780593648476

Ages 8-13

Published in partnership with We Need Diverse Books (WNDB) and edited by award-winning author Ellen Oh – a founding member of WNDB – this can’t-miss anthology’s stories bring together the lives of a group of families living in the Entrada apartment building in New York City (if my reading of a few landmarks serves me right). The author’s list is a who’s-who of kidlit, including Tracey Baptiste, Adam Gidwitz, Sayantani Dasgupta, and Debbi Michiko Florence. Chapters are named for apartments where each family lives, giving readers a glimpse into different cultures and lived experiences. Characters from one story will pop up in another, providing a fun sense of continuity.

Who lives in the Entrada? There’s Lila Sooklal in Apartment 5B. Newly arrived from Trinidad, Lila explores the building and meets her neighbors while her family wanders flea markets in search of furnishings for their new apartment. Tumpa Ray in Apartment 4C is almost 12 years old and hasn’t learned to ride a bike yet; when her grandmother arrives from Bengal, she’s determined to change that. Yaniel Fernandez in Apartment 6C is eating popsicles until he’s sick to his stomach in order to make a bridge for class… and learns that there is much more to his grandmother than he ever imagined.

Living and working in an urban area of Queens, these are my library kids’ stories. Readers will laugh and cheer with these characters; they’ll identify with them, and they’ll feel seen. If you didn’t catch the hardcover release of On the Block (then subtitled Stories of Home) last year, put it in your cart for this year.

On the Block has starred reviews from Publishers Weekly, Kirkus, School Library Journal, and Booklist.

Posted in Fiction, Middle Grade, Middle School, Realistic Fiction, Tween Reads

Touched by… a werewolf? Werewolf Hamlet by Kerry Madden-Lunsford

Posted on by Rosemary Kiladitis

Werewolf Hamlet, by Kerry Madden-Lunsford, (Feb. 2025, Charlesbridge Moves), $18.99, ISBN: 9781623544331

Ages 10-14

Okay, for anyone who sees the titles and thinks this is a fun send-up of Shakespeare set in middle school, I promise you that while you may be kind of right, you need to get ready for some tissues. Angus is our 10-year-old narrator, and he is going through some stuff. His parents are defaulting on their mortgage and behind on the bills; his little sister is worried that the Four Closers are coming to kick them out of their home. He’s struggling with school, and he’s worried about his 17-year-old brother, Liam, who’s acting like a werewolf: he’s staying out late, coming home stinky, and sometimes his eyes are bloodshot. Plus, he’s moody, snappish, and a little bit hairy. Angus also has a “legacy project” he has to do before he graduates, so he thinks up a new version of Hamlet: “Werewolf Hamlet” will be both a great legacy project and his chance to reach Liam. This is a touching story of addiction and family with relatable characters. Angus is immediately a likable character who loves classic Hollywood movies and imagines conversations between himself and luminaries like Charlie Chaplin and Lon Chaney Jr.; his late-night conversations with Liam show a kid struggling to stay connected to his brother, whom he clearly adores. Angus is a quirky character who sees things differently; he and his brother trade Shakespearean insults that will have readers chuckling. His classmates are entertaining and solidly support Angus’s narrative. Angus’s family is realistic, with flaws and strengths that readers will recognize. Cutaways from Angus’s narrative include snippets of Werewolf Hamlet, imaginary discussions with movie stars, and “Conversations with Liam in the Night” that shed light on the brothers’ relationship. A solid book that middle school and middle grade collections should keep front and center in fiction collections.

Werewolf Hamlet has a starred review from Booklist and was a featured Shelf Awareness pick. Find a Shakespearean insult generator, poster, reader’s group guide and more on Charlesbridge’s website.

Posted in Middle Grade, Middle School, Non-Fiction, Non-fiction, Teen, Tween Reads

Native American Heritage Month Books Worth Reading: Stealing Little Moon

Posted on by Rosemary Kiladitis

Stealing Little Moon: The Legacy of The American Indian Boarding Schools, by Dan Sasuweh Jones, (Sept. 2024, Scholastic Focus), $19.99, ISBN: 9781338889475

Ages 9-12

As we move into Thanksgiving week, I find myself thinking of Native American Heritage Month and what that means. Yes, it’s a celebration of Native American culture, contributions (like keeping colonists alive), language, and traditions. It’s also a time to reflect on what the First Nations’ generosity cost them. Stealing Little Moon is my foray into learning more about the American Indian boarding schools. Four generations of Jones’s family attended one of these schools: Chilocco Indian Agricultural School in Oklahoma. Created in the 1880s as a way to indoctrinate Native children into white society, the schools were initially populated through force, as armed agents and soldiers would show up without warning to Native homes, grab the children – sometimes, handcuffing or hog-tying them – and load them onto wagons. Sometimes, the children never returned home. Jones’s great-grandmother, Little Moon There Are No Stars Tonight, was four years old when she was torn away from her family and sent to Chilocco, where she and the other students were removed from their culture and forbidden to speak their language; their names were changed, their punishments were brutal, and the conditions were inhumane. The goal of the schools were to “Kill the Indian in him, and save the man”; those in power seemed to relish their duties too much, as stories from survivors relate physical, emotional, and sexual abuse.

Jones writes with a passion and sadness that communicates the horror of the schools, noting the schools’ responsibility for generational trauma, as some students went on to abuse their own families as they were abused. He also discusses key figures in the American Indian fight for reparations, including Clyde Warrior, Russell Means, and Dennis Banks. Jones goes further into Chilocco’s evolution into a school for American Indians, run by American Indians, with his own family working there until the Bureau of Indian Affairs determined in 1980 that running the school was too expensive for so few students. As superintendent C.C. Tillman wrote in the school’s last yearbook that “Chilocco is another in a long list of broken promises”. Extensively researched and containing interviews and photos, Jones creates a testament that all students should read and discuss. Back matter contains a comprehensive bibliography.

Stealing Little Moon: The Legacy of The American Indian Boarding Schools has starred reviews from Publishers Weekly, Booklist, and is designated a Book of Special Distinction by the The Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books.

Posted in Middle Grade, Middle School, Non-Fiction, Non-fiction, Tween Reads

Borderlands and the Mexican American Story: The new Race to the Truth book

Posted on by Rosemary Kiladitis

Borderlands and the Mexican American Story (Race to the Truth), by David Dorado Como, (Aug. 2024, Crown Books for Young Readers), $8.99, ISBN: 9780593567753

Ages 10-14

The newest book in the nonfiction Race to the Truth series couldn’t have been released at a more necessary time. The middle grade/middle school series takes an unvarnished look at marginalized communities in American history; Borderlands and the Mexican American Story examines the history of relations between Mexico and America. As with Exclusion and the Chinese American Story, the reality is different from what many readers may know to be true. Borderlands examines how Mexican culture has enriched and shaped American culture; how white colonizers sought to suppress Mexican settlers, and how systemic racism still plays a part in how Mexican immigrants and Mexican-American people are seen today. Como provides an intelligent overview of Mexican history and uses primary source information to interest readers. The Race to the Truth series has been a vital addition to nonfiction shelves and is an essential purchase for middle grade and middle school nonfiction collections.

Borderlands and the Mexican American Story has a starred review from Kirkus.

Posted in Fiction, Middle Grade, Middle School, Tween Reads

Hannah Edwards and the Secrets of Riverway!

Posted on by Rosemary Kiladitis

Hannah Edwards: Secrets of Riverway, by Ashley Hards (Sept. 2024, Fabled Films Press), $16.99, ISBN: 9781944020910

Ages 9-12

Hannah Edwards has a LOT on her mind: first and foremost, her dad, the Canola King, who has been missing for months. She’s also got her creepy Uncle Fergus hanging around more and more, with his awful food and his constant “lessons”. Thank goodness she has her best friend, Sam, and her Journal to turn to with her thoughts. When Sam tells her he thinks he saw Hannah’s dad’s ghost at the Old Mill, she decides it’s up to her to find her dad and prove that he is NOT a ghost – because being a ghost would mean that he’s no longer alive. And she can’t think that way.

A moving story about self-discovery, Hannah brings us on her grief journey while discovering that she is neurodivergent. Hards gives Hannah a strong, upbeat voice that refuses to give up or give in. A smart reimagining of Hamlet – with a much lower body count – this is a great mystery for  middle graders and middle schoolers.

Posted in Fantasy, Graphic Novels, Middle School, Teen, Tween Reads

The ’90s are back: King Arthur & The Knights of Justice

Posted on by Rosemary Kiladitis

King Arthur & The Knights of Justice, by Joe Corallo/Illustrated by Gina Cardinali, (Apr. 2024, Mad Cave Studios), $14.99, ISBN: 9781960578600

Ages 12-16

King Arthur & The Knights of Justice was a ’90s cartoon that lasted for two seasons. Merlin, trapped by the evil enchantress Morgana, managed to recruit a new knights of the round table from a different time: a football team, the New York Knights. The series is back in graphic novel format, with a progressive new storyline and who knows? With enough readership, the storyline may finally be resolved (the original animated series ended abruptly and is therefore incomplete).

This first volume contains the origin story, where Morgana traps the original Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table in glass and traps Merlin in a tree. His spirit is freed to seek new knights across timelines, where he discovers the Knights football team in the present day, and spirits them to Merlin’s timeline, where he explains their mission. The players are surprisingly okay with this new turn of events, because they’re pure of heart and want to help free King Arthur… except for Gallop, one of the players who has a real attitude problem, which will become a bigger issue down the line. GLAAD and Eisner nominee Corallo shines in this new storyline, featuring openly gay characters that are supported by their teammates. Cardinali’s illustrations will attract fantasy fans and gave me a real ’90s cartoon feel as I read the book. With X-Men 97 back to rave reviews on Disney Plus, could we be seeing a ’90s cartoon renaissance?  This one is a good pick for upper middle grade and high school collections.

Posted in Fiction, Fiction, geek culture, Graphic Novels, Middle Grade, Middle School, Realistic Fiction, Tween Reads

Table Titans Club – read it!

Posted on by Rosemary Kiladitis

Table Titans Club, by Scott Kurtz, (March 2024, Holiday House), $22.99, ISBN: 9780823453160

Ages 8-12

Eisner Award Winner Scott Kurtz crafts a hands-down fantastic story about the power of a good role-playing group in this middle grade graphic novel. Val – short for Valeria – is the new kid in school, and she’s got a bit of a temper. Luckily, a schoolmate named Andrew decides she’s just what the Table Titans – a school role-playing group – needs in their campaign. He and friends Alan and Darius invite Val to be part of the group, and Val discovers she loves the game and the fact that she’s finally found a place where she feels like she belongs. But the teacher who sponsors the group is about to go out on leave, and unless they can secure another teacher sponsor, the Table Titans are looking at an early retirement. Val agrees to join the school’s wrestling team in return for having the coach sponsor the group, and takes on Kate, a fellow classmate who seems to have it out for Val. But why? Table Titans touches on the basics of being in a fantasy role-playing group, and the storytelling is there as a support for Val’s story, as she learns to navigate new friendships and work on controlling her reactions to people around her. Support characters are recognizable and relatable. Kurtz’s artwork is vibrant, bold, and fun to read. All around, an excellent addition to graphic novel collections and another great entry into the gaming-centric stories that have been published lately. Anything that shows folks gaming as social-emotional learning is tops with me. Don’t miss this one.

Table Titans Club has a starred review from Booklist.

Scott Kurtz’s website is a treasure trove of webcomics, including his Table Titans series that follows a group of Dungeons & Dragons players in and out of the game (not the characters from Table Titans Club).

Posted in Middle School, Non-Fiction, Teen, Tween Reads, Young Adult/New Adult

Minecrafters! Get ready for tasty treats with The Crafter’s Kitchen!

Posted on by Rosemary Kiladitis

The Crafter’s Kitchen: An Official Minecraft Cookbook for Young Chefs and Their Families : An Official Minecraft Cookbook for Young Chefs and Their Families, by The Official Minecraft Team, (March 2024, Random House Worlds), $24.99, ISBN: 9780593579923

Ages 8+

Who doesn’t love a tasty treat, especially when it’s related to a video game that you love? Last year, I was all about Gather, Cook, Eat!, an official Minecraft cookbook that had Nether Portal Rolls and Inventory Bread. This year, we’ve got a new Minecraft Cookbook: The Crafter’s Kitchen, introducing us to The Gourmand, a Minecraft chef who’s concerned by how we’re eating here on the other side of the Nether – every ingredient over by The Gourmand has its own story, and everyone has healthy farming and composting practices by them, so they want to give us a hand. There are delicious recipes for all palates here; each chapter spotlights a Minecraft biome and recipes that come from those biomes. Who wouldn’t want to wander the Forest biome with their tasty Applesauce Snack Cakes, and learn how to start your own garden? Wait about those amazing Cardamom Bear Paws and Swedish Meatballs coming out of the Taiga? Learn how to support wildlife refuges while you chow down. Written to educate not only about good food and how to cook and bake it, The Gourmand wants readers to come away with a sense of responsibility to our world. Kids and grownups alike can enjoy time together in the kitchen and at the computer – this cookbook is a win.

 

Posted in Middle Grade, Middle School, Non-Fiction, Non-fiction, Tween Reads

Continental Drifter seeks belonging

Posted on by Rosemary Kiladitis

Continental Drifter, by Kathy MacLeod, (Apr. 2024, First Second), $14.99, ISBN: 9781250813749

Ages 8-12

Eleven-year-old Kathy lives in Bangkok with her Thai mother, American father, and her sister. The family doesn’t seem to interact much, so Kathy’s looking forward to the family trip to her father’s family in Maine: – with a summer camp trip-within-a-trip included! Feeling like she doesn’t quite fit in with her family and friends in Thailand, she has high hopes for America, but discovers that she doesn’t quite fit in with the blonde-haired, blue-eyed girls who can’t figure out where Thailand is – maybe she’s saying Taiwan wrong? Kathy loves Maine. She loves her extended family; she loves food she can’t get in Thailand, like blueberry pie and clam chowder. She LOVES shopping the the mall. But she feels out of touch within her own family unit, and it doesn’t help how she feels in the world at large. Continental Drifter is MacLeod’s graphic memoir about a child of two cultures searching for belonging, but it’s more than cultural: this family doesn’t interact. Her retired father prefers his alone time, and her high-powered mother runs a business, comes home, and wants her own time. Her older sister is going through adolescence, leaving Kathy to feel unmoored at home; with her friends in Thailand, there are questions about her American half, and when she visits her American family, there are questions about being… not American. MacLeod tells her story without melodrama; we see the lonely girl at the heart of the story, and we see how others in her family have their own loneliness. It’s a moving story that will resonate with readers from immigrant families and readers who may simply feel out of place. Back matter includes an author’s note and photos. Readers who love Remy Lai’s storytelling will Continental Drifter.

Continental Drifter has a starred review from Kirkus. Follow Kathy MacLeod on Instagram for more comics. MacLeod also has archived comics on BK Magazine, which have a slice of life in Bangkok flavor.

Posted in Fiction, Middle Grade, Middle School, Tween Reads

Blog Tour: The Night Raven by Johan Rundberg / Translated by A.A. Prime

Posted on by Rosemary Kiladitis

I am loving that Amazon Crossing Kids is now translating middle grade novels: first, there was Batu and the Search for the Golden Cup, introducing readers to Kazakhstan folklore. Now, we’ve got a Swedish mystery series that is eerie and atmospheric. Let’s learn a little bit about The Night Raven.

The Night Raven, by Johan Rundberg/Translated by A.A. Prime,
(Nov. 2023, Amazon Crossing Kids), $9.99, ISBN: 9781662509599

Ages 10-14

Set in 1880 Stockholm, Mika is a 12-year-old girl living in an orphanage and answers the door one cold, dark night. A teen boy hands her a newborn baby, murmurs something about a “Dark Angel”, and leaves. When Detective Valdemar Hoff shows up, investigating a murder, Mika – already a very observant and smart young woman – knows something is afoot. Hoff, impressed by Mika’s intelligence and ability to notice details, ends up making Mika his unofficial partner. A gritty Scandinavian crime thriller for a middle school audience, Rundberg touches on social issues including corruption and poverty, indifference and privilege; Mika is a girl who knows how to survive, but she’s always hopeful, a light in the bleak winter darkness. The translation is flawless and the novel is perfectly paced, keeping readers turning pages as they’re drawn into Rundberg’s world. I loved this book so much, I already downloaded the ARC for the next book in the series. An excellent add to upper middle grade/middle school collections.

The Night Raven has starred reviews from The Horn Book and Kirkus.

 

★“This gripping, fast-paced mystery comes together well, with Mika’s deductions based firmly in logic and connections based in her own clear observations…A thrilling and thoughtful period murder mystery.” —Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

 

★“This English translation of Rundberg’s lively historical mystery…is something to celebrate…Joyous, funny, suspenseful, and serious—an unusual and winning combination for middle-grade readers. Let’s hope its three sequels appear in [A. A.] Prime’s English translation, too.” —The Horn Book (starred review)

 

“ It’s a testament to the authors that none of the solutions comes easily — in any good mystery story, truth is a messy and painful business.”  —The New York Times Book Review

Johan Rundberg is an award-winning author of children’s books who lives in Stockholm. He has written picture books, early readers, and middle grade, including Kärlekspizzan, Knockad Romeo, and the series Häxknuten. In 2021, he was awarded Sweden’s most prestigious literary prize, the August Prize, in the children’s and YA category for Nattkorpen, the original edition of The Night Raven, which was first written in Swedish. Nattkorpen was also the winner of a Swedish Crimetime Award in the children’s and YA category. There are now four books in this series published in Sweden.

 

A. A. Prime (Annie Prime) is an award-winning translator of Swedish literature. She was born in London and traveled the world studying a number of languages before settling in the English coastal town of Hastings. She now works full-time as a translator, specializing in the weird, witty, and wonderful world of children’s and young adult fiction. She holds an MA in translation from University College London and has published more than twenty books in the UK and US. In her free time, she can be found belly dancing, folk singing, horse riding, and sea swimming.