This novel plays on theme of the stereotypical Asian geek/genius and Lisa Yee captures the voice of the Millicent Min, Girl Genius so perfectly that you cringe for her as much as you root for her.
Category: Reading Lists: Middle Grade
Middle grade chapter books for kids ages 9 through 14 and including 3rd grade books, 4th grade books, 5th grade books, 6th grade books, and 7th grade books.
Introducing … Sasha Abramowitz: Teaches Compassion for Turret’s
Introducing…Sasha Abramowitz by Sue Halpern is such a great book on so many levels. The plot is tightly written with memorable characters that somehow all get interwoven into the final chapter. Sasha is also such a engaging and realistic character that you can’t help but sympathize with her point of view but also gain insight as she does as she starts to see her brother from other people’s point of view. I highly recommend this book for grades 4-6th.
Maniac Magee + My Side of the Mountain = Hoot by Hiaasen
Hoot by Carl Hiaasen won an insane amout of awards including A Newbery Honor Award and it’s not hard to see why once you read it. It’s a mystery and an adventure with multiple happy endings including the school bully getting what he deserves.
Percy Jackson: Add-On Books Get Rave Reviews
We saw the The Lightening Thief movie and it has sparked a renewed interest in mythology in my 4th grader so I wanted to suggest two other great books on mythology by THE classicist, Edith Hamilton.
Book that Changed Robert F. Kennedy, Jr’s Life…Really!
This series is about Sam Gribley living unhappily in New York City who runs away to some forgotten family land in the Catskill Mountains. He learns to live off the land with the help of a kindly librarian, a falcon baby, a flint and steele, penknife, and a ball of cord. He is joined by his sister in book two, and book three chronicles Frightful’s migration journal south.
Adventure Book for Middle School Boys
Brian’s Hunt by Gary Paulsen is Sam Gribley, of My Side of the Mountain, a little older, morphed with the movie starring Michael Douglas and Val Kilmer called The Ghost and The Darkness. Perfect for reluctant boy readers grades 4-6th.
Pippi Longstocking meets Anne of Green Gables
Everything on a Waffle by Polly Horvath is Pippi Longstocking meets Anne of Green Gables combined with a Newbery Honor Award. For grades 3-5.