Grade 5
Eleven-year-old Thyme is happy that her little brother Val is accepted for a new trial drug to treat his cancer, but she’s unhappy that they have to move from California all the way to New York, away from her best friend and everything she’s used to. She holds on to the fact that the move is only temporary, but when her father finds a new job in New York City, she fears that their move may become permanent. To find out what happens to Val, Thyme and their family, read Counting Thyme by Melanie Conklin.
Category: Middle Grade Fiction
Ghosts by Raina Telgemeier
Grade 3
When Caterina and her family move to Bahía de la Luna because her sister Maya has Cystic Fibrosis, Cat’s neighbor tells her that there are ghosts in their new town. Maya is on a mission to find a ghost, but Cat wants nothing to do with them. Will she be able to get over her fears? Read Ghosts by Raina Telgemeier to find out.
Middle School: Dog’s Best Friend by James Patterson and Chris Tebbets
Grades 3-6
Middle schooler Rafe Khatchadorian decides to start a dog walking business when he sees his grandmother on the free-meal line at the local soup kitchen. Soon he is walking dogs for many of his neighbors and is bringing in a lot of cash for his family. Everything is going great until he realizes that he has competition: two twins start to vandalize his flyers and steal his customers. Rafe has to hatch a plan to keep his business afloat while avoiding his kid sister Georgia who he is sure is out to make his life a living nightmare.
The Tapper Twins Run for President by Geoff Rodkey
Grades 3-6
Claudia Tapper and her twin brother Reese are battling it out to become the 6th Grade Class President. Their story is told in a series of interviews, text messages and social media posts of the twins’ family and friends. Claudia’s dream is to become the president of the United States one day, and she is sure she will keep her current position as 6th Grade Class President when her classmates re-elect her. Reese, however, thinks he has the edge to beat his sister and be the next Class President. Read The Tapper Twins Run for President to find out which Tapper twin will rule the school!
Word of Mouse by James Patterson and Chris Grabenstein
Grades 3-5
Patterson and Grabenstein team up once again and bring young readers a story about a small mouse with a big personality. Isaiah is a special kind of mouse: he can read, write and talk to humans, too! When he is separated from his very large family, he relies on the friendships that he makes along the way to get him through this tough time. The most special friend he makes is an equally lonely human girl named Hailey, and the two become inseparable. Will Isaiah be able to reconnect with his family or will they be gone for good?
Moo by Sharon Creech
Grades 3-6
From the author who wrote Love That Dog and Hate That Cat comes Moo, her newest novel in a mix of poetry and prose. When Reena’s family moves from the city to rural Maine, at first, she doesn’t know what to expect. Instead of exploring all Maine has to offer, including delicious lobster and blueberries, Reena and her brother Luke are forced to work for their neighbor Mrs. Falala and care for her farm animals, including her stubborn Cow, Zora. This story teaches us that our lives can change for the better if we’re open to it.
Wolf Hollow by Lauren Wolk
Grades 3-6
Annabelle’s life in a quiet Pennsylvania town has been affected by two world wars, but her life really changes when she meets her new classmate Betty Glengarry. Betty is a typical bully and makes it known. She specifically attacks Toby a veteran of World War I. Will Annabelle, who knows what a kind soul Toby is, be able to stand up for him or will she choke and be a bystander?
This is a 2017 Newbery Honor book.
Pax by Sara Pennypacker
Grades 3-6
Peter rescued Pax the fox when he was little after his family was killed. From that moment on, Peter became “his boy.” When Peter’s father enlists in the war, Peter is sent to live with his grandfather and forced to release Pax back into the wild. Guilt immediately washes over Peter, and he sets out to find his beloved friend again. Will the two reunite or will Pax be lost forever?
Cloud and Wallfish by Anne Nesbet
Grades 3-6
Noah Keller’s life is turned upside down when his parents pick him up from school one day and announce that they won’t be going home to their house in Roanoke, Virginia, but rather to “the good Germany,” or East Berlin. It’s 1989 and they are hiding behind the Iron Curtain. There are so many secrets and lies that Noah can hardly keep up. For one, his name is now Jonah Brown, and his birthday is no longer in March, but rather in November. He begins to wonder when his mother became multi-lingual and what really happened to the parents of his friend Claudia, whom he calls Cloud. Will Noah’s life ever be the same again?
Garvey’s Choice by Nikki Grimes
Grades 5-8
Garvey’s father has always wanted him to be athletic, but Garvey wants nothing to do with sports. He prefers studying astronomy and reading science fiction. Garvey turns to food for comfort, and is consequently overweight and lonely, often teased by bullies. Then he decides to join the school choir, and it is a choice that changes his life. He is recognized as a great soloist and his self-image changes for the better.
Michelle’s Bookish Life 