Middle Grade Fiction

Short by Holly Goldberg Sloan

Grades 3-6

short

Julia is short for her age, and she sees that as a negative thing until she gets cast as a munchkin in the local production of The Wizard of Oz. She is also inspired when her elderly neighbor, Mrs. Chang, gets involved with the play by making costumes for the cast, and even offers to play a flying monkey. Julia realizes that she should embrace her stature, and herself, the way she is, and begins to have a more positive outlook.

Thanks to Penguin Random House for an advanced copy of this book.

Middle Grade Fiction, Netgalley Reviews

The Candymakers and the Great Chocolate Chase by Wendy Mass

Grades 3-6

candymakers

The company Harmonicandy was chosen as the winner of the nationwide candy making contest. As soon as Logan, Miles, Philip, and Daisy have returned to their everyday lives, they find out that they have a chance to promote the candy and the company and go on tour. They each jump at the chance for different reasons, but not before a very old secret is revealed.

Thanks to Netgalley.com for a review copy of this book.

Middle Grade Fiction, Mystery

Under the Egg by Laura Marx Fitzgerald

Grades 4-6

egg

Theodora Tenpenny discovers a painting that is a Renaissance masterpiece when she spills a bottle of rubbing alcohol on her late grandfather’s painting. She knows that her grandfather worked in the Metropolitan Museum of Art and fears the painting may be stolen. She is on a mission to find out how the painting ended up there, and embarks on an adventure with some friends of hers. Will she be able to solve the mystery?

Middle Grade Fiction

All Four Stars by Tara Dairman

Grades 3-5

stars

Gladys Gatsby is in 6th grade, and has been cooking since she was 7. It’s a passion of hers that her parents have no idea about. Then she accidentally starts a small fire after cooking creme brulee, and is banned from the kitchen. She is devastated. She decides to pay her parents back for the damage she did. She starts writing fake reviews on fake restaurants (she pretends that her parents and her friend’s parents own restaurants). She is mistakenly offered a real job, working for a real newspaper using her fake reviews. Read All Four Stars to find out how Gladys works her way out of this mess!

Historical Fiction, Middle Grade Fiction

When Audrey Met Alice by Rebecca Behrens

Grades 3-6

audrey

Audrey Rhodes lives at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. That’s right, she lives in the White House, and her dad is the president. That makes her the First Daughter. She’s all set to have a party on Friday night, when it gets cancelled because of a security breach. She is very upset and goes to her room to sulk forever, when she finds the diary of Alice Roosevelt, a former first daughter who lived in that very room! Armed with new information about how to deal with life as a tween, Audrey’s spirits lift as she immerses herself in the past.

Fantasy, Middle Grade Fiction

Liesl and Po by Lauren Oliver

Grades 3-6

liesl

Liesl’s evil stepmother makes her live alone, locked in the attic, with no friends. Until one day, she meets Po, a ghost who is also lonely and they become friends.

Then Will, the alchemist’s apprentice, makes a huge mistake when he switches two boxes: one has very powerful magic, and the other one is just a plain old box. This accidental switch brings consequences for Liesl and Po, and together they embark on an incredible journey.

Adventure, Middle Grade Fiction, Series

Book Scavenger by Jennifer Chambliss Bertman

Grades 3-6

book scavenger

This is the female version of the Mr. Lemoncello’s Library series and it was filled with puzzles that the kids had to crack. The premise of the game is this: there are books hidden all over the country and clues online to find them. But when the game’s creator is left in a coma, Emily and her friends have to figure out what the idea is for his next game. Can they do it?