April 2023 Book Recommendations

Happy Spring Break!

Welcome to the new home for Middle Grades Book Recommendations for Kids…now on Substack at Books for Kids! You’ll still get your regular once a month post/email, but now you’ll also be able to come back to this site to access previous book recommendations. Thank you for your patience as I transition to this new platform and work out all the kinks!

My goal is simple: Provide book recommendations you can trust so your 8-12 year-old reader can find their next right book.

Alliana, Girl of Dragons

Written by Julie Abe, this is the story of Alliana, who once believed in dreams and fairy tales, but then her grandmother passed away and life with her wicked stepmother gets more and more difficult. An engaging fantasy perfect for readers who enjoy reading books with dragons!

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Always, Clementine

Written by Carlie Sorosiak, this is the story of Clementine, a mouse unlike any other. She’s a genius lab mouse who is set free by a kind lab technician, but will she be able to find a home? Perfect for fans of Charlotte’s Web or The One and Only Ivan.

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The Area 51 Files

Take a trip to Area 51 with Julie Buxbaum and meet Sky, who has been sent to live with her uncle. Unfortunately, some aliens have gone missing and Sky’s uncle is being blamed! If you enjoy actions, aliens, and an occasional fart joke, this is the book for you!

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Harboring Hope

Susan Hood is back with another outstanding novel in verse, this time set during World War 2. This is the remarkable true story of how Henny Sinding helped Denmark’s Jews escape the Nazis.

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I Am Defiance

After reading the novel in verse about World War 2, pick up this story from Jenni L. Walsh, Brigitte starts asking questions that only lead to more questions about secret resistance efforts. For readers interested in learning more about resistance efforts during the war, this is an excellent read.

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In the Beautiful Country

When Anna moves to the US she is quickly confronted with the fact that reality is very different from her dreams. Jane Kuo explores the question of how Anna will be able to make the beautiful country her home in this novel in verse.

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