December 2023 Book Recommendations
Happy Jólabókaflód!
In Iceland on Christmas Eve, they celebrate the tradition of Jólabókaflód. This is a time for giving and receiving books on Christmas Eve and then spending the rest of the night reading, which I find delightful! If you celebrate the tradition of Jólabókaflód with your family, I’d love to hear about it!
If you are looking for specific book recommendations to give to the 8-12 year-old reader in your life this holiday season, let me know and I’d love to help out!
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My goal is simple: Provide book recommendations you can trust so your 8-12 year-old reader can find their next right book.
Haven: A Small Cat's Big Adventure
Haven is an indoor cat living a very comfortable life as Ma Millie’s pet. But when Ma Millie becomes sick, Haven must venture outside to try and get help. Life in the wild is not easy for a house cat and this will not be an easy journey, but will an unlikely friend help Haven in her time of need? Perfect for younger middle grade readers and anyone who loves cats!
Note for parents/teachers: (Spoiler Alert) Ma Millie passes away peacefully in the story .If this is a trigger for your reader, you may want to hold off on this recommendation.
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My Nest of Silence
Matt Faulkner does a beautiful job blending pose and graphic novel to tell the story of a Japanese American family during World War II.
Mari and her family have been relocated to a relocation center and then her brother enlists in the army. With her brother away from home and her family living at Manzanar, there is a lot going on for Mari, so she decides to stop talking until the end of the war.
Note for parents/teachers: Due to the content in the book I would consider reserving this for your older middle grade readers (I also think YA readers would enjoy this book).
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Paintball with Dragons
On his first day of 7th grade, Xander discovers a large black dragon blocking his locker. Then he starts to see more dragons, but he’s not sure why. Xander makes a business deal with Zayn to see if he can figure out why he is seeing dragons and what he needs to do to make sure they don’t disappear.
Note for parents/teachers: Xander’s brother is killed in a car accident. If this is a trigger for your reader, you may want to hold off on this recommendation.
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If you are looking for a few books this month to get you in the holiday spirit, here are a few I’d recommend…
A Boy Called Christmas
Enjoy the story of Nikolas and the true story of Father Christmas. It is a story of adventure, kidnapping, elves, and holiday magic.
Note: After you read the book you can watch the movie on Netflix!
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The Night I Met Father Christmas
Jackson knows every thing there is to know about Christmas.
Except for one thing. How did Father Christmas become Father Christmas?
And then one Christmas Eve he meets Father Christmas and gets to know his story.
Note: You can watch my book talk about The Night I Met Father Christmas HERE!
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The Unlikely Story of a Pig in the City
On Thanksgiving Day, Josie’s older brother Tom brings home a piglet he rescued from a nearby farm. Josie’s parents give her until Christmas to find a forever home for Hamlet. A delightful story about family set during the Christmas season perfect for fans of the VanderBeekers and Charlotte’s Web.
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