Middle Grade Novels Publishing in 2024 by Cherie https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024 Discover middle grade novels for ages 8-12 releasing in 2024. This list will be regularly updated. Please note this list only includes fiction. en-us 2023-12-05 17:08:27 UTC 2024-07-31 15:17:46 UTC hello@padlet.com Lulu Sinagtala and the City of Noble Warriors (Lulu Sinagtala and the Tagalog Gods #1) by Gail D. Villanueva cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2814795716 In this fast-paced, thrilling middle grade fantasy rooted in Tagalog mythology, a young Filipino girl discovers realms beyond our own full of monsters and gods, a terrible evil who wants her magic, and even a talking duck! The first book in a duology from Gail D. Villanueva (My Fate According to the Butterfly) that’s perfect for fans of Tristan Strong and Aru Shah.  

 

Lulu Sinagtala can’t wait for a fun Christmas break. She’s excited to hang out with her sister, Kitty, and best friend, Bart; to reenact her favorite legends from Tagalog folklore (like the amazing tale of Bernardo Carpio); and, of course, to eat as much yummy street-side inihaw as possible!


But when a vicious wakwak attacks her neighborhood and kidnaps Mom, Lulu discovers the creatures and deities of Tagalog myth are real and that two additional Realms exist beyond our own. To make it worse, Lulu has superhuman strength and the ability to wield magic, meaning she's the only one powerful enough to stop the evil spirit who’s determined to rule the three Realms at all costs. No pressure, right?  


Lulu, Kitty, and Bart set off on a quest to rescue Mom, where they outsmart cunning enemies, battle vengeful beings, and form unlikely alliances. Soon they find themselves swept into a centuries-long fight, unraveling secrets about Lulu and her past that threaten to upend everything and throw the whole universe into chaos. Can Lulu muster the strength (superhuman or not) to find out who she really is and who she can trust to save Mom and the three Realms before it’s too late?


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]]> 2023-12-05 17:20:15 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2814795716 Emma and the Love Spell by Meredith Ireland cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2814810672 Witchlings meets The Parent Trap in this contemporary fantasy about a girl who tries to use her fickle witchy powers to keep her best friend (and secret crush!) from moving away.

Twelve-year-old, Korean American adoptee Emma Davidson has a problem. Two problems. Okay, three:

1. She has a crush on her best friend, Avangeline, that she hasn't been able to share
2. Avangeline now has to move out of their town because her parents are getting a divorce
3. Oh, and Emma is a secret witch who can't really control her powers

It's a complicated summer between sixth and seventh grade. Emma's parents made her promise that she'd keep her powers a secret and never, ever use them. But if Avangeline's parents fell back in love, it would fix everything. And how hard could one little love spell be?

This fast-paced, heartfelt story is a powerful exploration of learning to embrace who you are, even when your true self is different from everyone around you.


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]]> 2023-12-05 17:30:40 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2814810672 Daughters of the Lamp (Daughters of the Lamp #1) by Nedda Lewers cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2814819409 Percy Jackson meets Arabian fairy tales in this stunning middle grade fantasy debut about a girl who becomes the guardian of Ali Baba’s legendary treasure.

Believe in fairy tales.

Sahara Rashad lives by logic. Loves science. And always has a plan. Except her dad just whisked her away to her uncle’s wedding in Egypt, upending every single plan she had for the summer.

In Cairo, Sahara’s days are filled with family—and mystery. First, Sahara’s cousins claim the pretentious bride-to-be is actually a witch. Then her late mother’s necklace starts glowing—and disappears.

Sahara’s attempts to recover the necklace lead her to the greatest mystery yet. Deep in an underground chamber lies Ali Baba’s magical treasure. Hidden from a line of sorcerers who threatened to use its powers for evil, the treasure was given to Sahara’s ancestor Morgana for safekeeping and passed down from mother to daughter for generations. Now only Sahara stands in the sorcerers’ way.

Can the girl who’s never believed in magic trust the unknown and claim her legacy as the treasure’s keeper?


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]]> 2023-12-05 17:37:23 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2814819409 The Curse of Eelgrass Bog by Mary Averling cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2814827395 Dark secrets and unnatural magic abound when a twelve-year-old girl ventures into a bog full of monsters to break a mysterious curse.

Nothing about Kess Pedrock’s life is normal. Not her home (she lives in her family’s Unnatural History Museum), not her interests (hunting for megafauna fossils and skeletons), and not her best friend (a talking demon’s head in a jar named Shrunken Jim).

But things get even stranger than usual when Kess meets Lilou Starling, the new girl in town. Lilou comes to Kess for help breaking a mysterious curse—and the only clue she has leads straight into the center of Eelgrass Bog.

Everyone knows the bog is full of witches, demons, and possibly worse, but Kess and Lilou are determined not to let that stop them. As they investigate the mystery and uncover long-buried secrets, Kess begins to realize that the curse might hit closer to home than she’d ever expected, and she’ll have to summon all her courage to find a way to break it before it’s too late.


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]]> 2023-12-05 17:43:36 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2814827395 The First State of Being by Erin Entrada Kelly cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2814831678 When twelve-year-old Michael Rosario meets a mysterious boy from the future, his life is changed forever. From bestselling author Erin Entrada Kelly, winner of the Newbery Medal for Hello, Universe and a Newbery Honor for We Dream of Space, this novel explores themes of family, friendship, trust, and forgiveness. The First State of Being is for fans of Rebecca Stead’s When You Reach Me.


It's August 1999. For twelve-year-old Michael Rosario, life at Fox Run Apartments in Red Knot, Delaware, is as ordinary as ever—except for the looming Y2K crisis and his overwhelming crush on his fifteen-year-old babysitter, Gibby. But when a disoriented teenage boy named Ridge appears out of nowhere, Michael discovers there is more to life than stockpiling supplies and pining over Gibby.


It turns out that Ridge is carefree, confident, and bold, things Michael wishes he could be. Unlike Michael, however, Ridge isn’t where he belongs. When Ridge reveals that he’s the world’s first time traveler, Michael and Gibby are stunned but curious. As Ridge immerses himself in 1999—fascinated by microwaves, basketballs, and malls—Michael discovers that his new friend has a book that outlines the events of the next twenty years, and his curiosity morphs into something else: focused determination. Michael wants—no, needs—to get his hands on that book. How else can he prepare for the future? But how far is he willing to go to get it?


A story of time travel, friendship, found family, and first loves, this thematically rich novel is distinguished by its voice, character development, setting, and exploration of the issues that resonate with middle grade readers.


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]]> 2023-12-05 17:46:59 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2814831678 The Unbeatable Lily Hong by Diana Ma cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2814837848 A smart, funny, and heartfelt middle grade novel about Lily Hong’s attempts to save her parents’ Chinese school and the town’s community center using all the resources she has—devoted friends, ingenuity, a passion for filmmaking, mediocre dance moves (at best), and perhaps even her archnemesis.


If there’s one thing Lily Hong can’t stand, it’s being second best. That’s why she and Max Zhang have been bitter rivals ever since he swooped into town as the new kid with the cool clothes and his fancy downtown Chinese school and showed her up in the fifth-grade reading challenge.


She had wanted to be the one to win the pizza party for their class. Okay, so that was two years ago . . . her best friends Kelli and Lauren didn’t totally get it, but they were on her side. And that’s why they agreed to help Lily with her submission for the Clarktown’s Got Talent video competition. Filmmaking is Lily’s passion—which means winning is more important to her than ever.


Unfortunately, finding time to work on her video submission is proving harder than ever. In addition to doing regular homework and attending the Chinese school her parents own and run out of the Clarktown Community Center, Lily’s been getting weird vibes from her parents lately and she can tell something is up. Then her mom announces that the Clarktown Community Center is having its first showcase, and the students of Hong Chinese Academy will be performing as a group—traditional Chinese dance!


Lily is more confused than anything else—the community center is practically falling apart and they think this is a good time to put on a show? Could it be that the community center is in trouble and the only way to save it is to make the showcase a huge success? Lily has no choice. She’ll have to juggle the video competition and the art of Chinese dance simultaneously. But when Max Zhang unexpectedly shows up in her class at Chinese school with his perfect Mandarin and his surprisingly good dance skills, Lily might just have to embrace her longtime rival as a key part of her plan to save the community center.


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]]> 2023-12-05 17:51:36 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2814837848 Gigi Shin Is Not a Nerd (Gigi Shin #1) by Lyla Lee cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2814843793 This first book in a sparkling middle grade series giving a fresh take on The Baby-Sitters Club follows a young Korean American girl who starts a business with her best friends to support her artistic dreams.

Jiyoung “Gigi” Shin loves to create, from her zany outfits to self-executed haircuts. She dreams of becoming an artist and doodles every chance she gets—at school instead of taking notes, in choir instead of singing, and at home instead of homework. Art is her way of escaping her boring life in suburban Middle of Nowhere, Texas. Unfortunately, her working class, immigrant parents want her to focus on her studies and pursue something more “practical.” Gigi only really feels like herself in art class and at lunch with her best friends, Carolina and Zeina.

When Gigi learns about an elite art camp on the east coast, she’s determined to go. But she knows her parents won’t let her, much less pay for it. After overhearing her little brother Tommy complain about how hard math is and how his teacher goes too fast for him, Gigi has a brilliant idea: forming a tutoring club with her friends to make enough money for the art camp.

With Carolina, Zeina, and Carolina’s friend, Emma, the girls go all in, each with a reason for wanting the business to succeed. But the first few sessions with their classmates are a little chaotic, and Gigi wonders if she will end up sacrificing more than she bargained for to achieve her dreams.


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]]> 2023-12-05 17:56:16 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2814843793 Finally Heard (Finally Seen #2) by Kelly Yang cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2814849799 From the New York Times bestselling author of Front Desk comes the sequel to Finally Seen in which Lina gets a phone and tries to navigate social media, only to discover not everything online is what it seems.

When ten-year-old Lina Gao sees her mom’s video on social media take off, she’s captivated by the potential to be seen and heard! Maybe online she can finally find the confidence she craves. Whereas in real life she’s growing so fast, she feels like microwave popcorn, bursting out of her skin!

With the help of her two best friends, Carla and Finn, and her little sister, Millie, Lina sets off to go viral. Except there’s a lot more to social media than Lina ever imagined, like:

1. Seeing inside her classmates’ lives! Is she really the only person on the planet who doesn’t have a walk-in closet?
2. Group chats! Disappearing videos! What is everyone talking about in the secret chats? And how can she join?
3. A bazillion stories about what to eat, wear, and put on her face. Could they all be telling the truth? Everyone sounds so sure of what they’re saying!

As Lina descends deeper and deeper into social media, it will take all her strength to break free from the likes and find the courage to be her authentic self in this fast-paced world.


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]]> 2023-12-05 18:01:02 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2814849799 The Night War by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2814857729 From the two-time Newbery Honor-winning author of The War That Saved My Life and Fighting Words comes a middle grade novel set at the border between freedom and fear in World War II France, at the Chateau de Chenonceau, where a Jewish girl who has lost everything but her life must decide whether to risk even that to bring others to freedom.

“We don’t choose how we feel, but we choose how we act.”

It’s 1942. German Nazis occupy much of France. And twelve-year-old Miriam, who is Jewish, is not safe. With help and quick thinking, Miri is saved from the roundup that takes her entire Jewish neighborhood. She escapes Paris, landing in a small French village, where the spires of the famous Chateau de Chenonceau rise high into the sky, its bridge across the River Cher like a promise, a fairy tale.

But Miri’s life is no fairy tale. Her parents are gone—maybe alive, maybe not. Taken in at the boarding school near the chateau, pretending to be Catholic to escape Nazi capture, Miri is called upon one night to undertake a deadly task, one that spans the castle grounds, its bridge, and the very border to freedom. Here is her chance to escape—hopefully to find her parents. But will she take it? One thing is certain: The person Miri meets that night will save her life. And the person Miri becomes that night could save the lives of many more.

In her return to the era of The War that Saved My Life and The War I Finally Won, Kimberly Brubaker Bradley brings a new and different story, one with a mystical twist, that explores a little-known slice of World War II history, a highly unusual friendship, and the power of choosing courage even when—especially when—there are no good choices to be had.


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]]> 2023-12-05 18:06:37 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2814857729 The Ghost Forest (Secrets of the Sky #3) by Sayantani DasGupta cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2814862984 Kiya and Kinjal return to the Kingdom Beyond.


For their next adventure in the Kingdom Beyond, twins Kiya and Kinjal must help the flying horses with a sudden invasion of their lands. It turns out that the tree ghosts are losing their forest! To save the trees, and the Kingdom, they must use their collective knowledge of this world and of course their magic!


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]]> 2023-12-05 18:10:35 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2814862984 The Last Rhee Witch by Jenna Lee-Yun cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2814870073 For fans of The Last Fallen Star, Witchlings, and Ghost Squad, a heartfelt middle grade debut where Korean folklore is all too real and summer camp includes a gwishin haunting.

You couldn’t hold onto everything and everyone. You had to choose. And Ronnie only had two hands.

Since her mother died when she was five years old, it’s always just been Ronnie Miller and her dad. Two Korean Americans who, thanks to Ronnie’s dad’s adoption by white parents, have never felt all that Korean. But Ronnie is okay with that—as long as she has her dad and her best friend Jack, Ronnie is 99% certain she can get through anything.

But as much as she wants everything to stay the same, the world—and her dad—has other plans. Now, Ronnie and Jack are headed away to sleepaway camp for the first time ever. Camp Foster promises all of the outdoorsy activities that Ronnie has so far managed to avoid: ropes courses, scavenger hunts, kayaking on the lake. Ugh. But she can do this. As long as she has Jack.

As it turns out, an old manor in the woods is the kind of place that’s crawling with secrets. Secrets like a mysterious gwishin haunting the grounds, a blood-red scarf wrapped too tightly around her ghostly neck. And a witch-hunting dokkaebi intent on finding and silencing the last Rhee witch. And the strange habit all the counselors have of rhyming when they speak . . . just like Ronnie has begun to do lately.

For a girl who wants everything to stay the same, nothing is scarier than all the changes Camp Foster brings. New friends. New foes. Souls with unfinished business. And, possibly worst of all, revelations that disprove everything Ronnie knew to be true.

Jenna Lee-Yun combines magic, mystery, suspense, and humor into a ghostly action-packed contemporary fantasy.


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]]> 2023-12-05 18:15:43 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2814870073 Winnie Nash Is Not Your Sunshine by Nicole Melleby cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2814879296 In this powerful new novel by award-winning author Nicole Melleby, 12-year-old Winnie Nash is forced to live with her grandma for the summer and finds herself torn between her family’s secrets and the joy of celebrating Pride.

Winnie Nash never used to have so many secrets.

But then she agreed to stay with her grandma for the summer so her mom can take care of her health during her latest pregnancy. Now Winnie plays card games with Grandma’s friends (boring), joins the senior citizen book club (fine, even if no one thinks she’ll read the books), and absolutely does not talk about her mom’s sad days (she never used to be so sad…).

The biggest secret is that her parents asked Winnie not to mention she’s gay to Grandma. And there’s a really cute girl who also hangs out with the senior citizens. What happens if Grandma notices just how much Winnie likes Pippa? The longer Winnie hides the truth, the more she longs to be surrounded by her LGBTQ+ community and the more she feels like the only place she can be herself is at New York City’s Pride celebration. Winnie decides she’ll get to Pride, one way or another. But is this just one more secret she has to keep?


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]]> 2023-12-05 18:22:43 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2814879296 Haunted Holiday (Sinister Summer #5) by Kiersten White cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2814886021 Giant battle robots! Cotton candy betrayal! Blasts from the past! And the ultimate challenge to stay true to themselves and each other await Theo and Alexander in the final book in the tragic series about the Sinister-Winterbottom twins, who must solve one wretched mystery after the next, brought to you by #1 NYT bestselling author Kiersten White.

Trapped in Aunt Saffronia’s spectral house, Theo and Alexander must work together to escape, stop their newfound nemesis Essa and her henchman Edgaren’t, save Wil and their friends, find their parents, and maybe, just maybe, get things back to normal.

Following the clues left behind, the twins find themselves at Siren’s Song Seaside Amusement Park. Old faces and new surprises await them in a park that was built to lure in visitors…and their secrets.

As they get closer to answers, the twins are left with the biggest question of all: Who is Essa really, and why is she so determined to find their parents?


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]]> 2023-12-05 18:27:37 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2814886021 The Princess Protection Program by Alex London cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2814895035 Where can a princess hide if her Ever After isn’t all that Happy? Bestselling author Alex London turns classic fairy tales on their heads in this fast-paced, funny fantasy about embracing change and taking control of your own story. For fans of The School for Good and Evil and the Chronicles of Never After series.


Every fairy tale ends with its characters living happily ever after, right? A valiant prince quests long and hard to reach the castle where the sleeping princess lies. And with a kiss, he awakens her.


But what if the princess does NOT think a kiss from a stranger is a very pleasant way to wake up? Yuck!

When Rosamund flees her prince, a Door of Opportunity opens, and she steps through it to the Home Educational Academy (the HEA for short). Rosamund has found the Princess Protection Program, where fugitive fairy-tale princesses escape unwanted affections, untimely ends, and all the other perils of their stories.


But the longer Rosamund lives in the real world, the more questions she has. Does anyone ever graduate from the HEA? Why doesn’t anyone seem to remember the former students? Is the kindly fairy headmistress all she appears to be? Is anyone? And the most important question of all: Can Rosamund change her story?


Acclaimed and bestselling author Alex London weaves together several beloved fairy tales in this fast-paced, funny, and slyly subversive adventure about finding your place in the world. 


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]]> 2023-12-05 18:34:05 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2814895035 Coyote Lost and Found (Coyote Sunrise #2) by Dan Gemeinhart cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2814900019 From #1 New York Times-bestselling author Dan Gemeinhart comes a standalone companion to the critically-acclaimed The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise about a father and daughter who venture on a moving, uplifting, and rollicking cross-country road trip.

It's been almost a year since Coyote and her dad left the road behind and settled down in a small Oregon town. . . time spent grieving the loss of her mom and sisters and trying to fit in at school. But just as life is becoming a new version of normal, Coyote discovers a box containing her mom’s ashes. And she thinks she might finally be ready to say goodbye.

So Coyote and her dad gear up for an epic cross-country road trip to scatter the ashes at her mom’s chosen resting place. The only problem? Coyote has no idea where that resting place is―and the secret’s hidden in a book that Coyote mistakenly sold last year, somewhere in the country. Now, it’s up to Coyote to track down the treasured book . . . without her dad ever finding out that it’s lost.

It’s time to fire up their trusty bus, Yager, pick up some old friends, discover some new ones, and hit the road on another unforgettable adventure.


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]]> 2023-12-05 18:37:58 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2814900019 This Again? by Adam Borba cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2814903815 How far would you go to have the best day of your life? This funny and thrilling time travel adventure tackles questions of fate and free will. 
 
Noah Nicholson has plenty to be grateful for. He has solid grades and great friends, he’s finally becoming closer with Lucy Martinez—his crush since second grade—and he just might have a chance to be elected class president next week. But despite all that, Noah fixates on the should’ve-beens and could’ve-beens and the belief that he can make his life perfect. Then Noah comes upon an opportunity to do just that.
 
At the local bowling alley, Noah runs into someone most unexpected: himself. The look-alike is him from nine days in the future, and he insists that if Noah does every ridiculous thing he says—from quacking like a duck in science class to painting himself green—they can achieve their dream of perfection. However, fate may have other plans, and Future Noah may not be entirely honest about what he’s doing there.…

Perfect for fans of Rebecca Stead and Louis Sachar, This Again? takes readers on an incredible journey through time, mind, and middle school. 


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]]> 2023-12-05 18:40:55 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2814903815 Courtesy of Cupid by Nashae Jones cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2814913468 In this middle grade rom-com sprinkled with a dash of magic, a girl uses her newfound ability to make people fall in love to sabotage her rival.

Erin Johnson’s thirteenth birthday unfolds like any other day, from her mom’s quirky and embarrassing choice of outfit to racing her nemesis, Trevor Jin, to the best seat in class—front row, center. But her gifts this year include something very out of the ordinary: magical powers.

Erin discovers her mysterious father is actually the love god Cupid and she’s inherited his knack for romance. It’s not the most useful ability for an overachiever with lofty academic and extracurricular goals…or is it? Erin desperately wants to be elected president of the Multicultural Leadership Club, and as usual, Trevor is her fiercest competition. He’s never backed down from a challenge before, but if Erin makes him fall in love with her, maybe he'd drop out of the race and let her win.

With her magical pedigree, wrapping Trevor around her finger is a snap, and having him around all the time is a small price to pay for victory. But without their cutthroat rivalry bringing out the worst in each other, Erin realizes Trevor may not be as bad as she thought, and suddenly her first foray into love gets a lot more complicated…


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]]> 2023-12-05 18:47:11 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2814913468 Uprising by Jennifer A. Nielsen cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2814917518 #1 New York Times bestselling author of Iceberg, Jennifer A. Nielsen inspires readers with a brand-new thriller based on the remarkable true story of a young Polish girl who bravely fought, participating in the Warsaw city uprising, and took a stand in the name of freedom.


Twelve-year-old Lidia is outside her grandfather's house when planes fly overhead, bearing the Nazi cross on each wing. Before the bombs hit the ground, Lidia realizes her life is about to change forever. Poland has fallen under German occupation, and her father makes the brave decision to join the Polish army to fight against the Nazis. Lidia wants to follow him into war, but she's far too young, and she's needed by her mother and brother.


After her family returns to Warsaw, where life has changed irrevocably, Lidia continues to play the piano, finding comfort in Chopin, Bach, and Beethoven. But she also wants to aid the Jewish people held captive in the Warsaw Ghetto. With the help of a friend, Lidia begins to smuggle wheat and food into the ghetto. Still, she feels like she could be doing so much more. She wants to fight. After her brother joins the resistance, Lidia wants only to follow in his footsteps. Soon, she begins to work as a courier, smuggling weapons and messages for the resistance throughout the city.


When the Warsaw city uprising begins―one year after the more well-known Warsaw Ghetto uprising by Polish Jews―with gunfire and bombs echoing throughout the streets, Lidia joins the Polish nationalists’ fight, too, and she and her peers fight with everything they’ve got. Life will continue to surprise Lidia, as she and the resistance fighters do their best to defeat the German soldiers. No matter the consequences, they’re willing to defend their freedom and their homes from the Nazi invaders―even with their lives.


Drawing on the extraordinary real-life story of Polish teenager Lidia Zakrzewski, bestselling author Jennifer A. Nielsen presents an inspiring and dramatic account of the Polish resistance fighters who struggled to force out their Nazi occupiers and reclaim their nation's freedom from tyranny.


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]]> 2023-12-05 18:50:16 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2814917518 The Night Compass (Wilderlore #4) by Amanda Foody cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2814923697 Barclay and his friends race to find a legendary beast in the Wilderlands before their enemy in this action-packed fourth book in the New York Times bestselling Wilderlore series.

As the election for Grand Keeper looms closer, the villainous Audrian Keyes returns. He claims he has the secret to finding Navrashtya, the Legendary Beast of the Tundra who’s been missing for centuries. And so a team of specialized Lore Keepers must undertake a desperate mission: find her first, no matter the cost.

But the uncharted regions of the Tundra hold countless dangers, from the monstrous Beasts to the brutal cold, yet far more chilling mysteries await them out on the ice caps. Like why Navrashtya went missing in the first place. Or the truth behind this strange Lore that only Barclay can feel, whose power might very well save the mission—or doom it.


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]]> 2023-12-05 18:53:42 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2814923697 Unstuck by Barbara Dee cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2814927519 From critically acclaimed author Barbara Dee comes a middle grade novel about a girl whose struggles with anxiety and writer’s block set off unexpected twists and turns, both on and off the page.

Lyla is thrilled when her seventh-grade English language arts class begins a daily creative writing project. For the past year, she’s been writing a brilliant fantasy novel in her head, and here’s her chance to get it on paper! The plot to Lyla’s novel is super complicated, with battle scenes and witches and a mysterious one-toed-beast, but at its core, it’s about an overlooked girl who has to rescue her beautiful, highly accomplished older sister.

But writing a fantasy novel turns out to be harder than simply imagining one, and pretty soon Lyla finds herself stuck, experiencing a panic she realizes is writer’s block. Part of the problem is that she’s trying to impress certain people—like Rania, her best friend who’s pulling away, and Ms. Bowman, the coolest teacher at school. Plus, there’s the pressure of meeting the deadline for the town writing contest. A few years ago, Lyla’s superstar teen sister Dahlia came in second, and this time, Lyla is determined to win first prize.

Finally, Lyla confides about her writing problems to Dahlia, who is dealing with her own academic stress as she applies to college. That’s when she learns Dahlia’s secret, which is causing a very different type of writer’s block. Can Lyla rescue a surprisingly vulnerable big sister, both on the page and in real life?


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]]> 2023-12-05 18:56:34 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2814927519 The Beanstalk Murder by P. G. Bell cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2814930729 The Beanstalk Murder - a middle grade fantasy novel by P. G. Bell - involves a young witch in training, her archenemy, the kingdom of giants, and a huge murder mystery!

Anwen Sedge, an eleven-year-old Meadow Witch apprentice, lives with her grandma in a rural village that hasn't seen giants since the Great Beanstalk War. So when a giant falls right onto them, it's quite a surprise. And it's an even bigger surprise when they discover that the giant was dead BEFORE he hit the ground. Anwen, her grandmother, and Anwen's rival, Cerys, will have to plant a magic beanstalk and send a message to the giants in the Sky Kingdom.

But Anwen and Cerys get stuck to the beanstalk and find themselves shot up to the Sky Kingdom and surrounded by giants! There, they learn that the dead giant was a king. Since the giants have no magic beanstalks of their own, it’ll be a few days before they can send the girls home. Meadow Witch (in training) Anwen has a duty to the dead so she’s determined to help solve the case, despite Cerys’s doubts in her.

With the help of a page boy, a few new animal friends, and her reluctant rival, can Anwen figure out who killed the king before it’s time to go home? Or before the killer strikes again?


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]]> 2023-12-05 18:58:48 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2814930729 Gut Reaction by Kirby Larson and Quinn Wyatt cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2814935814 Critically acclaimed, bestselling author and Newbery Honor-winner, Kirby Larson, and her daughter, debut author, Quinn Wyatt, pen this gorgeously moving and often funny story that explores what living with a chronic illness is like. Inspired by Quinn's own personal journey, Gut Reaction is full of heart and humor and highlights the importance of asking for help when it comes to mental and physical health alike.


Tess Medina is still dealing with the loss of her father when she starts at a new school. One way she is still able to feel close to him is by doing what she does best: baking. He taught her everything she knows. But when tasting her creations causes a deep stabbing pain in her abdomen, she tries to power through and be strong in the same way she powers through her emotional pain. She doesn’t mind too much—she’s okay with sharing her baked goods at school in the hopes of making new friends.


Lucky for Tess, her baking skills attract the right kind of attention, and she assembles a ragtag team to help her taste her new and classic creations in preparation for the Jubilee Flour Junior Baker West Coast competition. This is a chance to redeem herself and prove that she's a star baker. Above all, Tess is desperate to win first place and make her dad proud.


But leading up to the competition, Tess's pain gets worse and worse, and, soon, she finds that she's avoiding so many foods that she's barely eating. When the physical pain becomes too great, Tess will be forced to confront everything she has been trying so desperately to hide.


From Newbery Honor author Kirby Larson and her daughter, debut author Quinn Wyatt, comes a poignant, sometimes silly, and always moving story of coming to grips with grief and finding the sweet filling inside every treat.


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]]> 2023-12-05 19:02:20 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2814935814 The Fight for the Hidden Realm (Paper Dragons #1) by Siobhan McDermott cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2814940963 A 12-year-old girl wins an invitation to train as an apprentice to immortals in the first book of the new must-read magical series destined to take the world by storm—perfect for fans of Amari and the Night Brothers, Skandar and Eragon.

Let the competition begin!

An outsider in her village above the cloud sea, 12-year-old orphan Yeung Zhi Ging’s only hope of escape is to win the single invitation to train as a Silhouette: an apprentice to the immortals. After her ill-fated attempt to impress the Silhouette scout leads to a dragon attack on the jade mountain, Zhi Ging is sure that her chances, and her life, are over. But the scout spots her potential and offers her protection and a second chance. She’s in.

In her lessons in Hok Woh, the underwater realm of the immortals, Zhi Ging must face the challenging trials set by her teachers to prove that she’s worthy of being a Silhouette—despite her rivals' attempts to sabotage her. But as Zhi Ging’s power grows, so do the rumours of the return of the Fui Gwai, an evil spirit that turns people into grey-eyed thralls.

When the impossible happens and the Fui Gwai attack the Silhouettes, can Zhi Ging use her newly uncovered talents to save her friends and the world beyond? Or will the grey-eyed spirit consume them all?


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]]> 2023-12-05 19:06:02 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2814940963 The Lumbering Giants of Windy Pines by Gabe Netz cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2814947964 In this debut spooky adventure, Jerry and her trusty wheelchair move into a creepy motel at the edge of the woods where nothing is as it seems. When her mom disappears, it’s up to Jerry to brave the forest and its demons so she can save what’s left of her family.


Ever since her dad died, 11-year-old Jerry Blum and her mom have bounced around dead-end towns, staying in a series of rundown motels where her mother picks up housekeeping work and Jerry can get around in her wheelchair. 


But the Slumbering Giant motel is different. Lights blink on and off in the surrounding trees, a mysterious radio station plays only at midnight, and people disappear into the woods, never to been seen again. Not to mention that Jerry’s mom keeps vanishing to do “special work” that she refuses to discuss. When her mother doesn’t come home one morning, Jerry springs into action.


Luckily, she’s not alone. Paul, a pocket-size imaginary dragon, and Chapel, a new friend with a penchant for the supernatural, join Jerry’s search for her missing mom. But along the way Jerry discovers her mother’s terrible secret: she’s not a housekeeper at all; in fact, she’s been defending the town from demons that have been haunting it for generations.


Armed with nothing but a Ren Faire sword and a backpack, Jerry and her friends venture into the forbidden woods to save Jerry’s mother. But the “demons” hiding there aren’t what they seem, and Jerry must unravel the truth behind the town’s legend, or risk losing what’s left of her family.


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]]> 2023-12-05 19:10:43 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2814947964 Paige Not Found by Jen Wilde cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2814952854 An adventure story that examines consent and privacy in a way that books have not had to before this generation where everything is online.


A week ago, if someone had told Paige she’d be stuck in traffic with three total strangers on a mission to stop a global organization from controlling their minds, she would have laughed. But somehow this is real life. She adjusts her noise cancelling headphones, trying to drown out more of the car horns and music blaring from a neighboring sedan. Her fists clench and unclench. Inside her shoes, her toes wiggle, trying to let out some of her nervous energy.


As much as Paige hates the word normal, it’s a pretty good word to describe her life, and the kind of night she was having just before a single email turned her world upside down.


In an effort to better understand and communicate with their autistic daughter, Paige's parents enrolled her in a study without her consent. Without her knowledge they had a chip implanted in her brain that keeps track of her location and brain activity. It can boost the chemicals that affect her mood. Suddenly, Paige isn’t sure who she can trust. Can she even trust her own mind anymore?


Now the company that created her chip is days away from merging with the most popular social network in the world, that has a reputation for selling people’s private information to the highest bidder.


Paige feels betrayed and like she’s been robbed of her free will. But there is one thing she can do. The email includes the names and addresses of the other kids involved in the study. She can track them down and show them what’s been done to them.


Maybe altogether they can put a stop to this merger and figure out how to get their chips removed for good.


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]]> 2023-12-05 19:14:36 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2814952854 Momo Arashima Breaks the Mirror of the Sun (Momo Arashima #2) by Misa Sugiura cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2814958477 In the next book in the thrilling fantasy series filled with gods and monsters of Shinto mythology, a twelve-year-old girl must steal an ancient relic, work with new friends and learn to control her own dangerous power to defeat a new threat.

After vanquishing a demon king, saving her mom, and reconnecting with her friend Danny, Momo ought to be living the life she's always wanted. But lately, Danny has been ditching her to hang out with mean-girl Ryleigh—and groups of kids have begun vanishing without a trace. Then a whole backyard full of cool kids at Ryleigh's exclusive birthday party becomes the latest to disappear, leaving Momo, Ryleigh, Danny, boy band superstar Jin, and Momo's old friend Niko the fox to fight a dangerous new enemy from Shinto legend.

This time they are up against Tamamo-no-mae—beautiful, bloodthirsty, and manipulative, she's the ultimate mean girl of the Kami-verse. To defeat her, Momo must travel to the Sky Kingdom and steal the legendary Mirror of the Sun. But if she’s going to survive monster ambushes, escape giant snakes, and pull off the heist of the millennium, Momo will have to find a way to work with her team (even Ryleigh), and grapple with the growing power that connects her with her storm god grandfather, Susano'o', and her greatest foe—Izanami the Destroyer.


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]]> 2023-12-05 19:19:06 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2814958477 Trouble at the Tangerine by Gillian McDunn cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2814961437 Award-winning author Gillian McDunn pens a delightfully quirky mystery that examines the meaning of home, perfect for fans of The Vanderbeekers series.

Simon's family is always on the move. Every few months, they load up their van, “Vincent Van Go,” and set off for a new adventure. According to his dad, you can't live an extraordinary life by staying in one place. But all Simon wants is to settle down, so he's hatched a plan: to make their latest apartment in the Tangerine Pines building his forever home.

When a priceless necklace is stolen, clues indicate the thief might actually be another neighbor. Simon worries he'll have to move again if the thief isn't caught. He usually doesn't go looking for trouble, but if retrieving the necklace means establishing home, Simon is willing to risk it. With the help of his neighbor Amaya, pet sitter, plant-waterer, and podcaster extraordinaire, Simon is determined to crack the case and finally put down roots.


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]]> 2023-12-05 19:21:22 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2814961437 Nightmares in Paradise (Ring of Solomon #2) by Aden Polydoros cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2814965356 Zach Darlington saved the world and hardly anyone knows about it.

Aside from his best friend, Sandra; his annoying little sister, Naomi; and his friend Ash (who, by the way, is the King of Demons). Somehow, they’ve all managed to keep last summer’s fights against the Behemoth, the Leviathan, and the evil Knights of Apocalypse cult a secret for almost a whole year.

Zach and Sandra have their hands full practicing with the archangel Uriel’s flaming sword (in case they ever need to fight monsters again), dodging bully Jeffrey and his sidekicks at school, and doing typical seventh-grade things like homework and watching their favorite horror movies. But when Naomi starts blabbing their secrets—and then disappears during their family’s Passover seder—Zach’s parents are worried and mad. At Zach!

Since the sword went missing along with Naomi, Ash is sure that Uriel is to blame. Which means that Zach, Sandra, and Ash are off to Eden—the actual Garden of Eden—to save Naomi and bring her home.

The Garden is no paradise. It’s full of scary angels, monsters, and tricksters ready to lay traps, not to mention the Knights of Apocalypse, who still hold a grudge against Zach for interfering with their apocalypse plans last summer.

Can Zach make it through the overgrown, dangerous Garden to save his sister and bring her home? And will he still be grounded for life if he does?

No one said being a seventh-grade hero was going to be easy.


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]]> 2023-12-05 19:24:28 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2814965356 King Bro! by Jenny Jägerfeld and translated by B. J. Woodstein cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2814972282 A touching and humorous middle grade novel about transgender friendship and the right to be who you are.

It's summertime for eleven-year-old Marcus when he goes with his mother to a new city, where she'll be working for the summer. Marcus is looking forward to it because he knows he can be himself there—the person he really is.

Within the first day of arriving, Marcus meets Mikkel, a neighborhood boy who looks totally dangerous with his aggressive and energetic appearance, and with his body full of tattoos. It turns out the tattoos are made by Mikkel’s brother and are actually in Indian ink, but still. Mikkel challenges Marcus in a number of skateboard tricks (both are addictive skateboarders), and after a crash where Mikkel helps Marcus, they become best friends. Blood brothers—bros!—something that means you’ll do anything for each other and always tell the truth.

But Marcus is struggling with a specific issue. Should he tell Mikkel this special thing, something that affects Marcus’s whole life? Marcus was at birth assigned a female gender, although Marcus has always known he is a boy. It is just the others around him who have a hard time understanding, including his friends at school, his grandma, and his father.

King Bro! is an emotional, poignant look at knowing who you are, but struggle with knowing how you'll be accepted for being your true self.


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]]> 2023-12-05 19:30:00 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2814972282 Drawing Deena by Hena Khan cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2814977887 From the award-winning author of Amina’s Voice and Amina’s Song comes a tenderhearted middle grade novel about a young Pakistani American artist determined to manage her anxiety and forge her own creative path.

Deena’s never given a name to the familiar knot in her stomach that appears when her parents argue about money, when it’s time to go to school, or when she struggles to find the right words. She manages to make it through each day with the help of her friends and the art she loves to make.

While her parents’ money troubles cause more and more stress, Deena wonders if she can use her artistic talents to ease their burden. She creates a logo and social media account to promote her mom’s home-based business selling clothes from Pakistan to the local community. With her cousin and friends modeling the outfits and lending their social media know-how, business picks up.

But the success and attention make Deena’s cousin and best friend, Parisa, start to act funny. Suddenly Deena’s latest creative outlet becomes another thing that makes her feel nauseated and unsure of herself. After Deena reaches a breaking point, both she and her mother learn the importance of asking for help and that, with the right support, Deena can create something truly beautiful.


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]]> 2023-12-05 19:35:16 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2814977887 Mani Semilla Finds Her Quetzal Voice by Anna Lapera cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2814991665 “Anna Lapera expertly voices a young girl’s middle school trials, but with a voice so unique and heartfelt you will be cringing one moment and cheering the next. She weaves a distinctive story filled with humor, family heartache, and secrets while a young girl releases the fear of her voice and grasps its power.”
— Newbery Medalist Donna Barba Higuera

For fans of Donna Barba Higuera's Lupe Wong Won't Dance and Aida Salazar's The Moon Within, comes Mani Semilla Finds Her Quetzal Voice—a contemporary middle grade novel full of spunk and activist heart. Manuela “Mani” Semilla wants two things: To get her period, and to thwart her mom's plan of taking her to Guatemala, a place that has always been more of a mystery than an answer. Mani can’t imagine leaving behind Las Nerdas, her band of misfit friends, for the summer. But after she finds letters written between her mother and her disappeared-journalist aunt, Mani’s idea of what it means to be a woman takes flight. Reading the letters reveals both the beauty of Guatemala and its history of violence against women, and slowly transforms Mani from quiet bystander into budding activist.


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]]> 2023-12-05 19:47:01 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2814991665 Bumps in the Night by Amalie Howard cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2814997055 The creepy middle grade debut from USA Today bestselling author Amalie Howard in which a girl stays with her grandmother in Trinidad for the summer and discovers that she comes from a long line of powerful witches.

Darika “Rika” Lovelace is in trouble. The kind of trouble that sends her to her grandmother’s estate in Trinidad for the whole summer. But something about the island feels…different. As soon as she steps off the plane, strange things start happening!

Rika meets a group of kids called Minders, who seem to have elemental powers. Even worse, she can sense jumbies lurking in the shadows. Needless to say, she wants a ticket home. But when the Minders let slip that her long-lost mom is in danger, she knows she can’t leave.

Thrust into a magical adventure involving bloodcurdling monsters, a supernatural silk cotton tree, and an endless maze, Rika must defeat the fearsome jumbie king to save her family and new friends. But unless she learns to believe in herself, she’ll never beat him or escape his twisted maze.


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]]> 2023-12-05 19:51:55 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2814997055 Just Shy of Ordinary by A. J. Sass cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2815002207 In this heartfelt novel about family, friendship, and identity perfect for fans of The List of Things That Will Not Change and Ivy Aberdeen's Letter to the World, a thirteen-year-old nonbinary kid discovers that life doesn't always go according to plan—especially when they start public school for the first time. ​
 
Thirteen-year-old Shai is an expert problem-solver. There’s never been something they couldn’t research and figure out on their own. But there’s one thing Shai hasn’t been able to logic their way through: picking at the hair on their arms.    
 
Ever since their mom lost her job, the two had to move in with family friends, and the world went into pandemic lockdown, Shai’s been unable to control their picking. Now, as the difficult times recede and everyone begins to discover their “new normal,” Shai’s hoping the stress that caused their picking will end, too.
 
After reading that a routine can reduce anxiety, Shai makes a plan to create a brand new normal for themself that includes going to public school. But when their academic evaluation places them into 9th grade instead of 8th, it sets off a chain of events that veer off the path Shai had prepared for, encouraging Shai to learn how to accept life's twists and turns, especially when you can't plan for them.


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]]> 2023-12-05 19:56:59 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2815002207 Light and Air by Mindy Nichols Wendell cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2815008969 It's 1935, and tuberculosis is ravaging the nation. Everyone is afraid of this deadly respiratory illness. But what happens when you actually have it?

When Halle and her mother both come down with TB, they are shunned—and then they are sent to the J.N. Adam Tuberculosis Hospital: far from home, far from family, far from the world.

Tucked away in the woods of upstate New York, the hospital is a closed and quiet place. But it is not, Halle learns, a prison. Free of her worried and difficult father for the first time in her life, she slowly discovers joy, family, and the healing power of honey on the children's ward, where the girls on the floor become her confidantes and sisters. But when Mama suffers a lung hemorrhage, their entire future—and recovery—is thrown into question....

Light and Air deals tenderly and insightfully with isolation, quarantine, found family, and illness. Set in the fully realized world of a 1930s hospital, it offers a tender glimpse into a historical epidemic that has become more relatable than ever due to the COVID-19 pandemic. As Halle tries to warm her father’s coldness and learns to trust the girls and women of the hospital, and as she and her mother battle a disease that once paralyzed the country, a profound message of strength, hope, and healing emerges.


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]]> 2023-12-05 20:03:50 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2815008969 The Last Ice Phoenix (Heroes of Havensong #2) by Megan Reyes cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2815013252 Follow the threads of the Fates into the captivating sequel in the timeless fantasy series about four unlikely heroes bound together to save their world—and magic itself.

Blue, River, Shenli, and Wren are still reeling from the discovery that they are the four heroes foretold to save their world. The weight of their destiny and the expectations that come with it is a heavy burden, but when danger once again finds them and the people they love, there's no choice but to act.

Shenli and Wren both remain outsiders—one as a prisoner tired of being a pawn and the other banished from the home she fought to save. Meanwhile, Blue and River face a quest for a mythical creature that will take them beyond the world they know—with the fate of the Meraki people hanging in the balance. Although they just found one another, the four heroes are once again scattered across Haven—all facing new journeys, impossible choices and shocking truths. As their world prepares for war, will they be able to unravel what the Fates have in store for them and find their own path?


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]]> 2023-12-05 20:07:50 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2815013252 Listen to This by Jennifer Blecher cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2815015518 Secrets, rumors, shifting friendships, overbearing parents, and, on top of all that, a first dance—how does anyone survive seventh grade? Told from dual points of view, this novel about two tweens finding their voices and standing up for themselves is for fans of Lisa Yee, Leslie Connor, and Janae Marks.


Lily, Maddie, and Sasha have always been the perfect friendship trio. But this year, everything is changing. Maddie and Sasha made the elite soccer team, and Lily feels that they’re always leaving her behind. And everyone seems to have secrets now: Maddie, and Sasha, and Lily’s sister, and even Lily herself.


Lily’s classmate Will wishes he had some secrets. After all, his life is already out there for the whole world to hear about, thanks to his dad’s super-popular parenting podcast. And Will hates it, but telling his dad that is harder than the hardest climbing wall at Philly Rocks. Until his dad finally crosses a line, and Will’s not sure he can forgive him.


But maybe when Lily and Will meet, they’ll find just what they need: someone who will listen.


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]]> 2023-12-05 20:10:09 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2815015518 A for Effort (A-Okay #2) by Jarad Greene cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2815018359 The next semiautobiographical graphic novel from Jarad Greene continues to follow Jay, this time as he faces his freshman year of high school—and a whole new world of friendships, self-discovery, and stress about the future.


The start of Jay’s freshman year is full of new things . . . New friends. New classes. New challenges.


All of which are expected, until his new friend group’s obsession with perfect grades puts the pressure on—especially when his best subject, art, is full. Without it to anchor him, Jay hopes theater class will be the easy A he’s looking for. But when the class begins, Jay finds himself struggling like never before. Turns out balancing Shakespeare with biology and geometry is a lot harder than he thought. Will Jay be able to step into the spotlight and deliver an A+ performance? 


Perfect for readers of Yehudi Mercado and Rachel Elliott, A for Effort’s refreshingly witty and honest story is a heartfelt exploration of how it’s not always the outcome but the journey itself that truly matters. 


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]]> 2023-12-05 20:12:51 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2815018359 The Secret Dead Club by Karen Strong cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2815020966 The Baby-Sitters Club meets Stranger Things in this eerie middle grade novel about friendship, fitting in, and the afterlife, following a girl who discovers she’s not the only one at her new school who can see ghosts.

Wednesday Thomas sees ghosts. But that doesn’t mean she has to talk to them.

After a terrifying experience in an Arizona state park with a wicked ghost, Wednesday and her mother Olivia sell their RV and move back south to the family home in Alton, Georgia. Wednesday’s determined not to use her gift anymore—until she meets a group of girls who also know about the spirit realm.

There’s free-spirited Miki Okada and Southern belle Danni-Lynn Porter who seem to know about the ghosts who roam the school’s hallways, popular girl Alexa Scott who tells Wednesday to stay away from Miki and Danni-Lynn and not draw attention to herself, and mysterious neighbor Violet Delgado who died last year but still haunts the house across the street. Wednesday feels these girls have some kind of shared history, but it isn’t until Miki gives her an official invitation to the Dead Club that she starts to understand there’s a lot more going on with the ghosts in Alton and the girls who can see them.

And when another malevolent ghost threatens to harm Wednesday, it will take the help of new friends both living and dead to save her and banish the evil being to the spirit realm where it belongs.


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]]> 2023-12-05 20:15:18 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2815020966 Cece Rios and the Queen of Brujas (Cece Rios #3) by Kaela Rivera cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2815023664 This stunning conclusion to the Cece Rios trilogy is perfect for fans of J.C. Cervantes and Kwame Mbalia!


Cece Rios and her friends have escaped Devil’s Alley, but the fight to save their world is just beginning.


Despite her growing comfort with her curandera abilities, Cece is worried that she won’t be strong enough to stop her most dangerous enemy yet: her tía, Catrina. Desperate for power and revenge, Catrina has seized the throne of Devil’s Alley and set her sights on the living world.


Catrina’s first move is a brutal attack on the Sun Sanctuary that leaves Tierra del Sol reeling. And no matter how hard they try, Cece and her friends are always one step behind the bruja queen as she seeks to attain the powers of the gods and take control of the four elements.


Cece Rios saved her sister. She rebuilt her familia. But can she take down her vicious tía before Catrina destroys everything Cece has fought so hard to protect? 


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]]> 2023-12-05 20:18:01 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2815023664 Not the Worst Friend in the World by Anne Rellihan cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2815028403 Can Lou Bennett keep a secret? She’ll do just about anything to prove herself to her new friend—and the best friend she betrayed—in this debut novel that is a modern-day Harriet the Spy with high emotional stakes.

It’s the thirty-fourth day of sixth grade at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic School in Missouri, and eleven-year-old Lou wishes she could rewind time.

Lou wants to go back to the ninth day of sixth grade—the day before she fought with her best friend Francie and said the terrible, horrible things she can’t unsay. Or better yet, she would go back to fifth grade when Francie was still the Old Francie.

Then the new girl, Cece Clark-Duncan, passes Lou a mysterious note. It says she was kidnapped. (!) If Lou can help Cece, maybe she can prove she’s not the world’s worst friend.

But as observant Lou uncovers the complicated truth about Cece’s family, she starts to panic. Can she help Cece without hurting her? Or will Lou end up losing another friend instead?

Anchored by an outstanding voice and a page-turning mystery, this remarkable debut novel honors the powerful middle school friendships that can both break and heal a tender eleven-year-old heart. Perfect for fans of Fish in a Tree and My Jasper June.


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]]> 2023-12-05 20:23:04 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2815028403 The Selkie's Daughter by Linda Crotta Brennan cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2815030825 A richly imagined fantasy set in Nova Scotia where a young girl—part selkie, part human—must save her family.

I am human upon dry land. I swim as selkie on the sea.

Brigit knows all the old songs and legends by heart: of Neve, the daughter of the sea god; of the warrior Finn MacCool; and of people who are not quite human. But Brigit knows the truth. It’s evident in the webbing between her fingers–webbing that must be cut. She’s the daughter of a selkie. A truth she must keep secret from everyone.

But someone in her village is killing young seals. Angering the king of the selkie clan, who vows revenge. A curse that will bring storm, sickness, and death. To protect those she loves, Brigit must find a way to Sule Skerrie, the land of selkies, to confront the Great Selkie and protect the young seals from harm.

Like sitting by a warm fireplace, The Selkie’s Daughter is an imaginative fantasy, steeped in Celtic mythology and rich with detail. Perfect for fans of mermaids and Studio Ghibli-esque stories.


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]]> 2023-12-05 20:25:32 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2815030825 Deep Water by Jamie Sumner cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2815033340 “Readers will feel every wave of Tully’s emotions as she risks everything to try to get her mom’s attention. A powerful novel in verse.” —Lisa Fipps, author of Printz Honor book Starfish

An impactful, gripping middle grade novel in verse from acclaimed author Jamie Sumner that spans one girl’s marathon swim over twelve miles and six hours, calling her mom back home with every stroke.

Six hours.
One marathon swim.

That’s all Tully Birch needs to get her life straightened out. With the help of her best friend, Arch, Tully braves the waters of Lake Tahoe to break the record for the youngest person ever to complete the famous “Godfather swim.” She wants to achieve something no one in the world has done, because if she does, maybe, just maybe, her mom will come back.

The swim starts off well—heart steady, body loose, Arch in charge of snacks as needed. But for Tully, all that time alone with her thoughts allows memories to surface. And in the silence of deep waters, sadness can sink you. When the swim turns dangerous, Tully fights for her survival. Does she keep going and risk her own safety and Arch’s? Or does she quit to save them both, even if it means giving up hope that her mother will return?


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]]> 2023-12-05 20:28:10 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2815033340 Waverider (Amulet #9) by Kazu Kibuishi cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2815036308 The highly anticipated, thrilling conclusion to Kazu Kibuishi's #1 New York Times bestselling series!


After her confrontation with Ikol, Emily finally understands the stone's power and what she must do to defend Alledia from the shadows. As she travels to Typhon to help her mom and Navin, Prince Trellis returns to the Kingdom of the Elves to save his countrymen -- and confront the fraud who has seized power in the absence of a king. The threat of darkness follows all Stonekeepers closely, and it will take the strength of both new friends and old foes to conquer it… and survive.


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]]> 2023-12-05 20:31:15 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2815036308 The World Divided by Piper by Caela Carter cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2815040294 From the critically acclaimed author of the ALA Notable and Charlotte Huck Honor Book Forever, or a Long, Long Time comes the story of Piper Franklin, the girl who is way too busy to grow up . . . until she has to. Perfect for fans of Alyson Gerber and Rebecca Stead.


Piper Franklin has big plans. First, she’ll win the Academic Decathlon with her best friend, Tallulah. Then, she’ll finish her life’s work: Metaphorical Math. And in the meantime, she and Tallulah will maintain their secret, El Jardin Muerto. Nothing can stop Piper . . . except for puberty.


Piper was diagnosed with early-onset puberty, and she’s been taking blockers to keep it at bay since she was six years old. But now her doctor thinks it’s time for her treatment to end, and Piper’s eyes are opened to a completely new world.


Piper sees the issues that her older sister and her mom struggle with and gets a very clear picture of her own future—one that she’s not sure she likes. Will a changing body change all of Piper’s plans? And why does she have to grow up in the first place? Or does she?


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]]> 2023-12-05 20:34:11 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2815040294 Tangled Magic (The Unicorn Legacy #1) by Kamilla Benko cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2815043148 "A sparkling page-turner full of surprising twists, clever girls, and magical wonders!" —Tui Sutherland, #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Wings of Fire series

From the creator of The Unicorn Quest series, a wondrous new series set in the magical land of Arden, full of unicorns and mystery!

Magic pulses bright in Arden, a world where humans who craft magic have been at war and separated for hundreds of years. Now a new era has dawned, the unicorns have returned, and the prime minister has decreed that apprentices from all four guilds will learn in the newly formed Unicorn Academy. But peace is tenuous: As rumors spread of dark magic and of unicorns disappearing, twelve-year-old apprentice Olivia Hayes is caught between her joy at newfound magical abilities at the academy and proving to everyone that her older sister, Laurel, is NOT a unicorn poacher. She and her friends must untangle the truth and the secrets of the past to spin a stronger future-or else the unicorns of Arden may be lost forever. This sweeping middle grade fantasy is about friendship, choice, and the ties that truly matter.


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]]> 2023-12-05 20:37:01 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2815043148 Sona and the Golden Beasts by Rajani LaRocca cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2815046087 From Newbery Honor and Walter Award–winning author Rajani LaRocca comes a gripping middle grade fantasy perfect for fans of The Serpent’s Secret and The Last Mapmaker.


Though music is outlawed in the land of Devia, Sona hears it everywhere. Sona is a Malech, a member of the ruling class that conquered Devia centuries ago. Malechs forbade music to prevent the native Devans from using their magic, and Sona hides her abilities lest they put her in danger.


Then Sona discovers an orphaned wolf pup. She believes the pup, with its golden ears, might be related to one of the five sacred beasts of Devia, and she vows to keep it safe. That means bringing the pup in tow when Sona embarks on a perilous quest, along with a Devan boy, to secure the nectar of life for a loved one who has fallen gravely ill. On the journey, as Sona uncovers secrets about the Malechian empire and her own identity, she realizes that the fate of the sacred beasts, and the future of Devia, just might come down to her.


This captivating fantasy novel by award-winning author Rajani LaRocca will sweep readers into Sona’s quest across the land of Devia as she grapples with the lasting impact of colonial rule and learns to fight for what she knows is right. 


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]]> 2023-12-05 20:40:27 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2815046087 The Racc Pack (The Racc Pack #1) by Stephanie Cooke and illustrated by Whitney Gardner cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2815049359 Live life in the trash lane with this first entry in a hilarious middle grade graphic novel series about a family of sneaky raccoons from graphic novel superstars Stephanie Cooke and Whitney Gardner!

Meet the Bin family, a trio of raccoons in the risky business of dumpster diving for all their needs. With Dusty’s brains, ReRe’s muscle, and Scraps’s gadgets (please don’t tell him he’s almost definitely an opossum), the Binses are determined to leave no garbage bin unturned in their pursuit of the tastiest, most delicious trash they can find.

When the family discovers a new upscale grocery store that’s throwing away their perfectly good food at the end of each day, the Binses hatch a heist so daring it’ll have them rolling in garbage all winter long. But a critter-despising CEO, Jeff Beans, and the high-tech defense system he’s installed means liberating that trash is going to take all the skills the Racc Pack have…and maybe some help from a cat burglar with a mysterious past.


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]]> 2023-12-05 20:43:59 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2815049359 Noah Frye Gets Crushed by Maggie Horne cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2815052168 In this cute and queer contemporary middle grade comedy about friendship, first crushes, and first kisses, twelve-year-old Noah Frye comes up with a foolproof plan to teach herself how to have a crush on a boy to fit in better with her friends—only to discover she’s been looking in the wrong place, and her crush was right beside her all along . . . 


Noah Frye just had the Best Summer Ever. Not only did she have an epic time at science camp, but her new camp friend Jessa is going to Noah’s school in the fall. Noah can’t wait to introduce Jessa to her best friends Zoey and Luna when classes start. But when the friend group is reunited after their summer apart, something seems to have changed: Zoey and Luna have discovered boys, and now it’s all they want to obsess over.


Suddenly, it feels like Noah is the odd one out in their friend group, especially since Noah hasn’t ever even considered boys in that way. When Noah finds herself caught in a lie about having a boy crush of her own, she decides she’ll do anything to fit in with her friends again—even if that means using the scientific method. Noah’s crush experiment is simple: find a boy, fake a crush until it turns real, and get her friends back. But that might be easier said than done, especially when Noah can’t stop thinking about Jessa. What ensues is a hilarious and heartwarming turn of events in this queer contemporary middle grade story about friendship, first crushes, and self-discovery. 


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]]> 2023-12-05 20:46:49 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2815052168 Kyra, Just for Today by Sara Zarr cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2815054365 From award-winning author Sara Zarr comes a gorgeously crafted and deeply personal story about a young girl, her alcoholic mother, and the hope that ties them together.


Kyra has always felt like she’s a bit too much. Too tall. Too loud. Too earnest. But she’s okay with that, because she’s got her mom. Ever since Mom got sober about five years ago, she and Kyra have always been there for each other—something Kyra is thankful for every week when she attends her group meetings with other kids of alcoholics. When Mom is managing her cleaning business and Kyra is taking care of things at home, maybe, she thinks, she’s not too much. Maybe, she’s just enough.


Then seventh grade starts, and everything Kyra used to be able to count on feels unsure. Kyra’s best friend, Lu, is hanging out with eighth graders, and Mom is unusually distant. When Mom starts missing work, sleeping in, and forgetting things, Kyra doesn’t dare say “relapse." But soon not saying that word means not saying anything at all—to Lu or to her support group. And when Kyra suspects that her worst fears might be real, she starts to question whether being just enough is not enough at all.


With sensitivity and candor, acclaimed author Sara Zarr tells a heartfelt, personal story about finding hope in even the most difficult places, and love in even the most complicated relationships.


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]]> 2023-12-05 20:49:21 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2815054365 We Built This City by Cat Patrick cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2815056839 Award-winning author Cat Patrick returns with a charming tale full of first crushes and new friendships, as one girl learns a little more about who she is and who she wants to be all while on the road trip of lifetime.

It’s the summer of 1985, when air guitar, jelly bracelets, and huge hair are all the rage, and twelve-year-old Stevie is finally old enough to go on her performing troupe’s annual cross-country tour. Twenty-six teen cast members will lip-synch and dance their way through more than twenty cities, and Stevie and her best friend, Wes, can’t wait—for more reasons than one!


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]]> 2023-12-05 20:52:06 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2815056839 Wires Crossed by Beth Fantaskey and illustrated by ONeill Jones cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2815063233 A smart and funny slice-of-life graphic novel for fans of Raina Telgemeier and Kayla Miller about navigating the ups and downs of middle school—from first crushes to crushing the school's science competition.


Is this what middle school is all about? Being stuck in the middle? Twelve-year-old Mia feels like everything and everyone is changing—and she is caught in the middle. Stuck between old friends and new friends...between feeling like a kid and growing up...


Just as her longtime bff Addy is gravitating towards the popular crowd and starting to care more about school dances than treehouse playdates, Mia finds out that her favorite science camp friend, Tariq, is moving to town and will be going to school with her. She's super excited and can't wait to show him around and help him make friends.


But when Tariq arrives in town, he seems like he's grown up a lot, too. No more braces or glasses. A new hair cut. And who knew he was also a soccer star, immediately making the team mid-season?? He's welcomed to Buttonwood Bay Middle School with open arms in a way that Mia can't even recognize, and now she's feeling more lost than ever.


Then her science teacher announces the school's science olympics and she and Tariq are teaming up again to crush the competition—just like at camp. Only this time they're joined by a couple of unconventional teammates in Kinsey (more artist than scientist) and the loveable, if also sometimes kind of gross and goofy, Evan.


Do Mia and Tariq still have enough of a spark to build a killer robot (figuratively speaking, of course) and take home the prize? Through much experimentation and a little trail and error, Mia navigates new friendships and old as she tries to find her place in middle school—and on the winner's podium.


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]]> 2023-12-05 20:59:56 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2815063233 Blood City Rollers by V.P. Anderson and illustrated by Tatiana Hill cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2815065280 Skates on. Fangs out. Let’s roll. This perfectly paranormal graphic novel about a 13-year-old ice skater who embraces the dark side and finds her light when she joins a vampire roller derby team is to die for.

Ice-skater Mina is on a one-track path to Olympic gold and glory—that is, until she totally wipes out at her biggest competition, and is kinda-sorta-kidnapped by undead kids on roller skates. Sucked into the high stakes world of Paranormal Roller Derby, she finds herself "recruited" by a squad of vampires who need a human player to complete their team—just in time to save the league from losing it all.

Between learning to play derby well enough to kick butt on the track, crushing hard on the dreamy team captain, and navigating the spooky rules of the supernatural, how can Mina go from striving to be a ten alone, to becoming one of nine chaotic bodies forming a perfectly-imperfect team? Forget being the best. Will she be enough to help her new friends survive the season?


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]]> 2023-12-05 21:02:19 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2815065280 Maybe It's a Sign by E. L. Shen cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2815067479 An uplifting middle-grade novel about loss, luck . . . and deep-dish chocolate chip cookies―perfect for fans of King and the Dragonflies and The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise.

Seventh-grader Freya June Sun has always believed in the Chinese superstitions spoon-fed to her since birth. Ever since her dad’s death a year ago, she’s become obsessed with them, and believes that her father is sending her messages from beyond. Like how, on her way to an orchestra concert where she’s dreading her viola solo, a pair of lucky red birds appear―a sure indication that Dad wants Freya to stick with the instrument and make him proud.

Then Freya is partnered with Gus Choi, a goofy and super annoying classmate, for a home economics project. To her surprise, as they experiment with recipes and get to know each other, Freya finds that she may love baking more than music. It could be time for a big change in her life, even though her dad hasn’t sent a single sign. But with the help of her family, Gus (who might not be so annoying after all), and two maybe-magical birds, Freya learns that to be her own person, she might just have to make her own luck.

In Maybe It’s a Sign, E. L. Shen cooks up a deliciously voicey, comforting family story sweetened with a dollop of first romance, a dash of whimsy, and heaps of heart.


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]]> 2023-12-05 21:04:59 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2815067479 Shark Teeth by Sherri Winston cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2815070630 From National Book Award longlisted author Sherri Winston comes an important middle grade novel about a girl's tumultuous journey to keep her family together, even when she's falling apart.

Sharkita “Kita” Hayes is always waiting.
Waiting for her mama to mess up.
Waiting for social services to be called again.
Waiting for her and her siblings to be separated.
Waiting for her worst fear to come true.

But Mama promises things are different now. She's got a good job, she's stopped drinking, stopped going out every night-it's almost enough to make Kita believe her this time. But even as Kita's life is going good, she can't shake the feeling that everything could go up in flames at any moment. When her assistant principal and trusted dance coach starts asking questions about her home life, Kita is more determined than ever to keep up appearances and make sure her family stays together-even if it means falling apart herself.

As the threat of her family being separated again circles like a shark in the water, the pressure starts to get to Kita. But could it be that Kita's worst fear is actually the best thing that could happen to her family . . . and to her?


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]]> 2023-12-05 21:08:52 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2815070630 Operation: Happy: A World War II Story of Courage, Resilience, and an Unbreakable Bond by Jenni L. Walsh cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2815072914 As World War II enters her backyard, a young girl tries to cope with the war and keep her family together by completing a bucket list with her best friend: her dog Happy. Featuring a dog’s POV and inspired by real-life experiences of a young Pearl Harbor survivor, this historical middle-grade novel will inspire readers 8-12 to find courage in any situation.


It’s 1940, and Jody is moving with her military family yet again—this time to a small naval base in Pearl Harbor. She’s always created a “top ten” list for each new home to help her adjust, and with Hawaii being so beautiful and her loyal dog Happy by her side, it’s easy to find things to add.


But Jody’s mom is convinced the island is dangerous and starts constantly practicing first aid. Jody also learns that Happy is getting older and beginning to slow down. To cope, she makes a list of fun things they can do together. “Operation: Happy” gives her something to focus on beyond the scary new experiences, like air raid drills and Yellow Fever vaccinations.


Before long, everyone’s worst fears come true: Pearl Harbor is attacked. In the aftermath, Jody’s father must stay behind as the rest of the family is evacuated, and Jody promises him she will keep everyone together. But things are hard in San Francisco, where she feels like an outsider. Worse, her mother has become depressed, and Jody worries she and her sister will have to go to an orphanage. With Happy by her side, Jody hatches a brave plan to keep the family safe … Will Operation: Happy see them through?


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]]> 2023-12-05 21:12:00 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2815072914 Sing It Like Celia by Mónica Mancillas cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2815074872 Perfect for fans of The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise and Merci Suárez Changes Gears, Sing It Like Celia is a revelatory story about a Mexican American girl who finds her voice and herself with the help of her role model and icon, Celia Cruz.

Twelve-year-old Salva Sanchez has always been a fan of Celia Cruz, also known as “the queen of salsa.” Her love of Celia stems from her mother, who leaves Salva without explanation one awful day. Now Salva is stuck with her investigative journalist father in an RV campground. In the middle of nowhere.

As Salva acclimates to her new environment and desperately tries to figure out why her mother left, she befriends a posse of campground kids who have started a band. When the kids discover that Salva has an amazing singing voice, they convince her to join their group. Soon, Salva learns how to find her voice—and herself—with the help of her newfound friends, her dad, and the one and only Celia Cruz.


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]]> 2023-12-05 21:14:47 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2815074872 Free Period by Ali Terese cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2815077600 This middle-grade Moxie centering period equity is Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret for the next generation!


Helen and Gracie are pranking their way through middle school when a stinky stunt lands them in the front office—again. Because nothing else has curbed their chaos, the principal orders the best friends to do the unthinkable: care about something. So they join the school’s Community Action Club with plans to do as little as humanly possible.


But when Helen is caught unprepared by an early period and bleeds through her pants—they were gold lamé!—the girls take over the club’s campaign for maxi pads in bathrooms for all students who menstruate. In the name of period equity, the two friends use everything from over-the-top baked goods to glitter gluing for change. But nothing can prepare them for a clueless school board (ew), an annoying little sister (ugh), and crushes (oh my!).


As Helen and Gracie find themselves closer to change and in deeper trouble than ever before, they must decide if they care enough to keep going . . . even if it costs them their friendship.


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]]> 2023-12-05 21:17:25 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2815077600 Not Quite a Ghost by Anne Ursu cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2815082192 From the award-winning author of The Troubled Girls of Dragomir Academy comes an unforgettable and deeply personal story of the ghosts that surround us—and the ones we carry inside.


The house seemed to sit apart from the others on Katydid Street, silent and alone, like it didn’t fit among them. For Violet Hart—whose family is about to move into the house on Katydid Street—very little felt like it fit anymore. Like their old home, suddenly too small since her mother remarried and the new baby arrived. Or Violet’s group of friends, which, since they started middle school, isn’t enough for Violet’s best friend, Paige. Everything seemed to be changing at once. But sometimes, Violet tells herself, change is okay.


That is, until Violet sees her new room. The attic bedroom in their new house is shadowy, creaky, and wrapped in old yellow wallpaper covered with a faded tangle of twisting vines and sickly flowers. And then, after moving in, Violet falls ill—and does not get better. As days turn into weeks without any improvement, her family growing more confused and her friends wondering if she’s really sick at all, she finds herself spending more time alone in the room with the yellow wallpaper, the shadows moving in the corners, wrapping themselves around her at night. 


And soon, Violet starts to suspect that she might not be alone in the room at all.


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]]> 2023-12-05 21:23:12 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2815082192 The Songbird and the Rambutan Tree by Lucille Abendanon cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2815087975 Batavia, Dutch East Indies, 1942.


Emmy has the voice of an angel but hasn’t sung a note since a family tragedy. With war looming, her father plans to ship her off to a singing school in England for safety. But all Emmy wants to do is stay in Batavia with her best friend, Bakti, even if it means putting up with her snooty classmate, Violet. Then the Japanese army invades―and as war erupts in the Dutch East Indies, Emmy’s world falls apart.


When her own actions sabotage her chance to evacuate the island, Emmy is captured and confined in the Tjideng prisoner-of-war camp with other women and children. Separated from her family and friends, and silenced by her grief, Emmy will need all her strength to survive the war, find her voice, and reclaim her freedom.


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]]> 2023-12-05 21:31:24 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2815087975 South of Somewhere by Kalena Miller cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2815089324 The unforgettable tale of a girl, her maybe-criminal mom, her babysitting business, and her pet pineapple.


When FBI agents swarm twelve-year-old Mavis Callahan's downtown Chicago home, her mom goes on the run. With the family’s house and bank accounts seized, Mavis’s dad takes her and her siblings to seek refuge with his sister just south of rural Somewhere, Illinois―a far cry from the big city lifestyle Mavis is used to. As Mavis grapples with her sudden turn in fortune, she learns to make new friends and starts a babysitting business to bring in some much-needed cash for the family. But she can’t help but wonder―is her mom truly guilty? And if not, why has she gone into hiding, contacting Mavis only through a series of postcards from exotic locales? Mavis isn’t sure if she’s ready for the truth, but she’ll do anything to find it.


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]]> 2023-12-05 21:33:31 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2815089324 Dangerous Allies (The Forgotten Five #4) by Lisa McMann cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2815091391 X-Men meets Spy Kids in the fourth installment of The Forgotten Five middle-grade fantasy/adventure series by the New York Times bestselling author of The Unwanteds.

Following an explosive showdown with President Fuerte and his supernatural henchmen, the forgotten five and their allies are feeling lost. Their trusted friend and mentor The Librarian has left the group and declared her loyalty to the corrupt president. Has the Librarian really abandoned them in their quest to take down Fuerte’s regime, or has she been kidnapped?

Then, without warning, Troy Cordoba—Tenner’s dad, who has been working for Fuerte for years—shows up at the five’s safe house wanting to join their cause but accidentally leading the presidential guards right to their doorstep. Troy insists that he has changed for the better, but Tenner isn’t sure he can be trusted.

Meanwhile, Magdalia Palacio’s election campaign is gaining steam. If she’s against the president, does that make her the five’s ally?


The kids will have to decide who to put their faith in—and fast—before the president uses his supernatural army to crush his opponent and cement his criminal rule over Estero once and for all.


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]]> 2023-12-05 21:36:22 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2815091391 Break (Click #6) by Kayla Miller cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2815093664 Kayla Miller, the New York Times bestselling author-illustrator of Click, Camp, Act, Clash, and Crunch and co-author of Besties returns with a new Olive story! Olive is less-than-excited to be spending Spring Break stuck with her dad...will she be able to make the most of her trip, or will everything break apart?


Spring Break is full of possibilities…but not for Olive. 


This year, Olive is leaving her friends and all of their exciting vacation plans behind to visit her dad at his new apartment in the city.


Goober is thrilled to spend a whole week with their father and has a long list of activities for their time together. Olive, on the other hand, still remembers the hurt of their dad moving halfway across the world. She would rather spend time with her friend Bree or scrolling through her new phone to keep up with everything she’s missing back home than catch up with him.


As the week winds on, the normally easygoing Olive finds feelings of loneliness and resentment throwing her out of whack. Is there any hope of salvaging the visit—or will Olive’s Spring Break be a Spring Bust?


The New York Times bestselling author-illustrator Kayla Miller returns with another vibrant and emotional story about the power of second chances and how the fear of missing out can lead to missing out on what’s right in front of you.


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]]> 2023-12-05 21:39:33 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2815093664 Murray Out of Water by Taylor Tracy cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2815098261 Perfect for fans of Rebecca Stead, Natalie Lloyd, and Jasmine Warga, this beautiful novel in verse explores one girl's struggle to regain her magic after a hurricane forces her to move away from her beloved ocean that, she believes, has given her special powers.


Bighearted and observant twelve-year-old Murray O’Shea loves the ocean. Every chance she gets, she’s in it. It could be because the ocean never makes her apologize for being exactly who she is—something her family refuses to do—but it could also be because of the secret magic that Murray shares with the ocean. Though she can’t explain its presence, the electric buzz she feels from her fingertips down to her toes allows her to become one with the ocean and all its creatures, and it makes Murray feel seen in a way she never feels on land.


But then a hurricane hits Murray’s Jersey Shore home, sending the O'Sheas far inland to live with relatives. Being this far from the ocean, Murray seems to lose her magic. And stuck in a house with her family, she can no longer avoid the truths she’s discovering about herself—like how she feels in the clothes her mom makes her wear, or why she doesn't have boys on the brain like other girls her age.


But it’s not all hurricanes and heartache. Thankfully, Murray befriends a boy named Dylan, who has a magic of his own. When Murray agrees to partner with him for a youth roller-rama competition in exchange for help getting her magic back, the two forge an unstoppable bond—one that shows Murray how it's not always the family you were given that makes you feel whole...sometimes it's the family you build along the way.


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]]> 2023-12-05 21:45:48 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2815098261 Choosing Sides (Francine Pascal's Sweet Valley Twins: The Graphic Novel #3) adapted by Nicole Andelfinger and illustrated by Claudia Aguirre cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2815102444 The New York Times best-selling world of Sweet Valley returns in graphic novel form with Sweet Valley Twins! Elizabeth's best friend Amy wants to join Cheer Club but that means going against the Unicorn Club! Can Elizabeth protect Amy...even if it means standing up to her sister Jessica to do it?

No matter what Elizabeth does she can't stop her best friend, Amy Sutton, from trying out for the Unicorn Club's cheering squad. Elizabeth is sure that the Unicorns are going to steal Amy away from her but when it is revealed that Jessica and the rest of the Unicorns don't want Amy, what should Elizabeth do?

The Unicorns will do anything to keep Amy off the squad! Can Elizabeth stand by and watch Amy get hurt? And if Elizabeth takes Amy's side against the Unicorns does this mean she'll be taking a stand against her own twin sister?!


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]]> 2023-12-05 21:52:12 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2815102444 The Haunted House (Francine Pascal's Sweet Valley Twins: The Graphic Novel #4) adapted by Nicole Andelfinger and illustrated by Knack Whittle cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2815106847 There's a new girl in Sweet Valley...and she's a witch?! Join twin sisters Jessica and Elizabeth as they discover if the rumors match reality in this all new graphic novel from the The New York Times bestselling world of Sweet Valley Twins.

The buzz at Sweet Valley Middle School is all about Nora Mercandy, the new girl living in the town's infamous haunted house. Jessica is convinced there's something witchy about her, but Elizabeth thinks there's more to the story. Caught in a whirl of rumors and a rift with her twin, can Elizabeth discover the truth before friendships are torn apart?


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]]> 2023-12-05 21:58:45 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2815106847 Across So Many Seas by Ruth Behar cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2815115009 "As lyrical as it is epic, Across So Many Seas reminds us that while the past may be another country, it's also a living, breathing song of sadness and joy that helps define who we are." —Alan Gratz, New York Times bestselling author of Refugee

Spanning over 500 years, Pura Belpré Award winner Ruth Behar's epic novel tells the stories of four girls from different generations of a Jewish family, many of them forced to leave their country and start a new life.

In 1492, during the Spanish Inquisition, Benvenida and her family are banished from Spain for being Jewish, and must flee the country or be killed. They journey by foot and by sea, eventually settling in Istanbul.

Over four centuries later, in 1923, shortly after the Turkish war of independence, Reina’s father disowns her for a small act of disobedience. He ships her away to live with an aunt in Cuba, to be wed in an arranged marriage when she turns fifteen.

In 1961, Reina’s daughter, Alegra, is proud to be a brigadista, teaching literacy in the countryside for Fidel Castro. But soon Castro’s crackdowns force her to flee to Miami all alone, leaving her parents behind.

Finally, in 2003, Alegra’s daughter, Paloma, is fascinated by all the journeys that had to happen before she could be born. A keeper of memories, she’s thrilled by the opportunity to learn more about her heritage on a family trip to Spain, where she makes a momentous discovery.

Though many years and many seas separate these girls, they are united by a love of music and poetry, a desire to belong and to matter, a passion for learning, and their longing for a home where all are welcome. And each is lucky to stand on the shoulders of their courageous ancestors.


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]]> 2023-12-05 22:11:29 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2815115009 Grow Up, Luchy Zapata by Alexandra Alessandri cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2815116679 A funny, relatable middle school drama about two Colombian American girls who have always been BFFs—until sixth grade turns everything upside down.

Luchy Zapata is starting middle school, and she’s muy excited. She and her two best friends, Cami and Mateo, will finally be at the same school. Luchy and Mateo will be in art class together, and she and Cami can try out for the same soccer team! As long as they’re all together, Luchy can handle anything.

But Cami has been acting weird ever since she got back from visiting family in Colombia. She’s making new, “cool” friends who just seem mean. And suddenly, everything about Luchy and Mateo is too immature for her.

Luchy is determined to help Cami remember how special their friendship is. They’ve been BFFs their whole lives, and that can’t just disappear in a poof of glitter! But…what if Cami doesn’t even want to be friends anymore?


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]]> 2023-12-05 22:14:04 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2815116679 Sink or Swim (Just Roll with It #2) by Veronica Agarwal and Lee Durfey-Lavoie cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2815118594 Summer is here! School’s out, the pool is open, and new adventures with friends await! But what happens when twelve year old Ty’s anxiety has other plans? From the world of Just Roll With It comes a boy-centric graphic novel about accepting yourself even when it’s a little scary.

Bouncing back from a broken arm should be no big deal—but when Ty spends a month off the swim team the thought of getting back in the water is suddenly not as fun as it used to be.

After weeks of ignoring his friends, Ty isn't sure how to connect with them again in summer camp. They used to have swim team together but after so long without swimming he's out of shape and afraid of failing in front of them. With his friendships fracturing, will Ty be able to gain confidence in himself and fix everything before it's too late?


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]]> 2023-12-05 22:17:12 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2815118594 Bridge to Bat City by Ernest Cline cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2815121665 From #1 New York Times bestselling author Ernest Cline comes a mostly true tall tale about an unexpected friendship between a young girl and a music-loving colony of bats.


After losing her mother, thirteen-year-old Opal moves in with her uncle Roscoe on the family farm. There, Opal bonds with Uncle Roscoe over music and befriends a group of orphaned, music-loving bats. But just as the farm is starting to feel like home, the bats’ cave is destroyed by a big mining company with its sights set on the farmland next.


If Opal and the bats can fit in anywhere, it’s the nearby city of Austin, home to their favorite music and a host of wonderfully eccentric characters. But with people afraid of the bats and determined to get rid of them, it’ll take a whole lot of courage to prove that this is where the bats—and Opal—belong. 


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]]> 2023-12-05 22:22:03 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2815121665 Isabel in Bloom by Mae Respicio cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2815123613 A girl discovers a connection between her home in the Philippines and her new home in the U.S. through a special garden in this middle grade novel that celebrates nourishment and growth.

Twelve-year-old Isabel is the new kid in her San Francisco middle school. It’s the first time in many years that she’ll be living with her mother again. Mama's job in the US allowed Isabel and her grandparents to live more comfortably in the Philippines, but now Isabel doesn't really know her own mother anymore.

Making new friends in a new city, a new country, is hard, but joining the gardening and cooking club at school means Isabel will begin to find her way, and maybe she too, will begin to bloom.

In this beautifully rendered novel-in-verse, Mae Respicio explores how growth can take many forms, offering both the challenges and joy of new beginnings.


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]]> 2023-12-05 22:25:11 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2815123613 Painting the Game by Patricia MacLachlan cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2815130190 In this final middle grade novel by Newbery Award-winning author Patricia MacLachlan, a young girl tries to untangle her love of baseball from complicated relationship with her professional pitcher father.

Lucy’s father is a minor league baseball player, a professional pitcher hoping to get called up to the majors, and Lucy inherited his passion for the game. But she’s never played pitcher. She worries her skills would be compared to her dad’s and she’d never measure up. And his pitching may mean big things for his career and their family, but it’s also what keeps him away from home so much of the year. Sometimes, Lucy isn’t sure what would be worse: being bad at pitching or being great.

Still, this summer, Lucy wants to learn to throw the perfect knuckleball. She wakes up at the crack of dawn to practice in secret, without her friends Tex and Robin—or even the goats who watch them play. Even as she trains relentlessly, Lucy wonders if she’ll ever feel brave enough to share her progress with her mom or dad. Can she prove to them, and herself, that she has what it takes?


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]]> 2023-12-05 22:36:29 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2815130190 A Game of Noctis by Deva Fagan cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2815131395 A thrilling middle grade fantasy about a girl who must participate in a deadly game with a ragtag team of players to save her grandfather from a terrible fate—perfect for fans of James Riley and Shannon Messenger!

In the opulent, sinking city of Dantessa, the Great Game rules all. Pia Paro believes that so long as you follow the rules, you always have a chance at winning. But after her beloved Gramps is sentenced to a life of servitude, Pia accepts a dangerous offer and joins a team of players seeking to win the most perilous game of all: Noctis.

The Seafoxes—Pia’s new teammates—are unlike anyone she’s ever met. There’s brash, bold Carlo; macabre Serafina; kindhearted Pasquale; and their dashing ringleader, Vittoria. Each has their own reason for playing, and soon, Pia begins to question all her long-held beliefs. Maybe the rules Pia once trusted to lift her up have only been keeping her—and thousands of others like her—down.

As she struggles with these revelations, Pia must survive a gauntlet of clockwork soldiers, perilous underwater adventures, and even a game against Death herself. But with Pia’s grandfather’s life at stake, Pia must finally decide whether she’s brave enough to not just break the rules, but to change the very nature of the Game.


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]]> 2023-12-05 22:38:38 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2815131395 Off the Rails (Mihi Ever After #3) by Tae Keller and illustrated by Geraldine Rodríguez cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2815132947 Mihi and her friends are heading back to the Rainbow Realm―and this time, they have to save the princess.

Mihi, Reese, and Savannah thought their fairy tale realm adventures were over. But just as they were getting ready to go home, they learn that their first friend in the realm, Princess Pat, has disappeared on a quest of her own. Pat is traveling around the fairy world trying to gather enough magic to save the Rainbow Realm, but the journey is too dangerous, and Mihi, Reese, and Savannah are the only ones that can save her.

But as the girls chase after Princess Pat, they meet creatures and learn stories they've never heard of before, from cultures all over the world. And slowly, they realize Princess Pat might be the problem. Can they save the fairy tale world from their friend's destructive quest?


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]]> 2023-12-05 22:41:25 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2815132947 The Magic Paintbrush by Kat Zhang and Eric Darnell and illustrated by Phoebe Zhong cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2817603273 In this highly illustrated series launch, Amy, a Chinese American girl picks up an ancient paintbrush and unwittingly unleashes the power to make her art real—and sometimes dangerous. Perfect for fantasy readers who love Zachary Ying and the Dragon Emperor and Dragon Pearl series.

“Gorgeous and gripping, The Magic Paintbrush swoops readers off on rip-roaring fantasy adventure that unfurls like a magnificent scroll…Brimming with imagination and heart…” Soman Chainani, author of THE SCHOOL FOR GOOD AND EVIL series

Amy has always loved art, but lately her drawings have been less than impressive. There's no passion, nopersonality, no...magic. Until Amy visits her Lao Lao, her grandmother, and finds an ancient paintbrush that brings anything Amy creates to life!

Now her creation Luna has taken over her bedroom and is running through the streets of Flushing, Queens. What awaits: an international adventure filled with an ancient Chinese legend, a greedy adversary and ghastly beasts!

Award-winning author Kat Zhang teams up with Eric Darnell, the writer and director of the Madagascar series and the Chief Creative Officer of Baobab Studios, to create a captivating highly-illustrated middle grade series debut about finding your own path, the power of imagination, and the strength of family.


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]]> 2023-12-07 15:23:54 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2817603273 On All Other Nights: A Passover Celebration in 14 Stories edited by Chris Baron, Joshua S. Levy, and Naomi Milliner cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2817612550 On All Other Nights is a joyful middle-grade anthology centered around Passover—from an exciting array of bestselling and award-winning Jewish creators!

Welcome to Passover, a Jewish holiday that has been celebrated for thousands of years. The heart of Passover is the seder—a meal full of rituals, special foods, and songs—where we gather together to retell the story of the Exodus, when the Jewish people achieved freedom from Egypt.

And yet this story is about more than the ancient past. The seder’s themes of freedom, joy, tradition, and more, are timeless and universal, for all.

In this unprecedented collection of short stories, 14 bestselling and award-winning authors each reimagine a different step of the seder for today’s young readers. Through historical and contemporary fiction, verse and prose, fiction and nonfiction, these gifted writers from different Jewish traditions and backgrounds gather around the seder table and invite everyone to join them.

The full list of On All Other Nights contributors includes:

  • Chris Baron (The Magical Imperfect)

  • Ruth Behar (Lucky Broken Girl)

  • Adam Gidwitz (A Tale Dark and Grimm, The Unicorn Rescue Society)

  • Veera Hiranandani (The Night Diary)

  • Amy Ignatow (The Popularity Papers, Jedi Academy)

  • Sarah Kapit (Get a Grip, Vivy Cohen)

  • Joshua S. Levy (The Jake Show)

  • Mari Lowe (Aviva vs. the Dybbuk)

  • Naomi Milliner (Super Jake & The King of Chaos)

  • Soifya Pasternack (Black Bird, Blue Road)

  • R. M. Romero (The Dollmaker of Kraków)

  • A. J. Sass (Ana on the Edge)

  • Laura Shovan (The Last Fifth Grade of Emerson Elementary)

  • Laurel Snyder (Orphan Island, Charlie & Mouse)


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]]> 2023-12-07 15:30:50 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2817612550 Finding Normal by Stephanie Faris cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2817617856 Perfect for fans of Jamie Sumner and Barbara Dee, this heartfelt middle grade novel about friendship, belonging, and the power of community follows a girl whose family is uprooted after a flood destroys their house.

After a horrible storm floods her neighborhood, twelve-year-old Temple and her family are forced to move to a new town. They are some of the lucky ones, able to secure temporary housing relatively quickly. But Temple doesn’t feel so lucky starting over at a brand-new school halfway through the year and feeling a weird spotlight on her family’s situation from her new classmates. At home, things aren’t any better as her family struggles to adjust while figuring out how they can afford to rebuild.

When Temple sees a flyer for a local fundraiser, she decides she can do the same thing for her family. It would get her one big step closer to her old school, friends, and life. After enlisting the help of some new friends, Temple kicks her plan into action, quickly realizing it needs to be much bigger to help not only her family, but the dozens of others affected by the flood.

But adding the pressures of the fundraiser to the strain of grappling with all the recent changes may be more than Temple can handle. As she searches for a return to normal, can she figure out what’s truly important?


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]]> 2023-12-07 15:34:54 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2817617856 The Happy Shop by Brittany Long Olsen cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2817621985 Eleven-year-old Darcy thinks she’s found the answer to her problems when she discovers a store selling happy feelings. But is happiness really the only emotion people need? A heartwarming middle-grade graphic novel debut for fans of Inside Out and Pilu of the Woods about understanding the value in all feelings.

Welcome to the Happy Shop!

Eleven-year-old Darcy just moved to a new country. She’s feeling lost and misses her friends back home. That’s when she stumbles upon a shop full of mysterious glowing jars labeled with things like “Picking up the last sweater on the rack and it’s on sale” and “Having the perfect weather on your wedding day.” Much to Darcy’s surprise–this store sells happy feelings.

After Darcy accidentally breaks one of the irreplaceable jars, she must make it up to the shopkeepers, Frida and Flora, by doing chores around the store, and is soon tasked with collecting happy feelings. But she learns that the magical business is anything but magical. With fewer customers than ever, Frida and Flora might have to close their doors. Can Darcy think of an idea to save the Happy Shop? What if they sold more than just happy feelings?

From debut writer and illustrator Brittany Long Olsen comes The Happy Shop, a heartfelt story about helping those you love and understanding your feelings.


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]]> 2023-12-07 15:38:29 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2817621985 The Thirteenth Circle by MarcyKate Connolly and Kathryn Holmes cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2818198827 The X-Files meets Scooby-Doo in THE THIRTEENTH CIRCLE, a middle-grade mystery from MarcyKate Connolly and Kathryn Holmes, featuring two unexpected friends, crop circles, science fairs, and Men in Black, perfect for both the highly scientific and cryptid enthusiasts alike.

Cat knows aliens are real, and she’s determined to prove it. By studying the Weston Farm Circles, her town’s legendary crop circle phenomenon, she’ll not only demonstrate the existence of extraterrestrial life, but also win the grand prize in the McMurray Youth Science Competition―a feat she’s sure will impress her distant NASA scientist father.

Dani most certainly does not believe in aliens. How can she, when they go against every scientific principle she’s been taught? So when Dani is paired with Cat to enter the McMurray Youth Science Competition―which she has to win to avoid going to her parents’ artsy summer camp―she knows she’s at a disadvantage. Her solution? Disprove Cat’s theory, of course . . . without telling her partner her true intentions.

But as the girls bond over science, it becomes clear that there is something strange about the Weston Farm Circles. And when Dani and Cat’s project is threatened by suspicious forces, they’ll have to work together to expose the truth, once and for all.


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]]> 2023-12-08 02:18:16 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2818198827 Tsunami (Survival Scout #2) by Maxwell Eaton III cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2818204828 Return to Scout's world of natural-disaster mishaps in the second installment of the Survival Scout graphic novel series—this time to learn about tsunamis. Perfect for fans of Scholastic's I SURVIVED series!

Learn the skills you need to survive a TSUNAMI.

1) Learn the causes: Did you know that a big earthquake can be a sign that a tsunami might hit?

2) Recognize the signs: If it looks like the ocean is pulling away from the shore, RUN! This means a tsunami could be on the way!

3) Evacuate: Always have a bag of essential items packed and an evacuation route planned. You never know when it could SAVE YOUR LIFE!

Remember, if you live near a coast and see the warning signs, DON'T WAIT—get to higher ground. And stay safe out there!

Join Scout and her talking skunk companion in this witty, useful, and funny graphic novel about how to survive a tsunami.


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]]> 2023-12-08 02:23:10 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2818204828 Next Stop by Debbie Fong cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2818209988 Stand-alone debut Next Stop is a heartfelt graphic-novel from award-winning illustrator Debbie Fong that tackles tough topics with warmth and humor.

Pia is a soft-spoken middle schooler whose life is turned upside down after the loss of her younger brother, followed by her parents’ decision to move to a new town. In an effort to get her mind off of the troubles at home, Pia goes on a bus tour with a family friend, stopping at weird and wacky roadside attractions. The final destination: a mysterious underground lake. The locals say it has magical powers; Pia won’t admit she believes in it, but she’s holding on to hope that the waters may hold the answer to mending her broken family.

The trip is much more than the final stop. The friendships that Pia makes along the way are just as valuable as the destination itself. Next Stop explores grief, resilience, and learning how to laugh again. Debbie Fong weaves together an incredibly strong debut filled with humor and heart, with a splash of mystery and magic.


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]]> 2023-12-08 02:27:29 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2818209988 Just Keep Walking by Erin Soderberg Downing cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2818214441 Wild meets Gilmore Girls on the Trail, Just Keep Walking is a story of resilience and the healing and restorative power of wilderness and nature from acclaimed middle-grade and chapter-book author Erin Soderberg Downing.


Two years after her parents’ surprising and painful split, twelve-year-old Jo and her mom find themselves on the 100-mile hike on the Superior Hiking Trail along Lake Superior’s north shore―a journey that Jo had always looked forward to hiking with her dad. It’s not a situation that either of them ever predicted they’d find themselves in, yet here they are in the wilderness with their entire lives stuffed into a pair of thirty-pound packs.


Along the trail, they’ll suffer through endless aches and pains, scorching heat, and crippling self-doubt. They’ll encounter bears, moose, and other wildlife and meet and collect an assortment of unlikely friends. Day after day, Jo will battle the incessant thoughts that come in and out of her head. But as one obstacle after the next continue to test her strength and ultimate survival, Jo will have to confront her greatest fears head on and learn how to be alone.


What begins as a journey to prove to her father that she and her mom can make it on their own turns into a quest to rediscover their strength, build resilience, and prove that they can survive―both for themselves and for each other.


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]]> 2023-12-08 02:31:25 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2818214441 Shiny Misfits by Maysoon Zayid and Shadia Amin cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2818218497 A hilarious story about fame and friendship, by comedian and disability activist Maysoon Zayid, paired with Shadia Amin's absolutely perfect art!


Bay Ann wants to shine.


She’s sure her moment in the spotlight has arrived when she wins the school talent show with a showstopping tap routine! But then her classmate and crush, Alyee Maq, causes her to wobble and almost fall. The video of him catching her goes viral, making Alyee an overnight sensation for “helping her.” Bay Ann is reduced to her disability and her talent is ignored.


Bay Ann doesn’t want her classmate to get all the fame, and she is NOT satisfied being anything but the best. She’ll do everything in her power to beat Alyee at his own attention-seeking game. With the help of her two best friends, Michelle and Davey Matt, she’ll go up against Alyee and his crew to prove she’s number one.


But as Bay Ann tries to find the thing that really makes her stand out, everything she tries goes disastrously wrong. What if the only way to beat her enemy . . . is to join him?


This is a hilarious and one-of-a-kind graphic novel about fame, friendship, and fighting to take back your own story.


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]]> 2023-12-08 02:35:13 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2818218497 Running in Flip-Flops From the End of the World (It's the End of the World and I'm in My Bathing Suit #2) by justin a. reynolds cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2818223232 A hilarious middle-grade from justin a. reynolds that asks: What happens when five unsupervised kids face the apocalypse under outrageously silly circumstances?


When twelve-year-old Eddie Gordon Holloway and his friends are left home from Beach Bash, aka the greatest party of the year, only to realize that everyone in town has disappeared without a trace, they do what any smart, responsible kids would do . . . have the best day ever!


No parental supervision sounds fun for a while, but forever is a long time. And soon the gang starts to notice strange things happening around town, and they’re only getting stranger. They have to figure out what happened to their families. It seems like getting to the beach will answer all their questions . . . but the only problem is that some mysterious force seems determined to prevent them from making it there.


Eddie knows that this is a clear sign—obviously they should be focused on having as much fun as possible for as long as possible. But everyone deals with the fear differently, and soon the friendships begin to fracture. Can Eddie find a way to get all his friends on the same page? And will they ever make it to the beach?


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]]> 2023-12-08 02:39:26 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2818223232 Walkin' the Dog by Chris Lynch cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2818226407 “Lynch is back and better, smarter, and funnier than ever.” —Jacqueline Woodson, National Book Award Winner

A boy learns how to be a friend from man’s best friend in this funny and moving middle grade novel about humans being able to change and dogs changing us from acclaimed author Chris Lynch.

In a family of strong personalities with very strong points of view, Louis is what his mother lovingly calls “the inactivist,” someone who’d rather kick back than stand out. He only hopes he can stay under the radar when he starts high school in the fall, his first experience with public school after years of homeschooling.

But when a favor for a neighbor and his stinky canine companion unexpectedly turns into a bustling dog-walking business, Louis finds himself meeting an unprecedented number of new friends—both human and canine. Agatha, a quippy and cagey girl his age always seems to be telling two truths and a lie. Cyrus, a few years his senior, promises he’s going to show Louis how to be a better person, whether Louis wants him to or not. And then there are the dogs: misbehaving border terriers, the four (possible stolen) sausage dogs, the rest of Louis’s charges, and a mysterious white beast who appears at a certain spot at the edge of the woods.

Dogs and human alike all seem to have something they want to teach Louis, including his menacing older brother who keeps turning up everywhere. But is Louis ready to learn the lesson he needs most: how to stop being a lone wolf and be part of a pack?


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]]> 2023-12-08 02:42:02 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2818226407 Second to None by Destiny Howell cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2818230289 A hilarious conspiracy thriller perfect for fans of Gordon Korman and Stuart Gibbs.


In it to win it.


Every school has their number ones: the class president, the first chair in band, the spelling bee champion. And behind every high rolling high achiever? A kid in second place.


Twelve-year-old DJ has a reputation for being the go-to kid for solving just about any problem. Need help getting an unfair teacher or bully off your back? DJ is your guy. He knows the social order of Ella Fitzgerald Middle school like the back of his hand. So when the usual winners start losing—all at the same time—he knows something is wrong. Very wrong.


With the help of his usual crew, Audrey, Monty, and Connor, DJ is determined to get to the bottom of what’s happening. Maybe it’s all in his head. Or maybe there’s a conspiracy at work. DJ and his friends will have to figure it out—before the school saboteur comes for them.


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]]> 2023-12-08 02:45:34 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2818230289 The Beast of Skull Rock (Monsterious #4) by Matt McMann cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2818234256 This series of terrifying standalone tales that combine monsters + mysteries is perfect for fans of Goosebumps.

“Spine-chilling and creepy!” —Max Brallier, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Last Kids on Earth, on Escape From Grimstone Manor (Monsterious, Book 1)

Twins Simon and Jade are thrilled to spend the summer with their grandfather in the beachfront resort town of Skull Rock. They're especially looking forward to helping out at his spooky cabinet of curiosities museum, full of creepy old relics, taxidermy specimens, and sinister displays. But lately there have been disturbing reports of store break-ins and sightings of a frightening creature in the area, scaring away the town's much-needed tourists. When the twins hear eerie noises coming from the museum after hours and see strange scratch marks on the door, they decide to investigate. As the creature attacks mount, Jade and Simon begin to suspect the impossible: Could one of their grandfather's museum monstrosities be coming to life each night to prowl the boardwalks of Skull Rock?


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]]> 2023-12-08 02:48:58 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2818234256 Millicent Min, Girl Genius by Lisa Yee cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2819251399 From Newbery Honor Award-winning author, Lisa Yee. Who would have thought being smart could be so hard (and funny)?


Millicent Min is having a bad summer. Her fellow high school students hate her for setting the curve. Her fellow eleven-year-olds hate her for going to high school. Her grandmother Maddie is moving away. And in an effort to give Millicent a more "normal" childhood, her mom has not only signed her up for volleyball, she's also arranged for her to tutor Stanford Wong—jock, jerk, and poster boy for Chinese geekdom.


But when Millicent meets Emily, things start to look up. Emily doesn't know Millicent's IQ score. She actually thinks Millicent is cool. And if Millicent can hide her awards, ignore her grandmother's advice, blackmail Stanford into silence, learn to serve a volleyball over the net, stop her parents from embarrassing her forever, and keep all her lies straight, she just might make her first friend.


What's it going to take?


Sheer genius.


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]]> 2023-12-09 03:17:24 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2819251399 All is Nat Lost (Nat Enough #5) by Maria Scrivan cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2819252450 A companion to the New York Times bestselling series that began with Nat Enough!


Nat's class trip is a bigger adventure than she imagined!


Nat is on an overnight class trip to Philadelphia, which is her first time in a big city without her parents. And it's a big deal because Nat's mom and dad are finally giving her the independence she's been longing for. But the trip is off to a bad start—with one disaster after another—and if things keep up, Nat's on track to lose her newfound freedom for good!


Can she turn things around in time, or will her first chance with liberty be her last?


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]]> 2023-12-09 03:20:42 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2819252450 Always Anthony (Emmie & Friends #8) by Terri Libenson cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2819253529 The eighth book in the New York Times bestselling Emmie & Friends series, told from the alternating POVs of popular Anthony and timid Leah as they grapple with a bullying incident at school.

 

Friends. Bullies.


MIDDLE SCHOOL


Anthony is TPFW (Too Popular For Words), loves science, hates writing.


Leah is a super-shy nerd who’s finally making friends of her own.


What could they have in common?


A lot more than they thought, as it turns out!


But then one day they witness Anthony’s teammates bullying a sixth grader. What happens next could cement their new friendship—or blow it up forever.


New York Times bestseller Terri Libenson is back with a story about unexpected friendship and everyday bravery.


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]]> 2023-12-09 03:23:55 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2819253529 Olive Blackwood Takes Action! by Sonja Thomas cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2819254385 An anxious aspiring filmmaker bands together with an unlikely friend group to protect their beloved state animal in this heartwarming contemporary middle grade novel perfect for fans of Jamie Sumner and Erin Entrada Kelly.

Twelve-year-old Olive Blackwood’s dream is to direct blockbuster fantasy movies, just like her dad wanted to before he died. She decides to apply to the highly competitive Rose City Summer Film Camp with the help of her best friend, Kayla. But Olive isn’t sure how she can cast the movie when the mere thought of talking to a stranger makes her nervous.

Then a surprise project in Olive’s film class presents her best chance at going to Rose City: the group who makes the best documentary trailer will receive a recommendation to the elite program! But Olive’s hopes are quickly dashed when she’s paired with the two worst students in class: loud Jo Willems has a flashy style of dressing just as intimidating as their outspoken opinions and David Moore is even quieter than Olive, fading into the background. It seems impossible for the three of them to find enough common ground to produce something noteworthy.

When Olive stumbles across an old lady chasing a beaver with a frying pan, she’s disturbed to discover it’s legal to kill beavers in Oregon—which has the animal on the state flag! Olive posts the video she took of the incident, and it goes viral. She wants to raise more awareness, and if she uses her documentary to do it, she could even get the coveted Rose City recommendation at the same time.

With the help of unexpected friendship, counseling, and a little everyday magic, can Olive make her voice be heard?


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]]> 2023-12-09 03:26:53 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2819254385 Buckle Up by Lawrence Lindell cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2819259050 Figuring out family is no easy street, especially in a divorce. Perfect for fans of New Kid and Smile, this contemporary graphic novel introduces a young boy navigating life with his dad, one car ride at a time.

Lonnie is going through big changes in his life—with his parents newly divorced, he's trying to figure out his new normal. He likes living with his mom and sister, but misses spending time with his father—and the short drives to and from school just aren't enough.

His dad is determined to make every moment count, relying on the car rides to talk about all of the big things that are hard to talk about elsewhere—divorce, sexuality, racism and more. As Lonnie gets used to this new dynamic and hard conversations, will he be better able to connect to his dad? Or will this new family structure force them even further apart?


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]]> 2023-12-09 03:42:35 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2819259050 Tryouts (The Brinkley Yearbooks #2) by Sarah Sax cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2819558592 It's warm up time in this newest installment in the Brinkley Yearbook series. Will Alexandra make the cut and help the historically boys baseball team defend their 9-year championship title?

Alexandra, also known as Al, has been playing baseball with her older brothers for as long as she can remember. But when she ages out of Little League, it seems like it’s the end of the road for Al and the sport she loves. Until, that is, her friend Sammy suggests that Al try out for the middle school team—a team that has always been boys-only.

Al is prepared to fight for her right to try out, but to her surprise, the coach is delighted by her interest. When Al makes the team, it seems like everything is going to work out. But with a tenth consecutive championship on the line for Brinkley Middle School and a team that can’t seem to get along, will their season ground out faster than Al can say “home run”?


It's warm up time in this newest installment in the Brinkley Yearbook series. Will Alexandra make the cut and help the historically boys baseball team defend their 9-year championship title?


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]]> 2023-12-09 16:43:26 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2819558592 Greta by J. S. Lemon cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2820068707 J. S. Lemon’s middle grade debut is an utterly transformative, fiercely original, and surprisingly funny story about consent, friendship, healing, and a beauty that transcends all else.

Greta Goodwin’s life is changing. On top of moving to a new neighborhood far away from her best friend, Lotti, she’s also starting middle school. Greta isn’t totally ready for boys, bras, and bad cafeteria food. She still feels like a little kid compared to those female classmates who have suddenly matured over the summer. Girls who are now objects of curiosity, scorn, and entertainment for everyone else. So Greta adopts a new motto: “Do not call attention to yourself.”

But at her first-ever middle-school party, a boy does pay attention to Greta. At first it feels good. And then it feels awful. Aggressive. Abusive. In the aftermath, Greta can’t make sense of what’s happened, let alone talk about it―even to Lotti. Impossibly, Greta’s body starts to change, and in a vastly different way from everyone else’s. What follows leads Greta to believe the world might finally see her as she truly is: ethereal, powerful, and free.

Reminiscent of Kafka’s Metamorphosis and sensitively told, stunning modern classics like Fighting Words and The Thing About Jellyfish, Greta will transform readers just as Greta herself is transformed.


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]]> 2023-12-10 16:44:58 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2820068707 Team Chu and the Wild Ghost Chase (Team Chu # 3) by Julie C. Dao cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2820070425 In this Team Chu adventure, Vietnamese-American siblings Clip and Sadie Chu―and friends―must unearth the mystery behind a haunted Halloween carnival.

When Iggy Morales's stylish cat, Tuba, becomes famous on social media, he scores an invite to a star-studded pet fashion show at Spooky World. The family-friendly, Halloween-themed indoor carnival is the place to be on the last weekend in October, so of course Iggy brings all of his friends, including Clip and Sadie. The kids expect to ride thrilling rollercoasters, play games in the midway, and eat fried dough and candy apples, but they encounter a different kind of excitement instead: a ghost called the Weeping Lady, who has haunted Spooky World for decades, appears and asks for their help.

The Weeping Lady sends Iggy and his friends on a mysterious, action-packed scavenger hunt all over the sprawling theme park, giving them cryptic clues and communicating with Iggy’s seemingly clairvoyant cat, Tuba. If the kids can piece the story together and complete this wild ghost chase, they might just uncover the truth behind what really happened to Spooky World’s most infamous spirit.


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]]> 2023-12-10 16:47:13 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2820070425 Monster Tree by Sarah Allen cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2820072096 Something evil is growing in this spine-tingling middle grade novel about a boy who must protect his neighborhood from a malevolent monster tree while dealing with the recent loss of his father.

Linus used to be an artist, like his dad. Then his father died and Linus’s mom moved them to the other side of the city, hoping for a fresh start. Maybe, for the first time since losing Dad, Linus will even start drawing again.

But there’s something unusual about their new neighbor Maude, and something wrong with the grotesque tree in her backyard. At night Linus sees it moving, changing, growing. When increasingly bizarre events plague the neighborhood―massive claw marks, missing pets, sightings of a red-eyed creature―he suspects Maude and her tree are to blame, even if his mom doesn’t quite believe him.

With his new home and new neighborhood under threat, Linus teams up with his goofy best friend Spencer and no-nonsense neighbor Abby to unearth whatever sinister seeds have been planted next door . . . even as something truly monstrous is taking root.

From the author of The Nightmare House ("A sophisticated choice for horror readers." ―Booklist, starred review), Sarah Allen weaves the supernatural adventure of Stranger Things with a poignant tale of grief, healing, and the uniting force of friendship in Monster Tree.


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]]> 2023-12-10 16:49:38 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2820072096 The City Beyond the Sea (Greenwild #2) by Pari Thomson cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2820073855 Daisy Thistledown’s epic adventure continues in the spellbinding sequel to the New York Times bestseller Greenwild by Pari Thomson.

In a land ruled by water, treachery runs deep, and Daisy Thistledown’s journey is just beginning.

Desperate to join the expedition searching for her mother and the other missing Botanists, Daisy and her friends abandon the safety of magical Mallowmarsh. Facing danger on the high seas, they find themselves pursued across the waves by ruthless Grim Reapers. But they will need help to defeat these dangerous enemies. Their greatest hope: to find the legendary Iffenwild, a mysterious city hidden beyond the sea and lost to time.

New discoveries await, and a strange botanical magic stirs beneath the waves. It will take all of Daisy’s courage and determination―and the trust of an unexpected new friend―if she is to save the Greenwild from a terrible fate.


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]]> 2023-12-10 16:52:21 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2820073855 The Spindle of Fate by Aimee Lim cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2820077123 Twelve-year-old Evie Mei Huang never did like helping in her mom’s tailor shop. She hated helping to mend fraying clothes, how the measuring tape got all twisted up, and how pushy her mother’s clients were. Most of all, she hates that her mother is dead and isn’t here to help anymore.

But when the universe sends a life preserver, Evie knows to grab it. So yes, it’s weird when a talking monkey shows up and tells her that her plainspoken, hardworking tailor mother was actually the head of a Guild of magical weavers who can change the fate of a person with only a spool of thread. Very weird. But he also comes bearing news that her mother is trapped in Diyu, the Chinese underworld, and that only Evie can get her back. No pressure.

The important thing is that Evie’s mom isn’t dead. And if she’s got this one shot to bring her back and save her family, she’s got to take it.

Inspired by Chinese mythology, Aimee Lim’s debut middle grade peers into the dark and gritty underworld, while showcasing the unbreakable bond between a family and the lengths we’ll go to save them.


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]]> 2023-12-10 16:57:11 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2820077123 Linus and Etta Could Use a Win by Caroline Huntoon cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2820078821 A hot-headed cynic befriends the new kid―a shy trans boy―when she takes on a bet to get him elected student body president in this new middle grade contemporary novel from Caroline Huntoon, author of Skating on Mars.

Linus is the new boy at school, and he’s trying to keep it quiet. After coming out as trans last year and managing the attention that came with it, he’s more than happy to fade into the background of his new middle school.

Etta isn’t like other kids at school, and she’s proud of it. The class misanthrope and the owner of the greenest hair at Doolittle Middle School, she's still reeling from a painful friendship breakup, making her more than happy to burn middle-school bridges before she heads off to the local alternative high school next year.

When Etta’s over-it-all attitude sparks a challenge from her ex-best friend, Marigold, to get Linus elected student body president, Linus is thrust back into the spotlight. But what started out as a bet quickly turns into a true friendship between Linus and Etta, one that could be in jeopardy if Linus finds out the real origins of his and Etta’s connection. Can Linus and Etta’s friendship withstand the betrayal of the bet?


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]]> 2023-12-10 16:59:34 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2820078821 Olivetti by Allie Millington cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2820080602 A heartfelt debut middle-grade told from the unique vantage points of a witty typewriter and an introverted boy―for fans of Wishtree and A Rover’s Story.

Being a typewriter is not as easy as it looks. Surrounded by books (notorious attention hogs) and recently replaced by a computer, Olivetti has been forgotten by the Brindle family―the family he’s lived with for years. The Brindles are busy humans, apart from 12-year-old Ernest, who would rather be left alone with his collection of Oxford English Dictionaries. The least they could do was remember Olivetti once in a while, since he remembers every word they’ve typed on him. It’s a thankless job, keeping memories alive.

Olivetti gets a rare glimpse of action from Ernest’s mom, Beatrice―his used-to-be most frequent visitor―only for her to drop him off at Heartland Pawn Shop and leave him helplessly behind. When Olivetti learns Beatrice has mysteriously gone missing afterward, he believes he can help find her. He breaks the only rule of the “typewriterly code” and types back to Ernest, divulging Beatrice’s memories stored inside him.

Their search takes them across San Francisco―chasing clues, maybe committing a few misdemeanors. As Olivetti spills out the past, Ernest is forced to face what he and his family have been running from, The Everything That Happened. Only by working together will they find Beatrice, belonging, and the parts of themselves they’ve lost.


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]]> 2023-12-10 17:02:12 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2820080602 Get the Party Started (DnDoggos #1) by Scout Underhill and colored by Liana Sposto cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2820083425 Four adorable dogs are tail-waggingly excited to play their favorite role-playing game in DnDoggos: Get the Party Started, the middle grade graphic novel debut from online comic creator Scout Underhill.

They've picked their characters and favorite dice, and are ready to set off on the adventure their game master Magnus has created for them.

Pickles, a rough and tumble fighter; Tonka, a playful and fun-loving bard; and Zoey, a wise and caring cleric, are given a quest to fetch a magical dog collar from a nearby swamp. But when they triumphantly return, they soon find that the collar isn't the only thing that has gone missing from Tail's Bend. All the squeaky toys in town have disappeared and Squish, the mayor's young son, has set off on his own to find them.

It's up to the Doggos to rescue Squish, track down the missing toys, and save the day!


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]]> 2023-12-10 17:06:29 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2820083425 Braided (Sisters Ever After #5) by Leah Cypess cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2821731811 The fifth book in the Sisters Ever After series of fairy tale retellings from the point of view of the siblings in the background, this is the thrilling and mysterious story of Cinna and her older sister, Rapunzel, who was stolen from their castle as a baby. Now she’s back, leaving Cinna with more questions than answers.

Princess Cinna has grown up longing for her older sister, Rapunzel, who was kidnapped before Cinna was born. Now that Rapunzel has returned home, Cinna couldn’t be happier. She can’t wait to help Rapunzel take her rightful place as heir to the throne.

But Rapunzel is not what anyone—including Cinna—expected. And whoever took her might still be lurking in the castle. When magical creatures begin attacking both princesses, Cinna finds herself with no one to trust…except, maybe, Rapunzel herself.

Will she risk everything for a sister with whom she may have nothing in common except their long, magical hair?


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]]> 2023-12-12 00:48:34 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2821731811 The Knight Thieves by Jenn Bennett cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2821734155 Puss in Boots: The Last Wish meets Gail Carson Levine in this charming middle grade fractured fairy tale about an outlaw who teams up with a cursed prince to save the kingdom.

Former fair maiden Rosebud is dread bandit Ruthless Rose, leader of the small but mighty Blackhearts outlaw gang. Ever since the evil Firebrand army torched half their village, the thirteen-year-old daughter of a fallen knight has been living by her own code, picking off evil Firebrand caravans to avenge her village—and her father.

But Rosebud’s honor is put to the test when the Blackhearts mistakenly ambush a carriage smuggling a mysterious passenger: young Prince Fenrik. The shy prince is on the run from the Firebrands…and wearing a hexed wolf mask that can only be removed along with his head. Even worse, the magical object that can free the prince is hidden inside the darkly enchanted Nowhere Wood, where people go in, but they don’t come back out.

Helping people isn’t easy. Can a “bad” girl put aside her own need for revenge to save a good prince…and the entire kingdom?


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]]> 2023-12-12 00:50:58 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2821734155 The Last Bookwanderer (Pages & Co. #6) by Anna James cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2821743259 The final magical bookwandering adventure in the USA Today bestselling Pages & Co. series featuring Milo and Tilly as they travel into Arthurian legend to find the first bookwanderer! Perfect for fans of Chris Colfer's A Tale of Magic, Mr. Lemoncello's Library, and Lockwood & Co.!

When Milo, Tilly, Oskar, and Alessia venture into Arthurian legend to find the first bookwanderer--the wizard Merlin--they discover that the magic of bookwandering is not at all what they thought.

Together, they must journey into Greek and Roman mythology to bargain with the trickster Loki and find a way to untangle the Alchemist’s grip on the world’s imagination. And to save Pages & Co. and protect the very foundations of bookwandering, the friends will have to learn the true power of imagination, all while an unexpected enemy stands in their way.

The Pages & Co. series comes to an end in this thrilling final installment! Perfect for book lovers, those who love magical adventure stories, and those who enjoyed The Train to Impossible Places!


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]]> 2023-12-12 00:59:36 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2821743259 Kira and the (Maybe) Space Princess (Magic Girls #1) by Megan Brennan cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2821747583 Fashionable fights, flashy attacks, and friends that are out of this world! This wacky and funny graphic novel series is a love letter to manga fans. With a tongue in cheek humor and delightfully fun action scenes, this series is perfect for fans of Sailor Moon, Cardcaptor Sakura, and Katie the Catsitter.

There's nothing cooler than Magical Girls—pretty superheroes fighting villains with the power of friendship and glitter? What could be better than that! This year in middle school, Kira is going to be cool and popular and have SO many friends because she’s going to be a MAGICAL GIRL! ...Or not.

Frustrated beyond belief, Kira makes a wish on a shooting star that her life will change—and when Catacorn, a cat-unicorn-space-princess, crashes into Kira's backyard, it seems her wish has come true…kinda…maybe… Oh no. Is Kira's dream of being a Magical Girl really possible...or is Catacorn not really what she promises to be?


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]]> 2023-12-12 01:03:38 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2821747583 Art Club by Rashad Doucet cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2821750196 Inspired by the author’s own childhood, this contemporary graphic novel paints a picture of an aspiring young artist on a mission to prove that the arts are worth fighting for. 

Dale Donavan has heard the same lecture over and over again: Art will get you nowhere in life. A kid with a creative streak, Dale wants nothing more than to doodle, play video games, and create comics forever—maybe even as a full-time job one day. But between his grandfather pushing him to focus on his studies and a school with zero interest in funding arts programs, Dale feels like his future has already been decided for him. 
 
That is, until he comes up with the perfect plan: What if he starts an after-school art club, gathers a team of creative students like himself, and proves all the naysayers—his stubborn vice principal in particular—wrong? 
 
This might just work, but if the club isn’t financially successful by the end of the semester, the school with shut them down. This may be Dale’s only chance to show the adults in his life that a career as an artist is not just a dream but a possibility! 


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]]> 2023-12-12 01:05:59 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2821750196 Alterations by Ray Xu cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2821753072 For fans of Gene Luen Yang’s American Born Chinese and Svetlana Chmakova’s Awkward, this funny yet poignant middle-grade coming-of-age story highlights the struggle of feeling invisible while yearning to be seen by all. 
 
Kevin Lee is having a really bad week. Although he lives in a crowded Toronto apartment above the family’s alterations and dry-cleaning store, he mostly goes unnoticed. School isn’t exactly an oasis either—being one of the few Asian kids makes for some unwelcome attention. But when Kevin’s class plans a trip to Thrill Planet, a spectacular theme park, will he finally have a chance to turn his life around, or will it just be another day for Kevin Lee?

Fans of middle school graphic novels exploring identity and self-esteem will appreciate the poignant yet humorous journey of finding one's place in the world, and readers who are looking for Asian representation in books will connect with Kevin's story of racism, bullying, and the immigrant experience. With its mix of family relationships, friendships, and a thrilling amusement park climax, this inspiring read is perfect for fans of humorous middle grade fiction with diverse characters overcoming obstacles.


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]]> 2023-12-12 01:08:21 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2821753072 Camp Prodigy by Caroline Palmer cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2821756718 Perfect for fans of Victoria Jamieson and Raina Telgemeier, this heartwarming middle grade graphic novel follows two nonbinary kids who navigate anxiety and identity while having fun and forming friendships at their summer orchestra camp.

After attending an incredible concert, Tate Seong is inspired to become a professional violist. There’s just one problem: they’re the worst musician at their school.

Tate doesn’t even have enough confidence to assert themself with their friends or come out as nonbinary to their family, let alone attempt a solo anytime soon. Things start to look up when Tate attends a summer orchestra camp—Camp Prodigy—and runs into Eli, the remarkable violist who inspired Tate to play in the first place.

But Eli has been hiding their skills ever since their time in the spotlight gave them a nervous breakdown. Together, can they figure out how to turn Tate into a star and have Eli overcome their performance anxieties? Or will the pressure take them both down?


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]]> 2023-12-12 01:10:52 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2821756718 Asking for a Friend by Ronnie Riley cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2821762009 Eden Jones has exactly three friends. And they're all fake.


From a web of lies and social anxiety to true friendship and queer joy; this is the wonderful second book from the author of the Indies Introduce and Indie Next List pick, Jude Saves the World.


Why go through the stress of making friends when you can just pretend? It works for Eden and their social anxiety... until their mom announces she's throwing them a birthday party and all their friends are invited.


Eden’s "friends," Duke, Ramona, and Tabitha, are all real kids from school... but Eden’s never actually spoken to them before. Now Eden will do whatever it takes to convince them to be their friends—at least until the party is over.


When things start to go better than Eden expects, and the group starts to bond, Eden finds themselves trapped in a lie that gets worse the longer they keep it up. What happens if their now sort-of-real friends discover that Eden hasn't been honest with them from the very beginning?


Author Ronnie Riley creates a world full of queer joy and all the ups and downs of true friendship.


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]]> 2023-12-12 01:14:39 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2821762009 Winston Chu vs. the Wingmeisters (Winston Chu #2) by Stacey Lee cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2821766317 Best-selling author Rick Riordan presents best-selling YA author Stacey Lee’s final book in her debut middle grade duology: a whimsical, mile-a-minute adventure inspired by Chinese mythology.

Twelve-year-old Winston Chu has already rescued his sister, saved the moon’s qi, and kicked Mr. Pang’s sorry magpie-turned-human butt to the curb—but now he’s about to face an even bigger problem: Mr. Pang’s older magpie-turned-human brother, Mr. Gu.

Sure, Mr. Gu might be the current front-runner to be San Francisco’s next mayor, but, as Winston knows all too well, appearances can be deceiving—and Mr. Gu, despite his cheerful laugh and brightly-colored shirts, is definitely hiding something.

Because all of a sudden, there’s an eerily punctual fog that seems to follow him on his trips to an island in the bay. And grown-ups are turning up all the across the city with no memory of who they are, but with plenty of enthusiasm for their favorite mayoral candidate. And then there’s the flocks of exotic birds that have begun amassing in every corner of the city. For Winston and his friends, there’s no denying something...fowl...is afoot.

And the only one who might have the answers they need to save the city? Their old nemesis, Mr. Pang...

Winston’s magical adventures come to a thrilling end in this whimsical, rollicking ride filled with invisible windbreakers, mischievous mustaches, and badminton rackets of destiny.

Endorsed by Rick Riordan, author of Percy Jackson and the Olympians, soon to be a series on Disney+.


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]]> 2023-12-12 01:17:48 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2821766317 Plain Jane and the Mermaid by Vera Brosgol cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2821769878 Jane is incredibly plain. Everyone says so: her parents, the villagers, and her horrible cousin who kicks her out of her own house. Determined to get some semblance of independence, Jane prepares to propose to the princely Peter, who might just say yes to get away from his father. It’s a good plan!

Or it would’ve been, if he wasn’t kidnapped by a mermaid.

With her last shot at happiness lost in the deep blue sea, Jane must venture to the world underwater to rescue her maybe-fiancé. But the depths of the ocean hold beautiful mysteries and dangerous creatures. What good can a plain Jane do?

From Anya's Ghost and Be Prepared author Vera Brosgol comes an instant classic that flips every fairy-tale you know, and shows one girl's crusade for the only thing that matters―her own independence.


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]]> 2023-12-12 01:20:29 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2821769878 The Creepening of Dogwood House by Eden Royce cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2821775662 The Walter Award Honor–winning author of Root Magic returns with a terrifying story in the Southern Gothic tradition, inspired by the hoodoo practice of hair burning.


At night, Roddie still dreams of sitting at his mother’s feet while she braids his Afro down. But that’s a memory from before. Before his mom died in a tragic accident. Before he was taken in by an aunt he barely knows. Before his aunt brought him to Dogwood House, the creepiest place Roddie has ever seen. It was his family’s home for over a hundred years. Now the house—abandoned and rotting, draped in Spanish moss that reminds him too much of hair—is his home too.


Aunt Angie has returned to South Carolina to take care of Roddie and reconnect with their family’s hoodoo roots. Roddie, however, can’t help but feel lost. His mom had never told him anything about hoodoo, Dogwood House, or their family. And as they set about fixing the house up, Roddie discovers that there is even more his mother never said. Like why she left home when she was seventeen, never to return. Or why she insisted Aunt Angie always wear her hair in locs. Or what she knew of the strange secrets hidden deep within Dogwood House—secrets that have awoken again, and are reaching out to Roddie…


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]]> 2023-12-12 01:23:54 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2821775662 Maple's Theory of Fun by Kate McMillan and Ruthie Prillaman cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2821779429 Perfect for fans of Dork Diaries and Emmie & Friends, this first book in a diary-style illustrated middle grade series follows an anxious, science-minded sixth grader determined to become fun and win back her friend.

Sixth grade has been pretty disaster-free for aspiring astronaut Maple McNutt—which is impressive, given the number of worries and possible catastrophes that run through her head every day. (So far, Earth hasn’t been devoured by a black hole and a cockroach hasn’t crawled out of her toothpaste mid-squeeze. Phew!) But then her best friend of seven-point-two years, Sunny Gwon, accuses her of being unfun and starts hanging around with a new group of friends.

In order to win Sunny back, Maple decides to undergo a serious scientific transformation to become fun by 1. Doing extensive research, 2. Applying research to self, and and 3. Repeating until fun. It’s risky and groundbreaking research, but Maple has no choice if she wants to save her friendship.


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]]> 2023-12-12 01:26:44 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2821779429 Mission Manhattan (City Spies #5) by James Ponti cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2821783175 In this fifth installment in the New York Times bestselling series from Edgar Award winner James Ponti, the young group of spies take on New York City in another international adventure perfect for fans of Spy School and Mrs. Smith’s Spy School for Girls.

The City Spies head to the Big Apple when a credible threat is made to a young climate activist who is scheduled to speak in front of the upcoming United Nations General Assembly. With Rio acting as alpha and a new member in their ranks, the team’s mission to protect a fellow teen takes them on an exciting adventure in, around, and even under the greatest city in the world as they follow leads to the outer boroughs, the UN Headquarters, and even the usually off-limits stacks that extend deep under the main branch of the New York Public Library.


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]]> 2023-12-12 01:29:39 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2821783175 No Filter by Kelley Skovron cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2821785942 From the author of The Ghost of Drowned Meadow comes another haunted tale that's as touching as it terrifying.


Janessa "Jinx" McCormick loves photography because it’s like real life, except she can make it perfect. Using her late father’s camera, Jinx takes photos for nearly everyone in her small town of Greenbelt, making her something of a local celebrity. But one day as she’s touching up a new photo, Jinx sees…something in the background of the image. A shadow that she’s certain wasn’t in the frame when she captured the shot.


Though it’s too dark and hazy to see exactly what it is, the shadow looks roughly like a figure. And soon Jinx notices something even more unsettling. With each new shot she takes, the figure is always there.


And it’s slowly moving closer to the camera.


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]]> 2023-12-12 01:31:51 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2821785942 The Takeover (Fearless #4) by Mandy Gonzalez and Brittany J. Thurman cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2821790068 Better Nate than Ever meets Love Sugar Magic in this fourth and final novel in the Fearless middle grade series from Hamilton and Broadway star Mandy Gonzalez about a young thespian and emerging influencer whose social media gets hacked.

Twelve-year-old April DaSilva loves performing—and connecting with fans on her social media accounts. Thanks to her role in the hit Broadway show Our Time, she is close to reaching a huge follower milestone. In celebration, she’s hosting a contest: three lucky followers will win a special backstage tour and tickets to the show.

April feels on top of the world, but her brother isn’t so thrilled about her attention always being glued to a screen. His warnings don’t bother April. What’s wrong with wanting more followers and likes? When meet and greet day arrives, the Squad helps make the event special. All goes without a hitch until April attempts to log into her social media…it’s gone. Her previous posts have been erased, and a new one that April didn’t make pops up. It’s even worse than she thought…she’s been hacked.

The Squad tries to uncover the culprit while April becomes a puppet of her stolen account—desperately trying to keep up with the public appearances promised in her name until she can reclaim ownership of the online presence she’s worked so hard for. But she suddenly has much more to worry about when it’s announced that the entire Squad has outgrown their roles in Our Time and may soon be replaced…


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]]> 2023-12-12 01:35:11 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2821790068 Survival (The Deadlands #3) by Skye Melki-Wegner cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2821793753 Wings of Fire meets Jurassic Park in the thrilling finale of this action-adventure series about five outcasts―and former enemies―who are the only hope to save their warring dinosaur kingdoms from impending doom.

As bloody battle rages between the two surviving dinosaur kingdoms, Eleri and the other young exiles―including a peppy stegosaur, a stoic sauropod, a testy triceratops, and a mysterious spy―have temporarily thwarted the Carrion Kingdom, a conniving cabal of carnivores, and destroyed their secret stronghold.

Fearing that their cunning enemies will soon regroup and seek vengeance, the exiles must risk their lives by returning home to unite and lead the war-torn herds that turned their backs on them into one final, all-out battle for the very future of the land of Cretacea. Will they convince their kingdoms to follow them into battle against the true enemy, or will Cretacea be overrun by an army of predators?


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]]> 2023-12-12 01:38:00 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2821793753 Tree. Table. Book. by Lois Lowry cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2821796547 From two-time Newbery medalist Lois Lowry comes this warm and resonant story of an unlikely friendship, which unfolds as a revelation on how we hold on to—and pass on—what matters most.


Everyone knows the two Sophies are best friends. One is in elementary school, and one is . . . well . . . in a little trouble of late. She’s elderly, sure, but she’s always been on her game, the best friend any girl struggling to fit in could ever have. The Sophies drink tea, have strong opinions about pretty much everything, and love each other dearly. Now it seems the elder Sophie is having memory problems, burning teakettles, and forgetting just about everything. It looks like her son is going to come and get her and steal her away forever. Young Sophie isn’t having that. Not one bit. So she sets out to help elder Sophie’s memory, with the aid of her neighborhood friends Ralphie and Oliver. But when she opens the floodgates of elder Sophie’s memories, she winds up listening to stories that will illustrate just how much there is to know about her dear friend, stories of war, hunger, cruelty, and ultimately love.


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]]> 2023-12-12 01:40:09 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2821796547 Hummingbird Season by Stephanie V.W. Lucianovic cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2821799908 A poignant and necessary story about finding hope during difficult times, set in the early days of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Archie's life—and the whole world—is turned upside down by Covid-19. Suddenly there are no more Friday night dinners out, no more going to school, no more hanging out with friends . . . no leaving the house at all.

Even though he's inside with his family all day every day, Archie can't help but feel more alone than ever before. While everyone else seems to be adapting to their new normal just fine, it's like Archie is permanently on mute, unable to find the words to describe how he feels—and sometimes, unable to find someone who will listen. The bright spot of Archie's days at home is watching and learning about the hummingbirds that feed outside his windows. But just when it seems like this could be what brings his family together again, California experiences its worst wildfire in history, and Archie's favorite hummingbird disappears. In a time when hope is hard to hold on to, Archie must find his voice and find hope once again.

Hummingbird Season is an honest and healing novel in verse documenting the early days of the Covid-19 pandemic and the things that bring us together when circumstances keep us apart.


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]]> 2023-12-12 01:43:22 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2821799908 Mid-Air by Alicia D. Williams cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2821803040 A tender-souled boy reeling from the death of his best friend struggles to fit into a world that wants him to grow up tough and unfeeling in this stunning middle grade novel in verse from the Newbery Honor–winning author of Genesis Begins Again.

It’s the summer before high school and Isaiah feels lost. He thought this summer was going to be just him and his homies Drew and Darius, hangin’ out, doing wheelies, and watching martial arts movies—a lot of chillin’ before high school and the Future. But more and more, Drew will barely talk to him—barely even look at him—and though he won’t admit it, Isaiah knows it’s because of Darius, because Darius is…gone.

And Isaiah wasn’t even there when it happened, with his best friend in his final moments. But he’s going to be there now. Him and Drew both, they’re gonna spend the summer breaking every single record they can think of, for Darius, for his dream of breaking world records. But Drew’s not the same Drew, and Isaiah being Isaiah isn’t enough for Drew anymore. Not his taste in music, his love for D&D, his interest in taking photos, or his aversion to jumping off rooftops. The real Isaiah is sensitive; he’s uncool.

And one day something unspeakable happens to Isaiah that makes him think Drew’s right. If only he could be less sensitive, more tough, less weird, more cool, more contained, less him, things would be easier. But how much can Isaiah keep inside until he shatters wide open?


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]]> 2023-12-12 01:46:25 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2821803040 Newsroom Nonsense (What Happens Next? #3) by Jess Smart Smiley cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2821809186 In the third volume of the What Happens Next? graphic novel series, YOU decide whether Sunbright Middle School’s student newspaper is a hit―or if Megan and her friends will have to stop the presses forever!

Megan Hathaway was supposed to be helping put together a newspaper for her English class...but everything is going wrong.

Weird Randall keeps trying to mail potatoes, evil Vice-Principal Mr. Fisher has imprisoned the class's best artist, and...oh geez...Olivia just yarked in a trombone! Can you help Megan save school journalism?! Or will you let Sunbright Middle School's secrets remain hidden forever?!

With more than twenty-five different endings, Newsroom Nonsense is a breaking news saga you’ll be coming back to over and over.


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]]> 2023-12-12 01:53:25 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2821809186 Sabotage on the Solar Express (Adventures on Trains #5) by M. G. Leonard and Sam Sedgman cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2821813838 This fifth standalone book in the middle-grade Adventures on Trains series by M. G. Leonard and Sam Sedgman finds young sleuth Hal Beck hurtling across the Australian Outback while trying to figure out who sabotaged the maiden voyage of a new train before it explodes!

When artist, train enthusiast, and sleuth, Hal Beck, and his travel journalist uncle, Nat, are invited to be on the first ever ride of the Solar Express train in Australia, he couldn’t be more excited! The new train is the result of a worldwide contest held by tech billionaire August Reza, whom they met on a trip in America. And it’s even more exciting to learn that the train’s engine was designed by fourteen-year-old prodigy Boaz Tudaweli.

Once Hal and Uncle Nat connect with August and his daughter, Marianne, she confides in Hal her suspicions about a gift her father received. At first, it seems there’s nothing to it. But when things start to go wrong even before the Solar Express has left the station―and get much worse when the ride begins―Hal, Marianne, and Boaz must investigate. Can they figure out who’s behind everything before the Solar Express goes completely off track…and possibly explodes?


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]]> 2023-12-12 01:58:21 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2821813838 The Partition Project by Saadia Faruqi cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2821816565 In this engaging and moving middle grade novel, Saadia Faruqi writes about a contemporary Pakistani American girl whose passion for journalism starts a conversation about her grandmother’s experience of the Partition of India and Pakistan—and the bond that the two form as she helps Dadi tell her story.


When her grandmother comes off the airplane in Houston from Pakistan, Mahnoor knows that having Dadi move in is going to disrupt everything about her life. She doesn’t have time to be Dadi’s unofficial babysitter—her journalism teacher has announced that their big assignment will be to film a documentary, which feels more like storytelling than what Maha would call “journalism.”


As Dadi starts to settle into life in Houston and Maha scrambles for a subject for her documentary, the two of them start talking. About Dadi’s childhood in northern India—and about the Partition that forced her to leave her home and relocate to the newly created Pakistan.


As details of Dadi’s life are revealed, Dadi’s personal story feels a lot more like the breaking news that Maha loves so much. And before she knows it, she has the subject of her documentary.


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]]> 2023-12-12 02:01:00 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2821816565 The Adventures of Invisible Boy by Doogie Horner cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2821819258 In this hilarious debut middle grade graphic novel, when an impossible wish comes true, a wild adventure begins!

"Can't be missed!" —Max Brallier, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Last Kids on Earth

Think your wildest wish can’t come true? Just wait!

It’s his first day at a new school, and Stanley wishes he could disappear. He can hardly believe it when, after a big spill at the science fair, POOF! Stanley is invisible! It’s awesome! He can do anything he wants, and no one will know!

But Stanley isn’t the only one who turned invisible. The inventor of the potion is not happy about the accident and takes his anger out on kids all over town.

Stanley wants to use his power for good . . . which means going up against the one person who can make him visible again.

Get ready for a battle of the ages.


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]]> 2023-12-12 02:03:36 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2821819258 Sunny Makes Her Case (Sunny #5) by Jennifer L. Holm and illustrated by Matthew Holm cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2821824323 The New York Times bestselling SUNNY series continues as Sunny finds herself in the spotlight in a competition unlike any other...


Sunny is starting to understand the ins and outs of middle school...but she still feels more out than in. It's about classes or homework, really. No, it's the fact that most kids have a thing they do outside of class. Like football or track or cheerleading. Sunny isn't quarterback material, and her cheer attempts are... not the best. So what can she do?


When Sunny's friend Arun says he wants to start a debate club, she's not really sure what he means. Isn't debate just...arguing? Sunny's never had a problem with arguing. Arun and the advisor show her there's more to it than that—there's also teamwork, and research, and being able to speak up in front of judges. Some of the debates are fun ones—which is the best candy? Is peanut butter a force for evil or a force for good? But when the debate club starts to be a success, Sunny realizes she won't just be able to talk her way into winning...she'll have to make her case!


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]]> 2023-12-12 02:07:57 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2821824323 Sunny Parker Is Here to Stay by Margaret Finnegan cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2821828128 A determined girl spends the summer before middle school learning to stand up for her low-income community in this funny, fast-paced read just right for fans of Kelly Yang’s Front Desk.

Sunny Parker loves the Del Mar Garden Apartments, the affordable housing complex where she lives. And she especially loves her neighbors. From her best friend, Haley Michaels, to Mrs. Garcia and her two kids—developmentally disabled son AJ and bitter but big-hearted daughter Izzy—every resident has a story and a special place in Sunny’s heart.

Sunny never thought living at the Del Mar Garden Apartments made her different—until the city proposes turning an old, abandoned school into a new affordable housing complex and the backlash of her affluent neighborhood teaches Sunny the hard way that not everyone appreciates the community she calls home. Her dad, the Del Mar’s manager-slash-handyman, wants Sunny to lay low. But as hurtful rhetoric spreads and the city’s public hearing approaches, Sunny realizes that sometimes there’s too much at stake to stay silent.

With her friends behind her, Sunny Parker is determined to change the narrative—because she and her community are here to stay!


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]]> 2023-12-12 02:11:31 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2821828128 Mind over Monsters by Betsy Uhrig cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2821830657 Gordon Korman meets Scooby-Doo when anxiety-prone middle schoolers try a mindfulness app that has them face their fears all-too-literally in this spooky and humorous middle grade adventure.

FACE YOUR FEARS! That’s what the meditation app with the cheesy name De-stress-o-rama is telling Lena to do. She’s one of seven always-worried middle schoolers trying out this new app to see if it can help students handle stress. But something is going wrong—very, very wrong.

The group’s fears are becoming all too real, first lurking and dangling, then chasing them around and threatening to swallow them whole. From a stubborn inky blob that is fear of the dark, to the queasy giant in sweaty underpants that is fear of public speaking, monsters are invading Cranberry Bog Middle School! Can Lena’s group of worriers figure out how to conquer their fears before the whole school is swarmed?


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]]> 2023-12-12 02:13:56 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2821830657 Eowulf: Of Monsters & Middle School by Mike Cavallaro cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2821834952 From Mike Cavallaro comes a story set in the Nico Bravo universe that spotlights an unforgettable, iconic new heroine!

Eowulf Wegmund just had the most amazing summer ever! She traveled to a magical supply shop at the crossroads of all realities, rescued unicorn soldiers from a pocket dimension, and fought an evil god with the help of her new friend Nico Bravo. Pretty rad stuff, even if you are descended from the legendary monster hunter Beowulf!

Now Eowulf finds herself back home in her boring New Jersey suburb, where the only monsters are the ones in her D&D game and the weirdest creature around is her middle school classmate Amadeus Hornburg―and he’s just an angry little jerk that nobody likes. But when a mysterious supervillain returns to wreak havoc on their quiet town, Eowulf and Amadeus must join forces to unearth a dark past that wants to stay buried.


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]]> 2023-12-12 02:17:49 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2821834952 The Hoop Con (Play the Game #1) by Amar Shah cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2821840049 YOU CAN’T WIN IF YOU DON’T PLAY


Raam Patel is eager to prove himself ever since he didn’t make the middle school’s basketball team. So, when Hoop Con comes to town he is determined to be there and take his shot. His big moment proves to be unforgettable…but not in the way he’d hoped. Raam gets schooled by the camp’s golden boy right in front of his NBA idol. To make matters even worse, this fail goes viral.


Raam is used to being the underdog, but becoming the newest meme might be something even he can’t overcome alone. He skips town in an effort to lay low and take a break from basketball. However, he’s met with new courts, fresh kicks, and tough new competition, changing his whole outlook on the game. Raam has the skills, but now it’s time to unlock the mental game.


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]]> 2023-12-12 02:21:51 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2821840049 The Door Is Open: Stories of Celebration and Community by 11 Desi Voices edited by Hena Khan cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2821843675 Discover stories of fear, triumph, and spectacular celebration in this warm-hearted novel of interconnected stories that celebrates the diversity of South Asian American experiences in a local community center.

Discover stories of fear, triumph, and spectacular celebration in the fictional town of Maple Grove, New Jersey, where the local kids gather at the community center to discover new crushes, fight against ignorance, and even save a life. Cheer for Chaya as she wins chess tournaments (unlike Andrew, she knows stupid sugary soda won't make you better at chess), and follow as Jeevan learns how to cook traditional food (it turns out he can cook sabji—he just can't eat it).

These stories, edited by bestselling and award-winning Pakistani-American author Hena Khan, are filled with humor, warmth, and possibility. They showcase a diverse array of talented authors with heritage from the Indian subcontinent, including beloved favorites and rising stars, who each highlight the beauty and necessity of a community center that everyone calls home.


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]]> 2023-12-12 02:25:14 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2821843675 The Other Side of Perfect by Melanie Florence and Richard Scrimger cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2821846908 Two kids from two different worlds form an unexpected friendship in this lens into the interworking of empathy. Told in alternating narratives, The Other Side of Perfect is infused with themes of identity, belonging, and compassion, reminding us that we are all more than our circumstances, and we are all more connected than we think.


Cody’s home life is a messy, too-often terrifying story of neglect and abuse. Cody himself is a smart kid, a survivor with a great sense of humor that helps him see past his circumstances and begin to try to get himself out. Autumn is a wealthy girl from an indigenous family, who has found herself in with the popular crowd even though it’s hard for her to want to keep up.


But one night, while returning home from a movie, Autumn comes across Cody, face down in the laneway behind her house. All Cody knows is that he can’t take another encounter with his father like the one he just narrowly escaped. He can’t go home. But he doesn’t have anywhere else to go. When Autumn agrees to let him hide out in her dad’s art studio, Cody’s story begins to come out, and so does hers.


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]]> 2023-12-12 02:28:29 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2821846908 Meet Me at Mercer Street by Booki Vivat cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2821851590 Harriet the Spy meets Front Desk in this funny, surprising graphic novel by Booki Vivat, author-illustrator of the New York Times bestselling Frazzled series.


Aspiring artist Kacie spends most of her time on Mercer Street with her best friend, Nisha, people-watching and doodling whatever is happening in their neighborhood. But when she comes back from a summer away, the local corner store is boarded up, the adults in town are all on edge, and Nisha is nowhere to be found! Everything is changing, and Kacie’s not sure what to do about it. Especially without Nisha to help her.


But Kacie has a knack for noticing things, and with her sketchbooks and observational skills, she just might have what it takes to figure out what’s really happening on Mercer Street.


Filled with both cartoons and graphic comic panels, Booki Vivat draws a hilarious-yet-deeply-perceptive portrait of a changing neighborhood, a mysterious disappearance, and the girl who’s determined to understand how she fits in to the picture.


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]]> 2023-12-12 02:32:51 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2821851590 The Not-So-Simple Question (A Holly-Mei Book #3) by Christina Matula cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2821855653 Return to Hong Kong in the third book of this charming middle grade series starring Holly-Mei, a girl navigating her new city, new school, and new friendships.

Holly-Mei is caught in the middle.

Holly-Mei Jones has finally settled into her new friend group in Hong Kong—that is until suddenly everyone starts talking about dating. Which Holly-Mei is not ready for.

At least she has her school’s Experience Week to look forward to. Holly-Mei can’t wait to show off Taiwan, where her beloved Ah-Ma is from, to her friends. The trip is going to be perfect…right?

Maybe not. On top of the pressure to date, Holly-Mei starts to wonder if maybe being half-Taiwanese isn’t enough. In the face of these big questions, will Holly-Mei be able to finally feel like she belongs?


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]]> 2023-12-12 02:37:02 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2821855653 Together Forever (Making Friends #4) by Kristen Gudsnuk cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2821859223 Kristen Gudsnuk takes readers on a magical adventure about friendship in this fourth and final installment of her imaginative Making Friends series.


No magic. No sketchbook. No friends. Again?!


Dany's magical sketchbook has steered most of her middle-school life so far—it even helped create her best friend, Madison. But now that the sketchbook is gone, and Madison with it, Dany's back to being a loner. Then one day, Dany tunes in to the new hit TV show My Magical Best Friend, and it's starring her magical best friend, Madison! The show is clearly based on Dany's life, and she watches it regularly with a mix of horror and fascination. But lately there's something else about the show that's captured her attention: Madison seems to be dropping hints for Dany to come rescue her. With no magical sketchbook at her fingertips, can Dany find a way to save her best friend?


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]]> 2023-12-12 02:40:39 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2821859223 Keeper of the Rend by Lisa Maxwell cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2821873754 From the New York Times bestselling author of the Last Magician series comes a heart-wrenching middle grade debut steeped in magical realism about a bird-loving boy who moves to the countryside where he encounters dangerous creatures invading through a rip in the sky.

Xavier T. Fletcher is an Odd Duck. At least, that’s what everyone in his sleepy little suburb seems to think. Luckily, birds happen to be the aspiring naturalist’s favorite things, so he doesn’t mind the label quite as much as you might expect.

But when Xavier’s father loses his job, everything changes. His family is forced to move to his Nana Susan’s farm. There, he meets Clementine, a strange, messy girl who doesn’t see him as an Odd Duck at all. Too bad she has the unfortunate habit of using her slingshot to hunt the birds he loves. Xavier’s not sure what to think when Clem assures him that they aren’t really birds. He’s even less sure when he discovers that Clem isn’t lying.

The bird-like creatures come from the Rend, a tear in the sky between our world and the Nother’s, and the objects they carry in their beaks from that cold, dark place are dangerous. It’s up to Xavier and Clem to find a way to keep the creatures out of our world. But how can he protect the Rend when he suspects Clem hasn’t told him the whole truth about what she’s doing?


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]]> 2023-12-12 02:54:26 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2821873754 The Grimsbane Family Witch Hunters by Joan Reardon cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2821876360 Netflix’s Wednesday meets Jodi Lynn Anderson’s The Memory Thief in this creepy and high-stakes middle grade adventure about a girl’s quest to save her cursed brother that takes her through perilous, monster-filled woods.

The Grimsbane women have been hunting witches and monsters for generations—ever since the Watcher, the most powerful witch in the Midwest, cursed the Grimsbane men to die untimely and unusual deaths. Part-time skater, full-time troublemaker Anna Grimsbane may be only twelve, but she’s been learning about hunting her whole life and is tired of waiting to do the real thing. She and her twin brother Billy are about to turn thirteen, the age the curse takes hold, and Anna wants to be on the front lines fighting to break it.

Only hours before he’ll become an accident-prone walking disaster, Billy runs away to find the Watcher himself. The Grimsbane women are all out on patrol, leaving it up to Anna and her friends Suvi and Rosario to find Billy before his recklessness hastens his demise. But the woods are crawling with cryptids, most of whom hate humans, and all of whom hate the Grimsbanes, and the deeper Anna gets into the forest, the clearer it is that reading about witch hunting is no replacement for practical experience.

Anna feels in over her head, especially as she starts to suspect she knows much less about her family history than she’d thought. As she races against the clock to find Billy before midnight, it becomes all too evident that he isn’t the only Grimsbane at risk for a grisly death tonight.


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]]> 2023-12-12 02:56:53 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2821876360 Lion Dancers by Cai Tse cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2821878950 Former best friends become bitter rivals when one returns to lion dancing after a long absence in this vibrant and heartfelt middle grade graphic novel perfect for fans of Haikyu!! and Fence.

Young Wei dreamed of being a legendary lion dancer just like his dad. With his best friend Hung performing as the tail and Wei controlling the head, he knew they could become the next generation of lion dance champions. But after his dad’s sudden passing, Wei abruptly quits lion dancing—and his friendship with Hung.

Years later, Wei is stuck…in life, in school, and on the bench at games. That is, until he crashes a junior lion dance practice and feels his long-sleeping passion wake up within him once more. The team is happy to have another member to carry on the tradition, especially as one as preternaturally talented as Wei. There’s just one person who doesn’t want him there: the self-proclaimed star, Hung.

As Wei and Hung fight to be considered the top lion dancer, both will have to learn how to face their mistakes head-on and remember what it really means to be part of a team.


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]]> 2023-12-12 02:59:24 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2821878950 A Bite Above the Rest by Christine Virnig cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2821883525 A boy moves to a Halloween-themed town only to realize there may be more to the tourist trap than meets the eye in this fast-paced romp of a middle grade novel perfect for fans of The Last Kids on Earth and Escape from Mr. Lemoncello’s Library!

When Caleb’s mom decides they are moving to her childhood home in Wisconsin, Caleb is not thrilled. Moving schools, states, and time zones would be bad enough, but Mom’s hometown is Samhain, a small and ridiculously kitschy place where every day is Halloween.

Caleb is not a fan of Halloween when it only happens once a year, so Halloween-obsessed Samhain is really not the place for him. How is he supposed to cope with kids wearing costumes to school every single day? And how about the fact that the mayor is so committed to the bit that City Hall is only open from sundown to sunup to accommodate his so-called vampirism? Sure enough, Caleb becomes an outcast at school for refusing to play along with the spooky tradition like the other sixth graders. Luckily, he manages to find a friend in fellow misfit Tai, and just in time, because things are getting weird in Samhain…or make that weirder.

But there’s no way the mayor is an actual vampire, and their teacher absolutely cannot really be a werewolf—right? Caleb discovers Samhain is so much stranger than he ever could have imagined. As one of the only people who realizes what’s happening, can he save a town that doesn’t want saving?


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]]> 2023-12-12 03:03:49 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2821883525 The Great Catnapping (The Great Pet Heist #4) by Emily Ecton and illustrated by David Mottram cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2821887889 In this hilarious, high-stakes companion to The Great Pet Heist, The Great Ghost Hoax, and The Great Vandal Scandal, the pet friends take matters into their own paws—and tentacles—to rescue Walt and the white cat when they get catnapped.

The white cat, famous for being a spokes-cat for Beautiful Buffet Cat Food, is making a TV appearance at a supermarket opening, with Madison playing cat wrangler to the stars! The TV people want Walt, too, and everyone is excited for her to reach celebrity status—except Walt.

Unfortunately for the felines’ television debut, two cats loose in a supermarket is a recipe for disaster. Chaos erupts at the grand opening, and when the dust settles, the white cat and Walt are nowhere to be seen. They’ve been catnapped! The police are on the case, but their investigation isn’t moving fast enough to satisfy the cats’ worried friends. Desperate to get the snatched celebrities home safe and sound, Butterbean and the gang undertake a rescue mission of their own.


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]]> 2023-12-12 03:07:13 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2821887889 Theodora Hendrix and the Monstrous League of Monsters (Theodora Hendrix #1) by Jordan Kopy and illustrated by Chris Jevons cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2821891031 The Addams Family meets Nancy Drew in this delightfully spooky illustrated middle grade mystery following a young human girl determined to protect her monster foster family from discovery.

The first rule of the Monstrous League of Monsters is to keep monsters hidden from humans. But when zombie George and his cat companion Bandit find an abandoned human baby, they can’t leave her to be eaten by hobgoblins. So they spirit her home where she quickly becomes part of the family.

Fast-forward ten years, and young Theodora doesn’t seem too scarred by her monstrous upbringing, though she struggles to make friends at her monster school. But a series of anonymous letters suggests that someone is about to reveal the secret of her caretakers’ identity. If Theodora doesn’t act fact, she may lose her beloved monster family forever.


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]]> 2023-12-12 03:10:08 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2821891031 The Little Vampire in Love (The Little Vampire #5) by Angela Sommer-Bodenburg and translated by Ivanka T. Hahnenberger cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2821895233 Rudolph and Tony navigate their first crushes in this spooky and sweet fifth book in the classic middle grade Little Vampire series—perfect for readers who love Hotel Transylvania and The Addams Family!

Tony likes spending time with his friends Rudolph and Rudolph’s little sister, Anna, and he doesn’t mind if Anna wants to be his girlfriend. But things get a little complicated when Rudolph’s fearsome Great-Aunt Dorothy introduces him to the creepy young vampire Olga and Rudolph the little vampire falls head over heels for her!

But does she like him, too? And what could these romantic entanglements mean for Tony and Rudolph’s friendship?


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]]> 2023-12-12 03:13:52 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2821895233 Once Upon a Crime: Delicious Mysteries and Deadly Murders from the Detective Society by Robin Stevens cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2821899990 Take one last dive into the pages of Hazel’s casebook and solve six new mini mysteries in this short story companion to the internationally bestselling Murder Most Unladylike series!

Between their high-profile murder mysteries, Daisy Wells and Hazel Wong tackle many other cases, like the Case of the Second Scream on the high seas and the Case of the Uninvited Guest at Uncle Felix and Aunt Lucy’s wedding. They compete with the Junior Pinkertons to solve the Hound of Weston School and humor Hazel’s tagalong little sister in the Case of the Deadly Flat. They even put their code-cracking skills to the test to catch a thief in the Case of the Missing Treasure and find their holiday interrupted by murder in the Case of the Drowned Pearl.

These riveting new mini mysteries are perfect for fans and budding members of the Detective Society.


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]]> 2023-12-12 03:18:22 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2821899990 Cream Buns and Crime: Tips, Tricks, and Tales from the Detective Society by Robin Stevens cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2821902245 Learn more about Daisy and Hazel’s detecting process and unravel three brand-new mini-mysteries in this short story companion to the Murder Most Unladylike series.

Daisy Wells and Hazel Wong are famous for the murder cases they have solved—but there are many other mysteries in the pages of Hazel’s casebook, including the macabre Case of the Deepdean Vampire, the baffling Case of the Blue Violet, and even their very first case of all: the Case of Lavinia’s Missing Tie.

Packed with these brilliant new mini-mysteries and peppered with Daisy and Hazel’s own detecting tips, tricks, and facts, this is the perfect book for fans and budding members of the Detective Society.


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]]> 2023-12-12 03:20:49 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2821902245 Baddies in Training (Villains Academy #1) by Ryan Hammond cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2821904945 In the spirit of The Bad Guys and Amelia Fang, this first adventurous romp in the illustrated middle grade Villains Academy series follows a young werewolf who realizes he’s a nice guy at heart while attending a villainous school for monsters.

Villains Academy is the most prestigious of villain schools where being bad feels so good and the classes are guaranteed to make students leave as fully formed villains…or in pieces! On werewolf Bram’s first day at Villains Academy, he doesn’t feel like a villain at all. The other monsters seem way scarier and more diabolical than he could ever be.

When it’s announced the coveted Villain of the Week trophy is up for grabs, Bram decides to prove himself by claiming the prize—but he’ll have to dig deep to connect with his inner villain. With the help of new friends Mona the elf-witch, Bryan the lion, Shelia the ghost, and Tony the skeleton, can Bram become the big bad he’s always dreamed of being?


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]]> 2023-12-12 03:23:48 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2821904945 Countdown to Yesterday by Shirley Marr cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2821907122 Rebecca Stead’s The List of Things That Will Not Change gets a “Space Oddity” sci-fi twist in this moving middle grade novel about one boy’s journey to go back in time to prevent his parents’ divorce.

The present is the last place James wants to be. Since his parents have separated, he’s been living two different lives and neither of them add up to the great one he used to have. He thinks about his Top Six memories and wonders if he can go back.

During National Science Week, James meets the enigmatic Yan, a girl who looks at the world with x-ray eyes, and discovers that time travel might be possible after all. The two budding scientists’ quest to restore James’s lost past brings them into contact with retro Australian Women’s Weekly birthday cakes, old Commodore computers, chaotic rideshare vehicles of the future, and spacemen.

But as they get closer to their goal, James is forced to consider that his favorite moments from his personal history may not be as perfect as he remembers them.


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]]> 2023-12-12 03:26:08 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2821907122 Not If You Break Up with Me First by G.F. Miller cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2821909418 Two friends who have unhappily found themselves in an accidental relationship try to drive the other one to call things off in this tongue-in-cheek middle grade romance.

Childhood friends Eve and Andrew are destined to be together—everyone says so, especially their friends and classmates who are all suddenly crush-obsessed. So when Eve and Andrew’s first eighth grade school dance rolls around and Eve, feeling the pressure, awkwardly asks Andrew to go with her, everyone assumes they are Officially Dating and Practically in Love. Overwhelmed, Eve and Andrew just…go with it.

And it’s weird. Neither of them wants this dating thing to mess up their friendship, and they don’t really see each other that way. But they also don’t want to be the one to call things off, the one to make things super awkward. So they both—separately—pledge to be the worst boyfriend or girlfriend ever, leaving it to the other person to break up with them. It would be genius…if the other person weren’t doing the exact same thing.


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]]> 2023-12-12 03:28:34 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2821909418 Something Maybe Magnificent by R.L. Toalson cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2821910910 There’s a new man in her mom’s life, and Victoria is determined to get rid of him—no matter what. Both a standalone novel and a follow up to The First Magnificent Summer, this pitch-perfect middle grade story is destined to become a classic.

Thirteen-year-old aspiring writer Victoria Reeves remains dedicated to writing in her diary as her reading tastes evolve from Virginia Woolf to Sylvia Plath. She’s growing up—getting the hang of her monthly “visitor,” coming to terms with her relationship with her estranged father, and grappling with her ever-evolving views of womanhood. But the summer brings unexpected bumps along the way when Victoria develops complicated feelings about the cute boy next door and decidedly uncomplicated ones about her mom’s new boyfriend.

To protect her mom—and the family dynamic she’s used to—from this unwanted interloper, Victoria will do what it takes to send him packing. But when she goes too far, Victoria realizes all she’s done is ruin a good thing for her mom. Is it too late to set things right?


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]]> 2023-12-12 03:30:18 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2821910910 Jamie by L.D. Lapinski cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2821914544 Jamie is a humorous and uplifting middle grade novel about making your own place in a world that doesn't think you fit in even if it means changing the system.

Jamie Rambeau is a happy 11-year-old, nonbinary kid who loves hanging out with their two best friends, Daisy and Ash. But when the trio find out that their local middle schools separate into a school for boys and a school for girls, their friendship suddenly seems at risk. And when Jamie realizes no one has thought about where they are going to go, they decide to take matters into their own hands.

As the friends' efforts to raise awareness eventually become a rooftop protest against the binary rules for the local schools, Jamie realizes that if they don't figure out a way forward, they could lose both their friends forever.

Published in partnership with media advocacy organization GLAAD, this empowering book positively represents LGBTQ families.


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]]> 2023-12-12 03:34:33 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2821914544 Party Crashers (Bad Princesses #3) by Jennifer Torres cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2823271382 Princesses don’t break the rules, but they may rewrite them…


Every girl dreams of going to the Fine and Ancient Institute for the Royal to learn how to be a princess. But Dalia and Dominga could not be any less enchanted. They are different…the same kind of different. Neither of them wants to be the fairest of them all. They want to join a secret society of villains at the Bewitched Academy of the Dreadful.


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]]> 2023-12-13 01:57:36 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2823271382 Amil and the After by Veera Hiranandani cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2823274781 A hopeful and heartwarming story about finding joy after tragedy, Amil and the After is a companion to the beloved and award-winning Newbery Honor novel The Night Diary, by acclaimed author Veera Hiranandani.

At the turn of the new year in 1948, Amil and his family are trying to make a home in India, now independent of British rule.

Both Muslim and Hindu, twelve-year-old Amil is not sure what home means anymore. The memory of the long and difficult journey from their hometown in what is now Pakistan lives with him. And despite having an apartment in Bombay to live in and a school to attend, life in India feels uncertain.

Nisha, his twin sister, suggests that Amil begin to tell his story through drawings meant for their mother, who died when they were just babies. Through Amil, readers witness the unwavering spirit of a young boy trying to make sense of a chaotic world, and find hope for himself and a newly reborn nation.


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]]> 2023-12-13 02:00:54 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2823274781 Summer at Squee by Andrea Wang cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2823277590 From Newbery Honor–winning author Andrea Wang, a new middle grade novel about a Chinese American tween who attends a Boston-based Chinese cultural overnight camp—and the many ways it transforms her.

Phoenny Fang plans to have the best summer ever. She’s returning to Summertime Chinese Culture, Wellness, and Enrichment Experience (SCCWEE for short and “Squee” to campers in the know), and this year she’s a senior camper. That means she; her best friend, Lyrica Chu; and her whole Squad will have the most influence. It almost doesn’t matter that her brother is a CIT (counselor-in-training) and that her mom and auntie are the camp directors. Time spent at Squee is sacred, glorious, and free.

On the day Phoenny arrives, though, she learns that the Squad has been split up, and there’s an influx of new campers this year. Phoenny is determined to be welcoming and to share all the things she loves about camp—who doesn’t love spending hours talking about and engaging in cultural activities? But she quickly learns how out of touch she is with others’ experiences, particularly of the campers who are adoptees. The same things that make her feel connected to her culture and community make some of the other campers feel excluded.

Summer at Squee turns out to be even more transformative than Phoenny could’ve imagined, with new friendships, her first crush, an epic show, and a bigger love for and understanding of her community.


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]]> 2023-12-13 02:03:26 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2823277590 It Happened to Anna by Tehlor Kay Mejia cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2823280237 This spine-tingling ghost story follows a tween girl who’s being literally haunted by loneliness until a new friendship upends her life. From the bestselling author of the Paola Santiago series!

"Absolutely haunting!"—Delilah S. Dawson, New York Times bestselling author of Mine

Sadie Rivera has been haunted all her life by a vengeful ghost—a ghost that doesn’t want her to make any friends. The moment she tries? Cue exploding lightbulbs, chilling gusts of wind, and slamming doors.

Last year, Sadie got fed up. Last year, she made a best friend, Anna. So when the ghost caused an accident that killed her best friend, Sadie knew it was all her fault.

Which is why she’s not going to make any friends this year at her new school. At least until mysterious cool girl Mal shows up, and the ghost doesn’t bother her for once. But Mal wants Sadie all to herself—and she’ll do anything to make sure it stays that way.


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]]> 2023-12-13 02:05:55 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2823280237 Lost Kites and Other Treasures by Cathy Carr cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2823294296 Cathy Carr’s Lost Kites and Other Treasures is a moving and heartfelt middle-grade novel about mental illness, the transformative power of art, and the ever-changing complications and joys of family life.

"Sincere and funny . . . leaves readers with a sense of hope." —Sara Zarr, author of A Song Called Home

"Will be treasured by readers everywhere." —Megan E. Freeman, award-winning author of Alone

Twelve-year-old Franny Petroski never lets anyone know how often she thinks of the charismatic, troubled mom who left her years ago—any more than she talks about the unaccountable things Mom did while she was still in the picture. Life with Nana is safe and secure, and Franny’s innovative art projects fill in any lonesome times.

But when Nana has an accident and Franny’s estranged uncle comes home to help out for a while, some long-guarded family secrets come to light. Franny has to use all of her courage, as well as all of her creativity, to come to terms with the discoveries she makes about her mother—and herself.


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]]> 2023-12-13 02:18:34 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2823294296 Dancing in the Storm by Amie Darnell Specht and Shannon Hitchcock cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2823297752 In the tradition of Out of My Mind and Rules, and inspired by the co-author’s own life, this is a heartfelt, candid, and illuminating story of a girl learning to live fully with a rare genetic disorder.

Kate’s life in Baton Rouge, full of friends and family, gymnastics and Girl Scouts, is just plain great. But then, at the age of twelve, she suddenly develops a mysterious shoulder pain that won’t go away . . . and that will change her life forever. It turns out that Kate has one of the rarest genetic disorders in the world, Fibrodysplasia Ossificans Progressiva. FOP causes bone to form in places in the body where it shouldn’t, and there’s no cure yet. Kate will need to learn how to live with this difficult new reality, helped by those close to her and by a new pen pal named Amie, who has been living with FOP for years.

Drawing upon much of Amie Specht’s own experiences with FOP, she and esteemed novelist Shannon Hitchcock have created a poignant, eye-opening, and uplifting story of finding courage and joy in the face of adversity.


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]]> 2023-12-13 02:21:56 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2823297752 Tiana and the Magic of Harlem cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2823307328 This hardcover graphic novel stars Princess Tiana from Disney The Princess and the Frog in an original story! Perfect for children ages 8 to 12!

Tiana sets off to New York City for an apprenticeship at the most celebrated restaurant in Harlem. But can she juggle the dueling demands of her mentor, Chef Leroy, while experiencing Harlem’s exciting cultural scene? This hardcover graphic novel contains beautiful full-color comic panels, as well as pages taken from the princess’s very own journals of her adventures.


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]]> 2023-12-13 02:30:43 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2823307328 Vampires Ruin Everything (Scared Silly #3) by Elizabeth Eulberg cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2823310181 Goosebumps meets The Baily School Kids in this young middle-grade series about four unlikely friends who must band together to save their town from an evil curse!


WARNING: This book contains a very scary and silly story about a long dormant witch’s curse that's been unleashed on the unsuspecting town of Cauldron's Cove. It's revenge, over three-hundred years in the making. (Hey, better late than never!)


Regan, Sofia, Bennett, and Darius know better by now than to think the witch's curse is done with them. A mysterious family checks into Regan's family Boo and Breakfast...and they seem to take a particular interest in Regan! They're never seen during the day, they're allergic to garlic, and they speak like they're from another time.


They couldn't be...could they? But why would a family of vampires want to recruit Regan?


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]]> 2023-12-13 02:33:10 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2823310181 Gooseberry by Robin Gow cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2823313004 Robin Gow’s Gooseberry is a moving middle-grade novel about a young nonbinary person searching for family and finding it with a sweet rescue dog.


There’s a lot twelve-year-old B doesn’t know—like what their new name should be after coming out as nonbinary. Or what it would feel like to finally feel at home after moving around to different foster families for years. But there’s one thing B does know: they want to be a dog trainer when they grow up. And when they meet Gooseberry—a feisty stray dog who seems as wary of strangers as B does—B feels an instant connection. With Gooseberry, B could have everything they want: a family of their own, and a dog to train. And B’s newest foster parents agree to let B adopt him.


But training a dog isn’t as easy as B expected. Gooseberry is anxious and barely lets B pet him, let alone train him. Will Gooseberry ever feel at ease with B? And how can B teach Gooseberry to trust, when they know so little about trust themself?


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]]> 2023-12-13 02:35:48 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2823313004 The Secret Library by Kekla Magoon cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2823315633 Travel through time with National Book Award Finalist Kekla Magoon in a page-turning fantasy adventure about family secrets and finding the courage to plot your own life story.

Since Grandpa died, Dally’s days are dull and restricted. She’s eleven and a half years old, and her exacting single mother is already preparing her to take over the family business. Starved for adventure and release, Dally rescues a mysterious envelope from her mother’s clutches, an envelope Grandpa had earmarked for her. The map she finds inside leads straight to an ancient vault, a library of secrets where each book is a portal to a precise moment in time. As Dally “checks out” adventure after adventure—including an exhilarating outing with pirates—she begins to dive deep into her family’s hidden history. Soon she’s visiting every day to escape the demands of the present. But the library has secrets of its own, intentions that would shape her life as surely as her mother’s meticulous plans. What will Dally choose? Equal parts mystery and adventure—with a biracial child puzzling out her identity alongside the legacy of the past—this masterful middle-grade fantasy rivets with crackling prose, playful plot twists, and timeless themes. A satisfying choice for fans of Kindred and When You Reach Me.


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]]> 2023-12-13 02:38:14 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2823315633 Table Titans Club by Scott Kurtz cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2823318337 Growing pains, game-play adventure, and 20-sided dice abound in this new graphic novel series about a middle school Dungeon & Dragons club from an Eisner and Harvey Award-winning cartoonist.

Valeria Winters has an easier time finding trouble than making friends. A fantasy-obsessed nerd with the legendary confidence—and temper—of a Valkyrie, Val promises her mom that things will be different at her new school. “No more fighting!”

As if by fate, she meets the Table Titans right away—Alan, Andrew, and Darius, who run the school’s tabletop gaming club. Finally, Val has found her own adventuring party! And even better . . . a place where she belongs.

So when the future of the club is threatened, Val makes it her personal quest to save the Table Titans. She’ll have to face the fire-breathing wrestling coach and popular girl Kate, who seems out for revenge. Revenge for what? Val has no clue.

As the quest grows more and more complicated, Val wishes she was like her peaceful druid Lulani from the Table Titans' campaign, whose calm voice always prevails. If she loses her cool in real life, Val might lose more than the Table Titans club. She'll have to roll a natural 20 in charisma to keep her new friends together.

Set in the same universe as the Eisner Award-winning webcomic PvP, Scott Kurtz’s artwork blends zany, fantastical visuals with slice-of-life humor. For fans of fantasy and coming of age stories alike, Table Titans finds humor, heart, and adventure in a tale of friendship and finding your people.


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]]> 2023-12-13 02:40:49 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2823318337 Last Laugh by K. R. Alexander cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2823323705 What's scarier than a collection of clown dolls in a secret locked room?


How about...those clown dolls coming to life. And hunting you down.


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]]> 2023-12-13 02:45:31 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2823323705 The Reckoning by Wade Hudson cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2823327000 A powerful contemporary novel about an aspiring 12 year-old filmmaker whose world is turned upside down when his grandfather is slain in a senseless and racist act of violence. From the author of the award-winning memoir, Defiant: Growing Up in the Jim Crow South and co-editor of Recognize! An Anthology Honoring and Amplifying Black Life.

"A powerful reminder to never stop speaking the truth." —Kirkus Reviews

Lamar can’t wait to start his filmmaking career like his idol Spike Lee. And leave behind his small town of Morton, Louisiana. But for now, Lamar has to learn how to be a filmmaker while getting to know his grandfather.

When Gramps talks about his activism and Black history, Lamar doesn’t think much about it. Times have changed since the old Civil Rights days! Right? He has a white friend named Jeff who wants to be a filmmaker, too, even though Jeff’s parents never let him go to Lamar’s Black neighborhood. But there’s been progress in town. Right?

Then Gramps is killed in a traffic altercation with a white man claiming self-defense. But the Black community knows better: Gramps is another victim of racial violence. Protesters demand justice. So does Lamar. But he is also determined to keep his grandfather's legacy alive in the only way he knows how: recording a documentary about the fight against injustice.

From the critically acclaimed author and the publisher of Just Us Books, Wade Hudson comes a riveting, timely, and deeply moving story about a young Black filmmaker whose eyes are opened to racial injustice and becomes inspired to follow in his grandfather's activist footsteps.


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]]> 2023-12-13 02:48:21 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2823327000 Escape from Valo (Star Wars: The High Republic #1) by Daniel José Older and Alyssa Wong cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2823332267 Star Wars: The High Republic, the New York Times best-selling series, continues. . .For light and life!

Journey to the embattled Occlusion Zone in this action-packed adventure set hundreds of years before the Skywalker saga! It’s a dark and dangerous time for the galaxy in which communication has been rendered nearly impossible in Nihil-controlled space as the nefarious pirates continue to threaten the Republic’s very existence. Join Jedi Padawan Ram Jomaram—and some Jedi younglings—as they plot their escape from enemy territory.

Hopeful Jedi younglings will have to work together to overcome their fears in order to survive—and help save the galaxy.


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]]> 2023-12-13 02:52:48 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2823332267 The New Girl (The New Girl #1) by Cassandra Calin cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2823336627 Instagram sensation and Tapas webcomic superstar Cassandra Calin makes her long-form debut with this funny, feel-good middle-grade graphic novel about change.


Goodbye, old life...


Lia and her family are waiting to board a flight across the Atlantic, leaving behind family, friends, and Romania—the only home Lia has ever known. But Lia's heartache is overshadowed by the discomfort of her first period. As if things weren't difficult enough! Now Lia is thrust into a world where everything is different: her home, her language, and even her body. With so many changes happening at once, Lia struggles with schoolwork, has trouble communicating with classmates, and has no idea how to manage her unpleasant periods. Will she ever feel like herself again?


Inspired by the author's own immigration experience, The New Girl is a comically charming story about change and acceptance.


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]]> 2023-12-13 02:56:32 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2823336627 Dreamer's Nightmare (The Dragon Prince Graphic Novel #4) by Nicole Andelfinger and illustrated by Felia Hanakata cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2823344816 Don't miss this original canon prequel story set in the world of the Emmy Award-winning Netflix animated series The Dragon Prince, with story by the creators of the series and of the New York Times bestselling Through the Moon (The Dragon Prince Graphic Novel #1).


In the quiet town of Noct in the Human Kingdom of Katolis, a storm has been brewing. By the time young princes Callum and Ezran arrive, the community is in a state of panic. A mysterious force has been sweeping through town, putting any adult who encounters it into a deep sleep. Children recount what they saw—some describe a beast, others a dragon, some even mention an elf – but is there truly something sinister at work, or have their imaginations gotten the best of them?


While King Harrow, Aunt Amaya, and the rest of the adults attempt to solve the mystery, Callum and Ezran meet compelling forces of their own. While each prince has something to prove, they will need to work together if they want to get to the bottom of things. Can Callum and Ezran uncover the source of the chaos before all of Noct is lost to a nightmare?


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]]> 2023-12-13 03:03:30 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2823344816 Upstaged by Robin Easter cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2823348986 In a summer of goodbyes and new beginnings, shy Ashton Price hopes to confess to their theater camp crush in this heartfelt middle-grade graphic novel. Perfect for fans of The Tryout and The Girl from the Sea.

This is it: the last hurrah, the final curtain call. 

Ever since sixth grade, Ashton Price and their best friend and enduring crush, Ivy Santos, have spent their summers together at theater camp. Now it’s their last year before they part ways for high school, and Ash is determined to end it on a high note!

With Ash as stage manager and Ivy the lead in this year’s musical, this summer’s shaping up to be everything the two could have hoped for. Maybe Ash will even work up the courage to ask Ivy out! But between Ivy rehearsing long hours with her colead and Ash throwing themself into an ambitious stage production, will they end up drifting apart instead?

As summer wanes and September looms, Ash and Ivy’s friendship will change forever, one way or another.


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]]> 2023-12-13 03:07:07 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2823348986 Pizza Face (Four Eyes #2) by Rex Ogle and illustrated by Dave Valeza cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2824432884 From Rex Ogle and Dave Valeza, the creators of Four Eyes, comes the second book in this humorous and heartfelt middle-school memoir trilogy.


Just can't face it!


On the first day of seventh grade, Rex encounters a bump in the road—a big angry pimple right in the center of his forehead. And this is only the beginning of his problems. What follows is a frustrating battle with stubborn acne, body odor, and other embarrassments of puberty. Still struggling with a home life edging on the poverty line, Rex can't afford to buy the acne medication or deodorant he needs, and bullies are noticing Rex's awkward transformation. On top of it all, things have gotten weird with his friends, making Rex feel like he can't do or say anything right. So far, seventh grade stinks!


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]]> 2023-12-13 21:30:55 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2824432884 The Wolf and the Well (Goblin #2) by Eric Grissom and illustrated by Will Perkins cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2824436089 What would you sacrifice to protect the one you loved? Uncover the mystery in the thrilling sequel to the fantasy adventure graphic novel Goblin.

One dark and stormy night, Rikt meets a mysterious fortune teller in the woods. When she foresees his best friend, a wolf named Fish-breath, is in mortal danger, he is overcome with the fear of losing her. When an opportunity to protect her presents itself, Rikt trades the freedom of the wild for the protection of Underwood—an orphanage for monster children and a sanctuary for wolves. Was his bargain worth the price? And what fate awaits the children who live there? The Wolf and the Well is perfect for fans of fantasy adventure graphic novels like Amulet, Lightfall, and City of Dragons.

After losing his parents, Rikt struggles with a fear of being alone. The anxiety becomes unbearable when he receives three prophecies from a mysterious witch, one of which foretells a terrible fate for his best friend, a wolf named Fish-breath. After the first two prophecies prove true, Rikt meets Ms. Evelyn, a friendly human who offers them protection at Underwood, an orphanage for monstrous creatures and wayward wolves. Rikt soon learns things at Underwood are not what they seem and suspects the other children are in danger. With the help of a servant troll girl and a neurotic faun, Rikt must uncover the mystery of Underwood before he learns first-hand what horrors await at the bottom of an ancient well.


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]]> 2023-12-13 21:35:49 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2824436089 Choose Your Own Adventure: Forecast From Stonehenge by Stephanie Phillips, illustrated by Dani Bolinho, and colored by PH Gomes cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2824438590 From the hit Choose Your Own Adventure novels comes a new adapted graphic novel taking readers on their own visual adventure as a detective exploring London’s underground to uncover the secrets of the famous prehistoric monument, Stonehenge.

In this Choose Your Own Adventure graphic novel, adapted from the classic ChooseCo book, you'll be visiting the infamous and enigmatic Stonehenge as a young traveler. While attending a solstice event held by a nameless group of druids in disguise, you'll meet numerous characters like the excitable wizard Alistair, the deadly fairy Elaine and her horde, and even a woodland nymph Liandra. At the center are the secrets of Stonehenge and a magical scythe that's fallen into your hands.

Who you meet, and whether they're friends or foes will be up to you as you choose where the story takes you! Part explorer, part detective, you'll explore London's underground in search of answers to uncover the secrets of the famous Stonehenge.

From acclaimed writer Stephanie Phillips (Harley Quinn, Wonder Woman: Evolution) and returning artist Dani Bolinho (Choose Your Own Adventure: Journey Under the Sea) comes Choose Your Own Adventure: Forecast From Stonehenge, an interactive adventure graphic novel where YOU decide what happens next.


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]]> 2023-12-13 21:40:24 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2824438590 Tiffany's Griffon by Maddi Gonzalez and Magnolia Porter Siddell cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2824569858 Marnie Plummer is a bookish, lonely girl with a chip on her shoulder. There’s nothing she cares about more than her favorite book series, The Griffon Riders of Crystalfall. When it miraculously turns out that the world of the books is actually real, and they need a Chosen One to come from the real world and save them from danger, Marnie is shocked and—of course—overjoyed.

There’s just one problem.

The Chosen One they seek is not actually her—it’s Tiffany Rodriguez, the pretty, popular girl who (in Marnie’s eyes) already has everything she could ever want. Why should Tiffany get to have this, too? Marnie decides she’s the one who deserves to be the Chosen One. She’ll make it happen no matter what, even if she has to do something she’d never thought she could do: become Tiffany’s friend.


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]]> 2023-12-14 01:09:05 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2824569858 SCRAM: Society of Creatures Real and Magical by Rory Lucey cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2824572432 Rockhurst is your average suburban town. It has everything you'd expect: happy families, fun shops…and magical creatures!

In the hopes of learning more about the local cryptids, three friends, Jenny, Emiko, and Brian, start the Society of Creatures Real and Magical—S.C.R.A.M.! Their first order of business? To meet a troll!

As they venture into the unknown, our heroes learn valuable lessons about friendship, perseverance, and the importance of keeping a fish head in an old boot.


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]]> 2023-12-14 01:11:31 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2824572432 Between Two Brothers by Crystal Allen cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2827075958 Inspired by real events, Between Two Brothers is a powerful and uplifting story about forgiveness, brotherhood, and the power of a family’s unconditional love, from Crystal Allen, the acclaimed author of How Lamar's Bad Prank Won a Bubba-Sized Trophy and the Magnificent Mya Tibbs series. Perfect for readers who loved Fish in a Tree and Out of My Mind.


Isaiah "Ice" Abernathy has always worshiped his older brother, Seth. For years they’ve been not just brothers but best friends—and as Seth starts his senior year, Ice is eager to spend as much time with his brother as he can, making memories before Seth goes to college.

But when Seth announces he’s leaving much earlier than expected, and then he misses an important event—one he'd promised to attend—it causes a major fight.


Filled with regret, Ice plans to apologize to Seth later the next day, but later never comes, as he finds out Seth was in an accident—one that leaves him in the hospital. And the doctors say he may never recover.


Racked by fear and guilt, Ice chooses to step up, defy the experts, and help Seth recover in a way only he can—by trusting in their bond and the undying love between two brothers.


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]]> 2023-12-16 15:29:39 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2827075958 Averil Offline by Amy Noelle Parks cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2827077163 A fun, fast-paced story about a girl determined to cut the cord with her helicopter parents.

Twelve-year-old coder Averil can't do anything without her parents knowing. That’s because her mom uses the Ruby Slippers surveillance app to check where she is, who she texts, and even what she eats for lunch. Averil wonders how she’s ever going to grow up if she’s not allowed to learn from mistakes. When she learns that Ruby Slippers is about to become even more invasive, she teams up with Max, a new kid at school dealing with overbearing parents of his own. Together they figure out an almost foolproof way to ditch their parents and run away to the college campus that’s home to the quirky Ruby Slippers creator. It’s an extreme challenge just getting to meet with him—but the two kids cleverly figure out a series of puzzles and get their meeting. What they find gives them pause—and gets them thinking about the value of honesty in a new light. After all, isn’t trust at the heart of their parents' need to know?


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]]> 2023-12-16 15:33:02 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2827077163 Friend or UFO (The Area 51 Files #3) by Julie Buxbaum and illustrated by Lavanya Naidu cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2827078666 Sky and her friends tackle their biggest mystery yet—the discovery of Area 52!—in the third installment of this laugh-out-loud, highly illustrated middle grade series by New York Times bestselling author Julie Buxbaum, illustrated by Lavanya Naidu.

Sky’s life in Area 51 is full of surprises. Like the fact that aliens are real—and now one is her best friend! But the biggest surprise yet comes when Sky learns that her grandmother has been kidnapped and is stuck in Area 52, the only other alien portal on Earth. Even more bananas? Her grandma has been an undercover FBAI agent for YEARS. Like Sky’s whole entire life. How could Sky not have known her grandma had a secret identity?

Uncle Anish says to leave this whole mess to him. For reals this time. The kids just have to hang tight. Spoiler alert: The kids do not, and will never, hang tight.

There’s just one problem: No one knows the location of Area 52. In order to solve this mystery and save Sky’s grandma, Sky and her friends will have to solve a series of secret puzzles and codes, traverse the Area 51 library for clues, break into FBAI headquarters, and more. But someone doesn’t want Sky to solve this mystery, and they’ve got their eyes on her…


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]]> 2023-12-16 15:37:18 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2827078666 The Secret of the Fang (Meesh the Bad Demon #2) by Michelle Lam cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2827079952 Meesh the Bad Demon is no stranger to saving the world—but she never thought she’d have to do it twice! Can she defeat the darkness once and for all in this sequel of epic proportions?

When Meesh banded together with Fairy Princess Nouna to save the underworld, she never expected she’d have to… do it again someday. Though, as Meesh grows into her newly discovered destiny as the Guardian of the world, she figured there would be a few minor rescues, maybe some crime-fighting here or there.

But before long, her new friend Chai’s family is forced out of their home by an evil force who threatens to destroy all of fox-kind if they dare stay. Meesh suspects the same masked villain she faced before is behind all of this, but will she be able to stop them before it's too late?


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]]> 2023-12-16 15:40:44 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2827079952 Penny Draws a Secret Adventure (Penny Draws #3) by Sara Shepard cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2827081125 The third book in the humorous, heartfelt, highly illustrated series about a girl who doodles to cope with her anxiety, from #1 New York Times bestselling author Sara Shepard.

Little by little, Penny Lowry is making it through the fifth grade—with a bit of help from her friends Maria, Kristian, and Rocco, as well as her lovable dog Cosmo. And there's a lot of change to deal with this year! Penny's newborn twin brother and sister have everyone in her family on their last nerve with their crying. Her friends Maria and Chloe are spending a lot of time together without inviting Penny along, making her worry they might be getting tired of her. And on top of everything, Penny and her friends discover a very old map in her attic that sends them on a wild scavenger hunt all over town in search of treasure!

Can Penny get her worries about her friends and family under control, and lead her group of friends to find the hidden treasure?


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]]> 2023-12-16 15:44:00 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2827081125 Timid by Jonathan Todd cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2827082488 A semiautobiographical middle-grade graphic novel about frenemies, fitting in, and finding your voice.


Cecil Hall and his family have just moved from Florida to Massachusetts, near Boston. Cecil is anxious about making friends because he doesn't know where he'll fit in. His older sister, Leah, thinks he should befriend the other Black kids at his new school, but Cecil isn't sure how he’d go about doing that. He wants to be known for his comics-making talent, anyway. But the few kids who are impressed by Cecil's art aren’t always nice to him. When one of his drawings is misused and gets him into serious trouble, can Cecil stand up for himself and figure out who his real friends are?


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]]> 2023-12-16 15:46:44 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2827082488 Plants vs. Zombies: Zapped (Plants vs. Zombies #23) by Paul Tobin, illustrated by Christianne Gillenardo-Goudreau, colored by Heather Breckel, and lettered by Steve Dutro cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2827084306 More and more custard pies and zombies are appearing seemingly out of thin air every day! The custard pies are pretty nice, but these zombies are becoming a real problem!

It's almost like these Zombies are Automatically Produced, so Patrice, Nate, and Crazy Dave will have to get to the bottom of things before Neighborville is “Zapped” beyond recovery!

Eisner Award-winning writer Paul Tobin collaborates with the amazing artist Christianne Gillenardo-Goudreau for a brand-new Plants vs. Zombies original graphic novel, with lavish lettering by Eisner-nominated Steve Dutro and gorgeous colors by Heather Breckel!


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]]> 2023-12-16 15:50:30 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2827084306 The Day I Fell into a Fairy Tale by Ben Miller and illustrated by Daniela Jaglenka Terrazzini cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2827085487 From actor, author, and comedian Ben Miller comes an illustrated middle grade fantasy adventure following a brother and sister who stumble into a magical new world—perfect for fans of Half Upon a Time and Land of Stories!

Lana loves stories, especially the ones she and her brother, Harrison, share in their make-believe games. But when Harrison decides he’s too grown-up to play with Lana anymore, she’s too lonely to find the wonder in storytelling…until something magical happens.

Lana discovers a portal to a fairy tale world hidden in the strange new supermarket in town! But these aren’t the happy-ever-after fairy tales that Lana knows—they are darker and more dangerous, and the characters need Lana’s help to defeat an evil witch. But she can’t do it alone.

Can she convince Harrison to believe in stories again and journey to the world with her before it’s too late?


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]]> 2023-12-16 15:54:00 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2827085487 Camp Launchpad (Absolute Zeros #1) by Greg Smith and Michael Tanner and illustrated by Gabrielle Gomez cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2827086615 Reach for the stars in this exciting graphic novel about three ambitious, space-loving kids who must put their differences aside to save their summer camp before it closes...for good.

Welcome to Camp Launchpad! 

Summer is in full swing, which means a new class of kids has arrived to attend the best space camp in Florida...or at least, it used to be. With growing competition from the trendy rival camp next door, Camp Launchpad needs all the help it can get to keep its doors open.

Campers Val, Mark, and Pete are here for very different reasons: following in the footsteps of an astronaut mom, living up to expectations as a vice president’s son, or getting a once-in-a-lifetime scholarship. But they all have one huge thing in common: Their future in the stars launches from here...if there’s still a camp to launch from.

When the hotshot owner of the rival space camp makes a ten-million-dollar bet that could turn Camp Launchpad around, this unlikely trio must band together to pull off a miracle. If they don’t, this could be Camp Launchpad’s last summer ever!


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]]> 2023-12-16 15:57:16 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2827086615 A Royal Conundrum (The Misfits #1) by Lisa Yee and illustrated by Dan Santat cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2827088469 When a notorious thief is out for priceless treasure (gems! cats! general decorum!)—who're you gonna call? An elite team of crime-fighting underdogs, that's who! The Misfits are on the case in this hilarious illustrated series from Newbery Honoree Lisa Yee and Caldecott Medalist Dan Santat!

“For any kid who’s felt like a misfit, this crackling adventure packs a wallop!” —Lincoln Peirce, creator of Big Nate and Max & the Midknights

Olive Cobin Zang has . . . issues. And they mostly aren’t her fault. (No, really!) Though she often slips under the radar, problems have a knack for finding her. So, imagine her doubts when she’s suddenly dropped off at the strangest boarding school ever: a former castle turned prison that's now a “reforming arts school”!

But nothing could’ve prepared Olive for RASCH (not “rash”). There, she’s lumped with a team of other kids who never quite fit in, and discovers that the academy isn’t what it seems—and neither is she. In fact, RASCH is a cover for an elite group of misfits who fight crime . . . and Olive has arrived just in time.

Turns out that RASCH is in danger of closing, unless Olive’s class can stop the heist of the century. And as Olive falls in love with this wacky school, she realizes it’s up to her new team to save the only home that’s ever welcomed them.


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]]> 2023-12-16 16:01:44 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2827088469 Louder Than Hunger by John Schu cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2827089816 “Every so often a book comes along that is so brave and necessary, it extends a lifeline when it’s needed most. This is one of those books.” —Katherine Applegate, author of the Newbery Medal–winning, The One and Only Ivan

Revered teacher, librarian, and story ambassador John Schu explores anorexia—and self-expression as an act of survival—in a wrenching and transformative novel-in-verse.

But another voice inside me says,
We need help.
We’re going to die.

Jake volunteers at a nursing home because he likes helping people. He likes skating and singing, playing Bingo and Name That Tune, and reading mysteries and comics aloud to his teachers. He also likes avoiding people his own age . . . and the cruelty of mirrors . . . and food. Jake has read about kids like him in books—the weird one, the outsider—and would do anything not to be that kid, including shrink himself down to nothing. But the less he eats, the bigger he feels. How long can Jake punish himself before he truly disappears? A fictionalized account of the author’s experiences and emotions living in residential treatment facilities as a young teen with an eating disorder, Louder than Hunger is a triumph of raw honesty. With a deeply personal afterword for context, this much-anticipated verse novel is a powerful model for muffling the destructive voices inside, managing and articulating pain, and embracing self-acceptance, support, and love.


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]]> 2023-12-16 16:05:20 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2827089816 Finding Bear (The Last Bear #2) by Hannah Gold cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2827094851 The unmissable follow-up to the award-winning The Last Bear—perfect for fans of Rosanne Parry and Sara Pennypacker.


April Wood has returned home from her adventure on Bear Island. But even though it's been a whole year, she can’t stop thinking about Bear.


When April hears that a polar bear has been shot and injured in Svalbard, she’s convinced it’s her friend and persuades her dad to travel with her to the northernmost reaches of the Arctic. So begins an unforgettable journey across frozen tundra and icy glaciers.


But along the way, she discovers much more than she bargained for—a tiny polar bear cub, desperately in need of her help. In freezing temperatures, April must navigate the dangerous Arctic terrain and face her deepest fears if she’s to save him.


Beautifully illustrated by Levi Pinfold, Finding Bear is a stunning story of survival and a heartwarming tale of love that shows us how hope is born from the smallest of beginnings.


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]]> 2023-12-16 16:20:48 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2827094851 Unicorn Boy (Unicorn Boy #1) by Dave Roman cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2827095971 The first few years of Brian Reyes’ life were unremarkable―nothing weird about this kid, no sir. Then, one day, a bump appeared on his head, and it grew…and grew…and grew until it was a full-blown, sparkling, SINGING unicorn horn. That’s absolutely the last thing a shy kid like Brian wants, but destiny waits for no unicorn boy.

Luckily, Brian has his reassuring pal Avery to keep him grounded as weird occurrences start stacking up, like Brian’s breakfast muffin talking to him, or a bizarre black cat offering him a business card. But when shadowy creatures from another realm kidnap Avery, Brian has to embrace his fate to rescue his best friend.

In the pages of Unicorn Boy, Dave Roman has created a cast of charming oddballs reckoning with normal, every day problems like heroic destinies and the fate of all magic in the universe. Readers of Narwal and Jelly, Grumpy Unicorn, and InvestiGators will also endear themselves to these lovable characters.


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]]> 2023-12-16 16:24:15 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2827095971 True Colors by Abby Cooper cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2827097444 Turning Red meets The Giver in this novel about a town where everyone agrees to think positively—but one girl, whose emotions manifest as colors, can’t hide her true feelings.

In Serenity, Minnesota, everyone looks on the bright side, and that’s on purpose: to live in this town, people have to agree to talk positively and only focus on the good things in life. For twelve-year-old Mackenzie Werner, who has the rare gift of her emotions showing up as a colorful haze around her body, this town seems like the perfect place; she’ll never face the embarrassment of a grumbly grapefruit smog if everyone and everything is set up to be happy. But when a documentary maker comes to town and starts asking questions, Mackenzie, overwhelmed with emotion, can’t hold her haze back—and it explodes onto the whole town. Now everyone has their own haze, revealing their real feelings. As Mackenzie learns that emotions go beyond surface level, the whole town must reckon with what it means now that these true colors are on display.


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]]> 2023-12-16 16:28:40 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2827097444 Kites and Lemonade by Yasmeen bint Ahmad cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2827101469 An amazing journey of secrets, self-discovery, kites, and lemonade!

Leena, who suffers from selective mutism, and her family move to Riyadh because of her father's job. Her new home is in a modern apartment building where she meets and makes friends with Rima, a neighbour who is blind, and Jojo, who has a secret.

Together the girls encounter a clever cat, come across an ancient key, and find a mysterious old workshop full of books, inventions, and trinkets hidden under their building. Join them on their exploration of their amazing discovery and its secrets!

Who tampered with Leena and Rima's lemonade? Where did the clever cat come from? And whose kite will win at the FestAn amazing journey of secrets, self-discovery, kites, and lemonade!

Leena, who suffers from selective mutism, and her family move to Riyadh because of her father's job. Her new home is in a modern apartment building where she meets and makes friends with Rima, a neighbour who is blind, and Jojo, who has a secret.

Together the girls encounter a clever cat, come across an ancient key, and find a mysterious old workshop full of books, inventions, and trinkets hidden under their building. Join them on their exploration of their amazing discovery and its secrets!

Who tampered with Leena and Rima's lemonade? Where did the clever cat come from? And whose kite will win at the Festival?


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]]> 2023-12-16 16:39:56 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2827101469 Fairest of All (Whatever After: The Graphic Novel #1) by Sarah Mlynowski and illustrated by Anu Chouhan cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2827106329 The magic of the New York Times and PW bestselling Whatever After series comes to life in this brand-new graphic novel adaptation that will appeal to fans of Raina and Wings of Fire alike! Fractured fairy tales have never been this fun.


Once upon a time, Abby and her little brother, Jonah, were ordinary kids. The next minute? The mirror in their basement slurped them up and magically transported them into the fairy tale of Snow White.


Yes, really!


When Abby and Jonah stop Snow from eating the poison apple, they think they're heroes. But wait! If Snow doesn't die, she won't meet her prince and get her happy ending. Oops.


Now it's up to Abby and Jonah—with some help from Snow and the seven dwarfs—to outwit the witch and save the famous fairy tale in time.


But what if Snow's REAL happy ending is something else entirely?


Bestselling author Sarah Mlynowski and award-winning illustrator Anu Chouhan join forces to bring us this vibrant, action-packed, enchanting graphic novel adventure that will appeal to fans of fairy tales, Raina Telgemeier, The Land of Stories, and all magical, empowering adventures.


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]]> 2023-12-16 16:56:08 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2827106329 The Clue in the Reef (Surfside Girls #3) by Kim Dwinell cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2827109608 Splash into a new adventure with Sam & Jade in the graphic novel series that inspired the Apple TV+ show! Past and present collide with land and sea as the girls leave the mainland and strive to save the animals.

How did girls do anything dressed like this? Sam is cranky—the Surfside Days festival is on, and she and Jade have been conscripted to work the “Burger Dude Ranch” booth, dressed like it’s 1850! But when the girls paddle out at Danger Point on a break, it’s obvious that there’s a bigger mystery to be solved. What on Earth are those creatures doing stranded out there on that rock? As more weirdness unfolds, it’s time for Sam and Jade to re-open the Journal of Weird…searching for clues on an island adventure and testing their wits against their most dangerous foe yet!


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]]> 2023-12-16 17:06:54 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2827109608 The World-Famous Nine by Ben Guterson and illustrated by Kristina Kister cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2827110965 In this thrilling mystery from an award-winning author, Zander is determined to do whatever it takes to save his grandmother’s nineteen-story out-of-this-world department store—perfect for fans of The Swifts and The Mysterious Benedict Society.
 
Zander Olinga’s grandmother is the owner of the fabled Number Nine Plaza, the spectacular nineteen-story skyscraper. The Nine, as it’s called, has everything imaginable, including a massive Ferris wheel on its rooftop, monorail tracks suspended from its ceiling, and twenty-five glass elevators. But there’s something evil looming in the shadows, and strange accidents start befalling the guests. When Zander and his friend Natasha come across a series of inscriptions hidden throughout the walls of The Nine, they discover that the clues will lead them to a magical object which protects the store’s very existence. With the future of The Nine on the line, the pair are determined to recover the mysterious object before the luxury plaza and its many guests are destroyed. 
 
Featuring an unforgettable setting and a larger-than-life cast of characters, here’s a spellbinding mystery involving puzzles, art, and high-stakes adventure.


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]]> 2023-12-16 17:11:13 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2827110965 It Came from the Trees by Ally Russell cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2827111712 The legend of Bigfoot gets a bone-chilling update in this scary story about a young girl and her scout troop who are willing to brave the woods to find her missing friend when no one else will. Perfect for fans of Daka Hermon and Claribel A. Ortega!

The wilderness is in Jenna’s blood. Her Pap was the first Black park ranger at Sturbridge Reservation, and she practically knows the Owlet Survival Handbook by heart. But she’s never encountered a creature like the one that took her best friend Reese. Her parents don’t believe her; the police are worthless, following the wrong leads; and the media isn’t connecting the dots between Reese’s disappearance and a string of other attacks. Determined to save her friend, Jenna joins a new local scout troop, and ventures back into the woods.

When the troop stumbles across suspicious signs: huge human-like footprints near the camp, scratch marks on trees, and ominous sounds from the woods, Jenna worries that whatever took Reese is back to take her too. Can she trust her new scout leader? And will her new friend Norrie—who makes her laugh and reminds her so much of Reese—believe her?

After the unthinkable happens, the scouts, armed with their wits and toiletries, band together to fight the monster and survive the night.


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]]> 2023-12-16 17:14:02 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2827111712 Charlie Hernández & the Phantom of Time (Charlie Hernández #4) by Ryan Calejo cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2827112552 Inspired by Hispanic folklore, legends, and myths from the Iberian Peninsula and Central and South America, this fourth book in the Charlie Hernández series follows Charlie as he travels back in time to save the Land of the Living.

Charlie has received a letter from the Land of the Dead—a dire warning from his grandmother concerning his (and the rest of La Liga’s) impending demise. He doesn’t have much to go on, but according to the letter, a mysterious incident in the past, known only as “The Five Donkeys,” set in motion an unstoppable chain of events that will culminate in the total destruction of the Land of the Living.

Left with little alternative, Charlie, Violet, and Raúl enlist Esperanza’s help to use forbidden calaca magic and travel back in time to the place where the trouble began: 1950s Cuba. But all they discover in the mountain rainforests of Havana is a trail of dark secrets. And the deeper they dig, the more questions they unearth, none of which help them decipher what La Mano Peluda is planning. But perhaps most alarming of all, the friends soon learn that they are not the only time travelers in town.

Pursued by an unspeakable evil, Charlie and Violet must race against time to untangle the past, present, and future before the world they love vanishes into history.


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]]> 2023-12-16 17:16:52 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2827112552 Ant Story by Jay Hosler cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2827113851 Insect-extraordinaire Jay Hosler is back, this time exploring how we seek to understand ourselves and the world around us through the eyes of one of our world’s tiniest creatures: the ant.


Meet Rubi, a tiny ant with a big personality and an even bigger love for stories. Who knew the small world of her colony could be full of unexpected friendships, epic adventures, and death-defying escapes?


Follow Rubi on the journey of a lifetime as she uncovers the mystery and wonder of one of the world’s tiniest, mightiest insects.


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]]> 2023-12-16 17:20:56 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2827113851 Travis Daventhorpe Powers Up! (Travis Daventhorpe for the Win! #2) by Wes Molebash cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2827114723 Can a wimp like Travis Daventhorpe master the Legendary Sword of Legends and fulfill his cosmic destiny? For fans of Hilo and The Last Kids on Earth comes the second volume of this hilarious fantasy/sci-fi graphic novel series!

Travis Daventhorpe is destined to save the multiverse―at least, that’s what the prophecy says. But if he’s a legendary warrior in the making, shouldn’t he be a little better at sword fighting? With his engineering genius, Travis could develop technology to make himself unstoppable, but the wise sorcerer Bela says he needs to find his power within. Wherever he finds it, he better do it soon! The evil Nol Invictus, the ruler of the mystical realm Solusterra, is preparing a second attack―and this time, his lieutenant, the Rogue, has an army of velociborgs for backup!

From Wes Molebash comes the second volume in this pun-filled, video game–inspired, sci-fi fantasy adventures series. Join Travis Daventhorpe as he dodges bullies, forges friendships, and does his best to survive gym class . . . all while trying to fulfill his magical destiny!


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]]> 2023-12-16 17:23:42 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2827114723 Ferris by Kate DiCamillo cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2827115459 The beloved author of Because of Winn-Dixie has outdone herself with a hilarious and achingly real love story about a girl, a ghost, a grandmother, and growing up.

It’s the summer before fifth grade, and for Ferris Wilkey, it is a summer of sheer pandemonium: Her little sister, Pinky, has vowed to become an outlaw. Uncle Ted has left Aunt Shirley and, to Ferris’s mother’s chagrin, is holed up in the Wilkey basement to paint a history of the world. And Charisse, Ferris’s grandmother, has started seeing a ghost at the threshold of her room, which seems like an alarming omen given that she is also feeling unwell. But the ghost is not there to usher Charisse to the Great Beyond. Rather, she has other plans—wild, impractical, illuminating plans. How can Ferris satisfy a specter with Pinky terrorizing the town, Uncle Ted sending Ferris to spy on her aunt, and her father battling an invasion of raccoons?

As Charisse likes to say, “Every good story is a love story,” and Kate DiCamillo has written one for the ages: emotionally resonant and healing, showing the two-time Newbery Medalist at her most playful, universal, and profound.


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]]> 2023-12-16 17:26:01 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2827115459 The Wrong Way Home by Kate O'Shaughnessy cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2827117117 Twelve-year-old Fern believes she's living a noble life—but what if everything she's been told is a lie? This is a huge-hearted story about a girl learning to question everything—and to trust in herself.

Fern’s lived at the Ranch, an off-the-grid, sustainable community in upstate New York, since she was six. The work is hard, but Fern admires the Ranch's leader, Dr. Ben. So when Fern’s mother sneaks them away in the middle of the night and says Dr. Ben is dangerous, Fern doesn't believe it. She wants desperately to go back, but her mom just keeps driving.

Suddenly thrust into the treacherous, toxic, outside world, Fern thinks only about how to get home again. She has a plan, but it will take time. As that time goes by, though, Fern realizes there are things she will miss from this place—the library, a friend from school, the ocean—and there are things she learned at the Ranch that are just...not true.

Now Fern will have to decide. How much is she willing to give up to return to the Ranch? Should she trust Dr. Ben’s vision for her life? Or listen to the growing feeling that she can live by her own rules?


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]]> 2023-12-16 17:31:22 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2827117117 The Underdogs of Upson Downs by Craig Silvey cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2827118672 A heartwarming and hilarious story about a girl and her dog, and of kindness, friendship, hurdles, tunnels, see-saws, and—most importantly—bringing out the best in yourself and others.

Annie Shearer lives in the country town of Upson Downs with her best friend, an adopted stray dog called Runt. The two share a very special bond.

After years evading capture, Runt is remarkably fast and agile, perfect for herding runaway sheep. But when a greedy local landowner puts her family's home at risk, Annie directs Runt's extraordinary talents toward a different pursuit—winning the Agility Course Grand Championship at the lucrative Krumpets Dog Show in London.

However, there is a curious catch: Runt will only obey Annie's commands if nobody else is watching.

With all eyes on them, Annie and Runt must beat the odds—and the fastest dogs in the world—to save her farm.


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]]> 2023-12-16 17:36:15 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2827118672 Code Name Kingfisher by Liz Kessler cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2827119270 A young girl learns of her grandmother and great-aunt’s involvement in the Dutch Resistance during World War II in this heartbreaking middle grade story of family, history, resilience, and hope from acclaimed author Liz Kessler.

Thirteen-year-old Liv’s beloved ninety-two-year-old grandmother, Oma, is moving into a home where she can be cared for as her dementia worsens. As Liv helps her father empty Oma’s house, she finds an old chest which opens up a whole world that Liv never knew about: the hidden world of Oma’s childhood.

Through the letters and other mementos, Liv learns that Oma, given name Mila, had a sister, Eva, that no one in Liv’s family ever knew about. In 1942, Mila and Eva are sent away from their parents to a non-Jewish family so they will survive the war. Twelve-year-old Mila believes that they will soon be reunited with their parents and go back to their normal lives, but fourteen-year-old Eva knows better, and soon gets involved in the Resistance. Eva takes on more and more dangerous assignments until a betrayal forces her to decide between running away with her sister or fully committing to mission. Tragedy strikes, and Mila goes to England on her own to restart her life from scratch, vowing never to talk about her childhood again.

In the present day, Liv reads how Mila builds something new from the shattered pieces of her childhood while giving beloved Oma all the support she can. Both Liv and Mila grapple with loyalty, family, and love as they discover what it means to be brave and go above and beyond to offer someone else a life of dignity, happiness, and freedom.


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]]> 2023-12-16 17:38:37 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2827119270 Benny Ramírez and the Nearly Departed by José Pablo Iriarte cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2827120040 Benny Ramírez can see dead people . . . Well, one dead person, anyway. A hilarious and heartwarming story about a boy who can suddenly see the ghost of his famous musician grandfather!

After moving cross-country into his late grandfather’s Miami mansion, Benny discovers that the ghost of his famous trumpet-playing abuelo, the great Ignacio Ramírez, is still there . . . and isn’t too thrilled about it. He’s been barred from the afterlife, and no one can see him except his grandson. But Benny’s got problems of his own. He’s enrolled in a performing arts school with his siblings, despite having no obvious talent.


Luckily, Abuelo believes they can help each other. Abuelo has until New Year’s Eve to do some good in the world and thinks that teaching Benny how to play the trumpet and become a school celebrity might be the key to earning his wings. Having no better ideas, Benny finds himself taking Abuelo's advice—to disastrous and hilarious results.


Benny and Abuelo will find that there’s more than one way to be great in this unforgettable, laugh-out-loud tale of family, music, and self-discovery.


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]]> 2023-12-16 17:40:56 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2827120040 Ultraviolet by Aida Salazar cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2827121091 Sometimes life explodes in technicolor.


In the spirit of Judy Blume, award-winning author Aida Salazar tells it like it is about puberty, hormones, and first love in this hilarious, heartwarming, and highly relatable coming-of-age story. Perfect for fans of Jason Reynolds, Kwame Alexander, and Adib Khorram.


"This important and intensely relatable tale perfectly captures the angst of growing up. A true gift to maturing tweens everywhere." —Ernesto Cisneros, Pura Belpré award-winning author of Efrén Divided


For Elio Solis, eighth grade fizzes with change—his body teeming with hormones. His feelings that flow like lava. His relationship with Pops, who's always telling him to man up, the Solis way. And especially Camelia, his first girlfriend.

But when betrayal and heartbreak send Elio spiraling toward revenge, he doesn't anticipate that a fight to prove his manhood and defend Camelia's honor will lead to dire consequences—or that Camelia's not looking for a savior.

Crackling with comedy and unflinching candor, Ultraviolet digs deep into themes of consent, puberty, masculinity, and the emotional lives of boys, as it challenges stereotypes and offers another way to be in the world. It speaks directly to tweens' and young teens' lived experiences and will make them feel seen.


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]]> 2023-12-16 17:43:50 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2827121091 K Is in Trouble (K Is in Trouble #1) by Gary Clement cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2827121727 A boy named K must navigate a world of outrageously unkind adults in this hysterical, Kafkaesque middle grade graphic novel, with art reminiscent of James Marshall.

K is nice, polite, and always does as he’s told. K is also always, always in trouble.  
 
No matter what he does or says, it seems there is someone ready to blame him for everything. K is in trouble for going to school. K is in trouble for staying home. K is in trouble for running an errand, getting sick, or just being thirsty. K gets into trouble with imperious crows, persnickety station agents, bombastic teachers, his own classmates...even one nice fresh carp.  
 
Whether it’s his easily annoyed parents or prickly pedestrians on the street, K gets on everyone’s bad side…and he didn’t even do anything wrong! 
 
Gary Clement takes a unique approach to the absurdities of childhood in this hilarious series opener that reinforces a timeless message: Most adults know less than a talking beetle.


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]]> 2023-12-16 17:46:16 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2827121727 The Legendary Mo Seto (The Legendary Mo Seto #1) by AY Chan cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2827122441 A fast-paced, high-kicking debut that’s Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon meets Stand Up, Yumi Chung as a young taekwondo artist uses an ancient book to help save her dreams—and her father.

Twelve-year-old Modesty “Mo” Seto dreams of being a taekwondo champion. Even though her mom disapproves, Mo can always count on her dad, who is her number one fan and biggest supporter. Lately, Mo has been on a losing streak, and it doesn’t help that she keeps losing to her archnemesis, Dax, who’s much bigger than her. If only she were faster, stronger, not so petite. Mo can’t even lean on her dad like usual with how distracted he’s been lately.

When Mo learns about the chance to audition to star alongside her idol and legendary martial artist and movie star Cody Kwok, she knows this her chance to prove to her dad, to the world, and to herself that she can compete with anyone, no matter her size. Unfortunately, Dax is auditioning, too. As Mo and her nemesis progress to callbacks, someone attempts to sabotage the movie set and Mo’s dad disappears—and both events seem linked to a mysterious book, the Book of Joy.

The book contains information on Xiaoxi Fu, a secret dance-like martial art developed by Mo’s ancestral grandmother. Armed with these secret moves and an unexpected ally, Mo embarks on a high-octane adventure to rescue her father, save the movie, and discover an unexpected joy in being small.


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]]> 2023-12-16 17:49:00 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2827122441 Basil & Dahlia: A Tragical Tale of Sinister Sweetness by Joy McCullough and illustrated by Shane Cluskey cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2827123394 Two orphan siblings with truly terrible luck battle an evil celebrity chef in this uproarious illustrated middle grade romp with the dark humor of A Series of Unfortunate Events and The Beast and the Bethany.

It’s hard to imagine things could get worse after one’s parents die in a greenhouse explosion. But that is precisely what happens to Basil and his younger sister, Dahlia. They escape from the social worker who wants to split them up to different foster homes by jumping off a moving train, only to find themselves wounded (Dahlia) and bedraggled (Basil) and without a soul to care for them. What’s more, they’re lost in the wilds of New York City.

Famished and alone, they wander into Cravings, the delectable bakery owned by Laurel Fox, disgraced celebrity chef with a soft spot for poor, hungry orphans. When she offers them luxurious accommodations and all the éclairs they can eat, Basil and Dahlia dare to hope their luck has changed at last. But the savvy reader will know it can’t be as simple as all that! Laurel Fox is out for redemption, and she’ll do anything to get the sinister secret ingredient she requires.


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]]> 2023-12-16 17:51:50 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2827123394 We Are Big Time by Hena Khan and illustrated by Safiya Zerrougui cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2827124645 SWISH! Cheer courtside for a Muslim teen as she joins an all-girls, hijab-wearing basketball team and learns that she’s much more than a score. This energetic graphic novel is inspired by a true story!

Aliya is new to Wisconsin, and everything feels different than Florida. The Islamic school is bigger, the city is colder, and her new basketball team is…well, they stink.

Aliya’s still excited to have teammates (although the team's captain, Noura, isn't really Aliya's biggest fan), and their new coach really understands basketball (even if she doesn't know much about being Muslim). This season should be a blast...if they could just start to win. As they strengthen their skills on the court, Aliya and the Peace Academy team discover that it takes more than talent to be great—it's teamwork and self-confidence that defines true success.

For fans of The Crossover and Roller Girl, this graphic novel goes big with humor and heart as it explores culture and perceptions, fitting in and standing out, and finding yourself, both on and off the court.


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]]> 2023-12-16 17:56:30 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2827124645 The School for Invisible Boys (The Kairos Files #1) by Shaun David Hutchinson cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2827125637 What would you do if no one could see you? In this surreal adventure, a boy who is used to being overlooked literally becomes invisible, only to realize there may be far more dangerous threats in his school than bullies.

Sixth grade takes a turn for the weird when Hector Griggs discovers he has the ability to turn invisible. Sure, ever since Hector’s former best friend Blake started bullying him, he’s been feeling like he just wants to disappear…but he never thought he actually would. And then, Hector meets another invisible boy, Orson Wellington, who has an ominous warning: “I’m stuck here. Stuck like this. It’s been years. The gelim’s hunting me and it’ll get you, too.”

It turns out, there is more than meets the eye at St. Lawrence’s Catholic School for Boys, and if Hector is going to save Orson—and himself—from the terrifying creature preying on students’ loneliness and fear, he’ll need to look deeper. With the help of a mysterious new classmate, Sam, can Hector unravel the mysteries haunting his school, and discover that sometimes it takes disappearing to really be seen?


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]]> 2023-12-16 18:00:04 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2827125637 Rise of the Cat (Hilo #10) by Judd Winick cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2827152277 Get ready for another epic Hilo adventure in the laugh-out-loud funny New York Times bestselling graphic novel series—this time Hilo's favorite magical warrior cat, is going to boarding school!

"An action-packed page-turner with heart!" —Dav Pilkey, author of DOG MAN

Welcome to the Wombatton Academy of Better Magic!

Hilo's favorite warrior-cat-friend, Polly's adventures with Hilo have landed her in trouble! So when Polly breaks one too many rules, she gets sent to Wombatton—the magical boarding school for bad kids. But something strange is going on at Wombatton—why does everyone pick on Polly's roommate? And why have students started disappearing? Can Polly get to the bottom of this magical mystery and reunite with Hilo and her friends on Earth?!

Full of action, humor, and lots of heart—the New York Times calls Hilo, "A story that can be enjoyed by the entire family." Don't miss out on the latest installment of this beloved series that kids and grownups love!


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]]> 2023-12-16 19:40:28 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2827152277 The Many Faces of Ista Flit (Tidemagic #1) by Clare Harlow and illustrated by Karl J. Mountford cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2827154360 Magic, mystery, and monsters abound in this series opener about a girl with the rare magical ability to look like anyone she's ever seen.

In misty Shelwich, magic rises and falls with the tides, everyone is born with a magical gift, and people have started to . . . disappear.

Rumor has it they are snatched by monsters, but Ista Flit doesn't want to believe it. Not when her own father is missing. As she scours the city, searching for clues, a notorious thief finds her. Ista has a rare talent: she's a face-changer, able to take on the appearance of anyone she's seen, and Alexo could use a girl with her skill. Ista could use Alexo's help in her search—if only she could trust him.

As more people disappear from the city, Ista finds unexpected allies in Nat and Ruby, each searching for their own missing loved ones. These three determined kids will need to use all the Tidemagic they can summon, infiltrate the city's highest elite circles, and dive into its lowest caverns, in order to find how thieves, monsters, and the missing are all connected.


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]]> 2023-12-16 19:47:40 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2827154360 I Survived the Battle of D-Day, 1944 (I Survived: The Graphic Novel #9) by Lauren Tarshis and illustrated by Brian Churilla cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2827155628 A bold graphic novel adaptation of Lauren Tarshis's bestselling I Survived the Battle of D-Day, 1944 with text adapted by Georgia Ball and art by Brian Churilla.


A battle that changes the course of the war...Paul Colbert’s French village has been under Nazi control for years. His Jewish best friend has disappeared. Food is scarce. And there doesn’t seem to be anything Paul can do to make things better. ​​​​​​​Then Paul finds an American paratrooper stuck in a tree. When Paul helps the soldier, he discovers a secret resistance movement―and he learns the Allies have a plan to crush the Nazis. But first, the resistance needs Paul’s help. ​​​​​​​ This is Paul’s chance to make a difference. Soon he finds himself in the midst of the largest invasion in history. Can he do his part to turn horror into hope? ​​​​​​​ ​​​​​​​Lauren Tarshis's New York Times bestselling I Survived series comes to vivid life in graphic novel editions. Perfect for readers who prefer the graphic novel format, or for existing fans of the I Survived chapter book series, these graphic novels combine historical facts with high-action storytelling that's sure to keep any reader turning the pages. Includes a nonfiction section at the back with facts and photos about the real-life event.


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]]> 2023-12-16 19:52:04 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2827155628 Perry Homer Ruins Everything by Beth Vrabel cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2827156076 A boy and his con artist family’s rascally ways keep them on a never-ending vacation full of rip-offs and schemes, leaving him to wonder if it’s too late to change his fate in this funny, hijinks-filled middle grade romp.

Perry Homer is bad news, just like the rest of his troublemaking family. His parents skip out on restaurant bills. Uncle Manny uses his legal training to get free stuff. Perry’s cousins use their coding skills to scam people. On a disastrous vacation to Lindsborg, “the nicest town in America,” Perry’s siblings steal their new favorite toys from local businesses and set the town’s whimsical Swedish decorations ablaze. The Homers are worthy of the nickname the local news gives them—the Bad Family—and they’re having a blast.

Perry thinks he could be good. His favorite teacher, Miss Penelope, recommended him for a scholarship at the prestigious Ithaca School, and it’s his chance to change things. He just has to get home from Lindsborg and show up for the interview.

Still, that’s easier said than done. After the Homers get kicked off their plane, Perry comes up with one last scheme to keep them pointed toward home. But can Perry really make it to Ithaca—or is it his fate to ruin everything?


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]]> 2023-12-16 19:54:10 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2827156076 Takio by Brian Michael Bendis and illustrated by Michael Avon Oeming cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2827156872 From New York Times bestselling writer Brian Michael Bendis (Superman, Ultimate Spider-Man, Jessica Jones, Ironheart) and artist Michael Avon Oeming (Cave Carson Has a Cybernetic Eye), comes this new collection of the adventure comic for all ages.

Taki and Olivia are sisters in an adoptive family—and they're driving each other crazy! Every day, their overprotective mother makes them walk to school together, eat lunch together and play together—they can't get away from each other!

But when a secret experiment goes catastrophically wrong, the squabbling siblings suddenly find that they have superpowers. They're the first actual superheroes in the entire world—and it is awesome!

But are the girls ready to face the daunting challenges posed by their amazing new abilities? And is the rest of the world ready for real-life superheroes?

Find out in Takio from the acclaimed creative team of Brian Michael Bendis and Michael Avon Oeming—an electrifying tale of adventure for comics fans of all ages!


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]]> 2023-12-16 19:57:53 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2827156872 Stephen McCranie's Space Boy Volume 18 by Stephen McCranie cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2827158005 Welcome, seekers of the truth!

Maki and Zeph attend their first meeting of the Truth Seekers, but the conclusions the group comes to raise disturbing questions for Zeph, ones that cast doubt on the very friend he wants to save.

Despite being separated by thousands of miles, Oliver and Amy’s relationship grows even closer, and the boy from space reveals more about his mysterious past.

Back on earth, Qiana finds a new angle in the ongoing investigation into the secrets of the First Contact Project, one that will lead her and Amy into a whole new world of dangers…

Conspiracies abound, and excitement awaits in the latest volume of Stephen McCranie’s Space Boy!


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]]> 2023-12-16 20:02:38 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2827158005 Stephen McCranie's Space Boy Omnibus Volume 5 by Stephen McCranie cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2827158568 Something dark grows at the heart of the First Contact Project, and the investigation into the Homecoming Incident turns deadly in the latest explosive volume of Stephen McCranie’s Space Boy!

Amy’s new life at the FCP takes some getting used to, as she struggles to adjust to her life as a prisoner, though the presence of friends both old and new help her keep her out of trouble. But trouble seems to follow her, and soon Amy becomes drawn into a conspiracy that could lead all the way to the top of the FCP.

Back in Kokomo, Cassie, Zeph, Schafer, and the rest of Amy’s classmates struggle to make sense of the tragedy that seems to have consumed their lives. And deep in space, Oliver’s ship races towards the mysterious Artifact, and his final fate.

A sci-fi drama of a high school aged girl who belongs in a different time, a boy possessed by emptiness as deep as space, an alien artifact, mysterious murder, and a love that crosses light years.


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]]> 2023-12-16 20:05:20 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2827158568 Barkham Asylum by Yehudi Mercado cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2827159170 Who’s a good boy?

Jester is. Well, he wants to be. Maybe he is? He’s the Joker’s dog so of course he’s funny, but his sense of humor is about to be put to the test. Because when the super-villains of Gotham get thrown into Arkham, their henchpets go to the maximum-security pound known as Barkham Asylum.

Being the Clown Prince of Crime’s dog doesn’t win him any friends behind bars, especially after he gets a tough-talking stray cat named Penny tossed into lockup with him. But they’ll have to work together to figure out what the evil Warden Shar Pei’s helper, Dr. Hugo Mange, is up to. And the only way to stop this terrifying team-up is to win the talent show and get visitation with their masters at Arkham on the hill. Because the Joker is sure to help!

What could go wrong with that plan? And where does Gotham’s premier playboy Bruce Wayne’s butler Alfred fit in?


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]]> 2023-12-16 20:08:32 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2827159170 My Little Pony Volume 3: Cookies, Conundrums, and Crafts by Casey Gilley, Robin Easter, Tee Franklin, and Andrea Hannah and illustrated by Abby Bulmer, Amy Mebberson, Shauna J. Grant, and Abigail Starling cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2827160062 Scares, mysteries, and adventures await the Mane 5 in this collection of stories featuring the new generation of ponies!

Spooky! Scary! Ahh!!! are all words that can be used to describe the latest challenge going viral in Maretime Bay. Pipp, never one to shy away from a trend, persuades her friends to try it. But as the challenge gets creepier, an unexpected friend starts to come to life! Can the Mane 5 survive the fright of their lives? Then, have you heard? Hitch has his very own podcast! Maretime Bay’s cold cases are reopened by the sheriff himself. Mysteries, crimes, and disappearances will all be solved with Hitch on the case!

It’s the annual cook-off in Maretime Bay, and this year is the first time Pegasi and Unicorns can compete! The Mane 5 are excited to work together to make something great, but when the competition actually begins, they find they can’t agree on a dish. Then, Izzy’s babysitting her cousin Violette Rainbow, who often gets blamed when things go wrong, but is it really her fault?

Finally, Izzy decides to fix up an old treehouse next to her home and make it a cool hangout for the Mane 5, but she finds it’s more work than she can handle alone. Luckily, she has a group of friends willing and ready to help! The adventures continue in these stories following the magical events of the hit Netflix movie.


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]]> 2023-12-16 20:12:45 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2827160062 Best of My Little Pony, Volume One: Twilight Sparkle by Katie Cook and Christina Rice and illustrated by Andy Price, Amy Mebberson, and Brenda Hickey cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2827160812 Celebrate the most thrilling adventures of your favorite ponies and storylines, curated from the popular IDW comics in this accessibly priced all-ages compilation graphic novel.

These collections gather short stories perfect for readers wanting more fun tales from Ponyville: up first, four stories featuring Twilight Sparkle! From Twilight’s first day at Princess Celestia’s School for Gifted Unicorns to showing her own students the power of friendship, revisit some of the magic that makes Twilight the Princess of Friendship!


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]]> 2023-12-16 20:16:22 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2827160812 Cactus Kid and the Battle for Star Rock Mountain by Emmanuel Guerrero cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2827161636 Join Cactus Kid as he zooms through the Neverending Desert on his sweet ride, seeking the ultimate magical powers to become the greatest wizard of all time. But also, getting into huge amounts of explosive trouble, deadly motorbike races, and a lot of embarrassing encounters…

Life’s not always easy for a Cactus. This particular one wants to impress his all-powerful dad with his epic magic skills, and he’s not about to let anything stop him on his solo hero’s journey. All he needs is a chunk of star rock to level up his potions. There’s just one problem – there’s none left. The only way to get a single slice of the stuff is to enter the deadly MotoBrawl race, find a way to stop accidentally turning bugs into giant fire-breathing creatures, befriend the lizard gangs that roam the desert, and maybe make a friend along the way. But does a lone hero even need any of this stuff?


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]]> 2023-12-16 20:19:28 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2827161636 Unhappy Camper by Lily LaMotte and illustrated by Ann Xu and Sunmi cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2827162548 From the acclaimed creators of Measuring Up, author Lily LaMotte and illustrators Ann Xu and Sunmi, comes a graphic novel about two sisters—one who embraces her Taiwanese culture and one eager to do away with it—who rebuild their bond at a Taiwanese American summer camp. Perfect for fans of Be Prepared and Sisters, this is a heartwarming story about the importance of being true to yourself. 


Would you rather blend in or stand out? Claire and Michelle used to be best friends, but now the two sisters couldn’t be more different. Michelle will do anything to fit in, even if it means denying her Taiwanese culture, whereas Claire is proud of who she is. So much so that she decides to become a junior counselor at a Taiwanese American summer camp.  


Sensing a rift between the two, their parents decide to send them both off to camp, much to Michelle’s dismay. As summer continues, both sisters learn more about their culture and each other. But Michelle must eventually decide to either embrace her culture and family or assimilate into the popular group at school. Which will she choose? 


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]]> 2023-12-16 20:24:05 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2827162548 Summer Vamp by Violet Chan Karim cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2827163115 What happens when a very human kid ends up at the wrong summer camp—FOR VAMPIRES?! This quirky and heart warming graphic novel about making friends and getting in trouble is perfect for fans of Witches of Brooklyn.

After a lackluster school year, Maya anticipates an even more disappointing summer. The only thing she’s looking forward to is cooking and mixing ingredients in the kitchen, which these days brings her more joy than mingling with her peers . . . that is until her dad's girlfriend registers her for culinary summer camp! Maya's summer is saved! . . . or not.

What was meant to be a summer filled with baking pastries and cooking pasta is suddenly looking a lot . . . paler?! Why do all of the kids have pointy fangs? And hate garlic? Turns out that Maya isn't at culinary camp—she's at a camp for VAMPIRES! Maya has a lot to learn if she's going to survive this summer . . . and if she's lucky, she might even make some friends along the way.


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]]> 2023-12-16 20:26:58 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2827163115 The Vice Principal Problem (Blue Stars #1) by Kekla Magoon and Synthia Leitich Smith and illustrated by Molly Murakami cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2827163748 Two everyday superheroes set out to save the world—starting with their school—in an exciting new middle-grade graphic series from two award-winning authors and a debut illustrator.

When cousins Riley Halfmoon and Maya Dawn move to Urbanopolis to live with their activist grandma, they get off to a rocky start. Outgoing Riley misses her Muscogee cousins but is sure that she and Maya will be instant BFFs. Meanwhile, introvert Maya misses her parents, on active duty in Japan, and just wants some space to herself. At school, Maya joins Robotics Club and Riley bonds with fellow gymnasts. Just when they start to feel at home, their school culture is threatened by an influential foe in disguise. Joining student council feels like a way to help, so both cousins toss their hats in the ring for sixth-grade class president. But when they realize what they’re up against—money, power, and lies—they quickly shift from competition to cooperation, joining forces as superheroes. Riley is savvy with people; Maya is a whiz with gadgets. In no time, this dazzling duo is off to save the day! Relatable and rich in themes of family, community, and compromise, the Blue Stars series will entertain and empower, inspiring readers to be the stars they are.


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]]> 2023-12-16 20:30:17 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2827163748 Flight of the Witch (Doña Quixote #2) by Rey Terciero and illustrated by Monica M. Magaña cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2827164556 In this duology finale of the action-packed and hilarious contemporary graphic novel retelling of Don Quixote, modern-day knight and young Texan Lucia must save her town from a coven of shapeshifting witches, all while balancing friends, family, and middle school.

Lucia has become what she’s always hoped to be―a local hero. But between chores and homework, arguments with her parents and best friend, Sandro, and helping her neighbors with her special abilities, she's busier than ever before.

When the townspeople's treasured possessions go missing and owls start flocking around Laredo, Lucia's gut knows that something is wrong . . . if only she had the time to get to the bottom of it. But monsters wait on no one, and there's an evil coven of witches lurking in the shadows, preparing to wreak havoc―whether Lucia’s ready or not. Perfect for fans of Mighty Jack, Zita the Spacegirl, and Amulet.


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]]> 2023-12-16 20:33:29 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2827164556 Banned Books, Crop Tops, and Other Bad Influences by Brigit Young cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2827165535 Perfect for fans of Star Fish and From the Desk of Zoe Washington, a nuanced middle grade from the author of The Prettiest about two girls―one "bad" and one "good"―who join forces against book banning and censorship.

Rose is a good Jewish girl. She listens to her parents and follows every rule. After all, they’re there for a reason―right? And adults always know best.

Talia, the new girl from New York City, doesn’t think so. After only a week at school, her bad reputation is already making enemies. First on the list: Charlotte, Rose’s lifelong best friend.

So why can’t Rose stop wondering what it would be like to be Talia’s friend? And why does Rose read a banned book that she recommends? Rose doesn’t know. But the forbidden book makes her ask questions she’s never thought of in her life. When Talia suggests they start a banned book club, how can Rose say no?

Pushing against her parents, her school, and even Charlotte opens a new world for Rose. But when some of Talia's escapades become more scary than exciting, Rose must decide when it's right to keep quiet and when it's time to speak out.


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]]> 2023-12-16 20:37:25 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2827165535 Puzzleheart by Jenn Reese cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2827166451 Get ready to solve the mystery at the heart of this captivating new middle grade adventure about family—and a house with a mind of its own—from the award-winning author of Game of Fox & Squirrels and Every Bird a Prince, Jenn Reese.

Twelve-year-old Perigee has never met a problem they couldn’t solve. So when their Dad’s spirits need raising, Perigee formulates the Plan: a road trip to Dad’s childhood home to reunite him with his estranged mother. There's something in it for Perigee, too, as they will finally get to visit “Eklunds' Puzzle House,” the mysterious bed & breakfast their grandparents built but never opened.

They arrive ahead of a massive storm and the House immediately puts Perigee’s logical, science-loving mind to the test. Corridors shift. Strange paintings lurk in the shadows. Encoded messages abound. Despite Perigee’s best efforts, neither the House nor Grandma will give up their secrets. And worse, prickly Grandma has outlawed games and riddles of any kind.

Even the greatest of plans can crumble, and as new arguments fill the air, the House becomes truly dangerous. Deadly puzzles pop up at every turn, knives spin in the hallways, and staircases disappear. The answer lies at the heart of the House, but in order to find it, Perigee and their new friend Lily will need to solve a long-lost, decades-old riddle… if the House itself doesn’t stop them first.


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]]> 2023-12-16 20:42:15 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2827166451 An Unlikely Pair (Molly and the Bear #1) by Bob Scott and Vicki Scott cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2827168531 Based on the beloved comic strip “Bear with Me” by Bob Scott, this lighthearted odd couple middle grade graphic novel is about a girl and her very best friend: an 800-pound scaredy-bear!

When Bear wanders into eleven-year-old Molly’s life, she knows she’s just met her new bestie. Loyal, sweet, inquisitive—and terrified of almost everything—Bear makes a great new friend. And he’s not scary at all! But try telling that to the rest of the world.

Molly eventually convinces her mom and dad to let Bear stay with them, but showing everyone else that Bear isn’t dangerous (not to mention assuring Bear that he isn’t in constant danger!) is going to take some work. Lucky for Bear, Molly doesn’t give up easily.


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]]> 2023-12-16 20:50:06 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2827168531 Ali Cross: The Graphic Novel (Ali Cross: The Graphic Novel #1) by James Patterson, adapted by Adam Rau, and illustrated by Phillip Tajalle cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2827170364 It's up to Ali Cross to solve the mystery of his missing friend in this action-packed thrill ride, a full-color graphic novel adaptation of the #1 New York Times bestseller Ali Cross!
 
Ali Cross has always dreamed of following in the footsteps of his father, famous detective Alex Cross, who never gives up on a case. Ali’s chance to prove himself arrives sooner than he might think when his best friend, Gabe, goes missing.

But the more Ali digs, the more he realizes maybe he didn’t know his friend as well as he thought. At the same time, his house is hit in a string of burglaries. With his father on trial for a crime he didn’t commit, Ali is on his own to piece together the clues. Will Ali be able to trust his instincts and find his friend—or is he in over his head?
 
This action-packed, page-turning, full-color graphic novel is a blockbuster addition to any shelf.


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]]> 2023-12-16 20:57:58 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2827170364 Wither Without You (Minecraft Omnibus #2) by Kristen Gudsnuk cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2827171639 A Minecraft adventure following two brave monster hunters and their cursed friend as they battle dangerous withers and other creatures across the wilds of the Overworld!

The lives of Cahira and Orion, twin monster hunters under the tutelage of Senan the Thorough, are changed forever when, after an intense battle with an enchanted wither, the two meet an unexpected, and highly unusual ally; Atria, a girl cursed as a monster lure. To break her curse, the friends will traverse the length of the Overworld, facing dungeons, sorcerers, and even a zombie apocalypse! But what connection does Atria have to the mysterious wither? And are the heroes a match for the powerful monster?


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]]> 2023-12-16 21:04:06 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2827171639 Roswell Johnson Saves the World! (Roswell Johnson #1) by Chris Colfer cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2827172595 From #1 New York Times bestselling author Chris Colfer comes a funny, heartfelt, action-packed “Guardians of the Galaxy meets The Land of Stories” adventure series that will take readers on an epic journey across the galaxy to save Earth! 
 
Eleven-year-old Roswell Johnson is obsessed with conspiracies about extraterrestrial life, an interest he inherited from his late father, who aptly named Roswell after the infamous UFO crash in Roswell, New Mexico.  
 
When Roswell is accidentally abducted by aliens, his biggest dream comes true—he learns that aliens are real! But when he discovers Earth is in grave danger, he must join forces with a team of quirky extraterrestrials, including two bickering Grays, a humorless Cyborg, a germophobic Mantis, an overly confident Furgarian, and an over achieving Pleiadean to save his planet from a tyrannical invasion. But can Roswell restore his own faith in humanity and Earth in time to save the world? 


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]]> 2023-12-16 21:08:48 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2827172595 Crushed by Melanie Conklin cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2827180092 A heartfelt middle grade story about changing friendships, peer pressure, and the courage to speak up when lines are crossed, perfect for fans of Starfish and The Benefits of Being an Octopus. 

Sophie Valentine would rather be at home, doing school virtually. Instead, she’s waiting in a crowded middle school building for her best friend, Eve, who’s finally back after an extended absence, which only Sophie knows the truth about.  
 
But when Eve returns, things aren’t the same. First, Eve stops walking to school with her in the morning. Then, she’s ditching Sophie to hang out with the Crash Crew, a group of popular kids notorious for their social media dares. Eve seems to fit right in, but Sophie is devastated: Did she just lose her best friend? 
 
When rumors surface that Eve is hiding a painful secret she didn’t share with Sophie, Sophie is spurred on an investigation to discover what—or who—caused the incident behind Eve’s sudden change...and why all clues lead back to the Crash Crew. Using lessons from her forensics class and the help of a new friend, Sophie will have to uncover the truth before more harm is done.


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]]> 2023-12-16 21:48:22 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2827180092 Vega's Piece of the Sky by Jennifer Torres cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2827180607 A meteorite comes crashing down on the lives of three middle schoolers changing everything they know about family, friendships, and community in this charming and heartfelt novel with a light STEM touch.

The space rock is just the latest thing to land, uninvited, in Vega Lucero’s road-stop hometown. But when she discovers how much a chunk of the meteorite might be worth, she realizes it’s exactly the treasure she’s been hoping to find—and maybe a way to convince her mom not to sell the family store to big city developers to help pay for her grandpa Tata's medical expenses. 

Determined to find more pieces of the sky somewhere in the perilous desert wilderness, stubbornly independent Vega must set aside her distrust of outsiders to team up with Jasper, a would-be rival—and her own tagalong cousin Mila—on an overnight adventure to find more meteorites before the professional hunters who have descended on Date City do. But along the way, she realizes that she's not the only one with the weight of the world on her shoulders. Jasper and Mila have secrets and worries of their own that has brought them on this journey.

Together, this ragtag group will battle against coyotes, a flood, and scorpions. But what they will ultimately discover is that no treasure is big enough to prevent unwelcome change. Only family and friends can help weather the unexpected that life brings.


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]]> 2023-12-16 21:51:16 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2827180607 Flying Through Water by Mamle Wolo cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2827181110 For fans of A Long Walk to Water and Hatchet, this boy’s gripping journey from poverty to empowerment transports readers to modern-day Ghana, into the throes of an extraordinary survival story.
 
Sena treasures his life in rural Ghana—playing soccer, working the family farm, striving to do his best at school—but he is increasingly aware of his family's precarious security in the face of poverty. When an alluring gentleman comes to town to befriend local teenagers, offering promises of a better future, it only takes one more unsettling turn of events to send Sena into the clutches of human traffickers. Sena's ordeal, escape, and remarkable survival makes for a page-turning adventure of self-discovery and empowerment.


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]]> 2023-12-16 21:53:29 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2827181110 The Monarchs of Winghaven by Naila Moreira cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2827481835 Young naturalist Sammie loves to do field research in a special stretch of wilderness in the suburbs—but now she must protect it. Science and heart combine in this engaging story.

Sammie, a budding naturalist, knows of a secret and wonderful place: Winghaven, an abandoned lot in the middle of the suburbs where wildlife flourishes. She spends hours making notes and drawings in her meticulous field journal. When Bram, a new boy, turns up with his camera, Sammie worries he’ll give away her hidden haven—after all, the other boys at school bully her. But Bram is a scientist like Sammie, and together they observe tiny pond creatures, a pileated woodpecker with a red crest like a pirate’s bandana, and thriving monarch butterflies whose habitats are becoming scarce. When Sammie and Bram discover bright flagging tape encircling the trees, they learn Winghaven is in danger from a local developer—and it’s going to take courage, spirit, and science to save it. This beautifully written story, full of details about the natural world, includes Sammie’s field illustrations as well as real-life notes on keeping a nature journal, studying monarchs, and bird-watching.


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]]> 2023-12-17 15:14:09 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2827481835 Breaking into Sunlight by John Cochran cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2827484442 Reese is a seventh-grader in rural North Carolina who loves drawing, basketball, his hardworking mom, and his charming, charismatic dad. But then one day, he comes home to his worst nightmare – his dad on the floor, lips turning blue, overdosed. Again. Reese calls 911 and gets his dad out of danger, and he expects to go on as before. But for his mom, this is the breaking point, and she declares that she and Reese are leaving until Reese’s dad gets real help with his addiction. They move to a rundown trailer outside of town, where Reese is furious with his mom, scared for his dad, and terrified his friends will find out.
 
Then he meets Meg and Charlie, who have likewise been stranded by circumstances beyond their control. As the trio explores the blackwater river that runs nearby, Reese discovers new beauty and joy in nature and these fresh connections. His dad is also doing better, holding things together, and talking to his mom again. But how long can the good times last? And what will Reese do if—when—they end?

In the United States today, an estimated one in eight kids live with a parent with a substance-abuse problem. Written with bracing honesty, deep sympathy, and tenderness for all its characters, Breaking into Sunlight offers readers a powerful affirmation that no one is alone. 


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]]> 2023-12-17 15:17:23 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2827484442 Shock the Monkey (The N.O.A.H. Files #2) by Neal Shusterman and Eric Elfman cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2827487672 Noah Prime must set out to save his friends and the universe once again in this jaw-dropping sequel to the New York Times bestselling novel, I Am the Walrus. 

Noah Prime thought he was done: no more running, no more murderous aliens, and absolutely no more saving the world. The day he went into hiding should have put an end to it. But staying away is no longer an option when he winds up embroiled in yet another intergalactic calamity. This time, it’s courtesy of his usually level-headed friend Ogden, whose crush on the most popular girl in school, Claire, leads him to buy her a star for her birthday.

However, this heart-warming gesture ends up having disastrous consequences when it turns out the star is real—as in home to a gazillion aliens real. And it’s not long before these creatures have swooped down to Earth to abduct Claire and take her back to their planet—or rather her planet—as its new owner.

Now it’s up to Noah and his quick-changing animal abilities to help his friends find her. But with dangerous forces still out there and a perilous journey ahead, will Noah be able to find Claire before she meets her untimely doom? Even if it means putting his friends in more danger than ever before?

This action-packed, laugh-out-loud sci-fi adventure is perfect for fans of Eoin Colfer and Rick Riordan.


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]]> 2023-12-17 15:21:28 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2827487672 Tessa Miyata Is So Unlucky (Tessa Miyata #2) by Julie Abe cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2827491056 In this thrilling new adventure, Tessa Miyata and her best friend Jin must battle the gods... and win. With magic abound and stakes higher than ever, this is a perfect pick for fans of Amari and the Night Brothers! 


After her first adventure in Tokyo, Tessa Miyata is having the best summer of her life with her best friend, Jin. Still, she wonders if she'll ever see Kit, the mythical Unlucky God that Tessa and Jin freed, or the last magical city again. 


Then, Tessa and Jin get magical, talking invitations informing them that they've been chosen to attend the Academy of Gods– to battle immortals on behalf of the Unlucky God! Win, and they'll be given the gift of immortality. Lose, and they'll forget everything they learned about the magical city and Kit will cease to exist. Tessa and Jin may be God Blessed, but they’re mortals amongst gods...Can they defeat the other clans? or will they lose Kit forever?


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]]> 2023-12-17 15:26:44 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2827491056 Lion of the Sky by Ritu Hemnani cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2827493758 An evocative historical novel in verse about a boy and his family who are forced to flee their home and become refugees after the British Partition of India. Perfect for fans of Other Words for Home. 


Twelve-year-old Raj is happiest flying kites with his best friend, Iqbal. As their kites soar, Raj feels free, like his beloved India soon will be, and he can’t wait to celebrate their independence.


But when a British lawyer draws a line across a map, splitting India in two, Raj is thrust into a fractured world. With Partition declared, Hindu, Sikh, and Muslim families are torn apart—and Raj’s Hindu and Iqbal’s Muslim families are among them.


Forced to flee and become refugees, Raj’s family is left to start over in a new country. After suffering devastating losses, Raj must summon the courage to survive the brutal upheaval of both his country and his heart.


Inspired by the author’s true family history, Lion of the Sky is a deeply moving coming-of-age tale about identity, belonging, and the power of hope.


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]]> 2023-12-17 15:31:12 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2827493758 The Boo Hag Flex (Tales from Cabin 23 #1) by Justina Ireland cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2827497831 Few campers at Camp Apple Hill Farm have found the mysterious cabin rumored to be hidden deep in the woods—but those who have whisper of a mysterious woman who tells tales of horrors beyond imagination. Are you brave enough to visit Cabin 23?


The last thing Tasha Washington wants is to move from her home in Savannah to a trailer park in Middle-of-Nowhere, Georgia. But when her mother dies and Tasha is taken in by her father—a man she’s never met, who abandoned her mom when Tasha was just a baby—she doesn’t have much of a choice. At least, she thinks, she won’t have to spend much time with him—something that becomes clear when he dumps Tasha with her grandmother and disappears to be with his new girlfriend.


The Shady Pines trailer park seems like a miserable place to spend a summer, even before an elderly neighbor suddenly passes away. But then Tasha meets a girl named Ellie who says she knows what really killed old Mr. Harold: a terrifying creature that stalks the trailer park at night, sucking the life from its victims. Tasha doesn’t believe it, but when she discovers a book of hoodoo legends in her grandmother’s trailer, and more people around Shady Pines start to appear unwell, she begins to fear the stories are true—and that danger is much closer than she thinks.


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]]> 2023-12-17 15:36:49 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2827497831 Spy Ring by Sarah Beth Durst cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2827502077 Two modern-day kids discover the truth about an American Revolutionary War–era female spy through a treasure-hunt adventure in their hometown of Setauket, New York.


With codewords and secret signals perfected, best friends Rachel and Joon are ready to spend their summer practicing spycraft—especially if they can uncover secrets like the one Joon’s parents have been keeping, that his family is about to move out of town.


When eavesdropping leads them to a ring rumored to have belonged to Anna “Nancy” Smith Strong—according to local Long Island legend, the only female member of George Washington’s famed Culper Spy Ring—they think they’ve hit the jackpot. Then they discover Nancy left a coded message in the ring!


Decoding her message leads to another cryptic clue, and then another, and soon Rachel and Joon are racing to decipher a series of puzzles that must surely lead to hidden treasure! But can they solve the final mystery before Joon’s moving day? And just what did the centuries-old spy hide away—and why? 


Sarah Beth Durst’s skillful blend of Revolutionary War history and suspenseful contemporary storytelling will keep readers guessing to the last satisfying page.


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]]> 2023-12-17 15:43:40 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2827502077 The Dark Skies Mystery: A WWII Thriller by Devon R. Hicks cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2827505249 It's 1942, and the United States is at war. Henry Hamilton is an inquisitive twelve-year-old who dreams of being a reporter. Pursuing a story for his school newspaper, Henry’s investigation soon leads to a mysterious room inside his town's famous Biltmore Mansion. The mystery only grows deeper when he uncovers the secret of the room’s contents. As Henry pursues the story, hoping for his first real scoop, he encounters spies, dark forests, hidden tunnels, enemy saboteurs, famous artists, and even a long-dead president of the United States.


Based on a true event, this middle grade mystery features a WWII home front setting complete with frightening blackouts and great uncertainty; the timeless fascination of Biltmore House, the Vanderbilt family mansion; and the intrigue of the Nazis as art thieves, all woven into the empowering story of a boy who aspires to publish the truth.


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]]> 2023-12-17 15:48:53 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2827505249 The One and Only Family (The One and Only Ivan #4) by Katherine Applegate cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2827509461 For more than a decade, readers have been enchanted by the modern classic The One and Only Ivan, a Newbery Award winner and a #1 New York Times bestseller, and by its bestselling sequels, The One and Only Bob and The One and Only Ruby. Powerhouse author Katherine Applegate invites readers back into Ivan’s world for one last adventure—his most exciting yet.


Ivan has been happily living in a wildlife sanctuary, with his friend Ruby next door in the elephant enclosure, frequent visits from his canine friend Bob, and his mate Kinyani by his side. And in the happiest turn of all, Ivan and Kinyani have welcomed a set of twins to their family!

Ivan loves being a papa, even though it can be hard sometimes. But as he navigates the joys and challenges of parenthood, he can’t help but recall his life before the glass walls of the mall circus, his own childhood in the jungle—and his own twin.


In the tradition of timeless classics like Charlotte’s Web and Stuart Little, the one and only Katherine Applegate has crafted a poignant, delightful, heartbreaking, unforgettable final foray into the world of Ivan, the world’s favorite silverback.


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]]> 2023-12-17 15:55:45 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2827509461 Last Best Hope (Dungeons & Dragons: Dungeon Academy #3) by Madeleine Roux and illustrated by Tim Probert cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2827512017 From New York Times bestselling author Madeleine Roux and acclaimed artist Tim Probert comes the thrilling third novel in the original Dungeons & Dragons middle grade series!


Zelli Stormclash and the Danger Club have only one goal: save their friend Bauble from the evil clutches of Elgred Morbide. There’s only one problem—the evil machinations of Morbide’s selfish plots have come to a head, and the final battle for Dungeon Academy has already begun. Deep beneath the desert, a monstrous dracolich is about to be unleashed, an evil, undead dragon bent on revenge against everything in her path.


Zelli is no longer on a rescue mission but a fated quest to save Dungeon Academy, Faerun, and all the Forgotten Realms. Our motley crew of heroes must rise to the occasion and wield the most important weapon an adventurer can carry: hope. Against impossible odds, the Danger Club—members old and new—must take one last stand together and fight like never before . . . till the very end.


Join the Danger Club in this final tale of daring rescue, selfless sacrifice, and scale-raising adventure!


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]]> 2023-12-17 15:59:57 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2827512017 Clairboyance by Kristiana Kahakauwila cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2827515526 Perfect for fans of Debbi Michiko Florence and Lisa Greenwald, Clairboyance’s heartfelt and sweet coming of age story with a touch of magic follows Clara as her life is turned upside down when she discovers that she has boy-specific ESP abilities.


After accidentally wishing on a family heirloom to hear what boys are thinking, Clara wakes up the next day able to do just that. Every idea, every worry, every generous or petty thought crossing their minds—somehow, they now form a chorus of voices in hers.


But why couldn’t her newfound powers have arrived sooner? Then, maybe, she could have stopped her ex–best friend Leo from betraying her and ditching her for the more popular kids. At least her dad is open to the idea of moving her off O‘ahu and out to Arizona to be with him.


If Clara can use what she hears to solve her problems, then her powers might just be able to make up for lost time—but instead, she ends up making a bigger mess of everything!

While scrambling to fix her mistakes, Clara must question old friendships, enter into new ones, and try to figure out what makes a home, and if she is willing to leave hers behind.


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]]> 2023-12-17 16:05:48 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2827515526 The Truth About Triangles by Michael Leali cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2827517108 A heartfelt contemporary middle grade novel perfect for fans of Front Desk, following Luca Salvatore, a young gay Italian American trying to save his family’s pizza restaurant and a life that feels like it’s falling apart after he learns that his parents may be separating and his first crush and best friend might be into each other.


Twelve-year-old Luca Salvatore is always running interference: in arguments between his younger twin siblings, in his parents’ troubled marriage, and between Will, the cute new boy in town, and Luca’s best friend, June, who just can’t seem to get along.


When the host of his favorite culinary TV show announces an open call for submissions for its final season, Luca is sure getting his family's failing pizzeria on the show will save it and bring his falling-apart family together. Surprisingly, securing a spot is easier than kneading dough—but when the plan to fix everything comes out burned, Luca is left scrambling to figure out just the right recipe to bring his family and his friends back together.


From Lambda Literary finalist Michael Leali, The Truth About Triangles is full of heart, perfect for readers of Lisa Jenn Bigelow, Kelly Yang, and Maulik Pancholy.


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]]> 2023-12-17 16:08:34 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2827517108 The Science of Friendship by Tanita S. Davis cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2827534283 A friendship hypothesis—and one failed experiment—leads one girl to investigate the science of middle school friendship makeups and breakups in this hopeful and heartwarming story from Tanita S. Davis, author of Partly Cloudy and Serena Says.


Rylee Swanson is beginning eighth grade with zero friends.


A humiliating moment at the end-of-seventh-grade pool party involving a cannonball, a waterlogged updo, and some disappearing clothes has Rylee halfway convinced she’s better off without any friends—at least friends like those.

The one question Rylee can’t shake is . . . why?


When a group assignment in journalism pairs Rylee with science geek DeNia Alonso, DeNia’s annoyingly know-it-all, nerdy personality is both frustration and fuel to Rylee’s search for answers. Together they conduct research, run surveys, and write their way toward even more questions about what makes friendships—and breaks them. Between her shaky new partnership with DeNia, an annoying brother, and a friend from the past, Rylee’s got a lot to think about. But the more she learns, the more Rylee wonders: Could there be a science to friendship? And can it keep her from losing friends ever again?


With warmth, heart, and resonance, Tanita S. Davis’s deep dive into middle school friendships is perfect for fans of Dear Friends, Let's Pretend We Never Met, and The Miscalculations of Lightning Girl.


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]]> 2023-12-17 16:35:16 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2827534283 With Twice the Love, Dessie Mei by Justina Chen cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2827537251 Award-winning author Justina Chen delivers a powerful and heartfelt novel about a young girl who accidentally discovers she has an identical twin sister. This joyous novel about reunited adoptee sisters experiencing new family traditions, foods, and customs together is perfect for fans of Janae Marks, Kelly Yang, and Meg Medina.


On Dessie Mei Breedlove’s first day at a new school in the middle of her sixth-grade year, who does she see? A classmate who looks exactly like her. As in: Dessie and Donna Lee have the exact same glossy black hair. The exact same brown eyes. The exact same cheeky smile.


A secret DNA test reveals the shocking truth: Dessie and Donna are identical twins, adopted from the same orphanage in China, then separated into two different families: one white, the other Taiwanese American. The Breedloves and the Lees.


Making up for lost time, the girls throw themselves into their newfound sisterhood, relishing every similarity. Cats or dogs (dogs!). Sweet or savory (both!). Favorite band (A2Z, duh!). But the small differences between the girls soon create tension…and when crisis strikes, Dessie must figure out who she is, where she belongs, and what it truly means to be a sister.


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]]> 2023-12-17 16:40:07 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2827537251 Finn and Ezra's Bar Mitzvah Time Loop by Joshua S. Levy cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2827539956 Finn and Ezra’s bar mitzvah weekend takes on a Groundhog Day twist in this hilarious and magical middle grade novel from Joshua S. Levy.


Finn and Ezra don’t have a lot in common—except, of course, that they’re trapped in a bar mitzvah time loop, reliving their celebrations in the same New Jersey hotel over and over and over again. Not ideal, particularly when both kids were ready for their bar mitzvahs to end the moment they began. Ezra comes from a big family—four siblings, all seeming to get more attention than him, even on his bar mitzvah weekend. Finn is an only child who’s tired of his parents’ constant focus, even worse on his bar mitzvah weekend. They just want to get past it, just want to grow up. And now they’re both stuck. Friday. Saturday. Sunday. No way out.


Until Finn and Ezra meet and realize they’re not alone.


Teaming up, they try everything they can think of to break the loop. But nothing works, and after every reset, the boys’ schemes become more desperate. As their frustrations build, the questions mount and real-life problems start to seep through the cracks. With all the time in the world, can Finn and Ezra ever figure out how to move forward? 


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]]> 2023-12-17 16:44:49 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2827539956 Lily Xiao Speaks Out by Nicole Chen cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2827542318 From the author of It's Boba Time for Pearl Li! comes an empowering, heartfelt middle grade novel about a grunge-loving Taiwanese American tween who must use her voice to fight for ESL support at her school.


Lily Xiao can’t wait to go to Camp Rock Out this summer, where she’ll finally be able to shed her “class robot” good girl reputation and start her journey to becoming the next Eddie Vedder! And she can’t wait to do it with her best friend and cousin, Vivian, who’s just moved from Taiwan to Lily’s California hometown. 


But as the two cousins work their way through seventh grade, Vivian struggles more and more with her schoolwork, which is all taught in English. If Vivian can’t get her grades up, her parents won’t let her go to rock camp.


Determined to help, Lily embarks on a mission to push their school to provide more support for English-as-a-Second-Language learners like Vivian. But her first-generation immigrant family is nervous about Lily challenging the status quo. We should be grateful to be here, they always say.


With Camp Rock Out on the line, Lily will need to decide how far she’ll push against her family’s wishes in order to stand up and speak out.


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]]> 2023-12-17 16:48:21 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2827542318 The Strange Wonder of Roots by Eva Griffith cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2827544719 From the acclaimed author of Manatee Summer comes a poignant story about a girl who learns to lay down roots as she’s drawn into a fight over a local grove of trees that’s in danger of being torn down. Perfect for fans of Hoot and Operation Redwood.


Holly Foster knows that nothing lasts—not hometowns or schools, or even family. It’s just safer to keep herself uninvolved. So when she’s sent to spend part of the summer with her uncle, she knows better than to get attached to him…or any part of his small Vermont town of Arden.


But when she arrives, she’s drawn into the drama that’s split the town: The local plastic factory is trying to tear down the trees in the center of Arden to build a visitor’s center and museum. Holly shocks herself by stepping into the fray and taking on one of the most powerful families in the area. But as she learns more about the town—and makes a new friend or two—Holly is determined to protect the one place she thinks she could finally belong. But will she be able to convince the other townspeople that the trees deserve to stay? 


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]]> 2023-12-17 16:52:30 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2827544719 Give Me Something Good to Eat by D. W. Gillespie cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2827547985 Perfect for fans of Hocus Pocus and Stranger Things, this middle grade debut tells the story of a boy who travels into an alternate version of his Halloween-obsessed town to save his sister from an evil witch and free the town from the witch’s curse.

Fear comes home.

Welcome to Pearl, a town obsessed with Halloween: the spooky decorations, the costumes, the candy. No one seems to notice that every October 31st, a kid goes missing. Mason Miller does, though. Somehow he’s the only one who has any memory the person existed at all.

When Mason’s sister, Meg, vanishes while they’re trick-or-treating, Mason and his friends are pulled into an underworld where monsters roam the streets. They need to fight the evil taking over Pearl, but none of them know the true danger they're facing.

Meg has been stolen by a witch who has no plans to let her go. Shadows of death curl around trees and behind doorways as Mason must use every ounce of bravery he has . . . or be haunted forever with the memory of a sister that only he remembers.


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]]> 2023-12-17 16:57:57 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2827547985 Farrah Noorzad and the Ring of Fate (Farrah Noorzad #1) by Deeba Zargarpur cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2827616610 A 12-year-old girl discovers her true jinn heritage when a birthday wish gone wrong traps her father in a magical ring, sending her on an epic quest to free him. This richly imagined fantasy series inspired by Persian mythology and Islamic lore is filled with action, magic, and self-discovery.

“A jewel of a fantasy novel that shines with adventure and sparkles with humor.”
—A.F. Steadman, New York Times bestselling author of Skandar and the Unicorn Thief

Farrah sees her father just one day every year—her birthday. But this year, her wish to bring them closer goes wildly awry when Farrah discovers she is a half-jinn...and her father is one of the seven great jinn kings. Her wish traps her father inside a legendary ring, and the other six jinn kings will follow unless Farrah can rectify her mistake.

Pursued by menacing shadow jinn, Farrah’s quest takes her to a floating mountain range. Joined by Idris, the jinn boy whom she inadvertently freed from the ring, and her newly discovered half-brother, Yaseen, Farrah must find a way to navigate the mysteries and dangers of her new world in order to save her father and face the most devious jinn lord of all.


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]]> 2023-12-17 18:56:01 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2827616610 Daydreamer by Rob Cameron cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2827617977 An eleven-year-old boy copes with the challenges of his city life by weaving his reality into a magical realm of dragons, foxes, and trolls—until he must use the power of his creativity to save both of his worlds from destructive forces. This stunning debut is a profound exploration of imagination, community, and how the stories we tell both comfort us and challenge us to grow.

Charles’ life is split between two worlds: one real and one fantasy. In the real world, he is a lonely, bullied kid who can’t keep up with school when the letters refuse to stay still on the page, and is constantly in trouble for getting distracted. He lives with his mom in an apartment building, where Glory, the grumpy old superintendent, fills his head with stories about the Dream Folk.

In his fantasy world, the Sanctuary, Charles adventures with faeries and sprites and his two imaginary best friends. There, Charles's bullies become ogres, and Glory opens his arms wide to transform into a dragon. But when trolls move into Charles’ apartment building and bring with them a terrible secret, the stories he has been told and the ones he brings to life grow more complicated. To protect everyone he cares about, Charles must harness his imagination in ways he never dreamed, in this unique story of the spaces and narratives we create for ourselves, and the ways in which fantasy and reality collide and blur.


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]]> 2023-12-17 18:58:24 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2827617977 Winnie Zeng Shatters the Universe (Winnie Zeng #3) by Katie Zhao cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2827619902 In the third book of this epic fantasy series, kids from around the world are summoned to compete at the magical Shaman Youth Tournament! But with all the young shamans away, who will defend the human realm from evil spirits?

"A hilarious tussle between homework, family, and heroism." —Kwame Mbalia, #1 New York Times bestselling author

If awards were handed out for multitasking, then Winnie Zeng would come in first place. Between evil spirits and middle school—boy, does she have her hands full. And ordinarily, winter break couldn't come soon enough, but this year marks the return of the Shaman Youth Tournament, where shamans from around the world battle for the title of champion!

When Winnie and her archnemesis, David, are invited to participate, they are quickly trained for their toughest battles yet. But when some of the tournament contestants start acting a little stranger—and a lot stronger—than normal, it’s clear that something’s up.

Soon, it becomes clear that the spirit breakouts in Winnie’s hometown were just the beginning of something larger than any one shaman can tackle. With evil spirits threatening to pour from the spirit realm into the human world, it’s up to all the shamans to take on this mission. It may be the last mission they ever undertake. . . .


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]]> 2023-12-17 19:02:12 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2827619902 The Wonderful Wishes of B. by Katherin Nolte cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2827621102 All that stands between ten-year-old Beatrice and an amazing life are five wishes…and she’s got a plan to make them all come true! A magical and heartfelt adventure about grief, hope, and the power of human connection.

Beatrice Corwell has a crooked haircut, eight well-trained cats, and a plan: she’s turning herself into a Tin Man. Once her heart is made of metal, she’ll no longer miss her beloved dead grandma, her absent dad, or her recently moved-away best friend.

While Beatrice awaits her transformation, she keeps vigil with a special doll and a handful of wishes she’s determined to make come true. With her encyclopedic knowledge, there must be a way to grant her heart’s deepest desires.

When an unusual boy named Caleb moves to town and mentions his granny’s interest in magic, Beatrice decides to enlist their help. She quickly learns, however, that spells don’t always go as planned, and witches can’t be trusted.

With the arrival of an unexpected visitor and a series of otherworldly messages, Beatrice’s plans begin to falter. Will her heart turn into metal? Will any of her wishes come true?

The Wonderful Wishes of B. is the story of a smart, quirky girl learning what she wants and what she needs—and how, sometimes, the wishes we hold dearest are granted in the most unexpected ways.


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]]> 2023-12-17 19:04:40 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2827621102 Crushing It by Erin Becker cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2827622252 From debut author Erin Becker comes an action-packed but tender novel about first romance, queer identity, and learning how to be brave when it matters the most.

On the soccer field, Magic Mel is in her element. She’s ready to lead her team to victory at the city championship in her new role as captain. Off the field, however, is a totally different story. Mel can’t get a handle on her class presentation, her friend group has completely dissolved, and her ex-friend-current-teammate, Tory, is being the worst. The only place she feels like herself is in her text conversations where she shares her secret poetry with BTtoYouPlease.

Tory McNally, on the other hand, is keeping everything together, thank you very much. So what if her mom is more preoccupied with her craft projects and new husband than her, or that she’s down to one IRL friend because of annoying, overly peppy “Magic” Mel? She’s perfectly fine, and even when she maybe isn’t, she’s got NotEmilyD to text with.

As the championships loom closer, everything around Mel and Tory starts to get more and more complicated: the dynamics on the field, the rift between their friend group, and, as they connect anonymously online, maybe even their feelings for each other . . .


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]]> 2023-12-17 19:06:55 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2827622252 Maya Plays the Part by Calyssa Erb cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2827623745 A heartwarming middle-grade debut with autism representation and a musical flair.


Maya lives and breathes musicals. When her chance to finally be a part of the summer musical program at the community theater comes up, Maya is convinced she will get the lead. After all, who knows The Drowsy Chaperone better than she does? However, things don’t turn out exactly the way Maya’s planned, and the summer turns out to be jam-packed with problems: dealing with her best friend’s move, her parents’ busy jobs, and—since her autism diagnosis—the ongoing puzzle of how to be Maya in Public. But perhaps most important of all, Maya has to figure out how to play the part that truly feels like her own.


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]]> 2023-12-17 19:09:53 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2827623745 A Little Bit Super: With Small Powers Come Big Problems edited by Leah Henderson and Gary D. Schmidt cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2827625465 In these hilarious stories by some of the top authors of middle grade fiction today, each young character is coping with a minor superpower—while also discovering their power to change themselves and their community, find their voice, and celebrate what makes them unique.


The kids in these humorous short stories each have a minor superpower they’re learning to live with. One can shape-shift—but only part of her body, and only on Mondays. Another can always tell whether an avocado is perfectly ripe. One can even hear the thoughts of the animals in the pet store! But what these stories are really about is their young protagonists “owning” a power that contributes to their individuality, that allows them to find their place in the world, that shows them a potential they might not have imagined.


Because if you really think about it, we all have something special and unique about ourselves that makes us a little bit super. We all have the power to change as an individual, to change our communities for the better, to have a voice and to speak up. These playful, thought-provoking tales from some of today’s top middle grade authors prompt readers to consider what their own superpower might be, and how they can use it.


Written by Pablo Cartaya, Nikki Grimes, Leah Henderson, Jarrett Krosoczka, Remy Lai, Kyle Lukoff, Meg Medina, Daniel Nayeri, Linda Sue Park, Mitali Perkins, Pam Muñoz Ryan, Gary D. Schmidt, Brian Young, and Ibi Zoboi; coedited by Leah Henderson and Gary D. Schmidt.


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]]> 2023-12-17 19:13:12 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2827625465 The Mystery of Locked Rooms by Lindsay Currie cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2827626914 Crack the codes. Find the treasure. Escape the house.


From the acclaimed author of Scritch Scratch and What Lives in the Woods comes a action-packed adventure novel about three friends who team up to find a hidden treasure in an abandoned 1950's funhouse.


Twelve-year-old Sarah Greene wants nothing more from her seventh-grade year than to beat the hardest escape room left in her town with her best friends, West, and Hannah. But when a foreclosure notice shows up on Sarah's front door, everything changes. Since her father became ill two years ago, things have been bad, but not lose your house bad...until now. 


Sarah feels helpless until the day Hannah mentions a treasure rumored to be hidden in the walls of an abandoned funhouse. According to legend, Hans, Stefan, and Karl Stein were orphaned at eight years old and lived with different families until they were able to reunite as adults. Their dream was to build the most epic funhouse in existence. They wanted their experience to be more than mirror mazes and optical illusions, so they not only created elaborate riddles and secret passages, but they also claimed to have hidden a treasure inside the funhouse. 


Once in, Sarah, West, and Hannah realize the house is unlike any escape room they've attempted. There are challenges, yes, but they feel personal. Like the triplets knew who would get in. It seems impossible, but so does everything about the house. As soon as they're in she immediately worries that attempting the funhouse is a bad idea but Sarah has no choice but to continue, since her future is at stake.


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]]> 2023-12-17 19:15:33 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2827626914 Keeping Pace by Laurie Morrison cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2827628043 Laurie Morrison’s Keeping Pace is a poignant middle-grade novel about friends-turned-rivals training for a half-marathon—and rethinking what it means to win and what they mean to each other.

Grace has been working for years to beat her former friend Jonah Perkins’s GPA so she can be named top scholar of the eighth grade. But when Jonah beats her for the title, it feels like none of Grace’s academic accomplishments have really mattered. They weren’t enough to win—or to impress her dad. And then the wide, empty summer looms. With nothing planned and no more goals or checklists, she doesn’t know what she’s supposed to be working toward.

Eager for something to occupy her days, Grace signs up for a half-marathon race that she and Jonah used to talk about running together. Jonah’s running it, too. Maybe if she can beat Jonah on race day, she’ll feel OK again. But as she begins training with Jonah and checking off a new list of summer goals, she starts to question what—and who—really matters to her. Is winning at all costs really worth it?

Engaging and heartfelt, Keeping Pace is about wanting to win at all costs—and having to learn how to fail.


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]]> 2023-12-17 19:17:49 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2827628043 And Then, Boom! by Lisa Fipps cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2827629164 A gripping new novel in verse by the author of the Printz Honor-winning Starfish, featuring a poverty-stricken boy who bravely rides out all the storms life keeps throwing at him

Joe Oak is used to living on unsteady ground. His mom can’t be depended on as she never stays around long once she gets “the itch,” and now he and his beloved grandmother find themselves without a home. Fortunately, Joe has an outlet in his journals and drawings and takes comfort from the lessons of comic books—superhero's have a lot of “and then, boom” moments, where everything threatens to go bust but somehow they land on their feet. And that seems to happen a lot to Joe too, as in this crisis his friend Nick helps them find a home in his trailer park. But things fall apart again when Joe is suddenly left to fend for himself. He doesn’t tell anyone he’s on his own, as he fears foster care and has hope his mom will come back. But time is running out—bills are piling up, the electricity’s been shut off, and the school year’s about to end, meaning no more free meals. The struggle to feed himself gets intense, and Joe finds himself dumpster diving for meals. He’s never felt so alone—until an emaciated little dog and her two tiny pups cross his path. And fate has even more in store for Joe, because an actual tornado is about to hit home—and just when it seems all is lost, his life turns in a direction that he never could have predicted.


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]]> 2023-12-17 19:19:52 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2827629164 With Just One Wing by Brenda Woods cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2827630500 Coretta Scott King Honor–winner Brenda Woods’s poignant, heartfelt story of an adopted boy and the bird he rescues

Everyone expects Coop to be musical like his beloved parents, but he’s not. That’s one of the few things he finds awkward about being adopted—well, that and the fact that he sometimes wonders why his birth mother didn’t love him enough to keep him. This summer, he’s stuck at home with a broken arm after falling out of a tree trying to get a closer peek at a mockingbird nest. Later, when the eggs in the nest have hatched and the fledglings fly away, he and his friend Zandi notice that one of them stays behind. Taking a closer look, they realize the bird only has one wing. Since it won’t survive in the wild, they adopt it and name it Hop, and then learn everything they can about birds so they can care for Hop properly. Unfortunately, when a hawk injures Hop, the vet says it’s illegal to keep mockingbirds as pets. Faced with a difficult decision about surrendering his beloved little bird to a bird sanctuary, Coop starts thinking about his birth mother’s motivation in a new light.


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]]> 2023-12-17 19:22:07 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2827630500 A Galaxy of Whales by Heather Fawcett cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2827631499 A perfect summer read about whale watching and friendship both lost and found, from the author of Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries and The Islands of Elsewhere

When Fern hears about a photo contest with a big cash award, she decides she’ll enter and win! After all, photography is her passion (and was an interest she shared with her dad, who has recently died). She knows she can take a prize-worthy photo of a whale during one of the whale-watching tours her mom runs.

But her neighbor (and nemesis), Jasper, is also planning to enter the contest. It’s another frustration for Fern while she’s already coping with the worry that her best friend, Ivy, might not want to spend time with her anymore. She’s hoping to use the prize money to buy something that will attract Ivy’s interest.

This summer story has everything: the trials and pleasures of friendship, a rousing feud and a touch of adventure, a beautiful exploration of healing after grief, a very moving finale, and a whole lot of whale-watching fascination.


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]]> 2023-12-17 19:24:08 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2827631499 Faker by Gordon Korman cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2827632461 From the #1 bestselling author of RESTART, the story of a family of liars... and the son who wants to break the family tradition.


Trey knows the drill: His dad gets him into a school full of kids with rich parents. Trey makes friends, and his dad makes connections. Soon, there's the con, where Trey's dad suckers the other parents into investing in one of his schemes. Once the money's in the bank, Trey, his sister, and their dad are on the run... until they set up somewhere else and start again.

Trey believes his father when he says no one's getting hurt. After all, these parents have money to spare.


But Trey's starting to get tired of running... and lying... and never having a friend for longer than a few months. But how do you get your family to stop lying when your lives depend on it?


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]]> 2023-12-17 19:26:08 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2827632461 Mapmakers and the Flickering Fortress (Mapmakers #3) by Cameron Chittock and Amanda Castillo cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2827634705 Alidade and her friends face their ultimate challenge in the final installment of the graphic fantasy trilogy that's perfect for fans of Avatar the Last Airbender and 5 Worlds.

With our heroes divided, they must find a way to stop the Night Coats and to reunite before it's all too late. With their freedom and the magic of the Memris on the line, each Mapmaker will have to decide—what is the future they want for their world?

And what are they willing to pay to make it happen?

This epic conclusion comes to an end as Alidade, Lewis, Blue, and their new friends and Mapmakers, finally take on the Night Coats who ruin any chance of hope for their homes and family. With dark magic and plenty of action, will Alidade be able to free everyone of the Night Coats?


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]]> 2023-12-17 19:30:54 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2827634705 Katie, Batter Up! (Cupcake Diaries: The Graphic Novel #5) by Coco Simon cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2827635904 The bestselling Cupcake Diaries series is now available in graphic novel format! In this adaptation of the fifth book, Katie tries out for the softball team.

Katie’s Cupcake Club friends all have other activities besides making cupcakes. So Katie sets out to find her extracurricular niche. When Katie makes the softball team, it’s batter up...but is this the kind of batter Katie really wants to be dealing with? What if she makes a mistake and her team loses? By stepping up to the plate, Katie realizes that doing what you love always makes the batter sweeter.

Fun, bright, full-color graphic panels tell the story with the same humor and heart as the original novel.


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]]> 2023-12-17 19:33:33 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2827635904 Evil Spy School (Spy School: The Graphic Novel #3) by Stuart Gibbs and illustrated by Anjan Sarkar cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2827637392 The New York Times bestselling Spy School series continues in graphic novel form with the third book as Ben gets kicked out of the CIA’s spy school and enrolls with the enemy.

During a spy school game of Capture the Flag, twelve-year-old Ben Ripley accidentally shoots a live mortar into the principal’s office—and immediately gets himself expelled. Not long after going back to the boring real world, Ben gets an offer to join evil crime organization SPYDER. And he accepts.

Ben can tell he’s a key part of their sinister plan, but he’s not quite sure what the plan is. Can Ben figure out what SPYDER is up to—and get word to the good guys without getting caught—before it’s too late?

Follow Ben as he crosses over to the dark side in action-packed, full-color panels.


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]]> 2023-12-17 19:36:28 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2827637392 Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur: Wreck and Roll! by Stephanie Williams and illustrated by Asia Simone cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2827638657 An all-new original graphic novel starring Marvel's Lunella Lafayette (Moon Girl) and her pet dinosaur!


Just in time for the debut of her original Disney TV show, Lunella Lafayette — aka the smartest person in the Marvel Universe — gets her own original graphic novel! When a rad-skating band of thieves start going wild, it's up to Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur to take to the streets and put a stop to their crime spree - while making sure to bust a few sweet moves along the way! But can Lunella balance fighting crime AND training with her all new, all awesome derby team - especially when it turns out that team might be up to no good? Set against the backdrop of her vibrant Lower East Side community, this hilarious graphic novel with a diverse cast of characters will be a hit with kids everywhere.


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]]> 2023-12-17 19:39:07 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2827638657 This Means War! (Big Nate #30) by Lincoln Peirce cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2827639710 Now a hit animated series on Nickelodeon and Paramount+, Big Nate delights middle grade readers with stories of mischief and misadventure in these full-color comics featuring sixth grader Nate Wright and friends at P.S. 38. 

For Nate Wright, conflict is a way of life. He tangles with Gina, the editor of the school newspaper, after she rejects his comic strip. He can’t get on the same page with his snooty study partners as they cram for the final exam. And once he hears that Mr. Rosa’s job is on the line, Nate even takes on the all-powerful school board. But when a challenger threatens Nate’s status as the owner of P.S. 38’s filthiest locker, our hero may have met his match. Can he win the slob-off and bury Kyle under the ash heap of history? In this brand-new collection of comics, Nate is definitely NOT messing around. 


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]]> 2023-12-17 19:41:19 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2827639710 The Cats of Silver Crescent by Kaela Noel cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2827641493 In this stand-alone novel with themes of friendship and family, twelve-year-old Elsby discovers a family of talking cats living in the house next door and must help them harness the magic that made them that way. From the author of the acclaimed Coo, The Cats of Silver Crescent is for fans of Kathi Appelt and Katherine Applegate.


With her mother busy traveling for work, Elsby isn’t thrilled to be spending a few weeks with her great-aunt Verity. Luckily, she has her notebook and a lush garden to sketch to help pass the time. But a visitor takes Elsby by surprise: a cat standing on its two hind legs and dressed like a sailor dashes across the garden and into the neighboring woods!

Elsby can’t believe her eyes, and she can't imagine that Aunt Verity would believe her, either. But that night, the cat and three of his cat companions approach Elsby. They need Elsby’s help. While the cats can talk, think, and behave like humans, the magical spell that made them that way will revert if it’s not renewed soon. Elsby might be the only one who can save them—but every enchantment comes at a price.


A contemporary fantasy about family, friends, trust, and the magic that’s inside everyone, The Cats of Silver Crescent will captivate animal lovers and fans of Jenn Reese’s A Game of Fox & Squirrels. 


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]]> 2023-12-17 19:45:02 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2827641493 The Color of Sound by Emily Barth Isler cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2827644090 Twelve-year-old Rosie is a musical prodigy whose synesthesia allows her to see music in colors.


Her mom has always pushed her to become a concert violinist, but this summer Rosie refuses to play, wanting a "normal" life. Forced to spend the summer with her grandparents, Rosie is excited to meet another girl her age hanging out on their property. The girl is familiar, and Rosie quickly pieces it together: somehow, this girl is her mother, when her mother was twelve.


With help from this glitch in time—plus her grandparents, an improv group, and a new instrument—Rosie comes to understand her mother, herself, and her love of music in new ways.


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]]> 2023-12-17 19:50:31 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2827644090 The Monster and the Maze (Monkey King and the World of Myths #1) by Maple Lam cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2827646301 Percy Jackson meets Dragonball in the first book of this adorable, funny, and action-packed graphic novel series! Follow along as the legendary Monkey King tries to save the world from a mysterious new threat—and smashes his way through the world of ancient Greek mythology in the process!

A long-forgotten evil has reemerged, determined to transform everyone—humans, beasts, and gods alike—into monsters. And there’s only one being who can stop it, or at least that’s what he thinks. Sun Wukong, aka the Monkey King, is said to be the mightiest of all beasts, and he’s made a deal with the gods. They will grant him his greatest wish and make him a god too. All he has to do is battle these monsters, defeat this evil, and basically save the world. What could possibly go wrong?

Wukong must first journey to Greece, where he’ll have to figure out how to escape the underworld alive, be a good pet-sitter for a three-headed dog, and ultimately find his way through a labyrinth. But when he comes face-to-face with the Minotaur, will he have what it takes to slay the monster . . . or will the Monkey King’s story end up a Greek tragedy?


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]]> 2023-12-17 19:54:54 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2827646301 Things That Shimmer by Deborah Lakritz cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2827647755 In the spring of 1973, Melanie Adler desperately wants to be accepted by the Shimmers, the popular kids in her class. But the secret of her mother's PTSD stands in the way. As hard as she tries, Melanie can't act as effortlessly confident and fun as the Shimmers. She's convinced no one knows what it's like to have a parent who's afraid of everything—until Dorit Shoshani moves to town. Clever, independent Dorit understands Melanie's home life thanks to her own family's struggles. The girls become fast friends.


But when the Shimmers finally start to pay attention to Melanie, she's torn between her bond with Dorit and her chance at popularity.


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]]> 2023-12-17 19:57:33 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2827647755 The Kid by Jeff Schill cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2827648733 The Kid is the quickest draw in the West. Little does anyone know he isn’t real. A fast-paced, cleverly woven, witty middle grade western adventure.

It's 1881 in Destiny, Colorado. Fourteen-year-old Henry Upton’s parents have died, and he’s trying to keep his three younger brothers together on the farm. Henry writes a story about The Kid, the fastest draw in the West, to keep people away from their parts. But his stories will soon put more than his family and the farm at risk.

Meanwhile, Herbert might lose his job as an editor at Gunslinger Magazine in Philadelphia if he can't find out why the author of The Kid stories recently stopped sending them. The soft city slicker is headed out west to find the author.

And Snake-Eye Sam has set his sights on The Kid, whom he thinks is real. Sam has evil in his heart and jealousy in his veins. Breaking out of prison to shoot down The Kid is about the only thing that can cure the itch running down Sam's spine.

Three storylines—plus Gunslinger Magazine‘s The Kid stories—intertwine and come together just as Snake Eye Sam and Herbert both arrive in Destiny. On Main Street at high noon, a master plan is put in place at the same time that Henry and the Destiny sheriff get what they need to keep the Upton brothers together.

Pull up for a tall frothy glass of sarsaparilla and enjoy this engaging and satisfying Western tale, full of quirky characters, snappy dialogue, and heart.


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]]> 2023-12-17 19:59:39 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2827648733 The Queen of Thieves (The Moonwind Mysteries #2) by Johan Rundberg and translated by A. A. Prime cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2827650709 Mika will do what it takes to uncover a string of thefts in the city—and keep her fellow orphans safe.


After a merciless winter, spring has sprung in 1880 Stockholm, and the city awaits the arrival of the SS Vega, the first ship to have sailed the Northeast Passage. Life is busy at the orphanage, but twelve-year-old Mika quickly notices that the older orphans are up to something—and it doesn’t look good.


When Constable Hoff approaches her with information about thefts around the city, Mika becomes even more concerned about what the other kids are up to—and what they might be planning for the Vega celebration. The police will have no sympathy for orphans, and she’d hate to see her friends condemned to life in jail.


But Mika soon finds herself in a bind she can’t get out of—one that could condemn her own life. Can Mika uncover who is really behind the thefts in the city and keep her friends safe, without getting caught? Find out in this breathless sequel to The Night Raven.


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]]> 2023-12-17 20:03:01 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2827650709 The Secret Language of Birds by Lynne Kelly cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2827652484 From the award-winning author of Song for a Whale comes a poignant and heartwarming tale about a girl who discovers a pair of endangered birds about to lay eggs in the marshes of her summer camp...and the secret plan she hatches to help them.

 Nina is used to feeling like the odd one out, both at school and in her large family. But while trying to fit in at summer camp, she discovers something even more peculiar: two majestic birds have built a nest in the marsh behind an abandoned infirmary. They appear to be whooping cranes, but that’s impossible—Nina is an amateur bird-watcher, and all her resources tell her that those rare birds haven’t nested in Texas for over a hundred years.

When Nina reports the sighting to wildlife officials, more questions arise. Experts track all the endangered birds, but they can’t identify the female bird that Nina found. Who is she, and where did she come from?

With the help of some fellow campers, Nina sets out to discover who the mystery bird really is. As she gets closer to the truth, will she find a flock of her own?

This instant classic from award-winning author Lynne Kelly captures the coming-of-age moment of learning to spread your wings in a way you'll never forget.


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]]> 2023-12-17 20:06:43 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2827652484 The Equinox Test (School for Unusual Magic #1) by Liz Montague cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2827653900 Three friends discover magic and mayhem around every corner of their school in this brand-new illustrated series from New Yorkercartoonist and NAACP Image Award nominee Liz Montague.


It's time to put their magic to the test!


Welcome to the Brooklyn School of Magic, where seeds of enchantment are planted and magic sprouts in every corner. And where each fall, fifth years must pass the Equinox Test if they want to move up to Middle Magic.


Rose is worried. She's never been the best student. And if she doesn't pass with flying colors, Principal Ivy says she may have to transfer to a boring, non-magical school.


Amethyst knows she's got the skills to ace the test. But to really impress her mom, she's got her eye on the school's top prize.


Lavender just wants to fit in. Even after a few years in the States, he still feels homesick. All. The. Time. Passing the test might just be his ticket back to the island.


But with best friend battles, a cheating scandal, and trouble brewing in the magical community, the Equinox Test may not even be the biggest challenge these Magic Bearers will face this year…


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]]> 2023-12-17 20:09:37 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2827653900 City of Wishes (Legends of Lotus Island #3) by Christina Soontornvat and illustrated by Kevin Hong cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2827656385 From three-time Newbery honor recipient Christina Soontornvat comes a compelling new young middle grade fantasy series for readers who love stories about animals, magic, and kids like them embracing their power to change the world.


During the New Year break, Plum and her friends travel to fancy, fashionable Nakhon City. There they'll stay with Sam and his mother, the powerful Lady Ubon.


At first, Plum is dazzled by how big and exciting Nakhon City is. She's never experienced anything like it! But under the glittering surface, secrets lurk. A storm is brewing, and Plum will have to harness all of her growing powers to survive it.


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]]> 2023-12-17 20:15:06 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2827656385 Best Friends Forever (You're Invited to a Creepover: The Graphic Novel #6) by P.J. Night cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2828927735 The bestselling You’re Invited to a Creepover middle grade series comes to graphic novels with this sixth book about a girl whose new friend may be more sinister than she appears.

Katie Lee is majorly bummed when her BFF moves away. But her hopes soar when the new girl at school, Whitney, befriends her right away and invites her to spend the night at her house for a sleepover. Katie loved sleepovers with her old best friend, so she’s sure she will have a great time. But something is not quite right at Whitney’s house. Whitney seems really, really into her dolls...and later that night, Katie’s convinced that the dolls are threatening her. The next morning, a freaked-out Katie decides that maybe she hasn’t found a new BFF after all. Whitney, however, has made up her mind about Katie—they’re going to be best friends forever...no matter what.

Creepy full-color graphic panels tell the story with the same horror as the original novel! This too-close-for-comfort friendship tale is ranked a 5 on the Creep-o-Meter.


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]]> 2023-12-18 23:40:56 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2828927735 I Survived the Destruction of Pompeii, AD 79 (I Survived: The Graphic Novel #10) by Lauren Tarshis and illustrated by Dave Shephard cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2828929475 A bold graphic novel adaptation of Lauren Tarshis's bestselling I Survived the Destruction of Pompeii, AD 79.


The beast beneath the mountain is restless...


No one in the bustling city of Pompeii worries when the ground trembles beneath their feet. The beast under the mountain Vesuvius, high above the city, wakes up angry sometimes—and always goes back to sleep.

But Marcus is afraid. He knows something is terribly wrong—and his father, who trusts science more than mythical beasts, agrees. When Vesuvius explodes into a huge cloud of ash and rocks that fall from the sky like rain, will they have time to escape—and survive the epic destruction of Pompeii?


Lauren Tarshis's New York Times bestselling I Survived series comes to vivid life in graphic novel editions. Perfect for readers who prefer the graphic novel format, or for existing fans of the I Survived chapter book series, these graphic novels combine historical facts with high-action storytelling that's sure to keep any reader turning the pages. Includes a nonfiction section at the back with facts and photos about the real-life event.


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]]> 2023-12-18 23:45:12 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2828929475 Snoopy's Beagle Scout Tales (Peanuts Graphic Novels #1) by Charles M. Schulz and illustrated by Robert Pope cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2828931266 Enjoy nature with the Peanuts gang in this graphic novel that features classic Schulz comic strips, previously published stories, and an all-new original camping-themed story!

Charlie Brown, Snoopy, and the rest of the gang spend time in the great outdoors in this collection of graphic novel short stories that includes the classic Race for Your Life, Charlie Brown!


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]]> 2023-12-18 23:49:02 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2828931266 Heroes by Alan Gratz cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2828933139 From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Refugee, Ground Zero, and Two Degrees, this is an action-packed, inventive, and powerful new novel about the 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor as only Alan Gratz can tell it!


December 6, 1941: Best friends Frank and Stanley have it good. With their dads stationed at the Pearl Harbor naval base in Hawaii, the boys get to soak up the sunshine while writing and drawing their own comic books. World War II might be raging overseas, but so far America has stayed out of the fight. There's nothing to fear, right?


December 7th, 1941: Everything implodes.


Frank and Stanley are touring a battleship when Japanese planes zoom overhead, dropping bomb after bomb. As explosions roar and sailors screa, Frank and Stanley realize the unthinkable is happening: Japan is attacking America! The war has come to them.


Frantically, the boys struggle to find safety. But disaster and danger are everywhere—from torpedoes underwater to bullets on the beach... to the shocking cruelty that their friends and neightbors show Stanely. Because his mom is Japanesmerican, Stanely is suddenly seen as the "enemy." And Frank, who is white, cannot begin to understand what his friend is now facing.


If the boys make it through this infamous day, can their friendship--and their dreams—survive? Or has everything they know been destroyed?


Told with the immediacy, high-stakes action, and inventive storytelling that make Alan Gratz (Refugee, Ground Zero) one of today's biggest authors, this riveting look at the attack on Pearl Harbor explores themes of prejudice, power, and what it truly means to be a hero.


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]]> 2023-12-18 23:53:17 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2828933139 Force of Nature: A Novel of Rachel Carson by Ann E. Burg and illustrated by Sophie Blackall cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2828934838 A beautiful and hopeful story of how a young impassioned naturalist grows up to change the world. For everyone who cares about our fragile planet.


Rachel was a girl who loved

science and the sea

books and writing

and all the creatures of the world.

Rachel was quiet,

a listener by nature.

But when she saw problems,

she could not remain silent.


Some people thought

girls shouldn’t be scientists or writers.

They thought girls

shouldn’t use their voices

to question or challenge

even to protect

all the creatures of the world.


Luckily Rachel didn’t listen

to them.


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]]> 2023-12-18 23:56:39 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2828934838 Once Upon a Fever by Angharad Walker cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2828937578 From the critically acclaimed author of The Ash House, in a society where emotions themselves are thought to be the cause of the illness that has taken over the world, sisters Ani and Payton must unravel a dark truth in this story that explores the depth of our own strength in how we observe and deal with our emotions.


Since the world fell sick with fantastical illnesses, sisters Payton and Ani have grown up in King Jude’s Hospital.


Payton wants to be a methic like her father, working on a cure for her mother’s sleeping fever. Ani, however, thinks the remedy for all illness might be found in the green wilderness beyond the hospital walls.


When Ani stumbles upon an imprisoned boy who turns everything he touches to gold, her world is turned upside-down. The girls find themselves outside the hospital for the first time, a dark mystery unraveling...


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]]> 2023-12-19 00:01:42 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2828937578 Magic Pickle and the Roots of Doom by Scott Morse cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2828940238 Magic Pickle battles Square Root and his pungent, garlicky sidekick in this action-packed, pun-filled graphic novel.


New enemies have taken root! Evil tuber Square Root, along with his sidekick Herb Cloverson, a smelly clove of garlic, plans to squash Magic Pickle's powers and rule the world! But Square Root hasn't reckoned with Magic Pickle's own sidekick, Jo Jo, a human girl who's full of daring and smarts. Can Magic Pickle and Jo Jo dish out some Dill Justice? Or will Square Root's rotten plot prevail?


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]]> 2023-12-19 00:06:31 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2828940238 Liar, Liar (Whatever After #16) by Sarah Mlynowski cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2828942165 Here is the sixteenth magical installment of the New York Times and USA Today bestselling series of fractured fairy tales for fearless kids!


My little brother Jonah and I have a magic mirror in our basement. This time, the mirror sucks us up and drops us into the story of Pinocchio. Our task? To help Gepetto get his wooden puppet son, Pinocchio, to go to school. But even though his nose grows when he lies, Pinocchio is tricky—and he ends up sneaking back into OUR world with us!


So now we need to:


-Find the Blue Fairy.


-Convince our friends and teachers that Pinocchio is our cousin...but lying isn't easy when your nose grows!


-And avoid ending up in the belly of a shark.


We need to find a way to get Pinocchio home...and that's no lie!


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]]> 2023-12-19 00:09:21 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2828942165 The Crossbow of Destiny by Brandon Hoang cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2828943818 Author Brandon Hoang takes readers on a high-stakes adventure through Vietnam in search of an ancient magical crossbow with the power to decimate entire armies. Perfect for fans of Percy Jackson!


When Vietnamese American Freddie Lo finds herself in Vietnam for the first time since she was little, she's not quite sure how to feel. The memories of her extended family are more like distant echoes; she has a tough time speaking Vietnamese; and she can't help but feel like she just isn't Vietnamese enough. Still, this is her chance to reconnect with her family, especially her Ong ngoai—or grandfather—who is receiving a big award.


That's when Ong ngoai reveals his secret: He knows the location of an ancient legendary crossbow, one with the power to decimate armies—and he's hidden it away from those who intend to use its magic for evil. But when Ong ngoai is kidnapped, it's up to Freddie, her cousin Lien, and a mysterious boy named Duy to get to the crossbow before it ends up in the wrong hands.


In this Indiana Jones-style adventure, readers will travel through Vietnam—from its seaside villages, to the swamps of the Mekong Delta, to the majestic Marble Mountains of Da Nang—as Freddie learns what it takes to be a hero.


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]]> 2023-12-19 00:12:05 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2828943818 Any Way You Look by Maleeha Siddiqui cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2828945386 When boys from her community start harassing her, Ainy needs to figure out how to get them to stop—while still staying true to herself.


Dress Coded meets Amina's Voice in this new middle grade novel by Maleeha Siddiqui.


Ainy is excited for summer! She plans on working at her mom’s clothing boutique, having adventures with her best friend, and maybe even starting to wear the hijab—just like her big sister. But when certain boys from Ainy’s Muslim community keep showing up at the store to give her unwanted attention, she goes from possibly wanting to wear the hijab someday to feeling like she needs to wear it to get the boys to leave her alone.


But wearing the hijab doesn’t do what she’d hoped: It doesn’t deflect the boys' attention at all! If anything, they've found something new to harass her about. With the help of her best friend and her older sister, Ainy must channel her inner creative strength and find the confidence to stand her ground and get the respect she deserves.


This is a compulsively readable, feminist, and thought-provoking book about staying true to yourself by acclaimed author Maleeha Siddiqui.


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]]> 2023-12-19 00:14:20 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2828945386 The Lonely Below by g. haron davis cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2828946996 A chilling middle grade horror debut featuring a Black, autistic protagonist who uncovers dark secrets plaguing her new school.


Eva doesn’t love being the new girl at school, but she doesn’t hate it either. Thanks to her mom’s job, her family is used to moving around. But Blythe Academy isn’t a normal school. The teachers are all strange and insular, like they’re hiding something from the students . . . .


And of course, there are the ghosts. Eva’s new friend Ami tells her the story—Blythe Academy has always felt haunted, but fifty years ago part of the school collapsed, killing a classroom of students and their teacher. Things haven’t been the same since.


To most students it’s just a scary story. But it’s not long until Eva is having her own terrifying run-ins with the ghosts, and they seem to be trying to communicate with her. Soon she’s having unnerving visions that seem to predict another collapse. Add in suddenly having to move into the dorms and her classmates finding out she’s autistic before she’s ready to tell them and Eva is completely overwhelmed.


Eva wants to tell people about her suspicion—he doesn’t think the collapse was just a tragic accident. It was caused by a malevolent force, and that force is back and hungry for more. As time begins to run out, will Eva be able to discover the truth of Blythe Academy and save lives . . . or will it be too late?


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]]> 2023-12-19 00:16:37 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2828946996 Read at Your Own Risk by Remy Lai cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2828948848 Read at Your Own Risk is the illustrated sketch diary of a girl who is being haunted after a game goes terribly wrong and an evil spirit starts conversing with her on the page—perfect for fans of R.L. Stine and Steven Seagle's Camp Midnight.

Hannah and her friends were just having a bit of fun when they decided to play a game to communicate with spirits of the dead. Little did they know something would answer their call and crawl its way into the pages of Hannah’s journal. What started out as a game has turned into something much more evil. With dire, horrifying consequences.

Is there any way to escape the curse?


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]]> 2023-12-19 00:18:58 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2828948848 The Things We Miss by Leah Stecher cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2828952677 "Magical and heartbreaking! You will read this book in one gulp." - Jennifer L. Holm, New York Times-bestselling author of The Fourteenth Goldfish

When You Reach Me meets Starfish in this heartfelt contemporary middle grade about a misfit girl who finds a way to skip all of the hard parts of life.

J.P. Green has always felt out of step. She doesn't wear the right clothes, she doesn't say the right things, and her body…well, she'd rather not talk about it. And seventh grade is shaping up to be the worst year yet: notorious bully Miranda O'Donnell won't stop offering unsolicited diet advice and her mom keeps trying to turn J.P. into someone she's not.

When J.P. discovers a mysterious door in her neighbor's treehouse, she doesn't hesitate before walking through. The door sends her three days forward in time. Suddenly, J.P. can skip all the worst parts of seventh grade: Fitness tests in P.E., oral book reports, awkward conversations with her mom…she can avoid them all and no one even knows she was gone.

But can you live a life without any of the bad parts? Are there experiences out there that you can't miss?

This moving middle grade novel about mental health, body acceptance, and self-confidence asks what it truly means to show up for the people you love-and for yourself.


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]]> 2023-12-19 00:23:40 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2828952677 Escape to the River Sea by Emma Carroll cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2828962853 Beautiful and full of adventure, Escape to the River Sea is Emma Carroll's compelling novel inspired by Eva Ibbotson's bestselling, classic masterpiece, Journey to the River Sea.

'Unputdownable storytelling. I loved it.' - Hilary McKay, Costa Award-winning author of The Skylark's War

In 1946, Rosa Sweetman, a young Kindertransport girl, is longing for her family to claim her. The war in Europe is over and she is the only child left at Westwood, a rambling country estate in the north of England, where she'd taken refuge seven years earlier.

The arrival of a friend of the family, Yara Fielding, starts an adventure that will take Rosa deep into the lush beauty of the Amazon rainforest in search of jaguars, ancient giant sloths and somewhere to belong. What she finds is Yara’s lively, welcoming family on the banks of the river and, together, they face a danger greater than she could ever have imagined.

Featuring places and characters known and loved by fans of Journey to the River Sea (including, among others, Maia, Finn, Miss Minton and Clovis) this spectacular new chapter in the story tells of the next generation and the growing threats to the Amazon rainforest that continue to this day.


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]]> 2023-12-19 00:35:15 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2828962853 Ripley: Fire Station Five (Dogs with a Purpose #2) by W. Bruce Cameron cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2828966775 Ripley: Fire Station Five is a new Dogs with a Purpose adventure from the #1 New York Times bestselling author of A Dog's Purpose, W. Bruce Cameron!

Some dogs were born to lend a helping hand (or paw!).

Ripley, a Border Collie puppy, is one of them. He’s smart, fast, and very good with people. He seems like the perfect fit for Ben’s fire department! But all of Ripley’s smarts won’t matter if he can’t learn to calm down and follow orders.

Then, in the aftermath of a house fire, Ripley forms an unbreakable bond with a young girl named Samantha. Helping her overcome her fear may just be the key to becoming the perfect fire rescue dog.


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]]> 2023-12-19 00:39:28 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2828966775 The House on Sunrise Lagoon: Halfway to Harbor (The House on Sunrise Lagoon #3) by Nicole Melleby cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2828976125 If you want to get to know Harbor Moore, you need to know three things:

1. Sometimes she signs her name Harbor Ali-O’Connor to match her siblings.
2. She misses her dad a lot, but she doesn’t want to be away from her moms and siblings, either.
3. She just might have her first crush.
 
Harbor is excited to spend the summer working on her jump shot in an elite basketball league. But the games take place near her dad's house—hours away from her beloved Sunrise Lagoon. Suddenly, she’s spending every weekend at her dad’s and getting to know Quinn, a girl whose smile makes her feel warm inside. Still, Harbor can’t help wondering what’s going on at home. Why is Sam hanging out with Harbor's best friend? Has Marina’s friend Boom taken her place in the house? What have the twins “borrowed” this time for one of their disastrous scientific experiments?
 
When it comes time to decide whether Harbor will stay and play basketball with her team—and Quinn—all year round, or continue to live on Sunrise Lagoon, Harbor thinks she knows what to do . . . but is it the right decision?


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]]> 2023-12-19 00:49:36 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2828976125 Slugfest by Gordon Korman cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2829066413 From Gordon Korman, the New York Times bestselling author of Restart, comes a hilarious new story about a group of underdogs who come together when they are forced to attend summer school—for failing PE.


Yash is the best athlete at Robinette Middle School—so good, in fact, that he’s already playing on the high school’s JV sports teams. Imagine his shock when he learns that his JV practices have kept him from earning a state-mandated credit for eighth-grade PE. To graduate, he has to take Physical Education Equivalency—PEE, also known as “Slugfest”—in summer school.


Yash gets to know his fellow “slugs”: Kaden, an academic superstar who’s physically hopeless; twins Sarah and Stewart, who are too busy trying to kill each other to do any real PE; Jesse, a notorious prankster; Arabella, who protests everything; and Cleo, a natural athlete who has sworn off sports.


But when one of them tries to blow the lid off a scandal that could make all their time in summer school a waste, Yash is forced to take drastic action.

Teaming up with the most hapless crew in school can really surprise a person. And their teacher might be hiding the biggest surprise yet. . .


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]]> 2023-12-19 02:31:28 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2829066413 Medusa (The Myth of Monsters #1) by Katherine Marsh cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2829068811 From National Book Award finalist Katherine Marsh: Percy Jackson meets The Troubled Girls of Dragomir Academy in this fantastical adventure about Ava, who attends a boarding school for the descendants of Greek monsters and uncovers a terrible secret that could change the world forever.


Ava Baldwin has always tried to keep her anger in check, just like her mom taught her. But when know-it-all classmate Owen King tries to speak over her yet again, Ava explodes . . . and Owen freezes, becoming totally unresponsive.


Although Owen recovers, Ava's parents whisk her off to her mother’s alma mater, the Accademia del Forte, a mysterious international boarding school in Venice. There, Ava and her brother, Jax, discover that the Olympian gods founded the Accademia to teach the descendants of mythological monsters how to control their emotions and their powers and become functioning, well-adjusted members of society.


But not everything at the Accademia is as it seems. After her friend Fia is almost expelled for challenging a teacher, Ava realizes the school is hiding a dangerous secret. To uncover the truth, Ava and her new friends embark on an adventure that could change the way they view history, mythology—and themselves—forever…or end their lives. 


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]]> 2023-12-19 02:34:27 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2829068811 Beyond the Isle of the Lost: Wonderland (A Descendants Novel #5) by Melissa de la Cruz cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2829686480 A new entry in the New York Times bestselling Descendants series by Melissa de la Cruz—and a prequel to the forthcoming Disney Channel Original Movie.

Filled with humor and adventure, this novel tied to Disney Channel's newest addition to the Descendants film franchise explores a madcap prequel set in Wonderland.


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]]> 2023-12-19 15:24:04 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2829686480 Zombie Train by David Macinnis Gill cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2829689582 The Zombie Chasers meets The Goonies in David Macinnis Gill’s middle grade debut about a group of tweens who ride out the zombie apocalypse on a cobbled-together train. Fans of Ty Drago’s The Undertakers: Rise of the Corpses and Max Brallier’s The Last Kids on Earth will lose themselves in this page-turning, spine-chilling, and sometimes goofy survival story.


Wyatt has been riding out the zombie apocalypse on his crew’s cobbled-together train for what feels like forever. It’s a hopeless journey, the train running a loop that covers thousands of miles across the western U.S. But when a mysterious girl arrives with stories of a so-called Nirvana and a potential cure for the zombie parasite, Wyatt must decide between searching for the cure and protecting those entrusted in his care.


David Macinnis Gill’s Zombie Train is a compelling survival story full of action, suspense, and plenty of zombies. Filled with both harrowing and humorous moments, Zombie Train follows an eccentric cast of characters as they contend with a changing world and shifting loyalties and friendships, and as they fight to remain in control—of their lives and of the future. 


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]]> 2023-12-19 15:26:48 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2829689582 Max in the House of Spies: A Tale of World War II by Adam Gidwitz cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2829693317 “Max in the House of Spies is everything you could hope for in a book,” —R. J. Palacio, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Wonder, White Bird, and Pony

“Espionage! Secrets! Suspense! If you’ve ever dreamed of being a spy, this book is for you.” —Alan Gratz, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Refugee and Projekt 1065

Max Bretzfeld doesn’t want to move to London.

Leaving home is hard and Max is alone for the first time in his life. But not for long. Max is surprised to discover that he’s been joined by two unexpected traveling companions, one on each shoulder, a kobold and a dybbuk named Berg and Stein.

Germany is becoming more and more dangerous for Jewish families, but Max is determined to find a way back home, and back to his parents. He has a plan to return to Berlin. It merely involves accomplishing the impossible: becoming a British spy.

The first book in a duology, Max in the House of Spies is a thought-provoking World War II story as only acclaimed storyteller Adam Gidwitz can tell it—fast-paced and hilarious, with a dash of magic and a lot of heart.


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]]> 2023-12-19 15:29:56 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2829693317 Night of the Living Zed by Basil Sylvester and Kevin Sylvester cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2829696667 Three days in a haunted mansion full of secrets. Two intrepid investigators. And one chance to solve a generations-old mystery. Beloved monster enthusiast Zed Watson returns in this charming new adventure chock-full of illusions, spirits, haunted pasts and heartwarming friendships. 


Zed and Gabe are back to their treasure-hunting, literary-sleuthing ways in this spooky new adventure!


After some lacklustre cases involving lost books and a missing pet, the two friends have finally come across a mystery worth their attention: the secrets of Glyndebourne Manor, haunted home of a late, great opera designer. Every twenty-five years, the Manor hosts a challenge. You have three days and two nights to solve the puzzles in each room before the stroke of midnight. If you leave, you forfeit the game. If you solve the puzzles in time, you win a huge pile of money.


Simple enough, thinks Zed. They and Gabe are interested in all things ghoulish. And if they win, they will be able to give their friends Sam and Jo the large wedding they deserve.


There’s only one problem: no one has been able to stay in the house for more than a single night.


Cue a whirlwind of scary ghosts, moving walls and cryptic letters. The two friends are going to need some help. Which means figuring out who the mysterious figure holding a crowbar is. And how to get out of a room with no doors! But thanks to Zed’s fearless enthusiasm and Gabe’s encyclopedic knowledge of theatre, they might be able to survive and maybe even right some past wrongs. 


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]]> 2023-12-19 15:32:50 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2829696667 The Treacherous Tower (Rescue Tails #1) by StacyPlays and illustrated by Mélody Gringoire cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2829699675 From the author of the New York Times bestselling Wild Rescuers series comes Rescue Tails by YouTuber StacyPlays, a thrilling new adventure series about Stacy and her special wolves, with illustrations on every page!


Stacy and her intelligent pack of wolves live in harmony together in a forest cave. But when their friend Milo the bat brings news that a baby ocelot is in danger and needs to be returned to its family, Stacy and Basil must hurry to the jungle biome in order to save the day!


After tracking the lost ocelot, they discover it’s trapped in a long-lost tower that’s full of obstacles, traps, and dangerous creatures. Will Stacy and her wolf Basil rescue the ocelot before it’s too late?


Rescue Tails: The Treacherous Tower is the first book in an all-new Minecraft-inspired adventure series from StacyPlays, the New York Times bestselling author and YouTube sensation with more than 2.3 million subscribers!


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]]> 2023-12-19 15:35:31 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2829699675 The Five Impossible Tasks of Eden Smith by Tom Llewellyn cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2829702778 Challenged by a secret society of metalworkers, Eden must do all she can to save the only family she has left in this fantasy adventure.

When Eden Smith moves into the beautiful and bizarre old mansion housing her grandfather, she discovers a strange society of elderly metalworkers whose mastery verges on the magical. Deadly mechanical birds, a cavernous chamber full of dirty dishes, a highly dangerous game of Machinist BINGO–life at the guild is not only strange, it’s also dangerous.

Eden’s grandfather, Vulcan Smith, the most gifted of all the metalsmiths in the mansion, has just been sentenced to live out the rest of his days locked in a tiny basement room for rebelling against the guild. To save him, Eden will have to complete The Five Impossible Tasks, a series of deadly feats that have already killed off many of Eden and Vulcan’s ancestors. With the help of her new friend Nathaniel and a cast of eccentric old silversmiths, blacksmiths, and inventive machinists, Eden sets out to do the impossible before her newfound grandfather is lost to her forever.

In The Five Impossible Tasks of Eden Smith, Tom Llewellyn has crafted a wholly original world of wild contraptions, roguish characters, and perilous feats perfect for fans of Karuna Riazi, Laura Ruby, and Lemony Snicket.


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]]> 2023-12-19 15:37:55 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2829702778 Sister Sabotage (The Second Favorite Daughters Club #1) by Colleen Oakes cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2831198959 For fans of Sisters and Netflix’s The Baby-sitter’s Club, a contemporary series for the siblings who always come in last.

Santana Barnes is tired of playing second fiddle to her ballet protégé, honor student older sister Victoria. Casey Hammond is sick of her cute-as-a-button, adventurous little sister Sage, who steals all of their dad’s attention.

When the girls meet in their middle school library, they learn they have a lot in common: they both love reading, they hate after-school activities, and most important, they are clearly their parents’ second-favorite children.

So they decide to do something about it. They create the Second Favorite Daughters Club. The members? Just the two of them. The mission? To become their parents' favorite children by undermining their love-hoarding siblings. But is it possible to cheat your way to becoming your parents’ favorite? And is being in the spotlight really what they want after all?

Bestselling author Colleen Oakes’s middle grade debut, SISTER SABOTAGE is a celebration of friendship and family in all its challenging forms, and a reminder that there’s no one way to stand out.


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]]> 2023-12-21 01:09:57 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2831198959 Emily Posts by Tanya Lloyd Kyi cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2831201705 Middle school podcast advice columnist + social media influencer wannabe Emily Laurence takes on the principal at her school to stand up for a climate march, in this fun, school-based drama for ages 10 and up. For fans of Gordon Korman and Susin Nielsen.

Emily is the ringleader for her school podcast, Cedarview Speaks—Sponsored by CoastFresh! But her plans for middle-school fame and social media influence are derailed when Amelie joins her eighth-grade class. The new arrival has a seemingly endless supply of confidence and a gift for leading people. Or leading them astray, as far as Emily's concerned.

Emily puts her old-fashioned sense of etiquette into practice. Rather than confronting Amelie, she focuses her energy on creating a podcast story about an upcoming climate march. But her story is censored by the school principal. When she protests, Emily gets cut from the podcast crew...and Amelie takes her place!

Can Emily use her influence to spread the news of the climate march, reclaim her place on the podcast team and expose the flaws of CoastFresh? Can she balance her impeccable manners with twenty-first century activism? And how will she ever manage to work alongside Amelie?

With a light touch and plenty of humor, Emily Posts explores issues of social media, influence, corporate sponsorship...and the fraught waters of middle-school friendship.


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]]> 2023-12-21 01:13:04 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2831201705 The Liar's Society (The Liar's Society #1) by Alyson Gerber cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2831203848 The Inheritance Games and One of Us is Lying for middle grade — beloved author Alyson Gerber's new series is an unforgettable mystery featuring a secret society, a mysterious island, and dangerous family secrets.


Weatherby is a fish out of water. When she lands a scholarship to the prestigious Boston School, she’s excited to be in the same world as her dad, whom she’s never met, and make real friends. But Weatherby has a secret she’ll risk everything to protect, one that could destroy her new life.


Every member of Jack’s wealthy and privileged family has made their mark at the Boston School. Everyone, that is, except for Jack, who is entirely mediocre. He’s desperate to prove his worth to his influential father. But Jack has a secret of his own . . . one with the power to ruin everything.


When the money for their school trip to a private island—exclusive to Boston students—is stolen, Jack and Weatherby are invited to play a high-stakes game and solve the mystery of the missing money. If they win, they’ll be selected to join the oldest, most powerful secret society in the world—and they’ll be Boston royalty forever. If they lose . . . well, they better not lose.


Beloved author Alyson Gerber crafts an unforgettable mystery that asks—are some secrets and lies impossible to overcome?


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]]> 2023-12-21 01:15:25 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2831203848 Duck, Duck, Peach (The Great Peach Experiment #4) by Erin Soderberg Downing cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2831207545 The fourth Great Peach book finds the family back in Duluth, Minnesota for a summer filled with mystery, competition, pie, and . . . the World’s Largest Rubber Duck.

School’s out soon, and the Peaches are looking forward to some quiet, especially now that the family’s B&B (aka the "Peach Pit") is finally running smoothly. But quiet and normal aren’t really the Peach way. When a massive Festival of Ships sails into their town, of course the Peaches have to dive in head-first.

Ships of all kinds start rolling in: pirate ships, tall sailboats, tug boats, snazzy speed boats. And the highlight of the whole show: The WORLD’S LARGEST RUBBER DUCK. Suddenly the Peachtree B&B is sold out, and the Peaches are cooking up other tasty solutions.

But then the World’s Largest Rubber Duck goes missing! Stolen? Sunk? Airlifted by aliens? The hunt is on for the famous icon, and the Peaches are leading the search. Using all their skills—on land and water—they are determined to find the missing duck and bring it back to its home in the harbor.

The fourth book in the Great Peach Experiment series, Duck, Duck, Peach serves up a major mystery along with more challenges, humor, and family mis-adventures.


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]]> 2023-12-21 01:19:45 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2831207545 The Supernatural Files of CJ Delaney by Carol Williams cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2831218322 Unmasking evil witches, rescuing kidnapped pets, saving the town from evil—exactly what kid reporter CJ Delaney had in mind for summer vacation.

When a boring old skatepark opening becomes the scene of a supernatural occurrence, CJ Delaney can’t believe her luck. This is just the kind of big story she’s dreamed of breaking for the town's local paper.

With best friend Parker in tow, CJ is determined to get to the bottom of everything and save the town from evil. Isn’t this what summer vacation is for? But when all answers point to someone close, CJ stands not only to lose her byline but the scariest thing of all—the people and pet she loves.

With a strong, snappy voice and a warm sense of humor, The Supernatural Files of CJ Delaney is a fast-paced middle grade mystery (with just the right amount of hair-raising thrills) that begs to be read cover-to-cover in one sitting. This debut from Carol Williams shines with love for its characters, college-town setting, and belief in the power of the written word.


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]]> 2023-12-21 01:33:11 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2831218322 They Call Me No Sam! by Drew Daywalt and illustrated by Mike Lowery cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2831220429 From Drew Daywalt, the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Day the Crayons Quit, and illustrator Mike Lowery comes a heavily illustrated, paper-over-board middle grade novel about Sam, a noble pug who will go to any lengths to protect his family from the bad guys!


Meet Sam: an insolent pug—and incidental hero—who will stop at nothing to protect his family!


When scientists Elaine and Gary Peterson adopt Sam to keep their son, Justin, company in the midst of a top-secret research project, they never imagine the precocious pup will cause more harm than good. But from chewing up Elaine’s hair dryer (the “brain-melting heat cannon”) to his inability to be house-trained (who could resist the “pooping rug”?), the Petersons aren’t sure how much more they can take. And that's before Sam starts harassing Justin’s crush (and potential new friend), Phoebe, who Sam is sure is an evil wizard out to harm Justin.


But when a pair of crooks encroaches on the Peterson household in an attempt to steal their confidential findings, Sam’s actions—never mind his reasoning for them—just may save the day.


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]]> 2023-12-21 01:36:23 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2831220429 Near and Deer by Sylvia Liu cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2832402137 A heartwarming story about a girl who feels like her life is out of her control—and the inspirational friendship between her pet sheepadoodle and an orphaned fawn that she's determined to protect.


Sienna Chen loves helping her parents run their B&B and hanging out with her best friend, a sheepadoodle named Jules. Her world is chaotic, but she knows that by staying on top of everything she can help her parent’s business succeed. No matter how much pressure builds, she’s determined not to let them down.


One day Sienna finds Jules playing with a baby fawn. Sienna names the fawn Persimmon, and learns that it has been orphaned and injured. But taking care of Jules, helping her parents, and hiding Persimmon is a lot for Sienna to take on.


And when Persimmon finds herself in danger, things become even worse! With the help of a new friend, Sienna will have to save Persimmon and learn how to prevent her anxiety from overwhelming her life.


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]]> 2023-12-22 13:18:13 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2832402137 Swing by Audrey Meeker and colored by Sarah Davidson cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2832884926 Debut author/illustrator Audrey Meeker playfully explores complicated friendships, gender norms, and navigating other people's expectations in this charming middle grade graphic novel.

Marcus McCalister wants to fit in. So much so that he’s still playing on a soccer team with his childhood friend Ted, despite not liking soccer—or Ted—all that much.

Izzy Briggs wants to stand out. Being labeled the “weird kid” for her bold fashion choices is the price an aspiring designer must pay for a life of greatness—but being confident isn't always easy.

So when Izzy and Marcus are paired together to perform a swing dance routine for a gym project, it’s no surprise that everything goes up in flames, including their grade in the class. Until their gym teacher proposes a deal: if the pair performs the swing routine in the upcoming talent show, they’ll receive extra credit and a passing grade. They accept...but Izzy has her own proposal for Marcus: this time, she gets to be the lead.


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]]> 2023-12-23 16:19:37 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2832884926 Blackberry Fox by Kathrin Tordasi and translated by Cathrin Wirtz cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2832890028 For fans of the Wilderlore and Skandar series comes a thrilling middle grade fantasy adventure steeped in Welsh myths and legends about two intrepid friends who are tricked into opening the door to an enchanted world—only to get trapped inside.

On a summer holiday in Wales, Portia and Ben find a mysterious door set in a bramble hedge in the middle of a forest. If the old stories about the wonders and dangers of the Otherworld hadn’t long been forgotten, they may have realized the door was a portal to the perilous realm and should never be opened...

Robin Goodfellow, the man with the fox shadow, needs someone to open the door in the brambles so he can finally return home, and he’s willing to use the children’s curiosity to his advantage and lures Portia under the guise of his innocent fox form.

Once the portal is open, great danger arises, and Ben and Portia struggle to stop a powerful evil threatening both the human and the fairy worlds as they find themselves stuck in the wrong realm.


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]]> 2023-12-23 16:30:45 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2832890028 The Secret of the Bloodred Key (The Stolen Dreams Adventures #2) by David Farr cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2832891500 This dazzling sequel to the phenomenal The Book of Stolen Dreams that Publishers Weekly compared to the work of Kelly Barnhill and Lemony Snicket sees Rachel shouldering her new responsibility as key keeper when a girl goes missing.

After defeating the tyrant Malstain, Rachel and Robert are the heroes of Krasnia...but all is not how it should be. Robert is swept away with his new friends, leaving Rachel alone to take care of their ailing father, who’s lost without their beloved mother.

Rachel has also become the keeper of the hidden blood red key that opens the way into the Hinterland and is sworn to answer when it calls. So when a young girl, Elsa Spiegel, is illegally smuggled into the Hinterland, Rachel has no choice but to use her key to save her. But Elsa’s fate is linked to Krasnia’s, and Rachel’s rescue mission turns into a battle to save her home as she knows it.


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]]> 2023-12-23 16:34:01 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2832891500 Skandar and the Chaos Trials (Skandar #3) by A. F. Steadman cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2832892657 Skandar faces his greatest challenge yet in the thrilling third installment of the Skandar series from New York Times bestselling author A.F. Steadman!

To survive their third year of training, Skandar and his friends must complete a series of terrifying trials across the Island’s elemental zones. Friendships, allegiances, and rider-unicorn bonds will be pushed to the limit—only the strongest will make it.

Meanwhile, Skandar’s sister, Kenna, has finally reached the Eyrie. But with a forged bond to a wild unicorn, she is alienated and alone. And when a terrible discovery puts the future of the Island in peril, all fingers point in one direction...

As suspicions grow and dark forces assemble, Skandar must decide where his loyalties lie. How far is he willing to go—for Kenna, and for the Eyrie?


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]]> 2023-12-23 16:36:37 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2832892657 Charlie Thorne and the Royal Society (Charlie Thorne #4) by Stuart Gibbs cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2832894392 In the fourth installment of the New York Times bestselling Charlie Thorne series—which #1 New York Times bestselling author Chris Grabenstein called “a real page-burner”—Charlie searches for Isaac Newton's secret treasure across Europe and Australia.

Charlie Thorne is a genius. Charlie Thorne is fearless. Charlie Thorne may have finally met her match.

Charlie Thorne is used to being on the run. Ever since she was recruited by the CIA to track down Einstein’s most dangerous equation, Charlie—and former CIA agents Dante Garcia and Milana Moon—have traveled around the world to prevent history’s greatest discoveries from falling into the wrong hands. But after beating others to the secrets hidden by Einstein, Darwin, and Cleopatra, they find they are not the only ones searching for an immensely powerful discovery of Isaac Newton’s.

From a chase over the rooftops of Cambridge University to scaling the Sydney Harbour Bridge to skirting a volcanic eruption, Charlie will need to think one step ahead of her opponents to follow Newton’s trail of devious clues and keep herself out of the hands of the many enemies who are hot on her tail.


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]]> 2023-12-23 16:40:25 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2832894392 The Little Vampire on the Farm (The Little Vampire #4) by Angela Sommer-Bodenburg and translated by Ivanka T. Hahnenberger cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2832896188 Rudolph the little vampire shares Tony’s family vacation on a farm in this spooky and funny fourth book in the classic middle grade Little Vampire series—perfect for readers who love Hotel Transylvania and The Addams Family!

After a perilous train ride, Rudolph joins Tony in the countryside where his family is enjoying a taste of life on a farm. They spend the week hiding from Tony’s parents, exploring old farm buildings under the full moon, and even getting chased by a bull!


But will their sneaking around be enough to keep Rudolph from discovery?


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]]> 2023-12-23 16:44:17 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2832896188 Death Valley Summer (Wilder Boys #4) by Brandon Wallace cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2832897535 Two brothers try to lead lost campers to safety in the fourth adventure of the Wilder Boys series.

The boys help out at a wilderness camp near Sequoia National Park, a day’s drive south of the Sierras. The camp’s main draw is a multi-day trek traversing woodlands, mountains, and desert during a team-based orientation competition that will take them to the edge of Death Valley. When Jake and Taylor’s team counselor is badly hurt in a flash flood, they must galvanize the lost campers to find shelter, aid the injured counselor, and supplement their low supplies with what can be found around them.

At first, stumbling across a ghost town seems like a lucky break from the scorching heat of summer, but the town is already occupied by counterfeiters who are none too pleased about their operation being discovered. The boys must use all their resourcefulness and knowledge of the outdoors to protect their teammates from the criminals and the elements.


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]]> 2023-12-23 16:47:30 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2832897535 What Disappers in Vegas... (Nancy Drew Diaries #25) by Carolyn Keene cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2832898801 A missing bride leads Nancy on a chase through Las Vegas in the twenty-fifth Nancy Drew Diaries, a fresh approach to a classic series.

Bess and George’s cousin Veronica is getting married to extreme sports enthusiast Xavier Redd, and as a close friend of the family, Nancy has been invited to the wedding. Given the groom’s big personality and love for the extreme, the wedding will take place in Vegas, and the couple plan to take advantage of local sporting opportunities in the week leading up to the big event.

Not everyone in the family approves of Veronica’s fiancé, though, especially because of the risk-taking behavior Xavier has introduced her to. And when one of the couple’s sporting stunts almost ends in a serious accident, it’s not clear whether it’s an unfortunate coincidence or whether someone really wants to stop the wedding from happening.

Still, the day of the wedding arrives. But when it comes time to exchange vows, the bride is nowhere to be seen. Is this just a case of cold feet? Or has one of the wedding guests created a cold-hearted plot? One thing’s for sure—Nancy won’t rest until she finds out.


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]]> 2023-12-23 16:50:18 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2832898801 Magnolia Wu Unfolds It All by Chanel Miller cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2832902120 New York Times bestselling author and artist Chanel Miller tells a fun, funny, and poignant story of friendship and community starring Magnolia Wu, a ten-year-old sock detective bent on returning all the lonely only socks left behind in her parents' NYC laundromat.

Down at the bottom of the tall buildings of New York City, Magnolia Wu sits inside her parents’ laundromat. She has pinned every lost sock from the laundromat onto a bulletin board, in hopes that customers will return to retrieve them. But no one seems to have noticed. In fact, barely anyone has noticed Magnolia at all.

What she doesn’t know is that this is about to be her most exciting summer yet. When Iris, a new friend from California arrives, they set off across the city to solve the mystery of each missing sock, asking questions in subways and delis and plant stores and pizzerias, meeting people and uncovering the unimaginable.

With each new encounter, Magnolia learns that when you’re bold enough to head into the unknown, things start falling into place.


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]]> 2023-12-23 16:57:44 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2832902120 Too Many Villains! (The Last Comics on Earth #1) by Max Brallier and Joshua Pruett and illustrated by Jay Cooper and Douglas Holgate cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2832904534 From worldwide phenomenon Max Brallier comes a spin-off series based on the #1 New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today bestselling Last Kids on Earth!

Jack, June, Quint, and Dirk face their biggest challenge yet: creating the sequel to their hit graphic novel! And like all sequels, it must be BIGGER, BETTER, and PACKED WITH EVEN MORE NEAT STUFF!

While the kids get to work, their superhero alter-egos make a startling discovery: supervillains do not come up with their own evil plans! The shocking truth? Every supervillain scheme comes from the mind of a single, mysterious bad guy.

Now, Jack, June, Quint, and Dirk’s BIGGEST SEQUEL IN HISTORY has our superhero's in a mad-dash, puzzle-filled race across Apocalyptia to stop the BIGGEST EVIL PLAN IN HISTORY!


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]]> 2023-12-23 17:03:20 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2832904534 Jupiter Nettle and the Seven Schools of Magic by Sangu Mandanna and illustrated by Pablo Ballesteros cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2834765373 When you've dreamed of getting into the Seven Schools of Magic your whole life, what do you do when it turns out to be the worst thing ever? This heartwarming graphic novel adventure is perfect for fans of Harry Potter, The Okay Witch, and City of Dragons!

For all of her twelve years, Jupiter Nettle has wanted to attend one of the Seven Schools of Magic. When she finally gets the call to take the entrance exam, she shocks everyone with her magic skills . . . but not in the way she'd hoped. Failing spectacularly in one test after another, Jupiter goes home dejected and confused. What will she do now?

That night, Jupiter gets an unexpected visitor and, amazingly, another chance at the Seven Schools! But learning magic isn't what she expected it to be . . . the School of Earth Magic is looked down upon by others, it doesn't involve cool spells, and her teacher, Professor Grim, certainly lives up to his name. Jupiter works hard, but the doubts in her mind shake her confidence until she's ready to give up. Then an age-old enemy returns to exact revenge on the Seven Schools, leaving Jupiter to finally find the courage and magic that's been within her all along.

This inclusive, beautifully illustrated graphic novel from the author of Kiki Kallira Breaks a Kingdom is packed with action, heart, and plenty of magic.


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]]> 2023-12-27 23:49:47 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2834765373 Anzu and the Realm of Darkness by Mai. K Nguyen cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2834766002 5 Worlds meets Spirited Away in this tale of a girl fighting her way back home after getting trapped in the spirit world.

Anzu has just moved to a new town during Obon, a time for families to remember and celebrate their ancestors. Ever since her obaachan died, though, Obon has lost its magic. She doesn't feel much like celebrating anymore.

While avoiding holiday festivities, Anzu spots a stray dog down the street. A dog that seems to be staring right at her. But when she chases after it, she slips and falls down a ridge, losing consciousness. When she awakes, she’s in the Shinto underworld known as Yomi, a place she’s only heard about in Obaachan’s stories. The stray dog, she finds out, is actually the Gatekeeper of Yomi, and he warns her to return to the human realm before it’s too late.

Only, getting home is not as simple as she’d thought. Faced with the nefarious Queen Izanami of Yomi and a world full of creatures she’d once thought weren’t real, the race against the clock is on. She must break a curse, free the spirits of other lost children, and reach the gate home before sunrise…or be stuck in Yomi forever.


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]]> 2023-12-27 23:52:05 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2834766002 Amir and the Jinn Princess by M. T. Khan cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2835838070 A wealthy young boy teams up with a fiery jinn princess in search of his mother all while entering a tournament of heirs.

Twelve-year-old Amir is one of the heirs to the Rafiq Bricks Company, a wealthy brick kiln business in Pakistan—except he wants none of it. Seeing straight through the jeweled smiles and transactional conversations, Amir would rather spend time in the courtyard garden, where he can almost feel his missing mother’s presence again. 
 
Amir is devastated when his baba announces plans to remarry by the end of the summer, dropping all searches to find Amir’s mother. It’s all a business move, just like everything else in his life. His mother was the only one who allowed him to feel normal, but the last anyone’s seen of her was a year ago.
 
But Amir isn’t ready to give up yet—determined to find his mother before his life changes forever, Amir teams up with a high-spirited, wide-eyed, shape-shifting jinn princess named Shamsa. His exact opposite. The two make a deal—Shamsa will help Amir navigate the twisty and mysterious realm of jinn, and in exchange Amir must use his wits to help Shamsa win a tournament of heirs and put her on the throne. 
 
Amir and Shamsa must contend with silver-tongued tricksters and magical rivals, and a truth far more devastating than Amir ever expected...


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]]> 2023-12-30 17:39:51 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2835838070 Million Dollar Mess (Middle School #16) by James Patterson and Martin Chatterton cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2835840482 In this laugh-out-loud funny installment of a #1 New York Times bestselling series, Rafe inherits a million dollars—and a million problems—as he finds himself struggling to fit in at one of the snobbiest schools in the country.


When Rafe discovers that he's inherited a fortune, it's not all good news. Sure, he gets an all-expenses-paid trip to glamorous Beverly Hills…. but he also has to go to school while he's in California. Blergh. And not just any school–St. Benedict’s, the snobbiest of snobby establishments. You can bet your bottom dollar that Rafe doesn’t exactly fit in. Toss in a ramshackle house Rafe’s family has to live in before they can inherit the money and a group of bullies who make Miller the Killer look downright friendly, and this trip might be more trash than treasure.   
 
Rafe finds himself in the middle of a very big mess. Can he tidy his life up, or will he be sent packing?


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]]> 2023-12-30 17:47:15 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2835840482 Jaden Powers and the Inheritance Magic by Jamar J. Perry cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2836472477 In this magical middle grade fantasy perfect for fans of The Marvellers and Amari and the Night Brothers, a shy boy must step up and become his own hero after his best friend disappears at a magical school.

Jaden and Elijah have been best friends since they were born. They're so close that Jaden doesn't even mind that he's constantly living in talented, high-achieving Elijah's shadow-well, he doesn't mind much.

But then Elijah disappears, leaving behind nothing but a cryptic note asking for Jaden's help. The next day, Jaden is invited to attend Elijah's fancy private boarding school. Only, it turns out it's not a boarding school at all. It's a school for magic! Somehow, before Elijah vanished, he used his note to transfer part of his own magic into Jaden-a feat that is supposed to be impossible.

Determined to find his friend, Jaden agrees to attend the school and learn to control his new powers. But a sinister force is threatening to destroy the whole magical world. And if Jaden doesn't stop it, he'll be the next to disappear.


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]]> 2024-01-02 00:12:52 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2836472477 Lunar Boy by Jes and Cin Wibowo cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2837185133 For fans of The Witch Boy and Squished, Lunar Boy is a must-have heartwarming coming-of-age graphic novel about a young boy from the moon who discovers a home in the most unlikely places, from debut twin creators Jes and Cin Wibowo.


Indu, a boy from the moon, feels like he doesn’t belong. He hasn’t since he and his adoptive mom disembarked from their spaceship—their home—to live on Earth with their new blended family. The kids at school think he’s weird, he has a crush on his pen pal who might not like him back, and his stepfamily doesn’t seem to know what to do with him. Worst of all, Indu can’t even talk to his mom about how he’s feeling because she’s so busy.


In a moment of loneliness, Indu calls out to the moon, begging them to take him back. And against all odds, the moon hears him and agrees to bring him home on the first day of the New Year. But as the promised day draws nearer, Indu finds friendship in unlikely places and discovers that home is more than where you come from. And when the moon calls again, Indu must decide: Is he willing to give up what he’s just found?


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]]> 2024-01-02 21:03:56 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2837185133 Penny Draws a Class Trip (Penny Draws #4) by Sara Shepard cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2837188199 The fourth book in the humorous, heartfelt, highly illustrated series about a girl who doodles to cope with her anxiety, from #1 New York Times bestselling author Sara Shepard.

When fifth grader Penny Lowry and her classmates get invited to go to New York City for a weekend hosted by Billy J. Plumberry, the famous author her school is named after, Penny finds a lot to worry about. After all, isn't the city full of aggressive bike messengers ready to run kids over? And what if she gets stuck in an elevator for life? Not to mention all the pianos falling out of windows everywhere!

On the other hand, what if it might actually be fun to explore an exciting new place with some of her best friends?

When it soon becomes clear Billy J. Plumberry has a few surprises in store, can Penny find a way to face her fears—and her worries—in the biggest, bustling-est place she's ever been?


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]]> 2024-01-02 21:12:30 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2837188199 The Dark Times (Lightfall #3) by Tim Probert cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2837189320 The Lights have gone dark in Irpa.


Danger lurks as the air grows colder and threats lie in the shadows at every turn. While the rest of their fellowship seeks safety, Bea and Cad team up with a small group of survivors to travel to the Citadel of Knowledge, pursuing answers to their world’s darkest mysteries.


But their journey reveals even more secrets. Until an unexpected ally shines a light in the darkness, providing a clue to a mystery from long ago…and a beacon of hope for the future.


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]]> 2024-01-02 21:15:55 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2837189320 The End of the Story (The Chronicles of Never After #5) by Melissa de la Cruz cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2839133213 Return to the land of Never After for the last time in the riveting conclusion to New York Times–bestselling author Melissa de la Cruz's hit middle-grade series perfect for fans of The Land of Stories books.

With the evil Olga drawing ever nearer, Filomena and her friends race to find the last surviving fairy, Sabine. For if Sabine perishes at the hands of the ogres, all of Never After will fall. Without a moment to lose, Fil, Jack, Alistair, Gretel—along with friends old and new—set off for Neverland to find Sabine and protect her at all cost.

But even in Neverland, there's mischief afoot. Not only does Peter Pan turn out to be an agent of chaos, but the crew discovers Sabine goes by another name in this mysterious land...Tinker Bell! Even more mysteries abound as Fil and her steadfast friends navigate mermaids, magical fruit, and prophecies with the help of some unexpected allies, like Captain Hook.

With Olga's forces closing in, will Fil find a way to protect the magic of Never After once and for all, and ensure a happily-ever-after for the End of the Story?


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]]> 2024-01-04 18:10:40 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2839133213 Sabrena Swept Away by Karuna Riazi cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2840067384 Sabrena’s father has always claimed their family is descended from the legendary sailor Sinbad. But when the sea calls Sabrena to a whole new world, she’ll have to fight to claim her own story. From the author of the acclaimed A Bit of Earth, this reimagining of the classic characters from One Thousand and One Nights is perfect for fans of The Last Mapmaker and Mañanaland.


Any other story would begin with “once upon a time.” But Sabrena’s story is different. “Fulfilling all my worst fears,” her mother says, “you were born by the sea.” And it’s true that the sea has always seemed to call to Sabrena. Her father reminds her that they are, of course, descended from the legendary sailor Sinbad. So it’s basically qadr—fate—that Sabrena has an affinity toward the sea.


Even so, Sabrena has had a truly ordinary life: trying to be an exemplary daughter, meeting all of her parents’ high expectations. Despite, maybe, wanting something more interesting for herself. At least she can escape into the family’s favorite book—One Thousand and One Nights—and all the adventures and magic found there.


But one day, the sea’s call will not be denied. It sweeps her away to be fished out of an ocean both strange and oddly familiar. It only takes her a moment to realize that she’s in the stories spun by the legendary queen Scheherazade. Yet no one here has ever heard of Sinbad, a frightening jinn is terrorizing the kingdoms, and nothing seems to be going quite as it does in the stories.


Inspired by the classic One Thousand and One Nights, acclaimed author Karuna Riazi has crafted a tantalizing tale about fate, choice, and being torn between them both. Sabrena Swept Away is a thematically rich story that will resonate with fans of Christina Soontornvat’s The Last Mapmaker and Kiyash Monsef’s Once There Was. 


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]]> 2024-01-06 01:16:55 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2840067384 Through a Clouded Mirror by Miya T. Beck cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2840068559 Inspired by The Wonderful Wizard of Oz and Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and set in a magical imperial Japan, this is a breathtaking fantasy adventure from the acclaimed author of The Pearl Hunter.


Yuki Snow wishes she were anywhere but here.


She hates Santa Dolores, where her mom and stepdad just moved the family. Her BFF back home, Julio, has already forgotten his promise to stay in touch—and worse, he like likes Yuki’s mortal enemy. At her new school, the kids think she’s either invisible or a know-it-all nerd.


The only friend she’s made so far is the shopkeeper at a Japanese antiques store. Among the treasures there is an ancient brass mirror supposedly once owned by celebrated Japanese writer Sei Shonagon. It’s also rumored to be a portal to Shonagon’s world, which opens every hundred years. So when a woman with long jet-black hair and flowing silk robes appears in the glass, beckoning, Yuki knows there’s only one thing to do—step through to the unknown…


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]]> 2024-01-06 01:22:39 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2840068559 Moon Madness (Camp Sylvania #2) by Julie Murphy and Crystal Maldonado cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2840069012 From Julie Murphy, the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Dumplin’, and acclaimed coauthor Crystal Maldonado comes the sequel to the hilarious and creepy middle grade summer-camp story—this time featuring werewolves!


Last year, Maggie and Nora didn’t exactly get the summer of their dreams. Instead, they had to survive a camp run by a covert clan of vampires. But this year, Camp Sylvania is back and under new management—gentle, hippie-dippie Luna Lupowski. So the girls are convinced to give camp another try.


All Nora wants is an unforgettable experience with her best friend. But it’s hard to have fun with Maggie fixated on all things otherworldly—and spending time with Logan, the boy she met at camp last year.

When creepy things start happening, Maggie insists on investigating. But Nora has found an interest of her own—the strange effects of Luna’s homemade “moon water.” It removes zits, adds lustrous shine to hair, and even seems to straighten teeth! No braces? No problem!


It isn’t long before the girls are caught up in another supernatural adventure. But when their friends find themselves in danger, can Maggie and Nora put their differences aside to save them? Is it possible to just have one normal summer, please?


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]]> 2024-01-06 01:25:14 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2840069012 Samira's Worst Best Summer by Nina Hamza cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2840072344 From the author of Ahmed Aziz’s Epic Year comes another wryly humorous tween novel about finding belonging in an unexpected place. A must-read for fans of Hena Khan, Kelly Yang, and Karina Yan Glaser.


Samira knows this is going to be the worst summer ever. Her best friend, Kiera, ditched her for the cool girls. Her parents and older sister are taking a trip to India, so Sammy is staring down endless weeks spent with Imran, her little brother, and her Umma. To top it all off—literally!—her house gets TP’d. 


The TP’ing upsets Imran, who is convinced that they’re being targeted because they’re the only brown family on the block. When Sammy attempts to solve the problem, she creates a bigger mess instead. But she also meets new girl Alice, who is determined to figure out who was behind the TP’ing.


Suddenly, Sammy’s “boring” summer is full of clue-finding hunts, garage band practices, and getting to know her neighbors like never before. But when Kiera starts stealing Alice away, Sammy must decide if she wants to stand up for herself. One thing is certain: This summer is either going to be the worst (or maybe the best) of Samira’s life.


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]]> 2024-01-06 01:41:42 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2840072344 The Cookie Crumbles by Tracy Badua and Alechia Dow cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2840073037 The Great British Bake Off meets Knives Out in this fun and propulsive middle grade novel following two best friends who must solve the mystery behind a baking competition gone awry.


Laila gave Lucy a cupcake on the second day of kindergarten, and they've been inseparable ever since. But the summer before eighth grade, they find out that since they live on opposite sides of town, they’ll go to different high schools. Yuck!


Then Laila’s invited to compete at the Golden Cookie competition, which awards its winner admission and a full ride to the prestigious Sunderland boarding school, and it’s the perfect opportunity. Sunderland doesn’t just have an elite culinary program; it’s also home to an elite journalism track, if only newscaster-hopeful Lucy could build up a strong enough portfolio to impress the scholarship committee.


But when one of the celebrity judges collapses after sampling Laila’s showpiece, rumors of foul play swirl, with Laila rising to the top of the suspect list. Even worse, a major storm has effectively cut off all access to the outside world.


Can the girls find the real culprit and clear Laila’s name before it’s too late?


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]]> 2024-01-06 01:44:34 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2840073037 Dinner at the Brake Fast by Renee Beauregard Lute cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2840073622 Dinner at the Brake Fast is a hilarious and heartfelt story about road-trip mishaps, a murderous rooster, facing down anxieties, and unexpected friendship that is a must-pick for readers who loved The Science of Unbreakable Things and The First Rule of Punk.


Tacoma Jones loves working at her family’s roadside diner, the Brake Fast, pouring coffee and serving eggs and muffins to truckers all day long. But tonight, she is finally going to break out her collection of cookbooks and prepare the best dinner the state of Washington has ever seen.


But her excitement is dampened when she learns that today is one of Dad’s bad days, when his depression makes it hard for him to get out of bed.


Tacoma knows she can’t fix her dad’s depression. But what she can do is steal back his prized photograph of his second-best day from her nemesis, the nasty Crocodile Kyle—while also planning a dinner that is sure to brighten up his bad day.


She just might need an accomplice or two to pull off the heist. . .


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]]> 2024-01-06 01:47:17 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2840073622 The Chainbreakers by Julian Randall cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2840081393 In this action-packed fantasy, thirteen-year-old Violent Moon must rescue her father and save her enchanted underwater world—perfect for fans of The Marvellers and Tristan Strong series.

All Violet Moon has ever wanted is to be a Reaper captain like her father. Born on the Tides of the Lost, a magical world beneath the waves of the Atlantic Ocean, Violet has spent her life at her father’s side rescuing souls lost in the water.

But when a rescue mission turns to disaster after the arrival of the dreaded Children of the Shark, weaponized ghost-sharks who steal the souls for themselves, her father is seized and pulled down into the darkness of the Depths. With no choice for Violet but to inherit the captain's powers and helm the ship as the next in line, it'll be up to her to save her father—if he even still lives—and stop the Children of the Shark before they devour the world.


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]]> 2024-01-06 02:26:00 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2840081393 The Flicker by H.E. Edgmon cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2840295389 H.E. Edgmon's middle grade debut is a captivating post-apocalyptic story told through an Indigenous lens, perfect for fans of The Marrow Thieves.

One year ago, a solar flare scorched the Earth and destroyed life as we know it.

With their parents gone and their supplies running low, grieving step-sisters Millie and Rose leave home with their infant half-brother in search of Millie’s grandma, a Seminole elder—who Millie knows in her gut is still alive, even if Rose isn't so sure. Along the way, they meet a group of other surviving kids calling themselves the Lost Boys and their lone adult leader, who reluctantly agree to help them brave the hostile wasteland to make it to Millie's grandma safely. But the landscape isn't the only threat - there's also the Hive, a villainous group that has spent the last year hoarding supplies and living in luxury...and will do anything to keep it that way.

Expertly balancing heartbreak and hope, The Flicker is both a thrilling survival story and a tender exploration of Indigenous ideas of identity and found family.


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]]> 2024-01-06 18:01:17 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2840295389 The Prophecies Begin (Warriors Graphic Novel #1) by Erin Hunter and adapted and illustrated by Natalie Riess and Sara Goetter cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2840687339 With more than 40 million copies sold, Erin Hunter's Warriors series has taken the world by storm and is now available in a full-color graphic novel adaptation. The first book covers the first two original novels in The Prophecies Begin: Into the Wild and Fire and Ice. A perfect introduction to the world of Warriors for any new readers and the ultimate gift for its legions of fans!


For generations, four Clans of wild cats have shared the forest. But the cats of ThunderClan are in grave danger, and sinister ShadowClan grows stronger every day. In the midst of this turmoil appears a house cat named Rusty—who may turn out to be the bravest warrior of them all. 


Ever since the first Warriors book hit shelves, readers have devoured these epic adventures. This stunning new adaptation retells the original Warriors story arc as a full-color graphic novel.


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]]> 2024-01-07 19:02:09 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2840687339 The Lightning Path (Bamboo Kingdom #5) by Erin Hunter cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2840688863 Explore the secrets of the Bamboo Kingdom in the fifth installment of this thrilling new series from bestselling Warriors author Erin Hunter, perfect for fans of the Wings of Fire and Endling series.


The three Dragon Speakers must face their own troubles before they can help the Bamboo Kingdom regain peace.


After being forced out of Rain’s camp for a murder he did not commit, Ghost is still determined to prove his innocence. And though Rain isn’t convinced Ghost is guilty, she knows that if it wasn’t him, that means the killer is still at large—and still targeting her loved ones.


As Ghost sets out to reunite both of his families, Leaf is nowhere to be found, and the monkeys are watching their every move. With only piecemeal guidance from a Great Dragon that’s been split in three, how can they hope to stop what Brawnshanks is planning?


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]]> 2024-01-07 19:06:23 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2840688863 Wander Lost by Laura Martin cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2840690571 From the critically acclaimed author of Float and Glitch comes a new stand-alone adventure full of humor and heart, perfect for fans of Gordon Korman and Dan Gutman!


Rhett and his brother, Nash, have never been allowed to play board games. It's their mom's most important rule; the twins don't know why, but they know not to push her on it.


When their mom suddenly disappears, they're reunited with Ace, their long-lost grandfather, who reveals that their family is descended from a board game character who escaped his game and lived in the real world. Their family now has the ability to enter the world of any game they want—but this gift also comes with a price. A game character who’s wanted revenge against their mom for decades has finally caught her and is holding her hostage in the world of a game. Which game? That’s up to Rhett and Nash to figure out, even if it means breaking Mom’s most important rule.


But as they learn to use their newly discovered ability, exploring new worlds and facing new challenges and risks, the brothers quickly realize that saving Mom won't be all fun and games. It’s game on…or game over.


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]]> 2024-01-07 19:11:52 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2840690571 The Girl Who Kept the Castle (The Girl Who Kept the Castle #1) by Ryan Graudin cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2840691858 Nevermoor meets Howl’s Moving Castle in this engaging fantasy—the first in a duology—from acclaimed author Ryan Graudin. Perfect for fans of wizards, dragons, magical castles, spectacular spells, and a spunky cat who may not be what he seems.


Wizard West was dead for nearly an entire day before he noticed. And it is up to Faye, the daughter of West’s groundskeeper, to inform the wizard that he is a ghost who has lost all of his magical powers. (But not before the wizard tries transforming her into a cat!) To make matters worse, the enchanted castle of Celurdur—the only home that Faye has ever known—will fall apart at the next full moon if its foundation spells can’t be renewed.


After (sort of) accepting his demise, West decides to host a competition to choose his successor. Faye finds herself fighting to keep the tournament running smoothly behind the scenes: putting out kitchen fires, feeding the compost dragon, and making sure competitors stay away from the cockatrice pen. 


But killer roosters soon become the least of her worries. A servant of the evil Shadow Queen has sabotaged the contest—set on destroying not just Celurdur but the entire kingdom of Solum. It is up to Faye to stop him, but she’ll need more than a mop. Will a maid’s magic be enough to save everything she loves from utter destruction?


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]]> 2024-01-07 19:15:58 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2840691858 Crime Across Time (Officer Clawsome #2) by Brian "Smitty" Smith and illustrated by Chris Giarrusso cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2843276361 Officer Clawsome and his partner, Stariana, are back, solving a time-bending mystery of epic proportions in this sequel to Officer Clawsome: Lobster Cop.


A puzzling mystery is afoot! Thankfully, Caper Cove’s finest are on the case, but the investigation takes a turn for the strange when the town’s resident evil genius, Brain Sturgeon, dives into a portal to the past. Fighting crime, dodging dinosaurs, and wrangling wild West outlaws, these two best friends have gotten tangled up in a mystery fit for the ages. Will this dynamic duo be able to restore the past, present, and future—or will time as we know it be lost forever?


Fans of Dog Man and SpongeBob will delight in the continued hijinks of Clawsome and Stariana in their latest adventure.


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]]> 2024-01-09 19:04:54 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2843276361 The Power of Being Odd (The Odds #3) by Matt Stanton cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2843280185 Two worlds collide in this conclusion to The Odds trilogy!


Kip, Dad and the Odds have been taken to Kip's Imaginatorium—a mysterious building in the middle of the desert.


It’s a place filled with magnificent new characters, unbelievable rooms, secret doors, terrifying fears and the incredibly strange Dots. It’s Kip’s imagination come to life. Could this place finally help Kip get the

Odds back to their own worlds? Or will the greatest adventure of Kip's life wind up being all inside her own mind?


Going in was the easy part. Getting out—that’ll take the real imagination.


From million-copy bestseller Matt Stanton comes a hilarious and heart-filled story about imagination, creativity and our unique power within.


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]]> 2024-01-09 19:08:27 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2843280185 The Old Willis Place: A Ghost Story Graphic Novel by Mary Downing Hahn and adapted by Scott Peterson, Meredith Laxton, and Sienna Haralson cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2844901653 Diana and her little brother, Georgie, know every inch of the land around the old Willis place, a crumbling mansion that some people say is haunted. They climb the trees and swim in the pond. And they can do whatever they want, even stay up all night. They don't have to change their clothes, brush their hair, or go to school. They have total freedom—as long as they don't leave the grounds.


When Lissa arrives with her father, the new caretaker of the estate, Diana is overjoyed. She's been wishing for a friend. She can show Lissa all her favorite spots, and they can share their favorite books. Maybe Lissa can even help her uncover the ghastly secret of the creepy old Willis house.


But there are rules that must be followed in order to keep the peace. Diana and Georgie aren't allowed to make friends. If Diana makes contact with Lissa, she could unleash evil forces beyond her control . . . and then they'll all be sorry.


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]]> 2024-01-11 00:53:08 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2844901653 Release the Wolves by Stefan Bachmann cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2844903954 When a blacksmith’s apprentice witnesses a friend being killed by a legendary monster, he must decide between waiting for war in fear and silence, or risking everything to fight back. An extraordinary novel about friendship, tradition, obedience, and the monsters lurking behind every corner from internationally bestselling author Stefan Bachmann. For readers of Scary Stories for Young Foxes and Serafina and the Black Cloak.


One thousand years ago, the Elduari conquered the country of Varen in a brutal war. Now, every few generations they subject their one-time enemies to a terrible tradition: bloodthirsty monsters are unleashed across the land, attacking indiscriminately, keeping the population in a perpetual dark age.


For Argo, fear of another Release is something he has always lived with. When his friend is killed by a monster during a routine patrol, Argo suspects that another Release is coming, and sooner than everyone expects. But in a country built on fear, getting answers is dangerous. Elduari spies are hiding behind the most familiar faces, and any hint of disobedience could lead to the death of thousands.


As whispers of dissent circulate, rebellion grows in the villages. Now Argo and his new ally, Ana—the King’s eldest daughter who is also a monster hunter in disguise—must decide whether or not to join the fight. But what if it’s already too late?


From Stefan Bachmann, the internationally renowned author of The Peculiar and Cinders & Sparrows, Release the Wolves is an atmospheric, suspenseful, and haunting novel about friendship, family, power, and the monsters all around us. 


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]]> 2024-01-11 00:55:57 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2844903954 Waking the Dead and Other Fun Activities by Casey Lyall cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2844905953 Sometimes it’s hard to rest in peace. A young trainee witch, a family power gone haywire, a dearly departed grandma, an undead boy, and an evil witch—that’s a recipe for the perfect summer vacation. Both hilarious and heartfelt, this fast-paced mystery about life and death (and afterlife) is for fans of Spirit Hunters and The Miscalculations of Lightning Girl.


Twelve-year-old Kimmy Jones wants to excel at the unique (and secret) aspect of her family’s funeral home business. Under the watchful eye of Grandma Bev, Kimmy learns how to raise the recently deceased, request their last wish, and break the connection to send them on. But when Grandma unexpectedly dies herself, Kimmy can’t reach her spirit, and nothing seems like it’s ever going to be right again.


Then a boy dies under mysterious circumstances on the night of a meteor shower. With no witnesses, Kimmy’s the only one who can get answers about what happened. So she breaks into the hospital morgue, and for the first time in months, her power works. She Wakes the boy up. Except then Kimmy can’t break the connection and so he stays Awake. Even worse, the boy has no memory of what happened to him. As Kimmy works to unravel the mystery, she discovers secrets about her heritage and learns about a witch who has been wreaking havoc for centuries.


Casey Lyall’s supernatural mystery is heartfelt, thrilling, and hilarious. Waking the Dead and Other Fun Activities is perfect for fans of Avi’s School of the Dead and Suzanne Young’s What Stays Buried.


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]]> 2024-01-11 00:58:23 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2844905953 Wind (Warriors: A Starless Clan #5) by Erin Hunter cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2844909885 Erin Hunter’s #1 bestselling Warriors series continues! Discover more epic adventure in this fifth book in the Starless Clan arc.


Frostpaw has returned to the lake just in time to reveal all she knows at the Gathering—but the Clans are reluctant to believe an apprentice who’s already admitted to lying about her visions in the past, and she is forced to take refuge in ShadowClan as Splashtail seizes control of her home. 


While the other Clan leaders debate whether to interfere any further in RiverClan affairs, Nightheart has his paws full teaching Clan ways to the two park cats who followed him home, and Sunbeam’s efforts to fit in as the newest member of ThunderClan are hampered by her concerns for her mother, who is paying for her treachery with exile and illness.


As Berryheart’s schemes take an alarming new turn—and Splashtail’s ambitions turn toward violence—a few cats’ efforts may not be enough to preserve the peace.


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]]> 2024-01-11 01:03:13 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2844909885 Starling and the Cavern of Light (Fireborn #3) by Aisling Fowler cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2844912227 Phoenix and her friends vow to save Ember from all but certain doom in this final unmissable chapter in the sweeping series that New York Times bestselling author B. B. Alston called “the best kind of children’s fantasy story.”


Following the shocking events at Icegaard, Phoenix and her friends gather with the Hunters, desperate to unite the warring clans before their enemy, the Master, launches his attack on Ember.


The Cavern of Light offers hope in the form of a legendary weapon, but the friends must brave the unknown, facing down new and deadly creatures in search of the artifact that could save their world.


As an epic final showdown draws near, Phoenix is determined not to lose anyone else that she loves. But the Master is more brutal and powerful than she ever imagined, and as Phoenix’s past and present collide, unthinkable sacrifices will have to be made to defeat him.


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]]> 2024-01-11 01:05:55 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2844912227 Monsters Take Manhattan (Monster Club #2) by Darren Aronofsky, Ari Handel, and Lance Rubin and illustrated by Ronald Kurniawan cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2844916202 It’s an all-new thrilling adventure about growing up and facing your fears in Monsters Take Manhattan, the second novel in the Monster Club series from the creative minds of Darren Aronofsky, Ari Handel, and Lance Rubin.


Ever since Eric “Doodles” King and his friends saved Coney Island from Crumple Monster and its minions, Eric’s life has been changing faster than he ever expected. His parents’ divorce has gone through, his mom has moved to a deluxe apartment in Manhattan, and now she’s making him start all over at a fancy new private school. Suddenly, Eric’s trapped between two worlds – his old Coney Island friends and the rich, cool kids at his new school who treat him like a celebrity. 


At least, Eric thinks, his days of epic monster battles are behind him. But what he doesn’t realize is that the magic mermaid ink that brought his drawings to life hasn’t been destroyed like he thought. Quite the opposite, King Neptune has found a way to take the last remaining drops to create a new class of creatures perfectly designed to put New York City right back where it belongs – underwater.


Now it’s up to Eric to rally Monster Club again and find a way to bring back Brickman, Bellybeast, Skelegurl, DecaSpyder, and RoboKillz so they can stop Neptune before it’s too late.


Monster Club: Monsters Take Manhattan is the second epic, heart-pounding adventure from award-winning screenwriter, director, and author Darren Aronofsky, Ari Handel, and Lance Rubin. 


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]]> 2024-01-11 01:10:27 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2844916202 Breakers of the Code (Bravelands: Thunder on the Plains #2) by Erin Hunter cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2844919359 A thrilling new arc in Erin Hunter’s bestselling Bravelands series! Set in the African highlands and told from three different animals’ points of view, this is a perfect adventure for dedicated fans and readers new to the Bravelands world.


Cast out of his coalition, Stride the cheetah embarks on a perilous mission for the Great Parent, accompanied by a honey badger burdened with a dark and mysterious past. Whisper the water buffalo has been searching desperately for her brother Echo, presumed dead after a terrible fall.


And the hyena now known as Breathstealer finds herself courted by the Great Spirit at one moment and other times tempted by the Great Devourer, who sends her compelling visions of power and plenty.


The balance of power in Bravelands rests on a knife’s edge, and the Great Devourer waits hungrily in the shadows. Will these unlikely heroes be able to restore their home? 


Full of epic adventure and intrigue, this adventure will thrill readers who love the Spirit Animals and Wings of Fire series, as well as the legion of dedicated fans who’ve made Erin Hunter a bestselling phenomenon.


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]]> 2024-01-11 01:13:54 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2844919359 Cruzita and the Mariacheros by Ashley Granillo cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2846314019 Cruzita is going to be a pop star. All she has to do is win a singing contest at her favorite theme park and get famous. But she can’t go to the theme park this summer. Instead, she has to help out at her family’s bakery, which has been struggling ever since Tío Chuy died. Cruzita’s great-uncle poured his heart into the bakery—the family legacy—and now that he’s gone, nothing is the same.


When Cruzita’s not rolling uneven tortillas or trying to salvage rock-hard conchas, she has to take mariachi lessons, even though she doesn’t know how to play her great-grandpa’s violin and she’s not fluent in Spanish. At first, she’s convinced her whole summer will be a disaster. But as she discovers the heart and soul of mariachi music, she realizes that there’s more than one way to be a star―and more than one way to carry on a legacy.


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]]> 2024-01-12 01:07:49 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2846314019 Warrior on the Mound by Sandra W. Headen cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2846316122 Narrated by twelve-year-old Cato, this intense and evocative story of racial unrest in prewar North Carolina ends with a dramatic match between white and Black little league teams.

1935. Twelve-year-old Cato wants nothing more than to play baseball, perfect his pitch, and meet Mr. Satchel Paige––the best pitcher in Negro League baseball. But when he and his teammates “trespass” on their town’s whites-only baseball field for a practice, the resulting racial outrage burns like a brushfire through the entire community, threatening Cato, his family, and every one of his friends.

There’s only one way this can end without violence: It has to be settled on the mound, between the white team and the Black. Winner takes all.

Written in first person with a rich, convincing voice, Warrior on the Mound is about the experience of segregation; about the tinderbox environment of the prewar South; about having a dream; about injustice, and, finally, about dialogue.

Back matter includes an author's note, historical background, biographical information about Negro League players, and more.


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]]> 2024-01-12 01:11:00 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2846316122 Spotting Dottie by Gail Anderson-Dargatz cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2846317996 Charlotte is going to prove her grandma is right—the lake monster is real!


When Charlotte gets a drone for her fourteenth birthday, she’s determined to get footage of Dottie, the elusive lake monster of Dorothy Lake. Her grandma, who has dedicated her life to searching for the monster, is the joke of the town. But when Charlotte manages to capture a video of the monster and posts it online, she’s the sudden target of a media storm. Now everyone is making fun of her too. Worse, droves of monster hunters arrive in her town, crowding the lake. When their boat propellers threaten to hurt Dottie, Charlotte is faced with a difficult choice.


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]]> 2024-01-12 01:13:41 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2846317996 The Books of Clash Volume 3 by Gene Luen Yang and illustrated by Kendall Goode and Alison Acton cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2846325845 Based on the global hit Clash of Clans and penned by superstar graphic novelist Gene Luen Yang, this third volume of a new action-packed series brings the characters from everyone's favorite mobile gaming sensation to life!

Sonny the golem is tired of being stepped on by his teammates—literally! His Royale team, the JazzyPickleton Cucumbers, has a new move that leaves him with footprints on his face! And when he needs backup, Sonny is left to fend for himself...and literally gets split into TWO Golems! Can his best friend, the Cucumbers' star wizard, help him now? And does he even want the help of his so-called friend?

Continuing the epic graphic novel series set in the world of Clash of Clans and Clash Royale, Gene Luen Yang pens an offbeat and action-packed tale that turns the fantasy-adventure genre on its head!


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]]> 2024-01-12 01:23:55 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2846325845 Monster Locker (Monster Locker #1) by Jorge Aguirre and illustrated by Andrés Vera Martínez cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2846327718 In this first volume of a thrilling middle grade graphic novel series, a sixth-grader named Pablo discovers his locker is a portal to the realm of monsters!

For hundreds of years, something in the basement of Glenfield Middle School has waited for its chance to open a portal into the realm of monsters. Now its time has come, and the school is going to need a hero. Pablo Ortiz . . . isn’t that guy. All he wants to do is lie low and get through middle school in one piece. So when Pablo accidentally opens the portal and summons a vengeful Aztec goddess, he’ll need the butt-kicking skills of his new friends and the wisdom passed down by his abuela to take her on.


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]]> 2024-01-12 01:26:27 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2846327718 Wayward Travelers (Squire & Knight #2) by Scott Chantler cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2846329790 In the second volume of this middle-grade graphic novel series, our heroes search for the mysterious school of wizardry, but are thwarted at every turn by thick mist, winding woods and fearsome creatures!

Our heroes are lost.


Squire and Sir Kelton have promised to get Cade to the school of wizardry. Strangely though, the path they’ve taken has brought them into a bewildering, misty forest, rife with fearsome gnolls and a boisterous rival knight. To get them out, Squire tries every trick in the book, but books don't hold all the answers. Can he muster up his confidence, remember his duties, and find a way to escape the forest?


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]]> 2024-01-12 01:29:15 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2846329790 Dog Trouble by Kristin Varner cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2846332250 From the author of Horse Trouble comes a graphic novel perfect for fans of PAWS and Allergic!

Ash is a good kid at heart. But his grades are slipping, and when he gets caught vandalizing an old building, it’s the last straw. It’s decided: Ash will spend some time away from the city, at his dad’s place on Ferncliff Island.

It’s bad enough that Ash has no friends on the island (just an annoying little stepsister), but his parents are also making him do community service! He volunteers at the local animal shelter, even though he’s not really a dog person. Dogs slobber! They smell! And the dogs at the shelter bark, bark, and bark. But as Ash bonds with the dogs—especially Cooper, a clever, fun-loving pointer that gives sloppy kisses—he starts to see that maybe his time on Ferncliff Island isn’t a total loss.


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]]> 2024-01-12 01:32:26 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2846332250 The Books of Clash Volume 4 by Gene Luen Yang and illustrated by Les McClaine and Alison Acton cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2846334845 Based on the global hit Clash of Clans and penned by superstar graphic novelist Gene Luen Yang, this fourth volume of a new action-packed series brings the characters from everyone's favorite mobile gaming sensation to life!

A nameless, villageless ronin Valkyrie with no memory of her past has been wandering from one village to the next, fighting for money, glory, and honor. But that all changes when she stumbles (literally) on an old friend who remembers exactly who she is and where she came from. Now, the pair must join forces to find out what happened to their village and save their teammates before it's too late!

Continuing the epic graphic novel series set in the world of Clash of Clans and Clash Royale, Gene Luen Yang pens an offbeat and action-packed tale that turns the fantasy-adventure genre on its head!


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]]> 2024-01-12 01:36:06 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2846334845 Crush (Tegan and Sara #2) by Tegan Quin and Sara Quin and illustrated by Tillie Walden cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2846341940 From indie-pop twin-sister duo Tegan and Sara and Eisner Award-winner Tillie Walden comes the second book in their bestselling contemporary middle grade graphic novel duology, all about crushes, crushing it, and being crushed by life in junior high—perfect for fans of Raina Telgemeier's Sisters and Sweet Valley Twins.

Tegan and Sara may have survived seventh grade, but their junior high jams are just beginning. Offstage, school is officially back in session. Between Sara’s growing feelings for her dream girl and Tegan’s falling out with her former BFF, eighth grade might prove to be even messier than last year. Onstage, the twins are swept up in a battle-of-the-bands contest to open for their favorite musical artist, landing them with a new manager, new opportunities, and new challenges, too. But stepping into the spotlight—and into themselves—means colliding over fame, family, and finding their sound.

In this spunky, big-hearted conclusion to the autobiographically inspired story launched in Junior High, the sisters realize that to get the gig that could change their lives forever, they’ll have to first figure out how to get along.

A prequel of sorts to the authors' bestselling adult memoir High School, now a Freevee television series!


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]]> 2024-01-12 01:45:24 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2846341940 A Whisper of Curses (Park Row Magick Academy #2) by J. Elle cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2848395124 New York Times bestselling author J. Elle continues her magical middle grade series with our favorite witches from Park Row Magick Academy!

While the new Magick Academy is under construction, an invitation to Enrichment Week arrives! Before the students leave Park Row, Kyana is grabbed by an Available and, even after she slips from the spirit's grasp, can't stop either laughing or crying. Ashley thinks whatever it is, Dr. Minzy, a famous teacher at the camp, will know what to do. But when the portal to the retreat suddenly collapses, trapping everyone, Ash realizes: Availables are involved. With Kyana acting weird and Russ live-casting everything to the Magick World, Ash must choose: say something to the directors (even though she isn't sure she's right) or mind her business and trust that Dr. Minzy will fix it?

In this adventurous sequel to A Taste of Magic, perfect for fans of The Marvellers, can Ashely, Kyana, and Russ figure out what the spirits are up to and save the day?


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]]> 2024-01-15 00:15:55 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2848395124 The Predator (Animorphs: The Graphic Novel #5) by K.A. Applegate and Michael Grant and adapted by Chris Grine cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2848398594 The wildly popular, bestselling sci-fi series by Katherine Applegate and Michael Grant returns in a new full-color graphic novel series, adapted by Chris Grine.


Marco never wanted to be an Animorph. He didn't want the ability to change into any animal he touches. And he certainly didn't want to be one of a handful of kids that are the planet's only defense against a secret alien army.

His friends know why he feels the way he does. He's worried about his dad — the only family Marco has left. If anything happens to him, his father will be alone.


But something big is about to change for Marco. Something that could finally give him a reason to fight.


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]]> 2024-01-15 00:22:37 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2848398594 The Monstrous Adventures of Mummy Man and Waffles (The Monstrous Adventures of Mummy Man and Waffles #1) by Steve Behling and illustrated by Robb Mommaerts cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2848400964 "Mummy Man and Waffles is a nonstop thrill, chill, and slimy spill ride full of creepy crawlers and ludicrous laughs!" —John Patrick Green, New York Times bestselling author of the InvestiGators series


Get ready for some spooky fun in the first installment of this all-new middle grade series from author Steve Behling, featuring side-splitting illustrations throughout by Robb Mommaerts!


Wen Wyler (aka Waffles) is 11 years old and is forced to spend the summer in Maine with his grandpa, a former Hollywood make-up and special effects artist for classic horror films. Ever seen THE BEAST WITH A THOUSAND TOES, GLAARG! Or its sequel GLAARG! AGAIN!? If so, then you might be familiar with his work.


Wen, a horror movie aficionado, is persuaded to go when he finds out that part of the summer will be spent helping his Grandpa sort through and organize his basement filled with props. Grandpa’s young neighbor, Tanya, has already been corralled into helping and together they dig in until Wen accidentally brings one of the props to life. 


Mummy Man is a good guy, but the other creatures AREN’T so good. It’s up to Wen, Tanya, and Mummy Man (and his pet turtle, Frank) to stop the creatures from turning the town into the nexus for an all-out monster invasion.


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]]> 2024-01-15 00:26:17 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2848400964 The Luminous Life of Lucy Landry by Anna Rose Johnson cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2848403980 Lucy, a spirited French-Ojibwe orphan, is sent to the stormy waters of Lake Superior to live with a mysterious family of lighthouse-keepers—and, she hopes, to find the legendary necklace her father spent his life seeking…

Selena Lucy Landry (named for a ship, as every sailor’s child should be) has been frightened of the water ever since she lost her father at sea. But with no one else to care for her, she’s sent to foster with the Martins—a large Anishinaabe family living on a lighthouse in the middle of stormy Lake Superior.

The Martin family is big, hard-working, and close, and Lucy—who has always been a dreamer—struggles to fit in. Can she go one day without ruining the laundry or forgetting the sweeping? Will she ever be less afraid of the lake?

Although life at the lighthouse isn’t what Lucy hoped for, it is beautiful—ships come and go, waves pound the rocks—and it has one major advantage: It’s near the site of a famous shipwreck, a shipwreck that went down with a treasure her father wanted more than anything. If Lucy can find that treasure—a priceless ruby necklace—won’t it be like having Papa back again, just a little bit?

But someone else is hunting for the treasure, too. And as the lighthouse company becomes increasingly skeptical that the Martins can juggle Lucy and their duties, Lucy and the Martin children will need to find the necklace quickly—or they may not have a home at all.

The Luminous Life of Lucy Landry is a timelessly sweet tale of found family from rising Ojibwe voice Anna Rose Johnson, author of NPR Best Book of the Year The Star That Always Stays. Perfect for fans of L.M. Montgomery and Karina Yan Glaser!

"Lucy Landry is a charming and fanciful heroine reminiscent of Anne Shirley, who reminds us that even in dark times, we can be a light for others."—Alyssa Colman, author of Bank Street Best Book of the Year The Gilded Girl


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]]> 2024-01-15 00:30:39 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2848403980 Fowl Play by Kristin O'Donnell Tubb cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2849460313 Knives Out meets Finding Orion in this funny and heartwarming middle grade mystery by award-winning author Kristin O’Donnell Tubb about a girl investigating the recent death of her uncle only to find the healing power of family.


Chloe Alvarez has never been to the reading of a last will and testament before, but she hopes it is just like the movies. Lies! Intrigue! The reading of her Uncle Will’s will is standard, until he announces his gift for Chloe: his African grey parrot, Charlie.


Uncle Will was Chloe’s best friend. Without him, she’s left with only her memories of them together—which come to her in snapshots—and her new friend, Charlie. The parrot has a vast vocabulary, and soon Chloe hears her say something odd: It was murder, followed by homicide and cyanide. Chloe becomes convinced her uncle Will’s death was foul play. Why else wouldn’t he have told anyone in the family—especially Chloe—that he was sick?


With the help of her family, Chloe begins the investigation to uncover Uncle Will’s murderer. The suspects: His nosy neighbor. An ex-girlfriend. A rude landlord. A loan shark. But it all leads to more questions than answers. Did someone really kill Uncle Will? Or could this journey help reunite Chloe’s grieving family?


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]]> 2024-01-15 18:59:37 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2849460313 The City Beyond the Stars (The Kingdom Over the Sea #2) by Zohra Nabi cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2854046615 The captivating sequel to “perfect for fans of Philip Pullman and Tahereh Mafi” (Booklist) The Kingdom Over the Sea follows Yara and her friends as they change the fate of the kingdom and their magic forever.

Yara may have stopped the magical plague spreading its way through her new home, but to do so, she had to leave her mother in the hands of the sinister alchemists.

Now Yara longs to return to Zehaira and free her mother from her prison. Yet when her mother’s familiar arrives, close to death and bearing a message, Yara must put aside her plans to rescue her and instead set off with her friends to the official residence of the Grand High Sorceress, convinced it holds magic powerful enough to defeat the alchemists.

After a treacherous journey, Yara finds her mother’s house, and in it, a girl claiming to be the daughter of the Grand High Sorceress—a sister Yara didn’t know she had. Meanwhile, the alchemists are circling ever closer, and the magic that Yara’s mother was working threatens the foundations of their world.

Yara is unsure if her newfound sister can be trusted, but she is going to need all the help she can get if she wants to save their mother and take back Zehaira from the alchemists’ rule.


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]]> 2024-01-18 23:51:13 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2854046615 Onyeka and the Heroes of Dawn (Onyeka #3) by Tolá Okogwu cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2854048270 Onyeka and her superpowered friends set off to England on a rescue mission in this third installment in the Onyeka middle grade series, perfect for fans of Rick Riordan, The Marvellers, and X-Men.

Solari—children with superpowers—have always been native to Nigeria, but Onyeka and her friends have been alerted to one hidden in England. Tasked with retrieving the young Solari, they successfully complete their mission, arriving safe and sound back at the Academy of the Sun with Tobi in tow.

Tobi’s identity and superpower remain a mystery, until a breadcrumb trail leads Onyeka to the truth. But someone else has uncovered the secret, and unlike Onyeka, they don’t have Tobi’s best interests at heart. Can our superhero save the day once again?


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]]> 2024-01-18 23:53:51 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2854048270 My So-Called Family by Gia Gordon cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2854049893 A moving middle grade debut about foster care, self-advocacy, and realizing that a found family is a real family.

It’s the first week of middle school, and Ash (don’t call her “Ashley”) already has a class assignment: Make a family tree. But how can Ash make a family tree if she doesn’t have a family? Ever since she was four years old, Ash has been in foster care, living with one so-called family after another. Now she’s stuck with Gladys. And the only place Ash feels safe is in the branches of her favorite tree, drawing in her sketchbook, hidden from the view of Gladys’ son Jordan.

As Jordan becomes harder to hide from, and more dangerous to be around, Ash isn’t sure who she can trust. A new friend, an old friend, some teachers at school? Sometimes the hardest part of asking for help is knowing who to ask.

In My So-Called Family, Gia Gordon weaves a lyrical story about complicated family dynamics that’s perfect for fans of Fish in a Tree and Counting by 7s.


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]]> 2024-01-18 23:56:16 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2854049893 Happiness According to Humphrey by Betty G. Birney cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2854051342 Everyone's favorite classroom pet is unsqueakably thrilled to be in a NEW-NEW-NEW novel to celebrate the Humphrey series’ 20th anniversary!

Room 26 is going to the dogs!

Humphrey knows friends can come in all shapes, sizes, and species, but some big animals—like dogs—can make him NERVOUS-NERVOUS-NERVOUS (remember Clem?!). But then a very gentle dog comes to Longfellow School to help his classmates with reading and he meets another one who can do amazing tricks. There is also a mystery afoot about a lost dog.

Humphrey is hamster-iffic at finding clues and solving mysteries, and he’s eager to lend a paw to find the dog. After all, helping his classmates is his job!

With a fresh voice and an engaging hamster's-eye view of school, families, and treats to hide in a cheek pouch, Betty G. Birney's Humphrey will elicit laughter and a new appreciation for classroom hamsters everywhere.


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]]> 2024-01-18 23:58:46 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2854051342 Rooster and the Dancing Diablo (Los Monstruos #2) by Diana López cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2855513265 A thrilling follow-up to Felice and the Wailing Woman by Diana López that explores the Texas-Mexico border myth of the Dancing Devil.

The magical town of Tres Leches, home to the figures of Texas–Mexico border lore, has been through a lot. Most recently, the town was released from a curse that kept La Llorona, the wailing woman, haunting the shores of their river. But just when the townsfolk were preparing to return to sunny riverside picnics and barbecues, the children of Tres Leches mysteriously began to go missing. The town suspects another monstruo, the Dancing Devil, is luring kids to El Camarón Dance Hall & Arcade. The Dancing Devil’s son, Rooster, who has a foot in both the human and monster worlds, feels compelled to lead the search for the missing children with the help of his friends, Ava (the daughter of La Lechuza) and Felice (the daughter of La Llorona). Their journey takes them to an old gothic mansion with a twisted family history and a pull so powerful that it’s nearly impossible to resist.

Picking up where Felice and the Wailing Woman left off, Rooster and the Dancing Diablo brims with magic, adventure, and Mexican folklore, and is perfect for fans of fantasy adventure series like Paola Santiago by Tehlor Kay Mejia and the Jumbies by Tracey Baptiste.


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]]> 2024-01-20 15:17:08 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2855513265 The 66th Rebirth of Frankie Caridi by Johnny Marciano cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2855516036 Normally "back to school" means gathering supplies and buying new clothes, but Frankie Caridi has never known normal. So when her "back to school" consists of learning how to use crystals to power her mind and trapping marauding spirits, she adapts. But the secrets of magic are nothing compared to the secrets she learns about her own past.

Frankie is used to living in her younger brother’s shadow. Lucie is outgoing, smart, kind, and has horns. Yes, horns. Frankie’s life has always revolved around Lucie, so when she's told she must attend a new boarding school because Lucie has been given a full scholarship, she knows she has no other choice. But something about The Pythagorean Institute is off. The building looks like a prison, half of the students have horns like her brother, and the headmaster acts more like a cult leader than a principal. Even weirder, however, are the dreams Frankie has been having since she moved into her dorm. Dreams that sometimes seem more like… memories.

Trapped in this new school with no way home, Frankie must get to the bottom of why the place unsettles her so much. But in learning about the Institute, Frankie learns more about herself—and her past—than she could ever have expected. What she discovers brings her out of her brother’s shadow and gives her powers beyond belief, but the spotlight comes with its own set of troubles.


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]]> 2024-01-20 15:22:00 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2855516036 Lei and the Invisible Island (Lei and the Legends #2) by Malia Maunakea cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2855517585 An exciting follow-up to Lei and the Fire Goddess features a mysterious, invisible island, dangerous spirits, and a newcomer who does not need Lei's help . . . or does she?

After saving her best friend and ancestral guardian, Kaipo, from Pele the Fire Goddess's traps, and successfully preventing lava from destroying her Tūtū's house, all Lei wants to do is take a nap. The only problem? Kaipo's ʻaumakua pendant is missing, and without it, he will soon disintegrate . . . emotionally and physically.

So Lei, Kaipo, her favorite talking bat, Ilikea, and newcomer Kaukahi—a fiercely independent fashionista—set off on a journey to an invisible island where they hope to find Kaipo's pendant. To get there, they'll have to contend with sharks, jump over a rainbow, and literally float on clouds. And when they arrive? The crew realizes that the missing pendant is the least of their problems. For there are evil spirits on this island, and they're out for blood.

In this exciting follow-up to LEI AND THE FIRE GODDESS, Malia Maunakea crafts a tale about friendship, family, culture, and what it means to forgive each other, and yourself.


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]]> 2024-01-20 15:24:30 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2855517585 Majestica by Sarah Tolcser cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2855519344 Jurassic Park meets Once There Was in this page-turning middle grade fantasy adventure set at a nature preserve for magical beasts, where two girls find themselves on a wilderness expedition gone disastrously wrong.

Hattie Swift is a maid-in-training at Majestica, a resort and nature preserve where visitors come face-to-face with rare magical flora and fauna. She’s thrilled to be invited along on the park’s famous wilderness train excursion for the first time, but there’s a catch: She has to accompany Evelyn Ridgewell, the hotel owner’s haughty niece, who wants nothing to do with her.

Soon after embarking, Evelyn overhears a man who aims to hunt the park’s creatures for sport, and Hattie meets Jacob Threadborne, an apprentice magician sent by a foreign government on a top-secret mission. Then the magical fences keeping guests safe stop working, and the train breaks down in the most treacherous part of the jungle. Faced with poachers, man-eating trees, and a dragon on the loose, Hattie, Evelyn, and Jacob must stick together to figure out what’s gone wrong at Majestica . . . that is, if they want to make it out alive.

Features a richly illustrated map of the expansive nature preserve, as well as a bestiary with all the magical—and dangerous—creatures at Majestica.


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]]> 2024-01-20 15:27:44 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2855519344 The Night Train by Lorelei Savaryn cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2855520624 The past has come calling in the town of Hush, and for one girl, that means facing her ghosts. Perfect for fans of the satisfyingly scary Small Spaces quartet!

Maddie Maverick likes to win. Whether it’s track team races or one-liners she delivers on her parents’ home renovation show, Maddie knows that if she puts in the work, she’ll always come out on top. But things take a turn when her ghost-hunting nana passes away, and Maddie and her twin sister, Nat, discover that Nana left them an unexpected inheritance: They can now see ghosts just like she did.

While Nat is totally on board to try to help some spirits find peace, a ghostly calling is just not Maddie’s speed. So when history comes back to haunt their town, and the story of a decades-old train crash rears its ugly head, Maddie wants nothing to do with the ghosts of days long gone. But one ghost in particular won’t go away, and Maddie might just be the only one with the power to help her—that is, if she can survive the Night Train herself.

In this eerie tale by beloved author Lorelei Savaryn, one girl’s determination to bring long-hidden secrets to light might just change her town—and herself—forever.


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]]> 2024-01-20 15:30:15 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2855520624 The Twisted Tower of Endless Torment (The Horrible #2) by Rob Renzetti cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2855522695 From the creator of My Life As a Teenage Robot comes the second story in a middle-grade horror series about a horrible bag, the spine-chilling world hidden within it, and a terrifying adventure into the world of GrahBhag.

Perfect for fans of Coraline, the Spiderwick Chronicles, and Small Spaces.

Zenith Maelstrom knows he’s forgetting something…

But he can’t quite remember what. He wakes up to notes in his handwriting with messages like, “Prepare for battle!” – but what battle? – and his sister Apogee seems to grow angrier with him by the day. It’s not until he finds Apogee sneaking back into the horrible bag hidden away in their basement that all the dreadful details about GrahBhag resurface. The spiderlike Shlurps. The trio of foul mouths that hunger for blood. Eldritch horrors around every corner.

Desperate to save Apogee from her ill-planned attempt to right the wrongs of their last trip into the bag, Zenith is forced to follow her into the bizarre world that has certainly not forgotten them. Between old foes set on vengeance like Raggedy Albert and terrifying new ones like the haunting Wraith, Zenith will have to put things right with his sister without falling into the clutches of those who would do him harm. For if he is caught, Eternity Tower awaits...

With a combination of dry, absurdist humor and no-holds-barred horror, Rob Renzetti has crafted a delightfully imaginative fantasy world that will hook readers as surely as it will send chills down their spines.


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]]> 2024-01-20 15:33:26 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2855522695 Children of the Wind (Daughters of the Lamp #2) by Nedda Lewers cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2855542478 Percy Jackson meets Arabian fairy tales in this epic middle grade fantasy series about a girl who becomes the keeper of Ali Baba's treasure — now back with a sequel!

It’s been a year since Sahara Rashad came face to face with El Ghoula. And now that she's is back in Egypt for the summer, Sahara can’t shake the feeling the evil witch is plotting her next move. Thankfully, Sahara’s BFF, Vicky, is tagging along this year and can keep her mind off the sorceress. But Vicky seems distant, and for the first time ever, Sahara is noticing cracks in their friendship.

When Sahara learns El Ghoula has attacked a family friend, she knows the witch is back to steal what she couldn’t last year—Ali Baba’s magic lamp. As the artifact’s safekeeper, Sahara must protect it at all costs. But how can she do this when El Ghoula’s wind powers know no end? Can Sahara master magic before the summer equinox, when the sorceress is said to strike again? And when her drama with Vicky reaches boiling point, can Sahara tend to her friendship while honoring her duty as treasure keeper?


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]]> 2024-01-20 16:10:34 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2855542478 Ratty by Susanne Selfors and illustrated by Lavanya Naidu cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2855543996 This heartwarming tale by bestselling author Suzanne Selfors is about the unlikely friendship between a boy who is cursed to look like a rat and a girl who loathes rodents. This instant classic is perfect for fans of The One and Only Ivan, A Wolf Called Wander, and Flora & Ulysses.

Ratty Barclay wasn't supposed to be born a four-foot-tall, walking, talking rodent, but thanks to the Barclay family curse, he's had to live in hiding from the rest of the world. All he wants for his thirteenth birthday is to return to his family's abandoned estate on Fairweather Island to somehow break the curse. Then he'll finally get to live his life as a four-foot-tall, walking, talking, human boy.

Edweena Gup, the granddaughter of the Barclays' groundskeeper, has dedicated her life to being a Rat-Catcher Extraordinaire like her great-great-great grandmother before her. It doesn't matter that Fairweather Island has been rat-free for over a hundred years—she's determined to make sure everyone is prepared for their imminent return. And when she spots a human-sized rat lurking on the Barclay grounds, her worst fears are confirmed.

Though it seems like Ratty and Edweena are destined to be enemies, they have a lot in common—they're both lonely and misunderstood. But will they be able to overcome their fears of each other and maybe even become . . . friends?


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]]> 2024-01-20 16:13:21 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2855543996 Telephone of the Tree by Alison McGhee cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2855545348 An unforgettable story of grief and the support of community as a young girl, faced with aching loss, begins to understand that what we love will always be with us.

Ayla and her best friend Kiri have always been tree people. They each have their own special tree, and neighbors and family know that they are most likely to be found within the branches. But after an accident on their street, Kiri has gone somewhere so far away that Ayla can only wait and wait in her birch, longing to be able to talk with Kiri again.

Then a mysterious, old-fashioned telephone appears one morning, nestled in the limbs of Ayla's birch tree. Where did it come from? she wonders. And why are people showing up to use this phone to call their loved ones? Especially loved ones who have passed on.

All Ayla wants is for Kiri to come home. Until that day comes, she will keep Kiri's things safe. She'll keep her nightmares to herself. And she will not make a call on that telephone.


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]]> 2024-01-20 16:15:49 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2855545348 Let It Glow by Marissa Meyer and Joanne Levy cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2855558600 When Aviva Davids and Holly Martin meet at the holiday pageant tryouts for their local senior’s center, they think they must be seeing double. While they both knew they were adopted, they had no idea they had a biological sibling, let alone an identical twin! The similarities are only skin deep, though, because while Aviva has a big personality and even bigger Broadway plans, Holly is more the quiet dreamer type who longs to become a famous author like her grandfather.

One thing the girls do have in common is their curiosity about how the other celebrates the holidays. What better way to discover the magic of the holidays than to experience them firsthand? The girls secretly trade lives, planning to stage a dramatic reveal to their families at the pageant. Two virtual strangers swapping homes, holidays, and age-old traditions–what could possibly go wrong?


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]]> 2024-01-20 16:40:51 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2855558600 Worst Friends Forever (Leon #2) by Jamar Nicholas cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2855582267 Leon struggles with a super ego—and a super secret!—in the second graphic novel in Jamar Nicholas's action-packed, heartfelt, and joyously funny series.


After saving his classmates from The Monocle, and now that he has access to tons of cool crime-fighting gadgets, Leon is the superhero his school needs. Or at least...he thinks he is. Leon's vigil-antics make Mom and Principal Principle angry, but even worse, Leon is avoiding his best friend, Carlos, to keep Mom's superhero identity a secret. Can Leon dig deep and rediscover his heart and common sense? Or will his bad behavior reach a point of no return?


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]]> 2024-01-20 17:27:14 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2855582267 House of Elephants (Witchlings #3) by Claribel A. Ortega cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2855602917 From New York Times bestselling and award-winning author Claribel A. Ortega: The third book in the spellbinding Witchlings series!


It's been months since the end of the Golden Frog Games, and a cure for the hex that turned young witches to stone still hasn't been found. Seven and Thorn want nothing more than to find a way to heal their friends, but everything they try ends in failure.


When the Black Moon Ceremony arrives earlier than expected, Seven and Thorn take it as a chance to welcome any new Spares into their coven. But rather than welcoming a few Spares like they thought, all the witchlings in the ceremony are chosen to enter the Spare coven!


The new Spares are met with anger from the Hill Society. They create more unfair laws that ban Spares from using magic and being equals in Twelve Towns society! On top of all that, Spares start disappearing. And no one seems to care.


As Seven and Thorn struggle to find a cure for the stone hex and to stop the Twelve Town’s unfair treatment of Spares once and for all, they discover a piece of hidden history that will change everything—if they can get anyone to listen to them.


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]]> 2024-01-20 18:07:25 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2855602917 The Winter Frost (School of Unusual Magic #2) by Liz Montague cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2855604642 Three friends discover magic and mayhem around every corner of their school in this illustrated series from New Yorker cartoonist and NAACP Image Award nominee Liz Montague that's perfect for fans of Witchlings and The Wizards of Waverly Place.


After a chaotic semester of Elementary Magic, Rose, Amethyst, and Lav have found themselves with new magical skills up their sleeves which will come in handy when they begin Middle Magic next year. But school is the last thing on their minds over winter break. Tensions are high between the Land Walkers and the Merfolk's mysterious leader Frost. Worse, Amethyst's mom has gone missing with an extremely illegal wand, and everyone—their classmates, Principal Ivy, the Committee—thinks she's somehow involved in the disappearance of Rose's cousin Heather. But Amethyst is determined to find her mother and set everything right. Her mom just has to be innocent!


When a secret about Amethyst's identity is revealed, her whole world comes crashing down. She doesn't understand how her mom could keep something so important from her. Is her mom actually the villain or is something even darker at work here? She'll have to trust that Rose and Lav can keep the peace above ground while she ventures underwater for answers...


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]]> 2024-01-20 18:10:45 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2855604642 School for Wicked Witched by Will Taylor cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2855619400 Ava isn't ready to leave her home in Oz—especially not to become a witch. Then the worst thing that could possibly happen occurs—Ava's magic does very wrong and she is banished to a school for wicked witches. Perfect for fans of WICKED, WITCHLINGS, and THE SCHOOL FOR GOOD AND EVIL!


In Oz, most girls and boys with magical powers are sent from the north, south, east, and west to renowned witch academies, where they are elevated and taught all the finer ways to be a responsible witch. But if you misbehave? Or are thought to harbor darker magic? You're sent to the equivalent of witch reform school—The School for Wicked Witches. ONLY! Once you get there, you find that the witches running it are so powerful that they've managed to trick the rest of the outside world. Yes, it looks to outside like they are taming the wickedness out of the witches...but in truth, the school is run by wicked witches (who, incidentally, don't see themselves as wicked at all... although some of them really are.)


Ava Heartstraw has never even considered being wicked. But when she goes to take her entrance test for a witch academy, she doesn't get the reaction she's expecting—and is the first kid in memory from the west to be sent to the School for Wicked Witches.


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]]> 2024-01-20 18:41:29 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2855619400 Hungry Bones by Louise Hung cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2855620689 A chilling middle grade novel about a girl haunted by a hungry ghost.


Molly Teng sees things no one else can.


By touching the belongings of people who have died, she gets brief glimpses into the lives they lived. Sometimes the “zaps” are funny or random, but often they leave her feeling sad, drained, and lonely.


The last thing Jade remembers from life is dying. That was over 100 years ago. Ever since then she’s been trapped in the same house watching people move in and out. She’s a ‘hungry ghost’ reliant on the livings’ food scraps to survive. To most people she is only a shadow, a ghost story, a superstition.


Molly is not most people. When she moves into Jade’s house, nothing will ever be the same—for either of them. After over a century alone, Jade might finally have someone who can help her uncover the secrets of her past, and maybe even find a way out of the house—before her hunger destroys them both.


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]]> 2024-01-20 18:44:05 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2855620689 Cool Cat by Jazz Taylor cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2855622207 From the author of Meow or Never and Starting From Scratch, a story about friendship, anxiety, and internet culture.


Nova doesn’t lie — she tells hopes for the future. That’s why she tells her mom she got an A on her math quiz, even though she got a B. It’s also why she doesn’t tell her mom about her secret Instagram that she’s almost old enough to have.


When a viral video of her cat pushes her into the popular crowd, and next to her crush, Lily, Nova tells even more “hopes for the future” to try to fit in.


The more lies she tells, the more everything spins out of control! Nova wants to come clean…but will it mean losing everything?


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]]> 2024-01-20 18:47:44 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2855622207 Mallory and the Mystery Diary (The Baby-sitters Club #29) by Ann M. Martin cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2855623708 America's favorite series returns with a new look and a Netflix TV show.


Mallory and Claudia are helping Stacey unpack from her move back to Stoneybrook when they find an antique trunk in the McGills' attic. Stacey doesn't want the dusty thing, so she gives the trunk to Mallory...who finds an old diary in the bottom of it.


The diary once belonged to Sophie, a girl who lived in Stacey's house in the 1890s. As Mallory reads deep into Sophie's diary, she discovers a mystery. There may be ghosts that haunt Stacey's house!


The Baby-sitters have one big mystery on their hands to solve. Because Stacey's house isn't big enough for her, her mom...and a family of ghosts!


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]]> 2024-01-20 18:51:34 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2855623708 The Color of Revenge (Inkworld #4) by Cornelia Funke cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2855625683 Vengeance awaits in the follow up to the epic, award-winning, New York Times bestselling Inkheart trilogy by internationally acclaimed author Cornelia Funke.


Five years have passed since the events of Inkdeath. At last, peace reigns in Ombra where Meggie, Mo, Dustfinger and all the other residents lead a happy, carefree life. But it has been a different story for Orpheus, who after fleeing to the north, has spent his days living a meager and deprived existence fueled only by his thirst for revenge against Dustfinger and all those who betrayed him.


Now Orpheus is willing to use any means necessary to take revenge. Even the darkest spell the ink world has to offer.


When Dustfinger’s deepest fears come true, he’ll have to figure out whether the words still obey him. Or is he the one who should be afraid of the pictures this time…


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]]> 2024-01-20 18:56:20 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2855625683 Boss Battle (Spy Ninjas: An Original Graphic Novel #3) by Vannotes and illustrated by Mike Anderson cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2856246503 YouTube stars Chad Wild Clay and Vy Qwaint of the Spy Ninjas are back and ready to defeat Project Zorgo once and for all in their third original graphic novel!


Another day, another threat looming from Project Zorgo! This time, these determined hackers kidnap tech genius Joseph Banks to steal ideas to finally defeat the Spy Ninjas. Hold on just a minute! Chad and Vy rescue Banks with the help of their Spy Ninjas recruits, but it looks like it was a little too late. Project Zorgo created a 3D printer that allows them to send video game bosses to the real world! This can't be good.


Soon the Spy Ninjas are on the case battling, crafting, and smashing their way through the Project Zorgo plan. Will their expert moves be enough to stop this video game takeover or will Project Zorgo get the upper hand? With quick thinking and some sweet skills, the Spy Ninjas are ready for another graphic novel adventure!


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]]> 2024-01-21 21:47:21 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2856246503 Dead Girl's Diary by K. R. Alexander cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2856247408 From master horror storyteller K.R. Alexander, the chilling story of a girl who has visions of a dead girl—and the diary that will lead her to the truth behind the girl's tragic demise.


All her life, Kara's been told she was born in the city she's lived in all her life. But she's always felt that wasn't quite right, just as she's had flashes of thoughts that didn't seem to be her own. Now that she's 12, those thoughts are starting to become more frequent...and they're drawing her to a small town she's never been to before.


Finally, against her parents' wishes, she goes there. And even though she's never been there before...she feels like she has. And she feels like something terrible happened to her there.


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]]> 2024-01-21 21:49:43 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2856247408 Take the Shot (Play the Game #2) by Amar Shah cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2856248610 The second book in the new basketball series about regaining one's confidence on and off the court.


Raam and his buddy, Cake, are ready to try out for their middle school's basketball team. Will Raam earn a spot on the roster this time around? Or will old rivals resurface?


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]]> 2024-01-21 21:52:38 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2856248610 The Headless Doll by Mike Ford cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2856249667 From the author of The Lonely Ghost comes a chilling new tale about a vengeful ghost who wants her doll back—or else.


A headless doll. A deserted island. A haunted lighthouse. Twelve-year-old Jennifer’s summer vacation is not going anything like she expected it to. She’s staying with her Aunt Liv, who lives on an island off the coast of Maine. The island is mostly famous for its lighthouse, which is rumored to be haunted by a ghost. Aunt Liv is an artist who specializes in making one-of-a-kind dolls. She also runs a doll hospital so people send her their dolls from all over to repair.


Jennifer notices some creepy things about the house, like flickering lights and something that sounds like faint whispering. Then one of the dolls that Jennifer has been helping her aunt work on is found broken. A neighbor girl tells Jennifer that her aunt’s house is haunted by a ghost who’s looking for her lost doll. Jennifer doesn’t want to believe her. But after more dolls are broken, she starts to get scared. What if the ghost is real?


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]]> 2024-01-21 21:55:26 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2856249667 Rise of the Ancients (Zombie Season #3) by Justin Weinberger cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2856251060 The thrilling conclusion to the innovative book and gaming experience: Zombie Season! Read the book. Play the game. Fight the undead.


Oliver, Regina, Joule, and Anton helped avert a catastrophic zombie surge, but the battle has only just begun. Nix has a dangerous secret—one that'll change everything the kids know about the zombies...and where their loyalties belong.


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]]> 2024-01-21 21:58:14 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2856251060 Like a Boss (Best Wishes #4) by Sarah Mlynowski and Hena Khan cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2856252762 Pass the wishes on! This New York Times bestselling multi-author series is like American Girl with magic.


In this installment, written by acclaimed authors Sarah Mlynowski and Hena Khan, the magic, wish-granting bracelet lands with a girl in Washington, D.C., who ends up being put in charge of...well, everything!


Maya Amir of Washington, D.C. is having a bad day. Her family visiting from out of town have taken over her room, and worst of all, an annoying classmate has taken over the Environmental Club but doesn't seem to care about the environment the way Maya does.


Then Maya receives a mysterious, magic bracelet in the mail from Lucy, a girl in Fort Worth, Texas, who had the bracelet last time. The bracelet grants wishes and Maya is having a hard time deciding what to wish for. Until she accidentally wishes to be in charge during a meeting of the Environmental Club. Suddenly, Maya is the head of the club!


At first, Maya is thrilled by her newfound authority. That is, until everyone starts asking for her help! Her teacher leaves the classroom to her for a day and then the principal of her entire school puts Maya in charge. One day, the President of the United States shows up with a very important request: Maya needs to step in as Commander-in-Chief! How can she say no?


Maya does her best but soon, she's overwhelmed by her newfound responsibilities, and she's terrified she's going to let everyone down. With the support of her new long-distance friends, Addie, Becca, and Lucy, and some help from her family, can Maya untangle the bracelet's magic, all while learning what it means to be a real leader?


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]]> 2024-01-21 22:01:55 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2856252762 We Do Not Welcome Our Ten-Year-Old Overlord by Garth Nix cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2856254254 From master storyteller Garth Nix, the chilling story of a strange object that falls into the wrong hands and has the potential to destroy the world. Perfect for fans of STRANGER THINGS, THE LAST KIDS ON EARTH, and Neil Gaiman.


It's not fair. Kim's always lived in the shadow of his younger sister, Eila—which is not how it's supposed to be. Eila is a prodigy, and everyone talks about how smart she is...but, in Kim's eyes, she has no common sense.


One day Kim and Eila are walking in the woods, and Eila finds an enigmatic, otherworldly object. Kim thinks it's bad news...but Eila begins to commune with it. Kim has every reason to be worried, because soon Eila is able to control the minds of everyone around her...in ways she says is the best for everyone.


Kim's problem-solving must go into high gear. He has to not only save his sister, but save the world from his sister and the forces she’s unleashed.


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]]> 2024-01-21 22:05:28 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2856254254 Beware the Heartman by Shakirah Bourne cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2856255442 A spooky, heartfelt mystery inspired by Caribbean mythology, featuring the most lovable characters in middle grade fiction!


For once, everything in twelve-year-old Josephine's life is going according to plan. She's finally proved that girls belong on the cricket team and earned a spot as a starting player! And she's confident that she and her best friend, Ahkai, will both be accepted to their dream secondary school. Nothing can stop Jo now—not even the memory of the vengeful sea spirit she vanquished last year.


But then a series of disasters strike. Ahkai suddenly seems to have a new best friend—the annoyingly perfect Lynne. Then Jo isn't accepted to the same school as Ahkai! Even worse, Jo keeps having eerie encounters with a mysterious figure lurking in the shadows—a figure who bears an unsettling resemblance to the fearsome Heartman rumored to steal children's hearts...


Jo doesn't know where to turn. With Daddy away, the only person who'll believe her is Ahkai, but Jo is too proud to ask for help after being replaced. By the time she musters the courage to approach him, it's too late.

Ahkai has disappeared without a trace.


He's been taken by the Heartman.


None of the adults believe Jo. The Heartman is just a legend, after all. But Jo knows that the fearsome creature is real and that if she doesn't find his lair soon, Ahkai will be lost.


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]]> 2024-01-21 22:08:56 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2856255442 Swimming with Spies by Chrystyna Lucyk-Berger cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2856256924 Based on the true events of the annexation of Crimea, Chrystyna Lucyk-Berger depicts a familiar world where divisions are sown by hate. But as war escalates between the Russians and Ukrainians in the port city of Sevastopol, can one girl and a dolphin heal her country with love?


In the small fishing town of Sevastopol, Sofiya Alexandrivia only wants two things: to figure out a way to get Ilya Ilyich to stop bullying her, and to convince her mother to come home. The only escape she has from both of these things is the dolphinarium where her tato is a trainer. Here, her best friend just happens to be a fifty-year-old dolphin named Collin who understands her better than anyone.


But as more and more battleships come to populate the waters around their city and Russian forces, including Ilya’s father, come to seize the dolphinarium for military use, an even greater threat takes over Sofiya’s life. When Sofiya overhears the general telling her father that he’ll be expected to have a fleet of dolphins trained to traverse the Arctic waters and engage in warfare, she knows she’ll have to act. The Arctic training program has been suspended ever since a pod began getting sick. And the last thing Sofiya can stomach is the pod of dolphins she’s come to know and love being forced to attack her friends and family in Ukraine.


But what Sofiya’s father doesn’t know is that Sofiya has her own way of communicating with this pod. When war escalates and word surfaces that the naval base in Sevastopol will be under attack, Russian troops expect that Sofiya’s father will have his pod fully trained for defense. But as Sofiya knows, this is not their war. And as the day of battle approaches, she will have them trained for escape, giving Ukraine an even greater chance to reclaim what’s theirs.


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]]> 2024-01-21 22:12:59 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2856256924 Off the Map by Meika Hashimoto cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2856258077 From Meika Hashimoto, author of The Trail, comes an action-packed adventure about doing what it takes to survive—and realizing you can’t do it alone.


Amos and Marlo have always been best friends. From hiking trips to backyard camp-outs, from playing soccer at the park to sitting together at lunch, they did everything together—until this past school year, when it all fell apart.


Out of nowhere, Amos stopped talking to Marlo, and she has no idea why. Embarrassed and angry, Marlo distracts herself by looking forward to an end-of-year canoe trip with her mom. A special wilderness adventure, just the two of them (and their dog).


But when they arrive at the trail-head in the Alaska wilderness...there's Amos! Their parents have surprised them with a trip together. Things couldn't be any worse.


During the trip, Marlo and Amos do their best to avoid each other at all costs...until their parents pair them in a canoe together. When they start arguing, Amos and Marlo don't notice that the grownups' canoe has disappeared.


They've taken a wrong turn—and they're heading straight for a waterfall.


Lost in the wilderness, can these two ex-best friends stop fighting long enough to find their way back to safety?


Off the Map contains Meika's signature mix of outdoor adventure and loads of heart. It's about first crushes, friendship breakups, and learning to trust again. A perfect read for fans of Hatchet or Dan Gemeinhart.


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]]> 2024-01-21 22:16:14 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2856258077 Valor Wings by Sam Subity cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2856259312 A thrilling WWII adventure that reimagines the evacuation of Dunkirk... with dragons!


May 10, 1940


Everyone in Iris's small English village avoids the dragon in the woods. Everyone, that is, except for Iris. She knows Galahad would never hurt her—she's been caring for the dragon since he lost his mother when he was a baby. When Galahad is accused of stealing military rations, Iris strikes a bargain that will spare Galahad's life...but send him off to the war brewing in Europe. Soon after, she receives news that her brother is among the troops trapped in France by the advancing German troops. Refusing to give up hope, Iris devises a desperate plan that will either save both her brother and her best friend—or end in disaster.


Meanwhile in Belgium, Max's school day is abruptly interrupted by some terrifying news: The Germans have invaded his country. He and his grandmother are forced to flee for their lives west toward France where they hope to find safety. But when they are separated after a German attack, Max must continue the treacherous journey on his own.


Across hundreds of miles, the stories of Iris and Max steadily converge toward an explosive conclusion that will change them both forever. Along the way, they each must find the inner strength and resolve—the valor—to do the impossible. Author Sam Subity blends history and fantasy to tell a story like no other—an exhilarating adventure about the power of friendship, hope, and courage.


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]]> 2024-01-21 22:19:39 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2856259312 Unicorn Crush (Another Phoebe and Her Unicorn Adventure #19) by Dana Simpson cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2856260360 An enchanting collection of Phoebe and Her Unicorn comics from New York Times bestselling author Dana Simpson.

In this collection of Phoebe and her Unicorn comic strips, nine-year-old Phoebe Howell and her magical unicorn friend, Marigold Heavenly Nostrils, explore the complexities of popularity, friendship, and crushes. Phoebe finds herself in the awkward position of taking on her friend Max in a debate contest and also helping her best frenemy, Dakota, regain her confidence. Marigold goes to therapy and reconnects with a friend named Sparkleface McGee who she hasn't seen in 700 years. And both Phoebe and Marigold draw a fun series of comics about their lives. As it turns out, the social lives of a nine-year-old human and a centuries-old unicorn have a lot in common! Young readers will enjoy the caring and comedic adventures of this colorful duo as they rediscover the magic in themselves and in each other. 


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]]> 2024-01-21 22:22:36 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2856260360 Benji Zeb Is a Ravenous Werewolf by Deke Moulton cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2858637844 Benji Zeb has to balance preparing for his bar mitzvah, his feelings for a school bully, and being a werewolf in this heartfelt, coming-of-age novel for middle-grade readers. For fans of Don't Want to Be Your Monster and Too Bright to See.

Benji Zeb has a lot going on. He has a lot of studying to do, not only for school but also for his upcoming bar mitzvah. He's nervous about Mr. Rutherford, the aggressive local rancher who hates Benji's family's kibbutz and wolf sanctuary. And he hasn't figured out what to do about Caleb, Mr. Rutherford's adopted son, who has been bullying Benji pretty hard at school, despite Benji wanting to be friends (and maybe something more). And all of this is made more complicated by the fact that, secretly, Benji and his entire family are werewolves who are using the wolf sanctuary as cover for their true identities!

Things come to a head when Caleb shows up at the kibbutz one night . . . in wolf form! He's a werewolf too, unable to control his shifting, and he needs Benji's help. Can anxious Benji juggle all of these things along with his growing feelings toward Caleb?


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]]> 2024-01-23 13:55:18 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2858637844 When We Flew Away: A Novel of Anne Frank Before the Diary by Alice Hoffman cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2862309144 Bestselling author Alice Hoffman delivers a stunning novel about one of contemporary history's most acclaimed figures, exploring the little-known details of Anne Frank's life before she went into hiding.


Anne Frank's The Diary of a Young Girl has captivated and inspired readers for decades. Published posthumously by her bereaved father, Anne's journal, written while she and her family were in hiding during World War II, has become one of the central texts of the Jewish experience during the Holocaust, as well as a work of literary genius.


With the Nazi occupation of the Netherlands, the Frank family's life is turned inside out, blow by blow, restriction by restriction. Prejudice, loss, and terror run rampant, and Anne is forced to bear witness as ordinary people become monsters, and children and families are caught up in the inescapable tide of violence.


In the midst of impossible danger, Anne, audacious and creative and fearless, discovers who she truly is. With a wisdom far beyond her years, she becomes a writer who will go on to change the world as we know it.


Critically acclaimed author Alice Hoffman weaves a lyrical and heart-wrenching story of the way the world closes in on the Frank family from the moment the Nazis invade the Netherlands until they are forced into hiding, bringing Anne to bold, vivid life. Based on extensive research and published in cooperation with the Anne Frank House in Amsterdam, When We Flew Away is an extraordinary and moving tour de force.


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]]> 2024-01-25 23:47:53 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2862309144 Still Sal: A Miller Family Story by Kevin Henkes cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2862311748 A stand-alone companion to two-time Newbery Honor author Kevin Henkes’s award-winning and acclaimed The Year of Billy Miller. With themes of family, friendship, and resilience, this very funny school story focuses on Billy’s little sister, Sal, and her first day of school. For fans of Ramona, Ivy + Bean, and Dory Fantasmagory. 


Sal has been looking forward to first grade for a long time. But her excitement quickly turns to disappointment when she learns that her best friend, Griff, is in the other first-grade classroom and has the most popular teacher. Then Sal’s name is spelled wrong on her name tag, she trips in front of the cool fifth graders, and her self-portrait doesn’t turn out the way she wanted it to. In fact, everything about school is an absolute disaster. Poor Sal!


Luckily for Sal, she has understanding parents, a terrific new teacher, and empathetic friends who remind her that it takes time to adjust to change. And sure enough, after a few days, Sal feels like herself again.


Still Sal highlights themes of family, friendship, social and emotional growth, resilience, and adapting to change. The fourth stand-alone book in the Miller Family sequence includes black-and-white illustrations by Caldecott Medal winner Kevin Henkes on almost every page and is an excellent choice for early elementary grades, for readers ready for a short novel, and for family and classroom read-alouds. 


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]]> 2024-01-25 23:52:40 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2862311748 Felix Powell, Boy Dog by Erin Entrada Kelly cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2862314423 In this funny young middle-grade novel about friendship, family, and animals, Felix Powell is magically transformed from a boy into a dog. Illustrated with black-and-white drawings by Newbery Medal winner and national bestseller Erin Entrada Kelly on almost every page. Perfect for fans of Ivy + Bean, Merci Suárez, and Ramona.


Felix Powell can talk to animals. Just ask his dog, Mary Puppins! They talk all the time. When a mysterious, magical spell turns Felix into a dog, Mary Puppins is amazed. But not as much as Felix! Will his tail ever stop wagging? Will he ever see in full color again? How will he deal with Gumbo, the snobby neighborhood cat? Most importantly, will he ever return to being a regular boy?


With short, high-interest chapters and illustrations by the author on almost every page, Felix Powell, Boy Dog celebrates curiosity, ingenuity, imagination, and friendship. For readers of Beverly Cleary, Judy Blume, Meg Medina, and Megan McDonald, and all kids who love animals.


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]]> 2024-01-25 23:57:07 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2862314423 Dead Good Detectives by Jenny McLachlan cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2862316897 From the UK’s bestselling author of the Land of Roar series comes this first book in a spooky, swashbuckling duology!


Sid Jones and her best friend, Zen, like to play in their local graveyard—but they never expected their ghostly games to suddenly turn real. When Sid accidentally frees the spirit of Ezekiel “Bones” Kittow, a pirate who died nearly three hundred years prior, he asks her to help him find his long-lost treasure so his soul can finally be at rest. The only problem? He can’t remember where, or even what, the treasure is.


With nothing but a spectral hand-drawn map to help guide their search, Sid, Bones, Zen, and an annoyingly loud ghost parrot set out to complete their quest. But haunting their every step is Old Scratch, a creepy specter who runs the eerie graveyard prison keeping Bones, his crew, and many other spirits trapped. Old Scratch won’t let Bones be free without a fight, and in the end, there may be much more sinister threats to face down. . .


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]]> 2024-01-26 00:01:36 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2862316897 Plum to the Rescue! (Plum #2) by Matt Phelan cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2862324544 It’s baby animal season at the Athensville Zoo! Is Plum responsible enough to watch over five exuberant peachicks? From award-winning author-artist Matt Phelan—creator of Knights vs. Dinosaurs—Plum to the Rescue! is the fourth book about a young peacock whose adventures are funny, hopeful, and always kindhearted. A hilarious and highly illustrated novel perfect for reluctant readers and animal lovers everywhere.


Plum is sure he can handle watching over five energetic—and mischievous—peachicks. How hard could it be to keep track of them? Wait, where are the peachicks? When one of the chicks ends up in the clutches of two notorious, badly behaved young zoo patrons, Plum will face his most thrilling adventure yet—a rescue mission outside the zoo walls!


From award-winning author Matt Phelan, Plum to the Rescue! is the fourth young middle grade book about Plum the peacock and his adventures at the Athensville Zoo. With short chapters and energetic black-and-white illustrations, these novels are just right for newly independent readers, tackling an emotional theme relevant and accessible to the audience. Full of heart and humor, Plum to the Rescue! is a great choice for fans of the Mercy Watson and the Princess in Black series.


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]]> 2024-01-26 00:12:32 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2862324544 The Wandering Hour (The Doomsday Archives #1) by Zack Loran Clark and Nick Eliopulos cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2863772203 What if your favorite scary story was real?

With eerie illustrations and chilling creepypasta interstitials, The Doomsday Archives: The Wandering Hour by Zack Loran Clark and Nick Eliopulos is the first in a deliciously creepy series, perfect for readers of Jonathan Stroud, Christian McKay Heidicker, and Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark.

New Rotterdam is no place for a kid―and that’s what Emrys Houtman likes about it. Emrys obsessively documents his town’s urban legends and cryptid sightings in a Wiki, along with his neighbors and fellow horror fans Hazel and Serena. It’s all in good fun until one day, the trio stumbles upon the Doomsday Archives, a collection of relics with dazzling powers and dangerous consequences.

When a mysterious blood-red hourglass begins appearing around town and children begin to go missing, the trio must band together to stop the horrors plaguing New Rotterdam, or risk losing their home...and possibly their lives. Because after all this time hunting monsters, the kids have realized the monsters are now hunting them back.


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]]> 2024-01-27 15:53:49 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2863772203 One Big Open Sky by Lena Cline-Ransome cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2863773669 Three women narrate a perilous wagon journey westward that could set them free—or cost them everything they have—in this intergenerational verse novel that explores the history of the Black homesteader movement.

1879, Mississippi. Young dreamer Lettie may have her head in the stars, but her body is on a covered wagon heading westward. Her father, Thomas, promises that Nebraska will be everything the family needs: an opportunity to claim the independence they’ve strived for over generations on their very own plot of land.

But Thomas’ hopes—and mouth—are bigger than his ability to follow through. With few supplies and even less money, the only thing that feels certain is danger.

Right after the war ended/and we were free/we believed/all of us did/that couldn’t nothing hurt us/the way master had when we were slaves/Couldn’t no one tell us/how to live/how to die.

Lettie, her mother, Sylvia, and young teacher Philomena are free from slavery—but bound by poverty, access to opportunity, and patriarchal social structures. Will these women survive the hardships of their journey? And as Thomas’ desire for control overpowers his common sense, will they truly be free once they get there?

Coretta Scott King Honor-winning author Lesa Cline-Ransome’s striking verse masterfully portrays an underrepresented historical era. Tackling powerful themes of autonomy and Black self-emancipation, Cline-Ransome offers readers an intimate look into the lives of three women and an expansive portrait of generations striving for their promised freedom.


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]]> 2024-01-27 15:57:33 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2863773669 The Deadly Daylight by Ash Harrier cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2863775292 12-year-old Alice has a hard time making friends. Maybe it's because she works in a funeral home and receives messages from the dead.

While the kids at school taunt her and call her “Alice in Zombieland," Alice England finds refuge at her father’s funeral home, where the dead tell her stories. As she arranges the deceased’s personal mementos, an item will hum with meaning–resonance–and Alice will see the story of their life.

When she "meets" George Devenish, a man who died of a rare sunlight allergy, Alice knows George was murdered. Her only leads are George’s niece, “Violet the Vampire,” who shares her uncle’s allergy and a friendly, but secretive boy named Cal.

As a determined Alice investigates, she is surprised to find Violet and Cal become more than just suspects, but allies—maybe even friends. However, Alice soon finds navigating her first real friendships might be harder than solving a murder.

Clever humor and twisty clues abound in this cozy middle grade mystery about a group of misfits finding courage in the truth and friendship in each other. Delightful, dark, and quirky, The Deadly Daylight is perfect for fans of Nancy Drew and Winterhouse.


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]]> 2024-01-27 16:01:44 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2863775292 The War of the Witches (Dragon in a Bag #5) by Zetta Elliott cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2864171241 The witches are ready to go to war, but Jax and his friends are still searching for a path to peace. . . . In the epic series finale of Dragons in a Bag, friends and foes must unite to defeat the mighty Scourge before it drains all magic from the world.

Jaxon could never have imagined the adventure that would start with an old witch called Ma and three baby dragons shipped to Brooklyn. Ever since he returned the dragons to the magical realm of Palmara, Jax has searched for a way for humans and magical creatures to live in harmony. But despite his efforts, an ancient monster has been released. The Scourge has defeated the powerful Guardian of Palmara and set its sights on the human realm.

It takes just one stray spark to ignite a war. With the Scourge now free to move between realms, the witches are preparing for battle. Can Jax and his friends put the flames out before it's too late? Or will magic disappear from the world forever?


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]]> 2024-01-28 14:44:28 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2864171241 The Bletchley Riddle by Ruta Sepetys and Steve Sheinkin cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2864174788 A stunning collaboration between award-winning and bestselling authors Ruta Sepetys and Steve Sheinkin, this middle grade historical adventure follows two siblings at Bletchley Park, the home of WWII codebreakers, as they try to unravel a mystery surrounding their mother’s death.

Remember, you are bound by the Official Secrets Act…

Summer, 1940. Nineteen-year-old Jakob Novis and his quirky younger sister Lizzie share a love of riddles and puzzles. And now they’re living inside of one. The quarrelsome siblings find themselves amidst one of the greatest secrets of World War II—Britain’s eccentric codebreaking factory at Bletchley Park. As Jakob joins Bletchley’s top minds to crack the Nazi's Enigma cipher, fourteen-year-old Lizzie embarks on a mission to solve the mysterious disappearance of their mother.

The Battle of Britain rages and Hitler’s invasion creeps closer. And at the same time, baffling messages and codes arrive on their doorstep while a menacing inspector lurks outside the gates of the Bletchley mansion. Are the messages truly for them, or are they a trap? Could the riddles of Enigma and their mother's disappearance be somehow connected? Jakob and Lizzie must find a way to work together as they race to decipher clues which unravel a shocking puzzle that presents the ultimate challenge: How long must a secret be kept?


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]]> 2024-01-28 14:50:35 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2864174788 Shock City by Aaron Alexovich cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2864177369 “Equal parts nightmarish and outrageously funny, this graphic novel adventure is a thrilling joyride through an electrifying world!”—Max Brallier, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Last Kids on Earth

When shy, anxious Milo rings the doorbell of the forbidden Shock City castle on a dare, he gets more than he bargained for when peppy young monster, Sunny, answers the door and labels herself Milo's new BFF. But when Milo returns to tell Sunny he—and the rest of the town's residents—are moving out of the crumbling Shock City, his monster pal refuses to accept it. She soon convinces Milo to join her on a romp around the city to reverse the damages done, and persuade him and everyone else, to stay. But when Sunny learns that her grandfather, the great Darkness Von Shock, was not the revered benefactor she believed him to be, and is actually the cause of everything bad happening in Shock City, Milo confronts his biggest fears to help Sunny save the town and reverse her family's reputation.


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]]> 2024-01-28 14:55:06 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2864177369 The Sky King (Skyriders #2) by Polly Holyoke cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2864179766 In this soaring adventure for fans of Skandar and the Unicorn Thief and Wings of Fire, a new kind of monster launches an attack on the empire of Prekalt. Who can Kiesandra and her skysteed turn to for help in this life-and-death battle?

Fresh from their victory over the frightening chimerae monsters, Kie and N'Rah are looking forward to a quiet life on her uncle's orchard, far from the turmoil of the capital city. They miss the friends they made there, but as sky couriers, their job keeps them busy.

Then Kie unexpectedly receives a message from the emperor himself! He has an urgent mission for Kie and N'Rah—they need to find the Sky King, the elusive ruler of the wild skysteeds that soar across the land. After losing so many fighters in the Battle of a Thousand Chimerae, the empire is in desperate need of a hundreds of winged horses for their soldiers to ride. The wild herds are the only source, but bitter betrayals in the past have made the Sky King distrustful of humans.

Kie's unique gift of communicating with all skysteeds makes her the best person for the job, but it would take a miracle for the Sky King to trust a young girl. Then a new threat emerges in the form of huge birds of prey called vultiren. With the fearsome creatures heading straight for the wild skysteeds’ hidden refuge, Kie must convince the Sky King to ally with her—before their world is destroyed forever.


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]]> 2024-01-28 14:59:36 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2864179766 One False Note (The 39 Clues Graphic Novel #2) by Gordon Korman and illustrated by Hannah Templer cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2869088778 The second installment in the mega-bestselling The 39 Clues series, now in graphic novel form!


Amy and Dan made the choice of a lifetime when they gave up a million dollars in favor of a Clue and joined a competition unlike any the world has ever seen. After barely escaping Paris with their lives, now they're in Vienna to discover the truth about their famous ancestor, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, and the long-buried secrets connected to his equally talented but overlooked sister, Nannerl.


But with their enemies closing in, Amy and Dan must decide how much they're willing to risk to find the clues, and who they're willing to betray in the process...


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]]> 2024-01-31 23:39:26 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2869088778 The Haunted Mask (Goosebumps: The Graphic Novel #1) by R.L. Stine and adapted by Maddi Gonzalez cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2869090632 The beloved Goosebumps series is now available in full length graphic novel editions!


How ugly is Carly Beth's Halloween mask? It's so ugly that it almost scared her little brother to death. So terrifying that even her friends are totally freaked out by it. It's the best Halloween mask ever. With yellow-green skin and long animal fangs, the mask terrifies the entire neighborhood. Before long, it has a surprising effect on Carly Beth, too. She tries to take it off . . . but it won't budge! Halloween is almost over, but fright night is just beginning.


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]]> 2024-01-31 23:42:45 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2869090632 The Beautiful Game by Yamile Saied Méndez cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2869092838 A powerful story about family, fútbol, and playing like a girl from the award-winning author of Furia.

At thirteen years old, Valeria "Magic" Salomón is already the best soccer player her town has ever seen. She has talent in spades and an abuelo whose tough-love coaching and lessons about “strength and honor” have made her the star of the Overlords, the top boys’ team in the state. 


But everything changes at the State Cup semi-final when Valeria gets her first period while Wearing. White. Shorts. After her team is unexpectedly eliminated, she goes from their secret weapon to their scapegoat. Soon, she doesn’t have a team at all anymore. She’s not sure she has a relationship with her grandfather either.  


Valeria’s a fighter, however. And with the help of her grandmother and support of her cheerleader BFF, she finds herself on a girls’ team for the first time. But the Amazons aren’t exactly excited to have her there. After all, Valeria’s spent years ignoring their existence. With the next tournament looming on the horizon, Valeria has a month to figure out her place on her new team and learn how to play like a girl. 


The award-winning author of Furia returns to the world of  “the beautiful game” in this uplifting, heartfelt novel about family, self-confidence, and the power of second chances. 


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]]> 2024-01-31 23:46:24 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2869092838 Time to Party (Dungeons & Dragons: Dungeon Club #2) by Molly Knox Ostertag and illustrated by Xanthe Bouma cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2869097718 The party continues but the problems get bigger in this second installment of this original Dungeons & Dragons graphic novel series brought to you by New York Times bestselling author Molly Knox Ostertag and critically acclaimed illustrator Xanthe Bouma.


Olivia loves being the Dungeon Master of her after-school club, creating a world with magic and epic battles with adventure around every corner. She’s always felt at home in her game, but now—with new members and new plotlines—her world has gotten more complicated than ever.

It doesn’t help when Olivia’s older sister, Lu, comes home from college and brushes off all Olivia’s hard work, telling her to get real. A seed of doubt is planted, and suddenly the colorful world of her game starts to fade around her. Will Olivia be able to keep everything from changing, or will the party fall apart?


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]]> 2024-01-31 23:53:51 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2869097718 Red Bird Danced by Dawn Quigley cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2869102186 With lyrical verse and powerful emotion, Dawn Quigley (Ojibwe) tells the story of urban Native kids who find strength in connection with those who came before and in the hope that lets them take flight.


Ariel and Tomah have lived in the city’s intertribal housing complex all their lives. But for both of them, this Dagwaagin (Autumn) season is different than any before.


From his bench outside the front door of his building, Tomah watches his community move around him. He is better at making people laugh than he is at schoolwork, but often it feels like his neighbor Ariel is the only one who really sees him, even in her sadness. 


Ariel has always danced ballet because of her Auntie Bineshiinh and loves the way dance makes her feet hover above the ground like a bird. But ever since Auntie went missing, Ariel’s dancing doesn’t feel like flying.


As the seasons change and the cold of winter gives way to spring’s promise, Ariel and Tomah begin to change too as they learn to share the rhythms and stories they carry within themselves.


This first middle grade novel by Dawn Quigley is a tour de force. She is known for her American Indian Youth Literature Award–winning Jo Jo Makoons chapter book series and young adult novel Apple in the Middle.


Give Red Bird Danced to readers who love Jasmine Warga and Christine Day!


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]]> 2024-01-31 23:59:57 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2869102186 Unsinkable Cayenne by Jessica Vitalis cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2869107212 When her unconventional parents finally agree to settle down in one place, twelve-year-old Cayenne’s dreams come true—but the reality of fitting in is much harder than she imagined. Acclaimed author Jessica Vitalis crafts an unforgettable historical novel-in-verse about belonging, family, and social class for fans of Lisa Fipps’s Starfish and Jasmine Warga’s Other Words for Home.


Cayenne and her family drift from place to place, living in their van. It hasn’t been a bad life—Cayenne and her mother birdwatch in every new location, they have a cozy setup in their van, and they sing and dance and bond over campfires most nights. But they’ve never belonged anywhere.


As Cayenne enters seventh grade, her parents decide to settle down in a small Montana town. Cayenne hopes that this means she will finally belong somewhere and make some friends. But it turns out that staying in one place isn’t easy at all.


As her social studies class studies the Titanic tragedy (the wreckage has just been discovered and her teacher is obsessed), Cayenne sees more and more parallels between the social strata of the infamous ship and her own life. Will she ever squeeze her way into the popular girls’ clique, even though they live in fancy houses on the hill and she lives in a tiny, rundown home with chickens in the front yard? Is it possible that the boy she likes actually likes her back? Can she find a way to make room for herself in this town? Does she really want to? Maybe being “normal” isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.


Unsinkable Cayenne is a character-driven novel-in-verse about family, friendship, first crushes, and fitting in. Set in the mid-1980s, this literary novel is for readers of Megan E. Freeman’s Alone and Erin Entrada Kelly’s We Dream of Space. 


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]]> 2024-02-01 00:06:32 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2869107212 Desert Nightmare (PIGGY: An Original Graphic Novel #2) by Vannotes and illustrated by Malu Menezes cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2869852843 Join Willow and Cami as they escape from the clutches of PIGGY on a high-speed chase through the desert!


After the outbreak of a mysterious disease that's turned the world upside down, Willow and her team, the Silver Paw, have done all they can to survive. When word gets to the Silver Paw that their allies on the other side of town are suffering from a super itchy rash, it's up to Willow and Cami to track down a rare desert herb to save their friends from their scratchy stupor. But PIGGY is hot on their trail, and out for revenge...Can Willow and Cami get out of the desert in one piece? Or will the desert sun set on the end of the Silver Paw?


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]]> 2024-02-01 13:12:51 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2869852843 Killer Harvest by Christopher Krovatin cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2869860909 It's harvest season...and in this town, that means corn mazes, sinister scarecrows, and plenty of horror.


At the center of the corn maze lies...secrets and horror.


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]]> 2024-02-01 13:19:18 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2869860909 Kwame Crashes the Underworld by Craig Kofi Farmer cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2871782999 The Tristan Strong series meets Guillermo del Toro's THE BOOK OF LIFE in Craig Kofi Farmer’s stunning middle grade fantasy about a boy hurled into the Ghanaian underworld to help his late grandmother save humanity.

Twelve-year-old Kwame Powell refuses to acknowledge any feelings about his grandmother’s passing. And he certainly doesn't want to accompany his parents to her celebration of life ceremony in Ghana, where he knows he'll have to face his feelings about her death head-on.

But when an aboatia—a mischievous monkey from Akan mythology—steals Kwame's grandmother’s dashiki, his last physical reminder of her, Kwame decides to take matters into his own hands. He chases the little thief across town, to the edge of the pier, and…into a magical whirlpool that leads straight to Asamando, the Ghanaian underworld.

With his best friend Autumn, and the crafty aboatia he names Woo, Kwame finds himself embroiled with angry nature gods intent on destroying humanity. And, matters only get more complicated when he runs into none other than his grandmother herself...except in the underworld, she’s still a kid. And very much alive.

Adventurous and memorable, Craig Kofi Farmer's middle grade fantasy is an immersive and powerful debut that tackles themes of identity, intergenerational connectedness, and how to say goodbye with heart, humor, and an epic dose of magic.


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]]> 2024-02-02 23:46:51 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2871782999 The Pale Queen by Ethan M. Aldridge cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2871784336 From the acclaimed creator of Estranged and The Legend of Brightblade comes a lush fantasy graphic novel about an aspiring astronomer who attracts the attention of a mysterious being known as the Lady. Perfect for fans of Anya’s Ghost and Snapdragon!


Agatha has always dreamed of the stars. But when a chance encounter introduces her to the Lady of the Hills, Agatha is shocked to learn that a secret magical world lays hidden in the mist-shrouded land next to her village. She finds herself quickly captivated by the Lady, but is the Lady who she appears to be?

As Agatha forms a new friendship with a girl in town, she learns that the Lady is far older and more powerful than she could’ve guessed and that her plans aren’t as innocent as they appear. Will Agatha be able to protect the people she loves from the Lady’s sinister agenda?


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]]> 2024-02-02 23:52:22 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2871784336 The Tenth Mistake of Hank Hooperman by Gennifer Choldenko cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2871785812 Readers will be rooting for a happy ending for Hank in Newbery-Honor-winner Gennifer Choldenko’s gripping story of a boy struggling to hold his family together when his mom doesn't come home.

When eleven-year-old Hank’s mom doesn’t come home, he takes care of his toddler sister, Boo, like he always does. But it’s been a week now. They are out of food and mom has never stayed away this long… Hank knows he needs help, so he and Boo seek out the stranger listed as their emergency contact.

But asking for help has consequences. It means social workers, and a new school, and having to answer questions about his mom that he's been trying to keep secret. And if they can't find his mom soon, Hank and Boo may end up in different foster homes—he could lose everything.

Gennifer Choldenko has written a heart-wrenching, healing, and ultimately hopeful story about how complicated family can be. About how you can love someone, even when you can’t rely on them. And about the transformative power of second chances.


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]]> 2024-02-02 23:58:34 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2871785812 Chronicles of a Lizard Nobody by Patrick Ness and illustrated by Tim Miller cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2871787771 From the best-selling author of A Monster Calls, this funny, wise middle-grade series explodes every stereotype—including what it means to be a hero—in a brilliant reptilian take on surviving school.

When Principal Wombat makes monitor lizards Zeke, Daniel, and Alicia hall monitors, Zeke gives up on popularity at his new school. Brought in as part of a district blending program, the monitor lizards were mostly ignored before. Reptiles aren’t bullied any more than other students, but they do stick out among zebras, ostriches, and elk. Why would Principal Wombat make them hall monitors? Alicia explains that it’s because mammals are afraid of being yelled (hissed) at by reptiles. The principal’s just a good general, deploying her resources. Zeke balks, until he gets on the wrong side of Pelicarnassus. More than a bully, the pelican is a famed international supervillain—at least when his mother isn’t looking. Maybe the halls are a war zone, and the school needs a hero. Too bad it isn’t . . . Zeke. Smart, relatable, and densely illustrated in black and white for graphic appeal, this middle-grade series debut by a revered author returns to his themes of grief, bullying, and negotiating differences—but with zeal and comic relief to spare.


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]]> 2024-02-03 00:05:55 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2871787771 All My Bests by Britnee Meiser cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2877180818 In the tradition of Hello, Goodbye, and Everything in Between, this smart and emotional upper middle grade romance told through playlists and memories follows two teens struggling to hold onto each other as their friendship changes.

Starting high school brings big changes for Immie and Jack, who’ve been everything to each other ever since Jack crashed his skateboard into Immie’s yard when they were seven years old. All of a sudden, a game-winning goal catapults Jack into star status with the soccer team, and Immie is meeting new girl friends whose questions are making her wonder about the identity of her father for the first time in her life.

And amidst all of this, they’re both realizing their feelings for each other might run deeper than they thought. Can their friendship—and the promise of something more—weather the storm that is growing up?


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]]> 2024-02-07 21:13:31 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2877180818 Camp Twisted Pine by Ciera Burch cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2877185326 Whispering Pines meets Small Spaces in this spooky middle grade novel about a girl whose first summer camp experience is disrupted by a menacing creature abducting her fellow campers.

Eleven-year-old Naomi loves all things outdoors—birds and beetles, bats and bunnies—in theory. She explores nature in the best possible way: the cold, hard facts in books. So when her parents’ announcement of their impending divorce comes hand in hand with sending Naomi and her younger twin brothers to summer camp while they figure things out, it’s salt in the wound for Naomi and her avoidance of hands-on experience.

Camp Twisted Pine could be worse. The counselors are nice, and Naomi likes her cabinmates, especially Jackie, whose blunt personality and frank dislike of the camp draws Naomi in quickly. Jackie is also hard of hearing and uses a hearing aid, and the girls quickly develop a routine of sign language lessons in their free time, which Naomi sees as a welcome break when all the s’mores-making and nature walks get to be a bit much.

But the campers aren’t the only ones who roam the grounds of Camp Twisted Pine. When people start to go missing, including Jackie, Naomi has to find a way to save everyone—and herself. Her practical knowledge of the outdoors may still be rudimentary at best, but she has years of studying and the scientific method to fall back on. Can Naomi identify and stop the dangerous predator before it’s too late?


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]]> 2024-02-07 21:19:34 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2877185326 Gamerville by Johnnie Christmas cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2879502967 A video gamer’s championship aspirations are dashed when his parents send him to Camp Refresh, where electronics are forbidden and you're forced to socialize, eat healthy, and spend time outside. Gamerville is a timely and vulnerable exploration of the importance of human connection and what it means to run in a pack, brought to you by award-winning author Johnnie Christmas.


Max Lightning is howling at the moon—he’s finally qualified for Gamerville, a championship where players compete to be top dog in the multiplayer video game Lone Wolf of Calamity Bay. But his dreams of domination are doomed when his parents send him to Camp Refresh. Gone are the long nights of downing energy drinks and getting copious amounts of screen time. They've been replaced with fresh air and group activities under the hot sun—a shock to the system for a lone wolf like Max. Can Max escape Camp Refresh and level up at Gamerville, or has he finally played his last match?


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]]> 2024-02-09 19:23:23 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2879502967 Curveball by Pablo Cartaya and illustrated by Miguel Diaz Rivas cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2879506191 Roller Girl meets Cardboard Kingdom in this original, contemporary graphic novel from award-winning author Pablo Cartaya and New York Times best-selling illustrator Miguel Díaz Rivas.

Baseball is Elena Rueda’s entire life: She may be the only girl on her team, but she’s the best player and everyone knows it. Except . . . Elena has stopped having fun, and it’s time to leave the sport behind.

The problem is, Elena has no idea who she is without a bat in her hand. Can a summer spent with her brother's quirky friends in an empty sandlot that offers a world of possibility show Elena who she is—and teach her to love to play again?


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]]> 2024-02-09 19:26:45 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2879506191 World's Best Greatest Ever Inventor (Dex Dingo #1) by Greg Foley cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2879509535 After a school assignment challenges Dex to be whatever he wants, Dex decides he wants to be the WORLD’S BEST GREATEST EVER…at something. Filled with clever humor and touching insight, this chapter book graphic novel series follows Dex’s misadventures as his attempts at the “coolest jobs” go awry.

Dex Dingo isn’t the BEST at anything. He’s not the SMARTEST, the FUNNIEST, the STRONGEST, or the NICEST. But he wants to be the WORLD’S BEST GREATEST EVER…at something. So when Dex’s teacher asks, “If you could be anything when you grow up, what would you be,” Dex decides that he’s going to be the best at one of the “best jobs ever.”

First on his list: an inventor! Dex is able to create an awesome lab and an amazing team of nanobots, but things immediately go wrong when the nanobots start to multiply and form a gray goo that threatens to take over his neighborhood. It’ll take some quick thinking and a rogue nanobot named Nono for Dex to stop the nanobots, save his best friend, and become the WORLD’S BEST GREATEST INVENTOR.


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]]> 2024-02-09 19:30:53 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2879509535 Exit Nowhere by Juliana Brandt cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2879511968 Haunted Mansion meets the ultimate escape room in this tense and twisty middle grade horror following four kids who must beat a series of games to make it out of a haunted house.

The creepiest place in Barret Eloise’s small town is the abandoned Raithfield Manor, a decrepit house surrounded by rumors of ghosts and kids going missing. So she certainly never planned on stepping foot inside. But when her history teacher gives her a group project to research a local landmark, the manor is the location her group chooses. Determined to ace the project and fix her awkward first impression on her assigned partners—which include her former friend Helena, smart and confident Wayne, and school basketball star Ridge—Barret Eloise isn’t about to let some tall tales scare her off.

When the kids first enter the house, it seems to be nothing more than an empty building. But when the sun goes down, the doors and windows lock, sealing them inside. Even worse, the room they’re in transforms into an all-too-real game of The Floor is Lava. It doesn’t take long for the group to realize the mansion is a maze of childhood games. Win the game and you keep moving forward, lose and you disappear. And complicating it all is a worrying revelation—they are not alone in the house.

If Barret Eloise wants to make it home, she and her dysfunctional group are going to have to learn to work together quickly.


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]]> 2024-02-09 19:33:49 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2879511968 The Skeleton Flute by Damara Allen cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2879631701 The legend of the Pied Piper meets Sal and Gabi Break the Universe with a touch of Coraline in this spooky and suspenseful middle grade adventure about a boy whose wish goes horribly wrong and his fight to reunite with his real family.

Sam Windsor’s parents and younger siblings, Grayson and Addie, are his whole world, so when his parents announce they’re separating, Sam is devastated. He’d do anything to make his parents change their minds and keep the family together. When a stranger offers a flute made of bone that supposedly grants the player’s wish, Sam doesn’t really believe it will work but figures he has nothing to lose.

Surprisingly, the wish on the skeleton flute comes true. The next day, his parents are happily in love, with no plans for his dad to leave. But there’s a major problem: his parents’ relationship isn’t the only thing in his life that has changed, and some of the changes are definitely for the worse.

Caught in a world full of unintended consequences and familiar strangers, Sam has limited options for returning to his old life—worries, challenges, and all. Can he track down the mysterious man who gave him the flute and undo his wish?


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]]> 2024-02-09 23:51:10 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2879631701 Eyes on the Sky by J. Kasper Kramer cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2879632379 From acclaimed author J. Kasper Kramer comes a historical middle grade novel about a budding young scientist in 1947 Roswell, New Mexico, who fears her weather balloon experiment has been mistaken for a flying saucer!

Nothing ever happens in Roswell, New Mexico. Dorothy should know. She’s lived her whole life on a rural ranch nearby, surrounded by the difficult memories from her family’s struggles to make ends meet during the Great Depression years ago. At least her older brother Dwight is home safe from the war. Unfortunately he’s no better to talk to than her ancient pet sheep, Geraldine.

Thankfully Dorothy has her experiments, like launching rockets off the top of her windmill. But one stormy night, she sends a gigantic weather balloon into the stratosphere—and an incredible blast lights up the sky. Suddenly, all the newspapers feature a flying saucer crash in their headlines and the sleepy town of Roswell is alight with gossip and speculation. But what if the so-called extraterrestrial vessel is actually Dorothy’s weather balloon?

When FBI agents start asking questions, she begins to suspect that there’s something out there, something dangerous. Either the government is after her for causing a national scandal…or aliens are real!


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]]> 2024-02-09 23:53:45 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2879632379 The Greatest Heist in Joviala by Adi Alsaid cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2879633909 A girl fights to free her sister from a curse while a beautiful mountain is at risk of being turned into a theme park in this giggle-worthy yet heartfelt middle grade adventure set in the world of The Bravest Warrior in Nefaria.

Having grown up in Nefaria, a land where evil schemes abound, Candelabra is thrilled to take a school trip to Joviala, a land that’s prone to natural disasters but has virtually no evil in it. All her life, she’s dreamt of a place where everyone is caring and happy and without malicious intent, and now it’s coming true for her.

But Jovialan Schmebecca isn’t so sure her country’s reputation is earned. A company has just been approved to move her beloved mountain to install a theme park, and that sounds pretty evil to her. She enlists the help of veteran evil-scheme-thwarters Candelabra and Bobert, and together, they work to uncover the possible evil scheme—but when a twist pits their goals against each other, the fight against evil becomes a lot more complicated.


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]]> 2024-02-09 23:59:25 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2879633909 The House with a Dragon in It by Nick Lake and illustrated by Emily Gravett cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2879634618 From the creators of Lily and the Night Creatures comes another illustrated middle grade adventure of magic and granted wishes perfect for fans of The Beast and the Bethany and Kelly Barnhill.

Summer has moved around a lot and knows better than to trust her current foster family. She knows she can only count on herself, which makes adjusting to a new school in a new town very lonely. One day, while Summer and her foster family are having lunch, a hole appears in the middle of the living room.

The hole leads down to a dragon, who promises Summer three wishes, to be granted by a witch. Finally, things are looking up as Summer can have the security and company she’s always wanted—guaranteed by magic with no complicated feelings involved.

But every granted wish makes the hole in the floor grow bigger and the witch more sinister. With the magic taking a dark turn, can Summer risk asking for her dearest wish—a true home—or will she have to find one on her own?


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]]> 2024-02-10 00:02:28 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2879634618 Villains' Realm (Kingdom Keepers Inheritance #2) by Ridley Pearson cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2879635382 The second book in this all new KINGDOM KEEPERS INHERITANCE trilogy follows our young heroes to parks around the world as they work to stop the most villainous villain of all—Ursula—from taking over for good!

In this latest book in the series that has sold over a million copies worldwide, Ridley Pearson expands the Kingdom Keepers world in ways no reader—or Disney Parks fan—could have imagined.

Home from their adventures abroad in book one, Eli and his friends are safe and sound at Epcot with their families—or are they? When Eli learns that the CEO of the Walt Disney Company has mysteriously done a 180 and ordered Villains Realms to be built in every park across the globe, he and his friends know something is amiss. It turns out that Ursula, the baddest of the big bads, has recruited an evil chemist to recreate Walt's magical ink, which would allow the Villains to travel between parks and end Disney magic as we know it.

With the help of Cinderella's very own Fairy Godmother—the notorious FGM as she's known in this world—they set out to stop Ursula—jumping from Epcot to Disneyland to Disneyland Paris, where the ultimate battle between good and evil plays out. Will Eli and his friends prevail, or will the Villains finally have their way?


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]]> 2024-02-10 00:05:44 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2879635382 Lightningborn (Storm Dragons #1) by Julie Kagawa cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2879636093 In a world in the clouds where only the rich own dragons, a poor boy named Remy finds a wild baby dragon—believed to be extinct—and becomes the focus of an evil pirate’s vengeance.

REMY spends his days trying to survive the mean streets of Cutthroat Wedge—one of the many islands floating in the gravitational pull of the magical Maelstrom raging below. But his life changes forever when a violent storm brings a baby dragon to his doorstep, and he feels a bond he has never felt with anyone. Remy names the dragon Storm and vows to protect this new friend, no matter the cost.

GEM longs for the day when she call herself a true mage. That is, if she can convince her teachers and peers that just because she’s a princess doesn’t mean she’s lazy and spoiled. But when Gem learns that the floating islands that make up her kingdom are rapidly sinking into the Maelstrom, she makes it her mission to save her world. Against the king’s wishes, she accesses forbidden research and discovers the secret to saving humanity may lie in a True Dragon—a dragon capable of intelligent thought and able to cast and use magic. But True Dragons are extinct . . . aren’t they?

Remy’s and Gem’s lives will never be the same when their fates collide, thanks to Storm. With an evil pirate mage named Jhaeros determined to claim the rare dragon for himself, the two must learn to trust in each other as they team up with a shifty pirate captain and her crew, stand together against impossible odds, and embark on the adventure of a lifetime.


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]]> 2024-02-10 00:08:33 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2879636093 The Loneliest Place (Blight Harbor #3) by Lora Senf cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2879637440 Evie ventures into the Dark Sun Side to rescue her loved ones, only to discover truths darker than she could have ever imagined in this thrilling finale to the Blight Harbor series that’s perfect for fans of Doll Bones and Small Spaces.

As summer comes to an end, Evie Von Rathe is determined to begin the search for her parents in earnest. Armed with her knowledge of the otherworldly, her mom’s violet glasses, and a pendant full of doors, Evie begins to piece together clues. When she realizes her mother’s bedtime story might be a roadmap to finding them, Evie follows it back to the Dark Sun Side.

But stories are funny things, and they change from one teller to the next.

The black nothing of the Radix is waiting, and it knows more than it’s ever let on. Evie will need every bit of courage she has for what’s coming. With Bird at her side, and maybe even a reluctant Lark as well, Evie has what she hopes is her last adventure under a purple sky.


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]]> 2024-02-10 00:13:00 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2879637440 Zero to Hero (Lost Legends #4) by Jen Calonita cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2879638263 The fourth book in an exciting middle grade series that features the adventures of Disney’s most lovable roguish heroes as kids!

Before he saved Mount Olympus...Hercules was just a boy trying to find his way. “How am I supposed to prove myself a hero if no one will give me a chance?"

Twelve-year-old Hercules doesn’t fit in. He’s awkward and clumsy, and his excessive strength tends to be more hurtful than it is helpful. But Herc believes that if he was just given the chance to prove himself, he could show everyone that he really does belong. Of course Hercules never expected his chance to come by way of an angry goddess.

One night, a prized olive grove is ruined and the goddess Nike appears, looking for a culprit. Hercules’s neighbors are quick to accuse him until an older boy named Theseus steps in and defends Hercules. Theseus believes Hercules didn’t cause the destruction and volunteers to accompany him on a quest to Athens to clear his name. The two set off and soon encounter giants, robbers, and sea monsters who try to stop them. Hercules is glad to have Theseus by his side, but he can’t help but wonder—is Theseus truly doing this out of the goodness of his heart? Or does he also have something to prove?

Filled with impressive feats and inspiring friendship, the Lost Legends series explores the untold origins of Disney’s most infamous rogue boys.


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]]> 2024-02-10 00:16:13 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2879638263 The Little Vampire in Danger (The Little Vampire #6) by Angela Sommer-Bodenburg and translated by Ivanka T. Hahnenberger cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2879639027 Rudolph and Tony try to save Rudolph’s family plot in this spooky and sweet fifth book in the classic middle grade Little Vampire series—perfect for readers who love Hotel Transylvania and The Addams Family!

Rudolph the Little Vampire and his family live a fairly quiet life in their crypt tucked away in the back of the local cemetery. But then they discover the night watchman plans to dig up their section and turn it into a garden…which would mean the end of the vampires! Can Tony help figure out a way to rescue his friends from this terrible fate?


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]]> 2024-02-10 00:19:34 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2879639027 Madsi the True by S. J Taylor cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2879639602 In this fantasy adventure set in 1700s Norway perfect for fans of Netflix’s Hilda and Rick Riordan’s Magnus Chase series, a girl and her unlikely companions brave the wilds and encounter legendary creatures as they seek to rescue her sister from the Northern Lights.

Madsi has always loved the stories that her clever, strong-willed sister, Lisbet, told her late at night in their cabin. Madsi never expected Lisbet to become one of those tales. But last year, her sister disappeared in the night, snatched away by the Northern Lights.

This year when the Lights appear in the sky, Madsi begs them to free her sister—and a girl falls to earth right in front of her. But it’s not Lisbet. This girl’s name is Torin, and she demands that Madsi take her to a witch who can put her back into the Lights, where she went by choice. Madsi doesn’t know what to believe—but if she takes Torin to the witch’s mountain, maybe she can get Lisbet back. They set off, joined by Espen, an annoying (but surprisingly helpful) boy from Madsi’s village.

Madsi has never thought of herself as brave, but as they endure the wilds and face monsters she’s only heard about in tales, she finds unexpected strength. Can she also find the truth of what happened to her sister?


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]]> 2024-02-10 00:22:07 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2879639602 Mia's Baker's Dozen (Cupcake Diaries: The Graphic Novel #6) by Coco Simon cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2879640677 The bestselling Cupcake Diaries series is now available in graphic novel format! In this adaptation of the sixth book, Mia finds that one more in the mix is always better!

Mia loves all her friends in the Cupcake Club, and things are good at home with her new stepdad and stepbrother and going to her dad’s house on the weekends. School is okay too with one exception: Mia is failing Spanish! She can speak it at home with her family, but writing is a different story. And when it’s parent-teacher night, Mia has a new dilemma: Who goes to that? Mom and Eddie? Mom and Dad? All of them? Mia soon realizes that sometimes having an extra (or a “baker’s dozen”) of something can be a very good thing.

Fun, bright, full-color graphic panels tell the story with the same humor and heart as the original novel.


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]]> 2024-02-10 00:27:37 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2879640677 The Mystery of Mystic Mountain by Janet Fox cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2879641431 A girl tackles a summer filled with mystery, treasure, and learning to be her true self in this middle grade adventure that’s a modern-day Holes set on a dusty dude ranch in Montana.

Becca Soloway’s perfect summer goes up in smoke when her mom flees a looming divorce by dragging Becca to a Montana resort. To make matters worse, her mom’s hasty booking lands them not at a spa, but an aging dude ranch called Far Away.

Becca is miserable until she meets the wrangler’s son, Jon, who shows her what might be the first clue to a century-old mystery: the lost treasure of a Robin Hood–like outlaw known as Pearlhandle Pete.

As they slowly uncover the true history of Pete, venture into the mountains, search haunted ghost towns, and are threatened by a treasure-hunter-social-media star, Becca discovers that treasure is in the eye of the beholder and the important things in life are always worth fighting for.


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]]> 2024-02-10 00:30:37 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2879641431 Not Nothing by Gayle Forman cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2879642049 In this middle grade novel from #1 New York Times bestselling author Gayle Forman, a boy who has been assigned to spend his summer volunteering at a senior living facility learns unexpected lessons that change the trajectory of his life.

To say Alex has had it rough is an understatement. His father’s gone, his mother is struggling with mental health issues, and he’s now living with an aunt and uncle who are less than excited to have him. Almost everyone treats him as though he doesn’t matter at all, like he’s nothing.

So when a kid at school actually tells him he’s nothing, Alex snaps, and gets violent. Fortunately, his social worker pulls some strings and gets him a job at a nursing home for the summer rather than being sent to juvie. There, he meets Josey, the 107-year-old Holocaust survivor who stopped bothering to talk years ago, and Maya-Jade, the granddaughter of one of the residents with an overblown sense of importance.

Unlike Alex, Maya-Jade believes that people care about what she thinks, and that she can make a difference. And when Alex and Josey form an unlikely bond, with Josey confiding in him, Alex starts to believe he can make a difference—a good difference—in the world. If he can truly feel he matters, Alex may be able to finally rise to the occasion of his own life.


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]]> 2024-02-10 00:33:16 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2879642049 Wrath of the Triple Goddess (Percy Jackson and the Olympians #7) by Rick Riordan cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2879642772 In his continuing quest to earn college recommendation letters from the gods, Percy has to pet sit the goddess Hecate's polecat and giant mastiff during Halloween week. What could go wrong?

Rick Riordan’s newest Percy Jackson adventure is full of hilarious set pieces, a diverse cast of gods and monsters, and many other delightful tricks and treats.

Percy Jackson, now a high school senior, needs three recommendation letters from the Greek gods in order to get into New Rome University. He earned his first one by retrieving Ganymede’s chalice. Now the goddess Hecate has offered Percy another “opportunity”—all he has to do is pet sit her polecat, Gale, and mastiff, Hecuba, over Halloween week while she is away. Piece of cake, right?

Percy, Annabeth, and Grover settle into Hecate’s seemingly endless mansion and start getting acquainted with the fussy, terrifying animals. The trio has been warned not to touch anything, but while Percy and Annabeth are out at school, Grover can’t resist drinking a strawberry-flavored potion in the laboratory. It turns him into a giant frenzied goat, and after he rampages through the house, damaging everything in sight, and passes out, Gale and Hecuba escape. Now the friends have to find Hecate’s pets and somehow restore the house, all before Hecate gets back on Saturday. It’s going to take luck, demigod wiles, and some old and new friends to hunt down the animals and set things right again.


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]]> 2024-02-10 00:36:28 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2879642772 Rise of the Spider (The Web of the Spider #1) by Michael P. Spradlin cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2879643347 Witness the chilling rise of the Nazi Party through the eyes of a twelve-year-old boy in this first book in the action-packed middle grade series Web of the Spider for fans of I Survived and A Night Divided.

1929, Heroldsberg, Germany. Rolf might only be twelve years old, but he’s old enough to know that things have not been good in his country since the end of the Great War. Half of Germany is out of work, and a new political movement is taking hold that scares him. Every night, Rolf’s father and older brother, Romer, have increasingly heated arguments about politics at the dinner table. And when two members of the new Nazi Party, Hans and Nils, move to town as part of the Hitler Youth, Rolf is uneasy to see how enamored Romer is by their promises of bringing Germany to glory.

Rolf doesn’t trust Hans and Nils for a moment. For all their talk of greatness, they act more like bullies, antagonizing shop owners who are Rolf’s friends and neighbors. Yet Romer becomes increasingly obsessed with their message of division, and Rolf watches in horror as his family fractures even further.

When there is an act of vandalism against a Jewish-owned business in town, Rolf fears Romer might have had something to do with it. Can Rolf find a way to intervene before things get any worse?


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]]> 2024-02-10 00:39:21 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2879643347 Rolling On (Roll with It #3) by Jamie Sumner cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2879644325 In this heartfelt companion to Jamie Sumner’s acclaimed and beloved novels Roll with It and Time to Roll, Ellie finds herself faced with first love and learning to let go.

It’s the very end of eighth grade and all everyone can talk about is high school—everyone except Ellie Cowan. Ellie wants to freeze time. Middle school was epic. She moved to Oklahoma, made her best friends, won a baking championship, quit a beauty pageant, and dominated Putt-Putt golf in her wheelchair.

But now her feelings for her best friend Bert are starting to change. When did Bert get so cute? And why are all the other girls suddenly noticing, too? As if that isn’t enough to deal with, Grandpa’s health takes a turn for the worse. So what do you do when you don’t know how to hold on and when to let go?


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]]> 2024-02-10 00:43:47 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2879644325 Rosa by Starlight by Hilary McKay and illustrated by Matt Rockefeller cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2879644826 From award-winning author Hilary McKay comes an enchanting illustrated middle grade novel in the spirit of Matilda about a lonely orphan who dreams of escaping her ghastly aunt and uncle.

Rosa has always believed there is magic in the world. Or at least, she hopes there is. She lost her parents when she was four, and her aunt and uncle moved into her home not long after, transforming it from a messy place of love and warmth to a cold world of business. Their approach to family is as phony as the plastic grass they sell, keeping Rosa at arm’s length and tucking her in at night by locking her in her room.

Now eleven, Rosa’s loneliness threatens to overwhelm her. Her only solace is the magic she sees around her, particularly in a cat named Balthazar who comes to—and through—her window. When all the teachers at her school win the lottery and quit their jobs, Rosa’s aunt and uncle seize the opportunity to put an evil plan into action. They whisk Rosa away to Venice, intending to abandon her there. Luckily for Rosa, there are cats in Venice—and a laughing boy in a gondola and a family making sure she is fed.

In Rosa’s darkest hour, can the magic she’s never lost faith in save the day?


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]]> 2024-02-10 00:46:02 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2879644826 The Search for the Shadowsoul (A Quest of Great Importance #2) by Callie C. Miller cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2879645512 A descendant of the great wizard Merlyn must atone for the harm he caused in this second adventure in the A Quest of Great Importance middle grade series that riffs on Arthurian legend in the vein of Adam Gidwitz and Amanda Foody!

The wizard Percy was always sure of three things: He was a magical wunderkind, he was the subject of his ancestor Merlyn’s prophecy about Merlyn’s seventh descendant (the Septimum Genus) doing great things, and he would do anything for his twin sister, Merlynda.

But that was before Merlynda was named the Septimum Genus and before Percy was enthralled to steal magic for the evil Morgan le Fey, who longed to return from her well-deserved banishment.

Now, Percy would still do anything for Merlynda, but otherwise, he’s lost. Afraid of his own powers, he can barely help Merlynda return magic to those he stole it from during his time as the Hollower. But when reports of newly Hollowed objects begin swirling, and Percy himself is accused of reverting to his old ways, Percy must clear his name not only to avoid punishment but to save his soul from the guilt that threatens to crush him.


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]]> 2024-02-10 00:48:56 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2879645512 A Sky Full of Dragons (The Wand Keepers #1) by Tiffany McDaniel cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2879647569 For younger fans of Witchlings and Eva Evergreen comes a light-hearted and whimsical middle grade fantasy about a young girl who must save her witch aunt from an uncommonly voracious hat.

Where dragons take flight, through the dark of the night. Where the fire ignites, you will find the light.

Aunt Cauldroneyes is always looking into cauldrons. She’s found everything from giggling moons to troll nose rings, but when she looks inside a purple cauldron one stormy night, she finds a girl with blue freckles.

The old witch raises the girl and names her Spella. They live in Hungry Snout Forest in a crooked house with doors enchanted to smell like chocolate. In the attic full of floating fabric and biting buttons, Aunt Cauldroneyes teaches Spella how to make magical hats for creatures like unicorns and dragons, giants and goblins.

When Spella turns eight, she receives an invitation to Dragon’s Knob, a school for wand witchery and wizardry. But on the very night Spella is set to leave, a stranger appears with a growling hat that swallows Aunt Cauldroneyes and steals her away!

To rescue her aunt, Spella must go up into a sky full of dragons and to her new school. With protesters outside the gates threatening the school’s academic freedom and a deepening mystery within the walls, Spella and her new friend Tolden are thrust into the mystery of her aunt’s disappearance and a long-buried secret hidden somewhere in the school.


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]]> 2024-02-10 00:57:52 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2879647569 Sylvia Doe and the 100-Year Flood by Robert Beatty cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2879648324 A hurricane changes the course of a river and the life of a lonely girl in this nature-based mystery-adventure by the best-selling author of the Serafina series and the Willa series

Robert Beatty, a master at telling atmospheric tales of mystery and suspense set in the natural world, has crafted another ingenious, unputdownable story.

Thirteen-year-old Sylvia Doe has lived at the Highground Home for Children nearly all her life. Whenever the administrators try to place her with a foster family, she runs away—back to Mason, Highground's caretaker and her best friend. The only place she feels like she belongs is with him and the horses he has taught her to love.

When a powerful storm causes the remote mountain valley where she lives to flood, Sylvia begins to encounter strange and wondrous things floating down the river. Glittering gemstones and wild animals that don't belong—everything's out of place. Then she spots an unconscious boy floating in the water.

As she drags him onto the shore and their adventure together begins, Sylvia wonders who he is and where he came from. And why does she feel such a strong connection to this mysterious boy?


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]]> 2024-02-10 01:01:24 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2879648324 The Great Zoodini by PJ Gardner and illustrated by David Mottram cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2879649587 From the author of the Horace & Bunwinkle series comes this hilarious and heartwarming story of forgiveness, trust, and found family, perfect for fans of A Boy Called Bat and Wedgie & Gizmo.


The Great Zoodini—aka Radar the fennec fox—has never fit in. In fact, his only friend is a stuffed rabbit. Ever since his first family abandoned him, he’s had one goal: become world famous and show everyone how wrong they were about him. But no matter how many daring escapes Zoodini’s tried, he’s never even made the Association of Animal-Themed Attractions newsletter.


When his latest escape goes wrong, Zoodini winds up at the Twin Buttes Animal Sanctuary and Drive-In Movie Theater. He can’t believe his bad luck. How can he get famous in the middle of nowhere? But the residents—ranging from a pink-obsessed flamingo to an astrology-loving river otter to a grizzly cub who thinks he’s a superhero—all seem to like Zoodini. Even more surprising, he likes them too.


Then Zoodini overhears a plot to sell the sanctuary and sees his big chance—breaking out by himself would go unnoticed, but breaking everyone out? That would make him world famous. But what if being famous means losing the only family who’s ever accepted him?


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]]> 2024-02-10 01:04:58 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2879649587 Safiyyah's War by Hiba Noor Khan cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2879650932 Inspired by the true story of how the Grand Mosque of Paris saved the lives of hundreds of Jews during World War II, Hiba Noor Khan weaves a breathtaking tale of suspense, compassion, and courage, starring an extraordinary young heroine readers will never forget.


Safiyyah loathes the brutal Nazi occupation of Paris, even though her Muslim identity keeps her safe—or, at least, safer than her Jewish neighbors. Violence lurks in the streets, her best friend has fled, and even her place of refuge—the library—has turned shadowy and confusing, as the invaders fear the power of books.


Safiyyah longs to fight back and hates feeling powerless to help her Jewish friends. Worse yet, her father—who taught her to always do the right thing—is acting strangely and doing nothing to help them either.


Or is he?


Unravelling the mystery of her father’s odd behavior draws Safiyyah deep in the heart of the perilous underground resistance to the Nazis, where her bravery is put to the ultimate test… 


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]]> 2024-02-10 01:10:59 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2879650932 Suri's Dragon (Cat's Cradle #3) by Jo Rioux cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2879651752 Suri the monster tamer is back in the thrilling conclusion of this middle grade fantasy graphic novel trilogy!

Suri gets a chance to show off her monster-taming skills as her journey with Caglio, Kolya, and her giant-sized lap dog, Byron, continues. With the caitsiths in hot pursuit, can this ragtag crew make it to the Monster’s Cradle?

To get to the Cradle, Suri and her friends must pass through Bridgetown, but the tollbooth charges an outrageous entrance fee! Luckily, monster tamers may pass through for free. All Suri needs to do is help the town with its “little monster problem.” When she learns this problem involves a vengeful and strangely familiar dragon, her courage is put to the test!


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]]> 2024-02-10 01:14:58 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2879651752 When Wishes Were Horses by Cynthia Voigt cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2879652584 What would you wish for? In this young middle-grade novel by the Newbery Medal– and Newbery Honor–winning author, four kids in the same town are each granted two wishes. Full of magic, adventure, friendship, family, surprises, and lots of dogs, this is for readers who love Katherine Applegate and Sara Pennypacker.


How do such things happen? Something appears, sudden as disaster. It wasn’t there and now it is. An envelope arrives, in your mailbox, on your dinner table, your dresser, your computer keyboard. It’s in your hand. You are alone when it finds you. No one else sees it, to ask about it or take it from you. There is only your name on the envelope. Inside, two pieces of pale gray tissue paper, each the size of a playing card, and simple instructions:


ONE WISH AT A TIME


WHISPER IT TO ME


BE WISE


Magic? Impossible. But what if . . . ?


Casey, Zoe, Billy, and Bug live in the same town. They don’t know one another . . . yet. But mysteriously, they are connected by magic. Specifically, they’ve each been given two wishes. What would you wish for? Casey yearns for a dog. Zoe wants her parents to stop fighting. Billy has always wanted a unicorn. Bug would love a Lego kit, a really complicated one. And do their wishes come true? The answer may surprise you.


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]]> 2024-02-10 01:18:53 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2879652584 Keep It Like a Secret by John David Anderson cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2879653929 A heartfelt and unexpected novel about an inseparable brother and sister, from the beloved author of Posted.


From the first moment Morgan can remember, Claire has always been there. Big sister and little brother. Cat and Mouse. They’ve always understood each other, saved each other, seen each other. And they stuck to their own personal code, unwritten but understood, that siblings were inseparable, that they had each other’s backs, no matter what.


At least, they used to.


Somewhere along the line, things between them shifted. Claire started fighting more with Mom, storming out of the house, spending more and more time away, and Morgan felt his sister and best friend slipping away. Now he spends nearly every night sitting awake in his room, waiting for the sound of her key in the lock.


It’s a sound he hasn't heard in nearly a week, ever since her and Mom's worst fight ever. So when Claire finally calls and tells Morgan she wants to spend the day together, just the two of them, he knows this might be his only chance—not just to convince her to come home but to remind her how good things used to be, and could be again. 


But Claire has her own plan for the day. One that will mean that, no matter what happens, things between them are going to change forever.


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]]> 2024-02-10 01:24:49 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2879653929 A Split Second by Janae Marks cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2879859430 New York Times bestselling author Janae Marks delivers a stunningly crafted and twisty mystery about the tests of friendships that examines what matters most when everything can change in a split second—perfect for fans of Rebecca Stead and Anne Ursu.


That clock can’t be right. When Elise wakes up the morning after her birthday celebration, she’s surprised to find herself in her bedroom. Last she can remember, she had fallen asleep next to her best friends at her slumber party in her basement, and it was October. But now she’s alone, and her phone says it’s April 8. Elise doesn’t understand. How could she have woken up six months later?


No one else is acting like anything strange has happened, yet Elise can't remember the last half year. To make matters worse, her friends refuse to talk to her and Elise doesn't know why. She also has no idea how she got signed up for photography club or why her former best friend, Cora, is talking to her again. Is it a memory problem? Could it be magic? Every day that passes takes Elise further from the world she knew. Thankfully, Elise has Cora to lean on in this new reality, and the two come together to investigate why Elise woke up in the future—and, more important, how to get her back to her past and away from this nightmare.


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]]> 2024-02-10 15:37:05 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2879859430 Fake Chinese Sounds by Jing Jing Tsong cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2882439010 A middle-grade graphic novel about a Taiwanese American girl navigating identity, bullying, and the messy process of learning to be comfortable in her skin.

Between homework, studying, and Chinese school, Měi Yīng’s summer is shaping up to be a boring one. Her only bright spots are practice with her soccer team, the Divas, and the time spent with her năi nai, who is visiting from Taiwan. Although Měi Yīng’s Mandarin isn’t the best and Năi Nai doesn’t speak English, they find other ways to connect, like cooking guōtiē together and doing tai chi in the mornings.

By the end of the summer, Měi Yīng is sad to see Năi Nai go—she’s the com­plete opposite of Měi Yīng serious professor mother—but excited to start fifth grade. Until new kid Sid starts making her the butt of racist jokes. Her best friend, Kirra, says to ignore him, but does everyone else’s silence about the harassment mean they’re also ignoring Sid . . . or her? As Sid’s bullying fuels Měi Yīng's feelings of invisibility, she must learn to reclaim her identity and her voice.

Perfect for fans of American Born Chinese by Gene Luen Yang, The Legend of Auntie Po by Shing Yin Khor, Measur­ing Up by Lily LaMotte, and The New Kid by Jerry Craft.


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]]> 2024-02-13 16:34:10 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2882439010 Fantasy Sports 2: The Bandit of Barbel Bay by Sam Bosma cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2882445721 Wiz and Mug are back and this time they're headed to a mysterious beach town to meet its amphibious inhabitants!​

Wiz and Mug's adventure continues as a teleportation spell accidentally drops them off in a ruined beach town. A mysterious tournament and the town's amphibious inhabitants confront Wiz and Mug with the revelation that the United Order of Mages may not be exactly what it seems. In order to fulfill their mission, however, they're going to have to abide by the ancient law of the land and better their opponent in a game of volleyball! The question is, can they trust each other and work together to defeat the great and powerful volleyball champions Yahma and Yahmi?


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]]> 2024-02-13 16:39:17 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2882445721 Lucky Scramble by Peter Raymundo cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2882454061 Six competitive cubers face off at the Speed Cubing national championships in this graphic novel that's perfect for fans of Roller Girl and the Last Kids on Earth series.

Despite qualifying for the Speed Cubing National Championships in Las Vegas, twelve-year-old Tyler Goodman and his mom don’t have the money to get him there. That is, until the retailer CubeMania offers him one of their coveted all-expenses-paid sponsorships! But getting to Vegas is just the beginning: There are hundreds of speed cubers from around the country, and each has something to prove. Like Dirk, who's certain he's about to nab his third straight National Championship trophy. Lizzy and Izzy Peterson, twins who crush cubing competitions with the exact same moves and times—until one of them decides to break the mold. Renowned eight-year-old prodigy Eli Newton solved his first puzzle cube at five, yet his dad seems much more excited about the sport and there’s something . . . off about his cubes. And then there’s Miles Oldman, the first American to solve the cube in under 40 seconds, who’s back decades later to set some new records. As Lucky Scramble moves with lightning speed between the stories of these six contestants—plus that of CubeMania’s founder and CEO Victor Chen—puzzle cube devotees and fans of graphic novels alike won’t be able to resist racing through the pages until the very last cube has been solved.


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]]> 2024-02-13 16:45:03 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2882454061 Mulan and the Palace of Secrets cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2882460152 Disney Princess Mulan must save the Emperor’s life once again from an invisible enemy in this original graphic novel. Perfect for kids ages 8 to 12!

The war with the Huns is over, but a new invisible enemy poses a threat to the Emperor’s life. Mulan is the only one he trusts to discover and defeat this new danger, but she feels discouraged by all the rules and expectations of court life. Can Mulan rise to the Emperor’s challenge and save China once again?

This hardcover graphic novel contains exciting full-color comic panels as well as pages taken from the Disney princess’s very own journals during her adventures!


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]]> 2024-02-13 16:49:58 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2882460152 My Little Pony: Camp Bighoof by Stephanie Cooke and illustrated by Kate Sherron cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2882466165 Go to summer camp with all your favorite ponies in this graphic novel full of hijinks and fun!

Welcome, campers, to Camp Bighoof! The Mane 5 have taken over an old camp named after the elusive Bighoof creature (“Bridlesquatch” if you’re a unicorn, “Yakuti” if you’re a Pegasus), to teach fillies and colts about their powers. Plus, arts & crafts with Izzy, singing with Pipp, and obstacle courses with Zipp? What could be better?!

Surely nothing could go wrong, right? RIGHT?!


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]]> 2024-02-13 16:54:55 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2882466165 Pahua and the Dragon's Secret (Pahua Moua #2) by Lori M. Lee cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2882475910 Best-selling author Rick Riordan presents Lori M. Lee's second Southeast Asian fantasy adventure about a girl who is the reincarnation of the greatest warrior of all time.

A snarky cat spirit, a rivalry between two shamans-in-training, a dangerous dragon encounter, and a stand-off with a thunder god are just a few of the delights and thrills in this sequel to Pahua and the Soul Stealer, winner of the 2022 Mythopoeic Fantasy Award for Children's Literature.

Eleven-year-old Hmong girl Pahua Moua recently discovered that she's the reincarnation of Shee Yee, a renowned warrior. With the help of her friends Miv, a talking cat; and Zhong, a shaman-in-training, Pahua defeated Xov, the god of wrath, destruction, and thunder. Now she has to retrieve some metallic dragon scales to reinforce his weakened prison cell.

Pahua, Zhong, and Miv travel to the Land of Dragons, where they come upon the truth stone, an object that reveals the world as it is. The stone will help them locate the second seal that will bind Xov. However, magic is circular, and if Pahua wants to create something as powerful as a cage for a god, she will have to make an equally powerful sacrifice. . .


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]]> 2024-02-13 17:02:18 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2882475910 Pearl by Sherri L. Smith and illustrated by Christine Norrie cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2882482211 In a beautifully crafted and captivating graphic novel from award-winning writer Sherri L. Smith and Eisner-nominated artist Christine Norrie, a Japanese-American girl must survive years of uncertainty and questions of loyalty in Hiroshima during World War II.


Amy is a thirteen-year-old Japanese-American girl who lives in Hawaii. When her great-grandmother falls ill, Amy travels to visit family in Hiroshima for the first time. But this is 1941. When the Japanese navy attacks Pearl Harbor, it becomes impossible for Amy to return to Hawaii. Conscripted into translating English radio transmissions for the Japanese army, Amy struggles with questions of loyalty and fears about her family amidst rumors of internment camps in America—even as she makes a new best friend and, over the years, Japan starts to feel something like home. Torn between two countries at war, Amy must figure out where her loyalties lie and, in the face of unthinkable tragedy, find hope in the rubble of a changed world.


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]]> 2024-02-13 17:07:27 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2882482211 Sidekicks (Sidekicks #1) by Dan Santat cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2882489634 Caldecott Medalist, National Book Award Winner, and New York Times bestselling creator Dan Santat returns to Sidekicks! This expanded edition includes a brand-new cover and sixteen pages of a never-before-seen epilogue! Suit up for high-octane action and laughs!


Captain Amazing, the hometown hero of Metro City, is searching for a sidekick!


Heroes near and far are auditioning for the part, but there's four unlikely candidates heating up the competition. A dog, a cat, a hamster, and a chameleon — the adoring pets of Captain Amazing's alter ego, Harry — have all been honing their own secret superpowers. Wanting to spend more time with their beloved human, each pet is vying for the coveted role.


Meanwhile, Captain Amazing's longtime nemesis, Dr. Havoc, is back, and Captain Amazing can't defeat him on his own. With the citizens of Metro City in danger, can the warring pets put their squabbles aside to save the day?!


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]]> 2024-02-13 17:13:25 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2882489634 Amari and the Despicable Wonders (Supernatural Investigations #3) by B. B. Alston cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2882512829 The highly anticipated third book in the #1 New York Times bestselling Supernatural Investigations series that began with Amari and the Night Brothers! 


Perfect for fans of Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky, Percy Jackson and the Olympians, and Nevermoor.


War has come to the supernatural world, and Amari’s two worst enemies are leading the charge.


Elaine Harlowe continues to control the Bureau of Supernatural Affairs from the shadows, springing reckless traps for magicians that use ordinary citizens as bait. Meanwhile, Dylan Van Helsing, the newly crowned leader of the League of Magicians—and Amari’s former partner—is after a destructive new power that would not only ensure the magicians’ victory . . . it would make him invincible.


With neither the Bureau nor the League safe for Amari, and her newly returned brother, Quinton, determined to keep her out of the fray, she and her friends decide to find a way to end the war on their own.


So when they learn that the only way to stop Dylan is with an ancient weapon known as the Nameless Knife, they go after it. But wielding the knife comes at a terrible cost, and Amari will have to decide just how much she’s willing to sacrifice . . . because the blade will demand everything.


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]]> 2024-02-13 17:32:53 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2882512829 ChupaCarter and the Screaming Sombrero (ChupaCarter #3) by George Lopez and Ryan Calejo and illustrated by Santy Gutiérrez cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2882528137 George Lopez does it again in his next laugh-out-loud ChupaCarter adventure! Jorge and his chupacabra chum Carter are hot on the trail of the legendary El Dorado gold...but so are some wicked treasure hunters who will stop at nothing to find it!

A cursed Aztec dagger. A five-hundred-year-old witch's riddle. And a...screaming sombrero?

These are the ancient artifacts that mysteriously hold the answer to the location of the priceless El Dorado treasure hidden in New Mexico—not far from where Jorge and Carter live. When their friend Ernie's dad is accused of stealing the artifacts, it's a race against time to clear his name. They find help from the unlikeliest—and loudest—source they've ever met: a sombrero that SCREAMS!

Together with brainy Liza, the oddball heroes discover the real culprits are a devilish ring of thieves who are after El Dorado's treasure. The pals lay a cunning trap to make the thieves confess, but they realize too late that they're the ones being trapped...and there's no one left to save them!


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]]> 2024-02-13 17:47:03 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2882528137 Witchwood (A Ravenfall Novel #3) by Kalyn Josephson cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2882800183 The third book in the “spellbinding” (Kirkus Reviews) Ravenfall series follows Anna and Colin, two kids with supernatural powers, into the magical town of Witchwood, where local witches have gone missing—and Anna might be next.

Everything is changing at Ravenfall, the magical inn that best friends Anna Ballinkay and Colin Pierce call home. The leaves are turning golden, the air is as crisp as a harvest apple, and Anna’s older twin sisters are leaving for college…but at least Anna and Colin have finally reunited after a summer apart, just in time for a new magical mission.

When their mission is interrupted by a mysterious attack that forces them to seek shelter, Anna and Colin head to Witchwood, a spooky lakeside town where magic doesn’t have to be hidden. Anna is excited to reunite with her aunt and cousin, who she hopes might teach her more about Jewish magic—except her cousin seems to hate her. Especially once Anna realizes that she’s a witch, just like them.

But rude cousins are the least of their problems, because they soon discover that witches are going missing in Witchwood. And if Anna and Colin can’t stop whatever sinister force is making them disappear, Anna could be the next target…


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]]> 2024-02-13 23:04:20 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2882800183 All the Best Dogs by Emily Jenkins cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2882804965 When 10-year-old Ezra's best friend and pet Chow Chow dog, Mr. Cashmere, goes on a Brooklyn adventure without him, it's up to Ezra and his family to track him down. Along the way, they meet their neighbors and their quirky pets, and hear fun tales from both the pets and the humans who love them!

Ezra is heartbroken when his black Chow Chow dog, Mr. Cashmere, goes missing in their Brooklyn neighborhood. How could this happen and where could he be? Ezra and his dad instantly go on a search, posting signs and asking everyone they come in contact with—in their neighborhood and at the dog park—if they’ve seen Mr. Cashmere. Ezra especially, can't imagine being without him.

In the process, neighbor meets neighbor, and the dogs take center stage. Among the dogs we come to know is Cup-Cup, an enormous puppy who is new at this making friends thing; Panda, a three-legged Corgi who has been quite naughty; two wire-haired terriers, Grover and Lottie, who are feeling very jealous; a German Shepard named Ursula; Vampire (aka Imposter Pup), who gets very lucky indeed; Paddington, a Border Collie who is prone to sharing the food scraps he steals; and an adorable group of rescue dogs—all with quite the personalities.

With a light, fun, and humorous touch, we learn from the kids, adults, and the animals! about the importance of love, respect, responsibility, community, family, and friendship—all viewpoints worthy of our attention.


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]]> 2024-02-13 23:07:07 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2882804965 Screech School (Creatures & Teachers #2) by Jennifer Killick cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2882806254 Let your fears take flight in this scary sequel of the Creatures & Teachers series where a group of friends must protect their school from vampire birds!

Angelo and his friends know that together they can handle any pretty much anything together. The scariest thing they think they have to worry about these days is the upcoming school dance. 

But when a terrifying new enemy attacks from above it seems they have met their ultimate match . . . giant vampire birds after BLOOD.

Can they save their school before the big dance or will they dicover terror in the air like they've never seen before?


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]]> 2024-02-13 23:10:10 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2882806254 Dread Detention (Creatures & Teachers #1) by Jennifer Killick cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2882807443 The Breakfast Club meets Stranger Things in this middle grade horror novel for fans of Goosebumps! Detention turns even scarier when a group of classmates discover dangers lurking in their school.

When classmates Hallie, Angelo, Gustav and Naira are forced to come to school on a Saturday, they think things can’t get much worse. But they’re wrong. Things are about to get seriously scary.

What has dragged their teacher underground? Why do the creepy caretakers keep humming the tune to Itsy Bitsy Spider? And what horrors lurk in the shadows, getting stronger and meaner every minute . . .? Cut off from help and in danger each time they touch the ground, the gang’s only hope is to work together. But it’s no coincidence that they're all there on detention. Someone has been watching and plotting and is out for revenge . . .


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]]> 2024-02-13 23:12:58 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2882807443 The Secrets of Lunis (Umbra Tales #3) by Janelle McCurdy cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2882811432 Mia and her umbra go on the offensive to restore light to her moonlit kingdom in this thrilling third and final book in the Umbra Tales middle grade series that’s Keeper of the Lost Cities meets The Golden Compass.

Having grown up in the moonlit city of Nubis, Mia McKenna has always found comfort in the darkness. And yet the dark days following her father’s death at the hands of the Reaper King aren’t something she’s prepared to handle.

Daniel McKenna was Mia’s rock. He was the whole city’s rock as the leader of the umbra tamers—the highly trained fighters who protect Nubis from atop creatures made of shadows and starlight. Without him, Mia, the tamers, and all of Nubis are lost.

There’s little time to grieve when the tamers are facing two enemies: the Reaper King, who has achieved corporeal form, and Queen Katiya, who powers her city with a terrible secret. Mia must channel her emotions into resolve to get revenge on those who have hurt her family, but if she isn’t careful, the darkness swirling inside her might change her—and her powers—forever.


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]]> 2024-02-13 23:21:16 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2882811432 The Challenger (Phantom Stallions #6) by Terri Farley cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2883737134 The beloved sixth book in the middle grade Phantom Stallion series about a girl, her horse, and the beauty of the American West returns with a brand-new, stunning cover and bonus material! Perfect for fans of Canterwood Crest and classic horse stories like Black Beauty and My Friend Flicka.

Cougars have been spotted nearby, but they haven’t hurt the ranch horses—yet. So Samantha is outraged when a neighboring rancher vows to kill the cats on sight. And her family’s horses may be safe, but out on the range, Sam spots a wild young stallion without a herd.

Being alone puts this horse in danger. But can Sam protect the rebellious mustang and still save the cougars?


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]]> 2024-02-14 17:07:19 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2883737134 Hot Mess (Diary of a Wimpy Kid #19) by Jeff Kinney cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2883740751 In Hot Mess, book 19 of the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series from #1 international bestselling author Jeff Kinney, Greg Heffley is in for a particularly awkward summer with his whole family.

When the Heffleys agree to spend summer break with both Mom’s and Dad’s relatives at the same time, they have to figure out how to be in two places at once. With Greg caught in the middle, can the Heffleys pull off the ultimate scheme? Or will their vacation turn into a hilarious hot mess?

This sidesplittingly relatable summer story is the funniest Wimpy Kid book yet!


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]]> 2024-02-14 17:10:31 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2883740751 Happy & Sad & Everything True by Alex Thayer cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2883744151 With charm and sincerity reminiscent of Judy Blume and Rebecca Stead, this debut middle grade novel is a heartfelt, hopeful story about a girl finding herself through secretly giving out advice to classmates.

Back when Dee and Juniper were still friends, Dee never hid in the bathroom. Now, at the beginning of sixth grade, Dee finds herself there often. The dripping faucet is annoying, and there are other places she’d rather be—like at home and in her room with her cat, Norman. But at least Dee is safe from overenthusiastic teachers and having to see Juniper walking through the halls with her new friends. Dee would rather be alone than witness that.

But it turns out Dee isn’t the only one hiding from something. There are kids all over the school worrying in secret and needing someone to talk to. After Dee helps a second grader with spelling advice, more students begin coming to Dee with their problems. It turns out she’s a good listener, and she likes helping people. And when she starts receiving mysterious notes, it seems someone out there wants to be her friend—if only they would reveal themselves.


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]]> 2024-02-14 17:13:16 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2883744151 The Last Dragon on Mars (The Dragonship Series #1) by Scott Reintgen cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2883941986 A boy living on Mars unexpectedly becomes a dragon rider in this first book in the edgy middle grade sci-fi and fantasy mash-up The Dragonships series, sure to delight fans of Skandar and Michael Vey.

Keep your eyes down and your feet moving, or this planet will rust you.

That’s what Lunar Jones tells the other kids at the relocation clinic. All of them were born on Mars, a planet that never wanted people in the first place. With resources scarce and hope even scarcer, it’s easy to get distracted looking up. After all, their ancestors descended from the stars.

Martian history always starts with Earth. The first astronauts discovered that space was already occupied. Not by little green men or flying saucers. It was full of dragons. One for every moon, every planet, every star. When humanity discovered that Earth’s dragon had sacrificed herself to make their home planet habitable, they set their sights on Mars. If one dead dragon could breathe life into a world, why not create another one? Mankind won the war that followed, but with one catch. As the dragon died, he whispered a curse over Mars. The first settlers found their crops wouldn’t grow. Animals hunted them. Storms raged endlessly. It took three generations to figure out the truth: Mars was doomed.

Lunar knows all the old stories about dragons and space, but no one up there’s planning to help him or his crew. Instead, he focuses on scrapping valuable gear that the storms uncover in the war zone. Until one day, a salvaging run goes wrong. Desperate to find shelter, Lunar goes underground in a restricted zone. What he finds there, buried in the Martian dust, might just be the only hope left for a dying planet.


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]]> 2024-02-14 20:15:05 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2883941986 Lifeboat 5 by Susan Hood cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2883945889 In the wake of Lifeboat 12 comes a World War II novel-in-verse by acclaimed author Susan Hood about two very real girls who clung together for dear life when their evacuee ship was torpedoed, their lifeboat capsized, and they spent nineteen hours in the Atlantic Ocean, waiting for rescue.

When Nazi bombs begin to destroy Bess Walder’s hometown of East London, Bess convinces her parents to evacuate her and her younger brother, Louis, to Canada aboard the SS City of Benares. On the journey, she meets another evacuee, Beth Cummings. Bess and Beth have a lot in common—both strong and athletic, both named for Queen Elizabeth, both among the older kids on the ship, and both excited about life in Canada.

On the fifth day at sea, everyone starts to relax, but trouble is right behind them. That night, a Nazi U-boat torpedoes the Benares. As their luxury liner starts to sink, Bess and Beth rush to abandon ship aboard their assigned lifeboat.

Based on true events and real people, Lifeboat 5 is about two young girls with the courage to persevere against the odds and the strength to forgive.


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]]> 2024-02-14 20:19:37 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2883945889 Pied by Avione Lee cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2883948191 For fans of Amari and the Night Brothers and Nevermoor, join Min on a musical adventure, inspired by the Pied Piper fairy tale, as he discovers his lost magical culture and finds his place in a new world.

Min Wickford has never ridden in a flying ferry boat, had a tornado clean his room, or gotten in mounds of trouble by a mischievous weasel, because Min is the kind of kid who always does what he is told and never gets into trouble. Until one day when he plays a musical pipe and his entire school falls to the ground, like their souls were snatched from their bodies.

With one note, the secret his uncle kept from him for years is out, and Min is quickly swept into the quirky and colorful hidden world of Pipers, persons who can turn melody into magic.

But Min soon learns he is different, even among Pipers, because he is a Pied Piper, the kind of Piper that’s vilified and targeted in the Piper world. His best chance of blending in is acceptance into an exclusive Piper Association where all members are protected from harm.

Forced to hide his Pied identity while mastering his new powers, Min must pass a series of magical, musical trials. But what he is hiding just might be the very thing he needs to succeed.


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]]> 2024-02-14 20:22:39 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2883948191 The Sherlock Society (The Sherlock Society #1) by James Ponti cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2883950821 In the tradition of Nancy Drew, four kids and one grandfather in Miami tackle a decades-old mystery in this first book in the action-packed and funny Sherlock Society middle grade series from New York Times bestselling, Edgar Award–winning author James Ponti!

Siblings Alex and Zoe Sherlock take their last name as inspiration when choosing a summer job. After all, starting a detective agency has to be better than babysitting (boring), lawn mowing (sweaty), or cleaning out the attic (boring and sweaty). Their friends Lina, an avid bookworm, and Yadi, an aspiring cinematographer, join the enterprise, and Alex and Zoe’s retired reporter grandfather offers up his sweet aquamarine Cadillac convertible and storage unit full of cold cases.

The group’s first target is the long-lost treasure supposedly hidden near their hometown Miami. Their investigation into the local doings of famed gangster Al Capone leads them to a remote island in the middle of the Everglades where they find alarming evidence hinting at corporate corruption.

Together with Grandpa’s know-how and the kids’ intelligence—plus some really slick gadgets—can the Sherlock Society root out the conspiracy?


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]]> 2024-02-14 20:25:30 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2883950821 Theodora Hendrix and the Curious Case of the Cursed Beetle (Theodora Hendrix #2) by Jordan Kopy and illustrated by Chris Jevons cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2883954176 Theodora and Dexter must dispose of a cursed beetle and thwart a lurking detective in this second book in the sweet and spooky illustrated middle grade series that’s The Addams Family meets Nancy Drew.

After her many adventures, ten-year-old Theodora Hendrix feels confident she can handle anything...Until the unpleasant Inspector Shelley and her pet rat, Ratsputin, come to make trouble and spy on the Monster League of Monsters. Theodora recruits her friend Dexter to help her keep the detective off the scent of her monster family.

But when Theodora uncovers a cursed beetle, their mission seems impossible. Can they destroy it without attracting the inspector’s attention?


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]]> 2024-02-14 20:29:41 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2883954176 Time Travelers (Goddess Girls Super Special #2) by Joan Holub and Suzanne Williams cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2883956950 Athena and her friends have a time traveling mishap in this thirtieth and final Goddess Girls adventure!

Athena can’t believe it’s almost her little sister Hebe’s birthday…or that it’s been a year since Athena found herself at Mount Olympus Academy. It turns out Athena and her BFFs, the Goddess Girls, remember very different versions of Athena’s first day at school. To see what really happened, they use a spell to travel back in time!

The girls go back a year earlier but to ancient Rome instead of Greece—where they meet the Roman equivalents of themselves! With time running out for them to get back to Greece—and for Hebe’s celebration!—can the Goddess Girls work with their new friends to find their way home?


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]]> 2024-02-14 20:33:28 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2883956950 Answers to Dog by Pete Hautman cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2885504746 National Book Award winner Pete Hautman explores a friendship like no other—and the universal truth that dogs make life better, especially for underdogs.

Evan doesn’t seem to fit in at school or at home. He goes out of his way to avoid attention. He sits at the back of the bus, keeps his head down in class, and keeps to himself. But when a burr-covered border collie—a survivor with a gut instinct about the Boy—starts following him around and joining him on his runs, Evan’s simple duck-and-dodge existence becomes a lot more complicated . . . a lot more like life. Evolving from wary companions to steadfast friends, Evan and the dog run fast and far together, thwart an abusive dog breeder and the school bully, and find the courage to stand up for themselves and to open up to those who matter most. Narrated in alternating viewpoints, this relatable contemporary novel with classic coming-of-age themes has all the hope, pathos, and emotional complexity that mark Pete Hautman’s books for middle-grade readers—and is a deeply satisfying read for animal lovers.


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]]> 2024-02-16 02:32:56 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2885504746 Between Flowers and Bones (The Restorationists #2) by Carolyn Leiloglou and illustrated by Vivienne To cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2885507156 In a world where paintings become portals and adventure lurks behind every canvas, the young Restorationists discover that every Gift was made to fight the darkness in the second novel in the thrilling middle grade series from the award-winning author of Beneath the Swirling Sky.

Twelve-year-old Georgia assumed she would one day be the last Restorationist protecting art from evil forces. So she was thrilled when her cousin Vincent finally joined the family calling.

But Vincent’s flashier Gift makes Georgia feel like a sidekick rather than a hero. And things only get more complicated and perilous after he willingly steps into the heart of danger.

Will the remnants of the Restorationists’ society fracture under the pressure of the Distortionists’ schemes? Or is Georgia’s Gift really enough to rescue her family, the art world, the Restorationists—and ultimately save the day?


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]]> 2024-02-16 02:36:02 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2885507156 Bringing Back Kay-Kay by Dev Kothari cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2885509166 Steeped in mystery and adventure, this brisk and beautifully crafted middle-grade debut set in modern-day India explores the complexities of the sibling bond.

When her older brother, Karthik—Kay-Kay, the golden child of the family—heads to camp for two weeks, Lena’s parents begin showering her with all the attention she craves. For a time, she’s the golden child and secretly wishes her brother wouldn’t come home. But when the scheduled train arrives and Karthik isn’t on it, Lena is stricken with guilt and fear for her beloved Kay-Kay. Her brother has vanished without a trace, and the police view him as a runaway. Incredulous, Lena undertakes a search of her own—reading mysterious poems left in his backpack, interrogating his fellows from the train, retracing his route, and encountering shadowy strangers along the way. Convinced Kay-Kay is still alive even when the rest of her family has given up, Lena steadily unearths her brother’s secrets as her determination to bring him home leads to a heart-stopping discovery. Perhaps Kay-Kay isn’t a golden child after all? Set in a vividly evoked modern-day India, this character-driven middle-grade mystery tackles rich themes—from the sibling bond to self-worth—in a taut and suspenseful adventure.


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]]> 2024-02-16 02:38:40 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2885509166 The Ghost Rules by Adam Rosenbaum cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2885511325 Twelve-year-old Elwood McGee never asked to have “ghost-sight,” and it involves a lot more drool-dodging than he expected. Ghosts are the WORST—and they're all over the place in this sharp-witted middle grade debut novel.

Did you know that ghosts love coffee? They’re not trying to be scary. They’re just deprived of an appropriate amount of caffeine! They also bump into things by accident, are occasionally nosy, and get a little nervous when they’re seen by the living.

Elwood McGee knows these ghost facts because he’s one of those rare people with the gift of ghost-sight. And it turns out ghosts are everywhere! Especially in the small Tennessee town where Elwood and his family had to move following the death of his big brother Noah, which Elwood thinks was his fault.

Once Elwood figures out he can see ghosts, he becomes single-mindedly determined to use his powers to see Noah and talk to him once last time. With the help of two girls who live on his street, Elwood embarks on a journey through the surprisingly funny world of ghosts and faces the realities of letting go.

At once hilarious and heart wrenching, Adam Rosenbaum makes his middle grade debut with a supernaturalish novel about grief that’s perfect for fans of Gordon Korman and Dan Gutman.


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]]> 2024-02-16 02:41:33 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2885511325 The Witching Wind by Natalie Lloyd cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2885516398 From Natalie Lloyd, bestselling author of A Snicker of Magic and Hummingbird, comes a heart-expanding adventure about the magic of family, friendship, and the lengths we go for the people we love.


Eleven-year-old Roxie was excited to start sixth grade...until a mortifying incident at a pool party turns her into a middle school laughingstock. Roxie can't imagine enduring a full year of bullying and body shaming, so when her country music star Granny invites Roxie to join her on tour, she jumps at the chance to leave her troubles behind. But then Granny—who's been struggling with memory loss—goes missing, leaving Roxie without an escape plan...and without her best friend.


Grayson doesn't mind being sent to yet another foster home. Her older sister, Beanie, is about to turn eighteen, which means she'll be able to become Grayson's guardian. It won't be long until they live in the same house again. It won't be long until they get to be a real family. But when Beanie's birthday finally arrives, she doesn't show up to collect Grayson. She doesn't respond to calls or texts. It's almost like she's just...vanished.


Roxie knows Granny would never leave without saying goodbye. And Grayson is certain Beanie would never abandon her. So when the new friends learn about the Witching Wind that "steals" what people love most, Roxie and Grayson are certain they've discovered the truth. Granny and Beanie didn't just disappear—they were taken. And it's up to Roxie and Grayson to outwit the Witching Wind before it's too late.


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]]> 2024-02-16 02:47:42 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2885516398 Accidental Demons by Clare Edge cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2889641475 Conjuring demons seems like something you should totally not be able to do by accident, right? Well, normally it isn’t. But Bernadette Crowley is the perfect storm of magical accidents.

For the youngest in a long line of witches, demons used to be no big deal. A spell and a quick prick of the finger, and a witch like Ber could summon a demon to do anything she needed—clean a mess, send a message, you name it.

But that was before Ber was diagnosed with diabetes. Now each time she tests her blood sugar, accidental demons are slipping into the human dimension…and causing absolute chaos.

Good thing Ber and her older sister, Maeve, know that every magical problem has a magical solution. They’ll just conjure a low-order demon to monitor her blood sugar! Bonus: they only have to bend one or two teeny, tiny rules. But before they know it, they’ve stumbled into deeper, more mysterious magic than they ever could have predicted. And soon it’s not just Ber’s magic but her entire coven that’s in danger.


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]]> 2024-02-20 15:16:12 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2889641475 Wishbone by Justine Pucella Winans cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2889645670 Coraline meets Ghost Squad is this terrifying story about what happens when you aren't careful what you wish for.

Ollie Di Costa wishes things could be different.

He wishes the bullies at school would leave him alone. He wishes his parents would stop fighting. He wishes his sister Mia didn't have to worry about things like paying for college. But most of all, he wishes he wasn't so angry about all of this. When he and Mia find a two-tailed cat they name Wishbone, Ollie takes comfort in telling him everything he wishes would change-then suddenly, it does. Everything Ollie and Mia wish for comes true, and it's like all of their problems are solved. But magic comes at a price. Whatever they wish for is not simply given to them, but taken from others. And to make matters worse, a mysterious shadow man called The Mage is after Wishbone and his power. With each wish, darkness takes over more and more of their world, and worst of all, it threatens to take over Ollie, too. But can he let go of everything he's ever wanted?

Justine Pucella Winans, author of the Stonewall Honor book The Otherwoods, brings us another bone-chilling middle grade horror, urging readers to not only be careful what you wish for, but beware of who you may become if you aren't.


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]]> 2024-02-20 15:19:20 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2889645670 Let's Go, Coco! by Coco Fox cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2889650169 In this earnestly funny middle grade graphic novel debut, eleven-year-old Coco will stop at nothing to make new friends on her basketball team. But as Coco navigates the highs and lows of sixth grade, she will have to reconcile with the fact that relationships are complex and true friends are supposed to like you just the way you are.


When Coco joins the school basketball team, she’s ready to rock. Joining the team means new friends—something she's desperate for—but it also means dealing with bossy teammates, confusing crushes, and less-than-flattering new nicknames. When the team’s all-star player, Maddie, starts calling her “shrimp,” Coco realizes it’s not actually a joke and that she's going to need new moves if she wants to score both on and off the court. But her resilience is put to the ultimate test when a courtside catastrophe threatens to put an end to the new world she’s worked so hard to be a part of.


Told with tenderness, humor, and above all heart, Coco Fox delivers a sorta-true story about taking your best shot, even when the odds are stacked against you.


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]]> 2024-02-20 15:22:31 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2889650169 The Purrfect Plan (Katie the Catsitter #4) by Colleen AF Venable and illustrated by Stephanie Yue cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2889655290 Katie the Catsitter is back with her next adventure, and this time she may need the help of an . . . elephant? This irresistibly fun, bestselling, girl—and cat—power graphic novel series is perfect for fans of Sweet Valley Twins and the Babysitters Club!

"A little evil and a whole lotta fun." —Kirkus Reviews

WANTED: TOP SECRET PLAN

Katie is rocking 7th grade and being a superhero sidekick, so when a new threat puts the whole city in danger she's ready to spring into action! She'll just need one super secret plan, a little help from her friends (okay a lot of help!), an invitation to the city's fanciest party, 217 slightly unusual cats, and . . . maybe a new superhero outfit. Can Katie pull off the plan of the century?! Get ready for more drama, more disguises, more fun, more friends, more secrets and more surprises than ever before! (Plus cats, definitely more cats!)


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]]> 2024-02-20 15:25:49 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2889655290 Spellbent (Hellaween #2) by Moss Lawton cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2893015304 Perfect for fans of Wednesday and Monster High, the second book of this wickedly funny graphic novel series follows aspiring witch and her two best friends as they try to have the most epic Halloween ever…while also dealing with pesky do-gooders, escaped monsters, and one harsh curfew.

Halloween is hella fun when you’re a monster! Or at least it used to be, before those junior Helsings got in the way of Gwen and her friends. Now, on top of that, the whole town is in lockdown, with a curfew and everything.

Gwen thinks it’s time to ditch suburbia and finally head to the Hallowlands. But Miles and Sloane are determined to save their “normie” holiday. The vampire and werewolf scramble to fulfill their sacred need to party. The plan: throw the most epic bash this town has ever seen . . . and then scare everyone who shows up!

But Gwen has plans of her own. Fed up with being told no, she decides to use her magic to break into the Hallowlands once and for all. And she quickly discovers it’s as strange as she always dreamed, but also as dangerous as her friends have warned. Luckily, she soon meets a fellow witch who can be her guide through the bizarre land and also help level up her powers. But could it all be too good to be true? The fate of these three best friends’ Halloween night hangs in the balance—but will it end in trick or treat?


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]]> 2024-02-22 23:51:45 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2893015304 The Last Hope School for Magical Delinquents by Nicki Pau Preto cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2893018992 A middle grade magic school fantasy perfect for fans of The School for Good and Evil and Witchlings, in which a girl with unparalleled power must work with her misfit classmates to save her new school.

Lavinia “Vin” Lucas is out of control and out of options. Stranded by parents who would rather use their average magical abilities to study dung beetles than raise her, Vin's been on her own for years. But she’s never been able to corral her own powerful, unpredictable magic. After years of detention, suspension, and expulsion from magic schools far and wide, she’s now being sent to the Last Hope School for Magical Delinquents. If she gets expelled, it’s the end of the line.

Now, Vin is determined to behave. Except no one at Last Hope seems to want her to. Her new teachers—particularly the school’s kind headmistress—push her to explore her magic, and her mischievous classmates delight in every accident. And all the while, a mysterious fire sprite, a suspicious instructor, and her overwhelming abilities might just sabotage Vin. But for the first time, she is not alone.

So when a former student begins attacking the school, Vin must question just how much she knows about the headmistress and her new home. Is this place worth saving? And are her budding abilities—and every trick, trap, and deception in her friends’ delinquent arsenal—enough to protect Last Hope?


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]]> 2024-02-22 23:58:30 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2893018992 The Long Way Round by Anne Nesbet cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2893020495 In an exciting wilderness adventure, three cousins are cut off from their parents by a huge earthquake—and must hike long and treacherous mountain trails back to safety, with only each other to rely on.

During a hiking trip with their parents in the mountains of California, cousins Owen, Vivian, and Amy are finally allowed to camp for one night at a little lake all on their own. But when a massive earthquake blocks their return path, there’s only one way home: the long way around, through a wilderness filled with fierce animals, raging rivers, unstable weather, and high passes. The hardest challenges the cousins face, however, are the troubles they’ve brought with them: bold Vivian’s fear of starting middle school and of changes she can’t control, Owen’s lingering emotional scars from a car accident, and Amy’s desire to live in stories rather than in boring regular life. Drawing on courage and humor, the cousins weather storms, make the most of dwindling rations, and face their deepest fears in order to bring each other safely home. This gripping contemporary novel from celebrated author Anne Nesbet is bursting with excitement, rich natural settings, and characters who will have readers rooting for them all the way.


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]]> 2024-02-23 00:01:35 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2893020495 Mortified by Kristy Jackson and illustrated by Rhael McGregor cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2893022159 For fans of Remarkably Ruby and Diary of a Wimpy Kid, comedy and cringe come together in this sweet novel about facing your fears.


When someone secretly signs up Belinda Houle, the school’s shyest kid, to audition for a play, Belinda turns to her best friend, Sally, for help. Sally isn’t like the other kids. Unlike Belinda, she isn’t embarrassed by anything. Also, Sally thinks she’s a witch.


Belinda doesn’t believe in magic, but if Sally has a spell for confidence—well, it couldn’t hurt to try it. Could it?


What follows the spell is a series of tragedies so tragic they would have been funny—if only they weren’t happening to Belinda! First, Belinda’s ex-best friend tricks her into eating dog food. Next, she’s forced to wear a wig when her hair-straightening session goes very wrong. And then, Belinda slips on a plate of paint, wrecking a mural, and ends up with globs of green, brown and yellow paint all over her head!


Things get worse and worse, until Belinda must face the facts: One piece of bad luck can be explained away, but this? This is a straight-up curse!


Can she break the curse before the dreamy Ricky Daniels takes more notice of her crooked wig? More importantly, how can Belinda battle the very thing she hoped the spell would take away: her embarrassment?


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]]> 2024-02-23 00:04:47 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2893022159 My Extremely Tiny Forest Adventure (Nell of Gumbling #2) by Emma Steinkellner cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2893024344 Nell of Gumbling and her diary are back! From the bestselling author of The Okay Witch comes another adventure from a twelve-year-old girl living an ordinary life in a magical land. Will an epically enchanted camping trip gone wrong...turn out fantastically right?

Welcome back to Gumbling—Nell Starkeeper's extremely normal fairy-tale hometown. And things couldn't be more happily-ever-awesome, because Nell is about to go on a Gumbling rite of passage—the Multi-Disciplinary Wilderness Engagement Adventure—when all of the seventh graders spend a whole week in the forest! Sure, it’s an Enchanted Forest that’s full of gumblecreatures, where your most secret wish could be granted at any moment, but that’s nothing unusual around here.

What’s REALLY magical is that Nell gets to be on a team with ALL her best friends, learning about nature stuff and teamwork and having their very own campout (including roasting marshmallows)! Great friends + forest fun = best summer ever…

Except her Thumbkin friend Gil has been a bit of a grump lately. And everyone's secret crushes are making things super awkward...So when the whole gang gets shrunk down to Thumbkin size after a wish gone wrong, Nell's problems get a whole lot bigger. Can Nell and her friends find a way to work together and celebrate each other’s strengths AND vulnerabilities...or will this camp-out be a GIANT disaster?


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]]> 2024-02-23 00:08:28 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2893024344 Once They See You: 13 Stories to Shiver and Shock by Josh Allen and illustrated by Sarah J. Coleman cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2893026000 There’s no escaping these deliciously creepy tales of everyday horror, perfect for fans of Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark.

Once you open this book, you’re doomed . . . Cursed to stay up late, savoring every line of these terrifying stories. Go ahead and try to resist. The Night Things won’t let you get far.

Master storyteller Josh Allen, hailed as the “heir-apparent to Alvin Schwartz,” brings thirteen nightmare scenarios to life in this page-turning collection. From a shiny abandoned bike, to an innocent classroom icebreaker, to a piano recital that requires unusual sacrifices, there’s no end to the shocking twists on everyday reality.

In Allen’s wondrous world, which looks an awful like our own, danger waits behind every doorway . . . even in the most ordinary places.

Eerie illustrations by award-winning artist Sarah Coleman accompany the stories, packaged in a stunning hardcover edition complete with glow-in-the-dark jacket. Readers will sleep with one eye open!


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]]> 2024-02-23 00:11:02 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2893026000 Picture a Girl by Jenny Manzer cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2893027833 Addie's mom is good at two things (three, if you count making French toast): surfing and telling stories.


Addie and her brother, Billy, live with their mom in a shabby rental cabin in the tourist town of Cedarveil, BC, right off the beach. Their lives are a little different than some—they often visit the food bank, and they don't have a phone or TV. For entertainment, their mom tells them stories before bed...if she's in a good mood, or home at all. Sometimes Mama copes with her depression by drinking; sometimes, she just disappears.


When Addie wakes up one Monday, she senses a stillness that tells her Mama's gone again. Addie knows it's up to her to take care of everything until her mom gets back. It's either not let on that anything's amiss or she and Billy will be separated from one another. Once again she makes it through until her mom's return a week later, knowing that she's strong enough to survive alone—but she's hoping this will be the last time.


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]]> 2024-02-23 00:13:33 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2893027833 The Queen of Ocean Parkway by Sarvenaz Tash cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2893029418 An 11-year-old podcaster-turned-sleuth teams up with the new kid in the building to find their missing neighbor! A captivating adventure perfect for fans of When You Reach Me and Only Murders in the Building.

Eleven-year-old Roya is the superintendent’s kid in her regal Brooklyn apartment building, so she knows pretty much everything there is to know about its residents. An aspiring reporter, she even hosts a secret podcast about the lives of the building’s tenants. It’s a good distraction from the problems in her own life.

But when Katya Petrov, one of her favorite tenants, goes missing, Roya discovers an eerie connection to Grandmother’s Predictions, an antique fortune-telling machine at Coney Island. "Grandmother" has been linked to multiple disappearances in the Petrov family over the last century. Now, with the help of a new friend who’s just moved in, it’s up to Roya to make her own headlines as she searches for Katya and attempts to break the Petrov curse once and for all.


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]]> 2024-02-23 00:15:59 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2893029418 Team Park by Angela Ahn cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2893031274 Evan Park has always faced obstacles in getting his father's approval, but an actual obstacle race has some surprising results. A new middle-grade novel from the author of the critically acclaimed Peter Lee's Notes from the Field.

Eleven-year-old Evan Park's dad believes boys should play team sports, but as much as Evan has tried to like soccer and other team sports, he just doesn't. And when an accident causes Evan to break his wrist, he is determined that once he heals, he'll work on finding his thing. Alone.

Inspired by his athletic physiotherapist, Evan decides to compete in an upcoming Dominator Ninja Junior Edition competition. It will be part rehab, part fun. If he trains hard enough, he'll finally have something to put on his empty shelf in the family trophy cabinet. Maybe that would make his dad proud of him for once.

But klutzy Evan strikes again! With a newly injured wrist, he can forget about competing in Dominator Ninja — he can't even hold chopsticks. When his sister encourages him to look beyond a solo competition, they discover a local family race that is more about the experience than the results. Can Evan shift his perspective to rally the whole family to do this event . . . together?


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]]> 2024-02-23 00:18:22 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2893031274 Taxi Ghost by Sophie Escabasse cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2893033645 In this hilarious and heartwarming graphic novel, a young girl's first period brings an unexpected gift: the ability to see ghosts! As she meets these spectral visitors, she uncovers her family's secret lineage of mediums, while learning about the power of compassion and community.

Adèle just wants to spend her winter break at the library, cozied up with her favorite books, and completely forgetting abut her friends who are all traveling to warmer climates. Unfortunately, life has other plans...not only does Adèle get her first period...but she learns she comes from a long line of mediums!

And if seeing ghosts wasn't enough of a surprise, Adèle learns that not only can she interact with them, but apparently, they've been using her sister's car to get around the city for years! When the ghosts won't leave her alone Adèle starts to get to know about them and their problems. Maybe helping them out will be just what she needs for an exciting winter break!

From Sophie Escabasse, the author of the beloved Witches of Brooklyn, comes a brilliant graphic novel that explores growing up and the importance of standing up for what you believe in.


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]]> 2024-02-23 00:21:47 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2893033645 Turning Twelve (Growing Pangs #2) by Kathryn Ormsbee and illustrated by Molly Brooks cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2893035494 Turning twelve means big changes for Katie—first bra, first time babysitting, and a first crush that she knows not everyone will approve of, From the creators of the acclaimed graphic novel Growing Pangs, comes another pitch-perfect coming-of-age graphic novel, set in the same beloved universe.

What if a friend...is more than a friend?

Katie can't wait to turn twelve—pool parties! babysitting! friends! But sometimes it feels like there's so much new stuff she can barely keep up. First Job? (Yes!) Unfair dress codes? (No way!) Make up (Okay?!) Shaving? (Uh…!) Maybe growing up isn't as much fun as she had expected. But one thing does seem right—her new friend, Grace. Could Katie have a crush on another girl? Katie knows not everyone around her will approve...which is kind of scary. She might not be ready to tell anyone yet, and that’s fine...but can Katie stay true to herself and embrace the person she's growing up to be?


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]]> 2024-02-23 00:24:26 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2893035494 Shadow Fox by Carlie Sorosiak cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2893040571 Shadow the plucky fox and a girl named Bee might be the only ones who can save a secret magical island in the Great Lakes.

Shadow the fox does not trust humans. Well, except for Nan, who feeds her chunks of fish behind a lakeside motel every night. When Nan goes missing, a man from the mysterious Whistlenorth Island comes ashore to seek the aid of Nan’s granddaughter, Bee, whom he thinks is destined not only to help Nan, but also to save Whistlenorth from the greedy and destructive Night Islanders. The plans go topsy-turvy when it becomes obvious that Bee does not have the magic powers of a chosen one—but Shadow does! Can a fox really rescue an island of people? As Shadow grudgingly comes to trust her new human companions, she and Bee develop a mystical bond, a special connection between human and animal that might be the key to driving the Night Islanders from Whistlenorth for good. This enchanting adventure is narrated by Shadow herself, whose mind is unflinchingly “fox” and whose spirit is charming and bold.


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]]> 2024-02-23 00:31:42 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2893040571 Sir Callie and the Witch's War (Sir Callie #3) by Esme Symes-Smith cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2893042443 In the third book of this thrilling fantasy series a twelve-year-old nonbinary knight-in-training, a reluctant crown prince, a fierce young witch, and her troubled twin brother fight for the heart of their kingdom in a medieval world of dragons and magic.

Being a hero is nothing like the ballads promised it would be. Scattered across the realm, Callie, Willow, Elowen and Edwyn have learned that when the fate of their world is at stake, choices are hard and the consequences are harder, even when striving for good.

Hunted by both Helston and Dumoor, Callie and Willow flee to the walled city of Fairkeep in a last ditch effort to find allies. Meanwhile, Elowen grapples with a battle between her heart and her ambition at Alis's side as the Witch Queen's new protégé, and Edwyn, desperate to prove himself as brave as his friends, accepts a mission that take him back to the source of his nightmares: Home. Helston.

Faced with the reality of an impossible war, each are forced to confront the very parts of themselves they fear the most, and each must do it alone. But how can the four champions find the truth within a kingdom founded on lies?


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]]> 2024-02-23 00:34:23 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2893042443 Spider-Man: Stories from the Spider-Verse by Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé, David Betancourt, Preeti Chhibber, Steve Foxe, Frederick Joseph, Jessica Kim, Alex Segura, Ronald L. Smith, Tui T. Sutherland, and Caroline M. Yoachim cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2893045064 The Spider-Man you know is one of many. Meet ten Spider-Heroes in this new short story collection from acclaimed, best-selling authors writing across the Spider-Verse.

There is a Spider-Verse filled with Spider-Heroes, each on their own world: Spider-Punk, as adept at the guitar as he is at fighting crime. Spider-UK, who’s juggling Eid celebrations and a super-villain threat to her London neighborhood. And Web-Weaver, whose latest fashion event is threatened by a citywide storm of hallucinations.

Some, like Miles Morales and Gwen Stacy, have already crossed from one universe to the next. Others are still discovering they’re not alone. And now ten acclaimed best-selling authors, including New York Times bestselling authors Tui Sutherland, Frederick Joseph, and Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé, and many more, tell the stories of these amazing Spider-Heroes—just as a mystery villain rises to threaten the entire Spider-Verse.


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]]> 2024-02-23 00:37:45 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2893045064 Fortune Tellers by Lisa Greenwald cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2893048118 Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants meets That's So Raven in bestselling author Lisa Greenwald’s charming middle grade novel about three recently separated best friends who discover the paper fortune tellers they made in third grade are the key to staying close through middle school.


What if your fortunes really came true?


Once upon a time, Millie, Nora, and Bea were best friends who loved slumber parties, exploring their Manhattan neighborhood, and making fortune tellers with their Magic Markers. Now, in the summer before seventh grade, they haven’t spoken in over a year—thanks to a big fight, the pandemic shutting down their school, and each girl moving away for different reasons. The girls routinely check each other’s social media, but none of them can muster the courage to reach out, even if they might want to.


Then their long-ago paper fortune tellers start popping up in the most unexpected places. The fortunes carry some eerily accurate wisdom for each girl: Your future is hidden in your past. Hold on to the memories. Go back to where you started. Could this be the push the girls need to reconnect and reunite? Or is the gap between them too wide to mend?


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]]> 2024-02-23 00:42:08 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2893048118 Alex Wise vs. the Cosmic Shift (Alex Wise #2) by Terry J. Benton-Walker cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2896658465 No one ever said saving the world would be easy. In the second installment of this thrilling fantasy series all about finding your inner hero, a 12-year-old boy leads the charge against the Horsemen of the Apocalypse.

Alex Wise is no superhero. Or at least, he doesn't feel like one. Sure, he vanquished Death and saved his sister Mags—with the help of some new magic powers, his best friend Loren and demi-god Liam. But the apocalypse shows no signs of slowing down. Now, Alex and his friends will have to find new allies and face new dangers—from battling a giant snake in a literal ghost town and infiltrating the Horsemen’s new home base on the Vegas Strip…on the back of a dragon.

With everyone looking to him for answers, Alex isn't sure he's cut out for this world saving thing. And the closer he gets to Liam, the farther away he feels from Loren and from Mags, who hasn't been the same since she was possessed by Death. How can Alex lead a team if he doesn't even feel like he deserves to be a part of it?


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]]> 2024-02-26 22:31:45 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2896658465 Kit and the Nine-Tailed Fox (The Mythics #3) by Lauren Magaziner and illustrated by Mirelle Ortega cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2896660635 From Case Closed author Lauren Magaziner and award-winning artist Mirelle Ortega comes the third book in the highly illustrated middle grade fantasy series full of action, adventure, friendship, and mythical creatures.


It’s been eight weeks since Pairing Day when the Mythics—Kit, Marina, Hailey, Ember, and Pippa—learned that they are the only ones who can save Terrafamiliar. With Golden Jumpsuit tracking their every move, the Mythics are on edge, and now it’s Kit’s turn to find her Mythie. Kit has a hard time relying on others and she always expects the worst to happen. She’s also never had a team like the Mythics to help her.


Kit’s search for her mythical familiar leads to surprising secrets about the magic and history of Terrafamiliar. The Mythics realize there are bigger and darker forces at play.


With Golden Jumpsuit on their trail again and her followers scattered everywhere, Kit and the Mythics must learn to follow their instincts and lean on each other. Or risk watching Terrafamiliar crumble before their eyes.


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]]> 2024-02-26 22:35:19 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2896660635 Noodle & Bao by Shaina Lu cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2896662886 Perfect for fans of Animal Crossing and Measuring Up, this whimsical and empowering middle grade graphic novel follows a girl who helps her friend’s humble food cart stand its ground against the gentrification of their Chinatown neighborhood.


Momo has lived in Town 99 her entire life. She knows all its quirks and rhythms: the best places to buy fruit, practice tai-chi in the park, and, most of all, get the best meal: Noodle & Bao, run by Momo’s best friend, Bao, and their amah, Noodle.


But Town 99 is changing. Rent is becoming unaffordable for Momo and her parents, and even Noodle & Bao has been edged out of its storefront, which was just recently bought out by a new business venture—Fancé Cafe. Fancé is run by the ambitious Ms. Jujube and her henchmen, who claim they're only beautifying Town 99 with good business.


Momo knows that’s not true, and knows that if she doesn’t do something, she’ll lose everything she loves about her neighborhood. From undercover recon to a cook-off proposal, protest signs to petitions, Momo and Bao are on a mission to protect Town 99. Will they succeed before it’s too late?


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]]> 2024-02-26 22:38:42 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2896662886 Black Girl Power: 15 Stories Celebrating Black Girlhood by Leah Johnson cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2902538377 A vibrant, heartwarming collection of 15 middle grade stories and poems that celebrates the joy, strength, and experience of Black girlhood, including stories from Ibi Zoboi, Sharon M. Draper, and Leah Johnson.

Black girl power is…

Bringing your favorite stuffed animal to your first real sleepover…

Escaping an eerie dollhouse that’s got you trapped inside…

Making new friends one magical baked good at a time…

Finding the courage to dance to the beat of your own drum…

And more! From 15 legendary Black female authors comes a dazzling collection of stories and poems about the power we find in the everyday and the beauty of Black girlhood.

Contributors include: Amerie, Kalynn Bayron, Rosanne A. Brown, Elise Bryant, Dhonielle Clayton, Natasha Diaz, Sharon M. Draper, Sharon Flake, Leah Johnson, Kekla Magoon, Janae Marks, Tolá Okogwu, Karen Strong, Renée Watson, and Ibi Zoboi


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]]> 2024-03-02 00:51:46 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2902538377 Glass: A Cinderella Tale by Kathryn Lasky cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2902540204 Newbery Honoree and New York Times bestselling author of the Guardians of Ga’Hoole series Kathryn Lasky delivers an enchanting prequel to the Cinderella story from the perspective of a young fairy godmother.


In a grand glass house, there was a girl named Bess whose power would, one day, change the fate of her family. . . Bess Wickham has always felt like a bit of an outcast among her family of extraordinary glassblowers, but then an immense, magical power that’s lain dormant in her bloodline begins to emerge. So, when she suspects her family’s business has taken a sinister turn, Bess must find the strength to defeat dark magic and save a certain cinder girl. But will she shatter under the weight of such evil or get her happily ever after?


 From Newbery Honor–winning author Kathryn Lasky comes a captivating Cinderella companion, with enchanting spells and endearing animal friendships, reminding us that we have the power to forge our own happy endings.


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]]> 2024-03-02 00:56:46 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2902540204 How It All Ends by Emma Hunsinger cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2902541334 A funny, vulnerable, and disarming debut graphic novel from Emma Hunsinger, the creator of the popular “How to Draw a Horse.” How It All Ends is a book about being overwhelmed by who you are and who you might be—and all the possibilities in between. For fans of Snapdragon; The Magic Fish; Heartstopper; and New Kid.


Thirteen-year-old Tara lives inside the nonstop adventure of her imagination. It’s far more entertaining than dull, everyday life. But when she’s bumped from seventh grade directly to high school, she gets a dramatic jolt to reality.


Now, Tara is part of a future she doesn’t feel at all ready for. She's not ready to watch the racy shows the high school kids like, or to listen to the angsty music, or to stop playing make-believe with her younger brother. She’s not ready to change for PE in front of everyone, or for the chaos of the hallways, or for the anarchy of an English class that’s overrun with fourteen-year-old boys.

But then there’s Libby.


Tara doesn’t know whether she’s ready for Libby. She can’t even explain who Libby is to her because she doesn’t know yet. She just knows that everything’s more fun when she and her new classmate are together. But what will happen next? How will it all end?


This debut graphic novel is a clever and candid portrait of a young girl grappling with the pressures of fitting in, finding your people, and sorting through confusing feelings. Emma Hunsinger has a pitch-perfect ear for the awkward yet endearing moments that accompany growing up, and her illustrations are downright hilarious. She brilliantly captures the humor and the horror of self-discovery and the first blushes of having a crush. How It All Ends deftly explores how unbearable—but exciting!—it is to grow up. 


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]]> 2024-03-02 00:59:58 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2902541334 Jax Freeman and the Phantom Shriek cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2902543211 The award-winning author of the best-selling Tristan Strong trilogy has created a secret world where kids can wield magic by summoning the power of their ancestors

What do you get when you combine Kwame Mbalia's incredible imagination and world-building talent with trains, history, and ghosts? Nothing less than middle grade magic.

On his twelfth birthday, Jackson "Jax" Freeman arrives at Chicago's Union Station alone, carrying nothing but the baggage of a scandal back in Raleigh. He's been sent away from home to live with relatives he barely knows. But even worse are the strangers who accost him at the train station, including a food vendor who throws dust in his face and a conductor who tries to steal his skin.

At his new school, Jax is assigned to a special class for "summoners," even though he has no idea what those are . . . until he accidentally unleashes an angry spirit on school grounds. Soon Jax is embroiled in all kinds of trouble, from the disappearance of a new friend to full-out war between summoning families.

When Jax learns that he isn't the first Freeman to be blamed for a tragedy he didn't create, he resolves to clear his own name and that of his great-grandfather, who was a porter back in the 1920's. By following clues, Jax and his schoolmates unlock the secrets of a powerful Praise House, evade vengeful ghosts, and discover that Jax may just be the most talented summoner of all.

A unique magic-school fantasy from the best-selling and award-winning author of the Tristan Strong trilogy has just pulled into the station.


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]]> 2024-03-02 01:05:09 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2902543211 Kristy and the Walking Disaster (The Baby-sitters Club: A Graphic Novel #16) by Ann M. Martin and adapted by Ellen T. Crenshaw cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2902544537 A Baby-sitters Club graphic novel adapted by Eisner- and National Book Award-nominated cartoonist Ellen T. Crenshaw!


They're lean, they're mean, they're the pride of Stoneybrook. Who are they? They're Kristy's Krushers!


When Kristy sees how much her little brothers and sister want to play on a softball team, she starts a ragtag team of her own. Maybe Kristy's Krushers aren't world champions (how could they be, with Jackie Rodowsky, walking disaster, playing for them?), but nobody beats them when it comes to team spirit.


Now Bart's Bashers have challenged the Krushers to a game. It's bad enough that the Bashers truly are lean and mean—but what's worse is that Kristy has a crush on the Bashers' coach!


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]]> 2024-03-02 01:09:06 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2902544537 Temple of Secrets (Legends of Lotus Island #4) by Christina Soontornvat and illustrated by Kevin Hong cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2902545556 From three-time Newbery Honor-winning author Christina Soontornvat comes a compelling and immersive young middle grade fantasy series for readers who love stories about animals, magic, and kids like them embracing their power to change the world.


Return to Lotus Island!


Plum is facing the most difficult test of her Guardian powers yet. Lotus Island is in danger, and there’s not much time to save this special place.


Power-hungry Councilor Yurn is headed to the island with a ship full of hoverbots and a devious plan in mind: he means to take over Lotus Island and build a new city there. His plan will destroy the fragile ecosystem, including the island’s precious lotus plants. When the Guardians learn that their unique powers are dependent on the lotus flowers, they realize just how much is at stake if Yurn succeeds. Plum must rely on her smarts, her Guardian powers, and most importantly—her friends—to save Lotus Island and all it stands for.


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]]> 2024-03-02 01:12:10 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2902545556 Moko Magic: Carnival Chaos by Tracey Baptiste cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2902546647 From the best-selling author of the Jumbies series comes an Afro-Caribbean-inspired story about three cousins who discover they are mokos—protector spirits—during carnival season in Brooklyn

Weirdness and wonders abound in this colorful celebration of Afro-Caribbean culture by the author of the beloved Jumbies series.

Twelve-year-old Misty and her mother have just moved from Trinidad to Brooklyn, New York, in time for the annual carnival celebrations over Labor Day weekend. Misty has plenty to deal with getting used to living with her cousins Aiden and Brooke in her new surroundings. On top of that, her mom is too busy trying to find a job and her aunts and uncles are too preoccupied with carnival preparations to pay any attention to her.

Then really strange things begin to happen. A ball of feathers in the basement turns into a creature that squeaks and rolls around. When Misty and her cousins eat pieces of mango anchar, flames shoot out of their mouths. Most disturbing of all, Misty begins to see visions of the future—scary visions that soon come true.

Misty discovers that she and her cousins come from a long line of mokos, people who have special powers meant to help them protect their community. Misty can see impending danger, Aiden can heal, and Brooke has crazy physical strength. The trio is just learning about their skills when Misty senses something watching her. And then each of the carnival events is disrupted by a different disaster. Some kind of evil force is clearly trying to stop the festivities. But why? And will moko magic be enough to save the day?


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]]> 2024-03-02 01:14:58 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2902546647 A Place to Shine by Marie Arnold cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2902547680 From Marie Arnold, author of The Year I Flew Away, comes a moving novel that uses humor and magical realism to explore grief as ten-year-old Sunny Williams and her little brother, Miles, find love, family, and beauty in the most unexpected of places after their grandmother develops dementia.

Ten-year-old Sunny Williams is resilient—she knows this because it’s what her beloved grandma, Nanna, always tells her. So when Nanna is put into a care home after her memory loss issues get worse and social workers intend to put Sunny and her seven-year-old brother, Miles, into a foster home, she takes charge and hatches a plan for them to avoid getting split up.

Luckily, Sunny also realizes Nanna has left her a message in the form of their favorite story. With the help of their guide (and temporary guardian), Mr. Darrious Evens, and her best friend, Folake, Sunny embarks on a quest to collect the three magical ingredients that are sure to cure Nanna’s dementia and help them find their way home again.

Mr. Evens also happens to be the choir director and he encourages Sunny, with her beautiful singing voice, to perform in front of the school, even though Nanna isn’t there to cheer her on. Sunny’s quest to fix her nanna will lead her to understand herself and what’s important—and that home can be any place you feel loved.


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]]> 2024-03-02 01:17:54 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2902547680 Wild Wave (Wild #3) by Rodman Philbrick cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2902548622 Another WILD adventure from Rodman Philbrick, author of Wildfireand Wild River. Wild Wave is the adventure of two kids trapped in the aftermath of a tsunami. It's kids vs. nature in another edge-of-your seat read!


When a tsunami heads for the coast, Nick Chase and Jess Hardy have to run. They make it into the woods above the bay—only to see the sea flooding their whole neighborhood along the shore. Destroying everything.


In the broken landscape that’s left behind, the two must try to find their way to safety. But when they come across a stranded elderly couple, it’s up to Nick and Jess to work together and get help so that they can all make it out alive.


This is another gripping environmental survival story from the Newbery Honor author of Wildfire and Wild River.


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]]> 2024-03-02 01:20:52 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2902548622 Dead in the Water (Zombie Season #2) by Justin Weinberger cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2902549526 The next innovation in the book and gaming space is here: Zombie Season! Read the book. Play the game. Fight the undead.


With Redwood destroyed, the survivors are doing their best to adjust to their new reality. But a new threat is lurking in the shadows — an enemy that no one believed existed. One that was just waiting for the right moment to strike...

Play the game on Roblox! After they finish the book, readers will be able to join the fight against the zombies by protecting defenses, designing traps, and uncovering top-secret information about where the zombies came from and how to stop them.


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]]> 2024-03-02 01:23:52 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2902549526 Unico: Awakening Volume 1 by Samuel Sattin, created by Osamu Tezuka, and illustrated by Gurihiru cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2902551959 An adventure across space and time awaits!


UNICO tells the incredible story of a young unicorn who, after enraging the evil goddess Venus, is banished from the heavens and forgets all he once was. Saved from oblivion by the kindhearted West Wind, Unico continues to help others, before having to escape Venus again and begin a new adventure.


In this first manga, Unico awakes in a mysterious land and is befriended by a resourceful watch cat, Chloe, who feels protective of the young unicorn. When they find themselves near a small village in the forest, they take refuge with a kindly, but helpless, old woman. To take care of her, Chloe begs Unico to turn her into a human girl, but that act of kindness has unforeseen consequences: Unico's love has awakened Venus and her minion, Byron, who want to destroy them both!


Conceived anew by author Samuel Sattin and artist team Gurihiru, and developed in collaboration with Tezuka Productions, UNICO: Awakening is a groundbreaking reboot of a beloved story by Astro Boy creator Osamu Tezuka, the "God of Manga." With striking full-color artwork and reading left to right in the Western comics style to match the original manga, UNICO is a brilliant manga series featuring storytelling at its best. Join Unico on an unforgettable journey!


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]]> 2024-03-02 01:30:04 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2902551959 Attack of the Zombies (Academy of Roblox Pros #1) by Louis Shea cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2902552859 Do you have what it takes to be a student at the academy for Roblox pros? Introducing the first book in an unofficial Roblox graphic novel, Academy for Roblox Pros!


Mitch and his friends thought that they were having an average day at school. Their principal, Principal Borelox, was being awful as usual, and Roger and his cronies were getting on their nerves. But when Mitch accidentally spills his drink on his computer in the tech lab, something miraculous happens. A door appears out of nowhere with the symbol of their favorite video game, Roblox. Well, Mitch and his buddies just have to check it out!


Stepping through the door, the kids are immediately transported into Roblox Academy, a blocky world where they are all avatars of themselves. Can the kids get to the bottom of this digital world ... or will the mysterious villain, Mr. Warlock, turn them all into zombies!? Read and find out in this illustrated unofficial Roblox graphic novel series!


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]]> 2024-03-02 01:32:22 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2902552859 The Millicent Quibb School of Etiquette for Young Ladies of Mad Science by Kate McKinnon cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2902555115 From beloved Saturday Night Live alum Kate McKinnon comes a madcap new adventure about three sisters, a ravenous worm, and a mysterious mad scientist.

So, you want to be a young mad scientist. Congratulations! Admitting it is the first step. The second step is reading the (definitely true) tale of the Porch sisters…
 
Gertrude, Eugenia, and Dee-Dee Porch do not belong. They don’t belong in the snooty town of Antiquarium, where all girls have to go to etiquette school and the only dog allowed is the bichon frise. They don’t belong with their adoptive family, where all their cousins are named Lavinia and their Aunt has more brooches than books. And they certainly don’t belong at Mrs. Wintermacher’s etiquette school—they’re far more interested in science. After getting kicked out of the last etiquette school that would take them, the girls expect to be sent away for good... until they receive a mysterious invitation to new school.
 
Suddenly the girls are under the tutelage of the infamous Millicent Quibb—a mad scientist with worms in her hair and oysters in her bathtub. At 231 Mysterium Way, the pizza is fatal, the bus is powered by Gerbils, and the Dean of Students is a hermit crab.  Dangerous? Yes! More fun than they’ve ever had? Absolutely! But when the sisters are asked to save their town from an evil cabal of nefarious mad scientists, they must learn to embrace what has always made them stand out, and determine what side they’re on—before it’s too late!


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]]> 2024-03-02 01:37:54 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2902555115 Stand Up! by Tori Sharp cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2902556423 Two hilarious best friends create their very own podcast in this feel-good middle grade graphic novel about making the spotlight your own, from the bestselling author of Just Pretend.

Lights, Curtains…Podcast! 

Best friends Clay and Kyle can’t help but inject fun into everything. Whether they’re goofing off backstage during a performance or making rib-tickling jokes at an open mic, these two are always ready to make people laugh! Now Clay’s hoping to shift her improv skills to the stage in her middle school's production of Gals and Dolls, which means spending even more time with her crush, Dania. But Clay’s boisterous humor doesn’t sit well with the director, who has ZERO tolerance for fun.  

Clay, however, refuses to be boring! She and Kyle are eager to bring their comedic talents into the spotlight, but school musicals are too serious, open mics are too long… 

And that’s when it hits them—they should start a podcast! But with rehearsals to attend, new episodes to record, and time running out for Clay to ask a certain someone to the eighth-grade dance, will Clay and Kyle be able to do it all?


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]]> 2024-03-02 01:41:41 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2902556423 Adopt Me!: Sophia Lee and the Queen Bee by Kiel Phegley and illustrated by Massimo Di Leo cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2903521174 Based on the fan-favorite game Adopt Me! comes this action-packed original middle grade novel featuring charming two-color art throughout!


Join Sophia Lee as she embarks on an exciting journey through the world of Adopt Me along with her fearless friend, Kat. Together with their signature pets, Jumper and Pinky, the girls explore Adoption Island, uncovering the enchanting secrets of the game. However, as they stumble upon rumors of missing pets and strange occurrences, they find themselves entangled in a mystery that challenges their friendship.


When the legendary Queen Bee is found, the girls' perspectives diverge. While Kat wants to share the newfound treasure, Sophia believes it belongs to someone in need. Their disagreement leads them on a whirlwind tour of Adopt Me, encountering peculiar characters and solving problems along the way.


In this heartwarming tale of friendship, mystery, and self-discovery, Sophia learns the value of standing up for what she believes in and showing others the true way to stay friends. Will the duo overcome the challenges thrown their way and unite the Adopt Me community for a common cause? Find out as Sophia’s thrilling adventures unfold in Adopt Me!: Sophia Lee and Queen Bee!


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]]> 2024-03-03 20:56:35 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2903521174 Invisible Isabel by Sally J. Pla and illustrated by Tania de Regil cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2903522275 In this illustrated middle grade novel by Schneider Award-winning author Sally J. Pla, introverted Isabel Beane learns how she can speak up to help quiet the worries she feels. For fans of Elana K. Arnold and Leslie Connor.

Isabel Beane is a shy girl who lives in a home full of havoc and hubbub and hullabaloo. With five siblings, there is too much too much-ness.

At the same time, there’s a new girl at school who is immediately popular, but she’s also not very nice to one person—Isabel.

Isabel has never felt more invisible. She has so many fears: being abandoned by her old friends at school, having to speak to strangers in public, taking the upcoming Extremely Important standardized test. Her fears feel like worry-moths that flutter in her belly. With every passing day, it seems like they get stronger and stronger. How can Invisible Isabel make people listen?


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]]> 2024-03-03 20:59:12 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2903522275 Kareem Between by Shifa Saltagi Safadi cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2903523199 This heartfelt coming-of-age novel in verse tells the powerful story of a seventh grade Syrian-American boy and his struggles, big and small, as he navigates middle-school.

Seventh grade begins and Kareem’s fall should be off to a great start. But he’s already fumbled it.

His best friend moved away, he bungled his tryout for the football team, and because of his heritage, he was voluntold to show the new kid – a Syrian refugee with a thick and embarrassing accent – around school. Just when Kareem thinks his middle school life has imploded, the hot-shot QB promises to get Kareem another tryout for the squad. There’s a catch: to secure that chance, Kareem must do something he knows is wrong.

Then like a surprise blitz, Kareem’s mom returns to Syria to bring her aging parents out of a war zone and to the United States. But a new executive order prevents her from coming home. If Kareem could throw a penalty flag on the fouls of his school and home life, it would be for Unnecessary Roughness.

Kareem is stuck between. Between countries. Between friends, between football, between parents—and between right and wrong. It’s up to him to step up, find his confidence, and navigate the beauty and hope found somewhere in the middle.


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]]> 2024-03-03 21:01:36 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2903523199 Kingdom of Dust by Lisa Stringfellow cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2903524151 Author of A Comb of Wishes Lisa Stringfellow returns with a West African–inspired fantasy about a girl who is determined to return both magic and justice to her people—and whose destiny holds more surprises than she could ever imagine.


Though the land of Kun used to be lush and green, Amara has only ever known her homeland as a dry, dusty desert. When the griots vanished more than a decade ago, they took their magic with them, along with goddess Oala’s gifts of rain and plenty, leaving Kun controlled by a powerful and uncaring king. And though her foster mother, Zirachi, assures her that Kun is not under a curse, Amara can’t help but wonder if her own origin, which is shrouded in mystery, is somehow linked to the broken kingdom.


When Amara and Zirachi are attacked by the Nkume, the fearsome king’s guard, Amara must flee, leaving all that she has known behind. With nowhere to go but knowing that she is under Oala’s protection, Amara sets off to do the impossible: find the griots and save Kun before the kingdom blows away like dust.


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]]> 2024-03-03 21:03:53 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2903524151 May the Best Player Win by Kyla Zhao cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2903525195 The game is on in this fun-filled middle grade debut about chess, girl power, and performance anxiety in sports, perfect for fans of Kelly Yang and Celia C. Pérez!

The clock is ticking for May Li, whose middle-school chess team just earned a victory at the state championship—and with it, a ticket to nationals. What’s even more exciting is that May got an award for being the top female player and a splashy feature in the biggest chess magazine in the country.


May should be thrilled. But some of her teammates, including her supposed-to-be-friend Ralph, aren’t too pleased with the attention she’s getting—and they’re even questioning her skills. Backed into a corner, but not one to back down, May makes a move as bold as any of her chess tactics: She bets Ralph she can win the school’s internal tournament and be chosen as team captain for nationals.


The crown is May’s for the taking...except she’s starting to crumble under the weight of everyone’s expectations. Anxious feelings begin to affect her performance and, what’s worse, eat away at her love for the game. Now May is left to wonder: Can you still play for fun when you’re playing to win?


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]]> 2024-03-03 21:06:23 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2903525195 My Vampire vs. Your Werewolf by Paul Tobin cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2903528867 Gabe and Hayden have a vampire.
Joon and Tradd have a werewolf.
And they’re going to fight.

After modern society pushed monsters into hiding, the Crafters Guild was formed: An organization of humans and other creatures intent on creating community amongst these exiled beings and combating the decline in monster mental health. Their solution? A no-holds-barred clash of the titans, where two monsters can fight it out with no limits. With young coaches like Gabe, Hayden, Joon, and Tradd to guide them, the monsters must prepare for a battle that will test their strengths, smarts, and special abilities. But it’s just a friendly competition—nothing could possibly go wrong…right?

My Vampire vs. Your Werewolf is the first in an epic horror series from bestselling author Paul Tobin featuring all your favorite monsters—from mummies and ghosts, to dragons and zombies, and witches and warlocks—daring to answer the question: Who would win in a fight?


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]]> 2024-03-03 21:14:25 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2903528867 Not Another Banned Book by Dana Alison Levy cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2903529704 A ripped from the headlines middle grade novel about a group of students who must fight book banning at their school to save their club...and their world as they know it.

No matter what was going on in Molly's life at home, she always had book club at school. Whether she's dealing with a death in the family or her parent's breaking the news they want to move she is able to read a new book and escape life...even if it is just for a little bit.

But when someone anonymously notifies school boards about a controversial book in the classroom, her favorite teacher Ms. Lewsiton is suspended...and book club is a banned for the immediate future.

With weeks until graduation, Molly has never felt more lost. She knows she needs to do something—anything--to prove to everyone that the books they read with Ms. Lewsiton are more important than the adults may realize.

With her group of friends, Molly will fight to save her book club from writing their favorite author to protests on the football field. Molly will discover that standing up for what you believe in is only half the battle...but will she find she is fully ready to make a change for readers just like her?


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]]> 2024-03-03 21:16:44 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2903529704 Oh My Dog! by Iva-Marie Palmer cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2903740142 Twelve-year-old Caroline Kline doesn’t believe in miracles. Not after her mom died, and certainly not after her family lost everything in Hurricane Emma. All Caroline wants to do is fit in at school, make some friends, and, above all else, just be normal.


But when Caroline takes a job walking Denver, her neighbor’s dog, her plans quickly get turned completely upside down. As it turns out, Denver is no ordinary dog: Not only can he talk—and not like bark-bark but in actual English—but worse than that, Denver tells Caroline that he’s been sent from the heavens with a message just for her. It’s up to Caroline to find a way to bring belief back to the world.


From acclaimed children’s author Iva-Marie Palmer comes a hilarious and heartwarming new tale about miracles, faith of all types, and the good that connects us all.


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]]> 2024-03-04 02:16:41 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2903740142 Operation Chaos (The Forgotten Five #5) by Lisa McMann cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2903743931 X-Men meets Spy Kids in the fifth installment of The Forgotten Five middle-grade fantasy/adventure series by the New York Times bestselling author of The Unwanteds.

The Forgotten Five and their friends are reeling in the aftermath of the raid on Magdalia Palacio's campaign rally—an attack masterminded by her corrupt opponent President Fuerte and his henchmen. Birdie is in the hospital with a head injury, and under arrest for stealing a police horse in her attempt to evade capture. Separated from her friends—and not even allowed to see her mother—how can Birdie escape when she is utterly alone?

Then the Librarian is taken captive in the heavily guarded palace dungeon after Fuerte discovers she's been acting as a double agent. What will they do without their trusted mentor?

Luckily, the five have been honing their supernatural abilities, and it's Brix who takes the lead, forging an unlikely alliance and putting together a plan. Does the group have what it takes to rescue their friends and even the odds in the president's all-out war against Estero's supernaturals?


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]]> 2024-03-04 02:20:00 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2903743931 The Serpent Rider by Yxavel Magno Diño cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2903746615 In this middle grade debut inspired by Filipino folklore, a spunky, determined warrior must claim her destiny in order to save her sister, perfect for fans of Witchlings and The Owl House.

Tani dreams of fulfilling her destiny as a Serpent Rider, fighting alongside an elemental serpent to defend her village against monsters. More than anything, she wants to protect her little sister Ligaya, the village princess who's tasked with memorizing their community's history, including the tale of Great Bakunawa, the most powerful and feared sea serpent that swallowed six of the world's seven moons.

After a devastating monster attack, Tani can no longer wait patiently for her bakunawa egg to hatch. She makes a desperate deal with a stranger who promises her a serpent of her own. But when her gamble puts her sister in major danger, Tani must fi nd a way to save Ligaya before she's lost forever. All the while, in the depths of the sea, Great Bakunawa is stirring, threatening to devour the last moon and plunge the night sky into eternal darkness . . .

This accessible, standalone novel is a perfect gateway for new fantasy readers to dive into enchanting worlds and embark on heart-pounding adventures.


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]]> 2024-03-04 02:22:22 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2903746615 Stranded by Nikki Shannon Smith cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2903761524 One storm. One winter. One girl's fight for survival.


A contemporary My Side of the Mountain, Stranded is the story of a wilderness-hungry Black girl from Manhattan whose journey in the Adirondack mountains becomes a nail-biting story of courage, independence, and survival.


Eleven-year-old Ava Adams is looking for something different. The tall Manhattan buildings around her feel like walls closing in. And what if she doesn’t fit in with her city-loving friends or busybody family who think Black folks “don’t do nature?” But in a twist of fate, Ava is shocked to learn that her parents are actually allowing her to stay with her Aunt Raven in the Adirondacks for the summer.


In her Auntie’s simple cabin, living off the land with nature’s beauty filling her senses, the woods feel more like home than Manhattan. As Summer comes to a close and Aunt Raven has to leave for the winter, the dream has to come to an end. Or does it? When Aunt Raven leaves, Ava expects her parents’ truck to arrive any moment. But as the hours go by, the reality sinks in. They’re not coming.


That night, one storm will change everything. When lightning strikes a nearby tree just before it lands on the cabin, the roof and the water tank of Aunt Raven’s cabin are instantly destroyed. With no cell reception and no neighbors for miles, Ava begins to realize what she’s up against: A frozen garden, a diminishing supply of food, an abandoned neighboring farm, and mountains blanketed with snow and ice mean Ava is on her own—literally. And her newly developed survival skills might not be enough. It’s the ultimate test, but this isn’t just about proving something to her parents. It’s about proving it to herself.


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]]> 2024-03-04 02:35:30 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2903761524 A Strange Thing Happened in Cherry Hall by Jasmine Warga cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2903764292 From the award-winning, New York Times bestselling author of A Rover's Story and Other Words for Home comes an extraordinary story about two friends, a ghost, a missing painting, and a turtle named Agatha. The perfect next read for fans of The Swifts, Kate DiCamillo, and Erin Entrada Kelly. 


A painting has been stolen…!


When Rami sees a floating girl in the museum, he knows he has seen her somewhere before. Then he realizes: She looks just like the girl in the painting that has gone missing. But how does her appearance connect to the theft?

Agatha the turtle knows—she has been watching from the garden. But she can’t exactly tell anyone…can she?


Will Rami, with the help of his classmate, Veda, be able to solve the mystery? The clues are all around them, but they’ll have to be brave enough to really look.


This is a whimsical, moving story about the universal desire to be seen and understood and how art can help us find connection, even when we are at our loneliest.


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]]> 2024-03-04 02:38:11 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2903764292 Drama and Destiny (Suitehearts #2) by Claire Kann cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2903767889 In the second book of the Suitehearts series, magical Matchmakers and cousins Cora and Rose attend an elite summer training camp where rivals, romances, and troublesome Kindlings await. Perfect for fans of Whatever After by Sarah Mlynowski.


You’re invited to Camp Hotel Coeur!


It’s Hotel Coeur’s turn to host the annual training camp for Matchmakers-in-training, and they’re going all out: charm classes, enchantment exercises, matchmaking competitions, even a magically designed buddy system.


After conquering their first matchmaking tests, Rose and Cora feel ready to face anything. After all, what could be harder than headstrong Kindlings, broken hearts, and brand-new magic?


But this magical camp doesn’t play by the rules.


Cora, who just wants to lie low, is suddenly thrust into the spotlight for her unique magical abilities and paired with newbie Matchmaker Hunter—who’s cool, charismatic…and her total opposite.


Rose is paired with her nemesis, Julien Swift—her biggest competition for years. Rose is determined to outshine him, but lately, nothing seems to be going right for her…not even her magic.


To succeed, Rose and Cora will have to take on new friends, magical mishaps, a dash of romance, and fiercer challenges than ever on their journey to become Hotel Coeur’s finest Matchmakers.


Perfect for fans of Witchlings and the Friendship List series, this spectacular sequel will see readers charmed by the same thrills and magic that started Cora and Rose’s journey as these two Matchmakers soar to even greater heights. 


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]]> 2024-03-04 02:41:04 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2903767889 Trapped in the Horror Dome (Monsterious #5) by Matt McMann cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2903771413 This series of terrifying standalone tales that combine monsters + mysteries is perfect for fans of Goosebumps.

“Spine-chilling and creepy!” —Max Brallier, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Last Kids on Earth, on Escape From Grimstone Manor (Monsterious, Book 1)

When their school wins a state science competition, Rowan, Tinker, and Amari earn a dream trip to Earth Two, a biodome research lab deep in the desert, which is sealed off from the outside world. What could be cooler?

But soon, strange things begin to happen. In the dome’s swamp ecosystem, the kids discover a creature unknown to science—though the adults don’t believe them. Then a scientist is mysteriously attacked and Earth Two’s security and life-support systems fail, trapping everyone inside.

As oxygen runs low, a terrifying monster emerges from the shadows and begins to hunt. Now the kids must find a way to escape . . . before the biodome becomes their tomb.


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]]> 2024-03-04 02:44:04 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2903771413 How to Steal a Dragon (Villains Academy #2) by Ryan Hammond cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2903775008 In the second book of this illustrated middle grade series that’s The Bad Guys meets Amelia Fang, Bram and his merry gang of almost-villains must protect a forest of dragons before someone else gets to them first.

It’s the start of the winter season and there’s a new teacher in town at Villains Academy: the notorious dragon rider Felix Frostbite. Class Z is in awe of him and his lessons on venomous beasts and mythical creatures, but werewolf Bram is suspicious.

Soon Bram and his friends the Weirdoughs uncover Felix Frostbite’s evil plan to steal all the dragons from the Wicked Woods and leave Villains Academy undefended. Have the gang learnt enough to outsmart their troublesome teacher, or will Felix Frostbite’s heist go down in villain history?


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]]> 2024-03-04 02:47:08 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2903775008 Jasmine Is Haunted by Mark Oshiro cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2910137761 Jasmine Garza has a problem: a ghost has been following her for years, ever since her Papi died. Not that Mami will admit anything supernatural is going on. But even the ghost she won’t acknowledge makes real trouble, so Jasmine and her mami are moving (again) to a new apartment in East Hollywood. This time Jasmine is committed to living a normal life with normal friends.

Enter: Bea Veracruz and Jorge Barrera. They’re the only two members of Jasmine's middle school's Gay Straight Alliance and they’re already obsessed with all things supernatural. Bea wants to prove herself to her paranormal investigator parents and Jorge is determined to overcome his fear of the beyond. And when Jasmine confesses she’s been tormented by a ghost for years, they not only believe her, they’re thrilled!

Together they set out to prove that Jasmine’s not just acting out after her father’s death–ghosts are real and Jasmine is haunted. But not everyone agrees how to deal with the departed. As Jasmine’s hauntings increase in intensity, her resentment builds. Why is her Mami so secretive about her past? Why is she the center of such a terrible vortex of supernatural activity? And why hasn’t her Papi ever reached out to her since he passed?

In order to face her ghosts—both internal and external—Jasmine must come to terms with her own history.


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]]> 2024-03-07 17:02:03 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2910137761 Kelcie Murphy and the Race for the Reaper's Key (Kelcie Murphy #3) by Erika Lewis cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2910143272 The epic and action-packed conclusion to the Kelcie Murphy series.

Monsters Rise. Enemies Gather. The Never-ending War rages on.

Kelcie Murphy and her friends are determined to stop the war, once and for all. But with monsters attacking the Lands of Summer and Winter, peace seems more out of reach than ever.

And deep in the Abyss, an ancient evil, once thought defeated, is preparing an apocalyptic attack.

There is only one person who can stop him: his heir, Kelcie herself.


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]]> 2024-03-07 17:06:29 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2910143272 Quest for the Wishing Stones (Dungeoneer Adventures #3) by Ben Costa and James Parks cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2912258805 The Last Kids on Earth gets a fantasy twist in this third book in the highly illustrated middle grade Dungeoneer Adventures series following Coop and his friends as they sneak along on their professors’ quest to save Eem.

Hero dungeoneer Shane Sandar has been missing for weeks, and the professors at Dungeoneer Academy fear the worst: that he’s met a terrible fate at the hands of the villainous exiles. When Coop Cooperson and his best buds on the Green Team discover their professors are taking a dangerous voyage to try and rescue Shane—and closing Dungeoneer Academy in the process—they know they can’t let their professors go alone, so they secretly tag along.

It’s not long before the professors are captured, which leaves it up to Coop, Oggie, Mindy, Daz, and unlikely new ally Zeke to try to rescue Shane Sandar, help their beloved professors, and save the Land of Eem from the terrible fate the exiles are planning. But can a ragtag group of junior dungeoneers stop a group whose leader is pursuing the power of the Wishing Stone, the most powerful magic in all the land?


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]]> 2024-03-09 16:45:08 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2912258805 Operation Pucker Up by Rachele Alpine cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2912260220 A girl and her friends enact a scheme to get her first kiss over with before she has to lock lips on stage for the school play in this charming middle grade rom-com in the spirit of Meg Cabot—now with a fresh new look!

Prince Charming wakes Snow White with a kiss. My world came crashing down with two words. A kiss?!

Grace Shaw just scored the coveted lead in her school play, Snow White, alongside James Lowe—her hot, popular Prince Charming. There’s just one problem: they kiss at the end. And Grace has never been kissed before. Which means that Grace’s role sounds more like her worst nightmare than a dream come true.

So, Grace’s two best friends propose Operation Pucker Up—a plan for Grace to score a kiss before opening night so she doesn’t make a fool of herself in front of an audience. As if Grace isn’t having a hard enough time, her estranged father suddenly reappears after leaving six months earlier. Her mom and sister welcome Dad back with open arms, but Grace can’t simply forgive and forget.

With opening night fast approaching, Operation Pucker Up reaching ridiculous levels, and family drama teeming behind the scenes, Grace is beginning to think all this love stuff is way too complicated. Will she find a way to have her happily ever after—and seal it with a kiss—both onstage and off?


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]]> 2024-03-09 16:47:40 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2912260220 Shipwrecked (The Islanders #3) by Mary Alice Monroe and Angela May cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2912282341 Jake, Macon, and Lovie fight to survive at sea in this third high-stakes adventure in the middle grade, New York Times bestselling The Islanders series by Mary Alice Monroe!

Jake Potter’s biggest dream finally comes true: he gets his very own boat! And it’s just in time for another summer of fun on Dewees Island with his best friends, Macon and Lovie.

But on their very first fishing trip, the engine dies, and the three friends find themselves adrift at sea. When a storm carries them to a small, uninhabited island far from Dewees, the kids must use every ounce of their strength, courage, and knowledge to survive as they wait for rescue. Will their friendship survive the ultimate test?


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]]> 2024-03-09 17:29:33 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2912282341 Perfect Match by Stephanie Faris cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2912293025 A girl’s well-intentioned Valentine’s Day meddling entangles her in a love triangle with her best friend and a girl with a crush on him in this tween romance perfect for fans of Courtesy of Cupid.

This year, Mia is selling and delivering roses and chocolate for the Valentine’s Day fundraiser, and just like the year before, the same few popular girls are slated to receive bouquets of deliveries from their best friends. To shake things up a bit, Mia delivers an extra twenty-five roses from made-up “secret admirers” to overlooked girls who she thinks could use a confidence boost.

But Mia’s meddling might have done more harm than good—especially when she realizes that one of her rose deliveries has inspired Sun Patterson to get a makeover and pursue Alex, Mia’s best friend who she might feel more than friendly toward.

As the messy consequences of the extra roses unfold, Mia finds herself torn between her newfound goal to help others find their perfect match, the heavy weight of her secret actions, the friendships she is struggling to find time for, and some seriously confusing feelings for Alex.

Maybe this matchmaker stuff is more complicated than it seems.

Formerly published as 25 Roses.


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]]> 2024-03-09 17:53:52 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2912293025 Crushing It by Joanne Levy cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2912294116 Twelve-year-old Kat woos the boy next door on behalf of her best friend, and in the process realizes that true beauty—and true confidence—comes from the inside in this hilarious M!X novel from the author of Small Medium at Large.


Kat is already so over seventh grade. It doesn’t help that her best friend and cousin, Olivia, grew a foot over the summer and won a spot on the school’s dance team, shooting her up on the popularity scale. In the jungle that is middle school, Olivia is a gazelle. Braces-wearing, manga-loving, uncoordinated Kat is a warthog.


Plus, Tyler, Kat’s next-door neighbor and buddy since birth, morphed into a really cute boy over the summer. Suddenly the person Kat’s used to playing Xbox with is causing her stomach to do cartwheels.


When Olivia confesses that she has a crush on Tyler and wants to ask him to the Fall Ball dance, Kat knows there’s going to be a problem: Tyler thinks Olivia is just another ditsy girl who only cares about lip gloss and boy bands. But since Kat’s one of Tyler’s oldest friends, Olivia’s sure she’ll know how to get his attention.


Trying to be a good friend and squash her own feelings, Kat makes it her mission to get the two of them together. From writing “Tyler cheat sheets” listing his favorite things, to feeding Olivia lines through her headphones during Tyler-focused study sessions, Kat devises schemes by which Tyler will fall for Olivia. And to her delight—or maybe horror—her plan begins to work. Now that Olivia’s caught Tyler’s attention, Kat has to wonder if she’s fooled Tyler into falling for the wrong girl. But what boy would ever choose a warthog over a gazelle?


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]]> 2024-03-09 17:56:30 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2912294116 Fall of the Robots (The Last Human #2) by Lee Bacon cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2912299360 Lee Bacon’s The Fall of the Robots is the thrilling and hilarious sequel to The Last Human––which is in the works to be a major motion picture from the producers of Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse—about a world where robots and humans coexist . . . though the peace between them may not last long.

It’s been a few months now since XR_935 met Emma, a human girl who wasn’t supposed to exist. Robots thought they’d eliminated all humans, but some have survived all these years. Now, robots and humans live side by side, and the world is so much better for it. They’ve formed a new society, living together as equals.

Even if XR doesn’t always understand humans, it is impressed by their creativity and ingenuity––especially considering all the terrible things that robots did to humans all those years ago. But some humans are not so quick to forgive. A group known as the Machine Breakers has emerged. They won’t stop until they’ve destroyed every robot on earth—and any human who stands in their way. Can XR and Emma stop them? Or could this be the end of the robots—and the world as they know it?


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]]> 2024-03-09 18:06:50 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2912299360 Johnny, the Sea, and Me by Melba Escobar, illustrated by Elizabeth Builes, and translated by Sara Lissa Paulson cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2912301134 A timid ten-year-old boy meets Johnny, a gruff islander who will change his life, in Johnny, the Sea, and Me, a heartwarming middle-grade novel by Melba Escobarabout finding yourself and your place in the world—featuring illustrations by award-winning artist Elizabeth Builes.


Translated from Spanish by Sara Lissa Paulson


Pedro has always dreamed of going to the sea. So when his mom takes him on a special trip to a small island in the Caribbean, he’s so happy that he grows an extra inch! But the troubles at home—bullying from classmates and an absent father—find a way to follow Pedro, even on vacation…Overwhelmed, the boy takes to the beach and runs away, hoping to leave his worries far behind.


That’s when he meets Johnny, an islander descended from pirates. At first, Pedro is frightened by Johnny’s imposing appearance and brusque manners. But Johnny, along with his chatty parrot Victoria, takes young Pedro under his wing and shares his island and his stories with him, thereby changing Pedro’s life. Because sometimes, like Pedro, you have to lose yourself to find yourself.


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]]> 2024-03-09 18:10:56 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2912301134 Lola Reyes Is So Not Worried by Cindy L. Rodriguez cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2912303894 In this magical middle grade adventure by Cindy L. Rodriguez, a Guatemalan American girl fights to stop her cursed worry dolls before they blanket her friends and neighbors in anxiety—and the grief she carries over the loss of her father. Perfect for fans of The Doll People and The Total Eclipse of Nester Lopez!


Lola Reyes doesn’t want to leave Guatemala, a place full of warmth and sun, laughter and music—where her abuela and prima and tíos and tías surround her with love. Back in Sunnyside, it’s cold. There’s schoolwork and chores. And her mama transforms into Lola’s super-serious school principal, Dr. Reyes.


Back at home...Lola can see, crystal clear, the empty place where Pop used to be. So Lola decides to bring a little bit of Guatemala—and Pop—back with her. She discovers his box of childhood worry dolls and sneaks them into her luggage, ignoring the warnings on the box not to use them. Later, when she tells them all her worries, from her friendship woes to the way Mama won’t talk about how sad she is, the worry dolls come to life. Worse—they escape.


Lola has to enlist her neighbor and nemesis, Chance Townsend, to recapture the dolls because she discovers they’re cursed. And as they absorb worries, they’ll grow bigger and bigger. If Lola can’t find a way to stop them, they’ll burst, releasing all the worries they’ve absorbed a hundredfold on everyone in town. But when breaking the curse might mean confronting her own anxieties and grief, will Lola be able face her emotions before it’s too late? 


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]]> 2024-03-09 18:17:03 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2912303894 On a Wing and a Tear by Cynthia Leitich Smith cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2912305976 A living legend roosting in the backyard. An unmissable game. A hair-raising mystery. A road trip full of adventure and danger. And all the overlapping circles that connect us throughout Creation.


Melanie “Mel” Roberts and Ray Halfmoon may be from different Indigenous Nations, but the friends have become like siblings since the Robertses moved in with the Halfmoons. And they soon welcome a distinguished guest: Great-grandfather Bat, whose wing is injured, has taken refuge in their old oak tree.


A rematch of the legendary Great Ball Game is coming up, with Bat as the star player. Grampa Charlie Halfmoon offers to drive Bat from Chicago down to the traditional playing field outside Macon, Georgia, and Mel and Ray are determined to help out.


Together, they all set off on a road trip—facing adventure, danger, and a hair-raising mystery—on the way to the historic game.


With loving care and boisterous humor, acclaimed author Cynthia Leitich Smith (Muscogee) tells a modern folklore story about friendship, embracing the unexpected, and all the overlapping circles that connect us throughout Creation. Perfect for fans of Kate DiCamillo, Brian Young, and Elana K. Arnold! 


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]]> 2024-03-09 18:21:04 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2912305976 Rise of the Wrecking Crew (The Vanquishers #3) by Kalynn Bayron cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2912308463 In the heart-stopping conclusion to the Vanquishers series by New York Times bestselling author Kalynn Bayron, it is time for the final stand against the undead.

San Antonio is on lockdown, taken over by the new hive. No one can deny that the undead are back now, but the Vanquishers found out the hard way: when they learned that an old friend is behind the latest string of attacks.

As the Squad hide out at an abandoned combat training facility, honing their vampire-butt-kicking skills, they begin to suspect that they're not alone. And when a vial of Dracula's blood—able to give unrivaled power to the vampire that consumes it—is stolen from the bunker, the Vanquishers race to recover it before it falls into the wrong hands.

The Vanquishers have always been Boog's family, the ones she trusts the most. But what does it mean when a former Vanquisher, one of her heroes, is now hunting the enemy?


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]]> 2024-03-09 18:27:28 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2912308463 Splinter & Ash (Splinter & Ash #1) by Marieke Nijkamp cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2912312490 New York Times–bestselling author Marieke Nijkamp's middle grade prose debut is an immersive medieval fantasy starring queer and disabled young heroes. For two young misfits, a dangerous quest to save their kingdom will also mean saving each other. For fans of B. B. Alston’s Amari and the Night Brothers, Soman Chainani’s School for Good and Evil, and Tamora Pierce’s Tortall books.


Ash—or Princess Adelisa—is the youngest child of the queen, recently returned to the city of Kestrel’s Haven after spending six years on the other side of the country. Ash was hoping for a joyous reunion, but the reality is far from it. Her mother is holding the kingdom together by a thread; her brother has only taunts and jibes for her; and court is full of nobles who openly mock and dismiss Ash, who uses a cane and needs braces to strengthen her joints.


Splinter is the youngest child of one of Haven’s most prominent families. She’s fierce, determined, and adventurous, and she has her sights set on becoming a knight just like her older brother. Even if everyone says she can’t because she’s not a boy. So what? She’s not a girl, either.


A chance encounter throws Ash and Splinter into each other’s orbits and changes the course of the kingdom's history. The princess and her new squire will face bullies, snobs, gossips, and their own disapproving families. But when they uncover a shadowy group of nobles plotting to overthrow the queen, they will show everyone how legends are born. Together.


The first in a trilogy, bestselling author Marieke Nijkamp’s medieval fantasy is an action-packed love letter to nonbinary, queer, and disabled kids. Splinter & Ash evokes the classic adventure and atmosphere of fantasies by Lloyd Alexander and Tamora Pierce and the fresh, inclusive lens of writers such as Rick Riordan, Angie Thomas, and Soman Chainani. It invites everyone—no matter who they are or what they look like—to fight for what they believe in.


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]]> 2024-03-09 18:37:14 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2912312490 The Terror in Jenny's Armpit (Bonkers! #1) by Patrick Carman cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2914694373 Bonkers: the new megaseries from New York Times bestselling author Patrick Carman


There’s something in Jenny’s armpit, and it’s getting bigger.


Ten-year-old Jenny Kim and her two buddies, Fen Stenson and Barker Mifflin, live in the town of Nevermind, where strange happenings are so normal that finding a mysterious thing growing in your armpit isn’t even considered a big deal. But when the mysterious thing gets so big Jenny has to haul it around in a wheelbarrow, it’s cause for concern. She’s going to need some help sorting this out!

Enter Fen Stenson and Barker Mifflin—dancing Swedish exchange student and doomsday prepper extraordinaire—and you’ve got a team of friends made for the moment.


Go with Jenny, Fen, and Barker as they visit an abandoned chemistry lab, discover curious creatures called Snerbs, and uncover a secret so big it might just eat the entire planet. It could happen!


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]]> 2024-03-12 00:38:54 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2914694373 Like a Curse (Like a Charm #2) by Elle McNicoll cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2914720120 The fight to save the human and magical worlds is ON...but witch (in-training) Ramya isn't much help unless she can learn her new powers—and fast. It's a race to the finish in the stunning conclusion to the Like a Charm duology from the award-winning author of A Kind of Spark.

Ramya thought discovering she was a witch would make life easier. But mastering her powers isn't going as smoothly as she thought. And while she is stuck in Loch Ness stumbling through spells, the wicked siren Portia is gaining control over the human and hidden worlds in the city.

Time is running out, but the more Ramya presses, the more her family insists she isn't ready for the fight. Then an old friend is kidnapped, and Ramya can't wait any longer. Armed with a lot of bravery, a little magic, and a few new friends, Ramya hopes it is enough to take down Portia and the sirens forever—before everything she loves is lost forever.


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]]> 2024-03-12 00:58:44 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2914720120 Boy 2.0 by Tracey Baptiste cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2918018791 An action-packed Black Lives Matter superhero story from New York Times bestselling author Tracey Baptiste
 

Win “Coal” Keegan has just landed in his latest foster home, with a big, noisy, slightly nosy family named the McKays. They seem eager to welcome Coal, but he’s wary of trusting them. So, he doesn’t tell them that he went for a walk with chalk in his pocket to cover a nearby street with his art. He doesn’t tell them that a neighbor found Coal drawing, pulled a gun on him, and fired it. He doesn’t tell them the police chased him. And he definitely doesn’t tell them that when everything went down, Coal somehow turned invisible. 
 

But he did. 

 

Now he has to figure out how. Is he a superhero? Some kind of mutant? A science experiment? Is that why he has no family of his own? As Coal searches for answers and slowly learns to control his invisibility, he turns to the McKay kids and friends both new and old for help. But they soon discover they’re not the only ones looking for a Black boy with superpowers, and the situation is far stranger—and more dangerous—than they ever could have expected.


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]]> 2024-03-14 00:22:08 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2918018791 Bunnybirds by Natalie Linn cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2918022647 Princess Aster must leave home to discover why her people are disappearing—even if it means journeying over the rim of the world itself—in this animal fantasy graphic novel perfect for fans of blockbuster series like Warriors and Wings of Fire.

The Bunny who worries is heavy and slow. To fly with the flock, one must learn to let go.

Be content and with joy! Lay fears to rest: the bunny who smiles suits the bunny flock best.

In Princess Aster’s world, Bunnybirds live in contented isolation, keeping themselves detached from the world in order to practice magic and receive prophetic visions. Nothing is ever wrong, and no one is ever angry. . . even as Aster’s people seem to be slowly disappearing. But when her father is next to go, her goal is as definite and unclouded as her heart: she’s going to rescue him, no matter how.

To find her people, she must leave the royal Home Tree and travel to the Court of Dragons—and then across sea flats, through deserts, and over the rim of the world itself—to find out what’s happened, with only the exiled bunnybird thief Carlin and the lackadaisical centipede-dog Feet for company.

The further Aster travels from home, the more questions she has: Are the Bunnybirds truly as happy as they say? And if they aren’t, can she let go of age-old traditions in order to rescue her friends?

A sweet but sweeping graphic novel adventure, Bunnybirds offers readers a richly imagined animal world full of magic, danger, and excitement.


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]]> 2024-03-14 00:24:53 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2918022647 Clara Poole and the Wrong Way Up (Clara Poole #2) by Taylor Tyng cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2918025949 Soaring to the top is one thing. Staying there is quite another. The warm and the winning second book in the engrossing middle grade adventure Clara Poole series.

Fresh off winning WOOBA’s One-Hundredth Air Race, Clara Poole should be flying high, but she’s feeling more uncertain than ever. After a summer of negative publicity, she arrives at Air Academy unsure if she even deserves to be there, to train as an aeronaut alongside her new friends . . . only to discover that there are several conditions to her acceptance.

But that becomes the least of her problems when a series of strange accidents throw her and her friends’ safety into question. Circumstances shift from bad to worse when the school’s headmaster goes missing, hurling the academy into disarray and under the iron-grip control of Assistant Head of School, Cyprian Hunt. Friends become enemies, and enemies friends as Clara tries to keep herself out of trouble. But trouble may the one thing she can’t avoid.

With humor, heart, and more death-defying feats that you can imagine, Clara Poole and the Wrong Way Up is a stunning second novel that explores how the journey to get what you want is perhaps more important than the goal itself.


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]]> 2024-03-14 00:27:04 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2918025949 The Graveyard Gift (Fern's School for Wayward Fae #1) by Fern Forgettable and as told by Piper CJ cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2918032278 Hold your breath, make the choice, and step into Fern’s School for Wayward Fae—where students are part human and part magical. A girl with peculiar abilities discovers nothing is what it seems when sinister forces causes one of her classmates to go missing. Perfect for fans of Wednesday.

A girl who knows how you die. Her banshee roommate who knows when it happens. And wishes that sometimes, maybe, come true. . . .

Rosemary Thorpe has always been a bit different. She has the uncanny and unfortunate ability to foresee people’s deaths, which tends to land her in hot water. Well, not actual hot water—where it lands her is a place between worlds called Fern’s School for Wayward Fae, where Rosemary learns that her powers come from being part fae.

At Fern's School, Rosemary meets others who are part fae—including Trym, her banshee roommate whose screams can kill, and Essie, a djinn who grants wishes. But just as Rosemary settles in, a student vanishes in thin air. And it’s up to all the kids to use their curious gifts to find their missing friend. . . .


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]]> 2024-03-14 00:31:00 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2918032278 Hum by William David Thomas cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2918036906 A chance encounter with an old llama astonishingly reveals a language Allen didn’t know he could speak in this captivating and one-of-a-kind middle-grade novel.

Eleven-year-old Allen has a recurring nightmare, a persistent habit of humming, and difficulty connecting with other people. Making a fresh start, he and his grandmother move to a small village in northern New York. But when he meets an old llama at a winter festival, the encounter reveals a language he didn’t know he could speak and unveils repressed memories that contradict what he has long believed about his earliest years and his parents’ deaths.

When the llama’s life is threatened, Allen vows to free it. Together they begin a desperate trek through a snowy wilderness, a journey on which Allen must wrestle with lies about his past while struggling against the elements to survive.


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]]> 2024-03-14 00:33:57 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2918036906 I'm From Here Too by Kashmira Sheth cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2918041310 Kashmira Sheth's eloquent verse novel follows an Indian American Sikh boy through a year of change, challenges, and growth

Anoop is many things: a brother, a son, a grandson, a friend, a middle school student, and a budding writer. He is also Indian American and Sikh.

When he joins a new class, separated from longtime friends, aspects of his identity—especially his long hair, covered with a patka—draw attention in new and uncomfortable ways. At the same time, his beloved grandfather in India is nearing death, leading Anoop to think about faith and identity and his place in the world, especially as attacks on American Sikhs accelerate and he is reminded of his grandfather’s experiences during Partition.

Can the tenets of his faith—equality, justice, service, honesty—help Anoop navigate life? Can he even maintain them?


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]]> 2024-03-14 00:36:19 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2918041310 Alien Apocalypse (Interdimensional Explorers #2) by Lorraine Gregory and illustrated by Jo Lindley cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2918048581 The second sensational book in a brand-new funny, accessible and action-packed space-adventure series written by the incredible Lorraine Gregory—perfect for middle grade fans of MG Leonard and David Baddiel!


If the fate of the entire multiverse was in your hands, what would YOU do?


Nothing exciting ever happens on twelve-year-old Danny’s estate . . . that is until he falls through a locker in his grandad’s workshop and finds himself in an Interdimensional Lost Property Office!


Join Danny, Modge and Inaaya in a rocket-fuelled rampage across the universe and space shenanigans as they race to save the universe from the evil Flurm Worm . . .


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]]> 2024-03-14 00:41:17 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2918048581 Mr. Lemoncello's Fantabulous Finale (Mr. Lemoncello's Library #6) by Chris Grabenstein cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2918054864 Do you have what it takes to be the new owner of Mr. Lemoncello’s epic gaming empire? Find out in this fantabulous finale to the beloved, New York Times Bestselling Mr. Lemoncello's Library series!

Mr. Lemoncello's ENTIRE game-making empire is up for grabs!

It's time for one last fantabulous challenge with Mr. Lemoncello-the world's most famous gamemaker! This time everything is on the line—literally! Mr. Lemoncello has invited thirteen lucky 13 year-olds—including his biggest fan, Kyle Keeley— to compete in the final games. The winner of these games will become the new owner of Mr. Lemoncello's ENTIRE GAME MAKING EMPIRE!!! But uh-oh—someone is trying to destroy Mr. Lemoncello empire and all it stands for: imagination, games, books . . . knowledge! Can Kyle Keeley stop them and make his dreams come true?

Get ready for a whirlwind adventure that takes us from the lions of the New York Public Library to the Choose Your Own Thrill-Venture Roller Coaster inside the brand-new Lemoncelloland amusement park, filled with codes and clues, adventure and mystery, and surprise cameos from across Chris Grabenstein's many series. So sit back, relax and prepare to have your imagination take flight...you are on your way to Lemoncelloland!


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]]> 2024-03-14 00:45:44 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2918054864 Capitol Chase (National Archive Hunters #1) by Matthew Landis cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2918060489 Twins race to find the thief stealing valuable historical artifacts before their family’s framed for the crimes in this high-octane middle grade action-adventure series starter for fans of City Spies and Alex Rider.

Ten-year-old Ike Carter has committed large chunks of American history to memory. That’s what happens when you’re a genius who loves the past. His twin, Iris, prefers the present (aka reality). She’s an elite athlete, dominating the competition thanks to her wicked-sharp spatial awareness.

During the opening night of a new exhibit at their mom’s boutique museum in Washington, D.C., Ike and Iris inadvertently stumble onto a robbery in progress. A girl not much older than them is stealing a miniature portrait of George Washington from the collection. It's only the first in a string of crimes, all focused on items that were once gifted by the Marquis de Lafayette to his American friends. With some help from the National Archives Research Center, the twins puzzle out the culprit’s next targets, and are soon hot on the trail of the mystery girl.

But their efforts also put them in the crosshairs of the FBI’s Art Crime team, who suspect their family is involved. If the twins can’t catch the real perp as they target the final item, it’ll be game over.

An action-packed series opener from highly-acclaimed author Matthew Landis, Capitol Chase introduces a new secret agent team sure to engross fans of National Treasure, City Spies, and Alex Rider with plot twists and turns that make this one unputdownable from first page to last.


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]]> 2024-03-14 00:49:55 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2918060489 The Sinister Secrets of the Fabulous Nothings (Sinister Secrets #2) by Sean Ferrell and illustrated by Graham Carter cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2918064475 Technological wonders and terrors combine to weave an enchanting tale of finding your own way to belong in the second book in the sweeping Sinister Secrets series.

It’s been thrilling for Noah having the crew of the Abbreviated stuffed in his odd-twisting home. After spending a life being lonely, he finally feels like he has a family. But sailors are meant to be at sea, and now Noah’s terrified that they’ll leave him alone once more. He wishes he had the answer to solve this latest predicament.

And then the strangest things start happening in the city of Liberty. Under cover of darkness, people’s greatest wishes start to come true. But what begins as the marvelous realization of dreams soon morphs to ghoulish nightmare . . . and only Noah seems to be able to see the chimeras for what they really are. What’s more, the infiltration may all be his fault.

Now Noah must use his cunning to save Liberty once more. But how do you battle an invisible threat? And what will it cost him?
Accompanied by vibrant black and white illustrations, the stunning second book in the Sinister Secrets series reunites old friends for new challenges in a quest brimming with eerie mystery, adventure, and an aching desire to find a space in the world.


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]]> 2024-03-14 00:52:56 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2918064475 Wings to Soar by Tina Athaide cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2918068297 A historically relevant middle-grade novel-in-verse about a girl's resiliency when faced with hatred towards refugees. Readers of The Night Diary and Inside Out and Back Again shouldn’t miss out.

It's 1972 and Viva’s Indian family has been expelled from Uganda and sent to a resettlement camp in England, but not all of them made the trip. Her father is supposed to meet them in London, but he never shows up. As they wait for him, Viva, her mother, and her sister get settled in camp and try to make the best of their life there.

Just when she is beginning to feel at home with new friends, Viva and her family move out of the camp and to a part of London where they are not welcome. While grappling with the hate for brown-skinned people in their new community, Viva is determined to find her missing father so they can finish their move to Canada. When it turns out he has been sponsored to move to the United States, they have to save enough money to join him.

Told in verse, Wings to Soar follows a resilient girl and the friendships she forges during a turbulent time.


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]]> 2024-03-14 00:55:39 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2918068297 PetWizards by Kirk Scroggs cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2918077370 Perfect for animal lovers and fans of Lumberjanes, here is a hilarious graphic novel about a boy named Finch with the not-so-secret ability to control animals, and his mission to save the school musical and win the heart of his crush.


Finch Eaglehawk may seem like an average oddball with a taste for the dramatic and glam-rock musical numbers, but he has a secret. Finch is a PetWizard, with the ability to control the animal kingdom—well, the “et cetera” category of the animal kingdom. Though he loves his naked mole rats, bearded dragons, and boa constrictors, Finch yearns for more. With the help of his best friend, Aberdeen, a mysterious new kid named Erica, and an ancient PetMaster manual, Finch tries to learn how to own his powers and use them to help those in need, protect the vulnerable, and, most important, impress his crush, Ken Chu, the star of the upcoming school musical.


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]]> 2024-03-14 00:59:55 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2918077370 Tinker Bell and the Lost City (Bleakwatch Chronicles #1) by Zack Loran Clark cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2921011775 Tinker Bell makes a dazzling new debut in this exciting adventure series for middle grade readers!

Tinker Bell loves nothing more than solving a problem. For her, red buttons demand to be pushed, treasure maps need to be followed, and lost things ought to be found. So when a strange fairy crash lands in Pixie Hollow and leaves Tinker Bell two clues to find a mysterious necklace on the Mainland, she really doesn’t have a choice but to help. However, her journey takes an unexpected turn when she discovers a hidden city of fairies living below the streets of London.

In this city called Bleakwatch, she'll meet the Flutterpunks, the most infamous band of trinket scavengers around. Helping her may just give them their biggest score yet. But when the Flutterpunks’ plan goes haywire, they’ll be forced to choose between a big payday or saving their new friend.

When their adventure takes them inside the glittering Clockwork Capital, Tinker Bell and the Flutterpunks will uncover a villainous secret that threatens all the fairies in Bleakwatch. It turns out there’s more at stake than just finding a missing necklace, and it’ll be up to Tinker Bell to set things right. Luckily, that’s what tinker fairies do best!


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]]> 2024-03-15 22:38:58 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2921011775 Knots by Colleen Frakes cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2921012771 In this semiautobiographical graphic novel from award-winning cartoonist Colleen Frakes, Norah must navigate not just her foiled dreams of blond hair but also the tangled mess her family has become. 


Norah is the good kid. Good at pleasing her parents and being a good sister. Good at school. Good at, well, almost everything.


So when Mom’s work brings her to a new town leaving Norah and Dad behind, no one thinks twice. After all, Norah’s a mature sixth grader who can take care of herself…right? But things spiral out of control after a botched home dye job goes wrong and being the good kid quickly gets a little…hairy.


Before long, one small tangle becomes a knot of epic proportions, and Norah soon realizes that the only way to untangle the mess she’s made is to find her voice and ask for help. 


Perfect for fans of Just Pretend and Crunch, Knots is sure to have readers laughing (and cringing) along with Norah’s antics.


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]]> 2024-03-15 22:42:12 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2921012771 Rougarou Magic by Rachel M. Marsh cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2921013491 After discovering that the creatures from Cajun folklore actually exist, Feliciana is torn between hiding her Southern heritage and starting fresh at her new school—all while caring for an unexpected magical friend. Rachel M. Marsh’s debut novel is for fans of Tracey Baptiste’s The Jumbies and Katherine Applegate’s Crenshaw.


Twelve-year-old Feliciana Fruge does not like Boston. If given the chance, she would gladly move herself and her mom from the freezing city right back to Grandma’s house in Louisiana. Feliciana dreams of escaping her stepfather’s corny jokes and bland food and the relentless bullying at school for “being poor” and having a Southern accent.


So, when she transfers to a new school and has the chance to start fresh, Feliciana plans to be as un-Cajun as possible in order to blend in. But then Grandma sends Feliciana a mischievous and magical monster from Cajun folklore—Roux the rougarou. While Grandma might have meant for rambunctious Roux to keep Feliciana company, now Feliciana must juggle making new friends, outsmarting a bully, creating her best art to qualify for an upcoming competition—and hiding her mysterious, magical canine companion from everyone.


Rougarou Magic is a magic-laced, tenderly drawn love letter to Cajun folklore, the bittersweetness of starting over when you least expect it, and the unlikely friends you make along the way. Rachel M. Marsh’s debut novel explores themes of friendship, family, self-identity, and change and will captivate animal lovers and fans of Ghost Squad.


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]]> 2024-03-15 22:44:32 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2921013491 Saving Kenny by Corinne Gaile cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2921014143 Kenny Reed has a bright future ahead of him, but he and his siblings must first escape their abusive mother in this emotional middle-grade novel.An age-appropriate, safe conversation starter presented with alluring prose and sensitive treatment of complex issues.

Twelve-year-old Kenny Reed is a scholarship student at a private school across the river from his apartment in the Roxbury neighborhood of Boston, which he shares with an older brother and sister and their abusive mother. He has always lived in the shadow of his siblings' success, but when he watches a performance of the opera Aida, Kenny discovers costumes and decides to become a costume designer.

In the midst of tumultuous family dynamics and domestic violence, the three siblings find themselves achieving their dreams and breaking the cycle of violence in this coming-of-age story.


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]]> 2024-03-15 22:46:42 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2921014143 Goblin Monday (Goosebumps House of Shivers #2) by R. L. Stine cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2924055121 Mario is spending winter break with his neighbors, Todd and Jewel, on their family vacation to Vermont. He is excited to see snow for the first time and meet his friend’s beloved grandparents. But Todd and Jewel’s grandparents turn out to be a little odd. They love telling tall tales of goblins, elves, and trolls. When Mario spots a blur of green fur in the garden, he wonders if the stories could be real. He’s determined to find out more, but the truth might be more dangerous than fiction.


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]]> 2024-03-19 00:20:06 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2924055121 Night of the Living Mummy (Goosebumps House of Shivers #3) by R. L. Stine cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2924058560 Happy Silverman is more than a little excited for his class trip to the museum. He loves learning about Ancient Egypt and can't wait to see real mummies. At the museum, Happy leans as close to the mummy display as he possibly can—and something strange happens. His head spins and he hears an unfamiliar voice ringing inside his mind. The mummy is inside Happy’s brain and need his help—or else!


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]]> 2024-03-19 00:22:31 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2924058560 Stinetinglers 3: More Chilling Stories by the Master of Scary Tales by R. L. Stine cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2924063474 From R.L. Stine, the master of horror for young readers, comes ten brand new stories that are sure to have you keeping the light on at bedtime tonight.

A boy thinks that a dream factory will help him make his slumber more fun...but what's the line between dream and nightmare? Two kids find an abandoned shack on the side of the road and are determined to make it their new treehouse... but is it as abandoned as it seems? A boy wants to impress a birthday party with this amateur magician skills...but how far will he go to wow the crowd? And each story comes with a personal introduction from Stine himself, adding even more chills.

Laced with Stine’s signature humor and a hefty dose of nightmarish fun, Stinetinglers 3 is perfect for fans of Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark and Stine’s own Goosebumps books who want even more scares. These chilling tales prove that Stine’s epic legacy in the horror genre is justly earned. Dive in, and beware: these stories will stick with you long after you've turned the final page.


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]]> 2024-03-19 00:25:30 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2924063474 Spy School Goes Wild (Spy School #12) by Stuart Gibbs cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2924074168 In the twelfth book in Stuart Gibbs’s New York Times bestselling Spy School series, superspy middle schooler Ben Ripley gets lost on a perilous mission with one of his greatest enemies.

Ben Ripley is recruited for a top secret mission to bring down his nemesis, Murray Hill, once and for all. But when things go horribly wrong, Ben ends up lost in an extremely dangerous wilderness with Murray—and confronting a new, devious enemy—with none of his friends to help him. Now, Ben must figure out how to survive and deduce what evil plan his new enemy is plotting in time to thwart it.


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]]> 2024-03-19 00:31:36 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2924074168 Caught Dead (Bite Risk #2) by S.J. Willis cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2933109532 In this thrilling sequel to the middle grade adventure Bite Risk, Sel and his friends face something even bigger, stronger, and deadlier than Rippers when a new foe rises with the moon on Howl Night.

When you’ve already helped cause the end of the world, what’s left to be afraid of? Plenty.

After Sel Archer and his friends uncovered a conspiracy that turned the whole world upside down, people are struggling to live with the fact that almost all its adult population turn into Rippers once a month, and Sel is struggling with his newfound celebrity and the fact that Elena and Pedro have moved away from Tremorglade.

But bigger problems soon arise when Rippers start getting attacked on Howl Nights, turning up the following day, human but badly injured, with no idea how they were hurt. Rumors of a foul, unkillable beast begin to stir...someone or something is plotting to control the Rippers once and for all.

Can they stop what’s happening before all of Tremorglade is under the power of something unrelenting, unstoppable, and possibly...undead?


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]]> 2024-03-25 23:46:22 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2933109532 Kicked Out by A. M. Dassu cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2933112905 In this stand-alone companion novel to the acclaimed Boy, Everywhere, A. M. Dassu returns to extend the story of Sami's best friend Ali, who organizes a charity soccer match for their friend Aadam while his whole life is privately unraveling.


After their friend Mark's mum wins the lottery and gets a giant house with an indoor pool, Ali and Sami have been having the time of their lives hanging at Mark's house. Even their friend Aadam gets a job there, which means he can make more money for his legal battle for UK residency. But when some money goes missing, Aadam is accused of stealing it—and all three boys are unceremoniously kicked out of Mark's house in suspicion.


On top of that, Ali's dad, who abandoned the family when Ali was little, is suddenly turning up everywhere in town, and a half-brother Ali never knew has shown up at Ali's school. Ali feels miserable and resentful about it, making it hard to be a good friend.


The boys know Aadam is innocent, and if he doesn't raise thousands of pounds right away, he could get deported back to Syria amidst its civil war. At least Ali has a plan: they'll host a charity football penalty match to raise money for Aadam so he can stay in the UK.


But can Ali pull together the match—even if he feels his whole life at home is falling apart?


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]]> 2024-03-25 23:50:07 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2933112905 Monday (Worst Week Ever #1) by Eva Amores and Matt Cosgrove cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2933116473 The humor of Captain Underpants meets the blockbuster format of Diary of a Wimpy Kid in this laugh-out-loud series about Justin Chase, who is having the Worst. Week. EVER!


Have you ever had a bad week? Justin Chase sure has and THIS is it!


His mom has just married a vampire. His dad is driving a giant toilet on wheels. His cat has probably been abducted by aliens. A bully is making his first day at a new school miserable. And right now, he's hanging off the edge of a 30-foot-tall diving board in front of his entire class wearing nothing but rapidly disappearing crocheted swim trunks!


And it's only...MONDAY!


The first book in the new laugh-out-loud hilarious seven-part middle-grade book series based loosely off this husband and wife team’s own family!


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]]> 2024-03-25 23:54:28 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2933116473 Project Mercury by Ronald L. Smith cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2933118873 Thirteen-year-old Ike Pressure is used to moving around and starting over. He's an Army brat—and no, that's not an insult, he'll be the first to tell you. He's proud of his mom, who's a U.S. Army Specialist, and he's used to being the new kid at school.


But when Eesha Webb and her family arrive in Mercury, Nevada, the location of the latest base the Pressures call home, everything changes. The Webbs are old family friends, and the grown-ups all expect Ike and Eesha to be instant besties, just like when they were little. Ike doubts someone as outgoing and athletic as Eesha would want to hang out with him, and he's not so sure he wants to be stuck with her, either. The reunion is . . . awkward, to say the least. The truth is, they have absolutely nothing in common.

Nothing . . . except for the fact that neither of them have any idea what their parents actually do on the base, even though they've asked. It's clear something top secret is happening there, but what could it be? Eesha is convinced it has to do with aliens, but Ike is skeptical—until a terrifying run-in with some Men in Black changes his mind. What the kids don't know is that the stakes are actually much higher than alien encounters. Ike's mom is in danger—and along with her, a mission to avert their planet from environmental disaster. Will Ike and Eesha be able to get over their differences and work together to unravel the secrets of Project Mercury and save Ike's mom before it's too late?


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]]> 2024-03-25 23:57:50 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2933118873 The Truth About 5th Grade by Kim Tomsic and Mark Parisi cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2933122192 Charlotte “Charli” Wilson thought Alex Andropov would always be her best BFF in the whole wide world. From crushes to butterfly phobias to secret hidden blankies, there’s never been a secret they couldn’t share. Charli even showed Alex the supersecret hiding spot for her diary. But when school starts and Charli learns that Alex has betrayed her by sharing her biggest, most secretest secret, she realizes that maybe her bestie isn’t so great after all.


Meanwhile, Alex has no idea what he's done wrong. He doesn’t know why Charli’s not talking to him. He has no choice (right? RIGHT?) but to take her diary and try to correct the record. There’s always two sides to the truth—especially in fifth grade.

With hilarious illustrations and outrageous twists on every page, this is the perfect story for fans of Diary of a Wimpy Kid, The Tapper Twins, and Invisible Emmie.  


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]]> 2024-03-26 00:02:04 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2933122192 Tuesday (Worst Week Ever #2) by Eva Amores and Matt Cosgrove cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2933125087 The humor of Captain Underpants meets the blockbuster format of Diary of a Wimpy Kid in this laugh-out-loud series about Justin Chase, who is having the Worst. Week. EVER!


Have you ever had a bad week? Justin Chase sure has and THIS is it!


He barely made it through MONDAY, but now it’s . . . TUESDAY.


His cat is still missing, probably abducted by aliens. His dad is more embarrassing than ever. He’s gone viral online in the worst possible way. And when school picture day collides with the Super Science Spectacular, it’s destined to blow up into a hair-raising, teeth-shattering disaster of epic proportions!


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]]> 2024-03-26 00:05:18 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2933125087 Wednesday (Worst Week Ever #3) by Eva Amores and Matt Cosgrove cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2933127926 The humor of Captain Underpants meets the blockbuster format of Diary of a Wimpy Kid in this laugh-out-loud series about Justin Chase, who is having the Worst. Week. EVER!


Have you ever had a bad week? Justin Chase sure has and THIS is it!


MONDAY went downhill, TUESDAY blew up, but now it's . . . WEDNESDAY!


His cat is still mysteriously missing. He's an unintentional internet sensation. And right now sharks are circling as he's stranded in a heart-stopping, skin-crawling, jaw-dropping, seriously shocking S.O.S. situation with his unbelievably annoying arch-enemy!


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]]> 2024-03-26 00:08:18 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2933127926 Anatomy of Lost Things by Shawn K. Stout cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2935900223 A laugh-through-your-tears middle grade novel about what it’s like to lose something precious. For fans of the Three Rancheros series by Kate DiCamillo.

A necklace. A bugle. A lion statue. What do they have to do with each other? Absolutely nothing unless you’re Tildy, Leon, or Nell. These items matter an awful lot to them. Not because of what they are, but what—and who—they represent.

Anatomy of Lost Things shares the crisscrossing stories of Tildy, Leon, and Nell, of the impossible losses they’ve each recently faced, and the unexpected histories of their prized objects. Written with heartbreaking honesty and humor, this novel unfolds in the tender space that exists between staggering loss and the start of recovery, and it finds plenty of hope and laughter waiting there.


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]]> 2024-03-27 23:24:25 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2935900223 Deja Ross Speaks to Freaks by Lisa Naffziger cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2935901519 Who's brave enough to make friends with a monster? Deja discovers the hidden world of America’s mythical creatures in this lovable and exciting graphic novel!

Deja Ross is a seventh-grade cryptozoologist. That means she loves monsters… and hopes to someday prove they're real!

On a long family road trip, she pulls out her new video camera to search for legendary creatures at every stop. One night, Deja sneaks out of the RV and meets the Texas chupacabra face-to-face! In her excitement to meet an actual cryptid, she charms the beast out of eating her. It turns out that mythological animals are not only real… they can talk. And maybe it’s time for their stories to be heard!

Deja and her furry new friend hatch a plan to interview the rest of the cryptid community. Unfortunately, they’re not the only ones on the trail… and some other monster-hunters don’t have intentions as pure as Deja’s. Has she led her beloved beasts into a trap?

Critically acclaimed graphic novelist Lisa Naffziger (Minus) presents a page-turning adventure that celebrates friendship, curiosity, and the most adorable critters you’ve never seen.


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]]> 2024-03-27 23:27:11 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2935901519 Shadow Over Aetheria (Diary of an 8-Bit Warrior #7) by Cube Kid and illustrated by Saboten cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2935903805 Book 7 of the international best-selling 8-Bit Warrior series that takes readers inside the journal of Runt, a young Minecraft villager who dares to dream of becoming a Minecraft warrior!

Everyone's favorite villager-turned-warrior, Runt and his friends have had loads of adventures already. They have worked hard (at least some of them) as students, undergone intensive training in Villagetown, battled monsters sent by Herobrine, and even successfully completed their very first quest at Owl's Reach! But their greatest adventure begins now: making their way to the capital Aetheria City!
 
What will Runt and his friends face at the Greater Aetheria Academy? Will they finally become true warriors and get to battle Herobrine?


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]]> 2024-03-27 23:31:07 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2935903805 Best of My Little Pony Volume 2: Mares in Manehattan by Ted Anderson, Thom Zahler, and Jeremy Whitley and illustrated by Agnes Garbowska and Andy Price cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2937763530 Celebrate the most thrilling adventures of your favorite ponies and storylines, curated from the popular IDW comics in this accessibly priced, all-ages compilation graphic novel.

Manehattan, here we come! Three fun tales of friendship in the big city! First, Applejack, Rarity, and Fluttershy visit Manehattan to see Trixie’s magic show. Then, Rarity has some work to do, making costumes for Bab Seed’s next big event. And finally, Fluttershy and Rarity travel to Manehattan where Rarity is shocked to find old fashions are back in style! How dare they?!


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]]> 2024-03-29 22:55:08 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2937763530 Captain Marvel: Born to Fly, Destined for the Stars: A Marvel Origin Story by Sharon Gosling cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2937764280 The full origin story for Marvel’s most powerful Super Hero, Captain Marvel—perfect for early readers! This entry in Marvel’s chapter book series gives kids easy-to-read origin storis for all of their favorite Super Heroes.

Carole Danvers is Captain Marvel, the mighty Super Hero who uses her super-powers to protect Earth from any threat coming its way. See Carol rise in the ranks of the Air Force and head up security at NASA! Discover how Carol—blasted with cosmic power from an other-worldly machine—gains the ability to fly and manipulate energy! Witness Carol come to terms with her unknown origins and defeat the alien threat facing Earth! This action-packed Marvel origin story tells the full tale of how Captain Marvel became a Marvel Super Hero.


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]]> 2024-03-29 22:58:24 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2937764280 Cuphead Volume 3: Colorful Crack-Ups & Chaos by Zack Keller and illustrated by Shawn Dickinson cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2937765221 Cuphead, Mugman, and Ms. Chalice return in this brand-new collection of chaos and capers!

The gang gets themselves into some close calls and hilarious hiccups featuring ice cream enterprises, literally jumping into boardgames, and more! This original graphic novel features exciting all-new adventures, all drawn in the magnificent, magical, award-winning vintage style of Cuphead!

Don’t pass up this chance to see Cuphead, Mugman, and Ms. Chalice in their third collection of adventures wonderfully realized by the returning team of writer Zack Keller and artist Shawn Dickinson!


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]]> 2024-03-29 23:03:40 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2937765221 The Peruvian Express (The Curious League of Detectives and Thieves #3) by Tom Phillips cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2937765643 All aboard for a high-speed new case in the third installment of this middle grade mystery series for fans of A Series of Unfortunate Events and Enola Holmes.

Stranded on a mountain in Peru after the crash of a luxury airship, John Boarhog has only one mission on his mind: reuniting with his mentor and guardian, Inspector Toadius McGee. John’s convinced that if he makes his way to a plume of smoke in the distance, the great detective will be waiting. The only problem is there’s a whole rainforest between them.

After battling their way through the Amazon, John and his friends find a train—The Peruvian Express—and its glittering owner, Oro Del Rey, the Golden King, who offers them passage as they continue to search for their loved ones.

Soon John’s investigation goes off the rails when he’s asked to help to locate an infamous Object of Doom. But he’s not the only one on the hunt. . . .

The third book in The Curious League of Detectives and Thieves, The Peruvian Express is a hilarious, fast-paced mystery packed with action, wit, and another unforgettable adventure.


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]]> 2024-03-29 23:06:42 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2937765643 The Duke's Curse (Sea of Gold #2) by Gregory More cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2937766191 In the tradition of Treasure Island, The Duke’s Curse continues this thrilling middle-grade series following an unlikely young pirate on a high-stakes sea adventure, by New York Times bestselling author Gregory Mone

Young treasure hunter Fish—nicknamed for his swimming abilities—learns that his refusal to fight has a cost when he’s torn away from his pirate family. Fish and his friends Nora and Daniel are forced to sail under Countess Marie de Bornholdt, the widely feared and very unusual captain of the Rat Queen, and her latest assistant—Fish’s arch nemesis, Scab.

In search of the storied ship with emerald eyes, the Rat Queen’s treasure hunters race from the islands of the Caribbean Sea to the canals of Venice and the sunken library of a cursed prince. Yet they’re not the only pirates on the trail. After an unusual map leads them to a mysterious island, a climactic final battle blurs the line between friend and foe, forcing Fish and his friends to make a terrible choice.

A swashbuckling tale of mistaken identities, lost maps and treasures, and the bonds of friendship.


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]]> 2024-03-29 23:09:38 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2937766191 Fortunes & Frenemies (Wildseed Witch #3) by Marti Dumas cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2937766867 Fortunes & Frenemies is the third book in Marti Dumas’s Creole tradition inspired, fun middle-grade contemporary Wildseed Witch fantasy series, about a social-media-loving tween—and witch!

In the past year, Hasani has learned she’s a witch, been accepted by Les Belles Demoiselles, and formed her own coven—and her YouTube followers for her makeup channel are growing every day. Now that she’s in eighth grade, she’s ready to rule the school with all her witch powers and best friends by her side.

But frenemy LaToya is still at Riverbend Middle causing trouble, both magically and socially. LaToya’s determined to befriend every single possible witch at school (and turn them against Hasani), and Hasani can’t help but wonder if she’s got another scheme going. Witches aren’t supposed to interfere in each others’ business—but what if LaToya is going to hurt someone? Or herself? Hasani and her friends Dee, Angelique, and Luz have to figure out for themselves when it’s right to let things lie—and when it’s their responsibility to stand up for their community.


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]]> 2024-03-29 23:12:20 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2937766867 Godzilla: The Complete Monsters & Protectors by Erik Burnham and illustrated by Dan Schoening cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2938084274 When Godzilla senses humankind doing harm to the planet, the King of the Monsters attacks!

When a coldly single-minded businessman uses an untested element to create clean energy for a profit, he inadvertently awakens the beast from the deep! It will be up to three intrepid middle-school students, Cedric, Emily, and Anderson—with a little magic help from Infant Island—to show Godzilla that not all humans are bad…and that there is still hope for Planet Earth.

Then, Godzilla has been missing for a year and Cedric desperately needs new content for his vlog. No sightings means no destruction, and that’s not a bad thing but his views are dropping and he’s facing competition and trolling from Karen Higa and cyberbully Dragon. But nothing brings rivals together like a common enemy. When the otherworldly Xiliens begin using psychic technology to probe every mind on Earth for knowledge of Godzilla, they awaken the three-headed dragon King Ghidorah instead!

This graphic novel compilation collects Godzilla: Monsters and Protectors—Rise Up!, Godzilla: Monsters and Protectors—All Hail the King!, and Godzilla: Monsters & Protectors—Summer Smash by writer Erik Burnham and artist Dan Schoening.


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]]> 2024-03-30 23:16:48 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2938084274 Godzilla: Monster Summer Camp by Rosie Knight and illustrated by Oliver Ono cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2938084997 This fresh Godzilla OGN proves that kaiju are for kids. Especially the ones who’d rather befriend beasts than fight them.

As an aspiring cartoonist, Zelda has always dreamed of attending an art summer camp, and this year she finally gets to go! But when she arrives to Make It Summer Camp, she’s horrified to see the easels and sketchboards have been replaced with dodgeball and calisthenics. The camp is under new, suspicious management that’s turned it into an extreme sports nightmare.

Determined to salvage her summer, Zelda escapes to a secluded corner of the island. Here she can finally draw in peace. At least until she stumbles into a portal to a fantastic world!

Welcome to Monster Island, Zelda!

There she makes a connection with baby kaiju Minilla and discovers the beauty of these legendary creatures. However, all is not well on Monster Island. Great evils are stirring and if Zelda can’t protect their home, the kaiju will unleash their wrath on the world.


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]]> 2024-03-30 23:21:35 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2938084997 Hannah Edwards: Secrets of Riverway by Ashley Hards cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2938085498 Hannah Edwards has a lot on her mind.


For starters, her father—the Canola King—has been missing for months. And not her distracted mother, her meddlesome guidance counselor, nor her evil Uncle Fergus seem to care. Luckily, she has her secret journal and her best friend Sam Castillo for support.

So when Sam tells Hannah he thinks he saw her father’s ghost down at the old Riverway Mill, Hannah decides to take matters into her own hands. She soon learns that Uncle Fergus has a plan to steal the family farm, drain the river, and find a hidden treasure.

On the edge of going from being a "good kid" to a "bad kid", Hannah stops pretending to pay attention to her endlessly boring classes. With Sam, her journal, and eventually a whole lot of Riverway frogs, Hannah sets out to solve the mystery of her father's disappearance.

A heartfelt story of a young neurodiverse girl with a whole lot of determination to do the right thing.


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]]> 2024-03-30 23:25:01 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2938085498 Hart & Souls by Lisa Schmid cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2938085929 After getting bullied at Figueroa Elementary, Stix Hart wants nothing more than to fly below the radar at middle school. He's heard all the horror stories, but none involved ghosts.

On Stix's first day of sixth grade, his anxiety is off the charts. It doesn't help when he spots a kid who reminds him of his old bully, Xander Mack. Soon after, he encounters two other students who take a keen interest in him. He quickly learns the spooky truth—the trio are lost souls in need of a solid. When the ghosts tell him they've been stuck in middle school for decades, it's up to Stix to figure out how to help these not-so-normal new friends. 

Solving this paranormal predicament will take some serious sleuthing and tremendous bravery. Can Stix solve this mystery and help these spirits move on before it's too late? 


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]]> 2024-03-30 23:28:10 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2938085929 I Survived the Black Death, 1348 (I Survived #24) by Lauren Tarshis cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2938087577 The Black Death was a pandemic of unimaginable propotions, taking the lives of 75-200 million people worldwide. Lauren Tarshis's story of one girl surviving the plague pulses with terror, action, and hope.


In this gripping story about the first wave of the plague, I Survived readers will travel to medieval England — a time of knights and peasants; cathedrals and castles — when the most deadly disease in world history sweeps across Europe and parts of Asia and Africa.


New York Times bestselling author Lauren Tarshis tells the story of how one girl finds incredible hope amid illness and grief. Includes a section of nonfiction backmatter with more facts and photos about the real-life event.


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]]> 2024-03-30 23:37:43 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2938087577 It Watches in the Dark (Eek! #1) by Jeff Strand cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2938088204 "She glanced over her shoulder. Had the scarecrow moved? It stood there, smile stitched on its face, but now it felt like a smirk."


Prepare to be scared silly in this creepy middle-grade novel! Twins seek medical help in a remote village after their father is in a canoeing accident...only to discover the scarecrow that stands watch in town may have a stronger hold over the residents than expected. Perfect for fans of R.L. Stine, Dan Poblocki, and Mary Downing Hahn.


Twins Oliver and Trisha love going on adventures with their dad. Canoeing and camping on the Champion River will be their best trip yet! But when they capsize in rapids, their father is knocked unconscious. Alone and without cell phone reception, their only choice is to continue down river for help.


Hours of paddling brings them to an old dock, and a narrow path leads them to a small village. The townspeople are kind and helpful, but strangely focused on the giant scarecrow in the village square. "He watches over us," the twins are told in whispers. "He keeps us safe."


An old woman warns the twins not to spend the night in the village. Not if they ever want to leave. But with the sun soon to set and their father not well enough to be moved, how can they escape? More importantly, can they survive?


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]]> 2024-03-30 23:41:44 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2938088204 Juneberry Blue by Candice Ransom cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2938088891 Taking inspiration from Sleeping Beauty and rural settings, this contemporary magical realism novel includes a mistaken destiny, a dying town, and a determined ghost cat.

Eleven-year-old Andie Jennings, of Morning Glory, Virginia (population: 8), is set to inherit a matrilineal gift on Test Day, and she plans to use it to bring her dad home for good from his long-haul trucking job. Except her gift doesn’t come.

Instead, Andie starts seeing and hearing unexplained things, and a see-through cat seems to be following her. Turns out, she didn't fail Test Day. Her gift just isn’t what anyone expected. But Andie’s ability to communicate with the ghosts at the town’s shuttered Juneberry Blue factory may be the very thing that Morning Glory—and her own family—needs.


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]]> 2024-03-30 23:45:06 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2938088891 Mama's Chicken and Dumplings by Dionna L. Mann cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2938089313 Growing up in segregated 1930’s Charlottesville, ten-year-old Allie is determined to find a man for her mama to marry— but not just any man will do!

Allie’s life with Mama isn’t bad, but she knows it could be better if Mama would find someone to marry. Allie’s worst enemy, her NOT-friend Gwen, has a daddy, and Allie wants someone like that—someone to fix things when they break, someone who likes to sing, and has a kind-smile.

So Allie makes a plan—her super secret Man-For-Mama plan. She has a list of candidates with a clear top choice: Mr. Johnson, who owns the antique store. Best of all, Mr. Johnson went to school with Mama, and he wants to get reacquainted! The battle’s half won, and Allie is sure that when he tries Mama’s yummy chicken and dumplings, he’ll be head over heels.

But someone else is interested in Mama: Mr. Coles, Allie’s teacher, who’s also Gwen’s uncle! Mama can’t marry him—no way is Allie going to be related to Gwen. On top of it all, Allie’s best friend is moving to Chicago; Allie keeps getting in trouble; and everyone seems to think she’s jealous of Gwen, for some reason. Nothing is going how she planned, but Allie is determined to get things back on track toward the life she knows she and Mama both deserve. . . even if Mama doesn’t agree yet.


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]]> 2024-03-30 23:48:19 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2938089313 Jerry, Let Me See the Moon by Jeffrey Ebbeler cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2938089664 Things get squirrely when Jerry discovers that his new town is a sanctuary for were-creatures, humans who turn into animals when the moon is full, in an action-packed romp for younger middle grade readers.

Jerry has serious questions about the town his scientist father drags him to: why did they give up traveling the world to settle down in such a strange spot? Why won’t his dad talk about his mysterious research or explain what happened to his mother, who disappeared years ago? And when he sees his friend Pearl transform into a were-squirrel under the light of the full moon, he needs to know: were exactly has he ended up?

But when criminal mayhem turns Jerry’s town—a safe haven for were-creatures—into a not-so-safe haven, Jerry must uncover a twisty conspiracy and take down the instigators who are trying to tear the place that’s become his home apart.

Packed with twists and turns and filled with vivid black-and-white drawings, Kraken Me Up author Jeffrey Ebbeler’s experience as a comics artist translates into dynamic, visual action sequences that even the most reluctant readers won’t have to fight their way through. Larger-than-life bad guys and slapstick humor meets a heartfelt exploration of what makes a place home in this page-turner that will leave younger middle grade readers howling for more.


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]]> 2024-03-30 23:51:09 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2938089664 Julie and the Blue Guitar (American Girl Mysteries Across Time #1) by Casey Gilly and illustrated by Felia Hanakata cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2942404996 An American Girl Mystery unravels across time! Join Emma Dhillon in 2024 as she befriends Julie Albright through her 1977 journal and uncovers a mystery.

Ten-year-old Emma is excited to explore her new home of San Francisco, but making new friends is difficult. That is, until she meets Julie…. well, she discovers her journal from 1977 in a local thirft shop and quickly becomes enraptured with a mystery unfolding in Julie’s time.

Though half a century separates them, Emma and Julie are united by their shared home, their passion for the environment, and a missing blue guitar. As Julie investigates stolen artifacts and works to help animals after an oil spill, Emma sets to work uncovering Julie A.’s identity, documenting the whole process on video for her school project.

This new mystery graphic novel from American Girl and IDW weaves together two storylines, past and present, ending with a modern girl and a historical character joining forces to make a difference today.


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]]> 2024-04-04 00:23:54 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2942404996 Kingdom Riders (Kingdom Riders #1) by Shannon Eric Denton and illustrated by Marcus To cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2942409462 Race through an exciting and dangerous fantasy world on the back of a toad in this wildly original combination of Hunger Games and Amulet.

Kayla is a peasant who cares little about the world outside her town or the wildly popular Kingdom Races. That is, until her best friend, Mal, finds herself in trouble and Kayla must enter as a rider to save her. But the prize for winning this series of races is more than Kayla could ever imagine. With control of the entire kingdom at stake, Kayla finds herself thrust into political intrigue and lurking danger.

Readers follow Kayla as she adventures into the wider world while putting her own life on the line for her friends, both old and new. No one has ever even finished the Kingdom Races. Will Kayla be the first?


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]]> 2024-04-04 00:27:33 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2942409462 Korgi: The Complete Tale by Christian Spade cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2942413503 The beloved wordless fantasy graphic novel is now collected in a single epic volume! Fall in love with the wondrous world of Korgi Hollow, packed with thrills, laughs, and exquisitely illustrated animal magic.

One of the most adorable comics of our time now arrives in a bookshelf edition for all time. When day breaks in their woodland village, Ivy and her corgi pup, Sprout, have no idea that they’ll soon be swept up in an astonishing adventure! Soon they’ll journey across land, sea, and air, from past to present and beyond, to learn more about themselves, escape the forces of evil, and uncover the ancient mysteries behind their magical world. The sumptuously detailed pen-and-ink drawings of former Disney animator Christian Slade make every page a joy to behold, using the power of “silent comics” to bring every moment wordlessly to life for readers of all ages. What’s more, this deluxe softcover collection includes not only all five Korgi graphic novels but also every bonus short story previously exclusive to comic books. The result is a complete fantasy epic that is truly timeless.


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]]> 2024-04-04 00:30:41 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2942413503 The Last Apple Tree by Claudia Mills cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2942416490 When feuding neighbors Sonnet and Zeke are paired up for a class project, they unearth a secret that could uproot Sonnet’s family—or allow it to finally heal and grow.

Twelve-year-old Sonnet’s family has just moved across the country to live with her grandfather after her nana dies. Gramps’s once-impressive apple orchard has been razed for a housing development, with only one heirloom tree left. Sonnet doesn’t want to think about how Gramps and his tree are both growing old—she just wants everything to be okay.

Sonnet is not okay with her neighbor, Zeke, a boy her age who gets on her bad side and stays there when he tries to choose her grandpa to interview for an oral history assignment. Zeke irks Sonnet with his prying questions, bringing out the sad side of Gramps she’d rather not see. Meanwhile, Sonnet joins the Green Club at school and without talking to Zeke about it, she asks his activist father to speak at the Arbor Day assembly—a collision of worlds that Zeke wanted more than anything to avoid.

But when the interviews uncover a buried tragedy that concerns Sonnet's mother, and an emergency forces Sonnet and Zeke to cooperate again, Sonnet learns not just to accept Zeke as he is, but also that sometimes forgetting isn't the solution—even when remembering seems harder.

Award-winning author Claudia Mills brings enormous compassion and depth to this novel of unlikely friendship and generational memory.


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]]> 2024-04-04 00:33:12 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2942416490 The (Mostly) True Story of Cleopatra's Needle by Dan Gutman cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2942419392 From the author of the My Weird School books, an adventure story that spans centuries and continents.

In Central Park, New York, stands Cleopatra’s Needle. But what do you know about? Did you know that thousands of people worked in 1461 BCE to build it? Then hundreds more moved it, and erected it in Alexandria, where it stood for 3,000 years? So how did a monolith weighing over 200 tons get moved all the way to New York City—and in the 19th Century, no less?

In this historical fiction account by bestselling author Dan Gutman, five kids who watched the Needle at each phase of its history recount the daring story of how something that seemed to be impossible –and that nearly ended in disaster—finally succeeded against all odds.

Including photos, diagrams, and illustrations, this book will leave history lovers and fans of problem solving astounded at all that was accomplished. And best of all, it will leave middle grade readers feeling they’ve just watched a really good movie—they’ll hardly even realize they were reading.


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]]> 2024-04-04 00:35:42 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2942419392 The Unicorn of Odd (My Little Pony: Classics Reimagined #1) by Jeremy Whitley and illustrated by Jenna Ayoub cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2942424794 The Wonderful Wizard of Oz gets pony-fied! Gallop alongside Applejack (a.k.a. Dorothy) and friends as they brave the yellow brick road.

In the second installment of IDW’s My Little Pony: Classics Reimagined line, L. Frank Baum’s The Wonderful Wizard of Oz is reimagined with our favorite ponies! And we’ve got a feeling they’re not in Equestria anymore. Travel through all of Odd with Applejack as Dorothy, Pinkie Pie as Scarecrow, Rarity as Tin Woodsmare, and Fluttershy as Cowardly Lion.

Dorothy lives an ordinary life at her farm in Ponyville, Kansas, with her Uncle Henrie and Granny Em. But a tornado whisks her away to a magical land of Breezies, silver horseshoes, and good and evil princesses. It almost makes her want to sing... (But she won’t. Those songs aren’t in the public do-mane.) Dorothy and the unlikely friends she makes on the yellow brick road will have to work together if they want to reach the Wizard of Odd. Rumor has it only the wizard can get her back to Ponyville. The road is dangerous, but they have to try. After all, there’s no place like home!


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]]> 2024-04-04 00:40:00 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2942424794 Are You Nobody Too? by Tina Cane cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2945750034 After years of discomfort as the only Chinese student at her private middle school, Emily transfers to Chinatown's I.S. 23 for 8th Grade and ends up feeling more disconnected than ever. In this coming-of-age novel-in-verse, will Emily be able to find her way or will she lose herself completely?

After a year of distance-learning, Emily Sofer finds her world turned upside down: she has to leave the only school she's ever known to attend a public school in Chinatown. For the first time, Emily isn't the only Chinese student around...but looking like everyone else doesn't mean that understanding them will be easy—especially with an intimidating group of cool girls Emily calls The Five.

When Emily discovers that her adoptive parents have been keeping a secret, she feels even more uncertain about who she is. A chance discovery of Emily Dickinson's poetry helps her finally feel seen. . . but can the words of a writer from 200 years ago help her open up again, and find common ground with the Five?


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]]> 2024-04-07 17:32:10 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2945750034 A Brush with Magic by Flora Ahn cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2945750859 A heartfelt, magical middle grade adventure—inspired by Korean folklore and set in modern-day Seoul—about sisterhood and belonging, perfect for fans of Tae Keller and Kelly Yang.

It’s finally summer break, and Yumi is headed to Korea with her older sister, Minji for the very first time. She can’t wait to explore the city of Seoul together—but Minji has other plans. The moment they land, Minji ditches Yumi to hang out with their cousins, who are more fashionable, better at soccer, and just all around cooler than Yumi.

Feeling lost and alone, Yumi is stuck at home painting with her grandfather. But when she discovers a magical ink brush in the attic, she accidentally summons a friend straight out of the Korean fairy tales her grandfather is always telling her about. Together with this new friend and the ink brush, which has the power to bring anything Yumi paints to life, Yumi explores everything Seoul has to offer, from bustling street markets and ancient palaces to riding the subway.

But as the consequences of this newfound power come home to roost, Yumi must find the strength to embrace who she is and speak up for herself—before she loses everything and everyone she loves.


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]]> 2024-04-07 17:34:22 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2945750859 The Diamond Explorer by Kao Kalia Yang cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2945751919 From APALA-winning author and Guggenheim Fellow Kao Kalia Yang, a middle-grade debut about a Hmong-American boy's struggle to find a place for himself in America and in the world of his ancestors.

Malcolm is the youngest child of Hmong refugees, and he was born over a decade after his youngest sibling, giving him a unique perspective on his complicated immigrant family.

In the first part of the story, we meet Malcolm as an elementary school kid through the eyes of the adults in his life—his parents and siblings but also the white teachers at his Minnesota schools. As middle school begins, we encounter Malcolm in his own words, and suddenly we see that this "quiet, slow Hmong boy" is anything but. Malcolm is a gifted collector of his family's stories and tireless seeker of his own place within an evolving Hmong-American culture, and his journey toward becoming a shaman like his grandparents before him is inspiring and revelatory.


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]]> 2024-04-07 17:37:15 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2945751919 The Girls of Skylark Lane by Robin Benway cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2945753243 National Book Award winner Robin Benway debuts a coming-of-age middle grade novel about friendships, family, and discovering the person you’re meant to be. Babysitters Club meets The Sandlot when twin sisters join a ragtag neighborhood girls softball team at a time when growing up could mean growing apart. 


Aggie and Jac might be twin sisters, but lately they haven’t felt the same about anything. While Jac is excited about their move to Los Angeles and a chance to seem cool and mysterious, Aggie is worried her new locker won’t open, that Jac could make new friends without her, and that her friends from home will move on, leaving her all alone.


When the first day at school ends with an invite to join the neighborhood softball team, Aggie jumps at the chance to meet the other girls, even if she has to drag Jac along, whose own interest in the softball team might have more to do with the captain’s older brother… 


Aggie is relieved to learn that each girl is dealing with their own problems and becomes excited at the opportunity to create strong friendships. But as Jac and Aggie grow into different people, will they be able to hold on to their sisterhood? For life throws the biggest curveball of all: growing up.


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]]> 2024-04-07 17:40:25 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2945753243 My Little Pony Volume 4: Sister Switch by Celeste Bronfman and illustrated by Amy Mebberson cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2945755985 National Book Award winner Robin Benway debuts a coming-of-age middle grade novel about friendships, family, and discovering the person you’re meant to be. Babysitters Club meets The Sandlot when twin sisters join a ragtag neighborhood girls softball team at a time when growing up could mean growing apart. 


Aggie and Jac might be twin sisters, but lately they haven’t felt the same about anything. While Jac is excited about their move to Los Angeles and a chance to seem cool and mysterious, Aggie is worried her new locker won’t open, that Jac could make new friends without her, and that her friends from home will move on, leaving her all alone.


When the first day at school ends with an invite to join the neighborhood softball team, Aggie jumps at the chance to meet the other girls, even if she has to drag Jac along, whose own interest in the softball team might have more to do with the captain’s older brother… 


Aggie is relieved to learn that each girl is dealing with their own problems and becomes excited at the opportunity to create strong friendships. But as Jac and Aggie grow into different people, will they be able to hold on to their sisterhood? For life throws the biggest curveball of all: growing up.


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]]> 2024-04-07 17:47:19 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2945755985 Nightmare in the Backyard (Eek! #2) by Jeff Strand cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2945759132 When the scratching starts on the tent, a backyard camping trip turns terrifying for three friends. Prepare to be scared silly in this creepy middle-grade novel for fans of R.L. Stine, Dan Poblocki, and Mary Downing Hahn.


Chloe, Avery, and Madison can't wait to spend the night camping in the backyard. Smores! Spooky stories! Trading secrets! It's going to be awesome. Sure, Elijah the kid next door keeps trying to prank them, but it's all in good fun. Who doesn't like a little scare after the sun has set and the moonlight casts creepy shadows everywhere?


Then the scratching starts on the tent fabric. The girls think it must be Elijah again, but there's no one outside. As the scratching gets more insistent, the girls may need to start asking WHAT is making that noise rather than WHO. Can they make it through the night?


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]]> 2024-04-07 17:54:53 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2945759132 Volcanoes Are Hot! (Oliver's Great Big Universe #2) by Jorge Cham cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2945760819 Earth sciences meet Diary of a Wimpy Kid in Oliver’s Great Big Universe: Volcanoes Are Hot!, second in an original illustrated middle-grade fiction series that blends science with narrative from bestselling author-artist Jorge Cham, the Emmy Award–nominated creator of PBS’s Elinor Wonders Why


After writing his first book, eleven-year-old Oliver is kind of a celebrity around school—no big deal. But when he gets caught in a cafeteria catastrophe, he quickly goes from being the “funny science kid” to one of the “Epic Barf Kids”, the result of too much explosive cherry pie in the lunchroom. Oliver is desperate to restore his reputation—and winning the science fair sounds like the perfect way for everyone to forget about the whole barf thing. There’s just one obstacle standing in his way: Ana Lía Quintero, who wins the science fair every year.


Luckily, Oliver has the help of his geoscientist aunt, even though she’s a little, um, quirky (scratch that: really quirky). If Oliver has any chance of defeating his archnemesis, he’ll have to learn all about volcanic burping and bacteria farts, how Earth’s layers are basically like boba tea, and how school cliques and the solar system have a lot in common.

With laugh-out-loud humor and cartoon-style illustrations from bestselling writer and the creator of PHD Comics Jorge Cham, Oliver’s Great Big Universe is a STEAM-themed, diary-style series following one kid who’s taking on the whole universe—if he can survive middle school first.


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]]> 2024-04-07 17:59:03 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2945760819 The Perilous Performance at Milkweed Meadow by Elaine Dimopoulos and illustrated by Doug Salati cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2945763708 Butternut and the meadow creatures return in this middle-grade adventure sequel that will charm animal-loving fans of The Tale of Despereaux and Clarice the Brave. Illustrated by Caldecott winner Doug Salati.

After their remarkable rescue, the meadow creatures are back—now closer than ever and with beloved rabbit Butternut still captivating them all with her storytelling. But when a dazzling group of traveling turkeys shows up and persuades the meadow creatures to join them in putting on performance, Butternut is not sure she can find her place in all the excitement. She questions her storytelling abilities compared to this new crew.

When it turns out the turkeys—and the grand show—are not what they seem, Butternut's family and friends are suddenly in imminent danger. Butternut must figure out how to trust herself and find help. In the end, the hope is that friendship will win once more.

Beautiful and arresting black-and-white illustrations bring the animals to life in this nail-biting and heartwarming story about trust: trusting our instincts, trusting our creative talents, and trusting those who know and love us, even when it’s hard.


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]]> 2024-04-07 18:05:48 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2945763708 The Ambush at Sorato (Ranger's Apprentice: The Royal Ranger #7) by John Flanagan cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2945765414 International bestselling author John Flanagan returns to world of Ranger's Apprentice in the seventh installment of the Royal Ranger series in which Will and Maddie must travel through Toscana and encounter the dangerous Temujai forces.

Will and Maddie are in Toscana on a diplomatic mission when word comes of a cavalry force crossing the northern body and marauding through the countryside.

At the behest of the emperor, the rangers head north to investigate. They discover that the invaders are a group of Temujai—a reconnaissance force searching for a place to penetrate and invade. So Will and Maddie must split up to gather forces and information in order to push the Temujai back once again.

As the Temujai move their forces ahead, cutting at the Toscan forces, Maddie and Will must step up and lead their allies to victory, despite the danger of one of their greatest enemies.


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]]> 2024-04-07 18:09:30 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2945765414 The Sleeping Giant (The Misewa Saga #5) by David A. Robertson cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2945767451 Eli and Morgan embark on a dangerous mission to rescue kidnapped animal beings in this new adventure in the award-winning, Narnia-inspired Indigenous middle-grade fantasy series.

Eli, Morgan and Emily embark on their most dangerous mission yet, to save the kidnapped animal beings of Ministik. But before they can reach the heavily guarded Land of the Sleeping Giant, Eli must rally more help, not just from old friends, but from surprising new allies. And he must rely on a new way to travel: on the back of the leader of the Bird Warriors himself, Pip. Together they will journey across the North Country, on a mission to reconnect the Bird Warriors, as well as confront old enemies. But even as he must fight for his life—and the lives of his friends and new family—Eli must also come to terms with his newfound knowledge: What does it mean that he is only part human?


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]]> 2024-04-07 18:14:38 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2945767451 Spider-Man: The Bug Bite That Changed Everything: A Marvel Origin Story by Ned Hartley cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2945768354 The full origin story for your friendly neighborhood Spider-Man—perfect for early readers! This debut entry in Marvel’s chapter book series gives kids easy-to-read origin stories for all of their favorite Super Heroes!

Peter Parker is your friendly neighborhood Spider-Man—but he wasn’t always this amazing! Discover the moment a radioactive spider bit unsuspecting high-school student Peter Parker, gifting him with incredible abilities! Witness the personal tragedy that shows Peter that with great power also comes great responsibility! See Peter create his first Spider-Suit and meet his nemesis, Doctor Octopus! This action-packed Marvel origin story tells the full tale of how Spider-Man became a Marvel Super Hero.


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]]> 2024-04-07 18:17:01 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2945768354 Stage Fright by Wendy Parris cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2945769177 A new locked room scary story about thirteen-year-old Avery, who plans a séance at a deserted theater to bond with her friends, only to realize they’re locked inside with someone—or something—else. This spine tingling read is perfect for fans of Katherine Arden and Lindsay Currie!

When Avery returns to her hometown after moving away a year earlier, she is hoping to jump back into her friend group as if nothing’s changed.

Unfortunately, new interests, secret crushes, and changing dynamics get in her way. To reunite her BFFs, she suggests they host a séance at an abandoned theater that was the site of a horrible tragedy.

What starts as a fun outing, soon becomes a fight for survival after the group gets locked in…and discovers they’re not alone.


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]]> 2024-04-07 18:19:18 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2945769177 A Gallery of Rogues (The Swifts #2) by Beth Lincoln and illustrated by Claire Powell cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2945770230 Shenanigan Swift is headed to Paris, where new mysteries await in the hilarious, quick-witted sequel to Beth Lincoln’s #1 New York Times bestseller, The Swifts: A Dictionary of Scoundrels.

Now that the murderer has been caught and her family is safe, Shenanigan Swift can return her attention to important projects, like combing the lake bottom for the family treasure. But the routine won’t last for long, because a new adventure is about to begin—in Paris. Shenanigan, Phenomena, and their uncle Maelstrom are off to France to unravel the mystery of a strange series of elaborately staged art museum heists.

The Swifts: A Gallery of Rogues is the highly anticipated sequel to Beth Lincoln’s celebrated debut, The Swifts: A Dictionary of Scoundrels. Beloved characters are back, joined by a fresh flock of relatives—the Martinets, the French branch of the Swift family tree. There are new mysteries—and more dead bodies—in this delicious sequel that once again celebrates words, family, and lots of shenanigans.


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]]> 2024-04-07 18:21:44 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2945770230 The Tale of the Twisted Toymaker (Are You Afraid of the Dark? #2) by Danielle Valentine cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2945771863 The spine-chilling next installment in the middle-grade horror series based on Nickelodeon’s hit show Are You Afraid of the Dark? from YA horror sensation Danielle Valentine.

Everyone wants a Ms. Mabel doll.
And the dolls want something in return.

Ms. Mabel’s Doll Emporium can make a doll that looks like anyone, customizing every last detail from hair color down to the shape of its tiny fingernails until you have your very own “mini-me.” Fourteen-year-old Layla has saved up her babysitting money to buy one for her little sister, Emily. Emily is dying for one of her own, and Layla knows exactly how it feels to covet something. She’s never been so jealous over anything as she’d been over the doll of her former best friend, Quinn. Then Quinn moved away, and she and the doll disappeared entirely from Layla’s life. The loss still stings. Which is why—when the two sisters go to the store to pick up Emily’s doll—Layla is shocked to see Quinn’s old doll sitting on a shelf, covered in dust.


Layla hardly recognizes herself when she stuffs the doll into her backpack as the girls exit the shop . . . and the afternoon gets even stranger when they return home. Layla hears whispering coming from the closet where she’s stashed the Quinn doll. She wakes up in the middle of the night, frozen in fear as something creeps around the shadows. Her beloved tortoiseshell cat, Anne Boleyn, is behaving as if possessed. And she could swear the teeth on Emily’s doll look somehow . . . sharper than before.

Then Emily falls ill, and when Layla’s joints begin to stiffen unnaturally, she knows the dolls are to blame. They want something from their owners, and they won’t stop until its theirs. Can Layla track down the answers she desperately needs? Or will Emily and Layla eventually disappear, just like Quinn did?


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]]> 2024-04-07 18:26:01 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2945771863 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Turtle Power Pack Volume 1 by Landry Q. Walker and Dean Clarrain and illustrated by Chad Thomas and Ken Mitchroney cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2945773315 Bursting with all the fun and action you can ask for, these graphic novel collections are the perfect fit for any young Turtles fan!

Turtle Power Pack brings you select stories from series based on the animated shows, including TMNT: Adventures, TMNT: Amazing Adventures, TMNT: New Animated Adventures, Rise of the TMNT, and more!

The Turtles have to battle with the powerful Zodiac, who has started controlling the minds of friends and foes alike. Then, a story featuring everybody’s favorite dude, Mondo Gecko! April O’Neil has been training with Turtles but is she ready for a mission? And finally, what do pet dinosaurs dream of? Find out in this short story featuring Pepperoni!


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]]> 2024-04-07 18:29:58 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2945773315 Westfallen (Westfallen #1) by Ann Brashares and Ben Brashares cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2945775076 From #1 New York Times bestselling Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants author Ann Brashares and her brother Ben Brashares comes an action-packed middle grade alternate history thriller that asks what it would be like to wake up in present-day America if Germany had won World War II.

Henry, Frances, and Lukas are neighbors, and they used to be best friends. But in middle school, things can change fast—Frances has become an emo art-girl, Lukas has gone full sports bro, and Henry has gone sort of nowhere. But when a dead gerbil brings them together again, the three ex-friends make an impossible discovery: a radio buried in Henry’s backyard that allows them to talk to another group of kids in the same town...on the same street...in the same backyard...seventy-nine years in the past.

The kids in 1944 want to know all about the future: are there jetpacks? Laser guns? Teleportation? Most of all, they want to know about the outcome of the war their dads and brothers are fighting in. Henry and his friends are cautious—they’ve all seen movies about what happens when you disrupt the fabric of time—but figure there’s no harm in telling them a little bit, just enough so they can stop worrying so much. And, at first, everything seems fine. Nothing’s changed—well, nothing so big they can’t contain it, anyway.

Until Henry, Frances, and Lukas wake up on May 6, 2024, to an America ruled by Nazis. They changed history. And now it’s up to them to change it back.


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]]> 2024-04-07 18:33:15 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2945775076 The Everybody Experiment by Lisa Moore Ramée cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2945776190 From the award-winning author of A Good Kind of Trouble, Lisa Moore Ramée, comes a hilarious and heartfelt young middle grade novel, in the vein of Judy Blume, about friendship, fitting in, and the ups and downs of middle school. Sure to resonate with fans of Rebecca Stead, Meg Medina, and Kelly Yang.


Eleven-year-old Kylie’s friends seem so much more mature than she is. And with middle school just a summer away, she’s worried her friends might leave her behind, especially because she keeps embarrassing them.


So Kylie applies her scientific brain to solve the problem and comes up with the Everybody Experiment:


Hypothesis: Kylie Stanton will be mature if she does what everybody else does.


Experiment: This summer, when all of Kylie’s friends do something, she will do it too.


Suddenly it’s a whole new grown-up world for Kylie, with parties, unsupervised excursions, and boys. But the more research Kylie puts into the Everybody Experiment, the more she begins to wonder how she can do what everybody else does . . . without letting go of herself.


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]]> 2024-04-07 18:36:32 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2945776190 Blasts Off! (FGTeeV #5) by FGTeeV and illustrated by Miguel Díaz Rivas cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2945778071 The FGTeeV family hijinks are about to get totally out of this world in Blasts Off!, the fifth graphic novel in the awesome, action-packed, New York Times bestselling series by YouTube’s favorite gamer family!


When the FGTeeV family goes on a trip to the National Space Center, the kids can’t wait to see the inside of a next-generation space rocket. But when Shawn accidentally pushes a button he shouldn’t have pushed—BUT IT WAS SO RED!—the family soon finds themselves blasted off into space. To survive in the outer reaches of the universe, they’re going to use their smarts, wits, and skills to defeat angry space plants, escape interstellar circuses, and make their way home.


But when the family learns that their accidental trip might not have been an accident at all, will they be able to save themselves and the universe before it’s too late?


Blast off into the fun-filled fifth graphic novel adventure from YouTube sensation FGTeeV, with more than 45 MILLION subscribers and over 50 BILLION views!


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]]> 2024-04-07 18:41:21 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2945778071 The No Brainer's Guide to Decomposition by Adrianna Cuevas cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2945779065 In Pura Belpré Honor–winning author Adrianna Cuevas's new spooky middle grade novel. Frani must fight to stop the undead from rising in her father’s body-farm laboratory—that is, if she can embrace the true nature of her brain and its ADHD. 


No one has ever called Frani Gonzalez squeamish. Seriously, whether it’s guts (no big deal), bugs (move aside, she’s got this), or anything else that you might find at the Central Texas Forensic Anthropology Research Facility, to her and her dad, the university’s body farm is just home.


Having bodies buried in her backyard doesn’t exactly make Frani the most popular kid in school, and the imaginary spider that lives in a web in her brain isn’t helping either. Arañita’s always to blame for the distracted thoughts weaving through Frani’s mind. But when a hand reaches out of the ground and grabs her ankle, Frani realizes that she’s got bigger problems.


Not everything is as it seems at the body farm, and now Frani must help the teenage zombie that crawled out of the dirt…before he gets too hungry. But as more and more zombies begin to appear—and they seem to get less and less friendly—can Frani embrace the true nature of her brain and count on new friendships to solve the body farm's mystery before it's overrun with the undead? 


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]]> 2024-04-07 18:44:16 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2945779065 Onyx & Beyond by Amber McBride cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2945779883 Onyx lives with his mother, who is showing signs of early-onset dementia. He doesn't want to bring attention to his home — if Child Protective Services finds out, they'll put him into foster care.

As he's trying to keep his life together, the Civil Rights Movement is accelerating. Is there anywhere that's safe for a young Black boy? Maybe, if only Onyx can fulfill his dream of becoming an astronaut and exploring space, where none of these challenges will follow him. In the meantime, Onyx can dream. And try to get his mom the help she needs.

Based on her own father's story of growing up in the 1960s and facing the same challenge with his own mother, award winner Amber McBride delivers another affecting depiction of being young and Black in America.


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]]> 2024-04-07 18:46:24 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2945779883 Carter Avery's Tricky Fourth-Grade Year by Rob Buyea cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2945780928 From the author of the beloved MR. TERUPT series comes a story with surprising truths about a student no teacher would wish for, and a teacher no student would want to be stuck with.

No teacher has ever liked Carter Avery. So he doesn’t expect that Ms. Olivia Krane will be any different. In fact, he heard the rumor that the new teacher—nicknamed Owl-livia, or the Owl, for short—can twist her head all the way round to catch any kid who’s up to no good. And since Carter has a hard time sitting still and not blurting stuff out, he’s sure he’s in for rough times being sent to the principal’s office. Making things worse: annoying know-it-all Missy Gerber is in his class!

But the Owl knows just how to handle Carter’s energy, showing his classmates another side of him. Everything’s looking up until Carter finds out that some people would like to see Ms. Krane replaced. The news spurs him on a secret mission to save his teacher. Then a disruption, heated words with Missy, and trouble outside of school test Carter’s plan, heart, and courage, as he navigates an especially tricky school year.

With a stellar cast of characters, young and old, Rob Buyea pens another authentic story of life in and out of middle school, an experience not soon forgotten.


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]]> 2024-04-07 18:49:14 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2945780928 Escape From Alcatraz (Escape From #4) by Andy Marino cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2945781678 From the author of The Plot to Kill Hitler trilogy and the Escape From series comes another fast-paced historical thriller about a daring prison break from Alcatraz Island, perfect for fans of Alan Gratz.


May 1962


In the middle of the San Francisco Bay looms Alcatraz, home to America’s most infamous prisoners. Also home to Chip Carter and his dad, who works at the high security prison. Their neighbors are former mobsters, gangsters, and murderers, but Chip finds it to be a pretty boring place to live. After all, the inmates can’t hurt him—they’re locked up in an impenetrable fortress, surrounded by unforgiving waters.


Or are they?


Inmate AZ1441, aka the Watcher, has a plan to break out of Alcatraz. It’s a genius plan he’s concocted along with three other inmates. Foolproof. Or so he thought until one of the guard’s kids stumbles into the middle of it.


Chip is stunned. No one can break out of the Rock. Not unless they have an inside guy. Which it seems like they do...Chip’s dad. They know Chip’s onto them, so if he wants to survive, he’s going to have to make sure these men stay locked up. But first he has to figure out who is planning the prison break and just how deep into this deadly scheme his dad is. Because given what these men have done to end up in Alcatraz, there’s no telling what they’ll do to get out.


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]]> 2024-04-07 18:51:46 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2945781678 Wolves at the Door by Steve Watkins cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2945784222 War. Wilderness. And the will to live.


Asta and her younger sister, Pieta, have watched in terror as Hitler's invasion spreads across Europe. Eventually, the war arrives in their city, bringing with it destruction and death. As the Nazis clash with Stalin's Red Army and relentless bombing rains from above, the girls flee to their grandparents' farm in the countryside. But no place is safe. Surrounded by enemies, Asta and Pieta are presented with one chance at escape: a transport ship leaving from the Baltic Sea.


Getting from their grandparents' farm to the coast is an impossible trip through a brutal war in the dead of winter. With food scarce, warm clothing lacking, and few resources, the sisters have little chance of making it. And Asta and Pieta are not alone in their plans—everyone is headed to the harbor with the same desperate hope. Securing a place on the ship will require nothing short of a miracle. Their dangerous journey is only just beginning, though, and the sisters can't begin to imagine what they'll have to sacrifice to survive...


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]]> 2024-04-07 18:58:16 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2945784222 In a Pickle (Ellie's Deli #2) by Lisa Greenwald and illustrated by Galia Bernstein cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2950137051 From Lisa Greenwald, the beloved author of the TBH and Friendship List series, and award-winning illustrator Galia Bernstein, comes Ellie's Deli: In a Pickle, the sequel to Wishing on Matzo Ball Soup! After saving her family’s deli from going out of business, 11-year-old Ellie is ready to embark on her next mission—plan her friend’s Bat Mitzvah party—in this illustrated chapter book for young teens with 14 recipes inside. 

When her BFF's cousin Charlie announces that her Bat Mitzvah venue closed and now she's probably not going to have a Bat Mitzvah party, tenacious 11-year-old Ellie takes it upon herself to be a party planner. In fact, the whole idea inspires her to be a party planner when she grows up. How fun would that be?! 

But party-planning isn't all fun and games—Ellie also has to navigate her changing middle school friendship dynamic, get good grades in school, and help renovate her family’s deli’s attic into a swanky event space. 
 
Ellie thinks she can handle everything, but soon feels like she’s, well, in a pickle. With the help of some reinforcements, like her Bubbie’s best friend, Gloria the event planner; her school advisor, Ms. Sinitz; maybe even her super annoying big sister, Anna; and her even more annoying little sister, Mabel; Ellie might just put a lid on this situation after all.
 
Ellie’s Deli: In a Pickle! contains 40 black-and-white illustrations and 14 recipes for scrumptious foods like chocolate-covered macaroons, baked salmon, and potato curry. It’s a relatable and heartwarming story that’s all about friendship, family, and learning when to ask for help.


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]]> 2024-04-10 23:17:59 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2950137051 The Sign of the Five (The Improbable Tales of Baskerville Hall #2) by Ali Standish cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2950138895 In the second thrilling installment of the Improbable Tales of Baskerville Hall series, Arthur returns to the elusive Baskerville Hall and must solve the mystery behind a poisoned Sherlock Holmes, facing new threats, harrowing challenges, and ghastly ghouls along the way. It’s time for a new adventure; are you ready?


When Arthur Conan Doyle returns to Baskerville Hall, a secretive school for extraordinary students, he’s excited to begin winter term with the friends he loves. However, soon after his arrival, a dangerous foe threatens his favorite professor, Sherlock Holmes, and all signs seem to point to a force that Arthur had hoped he’d seen the last of…the Green Knight. But Sherlock isn’t the only target; others begin to fall prey as well. The question is: How are they all connected?


In the ultimate race against time, Arthur will have to dodge old enemies, befriend new faces, and brave encounters with spirits to solve the mystery before it’s too late. But there are more puzzles to solve than one; it seems a new term at Baskerville Hall may test not only Arthur’s wits…but his friendships too.


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]]> 2024-04-10 23:21:15 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2950138895 The Stolen Key (Mysteries of Trash & Treasure #3) by Margaret Peterson Haddix cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2950141006 New York Times bestselling author Margaret Peterson Haddix delivers the thrilling conclusion to her middle grade Mysteries of Trash and Treasure series as Colin and Nevaeh unravel their most personal mystery yet.


Colin has spent all summer solving mysteries with his friend Nevaeh. But they’ve only ever dealt with other people’s mysteries—ones that are safe for Colin to think about. He’s still stuck on the mystery surrounding his own father, who his mother refuses to talk about and he can’t remember meeting.


Then one morning Colin finds a shoebox on his porch with a note on top: “Your father wanted you to have this.” Inside the box is a key. This new clue makes Colin even more determined to find out the truth about his dad and why his parents split up when he was a baby. Colin and Nevaeh begin investigating Colin’s father in a quest that takes them from eerie storage units to lock-lined bridges to, strangely, secrets in Nevaeh’s family.


But the closer they get to connecting the clues, the more trouble awaits them. A serious accident leaves Nevaeh’s family reeling—and Nevaeh racked with guilt. And digging into Colin’s father’s past may lead him and his mom into even more danger. Can Colin and Nevaeh solve the mystery before it's too late?


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]]> 2024-04-10 23:24:54 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2950141006 Wish Monster by J. A. White cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2950142765 From J. A. White, the acclaimed author of Nightbooks, comes another spine-chilling stand-alone middle grade horror novel about a pair of friends who discover a strange creature in a cave that can make any wish come true—including bringing the dead back to life.


In the darkness, something opened its eyes.


The town of Haywood, New Jersey, has a secret. A wish monster.


Violet Park discovered its cave by accident, and the wish monster granted her deepest desire by bringing her dog Midnight back to life. It even erased everyone’s memory of his death. Life was perfect. But then an unremarkable boy named Hudson Causeway somehow remembered Midnight had died. That scared Violet. What if he ruined everything? Even worse, what if the wish monster wasn’t as innocent as it seemed?


Deep down, Violet knew: No wishes are made without consequences, and every monster needs to be fed.


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]]> 2024-04-10 23:27:36 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2950142765 Black Star (The Door of No Return #2) by Kwame Alexander cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2962408558 The riveting second book in the #1 New York Times bestselling Door of No Return trilogy stars Kofi’s granddaughter, Charley, who’s set on becoming the first female pitcher to play professional ball but who soon has to contend with the tensions about to boil over in her segregated town.


You can’t protect her from knowing. The truth is all we have.
 
12-year old Charley Cuffey is many things: a granddaughter, a best friend, and probably the best pitcher in all of Lee’s Mill. Set on becoming the first female pitcher to play professional ball, Charley doesn't need reminders from her best friend Cool Willie Green to know that she has lofty dreams for a Black girl in the American South.
 
Even so, Nana Kofi's thrilling stories about courageous ancestors and epic journeys make it impossible not to dream big. She knows he has so many more to tell, but according to her parents, she isn't old enough to know about certain things like what happened to Booker Preston that one night in Great Bridge and why she can never play on the brand-new real deal baseball field on the other side of town.
 
When Charley challenges a neighborhood bully to a game at the church picnic, she knows she can win, even with her ragtag team. But when the picnic spills over onto their ball field, she makes a fateful decision.
 
A child cannot protect herself if she does not know her history, and Charley's choice brings consequences she never could have imagined.
 
In this thrilling second book of the Door of No Return trilogy, set during the turbulent segregation era, and the beginning of The Great Migration, Kwame Alexander weaves a spellbinding story of struggle, determination, and the unflappable faith of an American family.


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]]> 2024-04-19 22:48:13 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2962408558 The Empty Place by Olivia A. Cole cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2962409621 A powerful and imaginative story about a girl fighting to find her way back home from a mind-bending land of the lost.


When Henry’s father goes missing in the forest on her tenth birthday, her entire world shatters. The last thing she expects is for him to emerge from the trees exactly one year later, unharmed and bearing a gift for her—a strange necklace. 

Everyone says her father’s reappearance is a miracle, but Henry wants real answers to her questions. Where did her father go? How did he get back? And what’s the truth behind his gift? 


Wearing the necklace and carrying only a simple map, Henry enters the same forest that swallowed her father. But beyond the trees, she finds a world more incredible and dangerous than she ever imagined. It’s a place for all who are lost, and there’s no clear method of escape. As Henry follows in her father’s footsteps and searches for a way home, she discovers that the truth she’s seeking isn’t as simple as she hoped, and if she wants to leave this world, she’ll have to be braver than she’s ever been.


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]]> 2024-04-19 22:51:40 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2962409621 Every Story Told by Ami Polonsky cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2962410461 In this life-affirming novel of trauma and recovery, a girl searches for a path forward after being forced to confront the reality of gun violence, for fans of Dusti Bowling and Jasmine Warga.
 
Stevie Jane Cohen-Kaplan’s sheltered suburban life is shattered by a mass shooting at a festival in her town. In the aftermath, her brain feels broken. She can’t bear to visit her mom, recovering in the hospital under Stevie’s dad’s watchful eye, or to be pent up in her grandparents’ nearby Manhattan apartment.
 
To escape the apartment and her own thoughts, Stevie starts adventuring around New York City with her best friend, Avi, and a new therapy dog (in training). The trio starts chasing stories—about a neighbor’s life after the Holocaust, Stevie’s grandfathers who died of AIDS long before she was born, and even about her own mom’s activist upbringing. These stories may not bring Stevie all the way back to “normal,” but can they help her find a new version of herself?
 
Written with compassion and care, Every Story Ever Told places readers at the center of their own story and within a larger human tapestry, as one girl tries to make sense of the unthinkable.


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]]> 2024-04-19 22:54:11 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2962410461 Instafamous by Erika J. Kendrick cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2962411164 This funny and fabulous novel about a middle school diva’s hunt for the spotlight speaks to the importance of friendship and family—even in the midst of fame. 
 
Lyric Whitney Houston Darby has always wanted to be famous, just like her superstar mom. So when the hottest music-competition TV show announces auditions in town, it’s her chance to compete—and maybe even score a record deal.
 
There are just a couple of problems: First, the show requires industry experience. This means Lyric has to audition for her school’s production of The Wiz…as if middle school musicals aren’t totally beneath her. Second, she needs to mega-boost her platform on Instagram. Fast. This show is an influencers-only event!
 
Luckily she has her besties at her side! Or… does she? As Lyric starts to get everything she ever wanted, her BFFs are coping with their own challenges. Will Lyric be there to lift them up, or is she about to learn the real cost of being instafamous?
 
This bubbly story is as wise as it is witty, reminding readers of the importance of mental health, and that what you want isn’t always what you need.


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]]> 2024-04-19 22:56:43 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2962411164 Monster Movie! by Chuck Wendig cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2962411992 In this hair-raising and hilarious novel by New York Times bestselling author Chuck Wendig, a boy must face his many fears to save his town from a cursed videotape—before “The Scariest Movie Ever Made” devours his friends and family.

Ethan Pitowski is afraid of everything. Luckily, his best friends don’t mind, and when their entire class gets invited to watch a long-buried horror movie at the most popular boy in school’s house, Ethan’s friends encourage him to join in the fun. But when the “scariest movie ever made” reveals itself to be not just a movie about a monster, but a movie that is a monster, only a terrified Ethan escapes its clutches. Now he must find a way to stop the monster and save his friends (and also, um, get their heads back).

With his signature balance of kid-friendly horror and humor, Chuck Wendig crafts a spookily heartfelt novel about anxiety, friendship, and finding your unique voice and inner strength.


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]]> 2024-04-19 22:59:24 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2962411992 The Pumpkin Princess and the Forever Night by Steven Banbury cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2962418727 A spooky yet heartwarming adventure about one girl's journey into the land of the undead, and the unexpected family she finds along the way. Perfect for fans of Nevermoor and the hit series Wednesday.

On Halloween, it is always wise to expect the unexpected, but no amount of planning could have prepared Eve for that particular night. Fleeing an unpleasant orphanage, she’s saved by someone who she never believed was real…the fabled Pumpkin King himself.
 
Throwing caution aside, Eve accepts the offer to become his daughter and is whisked away to the misty Hallowell Valley—home to witches and vampires, ghosts and goblins, and all that go bump in the night. But just when she believes she’s found her place among the undead, a sinister scheme unearths itself, threatening to take everything from Eve unless she can stop it.
 
From debut author Steven Banbury comes a cozy, magical adventure sure to delight anyone who loves the tricks of Halloween as much as the treats of autumn.


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]]> 2024-04-19 23:18:15 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2962418727 Spellbound Solstice by Alexandria Rogers cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2962419676 Ella Enchanted meets The Parent Trap in this spellbinding wintery tale where two young enchanters team up to break a centuries-old family curse and accidentally put their entire town at risk along the way.

Every winter solstice, when people lock eyes in the Ambrose Ensorcelled Cottage, they fall in love.  
 
This year, Alice Ambrose has secretly invited her dad in hopes that her parents will realize they’re happier together than apart. With her parents together, Alice will finally feel whole. But when Alice's parents lock eyes…nothing happens. 
 
Turns out, the women in her family are cursed to never fall in love.
 
Ronan Knight will do anything to get his enchantress mom to settle on a forever home. Luckily, he’s found her a perfect job at a perfect place: the Ensorcelled Cottage. The only snag? His mom would rather run from their mysterious past than settle down. 
 
When Ronan learns about Alice’s family curse, he figures he can kill two birds with one broken curse, since helping Alice will surely earn his mom points with the owner of Ensorcelled Cottage. But when their meddling causes the town to lose the ability to love all together, and ghosts whisper of the very past haunting Ronan’s family, Alice and Ronan discover that happily ever after doesn’t look the same for everyone. And sometimes, to get what you want, you’ll have to give your heart away. 


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]]> 2024-04-19 23:21:12 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2962419676 Tale of the Flying Forest by R. M. Romero cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2962420572 A spellbinding and lyrical modern fairy tale about a girl who journeys to an enchanted world to find the twin she’s never met, filled with lavish illustrations that bring the magic to life, perfect for fans of the Chronicles of Narnia.

After her mother passes away and her father retreats into his grief, 11-year-old Anne Applebaum is afraid the only happy endings she’ll ever have are in The World to Come, a collection of fairy tales about the flying forest of Bei Ilai. In its pages, children outsmart demons, girls train as knights, and songs come to life. But even these stories can’t stop Anne from feeling alone. So when a raven tells her that she has a long-lost twin brother named Rainer, she sets out to find him. Anne soon learns that Bei Ilai is a real place—and she must step through the door into this magical realm to seek her brother.

But the dangers in the flying forest are just as real as its beauty. To overcome the challenges and monsters she faces, Anne must lean into the magic contained within her and her Jewish faith—especially when she discovers Rainer is locked away by a being more frightening than any dragon.

Because the most terrifying villain of all is one who used to be a hero.


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]]> 2024-04-19 23:23:56 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2962420572 Which Way Around the Galaxy (Which Way to Anywhere #2) by Cressida Cowell cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2962422259 In this action-packed fantasy adventure, from the internationally bestselling author of How to Train Your Dragon, a lost Magical Creature turns up on Earth, leading four siblings to journey off to a forbidden planet of fire and ice to save him.

A Magical Creature lost far from home leads the four O'Hero-Smith children on another adventure through the Which Ways and across the galaxies; their plan is to get Grub back to the ice-encrusted planet where he belongs and to prove to their parents that they can be trusted with magic along the way!

But by setting off on this secret mission, they're heading straight into danger. Not to mention they've accidentally left Annipeck on her own. Again. Can the kids get Grub home safely, escape venomous snow sharks, a witch's curse, and an army of murderous robots to find their way back through the Which Ways to protect her?

They're going to need more than K2's magical gift to help them this time. It's a good thing another of the O'Hero-Smith children might have a magical Gift of their own — because the fate of the galaxy is once again in their hands...
 
Perfect for reluctant readers, the Which Way Around the Galaxy features an easy-to-read, dyslexic-friendly font!


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]]> 2024-04-19 23:29:54 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2962422259 Amazing Grapes by Jules Feiffer cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2963479139 Pulitzer Prize–winning cartoonist Jules Feiffer brings the fantastical to life with his signature style in this zany, whimsical adventure about a family on a quest to find their mother and save another dimension.


Curly and Perlie, brother and sister, find themselves transported to the Lost Dimension. Soon they are joined by big sister Shirley and their very special Mommy. Marvelous adventures await the whole family in that weird dimension. Come along and see for yourself!


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]]> 2024-04-21 17:48:52 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2963479139 All in the Mind by Meredith Rusu cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2963481189 Based on Disney and Pixar's Inside Out 2, this humorous and charming middle grade novel retells and expands upon the film!

Change isn't anything new to Riley Andersen. When she was eleven years old, she and her parents moved across the country from Minnesota to San Francisco. But through it all, Riley's Emotions—Joy, Sadness, Anger, Disgust, and Fear—guided and supported her.

Now Riley is thirteen years old, and her Emotions can't wait to see what her teenage years will bring. But the idea of starting high school elicits all kinds of feelings, including four new Emotions! Anxiety, Envy, Embarrassment, and Ennui enter Headquarters, ready to help Riley succeed in high school. Joy and the core Emotions aren't sure about these newcomers and how much they're changing Riley; the new Emotions think it's time to take a different approach now that she's a teenager. Although change happens to everyone—and especially to Riley—this chaos both inside and outside of Headquarters is unlike anything Riley and her Emotions have experienced before!


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]]> 2024-04-21 17:51:28 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2963481189 Little Nobody (No Place for Monsters #3) by Kory Merritt cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2963483285 The third highly illustrated, paper-over-board book in the spellbinding series Jeff Kinney called “wildly imaginative and totally terrifying” finds Levi, Kat, and their friends caught in the grips of a lost child who is neither real nor imaginary. Can they escape?


Shhh, listen . . . hear that?


Is it the breeze in the tall grass?


Or is it . . . something—somebody—sinister?


The kids of Cowslip Grove are putting on a school play, and Kat, Levi, Donte, and their friends all have parts. But at rehearsal one day, a piece of chalk leaps up on its own and starts writing on the blackboard. Soon the kids learn they are being stalked by the mysterious "Little Nobody"—an invisible child with no memories.


As the kids begin to unravel the mystery behind Little Nobody, they accidentally reveal a strange and secret world—along with the true fates of many long-lost children and creatures.


But something else is watching: an undead enemy that hopes to manipulate Little Nobody into bringing great harm to Cowslip Grove. And it will take everything the children have to defeat it.


With illustrations on every page, the third book in the No Place for Monsters series continues to place readers inside the "totally terrifying" (Jeff Kinney), "haunted garden" (New York Times) imagination of Kory Merritt.


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]]> 2024-04-21 17:54:09 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2963483285 Scrimshaw: A Deephaven Mystery (Deephaven Mysteries #2) by Ethan M. Aldridge cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2963485206 Ethan M. Aldridge, bestselling creator of Estranged, returns to the eerie world of Deephaven Academy, where a creepy new artifact discovered in the depths of the basement could have disastrous effects on the school. A perfect read for fans of J. A. White and Mary Downing Hahn!


After a chaotic semester, Guinevere “Nev” Tallow is looking forward to a quiet winter break at Deephaven Academy. But when they discover a strange artifact—a scrimshaw—hidden away deep in the under-basement of the school, they can’t resist the urge to investigate further.


This scrimshaw seems to be the skull of the school’s founder, Malachi Haven. Each of the skull’s few remaining teeth is engraved with a tiny image that foretells disaster. Nev quickly becomes obsessed with this mystery—not even their best friend, Danny, can distract them. And after something begins striking down students, Nev and Danny wonder if the images etched into the ancient teeth are actually warnings.


Can Nev protect the school from the coming doom foreseen by the scrimshaw, or are they on a collision course with fate?


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]]> 2024-04-21 17:57:31 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2963485206 Wicked Marigold by Caroline Carlson cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2963487275 In a funny and charming fantastical romp, overlooked Princess Marigold is nothing like her perfect, just-returned sister—so she runs away to an evil wizard’s tower to prove her wickedness.

Princess Marigold—who hadn’t yet been born when the remarkable Princess Rosalind was kidnapped—is eleven when the unthinkable happens: her older sister escapes her captivity and comes home. Marigold has always known she’s not as good, sweet, or kind as the sister everyone adores, but amid the celebration of Rosalind’s return, Marigold realizes something new: if Princess Rosalind is good, then Princess Marigold must be wicked. And there’s no place for wickedness in the kingdom. When Marigold tries to find a new place for herself in an evil wizard’s fortress, though, the results are disastrous. Before she’s even learned to cackle or scowl properly, she gets tangled up in a magical plot to ruin all the Cacophonous Kingdoms. Is Marigold too wicked to make things right? Or can she—with the help of a kitchen boy, a well-dressed imp, and a grumpy blob of glop—find her own way to restore peace? This endearing fantasy will have princess and anti-princess fans alike chuckling and cheering.


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]]> 2024-04-21 18:01:22 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2963487275 Library Girl by Polly Horvath cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2963488666 After living in the public library for the last eleven years, Essie must learn to adapt to a world that’s not as perfect as the stories she’s grown up with in this heartfelt middle grade novel from Newbery Honor author Polly Horvath.

Essie has grown up in the public library, raised in secret by the four librarians who found her abandoned as a baby in the children’s department. With four mothers and miles of books to read, Essie has always been very happy living there.

But now that she is eleven, Essie longs for a little more freedom . . . and maybe a friend her own age. She seems to get her wish when her moms let her go by herself to the mall. On her second trip there, she meets G.E., a mysterious boy who looks so much like her she can’t help but think they may be twins. Maybe he was raised by four dads in the appliance section of the department store. Maybe his story is intertwined with hers, and their happy ending is as one big family. But as she gets to know G.E. better, she learns that nothing is as simple as it seems in her stories—not even her own past.

With her signature warmth and offbeat humor, Newbery Honor author Polly Horvath invites book lovers to sit back in their own library nooks and check out a whimsical adventure perfect for readers trying to find their place in the world.


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]]> 2024-04-21 18:04:09 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2963488666 A Two-Placed Heart by Doan Phuong Nguyen cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2963490663 Afraid her sister (and maybe even herself) could lose sight of their Vietnamese identity, twelve-year-old Bom writes a poetic memoir to help them both remember—a love letter in verse to sisterhood and the places we leave behind.


Bom can't believe that her sister doesn't see herself as Vietnamese, only American. She says she doesn't remember Vietnam or their lives there, their family there, their house and friends. How could her sister forget the terrible journey through Saigon and the airplanes and... everything?


And what about Bom? She remembers now, but how long will she keep her memories? She always found comfort in the sound of her father's typewriter. Clickity-clack, clickity-clack. So she has an idea. She'll write down all that she can remember: the time when her father was a spy, when her mother was nicknamed a "radio," when they were so hungry Bom couldn't walk well, when the family all said goodbye.


Bom will even tell her sister, and herself, about what it was like moving to Tennessee. The ESL classes, bullies, strange new foods, icy weather, friendships, and crushes—and how her family worked to keep their heritage alive.


She'll type one poem at a time, until they'll never forget again.


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]]> 2024-04-21 18:07:41 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2963490663 The Ribbon Skirt by Cameron Mukwa cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2963492803 A joyful coming-of-age middle-grade graphic novel by debut Indigenous creator Cameron Mukwa about the journey of a two-spirit kid who wants to create a ribbon skirt for the upcoming powwow.


Ten-year-old Anang wants to make a ribbon skirt, a piece of clothing typically worn by women in the Anishinaabe tradition, for an upcoming powwow. Anang is two-spirit and nonbinary and doesn't know what others will think of them wearing a ribbon skirt, but they're determined to follow their heart's desire. Anang sets off to gather the materials needed to make the skirt and turns to those around them—their family, their human and turtle friends, the crows, and even the lake itself—for help. And maybe they'll even find a new confidence within themself along the way.


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]]> 2024-04-21 18:11:40 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2963492803 Unicorn Time Machine (Another Phoebe and Her Unicorn Adventure #20) by Dana Simpson cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2963495687 A bright and sparkling new collection of Phoebe and Her Unicorn comics.

In this exciting new collection of Phoebe and Her Unicorn comics, 10-year-old Phoebe Howell and her magical unicorn best friend, Marigold, enjoy a series of fantastical adventures. Phoebe goes back in time to meet her father as a kid and makes some surprising discoveries. Marigold reveals that she sometimes puts the world on mute, a power that Phoebe quickly learns is easy to overuse. And at the Unicorn Award Ceremony, the pair launch a campaign to get Marigold the highest honor. It's all part of the unique bond within one of the most memorable friendships in recent comics history. 


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]]> 2024-04-21 18:17:17 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2963495687 Beware the Nameless (Star Wars: The High Republic #2) by Zoraida Córdova cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2963499234 The High Republic continues in this fast-paced adventure that picks up from Escape from Valo, perfect for fans of sci-fi action. Think Sailor Moon meets Babysitter’s Guide to Monster Hunting by way of Star Wars . . . with a dash of Last Kids on Earth!

This next installment in the New York Times best-selling series is written by award-winning author Zoraida Córdova and features six full-color pages of art!

It is a dark and dangerous time for the galaxy, and the Jedi of the High Republic must face their greatest trials yet. Over a year has passed since the destruction of the Starlight Beacon space station, and hopeful Jedi-in-training—including Tep Tep and Kildo from Escape from Valo—must work with Ram Jamoram and a few new friends to overcome their fears . . . and stop the monsters that threaten the very existence of the Jedi. Even the most reluctant readers won’t be able to put this down!


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]]> 2024-04-21 18:24:14 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/2963499234 Ain't It Funny by Margaret Gurevich cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/3006841176 For fans of Stand Up, Yumi Chung! and The Miscalculations of Lightning Girl comes an honest and heartfelt novel about a girl who's determined not to let her growing anxiety and OCD hold her back from using stand-up comedy to bring her parents back together.

Eleven-year-old Maya’s life is bit of a mess. Her dad just moved out to pursue his stand-up comedy dreams, her mom seems more preoccupied with running the family’s Russian deli than getting Dad back, and Maya’s anxiety and germ worries have only been heightening. Her grandma always tells her “slozi goryu ne pomozhet”—tears won’t help sorrow—but right now it’s hard to be strong.

So when her teacher Ms. Banta announces the sixth-grade talent show, Maya sees an opportunity. If she can perform stand-up comedy in the show, she can prove to her mom and dad that comedy has a place in all their lives and try to bring them together again. But conquering her fears amidst her family falling apart and a growing hot-hot-hot feeling inside is easier said than done . . .

In this authentic novel full of both humor and heartbreak, Margaret Gurevich crafts a story about comedy, fractured family, and learning how strength comes in many forms.


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]]> 2024-05-24 23:54:26 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/3006841176 Billy and the Epic Escape (Billy and the Giant Adventure #2) by Jamie Oliver and illustrated by Mónica Armiño cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/3006844104 Share the adventure of a lifetime in this incredible sequel to Jamie Oliver’s bestselling children’s debut, Billy and the Giant Adventure!

Billy and his best friends Anna, Jimmy and Andy are looking forward to a summer exploring Waterfall Woods, discovering more about the magical creatures who live there and the Rhythm of nature that keeps their world, and ours, in balance.

Then the woods come under attack from a mysterious red lady, forcing the sprites and brothers Wilfred and BiIfred into hiding, and the gang rush to the rescue!

But what does the red lady really want? Could she be connected to Bilfred’s disappearance all those years ago? And, if so, how is it possible she looks exactly the same decades later. . .

Can Billy and his friends uncover the truth and stop the red lady’s plans, before the Rhythm is put in danger once again?

Get ready for a truly EPIC journey into the mysterious world of Waterfall Woods, with magical creatures, surprising secrets, and action-packed adventure at every turn!


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]]> 2024-05-24 23:59:13 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/3006844104 Blake Laser by Keith Marantz and Larissa Brown cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/3006845179 In this middle grade graphic novel adventure story perfect for fans of Zita the Spacegirl, a family vacation through the cosmos turns into a fight for all humankind.


Blake Laser. Daughter. Sister. Genius. 


Blake and her family are headed for a vacation out in deep space for some rest, relaxation, and a whole lot of family bonding time. It’s uncharted territory, and Blake is excited for the new adventure.


But the trip is cut short when the Interplanetary Space Control Center flags them down to warn them of danger. Someone—or something—is draining energy from the sun, threatening to plummet Earth to unlivable temperatures in just under forty-eight hours. Blake and her family are the only ones close enough to investigate. They must put their trip on hold to figure out what’s going on and, more importantly, stop it. If they don’t, the fate of the entire planet hangs in the balance.


Luckily, Blake Laser has a few clever gadgets and a few more bright ideas up her sleeve that just might save the day...and the world.  


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]]> 2024-05-25 00:02:53 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/3006845179 The Ghostwing's Lie (The Mossheart's Promise #2) by Rebecca Mix cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/3006847295 The second and final book in a stunning middle grade fantasy duology about a young fairy who has always lived in her heroic grandmother’s shadow but now must step up and embark on a quest to save her world—from New York Times bestselling YA author Rebecca Mix.


Something rots within the wood…


Ary Mossheart has done the impossible: The terrarium is shattered, and her people are free. When the folk of Terra are welcomed in by the fairies of Siltshore, an abundant treetop village filled with light, food, and peace, Ary promises herself that her days of saving people are over. It’s time to be normal. Live the life her gran would have wanted; the one she never got back in Terra.


But when fairies begin to disappear one by one and it becomes clear that Siltshore is not as safe as it seems, Ary Owl, and Briar will be pulled down dangerous paths as they try to unravel the strange magics of their new world—and the truth about the one they left behind. To save her new home, Ary will have to step into the role of hero once more.


Except this time, if she fails, there will be no new world to escape to.


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]]> 2024-05-25 00:10:23 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/3006847295 Gracie Under the Waves by Linda Sue Park cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/3006848392 An empowering story from #1 New York Times bestseller and Newbery medalist Linda Sue Park starring a young snorkeling enthusiast who draws inspiration for fighting climate change from interacting with her pesty little brother

Snorkeling is the best! Gracie loves floating above underwater reefs, watching colorful fish dart in and out of the coral. She convinces her parents to let her plan a family vacation to Roatán, Honduras, where they can snorkel together. She even makes a new friend there. Now, if only her irritating little brother would leave her alone, everything would be perfect.

Things come to a screeching halt when Gracie hurts her leg, and all her carefully made plans start to come apart. Worse still, she learns the reef itself is in serious danger. Gracie wants to help the reef . . . but she’s just a kid. How can she possibly make a difference?


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]]> 2024-05-25 00:13:51 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/3006848392 The Other Side of Tomorrow by Tina Cho and illustrated by Deb JJ Lee cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/3006849469 Perfect for fans of Illegal and When Stars Are Scattered, this poignant and moving graphic novel in verse captures the dangers and hope that comes with fleeing North Korea and reaching for a brighter future through the lives of Yunho and Myunghee.


From never knowing where they’ll find their next meal to avoiding soldiers lurking at every corner, many North Koreans have learned that sticking around can be just as deadly as attempting to flee . . . almost. 


Both shy, resourceful Yunho and fierce, vibrant Myunghee know this. So when they each resolve to run away from the bleak futures they face, it’s with the knowledge that they could be facing a fate worse than death.


While Yunho hopes to reunite with his omma, who snuck across the border years ago, Myunghee is reaching for dreams that are bigger than anything the regime would allow her to have. The two are strangers to each other until a chance encounter unwittingly intertwines their fates and Myunghee saves Yunho’s life.


Kept together by their dreams for a brighter future, they face a road plagued by poisonous jungle snakes, corrupt soldiers, and the daily fear of discovery and imprisonment. But with every step toward freedom, there is also hope. Will it be enough for both of them to make it to safety without losing each other along the way?


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]]> 2024-05-25 00:17:56 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/3006849469 Quantum Interstellar Sports League (Quantum Interstellar Sports League #1) by J. Scott Savage and illustrated by Brandon Dorman cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/3006850724 The Last Kids on Earth meets Space Jam in this hilarious illustrated novel about football, aliens, and friendship! Welcome to the Quantum Interstellar Sports League, where humans and aliens play football for the fate of the Earth!

Wyatt Benson is NOT a football player. Yes, his dad may be the greatest quarterback of all time, but don't go getting any ideas. Wyatt's the kind of twelve-year-old who invents his own junk food and whose greatest physical achievement was accidentally knocking out his third-grade teacher with a badly thrown dodgeball. (Don’t ask.)

So how did he find himself as the quarterback on a football team of pro-athlete tweens playing in an intergalactic tournament against terrifying aliens? Well, it's a long story that involves contractual mishaps and the alien overlord Schnozly Grofsplot, but no matter what he tries, he can't back out. Wyatt and the rest of his teammates – like the cocky soccer star Nitro, bighearted rugby player Quake, and super cool gymnast Nova (who Wyatt is totally NOT crushing on) – will have to work together to win the tournament. Because did he mention that if Earth loses, the fate of the world is at stake?!

Told in a mixture of text and black-and-white illustrations, this is a laugh-out-loud series for any kid that loves science fiction, football, and friendship.


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]]> 2024-05-25 00:22:01 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/3006850724 Slouch by Christina Wyman cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/3006851492 The highly anticipated, standalone follow-up to the USA Today bestseller Jawbreaker, this funny, fresh, and incredibly relatable middle-grade novel is about a tall girl navigating friends, family, self-esteem, and boundaries—perfect for fans of Raina Telgemeier.

Stevie Crumb doesn’t want to stand out. But when you’re nearly 5’10” in seventh grade, it’s kind of hard not to. All anyone wants to talk about is Stevie’s height—even Stevie’s parents, who would just love for her to be an athlete like her basketball-star older brother. Sure, Stevie wants to be good at something—maybe even great at something. She’d just prefer it didn’t draw even more attention to her lanky frame.

A chance encounter leads Stevie to the school’s debate team instead, where she meets cute fellow debater Cedric. He’s shorter than she is, and Stevie doesn’t think anything of it—until her best friend points it out. Then strange guys on the subway start making comments about Stevie’s body, too—which is not only annoying, but scary and unsafe. It’s time for Stevie to ask for help, set some boundaries, and realize that standing up (and standing out) isn’t such a bad thing after all.

From breakout author Christina Wyman, Slouch is a new must-read story about growing up and growing into yourself, inch by inch. It’s ideal for readers who love Raina Telgemeier, Kelly Yang, Gordon Korman, and other endlessly funny and deeply heartfelt books that tackle big topics and universal coming-of-age experiences alike.


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]]> 2024-05-25 00:24:44 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/3006851492 Rocky Road (Team Canteen #1) by Amalie Jahn cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/3007138595 A hot pink boa that might be magic bonds 4 unlikely friends from summer camp and gives them the courage to face down the challenges they face back home.

This sassy, diverse series debut for tweens is perfect for fans of XO, Kitty, The Baby-Sitters Club, and Julie and the Phantoms.

On the final night of summer camp, Tasha, Raelynn, Claire, and Billie get busted stuffing themselves with ice cream in the mess hall’s walk-in freezer. But when they slip away without being punished, they’re convinced the pink feather boa Billie put on to stay warm is magic.

Back at home, each member of Team Canteen tests the boa’s powers as they face their own challenges. When her little cousin moves in with her destructive dog, Tasha struggles to find her place inside her adoptive family. Claire’s scared the kids at school will find out how hard life’s gotten since her dad lost his job. Raelynn longs to be someone other than her sister’s twin. And with a hockey-obsessed family charting his every move, Billie’s worried he’ll never be able share his dream of becoming a figure skater.

It’s going to be a rocky road from the start of the school year back to Camp Happy Hollow. Will the boa continue to protect Team Canteen, or will their friendship end up being the most magical find of all?

Alternating among the friends, Rocky Road is a smart, soaring celebration of the highs and lows of middle school, and the unbreakable friendships that see you through, no matter what comes next.


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]]> 2024-05-25 14:28:07 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/3007138595 Mouse and His Dog: A Dogtown Book (A Dogtown Book #2) by Katherine Applegate and Gennifer Choldenko and illustrated by Wallace West cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/3007140040 Mouse lives in Dogtown, a shelter for real dogs and robot dogs, where the kibble is plentiful, and the rafters hide a secret community of mice. His unlikely best friend is Buster, a big-hearted real dog who attracts trouble like a burr to fur.

Determined to help Buster find his forever home, even if means losing his best pal, Mouse embarks on a bold quest with three of Dogtown’s “unadoptables”: Buster, Stewie—a huge, lovable dog whose ex-owner said he was mean, and Smokey—a robot dog hardwired with a smoke alarm he can’t control.

But Mouse is just a mouse, and the world is big and complicated. How’s a little guy supposed to find homes for the dogs he loves?


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]]> 2024-05-25 14:31:54 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/3007140040 Wingborn (Wingbearer Saga #2) by Marjorie Liu and illustrated by Grace Kim cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/3007141234 In this spectacular graphic novel sequel, New York Times bestselling author Marjorie Liu returns to the epic setting of Wingbearer, following Zuli and her friends as they continue their quest to save the world’s magic.


After her encounter with the Witch-Queen, Zuli is shaken—but feels more determined than ever to find out what’s happening to the bird spirits. Armed with new information about her identity, she mounts a daring escape from a merchant airship and takes off with Frowly and Orien by her side.


But the more she tries to solve the mysteries swirling around herself, the more she’s drawn to legends about the mythical Siric, who have long since disappeared from the world. Zuli might be prepared to take on new challenges, along with the new allies she meets, but is she prepared to go farther than ever before to confront the universe’s broken magic?


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]]> 2024-05-25 14:35:11 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/3007141234 The Best Friend Bracelet by Nicole D. Collier cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/3007142540 A tender, funny story about making—and keeping—friends, perfect for fans of Sarah Mlynowski.


At Hurston Middle School, best friendship is a big deal. And Zariah Brown makes the best best friendship bracelets in town. Business is booming; Zariah can hardly keep up with orders. 


The problem is, Zariah doesn’t have a best friend of her own. As the entire seventh grade gears up for their big Pajama Jam weekend, it seems as if everyone else is paired up except her. 


So Zariah pours her heart and soul into making the ultimate friendship bracelet, using a set of beads gifted to her by a mysterious woman. But the bracelet turns out to be a tiny bit . . . magical. In fact, anyone who puts it on instantly becomes Zariah’s best friend. Now all she has to do is find the perfect best friend and get the bracelet on them. Easy, right? 


It turns out finding the ideal friend isn’t so simple, and things quickly spin out of control. Will Zariah ever find her true BFF, or is she destined to be alone forever? 


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]]> 2024-05-25 14:38:21 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/3007142540 Chai Jinxed by Emi Pinto cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/3007144171 Trouble is brewing at Margaret's Academy of Tea and Brewing, and unlucky Misha has one chance to fix it with the recipe for the perfect enchanted cup of chai, in this magical, heartfelt, and funny adventure about the power of believing in yourself, perfect for fans of A Taste of Magic and The Marvellers.


All it took was one majestic frog and a love brew gone wrong—and faster than you can say ribbit, Misha got expelled...again. Things aren’t much better back home. A rival tea shop opens across the street, and rumors spread that the Dayaans' tea is cursed. Determined to fix her family’s reputation, Misha’s only got one option left: attend the infamous Margaret’s Academy of Tea and Brewing and brew her way to the top of her class—even if it means a little bit of spice sabotage.


But when Misha finds herself up against the girl from the tea shop across the street and things start going wrong—ghostly tea leaves, living scarecrows, and rumors of missing tea witches—Misha starts to realize the truth: she’s jinxed. And if she can’t turn her luck around, her family tea shop, her classmates—and even all of Margaret’s Academy—will have a fate worse than cold tea. 


Emi Pinto's heartfelt, hilarious, and hijinks-filled Chai Jinxed is a stand-alone adventure for everyone who has ever felt the pressure to succeed, with an affirming story about friendship, family, and self-love.


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]]> 2024-05-25 14:41:57 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/3007144171 Clutch Time: A Shot Clock Novel (Shot Clock #2) by Caron Butler and justin a. reynolds cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/3007146073 Former NBA All-Star Caron Butler and acclaimed author Justin A. Reynolds deliver another superstar performance in this companion novel to Shot Clock about KO, a budding AAU basketball star as he attempts to find redemption on the court and reconnection with his incarcerated father.


Kofi “KO” Douglas knows how to handle pressure. After all, he is the newly announced #1 ranked AAU player in the country. On the court, his game is as good as it gets—even if his Wolves team lost to the Sabres in the national championship, KO always believes nobody can beat him one-on-one. That is, until his former best friend, Ripp, returns home, just in time for the biggest tournament of the summer, the McNabby. Ripp’s dad plays professional basketball overseas, and Ripp has been tearing up courts there—KO now has his toughest competition yet. 


As KO gears up for this latest challenge, there’s game-changing news at home. KO’s dad, who has been incarcerated for the last seven years, is getting out. It’s been KO and his mom for as long as he can remember, only now his dad is ready to reconnect. It’s another reunion KO isn’t sure he wants to happen, especially as Ripp keeps calling out KO to play him in the McNabby.


With the tournament on the horizon, KO decides to turn to Coach James and the Sabres for help. He may not love the idea of playing with Tony Washington and his former teammates again, but he needs them now more than ever. Can KO prove he’s still the best on the court as his family life turns upside down?


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]]> 2024-05-25 14:45:59 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/3007146073 The Chronicles of Viktor Valentine by Z Brewer cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/3007147256 A perfectly average boy uncovers a supernatural secret about his family that could put his whole town in grave danger—if it doesn’t make him die of embarrassment first—in this mysterious and funny middle grade debut from New York Times bestselling author Z Brewer.


Viktor Valentine can’t think of a better way to end his summer vacation than playing All the Vampires Everywhere, his favorite video game, with his best friend, Damon. Yet his parents, who make cringey jokes and call him dorky nicknames, seem set on ruining his plans. Viktor knows he can’t really compete with Damon’s “cool” friends—so their epic video game playing is the best Viktor can do to come close to being cool in Damon’s eyes.


But then Viktor slowly starts to realize that his parents may be hiding something from him. They’re acting very suspicious; they sneak out after midnight and return with bloody mouths. But he’s probably just played too many video games. After all, vampires aren’t real . . . right?


Seventh grade is tough enough without having to figure out if your family has fangs. And to make matters worse, the new girl that moved in across the street seems particularlyinterested in things that go bump in the night. Can Viktor protect his family, or will his sleuthing come back to bite him?


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]]> 2024-05-25 14:48:28 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/3007147256 The Daggers of Ire by J. C. Cervantes cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/3007148553 “A perfect blend of magic, humor, adventure, and heart!" —Rick Riordan, #1 New York Times Bestselling Author of Percy Jackson and the Olympians


A rich and exciting new Latine middle grade fantasy about sisterhood, magic, and the power of kids to face what grown-ups refuse to see—by J. C. Cervantes, New York Times bestselling author of the Storm Runner series

Esmerelda Santos is a rare bruja, born with Chaos magic in her veins. She and her family are direct descendants of one of the four original witches—a mysterious legend about the night magic was born in San Bosco. But since the death of her mother, Esme is more concerned about healing their father’s spiraling grief.


When Esme finds a heart spell in a forbidden grimorio, she thinks it could be the answer to making her dad whole again. But before she can try, she and her best friend, Tiago, discover that their families and all the town’s witches have vanished—along with their magic, which keeps San Bosco alive. The only way to save them and the town is to find an original witch—impossible, since no one has actually ever seen one.


With a witch hunter on their tail, Esme and Tiago journey to a banished realm where forbidden magic runs wild. Here the two must embrace their powers and confront the legend’s terrible truths . . . or risk losing their families and their magic forever.


Perfect for fans of Witchlings and Amari and the Night Brothers!


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]]> 2024-05-25 14:50:55 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/3007148553 Deer Run Home by Ann Clare LeZotte cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/3007149771 Effie is Deaf, and no one in her family speaks sign language, her language. This moving story of survival and found family, inspired by a true court case, is perfect for fans of Wonder and Out of My Mind.


"Will break your heart and then make it whole again." —Holly Goldberg Sloan, New York Times bestselling author of Counting by 7s


"Ann Clare LeZotte is such a talent and deserves to be widely read!" —Lisa Yee, author of the Newbery Honor book and National Book Award Finalist Maizy Chen’s Last Chance


Effie and her older sister, Deja, have recently moved into their father’s trailer after an incident at their mom’s house. Daddy communicates with Effie by pointing, stomping on the floor, and making thoughtless jokes. Even if they did understand each other, could she tell the terrible secret she carries when telling feels impossible—and dangerous?


But what if telling is the only way to be seen?


This tender, spare, emotionally charged story about the impact of abuse and the power of love explores what it feels like to be an outsider in your own family and to awaken—through friendship, writing, and kinship with the natural world—to a new understanding and appreciation of yourself.


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]]> 2024-05-25 14:53:35 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/3007149771 The Firelight Apprentice by Bree Paulson cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/3007150953 The bestselling author-illustrator of Garlic and the Vampire, Bree Paulsen, brings her fantastical storytelling and warm, sparkling artwork to this story that celebrates the bond between sisters.


In a city powered by magic and still recovering from a bloody war, Ada is concerned about her younger sister Safi’s developing powers. She understands that Safi could learn how to control her magic under the apprenticeship of a king's magician. But with the memories of war still fresh, Ada is conflicted by this prospect—despite her knowing that she can’t keep Safi safely at home with the threat of deadly, power-thieving liches prowling the kingdom. 


When a traveling group of magicians comes to the city to perform, they immediately recognize Safi’s talents and offer to take her on as an apprentice. Safi is thrilled about her new adventure—even if that means leaving behind Ada and their sickly father. And Ada is right to worry about her sister, for there may be monsters hiding behind friendly faces…


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]]> 2024-05-25 14:56:13 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/3007150953 Happy Town by Greg van Eekhout cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/3007152009 Stay calm and remain HAPPY. Help is on the way.


Perfect for fans of Gordon Korman and Jennifer L. Holm, this adventure-packed middle grade story, set in a world not too far from our own, follows a family that moves to a remote company town that seems perfect on the surface...


Keegan knows there’s something off about Happy Town.


The isolated, high-tech company town is too perfect—with a dome keeping out bad weather and self-driving vehicles rumbling throughout the town delivering residents to work and school. Still, Keegan is excited to grow his art skills at Happy Town’s ultra-modern middle school, even if he has less time to see his mom and stepdad because of their new jobs.


But when the two become obsessed with working and eating Happy Corp Meat Cramwich (the Microwaveable Sandwich Crammed with Meat) and Keegan gets sentenced to Mandatory Work Opportunities for refusing to follow Happy Town’s shady rules, he discovers a dangerous glitch in the system that’s turning the town’s happy residents into zombies. Carnivorous, meat-craving, literal zombies. With his new friends Gloriana and Tank by his side, he’ll need to find a way to destroy Happy Town’s happy system—before there’s nothing left.


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]]> 2024-05-25 14:58:52 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/3007152009 The House on Yeet Street by Preston Norton cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/3007153207 A hilarious ghost story about a group of thirteen-year-old boys whose friendship is tested by supernatural forces, secret crushes, and a hundred-year-old curse. 

When Aidan Cross yeeted his very secret journal into the house on Yeet Street, he also intended to yeet his feelings for his best friend, Kai, as far away as possible.

To Aidan’s horror, his friends plan a sleepover at the haunted house the very next night. Terrance, Zephyr, and Kai are dead set on exploring local legend Farah Yeet’s creepy mansion. Aidan just wants to survive the night and retrieve his mortifying love story before his friends find it. 

When Aidan discovers an actual ghost in the house (who happens to be a huge fan of his fiction), he makes it his mission to solve the mystery of Gabby’s death and free her from the house. But when Aidan’s journal falls into the wrong hands, secrets come to light that threaten the boys’ friendship. Can Aidan embrace the part of himself that’s longing to break free…or will he become the next victim to be trapped in the haunted house forever? 


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]]> 2024-05-25 15:01:42 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/3007153207 Mufasa: The Lion King Novelization cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/3007154279 The official novelization of Disney’s Mufasa: The Lion King.

Told in flashbacks, “Mufasa: The Lion King” reveals the rise of one of the greatest kings of the Pride Lands as Rafiki, Timon and Pumbaa share the story of Mufasa with a young lion cub.

Directed by Barry Jenkins, the prequel to “The Lion King” releases in theaters on December 20, 2024.


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]]> 2024-05-25 15:04:34 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/3007154279 Nina and the Mysterious Mailbox (Secret Society of Rebel Girls #1) by Marti Dumas cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/3007155605 "Girls running for office, secret leadership lessons from the past, and a dash of mysterious mailbox magic? Yes please!" —Kate Messner, New York Times best-selling author of Breakout and the History Smashers series

A school election.
A mysterious mailbox.
And a letter from . . .Cleopatra?
Middle school is so weird.

Nina is determined to help her best friend Maya win the race for 6th grade representative. But when she uses her robotics skills to spy on Maya’s opponent, the girls wind up in detention. There, they are asked to write a letter to a woman from history. Nina pours her heart out to Cleopatra, and instead of throwing the letter away so her parents don’t find it, she slips it into a battered old mailbox she and Maya find in the woods. It was all just a game . . . until a giant scroll arrives at Nina’s house, signed by Cleopatra herself!

Do the girls really have a pen pal from 2,000 years ago? Will their friend Zoe ever speak to them again? Why is their science teacher acting so oddly? And what on Earth is a time taco?

Original story and characters by Anna McCleery


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]]> 2024-05-25 15:07:33 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/3007155605 Nina Peanut: Creative Genius by Sarah Bowie cher_reads https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/3007157451 Perfect for fans of Diary of a Wimpy Kid, here is a witty and humorous story about a girl’s claim to fame and her journey toward self-discovery. 


Nina Peanut runs a very serious, very amazing video channel; so why are her grandmother and her best friend, Brian, her only viewers? (Hint: it might have something to do with her obsessions with quirky stuff like a potato with a human face.) Nina isn't as popular as queen bee Megan Dunne, whose own channel, featuring her incredibly trained (and perfectly coifed) poodle, gets thousands of views a day! But when Nina’s cat accidentally turns into the star of one of Megan's videos, Nina realizes she just might have the chance to chase her dreams. But as Nina goes down the road of stardom, she starts to question whether or not fame is worth the price she’s paying.


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]]> 2024-05-25 15:11:46 UTC https://padlet.com/cher_reads/middle_grade_novels_2024/wish/3007157451