Task 5: Read a Middle Grade Novel

[Rokkan]

Never mind, am going to go with Stig of the Dump by Clive King instead. Loved that book when I was younger.

[Fab]

Does Milky Way Railroad by Kenji Miyazawa qualify for this category?

[Daena]

I'm going to read The Mysterious Benedict Society.

[Kristi]

My son recommended Divergent, so I'll be reading that.

[Ashley]

Kristi wrote: "My son recommended Divergent, so I'll be reading that."

Probably doesn't matter too much, but Divergent is a pretty solid YA novel as opposed to middle grade... Maybe he could make another suggestion for you?

[Nicole]

I just finished reading The Crossover, which is definitely a middle grade novel. It's written in verse, so may take some getting used to, but it's a quick read.

I would also recommend Zombie Baseball Beatdown. I read it earlier this year, and it has a pretty profound message, albeit mixed into a style of writing/story that will appeal to younger audiences.

Also, American Born Chinese, which is written in the style of a graphic novel.

[Lauren]

This was a best of 2015 here on GoodReads - I'll be reading The Honest Truth.

[Jay Kay]

Tatiana wrote: "I am going to read Harry Potter and the Sorcerers Stone. I'm probably the only one that hasn't read the series yet! I will probably read it out loud to my 8 year old son and check off two categorie..."

I haven't either and I might for this task as well!

[Danielle]

As a middle school teacher, I read a TON of middle school lit and YA! Middle grade lit isn't what students typically read in class (so not Poe/Shakespeare) it is books written for upper elementary and middle school students! A rule of thumb is to look at the age of the main character. Typically the main character will be around 12, but they can be a little younger or older. Another good way to find middle school novel is in a book store they will be found in the "children's literature" section (at least they are in Barnes and Noble and my local indie book store), but they are longer and more complex. Typically not ones that you would give your 7 or 8 year old to read by themselves, but ones you might read together at that age. Like many said all of Rick Roirdan is middle grade (he has fully stated he does not write YA!). I can argue that the Harry Potter series is middle grade, but the later books do push towards YA. Whereas Divergent and The Hunger Games are YA that many middle school students read.

Some other middle grade novels that my middle schoolers are reading right now are: "The Westing Game," "Sammy Keyes mysteries," "Diary of a Wimpy Kid," "Dork Diaries," and "From the Notebook of a Middle School Princess" (a continuation of the Princess Diaries).

[Astrid]

This was actually a bit tough for because back in middle school I read a lot of darker material. However, since I left off on the 4th Harry Potter book, I will pick up the series with book #5

[Kathy]

Nightbird by Alice Hoffman sounds good. Fantasy and magical realism.

[Tracy]

I'm going to read City of Orphans because I own it, haven't read it yet, and I love Avi, who wrote another of my all time middle grade faves- The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle.

[Belinda]

I have not read Matilda, so going to read it before seeing the stage show

[Cheryl Daly]

I'm going to read Goodbye Stranger by Rebecca Stead. I highly recommend Echo as well by Pam Munoz Ryan. Amazing read. Loved it.

[Mia]

I am going to read When you reach me, by Rebecca Stead

[Paulette]

Heard good things, so read The Thing About Jellyfish - The thing about jellyfish by Ali Benjamin.

It's a somewhat sad exploration of a young person struggling with issues of loss and friendship, who also is consumed with learning everything she can about jellyfish. An interesting middle grade read that delves deep into emotional territory - I wonder if YA readers will pick on the autistic tendencies of the narrator?

[Leslie]

Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library

[Maxine]

Yay, able to cross one off today

[Jo]

Does How to Train Your Dragon count?

[Maxine]

Jo wrote: "Does How to Train Your Dragon count?"

Definitely. That was what I was going to read but I was already planning a harry potter re read, so just used that instead.
I still want to read the how to train your dragon series though. My daughter loves it.

[adeservingporcupine]

As a middle school teacher, I can agree with this article that he difference between middle grade and YA is mostly marketing. So I think it's ok to read whatever your interpretation is for this category -- there's so much great stuff in this category!

http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by...

[Jessica]

I'm planning on The War That Saved My Life by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley.

[Danielle]

I was able to check my first book off of the challenge today! I was already reading The Mysterious Benedict Society when the challenge came out and since I didn't love it, I was able to hold off finishing it till 2016! I personally didn't like this book, but it is a middle grade novel. I also know that it will not be my only one this year!

[Jo]

Thanks Maxine. I'm doing a Harry Potter re-read this year too, with my sister :)

[Rachel]

Definitely Matilda by Roald Dahl.

[Brandy]

I am thinking of Alice in Wonderland. I never read it and always wanted to. I get conflicting age/grade ranges for it though.

[Jennifer]

I went with Starry River of the Sky by Grace Lin and that was lovely.

[Brittany]

Hi all! For those challenge, I'm reading Library of Souls, which is the third in the "Peculiar Children" series by Ransom Riggs.

[Kate]

WouldThe Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making count as middle school?

[Danielle]

Kate, yes it would be!!

[Kate]

Danielle wrote: "Kate, yes it would be!!"
Yay! thanks!!

[Marie]

Possibilities: The Invention of Hugo Cabret, The Sword of Summer, Fish In A Tree

[Sarah]

I'm going to be reading The Other Side of Eve which came up in a middle grade search I did yesterday. I'm also on a promise to finally read the Percy Jackson books ;)

[Kristal]

Somebody recommended "Go Ask Alice" to me. Would it fall under this category?

[Danielle]

Luanda wrote: "Somebody recommended "Go Ask Alice" to me. Would it fall under this category?"

Luanda, I would say that it is more YA (and actually probably considered one of the first)! It is super heavy, not saying middle school literature can't be, just typically not that extreme. I would even say that it would count more toward a main character with a mental illness task. With that siad, Book Riot has always said that it is how you interpret the challange, so you can count it if you want!!

[Victoria]

Would Wonder count as a middle grade book? I've read it and loved it and think it would be a good one to recommend.
The Westing Game is one I remember loving around 5th or 6th grade.

[Kristal]

Danielle wrote: "Luanda wrote: "Somebody recommended "Go Ask Alice" to me. Would it fall under this category?"

Luanda, I would say that it is more YA (and actually probably considered one of the first)! It is supe..."

Thanks! Once i read the description i was skeptical so now you just verified it for me. Thanks again!

[sarah]

My husband said they studied The Outsiders in middle school so that's my pick for this category.

[Bea]

I am reading James Patterson's The Murder of King Tut for another challenge. It strikes me that this might be middle-grade...lots of white space, bigger print, short chapters, simpler language.

Edit: I check James Patterson's website and, although he writes for middle schoolers, this is not one of the books he lists for that age group.

[Gwen S.]

Read Middle School Novel #5: task completed

American Born Chinese by Gene .L. Yang

[Carol]

Trudie wrote: "Is The Marvels something that could be used in this section ? Anything with amazing illustrations appeals to me."

I think so. It def. appeals to middle graders.

[Carol]

Bobby wrote: "I have difficulty determining whether any given book is a children's novel, middle school novel, or YA novel, especially when I haven't read it yet. The books I remember reading in junior high (as ..."

Those are both excellent choices!

[Sarah]

Just found a book that ticks 3 boxes - The Journals of Thaddeus Shockpocket (will edit in URL later), is a middle grade book, under 100 pages and set pre-1900!
I've got those 3 covered but hopefully it will help someone out :)

[Nelly]

I have never read any of the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series, and i would really love to try it for a change, would it qualify for this task of the challenge?

[Bea]

Nelly wrote: "I have never read any of the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series, and i would really love to try it for a change, would it qualify for this task of the challenge?"

From the way people shelve this book in GR, it ranges from Childrens -> Middle Grade -> Young Adult. I bet you could count it for this task without much dissent.

[Dhruv]

I'm planning on The Strange Case of Origami Yoda since it sounds hilarious!

[Elizabeth]

Would The Little Prince count for this? I have never read it and was hoping to do so this year.

[Dhruv]

Elizabeth wrote: "Would The Little Prince count for this? I have never read it and was hoping to do so this year."

I would think it's targeted for a younger audience than middle grades. But it does fit in the "Less than 100 pages" category.
But regardless of the challenge, I would definitely recommend reading it. It's stunningly beautiful.

[Nelly]

Bea wrote: "Nelly wrote: "I have never read any of the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series, and i would really love to try it for a change, would it qualify for this task of the challenge?"

From the way people shelve..."

thanks a lot Bea :)

[Pixelina]

Decided to do two tasks in one and listen to Matilda