Task 5: Read a Middle Grade Novel

[Nadine in NY]

Tina wrote: "Katie wrote: "I listened The Graveyard Book (also, it won an Audie Award!). I loved it, the characters were lovely and the story is something young and old alike will enjoy."

I am reading The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman now. Hopefully, I will finish it today. I am loving it so far. I cannot believe it was intended for kids! "

Yes! I started reading this out loud to my kids several years ago, and they told me to stop!! (so I've never actually finished it .... one of these days I'll get back to it. Maybe I'll get the audiobook for our next car trip! )

[Liana]

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..."

You're not the only one! I made it a personal goal to read the series -- for the first time -- all the way through before the new book comes out at the end of July. I just finished book 6 this weekend! :) Hope you enjoy!

[Maria U.]

For this task I read The honest truth - Dan Gemeinhart.

[Brandy]

I actually haven't picked what I'm going to read for this category, yet. Maybe Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library but I have read a few books for other categories/challenges that I enjoyed this year.

Upside Down in the Middle of Nowhere is a bit of historical fiction following a 10 year old girl from New Orleans right before, during and after hurricane Katrina. I thought the ending was a little easy, but I really enjoyed all the characters and invested in them as they were going through everything.

I listened to Echo for book that won an Audie which is historical fiction about three kids and their families as they get through difficult periods of adjustment in their lives. Music ties the three separate stories together and the audio book gives you snippets of the music as it is being discussed which is really nice.

I absolutely love middle grade fiction because I think the stuff that we read in the time period where we are first really reading and exploring the world on our own really informs our cultural identity.

[Tina]

Just finished Gave it 1 star; repetitive and unoriginal.

[Nadine in NY]

The Alchemist isn't middle grade. "Middle grade" means intended for kids ages 8 to 12 or so.

[Bella]

Across the nightingale floor

[Adriene]

I read Number the Stars by Lois Lowry. It's just a little over 100 pages but was a good read. I'm also currently reading The BFG by Roald Dahl. It's a middle grade and is being turned into a movie (and it was published in the decade I was born) -- 3 birds, 1 stone. :)

[Megan]

I just finished Echo by Pam Muñoz Ryan, which could also check the box for the 500+ page book category. I can see why it received a Newbery Honor -- really terrific!

[Nancy]

I read When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead. The characters are sixth graders in late 1970s New York City, and the book deals with a lot of early adolescent issues like the ups and downs of friendships, the first stirrings of sexuality (addressed here in very age-appropriate fashion with things like a first kiss, nothing R rated!), problems with parents, plus the interesting addition of a time travel thread inspired by Madeleine L'Engle's classic novel A Wrinkle in Time. This book won a Newberry Award.

[Anissa]

I loved that book! Her newer one, Liar and Spy, is good too.

[Mindy]

I read "A Secret Garden." Somehow, I missed this one when I was a kid. It also is what I read for the "Adapted to Film" task. Honestly, it probably would have bored me as a kid but it was OK to read now.

[quietprofanity]

I read Rebel Genius by Avatar: The Last Airbender co-creator Michael Dante DiMartino. I think the story's too complicated for its own good and I have a lot of nitpicks with it, but it was enjoyable overall. (My review is here.)

[[deleted user]]

If anyone still needs to complete this one, I can recommend Nine Open Arms by Benny Lindelauf. It was originally published in 2004 in the Netherlands and recently translated into English. Themes include family, secrets, and coming-of-age.

I like children's literature, but I'm very picky about it, and this is one that I feel is just a good book, period. If you like historical, literary, old-fashioned stuff or if you are not a huge fan of children's books, this might be one to try!

[Amanda]

Hey -- reading Sherman Alexie's "The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian" for this. But some sources call it middle grade,and some call it YA. Do you think it's acceptable? Not sure it matters, as I have nine books to read for the challenge, so there's no way I'll finish. But I'd like to get as close as possible!

[Caitlin]

Amanda wrote: "Hey -- reading Sherman Alexie's "The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian" for this. But some sources call it middle grade,and some call it YA. Do you think it's acceptable? Not sure it matt..."

I think it's acceptable--my library shelves it in the middle grade section, and a quick search lists it as appropriate for grades 7-10. 7th grade is squarely in the middle grade category, so I would say it qualifies. (Also, I loved this book!)

[Amanda]

Caitlin wrote: "Amanda wrote: "Hey -- reading Sherman Alexie's "The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian" for this. But some sources call it middle grade,and some call it YA. Do you think it's acceptable? N..."

Thanks! I am really enjoying it myself.

[Rachel]

I'm reading Wonder