Middle Grade Madness! discussion
August MG Reading Challenge 2022
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Team Zenobia
Not your fault. I haven't been able to find a task for it. I'm open to suggestions.
Good news team. The Geronimo Stilton series. Has a lot of MG short books that my library has, that fit a lot of our challenges. I have already found a gondola and astronaut.
Here are some books that were adapted into musicals/playsThe Wonderful Wizard of Oz
Mary Poppins
The Story of Doctor Dolittle
The Boy in the Dress
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
The Secret Garden
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief
Alice's Adventures in Wonderland / Through the Looking-Glass
Billionaire Boy
Woaaaa, you guys did a great job!!!i've finished coraline again anyway hihihi
and halfway through in Root Magic.
will fill them in spreadsheet
Finally just finished Red Fox Road / Frances Greenslade. 8#The mostly in a forest one. August 18-21. Will finish details after sleep.
Narnia, at least LWW, has also been adapted for stage performance as well. I believe Harry Potter has as well.I will look at the books that are not in the tasks/categories they belong in tomorrow & give suggestions for reassignment or give up on my plans if necessary. I said at the beginning that I would read 1, 3, 8, & 18 & half of those categories have books that I will need to reassign or give up.
I will be reading Mosquitoes of Summer for a task. I couldn't find it on AR. Here is a link to AuthorsDen if you want to check there that it's MG. It's also on Amazon.https://www.authorsden.com/visit/view...
The Tower of Time has a sea shanty and 4 people riding horses at the same time! I think that I should go with the shanty. Horse Girl has horses in it.
I have a few "horse club" books so I can do that one as well if I finish all the ones I have left.
Reassigning Door to the Lost:▫There is an explosion. Does any building or physical place people are in explode as well?
▫There are more than 4 colours for on the cover
▫Rook draws doors (according to a quick Google search). If they draw doors or anything else in this book, they could be considered an artist.
▫Sounds like (according to the quick Google search) the main characters teleport. Do they time travel as well?
▫With all this crazy stuff in the storyline, is there a prophecy of the end of the world?
Possible reassigning of Small Zombie Problem:▫Do the zombies ever cooperate with another kind of being? Are these beings considered supernatural in the realm of the story? What about the white alligator? (Some books have humans or animals as supernatural beings based on which species is "normal" in the story realm.)
▫4+ colours on the cover
▫The protagonist seems to be an underdog. Do they lose most fights but win just 1 fight/argument/have a victory in their personality/situation?
▫Do they live near water or sail a boat? Maybe Category 10?
Possible reassigning of The Meltdown (Wimpy Kid #13)▫4+ colours on the cover
▫Sounds like protagonist is an underdog. Does he lose most fights & win only 1?
▫https://publicism.info/business/mento... I couldn't find a more popular source to reference, but I hope this is sufficient.
Reassigning Best Hallowe'en Ever:▫4+ colours colours on the cover
▫Herdmans are underdogs. Do they win only 1 fight in this book?
▫This seems like the kind of book that might start with the ending?
▫Do people act like cancelling Hallowe'en is the end of the world?
And there you have it - all of the books Chara read for my tasks with reassignment possibilities. Please consider picking flexible books AND noting alternate tasks they fit for all future MG Madness August read-athon book choices. What I've been doing sometimes is literally writing down, on paper so I don't get distracted by technology, all the tasks a book might/will fit. If I need help, I will specifically & clearly ask. If I have claimed a category, I am putting in significant thought & time to finding how to meet that task & I don't need it to be taken from me unless I specifically & clearly consent - this is exactly what claiming a category means. Maybe I can finish my book now.
Chara's Craftsations wrote: "Abigael wrote: "Reassigning Door to the Lost:▫There is an explosion. Does any building or physical place people are in explode as well?
▫There are more than 4 colours for on the cover
▫Rook draws ..."
She draws doors, Chara. Drawing is an artist task.
Chara's Craftsations wrote: "Abigael wrote: "Possible reassigning of Small Zombie Problem:▫Do the zombies ever cooperate with another kind of being? Are these beings considered supernatural in the realm of the story? What abo..."
Actually, let's not have you stealing my tasks for categories I claimed before this challenge even began. I spent most of my afternoon doing this reassigning work so I can have my categories back. If you don't like how I did it, sort it out by yourself.
Also, you don't need to answer the questions in my reassigning suggestions, they just need to be put away so I can have blanks on my unfinished tasks & decide **if I need help.
Sorry for not responding fast enough I was busy with the reassignments.
Abigeal: Do you want category 16? If not, then which specific tasks do you want? If you want any of them at all.Task: 91, 93, 28, 24, Who wants what?
Bonus task: 6 & 7 Who wants what?
Chara, thank you so much for reassigning your books! Personally, I'm excited to see how many complete categories we have! Good work, Team Zenobia!If anyone has any books they've read but haven't matched to tasks, let me know & I'll see if I can work it out. Also, if you don't have enough tasks, I am willing to share Category 5, Fish Out of Water & Category 16, Adventure is Out There! (I have an Africa book & 2 horse books, & a Lizzie Maguire book, all of which I haven't read yet & some ideas for the other tasks, but you can have the whole categories if you can get all the books). Also, I have no attachment to 9#42 & 19#91 so take them if you want.
8#39. Protagonist & her family get stranded in a forest & struggle to survive.
BT#1 Set in Canada, a country that starts with "C". Mosquitoes of summer / by Julianna Kozma. August 21-22 (not quite finished yet, 35 pages left, but not sure if I'll have internet tomorrow).Edit: Done! Finished as planned.
Other than the categories claimed (Category 1, 8, & 18) & BT#Last book in a 5+ series, I am not ready to claim anything else yet. I still have no leads on a Hanukiah book, but I have the rest of Category 18 & Category 8 waiting for me. If you find a Hanukiah book, make sure you have access to it & then check with me if I have a plan yet. If you find a Hanukiah book that will fit one of your tasks or an unclaimed task, go ahead & read it & we'll assign it later.
My search for that Hanukiah book continues. Just checked my local city library & found some books that are MG but too short & some that are long enough but have dreidels instead of a Hanukiah.18#90 Set entirely in autumn during the beginning of the school year. Upside-down magic / Sarah Mlynowski, Lauren Myracle, & Emily Jenkins. August 22.
If a character floats up where hot air balloons float, is that a hot air balloon?
Kadi said "if they’re not in a hot air balloon when they float up then no."
Sticks & stones (Upside-down magic) 1#1 Same author: Sarah Mlynowski (& Lauren Myracle & Emily Jenkins). August 22-23.The Hawkeye Collins book is still being moved to 6#27, right? It hasn't happened yet so just checking.
Edit: Just realised Chara read a book with a protagonist called Amanda & the Hawkeye Collins book has a protagonist called Amy (Amanda), which means this book now qualifies for 1#3!! Please move Case of the Mysterious Dognapper to 1#3. Anyone who has a book that will fit 6#27 may take it if they wish.
So, you won't be needing Protagonist Names update anymore?Chara: Greg, Rowley, Alex, Jinx, Pinki, Opal, Magnus, Abby, Jonah, Kenny, Grahame, Thea, Nicky, Colette, Violet, Paulina, Pamela, Rook, Drift, Max, Sedgewick, Simon, Kevyn, Mary, Millicent, Budrick, Ben, Geronimo, Thea, Addison “Addie”, Timmy, Total, Amanda, Josh, Jonas, Giver, Odin, Amir, Blitzen “Blitz “, Hearthstone, Thomas, Mallory, Halfborn, Alex, T.J. , Thor, Catherine, David, Jason, Zita, Piper, Randy, Pizzicato, One, Madrigal, Joseph “Jo-Jo” Naomi, Elizabeth 'Lizzie” Sybil, Nula, Ralph, Imogene, Leroy, Claude, Ollie, Gladys, Emma, Li'l, Shiloh, Marty, Septimus, Jenna, Beetle, Reven, Elfwyn, Zachary “Zach”, Melissa, Mac, Adrian, Gia, Zander, August, Sophie, Agatha, Ruth, Iris, Ishmael, Mellie, Jim, Roger, Ann, Eliza, Jack, Alice, Clarity “Clara” Margarito, Hydrangea, Claudette,Petunia, Joe, Sharie, Todd, Bebe, Calvin, Myron, Maurecia, Paul, Dana, Jason, Rondi, Sammy, Deedee, D.J. , John, Leslie, Kathy, Ron, Eric, Allison, Dameon, Jenny, Terrence, Joy, Nancy, Stephen, Louis, Flory, Cici,Salamanca “Sal”, Phoebe, Alice, Ryan, Becky
Abigeal: Christopher “Chris”, Hawkeye, Amy, Lemony, S. Theodora, Truly, Ellington, Moxie, Lucy, Edmund, Susan, Peter, Coraline, Wally, George, Kenny, Grahame, Wally, Hugo, Jeremy, Claudia, Isabelle, Georges, Frank, Joe,Ella, Mackenzie, Fenton, Marigold, Nory
Fillisita: Cassidy, Olia, Jacob, Amina, Soo-jin, Coraline,Jezebel, Jay
I saw Amanda but not Amy, but either of these names will work. You read a Nancy & a Joe, so even if I need to reorganize later, I now have back-up options - perfect! Thank you so much, Chara! I don't need name updates anymore now!I've made a list of the other teams' recommendations so I can decide which to read for 1#5. I haven't picked a 5+ book series yet for BT#8.
Here are my ideas for Category 5:
📖5#21. One of Eva Ibbotson's adventure books
📖5#22. Animorphs?
📖5#23. Dares of Christa
📖5#24. Jason Reynolds
📖5#25. A super obscure book I found, but Chara previously had a Stilton book for this one
Edit to ideas for Category 5: I'm sharing my ideas in case someone else wants that Category but doesn't have books in mind for every task. I personally only have 1 book for Category 5 right now and that category is not a priority for me right now; 1#5 & 18#86 & 88 are priorities for me right now.Edit (6.5 hours later): I did another search for e-books from my library that match BT#8 & the one I wanted the whole time is now available! Having finished 18#86 (see next post), I'm working on 18#88, then 1#5 and BT#8 (last 2 maybe not in this order).
Also, just so everyone knows: Since I know I have 8#37 & 3#13 in paper & they're fun books, I'm planning to leave them for last. If/when they're not done until the very last days of August, please trust that I have a plan & know that I live in the very last of the timezones & so I have extra time to finish (midnight local time will be September for most others).
If no one has plans for BT#6 & 7, I can aim to do those as well. I have a suspicion they'll actually be easier than they seem.
18#86 August "Auggie" Pullman is in this book. Shingaling / R.J. Palacio. (Wonder 1.7) August 23.
Thanks for the update. I am both surprise and not surprise that Wonder has some sidesequels. 17# 82-84 I'm having trouble finding books. I am open to suggestions or somebody else taking them.
18#88 It snows 3+ times in Antarctica. Race to the South Pole / Kate Messner. (Ranger in Time #4) August 23-24.
Chara's Craftsations wrote: "Thanks for the update. I am both surprise and not surprise that Wonder has some sidesequels. 17# 82-84 I'm having trouble finding books. I am open to suggestions or somebody else taking them."
I will look into these.
Off the top of my head for 17#82&84:
📖Chitty-chitty-bang-bang has a father who invents stuff & I think the family uses them.
📖Hugo Cabret (mentor is Georges).
Found some other invention books:
⛯The remarkable inventions of Walter Mortinson
⛯The peculiar / Stefan Bachmann.
⛯?Maybe Bill Nye Science Guy books?
⛯?Cabinet of wonders / Marie Rutkoski?
⛯Acellerati trilogy (loosely based on Nikola Tesla)
⛯Galaxy girls / Libby Jackson (3+ inventions)
If you run out of other tasks you're working on, can you do anything in Category 16 &/or 5?
17#83 covers that might work:🔌The wild robot escapes / Peter Brown.
🔌Pretty funny for a girl / Rebecca Elliott.
🔌7th grade life in tights / Brooks Benjamin.
🔌1 mixed-up night / Catherine Newman.
🔌Ghost boys / Jewell Parker Rhodes.
🔌
😮I just randomly stumbled on Elymnifoquent.com & there's a giant list (15 pages!!!) of "I spy" covers & titles!!!!!!! I found the hot air balloons collection on page 5!!!
(((Also, if anyone is up for a little snooping, maybe other groups have found these books & shared with their team? I am not saying you should, I'm just asking how nosy you are 🙃)))
Just so we're clear, I really don't like sci-fi & inventions & such; I do not want to read Category 17 & I doubt I'll be able to access the books that fit anyway. I am searching for these in hope that one of you can take Category 17. I am not excited to do 16#76 & 78, but I at least have the books for them.
I'm fine with doing Category 17 Filli can't take them. I was just having trouble locating the books for it. I will also take 76 & 78. You should be excited to read.
Chara, 📖You've covered almost all of Category 6. Shall I assume you're reading 6#28 & know a character whose last name/surname starts with C?
📖Also, have you found a book set in a seaside town (10#47) & one with a character who passes away(11#55)? I have read several this month & can give suggestions for both.
I have a book for 28 I'm just trying to find it right now.No seaside town yet. I'm open to suggestions.
I just finished Walk Two Moons for BT 9 Upon reading it. it has some character death in it. So, should I put it in 55 Or BT 9.
What book do you have in mind for #55? Or do you know of any books with a number somewhere in the title?
Filli,📖Do you have a book in mind for BT#2? I haven't looked at the list, but let me know if I can help find a book or anything.
📖Have you found books for 13#61 & 63? I read one with a fortune teller in July - let me know if you want the title. I don't know of anything for New Orleans but I can look if you need help.
Seaside town books🌊ATWQ (every single book mentions being a seaside town - who am I to question a town's identity?)
🌊Hardy Boys/Hardy Boys Adventures: any book that takes place in Bayport plus "Treacherous Tide" & "Trouble Island" & more, I'm sure.
🌊Mosquitoes of Summer / Julianna Kozma. (If you can find it since it is quite obscure. Are you the girl who lives in ADT? It's set in P.E.I., so maybe your local bookstore/library will have it? I know my library in both the city & hometown very specifically & diligently collect Canadian books & anything set in my province & region.)
🌊Let me know if you need more - these are just off the top of my head.
🔢Whether to put a book in one category or another depends on what else is on your shelf. Off the top of your head for books you have immediate access to, which comes to mind sooner: character passes away or number in the title? If neither, then put Walk Two Moons in 11#55 & look for a book with a number in the title. Unless something incredibly obvious, like title, tells you if a character passes away (looking at you, Mr. Silvera!), the number in the title will be easier to find; the outside (cover or title) is always easier to find than the inside (content) unless something comes to mind when you need it to.
🔢For number in the title, what kind of resources do you have? Off the top of my mind:
🔢⚂File under: 13 suspicious incidents / Lemony Snicket
🔢⚂Dares of Christa (there's a number but I forget which one)
🔢⚂Wizards of once (hopefully this kind of number counts)
Assuming that the ones beside your name (9 from the nine worlds; Nine, Ten: 9/11 story; & Countdown to the Year 1000) don't have series with numbers in their book titles, I will have to go look up more if you need more suggestions. (Note: I do not think you should move any of these books with numbers in the titles. It will be easier to just find you some book with a number in the title that you don't have on your TBR.)
You just remined me that PEI is a seaside town. So, I have a good book just for that.
Excellent! Glad to help! (Pedanticly[?], P.E.I. is a province, but I reckon an island of that size has only seaside towns.)Tell me more about what kind of book resources you have available; I'll see if I can find books that will fit & are available to you: buy and/or borrow? Online and/or IRL? E-books, audiobooks, paperbooks or all 3? Or should I just throw out titles recklessly?
Throw out titles recklessly.Edit: I found at number title at my library 97 Ways to Train a Dragon
(Dragon Slayers' Academy #9)
Perfect! Taking notes now so I can track this.From what I found about Jeff Kinney, he grew up in a military family, thus military background. Do you want to read another Wimpy Kid book for 9#42? The link is in the article I sent a few days ago. I can also check who else has a background in this.
Also, given a choice between 9#42, 5#21-25, & finishing Category 16, I think I'd rather finish Category 16 (except I don't have a hot air balloon book yet). I only have 4 or 5 books left & you have A LOT. Will you be able to finish them all?
Omgosh you already did 16#78! Wow!
Omgosh you already started 17#83! I was just guessing those were wires! I hope I was right?!!???!!?!?!!!!!
I need a book that has a character whose last name starts with c
Middle Grade Madness!
Books mentioned in this topic
A Destiny of Dragons (other topics)Tune: Still Life (other topics)
Olu's Lions (other topics)
Olu's Lions (other topics)
The 12 Dares of Christa (other topics)
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Authors mentioned in this topic
Sarah Mlynowski (other topics)Geronimo Stilton (other topics)
Bill Myers (other topics)
Zillah Bethell (other topics)
J.K. Rowling (other topics)
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Sad! 😔Good work trying.