The best book I read in June (2024)

[C.J.]

Well, hey! We're well into July, but before we get any further, let's take a quick reconnoiter of the books we read last month. Any favorites that you'd recommend to the group? What were your best middle grade finds for June?

Looking back, I think my favorite reads had to be Midnight in the Piazza by Tiffany Parks, which is a sort of art mystery set in Italy, and Restart by Gordon Korman, about a boy with amnesia who doesn't like the things he's finding out about who he used to be ... and does his best to start over. Also notable, as part of my 2024 series Challenge (and hey, if you need "X" books for the A to Z Challenge), I caught up to what's current in the Expeditioner's series. This is an alternate reality series with some fascinating world-buiding. Mysteries and maps and quests. A great adventure series.



Your turn! What books should we be squeezing into our To Read shelves?

[Lesley]

Gordon Korman is a popular writer with the children at the school library I work at. He's also a Canadian (which is great as we're also trying to promote Canadian authors at our school).

[C.J.]

Lesley wrote: "Gordon Korman is a popular writer with the children at the school library I work at. He's also a Canadian (which is great as we're also trying to promote Canadian authors at our school)."

Mr. Korman's books are consistently entertaining! I'm grateful he's so prolific.

[Justine]

I had a good month last month. I managed 5 middle-grade books! My favourite one was Scholastic Classics: East Asian Folktales, Myths And Legends. It is a collection of popular folktales, myths and legends from East Asia, divided into different themes: Origin and Discovery Tales, Festival Stories, Animal Tales, Tales of the Good, Wise and Brave, and Ancient Love Stories.

Whilst I am familiar with most of the stories, I was impressed with the overview given at the start of each section. It gives a historical perspective, and shows us the variations of the same tale told in different countries in the region.

[Kara]

Olivetti

The Frindle Files

Averil Offline

These were my top reads of June. All were five stars!

[Kara]

Lesley wrote: "Gordon Korman is a popular writer with the children at the school library I work at. He's also a Canadian (which is great as we're also trying to promote Canadian authors at our school)."

I just finished his newest ARC Old School. It was great as well!
Old School

[Angela]

Been a busy month and I didn't read as much as usual, but I did enjoy the non-fiction graphic novel An Outbreak of Witchcraft: A Graphic Novel of the Salem Witch Trials. It did a decent job of portraying the hysteria and chaos of this historical event and how different people reacted, from the afflicted girls, to the innocents accused, to the powerful men in the community who may have used the situation to their benefit. It also addresses the very real tragedy of lives lost and the darkness of the times. (I would not recommend this for the youngest of middle grade readers; maybe 10+).

[Harley]

Lucie Babbidge's House by Sylvia Cassidy

[C.J.]

Kara wrote: "Olivetti

The Frindle Files

Averil Offline

These were my top reads of June. All were five stars!"

Okay, Olivetti looks especially charming, and I've added the other two titles to my To Read pile as well. HOW did you get an early look at Frindle Files! It doesn't release until next month!

[C.J.]

Kara wrote: "I just finished his newest ARC Old School. It was great as well!"

Oh, nice! Will be adding!

[C.J.]

Harley wrote: "Lucie Babbidge's House by Sylvia Cassidy"

Huh! A book from the 1980s? How's it hold up? (I find that many titles don't age well.) What makes it your favorite from the past month?

[C.J.]

Angela wrote: "I did enjoy the non-fiction graphic novel An Outbreak of Witchcraft: A Graphic Novel of the Salem Witch Trials."

Your description reminds me of a book I read a few months back. In A Kind of Spark, the protagonist struggles to get a memorial set up in her home town for the young women who died because they were wrongfully accused of witchcraft. But people are reluctant to own up to the mistakes of the past. I found it thought-provoking.

[Angela]

C.J. wrote: "Angela wrote: "I did enjoy the non-fiction graphic novel An Outbreak of Witchcraft: A Graphic Novel of the Salem Witch Trials."

Your description reminds me of a book I read a few m..."

I will have to check that one out! Thanks for the rec!

[Kara]

I requested on Netgalley :)

C.J. wrote: "Kara wrote: "Olivetti

The Frindle Files

Averil Offline

These were my top reads of June. All were five stars!"

Okay, Olivetti looks especially..."

[Debby]

my favorite book last in June was the debut novel by Nedda Lewers
'Daughters of the Lamp' A great story mix of a young girl who visits Egypt for the first time for a family wedding, and is sure 'El Goula' is out to ruin her uncle's life, Meeting cousins and hearing family lore, and traditions, she learns she is in a line of protectors. Chapters of the original protector from ancient times gives great variety and depth to the story, And, she has a 2nd book out on pre-order!

[Debby]

Sorry, missed this part:
Daughters of the Lamp

[C.J.]

Debby wrote: "my favorite book last in June was the debut novel by Nedda Lewers - 'Daughters of the Lamp'..."

Oh! I'd marked that one as To Read a while back. Glad to hear it's a good one. Looking forward to it.

[Harley]

C.J. wrote: "Harley wrote: "Lucie Babbidge's House by Sylvia Cassidy"

Huh! A book from the 1980s? How's it hold up? (I find that many titles don't age well.) What makes it your favorite from the past month?"

This was the fourth time that I read it. I think Lucie's connection to Delia Hornsby is what makes this book intriguing. I love the ending.