Middle Grade Madness! discussion
September Reading Challenge 2025
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Team Moose Flanagan
I have a book that’s title proper is 1 word but has a subtitle. Does this count for 1#3?
AurorainBookland wrote: "Abigael wrote: "Does story starts 1 week after lady died in childbirth count for 1#1 (legally in my region, these kids get “orphan pay” from the government even though other parent is still there),..."I asked Kadi but no response yet about this question
2#8 Is this meant to say "high school"? Unless a kid skips grades, they won't be in high school at age 9-12.
Abigael wrote: "2#8 Is this meant to say "high school"? Unless a kid skips grades, they won't be in high school at age 9-12."Raven is 17 in Teen Titans so she is in high school. And yes the prompt says high school, I wrote a paper copy of the prompts. But it is still a MG series according the Ar site.
Ever after High is another MG book set in high school so they do exits.
4#18 is giving an error in the points box, something to ask Kadi about all spaces are filled out.
Mod
So we’re almost halfway through the challenge and there’s been a change in the Title Points so we can spice things up:
You can get 5 Title Points if any word in the title contains any Title Word (the Title Word can be by itself or contained within a word in the title)
Example:
The Seeing Stone by Holly Black for task 19
The Lie Tree by Frances Hardinge for task 27
You can get 10 Title Points if any word in the title contains the specific Title Word of the Category of the Task the book is assigned to (the Title Word can be by itself or contained within a word in the title)
Example:
The Seeing Stone by Holly Black for task 2
The Lie Tree by Frances Hardinge for task 8
Please leave the Title Points to be either added by your Captain or me😊
I’m reading this book: https://www.goodreads.com/work/editio... but because it’s only available in audio format, there’s no pagination. For a ‘normal’ Stilton book, the page count is enough to meet Kadi’s terms. What do I do?
Also, Aeriell, faster response times on my questions would REALLY help a lot. We’re at the point where I’m waiting for answers in order to decide if I should read a book or return it & read/ find something else. Aurora/Rory has offered to help & it would be great if you’d let her. Thank you
Mod
Hi Abigael, so I can see that audiobook is 2 of the Geronimo Stilton books combined and I’ve checked them both so yes it counts and the pages of the 2 books combined is 219 so please put it as that
Mod
Hey Abigael, I don’t normally check other team’s pages because we have the Captain’s Chat but I would say wait a day after asking the question and then you can drop me a DM if you like. I get it if Aeriell is busy, sometimes I don’t give an immediate response too so it might be on me sorry!😊
Mod
This was my answer to your question:
Yeah technically I know you can be considered an orphan in some places if just your father dies or if just your mother dies, but for the task it has to be both parents have died for it to count for that task
Abigael wrote: "I have a book that’s title proper is 1 word but has a subtitle. Does this count for 1#3?"
The answer to this is no. The book can’t have a subtitle to count for this task
Mod
I spotted this and I’ve fixed it😊 Somehow the points coding had disappeared. Please don’t touch the points coding guys! Everything automatically puts the points and adds it for you the power of spreadsheets👏🏻
Abigael wrote: "Also, Aeriell, faster response times on my questions would REALLY help a lot. We’re at the point where I’m waiting for answers in order to decide if I should read a book or return it & read/ find s..."In response to this, I understand what you mean by answering questions. I do take your questions and ask them on the captains chat. I do not need a co-captian, this is a GROUP effort if someone else can answer faster and know it more then me then that is okay. I may not always be on 24/7 to answer tasks as I got college and work. I agree with Kadi's response as well, you can also DM directly or if want fast reply you can email me directly and I can more quickly give you a response. If no one responses to questions I can put it on the captains chat or you can message Kadi directly.
This goes for everyone please. Also you can use your best judgement and I can check the spreadsheet too.
1#2 somehow the information except points is gone.
AurorainBookland wrote: "1#2 somehow the information except points is gone."Yeah I see that! I'll let Kadi know!
Update:
Kadi changed it to where ot should say no points now, but if someone had put something there before you can put it back.
Aeriell wrote: "AurorainBookland wrote: "1#2 somehow the information except points is gone."Yeah I see that! I'll let Kadi know!
Update:
Kadi changed it to where ot should say no points now, but if someone had ..."
Okay.
We have 14 tasks on the sheet I know more have been completed. Can I go through and add the books that are missing? I'll use the harder to find tasks.
12#58 what if protagonist manages to save herself from drowning?
@Aurora I have book suggestions (some tasks I'll refuse to read but someone else can) for basically everything except 2#6 Pathological liar. It's common enough in YA, but not in MG. Do you have any?
Abigael wrote: "@Aurora I have book suggestions (some tasks I'll refuse to read but someone else can) for basically everything except 2#6 Pathological liar. It's common enough in YA, but not in MG. Do you have any?"Listing books on here that can fit tasks will help other team members. I have two books going and will finish one today and hopefully finish the other one by the end of the month, but my reading time is shorter on weekends due to family visiting.
I do not know of any books where the character lies a lot to be considered a pathological liar and sadly google isn't helping.
What I meant above is that the tracking sheet has books read that are not in the official spread sheet yet, probably because we're listing all the tasks the book can fit and the Captain is busy. Which is fine it's only the 16th.
Hey guys sorry ive been a bit sick!Would a book thats 108 pages count or is that too short
EdenB15 wrote: "Hey guys sorry ive been a bit sick!Would a book thats 108 pages count or is that too short"
That's longer than 100 so I'm pretty sure that would count. I'll DM Kadi and get back to you on your behalf.
as per the rules " Must be more than 100 pages long."
@Aurora you seem to have good book suggestions so I was just checking; no worries. Also, I’m happy to have you assign books where you think they fit best. I’m a completionist, so what matters to me is checking off as many tasks as possible; I’m confident you can sort out where books fit.I find it easier to put suggested books in the spreadsheet because I like to find at least 1 book for all available tasks & a spreadsheet is the best way to organise that much information. I can add my suggestions to the Example tab on the spreadsheet?
@Eden minimum page count is 100 pages for ‘normal’ books & 150 for graphic novels & comic books. If pictures tell part of the story that words don’t, that’s a graphic novel/comic; if pictures illustrate what words say, that’s a ‘normal’ book. Also, make sure your book is middle grade on ARbookfind.com or ARbookfind.co.uk
Abigael wrote: "@Aurora you seem to have good book suggestions so I was just checking; no worries. Also, I’m happy to have you assign books where you think they fit best. I’m a completionist, so what matters to me..."The example tab isn't being used so that works.
Having all the tasks a book fits will help the Captain and I can do yours since you gave me permission. I'll get working on that later, I'm almost finished reading my book.
EdenB15 wrote: "Hey guys sorry ive been a bit sick!Would a book thats 108 pages count or is that too short"
I got an answer from Kadi here is what she said
"I hope they feel better soon!
Yes, you’re right, that book definitely counts unless it’s a graphic novel in which case it must be 150 pages or more to count.
Hope that helps!
Kadi😊"
so as long as your book is a novel you're good. Hope you feel better soon. Happy reading.
EdenB15 wrote: "Hey guys sorry ive been a bit sick!Would a book thats 108 pages count or is that too short"
I hope you are doing better!
Abigael wrote: "@Aurora you seem to have good book suggestions so I was just checking; no worries. Also, I’m happy to have you assign books where you think they fit best. I’m a completionist, so what matters to me..."working on it right now and need clarification
8#36 Jared & Thimbletack sneak out & wreak havoc in kitchen;
does this scene happen at night? The task specifically says the characters sneak out at night. If not I'll use the other task you listed.
Alice Fleck's Recipes for Disaster isn't showing up on either site, same with The Wild Things, The Wise Woman: A Fairy-Tale Parable
were these book cleared by Kadi?
Invisible is not on your challenge shelf.
Thats -perfect thank u guys! Ill see where it will fit def doing bit better thank u all havent read as much as I would like to but im sure will make up for itCant believe we are halfway through the month already
@Aurora 8#36 Yes, sneak out at night; they’re supposed to be in bed going to sleep but aren’t
Alice Fleck, Wild things, Wise woman: I didn’t get them cleared by Kadi, I just researched them & read them & the content itself & librarian journal reviews & publisher all say they’re middle grade. Someone can ask Kadi.
I thought I’d be missing a book on my shelf! Invisible is added now
@Captain Please ask Kadi for examples of approved books or characters that are pathological liars. I’m having a rough time figuring out if any particular deceptive character counts.
Abigael wrote: "@Aurora 8#36 Yes, sneak out at night; they’re supposed to be in bed going to sleep but aren’t
Alice Fleck, Wild things, Wise woman: I didn’t get them cleared by Kadi, I just researched them & rea..."
thanks, I'll check with her.
AbigaelAlice Fleck, Wild things, Wise woman: - Kadi says they count :D
Question
for a tale of magic Kadi says for this task 16#78 Protagonist stays up all night reading every night, only getting 1-3 hours of sleep for months;
"I would say this doesn’t count unless the reason they stay awake to read is because they can’t fall asleep because then that’s basically what insomnia is like an inability to fall asleep."
is that the case here? If not I'll pick a different task. Just this one seems hard to find, she's really making some challenging ones lol!
@Aurora If she was able to fall asleep, she would have: she reads after her secret 20+ hour/week night job of cleaning an entire public library by herself & before going to middle/junior high school & trying to have a normal teenager life & sustains this lifestyle for a couple months. Definitely some kind of sleep disorder.
What is the definition of a witch’s/wizard’s hat? Just to clarify what we’re looking for.
Abigael wrote: "@Aurora If she was able to fall asleep, she would have: she reads after her secret 20+ hour/week night job of cleaning an entire public library by herself & before going to middle/junior high schoo..."Thanks, that definitely counts, I'll add this info in the reason section when I add it, which will be tomorrow or over the weekend :D
I need to get more of my book read since the month is almost over.
Abigael wrote: "What is the definition of a witch’s/wizard’s hat? Just to clarify what we’re looking for."Witch hat is characterized by a conical crown and a wide brim. Think Wizard of OZ
Wizard hat can have a cone shape with a pointed tip think the sorcerer's apprentice animated, Micky wears one in the picture
OR
a wide brim with a bent tip Think the Sorting Hat from HP
Holy Cow ya'll!!We finished a section!!!!
Also I can see some stuff on my end and I'm like shocked by our point total comapred to the others teams!!
I'm currently working on my task 3 book which is a long one but I will get there!
Aeriell wrote: "Holy Cow ya'll!!We finished a section!!!!
Also I can see some stuff on my end and I'm like shocked by our point total comapred to the others teams!!
I'm currently working on my task 3 book whi..."
Go team Moose!
Abigael all your books read are on the official spreadsheet. Except Still life had to ask Kadi about something not sure if she's looking for a character named Green or if Olive would count. If not I'll use another task for it.Surf's up, Geronimo & The wild, wild west / Geronimo Stilton. needs to be added to your shelf. Once it's added I'll put the read date in the spreadsheet, it's going under the task lives on a farm.
The Spiderwick Chronicles: Volume II: Book 3: Lucinda's secret; Book 4: The ironwood tree / Tony DiTerlizzi & Holly Black. (The spiderwick chronicles #3-4) please add book to shelf hoping that seeing mythical creatures counts as a superhuman ability but asking Kadi to be sure.
2 more tasks have been read by Filli and need to go on the official spreadsheet 11#53 (book with clock on the cover) and 3#11 A book with a protagonist who can do magic are complete! Thanks Filli.
I think one of the Spiderwick Chronicles books has a forest fire, but I have to re-read it to double-check or someone with the e-book can search “fire”.
This book has a forest fire, if that helps.
MY stands for Middle Years which is the UK AR Bookfinder website’s version of MG. So yeah that Chris Colfer book counts if that’s what the AR Bookfinder website says! - from Kadi So Abigail please add the last few books you read to your challenge shelf so they can be added to the sheet.
Fairy fruit does NOT count. :(
Fili please add the books you read to your shelf so the Captain can add them to the official spreadsheet.
Abigael please add Surf's up, Geronimo & The wild, wild west / Geronimo Stilton. (Geronimo Stilton #20 & #21) to your shelf so the lives on a farm task can be added to the official spreadsheet.
Abigael The wrath of Mulgarath; with some tasks stating wilderness and destroyed house, I did not find a task for this one, sorry.
Everything else is on the spreadsheet. As of 9/21
As of today I will no longer be able to update your books on the official spreadsheet as life is getting busy and I need to finish and update my book for 18#87
Thank you for your help, Aurora!It looks like someone reorganised the spreadsheet. Is everything still there or should I add my books back? An announcement about this would have helped a lot.
I’ve added book suggestions to match tasks on the spreadsheet under “Example” tab in case anyone is looking for books to read but don’t have anything in mind.
Abigael wrote: "Thank you for your help, Aurora!It looks like someone reorganised the spreadsheet. Is everything still there or should I add my books back? An announcement about this would have helped a lot."
Just checked only change is the Cat 13 now has tasks.
I suggest Captain check in with Fili 2 books were read but aren't on the challenge shelf, thus can't count. I would like everyone's books read to count.
Middle Grade Madness!
Books mentioned in this topic
The Tiny Mansion (other topics)City of Ghosts (other topics)
The False Prince (other topics)
A Kind of Spark (other topics)
The Wolf Wilder (other topics)
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1#1 is the orphan one and that is a question for Kadi for sure. But it might as the character would be a A maternal orphan is a child whose mother has died but whose father is alive.
learned this from the movie Sketch 2025