Great Middle Grade Reads discussion
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What shall we read for September?
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From Hergé's Tintin series, The Secret of the Unicorn and its sequel Red Rackham's Treasure might work (and one could and perhaps even should read both books together).
I suggest The Map to Everywhere or one that my daughter read called The Fog Diver. This one has a different take on pirates since it takes place on airships in a dystopian future.
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Not sure if others have already touched on this one....Avi--the True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle..its sea worthy if not exactly "pirate" worthy. Female protagonist-historical fiction. I think its YA...not sure if that works here or not. I don't really know the difference between middle grade and YA. The others are also fine.
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I suggest " to catch a pirate " by Jade Parker
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Listed as YA in our library. The protagonist is 16. So not sure if this qualifies.
Mm, back to age. I would hope rather that content defines suitability. (Will look up To Catch a Pirate) : )
I've only just come across books by Gordon Korman...does anyone think he qualifies for this list?
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Well, it's not about qualifying for the list, it's about nominating a story relating to pirates! We'd discuss an author in another section entirely :) I had a quick look just in case something obvious sprang out to add to our nominations, but it doesn't.
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I'll put the poll up now, and close it on 28th August, which is a holiday weekend in the UK and maybe elsewhere too. That gives you a few days to get hold of the winner before September arrives.
As usual, I get a casting vote in the event of a tie. I suspect it will be hard to choose.
OK, the poll is now up here!
I only realised afterwards that there was a theme. No problem. Korman's just an author I've never come across...yet he's written fifty or so booksJemima wrote: "Mike wrote: "I've only just come across books by Gordon Korman...does anyone think he qualifies for this list?"
Well, it's not about qualifying for the list, it's about nominating a story relating..."
Mike wrote: "I only realised afterwards that there was a theme. No problem. Korman's just an author I've never come across...yet he's written fifty or so booksHi Mike,
Korman is a Canadian author whose been well-known there since the 80's. He actually wrote his first book in 7th grade and had it published while he was still in high school -- the first of the Boots & Bruno series set in MacDonald Hall. They were wildly popular back in the 80's and 90's and are still in print but he's also written many other series and standalones since then.
M.J. wrote: "Mike wrote: "I only realised afterwards that there was a theme. No problem. Korman's just an author I've never come across...yet he's written fifty or so booksHi Mike,
Korman is a Canadian author..."
One caveat with the Bruno and Boots series, unless you enjoy a late 1970s and 1980s narrative with superimposed added technologies such as computers and emails that really do not make all that much cultural sense (as the first three or four novels are definitelty set in a prior to the computer world and The War with Mr. Wizzle actually deals with resistance to the computer), you should probably read/get the series used, as I was so disappointed and annoyed at the additions and changes of the more recent , in current print editions, and frankly, these types of "updates" insult children's intelligence. The other books of the series are (with the last two having been released in the 90s):
This Can't Be Happening at MacDonald Hall!
Go Jump in the Pool
Beware the Fish!
The Zucchini Warriors
MacDonald Hall Goes Hollywood
Something Fishy at Macdonald Hall
Elizabeth wrote: "Mm, back to age. I would hope rather that content defines suitability. (Will look up To Catch a Pirate) : )"Did so - must admit it looks a bit romance heavy for middle grade.
Manybooks wrote: "M.J. wrote: "Mike wrote: "I only realised afterwards that there was a theme. No problem. Korman's just an author I've never come across...yet he's written fifty or so booksHi Mike,
Korman is a Ca..."
Thanks for your comments. Very helpful!
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It's not just about the age of the protagonist, though that's a clue. It is, as you noted later, rather heavy on romance. I think that's one of the main deciding factors for publishers as to whom they market a book (and to librarians as to where they shelve it).
All the nominated books sound great! I'm not going to vote this month as I already have a pile of books to read (a delicious 'problem' to have isn't it?)Anyway, I still enjoyed reading everyone's nominations and will remember to check back here when I need some new reads. Loving this group!
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Great Middle Grade Reads
Books mentioned in this topic
Something Fishy at Macdonald Hall (other topics)Go Jump in the Pool (other topics)
The Zucchini Warriors (other topics)
Macdonald Hall Goes Hollywood (other topics)
This Can't Be Happening at Macdonald Hall! (other topics)
More...
We select a book to read each month by voting on a list we put together the month before. To get that list, I post a post with request for nominations. That's this post. I give you some parameters in this e.g. Theme, how many you can nominate, and when nominations close.
So - for September please nominate up to TWO books on the theme of PIRATES. Nominations close on 15th August.
Regular rules
-titles should be easily available at reasonable cost, e.g. In libraries or under $5.
-they should be shelved as MG or Children's on their Goodreads page
-they should not be independently published (we do an indie month at another time)
-you may not nominate your own book
-try not to nominate something we've already read -there's a master list in this section
(I don't bore you with the rules every time, so please remember them!)