Great Middle Grade Reads discussion

Tell us what you've been reading lately!

Wow--I only read 3 MG books in December, all good in their own ways.
Wonderstruck was probably the best, just for being so interestingly done.
The Secret of the Sacred Scarab was a good adventure by one of our own, I believe :)
And The Children of the New Forest is an interesting bit of history, both in itself and its subject, as the book was written in 1867, and is about the Cromwellian interregnum in England a couple of centuries before that. Very different from modern writing styles but still very readable, at least for an adult.

Hmm. Nothing stands out as absolutely brilliant, but I thoroughly enjoyed these three:

Underrunners - from New Zealand - quiet story about a boy starting to grow up until a thrilling climax that brings in the big ideas

The Sword in the Stone - the classic is well worth reading, if even one is not a fan of Arthurian stories (I'm not)

The Small Adventure of Popeye and Elvis - word nerds rejoice in a funny adventure, includes some subtle poignancy

I can't believe that I've never read The Sword in the Stone. I don't go big on modern Arthurian stories--I studied that period in grad school and get a little hung up on accuracy--but that's such a classic that I need to read it.

I read The Faerie Guardian which I really enjoyed. It has a spunky heroine who solves her own problems and some great humour.

I just wrapped up Ocean at the End of the Lane. I thought it was a beautiful book. I've not been a huge fan of Gaiman's books up to now but this one may push me over the Fan Cliff. I even watched some interviews with him on YoutTube!

I also finished Halitor the Hero, which is a fantastic read. The characters are such a fresh gift this holiday season! I identified with Halitor as he struggled to break through the huge walls of self-doubt to embrace friendship and his own unique heroism.

Ben, thanks for the shout-out :)

And you make me think I might have to look at that Gaiman. He's not really my kind of thing as a general rule, but I do gather he's very good! I like his title, anyway.

Ben wrote: "I just wrapped up Ocean at the End of the Lane. I thought it was a beautiful book. I've not been a huge fan of Gaiman's books up to now but this..."

I totally agree with your opinion about Ocean at the End of the Lane. I wasn't a big fan of Neil Gaiman's books either but absolutely love this one. Maybe because it's really a book for all ages, and even perhaps more for adults than most of his other books. In any case it's a book I do recommend too.

I am a big fan of Gordon Korman but was disappointed by Jake, Reinvented. I didn't find the ending satisfying at all, too much telling from the author's voice. In comparison of his other books this one was okay. I still remain a fan of his work, though. One book is not enough to make me change my opinion on the quality of the rest of his work.