Great Middle Grade Reads discussion

Tasha wrote: "Hi, I'm Tasha, mom to a 10 yo boy who is developing into quite the avid reader...to my extreme delight!! I also have a 6yo daughter who just learned to read on her own and I see her starting to fol..."

Hi Tasha, it sounds like this group is just what you need. I hope that you find loads of great books on here for you and your kids. It's great to have you on board.
If you have any ideas for discussions just let me know and I'd be happy to help out if I can.
Cheers

thanks, S.W.!

I wanted to mention that I rec'd your book to my son. I'll let you know what he thinks of he chooses to read it. :)

Tasha wrote: "Hi, I'm Tasha, mom to a 10 yo boy who is developing into quite the avid reader...to my extreme delight!! I also have a 6yo daughter who just learned to read on her own and I see her starting to fol..."

Hi Tasha, One series that is set in "medieval times" that my 6th grade students love is the Ranger's Apprentice Series (Burning Bridge is the first one). Based on the books he's currently reading it's a bit higher reading level but would be a great read together series:)

Thanks, Katie! I sent over a rec to my son. It looks like a great series.

Tasha wrote: "I wanted to mention that I rec'd your book to my son. I'll let you know what he thinks of he chooses to read it. :)"

Thx Tasha, I'd love to hear back if he chooses to read it ..... I think your comment was for me.... (red-faced here if not :)

Yes, it was for you. :)

I teach 6th grade; they are strange creatures;) Some fit in YA more than MG. That was my last years group, so we were reading Insurgent, Alex Rider, Maximum Ride, The Maze Runner, Hunger Games, etc... However, this years group seems younger. I really need help with suggestions. They've read things like Goose Bumps, Chillers, Junie B Jones, and Cirque du Freak, which I really am not a fan of. Need more MG great titles, please:)

Tasha wrote: "Hi, I'm Tasha, mom to a 10 yo boy who is developing into quite the avid reader...to my extreme delight!! I also have a 6yo daughter who just learned to read on her own and I see her starting to fol..."

Hey Tasha! MY son is 13 and has been reading Ranger's Apprentice series by John Flanagan. My son wouldn't read anything that didn't have pictures and he is now on number 10! All within a 9 months. I am so proud that I tell anyone I can about this series. Please take a look. Hope it is of some help.

Thanks Tabitha! I'll have to show the series to my son. My son started really reading around 8-9yo. I think it was the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series that really got him going. We homeschool so he didn't have any pressure to read and I knew he would start reading when it felt right to him. He had a lot of pressure in Kindergarten to read and he just wanted none of it until HE was ready. My daughter, on the other hand, has never been to school so never felt pressured to learn to read, and has learned now at 6yo on her own. It does feel so good when they start to read, I love watching the process!

Thanks again for the rec! And glad your son is enjoying them. :)

I see I already got that Ranger's Apprentice rec today from Katie. Haha, that just confirms that it is a good rec!

Tasha wrote: "I see I already got that Ranger's Apprentice rec today from Katie. Haha, that just confirms that it is a good rec!"

Tasha - Try Baseball Card Adventures by Dan Gutman. My son can't get enough.
P.A. Kernan

Tasha wrote: "Hi, I'm Tasha, mom to a 10 yo boy who is developing into quite the avid reader...to my extreme delight!! I also have a 6yo daughter who just learned to read on her own and I see her starting to fol..."

Hi, Tasha, I'm glad to meet you. My son is nearly 12, but isn't the reader I'd like him to be. He loves the Origami Yoda book (haven't read the new one) and the Bone books (graphic novels that are a bit strange to me). He loves weird humor, so he's also a big fan of Stink (Judy's little brother) and the Orville and Wilbur Riot brothers books. I think those are his favorites.

Hi Cordelia, my son loved Bone (#1) too and had read the Stink series as well. They seem to have the same taste. :) Maybe your son will enjoy the Judy Blume Fudge series too, then.

I'll check into the Orville and Wilbur Riot brothers books. thanks!

Hello middle grade readers!
My name is Emma Eden Ramos and I am the author of a recently published middle grade novella. . It's lovely to be here. I look forward to exploring this group.

Hi MG readers! My name is William Stuart and I recently self-published (via Amazon and Smashwords) my first novel called The Gemstone Chronicles Book One: The Carnelian. It is a fantasy adventure novel (the first of four). I look forward to exploring this group, too!

Cordelia wrote: "Tasha wrote: "Hi, I'm Tasha, mom to a 10 yo boy who is developing into quite the avid reader...to my extreme delight!! I also have a 6yo daughter who just learned to read on her own and I see her s..."
I know the feeling. My son Matt wouldn't read anything that didn't have more pictures than words. Hope you find some interesting books here for him. As I have said many times LOL John Flanagan got my son the read. Rangers Apprentice by John Flanagan. He reads now. I'm so excited! Also try the Wimpy Kid Diaries if you haven't already.
Glad you joined.

I'll pipe up with another endorsement of the Ranger's Apprentice Series. My 3rd grader is devouring them. They may be too juvenile, but your son might also be interested in Erin Hunter's Warriors or The Guardians of Ga'Hoole - which were what started R off on the fantasy kick. (I've been enjoying John Flannagan along with R, but one of the Warrior's series was enough for me).

Hi Michael
Welcome to the group, it sounds like you've been busy.
I hope that you find loads of useful info on here.
Cheers

Hi Steve
Great to hear you are from down under, so am I. I hail from Brisbane but live in Melbourne now.

I have just indie published my first MG novel, and I am really excited to join the group.

Best Wishes, Julie Anne Grasso

Julie wrote: "Hi Steve
Great to hear you are from down under, so am I. I hail from Brisbane but live in Melbourne now.

I have just indie published my first MG novel, and I am really excited to join the group. ..."

Hi Julie, Congrats on your new book. Great to have you in the group, it's only a few months old but has grown more than I ever expected. Hopefully you'll find some great reads on here and discussions of interest.
Aussie Aussie Aussie!
Cheers
Steve

Hello, I've just joined the group. My name's Catherine Walker and I'm an author from England who writes fiction for middle grade kids. My first book The Dominion of Kings has very recently been released. I'm glad I found this group and look forward to meeting like minded readers and writers.
Thanks

Welcome Catherine. I hope that you find loads of great discussions and book recommendations in GMGR. Your feedback and ideas are also always welcome.
Cheers

Hi everyone,

I am not new to the group, but forgot to introduce myself. My name is Charity and I am the mother to 4 girls. We have a book review blog at 5girlsbookreviews.blogspot.com, my girls review picture books, middle grade books, and "clean" young adult books. I review almost every genre. So if you need a review or know someone who does, come our way!! We are also always looking for suggestions on good books.

I really enjoy this group and have found some great reads for my girls.

Charity

Charity wrote: "Hi everyone,

I am not new to the group, but forgot to introduce myself. My name is Charity and I am the mother to 4 girls. We have a book review blog at 5girlsbookreviews.blogspot.com, my girls r..."
I have told a number of writers about your blog. It's really lovely.

Welcome Catherine!!

Runaway! a middle grade/YA novel by new-to-this group me, Dennis Maley.

Welcome!!

Hi, Catherine Walker. And any others I have neglected to welcome. Sorry I haven't been as active as I hoped. I have to get back to my WIP. But I'm going to make an effort to be more attentive.

Hi Cordelia! I, too, will be somewhat limited in my time in here in the next few weeks as I work on the edits for the second book of my series. I hope to have it ready for release on KDP and Smashwords in early December 2012!

Hi, William. Best of luck with your edits. I'm nowhere near that point, but I plan to participate in NaNoWriMo this year, and if nothing else, at least finish the first draft. Seems like promoting myself and my peers has consumed most of my time.

Hi, everyone. I'm new to this group. I've joined because I enjoy both reading and writing middle-grade fiction. I've got two kids whom I love reading to, and hope to find some good reads on here. Cheers, all.

V.K. wrote: "Hi, everyone. I'm new to this group. I've joined because I enjoy both reading and writing middle-grade fiction. I've got two kids whom I love reading to, and hope to find some good reads on here. C..."

Hi V.K.
Glad to have you onboard. There are plenty of discussions so hopefully you'll find some interesting info. If you have any suggestions please message me anytime.
Cheers

Judy wrote: "Hi, I am a school librarian and serve a wide range of students k - 8. I am happy to find a group that focuses on grades 5-8. This is also my favorite age level to read for.

I am disheartened a b..."

Hi Judy,

I work at a library and do a lot of book talks to the same ages that you work with...I would love to pick your brain for some good books to read and share. I am a big fan of middle-grade fiction. Glad you are here!!!

Beth

Melinda wrote: "Hi. My name is Melinda Abel and I am a middle school teacher. I teach READ 180, which is for struggling readers. I am always looking for suggestions on books for my students. The range of reading i..."

Melinda,

If your students have not discovered Adam Gidwitz, I would recommend his books. A Tale Dark and Grimm and In A Glass Grimmly are hot picks at our school and library. They are great...especially for students that want something fun to read that is different from the usual book. I would also recommend the You Choose Interactive History books. They are very popular at our library and can be read multiple times with different endings.

Glad you are here!

Beth

Kristianne wrote: "Hello to everyone, I'm a mom of two daughters, 10 and 14. The last three years I've spent volunteering much of my time at my daughter's Middle School, hosting a couple bookfairs and working closely..."

Hi Kristianne!

You know, I do a lot of book talks for our library and they do get the kids in and reading books they might not pick up on their own. I'm VERY excitable and animated when I discuss the books because I have a rule...I WILL NOT discuss a book that I have not read and loved. Lucky for the kids, I'm a big kid who likes all genres! I'm glad you are in there getting the kids to read! Word of mouth is still the best way to promote books...that's why we are all on Goodreads!

Nice to meet you!
Beth

Hello all new members!!

S.W. wrote: "V.K. wrote: "Hi, everyone. I'm new to this group. I've joined because I enjoy both reading and writing middle-grade fiction. I've got two kids whom I love reading to, and hope to find some good rea..."

Thanks, S.W.

@Beth, A Tale Dark & Grimm looks fun! I have a 10 yo son and I just now put this book on hold at the Iibrary. Thanks for the rec!

He will LOVE it!!! Let me know how it goes!

Beth

I will, thanks. :)

Hi, I'm Ethan. I am 10 years old and read a lot of books. I joined this group because I'm looking for recommendations of other books that I might like. I just read the whole Brixton Brothers series (so far) and loved it. What do you consider "Middle Grades". Thanks.

Ethan wrote: "Hi, I'm Ethan. I am 10 years old and read a lot of books. I joined this group because I'm looking for recommendations of other books that I might like. I just read the whole Brixton Brothers series..."

Hi Ethan, Welcome to the group, it's great to have you onboard. I hope that you find plenty of great book ideas on here.
Great question "What do you consider 'Middle Grades'?
For me, middle grade is ages 9-12 (but I'm in Australia, and we don't really use the term Middle Grade)
There is a thread in the general section that has plenty of different opinions on this - You may find it interesting.

If you are into action, adventure and time-travel you may like my books, but there are plenty of great books mentioned in various group discussions.

Happy reading.

Welcome, Ethan!

Hi! I'm E.S. Ivy, mom to three middle grade readers and the author of MIRI ATTWATER AND THE OCEAN'S SECRET, first in a three book series. I write MG because it's my favorite thing to read. In fact, I didn't read many "adult" books until the last couple of years. I truly love the MG genre!

E.S. wrote: "Hi! I'm E.S. Ivy, mom to three middle grade readers and the author of MIRI ATTWATER AND THE OCEAN'S SECRET, first in a three book series. I write MG because it's my favorite thing to read. In fact,..."

Hi E.S.
Welcome to the group. There should be plenty of good info here for you.
If you have any suggestions for the group please let me know.
S.W.

Ethan wrote: "Hi, I'm Ethan. I am 10 years old and read a lot of books. I joined this group because I'm looking for recommendations of other books that I might like. I just read the whole Brixton Brothers series..."
Ethan, if you look over at the "boy middle grade" thread I suggested several of the books my son has liked. My son is 14 and I have a daughter 10 so if you need some more ideas I'd be happy to ask them for ideas for you.

Ethan, don't forget to try books by Adam Gidwitz. A Tale Dark and Grimm and In A Glass Grimmly are two and they are great fun! Also look for Toad Rage by Moris Gleitzman. These are true boy books!

Hi, I'm Paddy, joined this group as I am enjoying exploring the Middle grade fiction work. And looking for some reading recommendations here :)

Paddy wrote: "Hi, I'm Paddy, joined this group as I am enjoying exploring the Middle grade fiction work. And looking for some reading recommendations here :)"

Hi Paddy, Welcome aboard, glad to have you in the group.