Middle Grade Historical Fiction & Nonfiction: A Fall Roundup

As I mentioned earlier in the week, books written for the middle grade audience span the full range of genres and styles found in books for written for adults. I've already introduced you to this season's contemporary fiction and more fanciful fiction.

Before I get to the focus of today's post, I want to mention some classes of middle grade books I've omitted this week, simply as a way to narrow down my choices. I did not include books written for the youngest readers in this age group or those that are part of ongoing series. I also left out comics and books containing fun graphics.

Now let's turn to my last fall middle grade roundup: historical fiction, books in verse, and nonfiction. Enjoy!

Taking a Step into the Past

• The Seventh Most Important Thing by Shelley Pearsall is about how 13-year-old Arthur paid for one careless act done while still grieving his father's death. Sentenced to work for the very trash picker he injured, Arthur learns that looks can be deceiving and beauty can be hidden beneath the junk. Loosely based on a real folk artist from the 1960s. Major themes: redemption, the importance of art, grief, and friendship. [Knopf, September]
• The Bamboo Sword by Margi Preus is set in 1850s Japan and introduces us to 13-year-old Yoshi, who dreams of being a samurai so he can fight the newly arrived Westerners. But when the realities of impending war catch up with him, Yoshi ends up befriending an American cabin boy who was separated from his ship This action-packed, well-researched story is illustrated with period Japanese art. Major themes: culture clash, prejudice, friendship, and 19th-century Japanese culture. [Amulet, September]
• A Night Divided by Jennifer A. Nielsen tells the story of a family that was caught on opposites sides of the Berlin Wall when it went up, virtually overnight, in 1961. Four years later, 12-year-old Gerta, her older brother, and her mother are living under suspicion in East Berlin; is there any hope for freedom? The book includes several period photographs. Major themes: freedom, living under the communist regime, and the personal side of politics and the cold war. [Scholastic, August]
• River Runs Deep by Jennifer Bradbury is set in 1842 and tells the story of 12-year-old Elias's stay in Mammoth Cave, at a kind of hospital that was supposed to cure him of tuberculosis. Elias undergoes much more than medical treatment as he learns of the cave's place in tourism and as a stop on the Underground Railroad. Loosely based on a real story and illustrated with maps. Major themes: 19th-century medical practices, slavery, and friendship. [Atheneum, September]
• I Don't Know How the Story Ends by J. B. Cheaney takes us to Hollywood as World War I is winding down and the movie industry is gearing up and where 12-year-old Izzy befriends a teenage filmmaker who recruits her and her sister as his stars. Izzy learns she has a knack for writing screenplays but has trouble seeing the future as long as her physician father, stationed in France to tend to the wounded, remains in danger. Major themes: family, war, the movie industry, and hope. [Jabberwocky, October]
• Another Kind of Hurricane by Tamara Ellis Smith is a story of loss and healing told by two boys, one from New England recovering from the death of a friend and the other from NOLA dealing with the after effects of Hurricane Katrina. When the boys meet, they bond, helping each other move forward. Major themes: loss, looking beyond class and ethnic differences, forgiveness, and hope. [Schwartz & Wade, July]

Stories Told in Verse

• House Arrest by K. A. Holt is a novel in verse about 12-year-old Timothy, who after being arrested for his only act of theft (for medical supplies for his brother) must serve a year under house arrest. His court-ordered journal tells his story of grief and anger over his much younger brother's illness and his father's desertion. Audience: older MG readers. Major themes: poverty, divorce, and taking responsibility for one's actions. [Chronicle, September]
• Enchanted Air by Margarita Engle is a memoir in verse that readers of all ages can relate to. Most of the very readable poems concern the things Engle sees, dreams of, and learns growing up in California and visiting Cuba before the revolution and cold war politics cut her off from half her family. Affecting, honest, and emotional. The book concludes with a timeline of cold war events. Major themes: culture clash, immigration, family, and personal side of politics. [Atheneum, August]

True Stories

• Somewhere There Is Still a Sun by Michael Gruenbaum (with Todd Hasak-Lowy) is the memoir of a Holocaust survivor who was incarcerated at the age of nine in a Czechoslovakian transport camp, where he remained for over two years. This age-appropriate story is told in the present tense, giving readers an immediate and personal sense of what it was like for a child to live under unimaginable conditions. Some photographs and family papers illustrate the book. Major themes: survival, will to live, humanity, family, and Nazi policies. [Aladdin, August]
• This Side of Wild by Gary Paulson is a short collection of true tales of the author's encounters with dogs, horses, and more both in the wild and at home. The conversational, informal style of these stories will capture the hearts of animal lovers of all ages. Illustrations and fun facts supplement the text. Major themes: animal behavior, appreciating nature, and adventurous curiosity. [Simon & Schuster, September]

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Wordless Wednesday 359

Abstracted flowers, 2015

Click image to enlarge. For more Wordless Wednesday, click here.

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Other Worlds & Mysteries for Middle Grade Readers: A Fall Roundup

As I mentioned yesterday, many people associate middle grade books with magic and fantasy, and indeed some our favorite books fall into this category (think: Narnia and the early Harry Potter books). But the world of make-believe for young readers is much broader than just wizards' wands and talking creatures.

Although today's roundup starts with magical worlds it moves on to alternate history, mystery, and horror. Hold on to your pointy hat, and get ready for adventure, curses, and escape into new worlds.

Fantasy & Magic

• A Nearer Moon by Melanie Crowder is about two sets of sisters—water sprites and humans—who are as close as sisters can be. When circumstances threaten to separate the pairs of siblings forever, will the girls find a way to help each other? Major themes: sisters, family, magic, legends, and environmental issues. [Atheneum, September]
• The Entirely True Story of the Unbelievable FIB by Adam Shauhnessy is about what happens when 11-year-old Pru and her new friend Abe are selected by the Fantasy Investigation Bureau to help figure out why Viking gods are infiltrating their town and stealing from the museum. This magical adventure takes the pair on a clue-solving mission full of danger and excitement. Major themes: friendship, Viking mythology, trust, truth, and magic. [Algonquin Books for Young Readers, September]
• The Wrinkled Crown by Anne Nesbet is the story of how 12-year-old Linny leaves her rural home to seek a way to reverse an inadvertent curse placed on her best friend. If she and her travel companions can survive the many dangers of their action-packed journey to the city, they may in fact save not just one girl but the whole world. Major themes: the merging of magic and science, friendship, and fate. [HarperCollins, November]
• Rules for Stealing Stars by Corey Ann Haydu reveals how 11-year-old Silly and her sisters cope with their mother's alcoholism: They've discovered portals into magical lands that, at first, offer peace and safety. But when one of the girls is trapped in the other world, the sisters realize they must find the magic in everyday life in order to bring her back. Major themes: sisters, alcoholism, parental meanness, and magical realism. Audience: older MG readers. [Katherine Tegen Books, September]

Alternate History & Different Worlds

• The Doldrums by Nicholas Gannon is an exquisitely illustrated alternate-history story about 11-year-old Archer, who longs to go on an adventure, despite the fact that his practical mother rarely lets him out of the house. But when Archer learns his grandparents may be stranded on an iceberg, he recruits his friends to help plan a rescue mission to Antarctica. Major themes: following one's dreams, finding compromise, friendship, and family. [Greenwillow, September]
• My Diary from the Edge of the World by Jodi Lynn Anderson is written in diary form and set in an alternative world in which mythical beasts and magic exist alongside the modern technology. When a dark cloud comes to take Gracie's younger, sickly brother away, the family sets off on a desperate road trip to find the fabled land with no magic, hoping to save Sam from an early death. Major themes: family, sibling relationships, helping others, and destiny. [Aladdin, November]
• Fires of Invention by J. Scott Savage is an action-packed steampunk adventure set in a land that forbids invention. When young Trenton and Kallista discover clues to a new machine, they cannot resist secretly trying to build it, little knowing that the finished project will unveil deep truths about their world. Major themes: friendship, creativity, oppressive government, and young love. [Shadow Mountain, September]

Mysteries & Puzzles

• Curiosity House: The Shrunken Head by Lauren Oliver and H. C. Chester takes us to 1930s New York City and a museum of oddities, which is also home to four specially gifted children who form their own kind of family. When paying customers start dying, the museum owner is accused of murder, leaving the kids to solve the mystery or be out on the streets. Major themes: family, loyalty, friendship, and being different. [HarperCollins, September]
• A Pocket Full of Murder by R. J. Anderson is set in a world in which the rich have powerful magic, but the poor have only common magic. When Vettie's father is accused of murdering a university official, can she—with the help of her sisters and a street urchin—find the true killer? Major themes: socioeconomic divide, religious differences, friendship, sisters, and finding one's talents. [Atheneum, September]
• The Blackthorn Key by Kevin Sands is a clever, multilayered mystery set in London in the 1660s. Young Christopher finally got some luck when he was taken from the orphanage to be apprenticed to a kindly master apothecary. But when his mentor falls victim to a serial killer, can Christopher work out the complex puzzle that will reveal the murderer and save his own future? Major themes: friendship, crafts guilds, politics, and cults. [Aladdin, September]

Spooky & Suspenseful

• Hoodoo by Ronald L. Smith is a Southern Gothic story about a boy named Hoodoo who dreams of being a conjurer, though he can't seem to cast a single spell. He does, however, have crazy vivid dreams, which get more intense after a stranger comes to town. Can Hoodoo keep the stranger from harming his loved ones? Major themes: family, folk beliefs, and the Jim Crow South. [Clarion Books, September]
  
• The Nest by Kenneth Oppel tells the creepy tale of how young Steve gets entangled with a mysterious winged being who claims to be able to help his deathly ill baby brother. The tension builds in this psychological thriller as Steve must figure out whom to trust and find the strength to overcome evil. Stark black-and-white drawings add to the mood. Major themes: family, good vs. evil, and manipulation. [Simon & Schuster, October]

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Contemporary Middle Grade Fiction: A Fall Roundup

Do you shy away from middle grade books because you think they're one-dimensional or all about wizards? The truth is that middle grade stories cover the full range of genres and styles, from contemporary fiction to memoir, poetry, nonfiction, and of course fantasy.

Although these books are not as complex as adult literary fiction, the stories address big issues, opening readers' minds and sparking important discussions. Today is all about contemporary fiction, and posts later in the week will cover other genres.

Read these books yourself, take notes for gift-giving, or try a readalong with a middle grader in your life.

Surviving Middle School

• Goodbye Stranger by Rebecca Stead is about two groups of students who are navigating the rocky waters of middle school. Told from three perspectives, the novel explores different ways kids respond to social pressures and problems at home. Major themes: social media, changing friendships, young love, and popularity. Audience: older MG readers. [Wendy Lamb Books, August]
• Connect the Stars by Marisa de los Santos and David Teague focuses on Audry and Aaron who meet at a wilderness camp meant to help give middle grade children confidence and social skills while they learn about the outdoors. The campers, who each have different issues (such as being too introspective, untrusting, or overly sad) learn to rely on each other and become true friends. Major themes: friendship, bullying, trust, self-identity, and family. [HarperCollins, September]
• Don't Vote for Me by Krista Van Dolzer looks at what happens when a self-described band geek decides to challenge the popular girl for class president. The more David gets to know his opponent, the more he questions his desire to win. Major themes: popularity, family issues, and seeing people for who they really are. [Sourcebooks Jabberwocky, August]

Dealing with Grief

• A Series of Small Maneuvers by Eliot Treichel looks at how a young teen copes with her father's accidental death, which occurred when they were on a father–daughter canoe trip. This is less a survival in the wilderness story than one about a girl finding her way after her world is forever altered. Major themes: grief, family, responsibility, and friendship. Audience: older MG readers. [Ooligan Press, November]
• Dear Opl by Shelley Sackier introduces us to Opal, who comforted herself with food in the aftermath of her father's sudden death. After a disturbing medical checkup, she takes on a pen name and starts a blog to vent her feelings; soon others are turning to "Opl" for advice. Sensitively written and spiked with humor. Major themes: weight and body image, popularity, grief, self-esteem, health, and family. [Sourcebooks Jabberwocky, August]
• The Thing about Jellyfish by Ali Benjamin is about how 12-year-old Suzy copes with her friend's drowning just weeks before the start of seventh grade. Told in the present and in flashbacks over the course of their friendship, Suzy struggles to understand both the accident and the ways her friend changed over the previous year. Major themes: friendship, being different, family, maturing, and mean girls; minor themes of divorce and a gay relationship. [Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, September]

Taking on Bigger Issues

• Orbiting Jupiter by Gary D. Schmidt is about a young teen who is placed in foster care after spending time in a series of state-run homes for troubled boys. Although he slowly becomes comfortable with his new family, he can't stop dreaming about meeting his infant daughter. Major themes: first impressions, class differences, teen parenthood, fathers, and domestic abuse. Audience: older MG readers. [Clarion Books, October]
• A Blind Guide to Stinkville by Beth Vrabel is about a young girl whose family relocates from Seattle to a small town in South Carolina. The move is fraught with extra challenges for 12-year-old Alice because she is legally blind as a result of her albinism. Major themes: living with a disability, family, independence, and mental health issues. [Sky Pony Press, October]
• Until I Find Julian by Patricia Reilly Giff documents young Mateo's secret journey from a village in Mexico, across the border, to a town in Alabama to find his older brother, who is an undocumented laborer. This age-appropriate story shows us the personal side of an important contemporary issue. Major themes: brothers, friendship, trust, and hope for a better future. [Wendy Lamb Books, September]

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Weekend Cooking: Slice Harvester by Colin Atrophy Hagendorf

Weekend Cooking is open to anyone who has any kind of food-related post to share: Book reviews (novel, nonfiction), cookbook reviews, movie reviews, recipes, random thoughts, gadgets, quotations, photographs, restaurant reviews, travel information, or fun food facts. If your post is even vaguely foodie, feel free to grab the button and link up anytime over the weekend. You do not have to post on the weekend. Please link to your specific post, not your blog's home page.

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If you're reading a Weekend Cooking post, then it's a fair bet that you love a good food-centric memoir as well as I do. Some of these kinds of memoirs are inspirational, some are lovely. Colin Atrophy Hagendorf's Slice Harvester is just plain fun.

Many food books have been born from a successful blog or a clever gimmick, and Slice Harvester is no exception. Here's Hagendorf's story: In 2009, while out drinking with friends, he decided to begin a quest to eat a slice of pizza in every pizzeria in all of Manhattan. About two years and just over four hundred slices later, Hagendorf ate his last slice on Wall Street, sitting across the table from his girlfriend while a newspaper photographer recorded the event.

The plan: Hagendorf began at the north end of Manhattan and worked his way across and down the island until he had visited all the pizzerias he could find. He was an experienced eZine writer and publisher, so it seemed natural to him to start a blog, Slice Harvester, where he could make his reviews public.

The approach: Generally, Hagendorf would try four to six pizza places in one go, snapping photos and taking notes. He was often accompanied by a friend or two and would eat and/or share one slice of plain pizza in each place. He went on harvesting trip once every week or ten days.

What's in the book? Slice Harvester is a memoir; it's not a place-by-place description of eating pizza in New York. Written in a conversational, street-cool punk style, Hagendorf talks about his friends, his family, his life, and of course, pizza. Along the way, we learn about the punk scene, we meet the owners of pizzerias, and we get a unique view of the city. We also learn how he found a direction for his life and discovered that sobriety is not such a bad thing.

The good and the bad: I really enjoyed getting to know Hagendorf, whose life is so completely different from mine. He's a fairly good writer with a strong personal style, and I loved the many literary references that pop up throughout the memoir. On the other hand, some (okay, most) of the punk cultural references went over my head, and I have to admit to skimming every so often. Although I liked the handful of black-and-white illustrations, I wish the book had contained photographs of the places Hagendorf wrote about.

Recommendation: Colin Hagendorf's Slice Harvester is both an interesting memoir and a fun way to explore New York. It isn't the best food memoir I've ever read, but it held my attention. Be warned: by the time you finish Hagendorf's story, you'll be craving pizza -- especially one from the only pizzeria to have won his coveted 8-slice rating: Pizza Suprema, across from Madison Square Garden. (The link takes you to Hagendorf's original review.)

Published by Simon & Schuster, 2015
ISBN-13: 9781476705880
Source: Review (see review policy)
Copyright © cbl for Beth Fish Reads, all rights reserved (see review policy)

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