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Welcome to Happy Reading, a podcast that spotlights fabulous middle grade fiction. I’m Sarah Threlkeld, a K-5 librarian outside of Seattle and a former 6th grade reading teacher. Middle grade is, hands down, my favorite type of book to read and it is a privilege to geek out with you. Whether you’ve listened to every episode or this is your first time, I really appreciate you devoting a chunk of your day to finding out about books aimed at kids ages 8 through 12.
The previous two seasons I chose a theme for each episode and talked up titles that fit the theme. Between working full-time, raising a toddler, and trying to be a responsible adult (which is highly overrated), I’m finding it pretty challenging to produce this podcast as often as I’d like, so I am going to try something new. Yes, I know change can be painful and terrifying, but I think it will be good for us. Instead of picking a theme for each episode, I am simply going to tell you about books that make me happy or deserve some attention and then read excerpts from them. I hope you enjoy the new format and that I end up releasing new episodes more than once every three months. So, without further ado, here are four books I read in the last month that earned 5-star reviews.
Right as Rain by Lindsey Stoddard
Sometimes procrastination pays off. I put off writing this episode for so long that I managed to read another incredible book to spotlight. I finished Right as Rain by Lindsey Stoddard last night after staying up way past my usual bedtime. This is a beautifully-written, complex realistic fiction novel about grief, family, friendship, and finding strength in unexpected places. Rain has recently moved to New York City from a small town in Vermont because her family needs a fresh start after a tragic accident. Despite there being only a handful of days left in the school year, Rain is forced to enroll in 6th grade, where she sticks out like a sore thumb among Spanish speaking city kids, none of whom are white. Through running, poetry, and community service, Rain starts to feel more at home, but will she ever move past the secret she’s been hiding for almost a year? This book doesn’t come out until February of 2019, but I highly suggest you pre-order it or put a library hold on it immediately. Here’s an excerpt from Right as Rain.
Pages 20-21
The Miscalculations of Lightning Girl by Stacy McAnulty
When she was eight, Lucy was struck by lightning. As a result, she is a math savant who struggles with anxiety and social interactions, so she has been homeschooled by her grandmother for the past four years. But that is about to change. Lucy is attending 7th grade at a public school and she is less than thrilled about it; she’d much rather enroll in college. If Lucy can survive an entire school year, make at least one true friend, and join one school activity, her grandmother will rethink the situation. Will Lucy survive or will she be stuck eating lunch in the bathroom while counting down the minutes until summer vacation? This book is funny, thought-provoking, and full of authentic and entertaining characters. It made me laugh out loud and cry my eyes out. Here’s chapter four, Lucy’s first day of 7th grade.
Pages 24-30
Property of the Rebel Librarian by Allison Varnes
If you love books (and I bet you do since you are listening to this podcast), you are going to adore Property of the Rebel Librarian by Allison Varnes. June is a library-loving, rule-following, book-devouring middle schooler who has never gotten in trouble, but when her dad confiscates a fantasy book that she’s reading because he deems it to be too scary, June thinks it may be time to push back against the rules. Before she knows it books are being weeded willy-nilly from the school library and the incredible librarian is placed on leave, all because a group of parents are appalled by some of the titles on the shelves. As if Neil Gaiman’s The Graveyard Book is going to turn kids into murderers. Sheesh. When June stumbles upon a Little Free Library she has an epiphany - maybe she can supply her classmates with banned books on the down low. In no time at all books that are supposed to be off limits are being passed from student to student, but how long can they get away with such anarchy? Much like Ban This Book by Alan Gratz, Property of the Rebel Librarian will have readers cheering on the protagonist’s budding librarianship and shaking their fists at the idiotic adults who are terrified when young people think for themselves. Here’s an excerpt from chapter 3 when June comes home to a terrible surprise from her parents.
Pages 29-31
It Wasn’t Me by Dana Alison Levy
Six middle schoolers, two acts of vandalism, one week spent in a Justice Circle trying to get to the truth. When Theo’s self-portraits are defaced and his pinhole cameras are trashed, the school principal wants to suspend the five students who were found at the scene, but Ms. Lewiston convinces her to try something different - have the five kids and Theo meet in her classroom over Spring Break to repair the damage that has been done and build trust amongst the classmates. Through daily reflection sheets filled out by each participant, as well as traditional prose, readers learn bits and pieces about each character and how they are involved in the destruction of Theo’s artwork. Clues about the truth are dropped like breadcrumbs, until everything clicks into place. Much like John Hughes’ masterpiece The Breakfast Club, It Wasn’t Me explores concepts of truth, forgiveness, judgement and friendship between people who have more in common than they realize. This is a brilliant portrayal of middle school life that tweens won’t want to put down. Here is each student’s answer to the first reflection question on the first day of the Justice Circle.
I hope you enjoyed hearing about these marvelous middle grade titles and that you pick up one or all of them in the near future. I’d love to know what you have read lately that you couldn’t put down. You can find me on Twitter as WordNerd153 and you can message me through my website, www.happyrdng.blogspot.com, where you can also find a transcript of every episode. Until next time, happy reading!
