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Middle Grade Book Reviews
Aardvark Day
Victoria Gatehouse, illus. Kate Lucy Foster, pub. The Emma Press
Slow and soothing, Aardvark Day is a great collection of poems by clinical researcher Victoria Gatehouse. The book features minimalist sketches by the budding artist Kate Lucy Foster. Your love for wilderness will be catered to in the book, expressed in verses. If you love a calming representation of flora and fauna around you, this one is going to be your next most loved read.
Children will love these thought-provoking poems – there is the opportunity to learn about the Smallest Bird in the World, to discover that mushrooms have Truly Strange Names, to know the secret behind a Bee Purple, discover How to Be a Dragonfly and Sing like a Beluga! Low on stimulating colours, the book is meant to be enjoyed, a verse a day. The base of the poems are scientific truths embedded into earth’s tapestry. How insects, mammals, sea creatures interact with their environment, told through easy-to-understand poetry and footnotes. In the poem titled Octopus Skin, the poet plays with words to describe the skin of an octopus which changes to different colours to disguise themselves from harm:
“She disappears at the first sign of trouble, wraps herself in a cloak of ink. In the blink of an eye, she can change from coral-reef zing to blend-into-the-seafloor beige. But when she sleeps, her kaleidoscope skin shape-shifts as she dreams and a whoosh of colour floods in – shimmering metallic rainbows, a cheeky crimson flush.”
Victoria Gatehouse experiments with different forms of poetry using poetic prose, rhymes, catalogue poesy and even an interview format, for Interview with a Leaf Sheep Sea Slug -
“So, tell me: are you a leaf?
My body is covered with bright cerata that wiggle like leaves in the breeze and, just like a leaf, I need sunlight to feed.
But you are also a… sheep?
I have the face of a cartoon sheep with black dotty eyes and rhinophore horns and, just like a sheep, I love to graze on green.
How can you be both leaf AND sheep? I’m not really either.
I’m a multicoloured slug who crawls the seafloor and guzzles fuzzy algae.
Does that make you an animal or a plant?
I’m an animal, but…I can photosynthesise like a plant.”
Aardvark Day raises awareness of environmental consciousness, it's an amazing read for children aged 6 or 7 and above who can discover more about poetry and the wilderness it aims at celebrating in this collection.
Ishika Tiwari
Alex Abbot Is Undead
Louise Austin, illus. Katie Kear, pub. Macmillan Children’s Books
Welcome to the world of a determined but slightly clumsy hero. Alex accidentally gets himself turned into a vampire, and from that moment on, things only get more chaotic. What follows is a fast-moving adventure where one mistake seems to lead to another, pulling Alex deeper into a strange and slightly dangerous world he never expected to be part of.
Along the way, you’ll come across a whole host of unusual and memorable characters. There’s a terrifying Vulcan demon, more vampires than Alex probably bargained for, a Scylla, a werewolf, and even a dragon cleverly disguised as a pigeon. Safe to say, I won’t be looking at pigeons in quite the same way again. Each new encounter adds something fresh to the story and keeps the pace lively and unpredictable.
Alex Abbott is Undead is packed with humour, twists, and plenty of moments that will make you smile. Alex is the kind of character who genuinely wants to do the right thing but doesn’t always take the easiest path to get there. His decisions often lead to more trouble, but that is exactly what makes the story so entertaining and engaging to follow. It’s a light, jolly read that doesn’t feel too demanding, making it perfect for dipping in and out of during the school day. At the same time, it’s easy to get caught up in the adventure and read in just a few sittings if you have the time.
With its mix of the supernatural, humour, and a strong thread of friendship running throughout, this is a fun and slightly chaotic adventure that I will definitely be recommending to certain readers in my library.
Arabella Chute
Death by Chocolate
Anna Brooke, illus. Emily Jones, pub. Chicken House
Coco Bean's parents have moved to France to do up an incredibly run-down and rather spooky-looking hotel in a, somewhat lifeless, village. Mr and Mrs Bean are super-excited to embark on their new venture and have poured all their money into making it work - but they're up against a deadline to open.
Poor Coco is missing her friends as well as the places they used to hang out together in England but she begins to start a friendship with a boy from the village who helps her to unravel some of the weird things that begin to happen at the hotel shortly after they’ve moved in. Coco starts to hear noises, to see odd things and begins to feel rather alarmed. She discovers they all emanate from the spooky Monsieur Framboise who is doing his level best to scare off the in-comers. His plan fails, and Coco Bean, begins to help poor M. Framboise to reconnect with the love of his life, by learning the secrets of creating the perfect chocolates. I’m sure that will be a lure to all chocolate loving readers!
This is a real whodunnit, with the villain of the piece, Atticus Carmichael the famous English chef stirring this up and trying not to be thwarted by clever Coco and her French friend Louis. You could even begin to convince yourself that you could smell chocolate whilst reading this ... or perhaps that was just me!
Sweet, funny and a good caper. I loved it.
Carol Farley
Detectograms: The Parrot Who Knew Too Much
Tim Collins, illus. Steven Wood, pub. Buster Books
Police Inspector Cross and her team have finally traced the notorious Dempsey gang of jewellery thieves to a warehouse, but once again the Dempsey gang have escaped, leaving behind a parrot who seems to know too much. Cross needs you, one of the greatest young detectives in the country, to solve the clues, ably assisted by said parrot, giving you lots of hints and tips. At last, the Dempsey gang will face justice!
You, the reader, however, are going to have to use all your detective skills to solve over 45 mystery puzzles, including choosing correct routes through mazes and decoding map instructions; figuring out devilish logical conundrums, solving mathematical sums and equations; demonstrating keen observation skills and reading witnesses’ statements carefully, separating the truth from the lies. Moreover, be very wary about who you trust. The Dempsey gang are vicious and aren’t afraid of using bribery and threats of violence to stay ahead of the law.
Detectograms is a thrilling detective story which gains pace as you help Inspector Cross pursue the Dempsey gang by engaging dialogue and great plot twists. The closer you get to the gang, the more jeopardy there is with breaking and entering into desolate warehouses, roof top chases and a daring sea rescue. The puzzles are genuinely challenging. (Even after having had a sneaky look at the answers at the back, I had the answer, but I was still stumped.) Sometimes you will need to scrutinise the text, checking what you might have missed. There are note pages at the back to use for any working out you might want to do and also to record any key information you find. Moreover, Steven Wood’s illustrations add extra drama and plenty of detail, threatening to scupper your investigation, as well as being essential to many of the visual puzzles.
Detectograms: The Parrot Who Knew Too Much is a detective story and a puzzle book that will test the very best middle-grade readers.
Simon Barrett
Dragonflare
Jamie Hammond, pub. Usborne
When Flynn gets caught stealing at the market little does he know his life is about to take a turn—but not in the way he expects! With the Wingrider Trials approaching and dragons arriving at Hornsport to choose their partners, he finds himself in a very unexpected situation. While running away from the authorities, Flynn is reluctantly scooped up by a dragon. He doesn’t recognize the massive significance of this until River—the dragon who chose him—reveals that he is now her official partner for the Wingrider Trials. This is a series of intense challenges which will decide the future of the dragons, and it comes with a massive cash prize!
As Flynn and River take on mazes, real-life games of snakes and ladders, and terrifying monster attacks, the stakes climb higher. The further the competitors get into the competition, the more they discover that things are not what they seem. Could one of their rivals have a dark, ulterior motive for winning?
Dragonflare, written and illustrated by Jamie Hammond (author of Grumpfort), is a brilliantly interactive story. Readers are pulled into the action not just through the plot, but also by a series of puzzles woven right into the pages. With mazes, sudoku-style challenges, and crosswords spread across the chapters, you’ll feel like you are competing in the trials yourself! This book is packed with twists and turns, and the characters undergo massive journeys. You might find your opinions changing completely on who you like and dislike by the time you reach the end—so don't trust anybody!
If you love interactive adventures where you get to be part of the action, then Dragonflare is definitely for you!
Tom Joy
The House with Chicken Legs Runs Away
Sophie Anderson, illus. Elisa Paganelli, pub. Usborne
The House with Chicken Legs Runs Away is the stunning, long-awaited sequel to The House with Chicken Legs, by the incredible Sophie Anderson, and I have to say it did not disappoint! For those of us who read the first book long ago (it was published in 2018) there is, thankfully, a recap in the form of a prologue which would also give those new to the story all the background they need to read this book as a standalone. However, I am in no doubt that many will want to return to the beginning to join the young and courageous Marinka at the start of her incredible adventures.
In this powerful sequel thirteen-year-old Marinka has lost her Baba, but her bond of love and friendship with her Yaga house remains. So, when the house begins to act strangely Marinka is worried and desperately wants to help. But what is it that the house is hiding from her? Marinka convinces Yaga Tatyana that they should prepare a guiding feast, where dead souls are given a party to celebrate their lives before moving through The Gate to the Stars. She hopes that this will help the house to heal but instead something goes very wrong. As the Gate to the Stars widens and begins to pull everything inside the house tears itself apart, running away on its chicken legs and leaving Marinka behind. Marinka has no choice but to follow it and so, along with her friend Benjamin and Jack the jackdaw, Marinka finds herself on an extraordinary journey through magical lands to save her home.
This book is a mesmerising tale woven from the very bones of Slavic folklore and The Tales of the Baba Yaga. It is a story of love, loss and grief, of the power of memories and the full circle of life, and it touches on these themes in the most beautiful and heartbreaking way. Full of courage, hope and warmth Sophie Anderson’s enthralling sequel reminds us to focus on who and what is important. It will make you smile, reduce you to tears and have you thinking about how each decision we make shapes us.
"I have grown and changed because of the past." I lift my chin higher and look over to the house. "And I will keep on doing that every day. I will make myself proud."
Perfect for readers of 9+ this is a wonderous tale which I urge others to read. Thank you Sophie Anderson!
Tracey Corner
I am Ray’s Imaginary Friend
Brian Moses, illus. Bethan Welby, pub. Scallywag Press
I am Ray’s Imaginary Friend begins from the premise that there is a school for imaginary friends, and the narrator is one of its star pupils. The imaginary friend is sent to be the companion of a child who needs him/her; and when the crisis – whatever it may be – is over, the friend is sent on to help another child who is in need.
So why does Ray need an imaginary friend? Well, at the beginning of the book he is living – very happily – in a village hilariously called Pratts Bottom. But don’t let the name – or the list of other similarly named places – mislead you. This is not a slapstick comedy kind of a book; it’s a gentle, thoughtful story about real-life, every-day problems. And Ray’s problem is that his father has a new job, and so they are going to move from this village where he is so happy. He will have to leave his friends behind and go to a new school where he will know no-one. Jacob, his imaginary friend, is there to be at his side, to support him.
Of course, it isn’t easy. But gradually, things happen; Ray bonds with the other kids through playing football, and then he sees an item about Ukraine on the news and writes a poem about the plight of the children which his teacher and the other children love. Then his parents decide to offer a Ukrainian refugee and her son a home – and Ray is in a way in the position of Jacob: it’s his turn to help someone who is in a much worse position than Ray ever was. As Ray and Artem become friends, Jacob gradually finds that he’s no longer needed: his job is done and it’s time to move on.
This is a thoughtful story about coming to terms with change, told using a fresh and original framework. It’s also a story that’s told entirely in verse. This is interesting: I suspected that the verse format would be intrusive, but I didn’t find it so at all – it very quickly came to seem perfectly natural. The black and white illustrations are charming, adding depth to the story. Altogether a delightful book.
Sue Purkiss
I Tell Myself I’m Awesome
Joshua Seigal, illus. Chris Piascik, pub. Bloomsbury Children’s Books
Another enjoyable read which I have received this summer is award winning poet Joshua Seigal’s I Tell Myself I'm Awesome. Full of whimsy and the creative usage of a poetic licence Joshua Seigal allows his young readers to imagine, create and wonder at the verses on the pages. The book will most certainly instil readers with plenty of self-confidence, encouraging them to create poems of their own once they have finished reading. The poet has written poems with a depth which comes from experience and observation of the changes, emotions and expressions of us as humans, of the wilderness in nature and in familial exchanges. There are cute and minimal illustrations throughout by illustrator and designer Chris Piascik. He draws 90’s inspired artwork which will surely appeal to the little ones.
This poem struck a chord with me, ‘Uncle Ian’s Car’ -
“Dad wakes me up in the middle of the night. He hoists me out of bed. We go outside. Uncle Ian has a new car.
He sits me in the driver’s seat. That’s the gear stick. There’s the clutch. He isn’t sure what this button does.
Later that night, I lie in bed. Ian and Dad, they’re talking downstairs. Slowly, softly, sleep takes over –
I’m driving on rainbows, the clouds in my hair.”
Another I loved is ‘Gaps’ -
“Love lives in the gaps. In the spaces between hatred and envy, between jealousy and disgust, between bitterness and rage – is that a tender green shoot?
In the gaps between machines, in the dank corners of the warehouse packed to its roof with automata – does something softly smile?
Love lives where computers aren’t. It thrives on no file, can be held by no phone,
and the greyer the world gets, the more precious the gemstones.”
There is a tender display of perception in both these poems, which will help children develop emotional quotient. There are feelings, questions and realisations imbued in most of the poems and then there are poems aimed at very small kids like ‘Counting on Me’ -
“I counted a sequence from One onto Two, then Three, Four and Five came up next in the queue.
Six, Seven and Eight followed up on the list then I hit upon Nine, but the next one I missed.
The digits accrued reached their limit somehow; my tallying skills are unTenable now.”
I'd say children aged 5-13 can read the book and develop their knowledge of poetry, build vocabulary, and understand the political and social expressions in the world, subtly mentioned in the work. Readers will definitely learn to read between the lines.
Ishika Tiwari
Lily Tripp: Diary of an Accidental Time Traveller
Amelia Tait, pub. Hodder Children's Books
In this, Amelia Tait's first children's book, she tells the story of Lily Tripp who is madly in love with Ollie, and spends whatever time she can trying to tell him how she feels about him; shares her secrets with best-friend Poppy; and tries to navigate her relationship with the mean and beautiful class-bully Georgia.
Lily also has a secret though. On her birthday, each New Year's Eve, she is whisked away from her normal life to live in a different time, doing time-appropriate things. She finds her family and friends there too, although they are experiencing the places and events of that particular year as if they have always lived there and then. Lily realises, early on her in time travels, that everyone's memories get adjusted but don't disappear. And if old memories won't fit into new perspectives then it seems they end up sort of jumbled, so people don't remember exactly what happened, but they do remember how they felt - events might change, but the emotions around them stay the same, so if you tell someone you love them in 2025 they'll definitely still remember you're in love with them in 1621.
Lily travels to 1621 and finds out that she's a servant, to 1972 where she is a schoolgirl discovering 1970s fashions, music and a lot about herself. Her wise words to herself are: "It doesn't matter where you end up, you'll always be you, so you might as well try to get on with yourself." At the back of the book there are some lovely historical facts and truths relating to the things that happen in this adventure-through-time too.
My 12 year old granddaughter wanted to take the book home before I'd finished it. She read the first few diary entries and was hooked, so it's now going to time-travel its way up to Yorkshire! A great read and an interesting take on time travel.
Carol Farley
Max and Ella, Stuck Together
Kristina Rahim, pub. Nosy Crow
Max has had a really tough time in high school ever since his class discovered he has two mums. Now the constant bullying is really impacting his love of music and his confidence in himself. Believing it to be the right thing, his mums encourage him to meet his father - their sperm donor, Hari. They hope it might help.
Hari has a daughter, Ella, who has recently discovered how her dad helped his friends to conceive. She is ok with it until their meeting with Max ruins plans Ella had in place with her best friend. Ella is due to start high school soon and with her best friend heading to a different school she feels anxious about these changes. Missing something they had planned to do together does not make her feel generous towards her dad, his friends or Max.
Max and Ella each bring their own issues to the meeting and it doesn’t entirely go to plan. It’s up to them to find a way to fix things and find common ground, their parents may have made a decision many years before but Max and Ella are the only ones who can choose to be better towards one another. It’s important to note that the author is trying to introduce different family scenarios with her books. From The Doughnut Club to Max and Ella, Kristina explores donor conceived families and allows readers to understand more deeply.
It’s a fantastic read and readers will love the dual narrative and meeting Max and Ella through their stories and perspectives.
Erin Hamilton
Spyglass: Mastermind of Mayhem
David Solomons, illus. Miguel Diaz Rivas, pub. Nosy Crow
I don’t know what I was expecting when I opened Spyglass: Mastermind of Mayhem, especially as I hadn’t read anything by David Solomons before, but it was a wonderfully hilarious surprise!
The story follows Adam, Zada and Tyler, three friends who spend their summer holidays together at Adam's mum and dad's Holiday Park. Unfortunately for 13-year-old Adam much of his free time is spent filled with jobs given to him by his parents. From oiling the swings to manning the shop, Adam is usually kept busy. This year however, things take a turn when during a grocery delivery to an old manor house, the three friends unexpectedly cross paths with Professor Goodspeed, an ex-MI6 quartermaster. They soon find themselves drawn into a plot to save him and take on the evil villain Dr Toe and his henchmen before they can take over the world! The clock is most definitely ticking ‘But first someone still needs to unblock the toilet in caravan 14B.’
This book is the first in a new series which had me laughing out loud! Think Johnny English and Alex Rider and you’ll find yourself imagining just the kind of fast paced action-humour that Solomons delivers in Spyglass. Brimming with friendship, bravery, the most incredible gadgets (imagine a robot-shark shield) and packed full of fantastic illustrations, this is a must for any more reluctant reader of 9+.
Spyglass: Mastermind of Mayhem is an incredible start to a new series, delivering a superb mix of laughter, action and adventure. I cannot wait to read more!
Tracey Corner
Two is a Crowd
Cath Howe, pub. Nosy Crow
Cath Howe once again delivers an insightful, caring insight into family life, in this book she looks at the change’s families might have to undergo when a new person comes into their home, their lives, at a crucial time. Hattie’s mum has accepted a request for her goddaughter to stay with the family, her dad seems to have forgotten he promised her a room of her own and her best friend seems to be going off with someone else.
Hattie is struggling to find her feet. She has just started secondary school which is a challenge in itself but she is also struggling to find her feet at home. The combination is not a good one. She is distanced from her best friend and Seren, her mother’s goddaughter, has arrived. The coinciding nature of both is making her feel uncertain and anxious. Secondary school is a challenging new period for many young people and the big emotions that come with it can be hard for them to navigate. Hattie finds herself changing her behaviours and getting into trouble as a result of the changes which have all happened at once.
Hattie wonders if her family prefer Seren and what is happening with her ex best friend? This book navigates the challenges facing secondary school students and considers how best to find your feet in new spaces. It’s also about what it means to be good and how kindness can go such a long way. It’s a heartwarming read, ideal for Year 6 students as they prepare for their own journey into Year 7.
Erin Hamilton
