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Middle Grade Book Reviews
Boy vs Reality
James Fox, pub. Scholastic
Like it or not Social Media is a massive part of everyday life, so much so that it seems everyone wants to be a reality star. But is everything we watch played out on screens really the truth, are those lives really like that? How far would you go to make your family famous if everything you see really is true? These are the questions asked in this book.
Meet Ethan Lacey, online vlogging sensation alongside his mum, dad and big brother Mason. As a family they film and upload everyday life for their million subscribers to enjoy - the pranks, the cosy family time, the perks like going to the opening of an epic new theme park. They’re the perfect family, it would seem. But the reality is not all fun and freebies. Mum and Dad have been arguing a lot recently while Mason has been picking on Ethan. When the cracks start to show, can Ethan persuade his family to fix the real world, not fixate on the online one?
This book provides an interesting look at what might happen behind the scenes in the home and lives of a family of vloggers. Everyday problems that families go through are shown made worse by the constant presence of a camera and a screen. This story encourages the reader look at themselves and wonder whether what they are seeing online is true or not. In addition, the story considers the consent of children when online and it also tackles toxic family/friend relationships. Of course, privacy is a big issue which is addressed too. This is an engaging book that is aimed at both adults and children. What came across most strongly to me is the importance of not believing everything you see online; just remember that it is so easy to edit anything. So, when you next post just check that it's ok to do so.
Helen Byles
The Dad Trap
Ian Eagleton, pub. Scholastic
Change can be challenging. The emotions we experience when starting a new school year are always varied, and we often hope that the things we rely on will stay the same. That’s not the case for William as he starts Year Six at Westford Primary School. When a new girl, Florence, arrives at William’s school, everything changes.
At the end of the school day, when Dad comes to collect William, he bumps into an old flame, Ross—who turns out to be Florence’s dad! The two realise they still enjoy each other’s company and start dating again, resulting in them spending a lot of time together. This isn't ideal for William; he wants Dad all to himself so they can carry on eating carrot cake at their favourite café and spending their evenings watching Midsomer Murders. The situation isn’t playing out well for Florence, either (she wants her parents to get back together), so the two hatch a plan to split up their dads once and for all: The Dad Trap!
The Dad Trap is a fun story with fabulous characters and an engaging storyline. The chaotic William is wonderful and incredibly likable. His narration allows the reader to see into his complex mind as he navigates relatable situations: managing friendships, coping with school, and finding his place in the world. Florence is different; on the surface, she is a "closed book" who pushes people away as a defence mechanism, but really, she just wants what everyone else wants—to be safe and happy.
The book explores many different aspects of relationships, including how friendships can break down and be repaired. It shows that even though life changes, knowing you are loved is all you need to face new challenges. A thoroughly enjoyable and a fantastic read. In a world where we are constantly improving our understanding of one another, this story is perfect. It represents diverse groups of people in an accessible, safe, and important way for children.
Tom Joy
The Girl Who Raced the World
Nat Harrison, pub. Piccadilly Press
Sometimes a book comes along that just takes over your days, your thoughts and you find you just cannot settle to anything until you reach the end. This, The Girl Who Raced the World is one such book!
Based on the original Around the world in Eighty Days by Jules Verne, this story tells the tale of a young orphan named Maggie, who just so happened to be on her way to deliver a letter on the very same Wednesday, 2nd October 1872, as a certain Mr Phileas Fogg set out to prove a bet that he could travel around the world in just 80 days. Following the death of her mother, Maggie is left with nothing, except for a letter addressed to a stranger named Jean Passepartout. In seeking him out Maggie suddenly finds herself caught up in the adventure of a lifetime, as Passepartout just happens to be valet to Mr Phileas Fogg. Maggie’s life is quickly filled with the wonders and delights of travel beyond anything she could ever have imagined, but she soon finds there may be more than just Mr Fogg’s wager at stake.
Capturing the spirit and heart of Verne’s classic tale, Nat Harrison has cleverly injected the story with plenty of originality and the tale is told entirely from Maggie’s perspective allowing the child reader to relate. However, despite Harrison having given the story some wonderful new twists, she has cleverly retained so much historical detail. Leaving the story set firmly in its historical roots makes The Girl Who Raced the World a most excellent class reader with so much to discuss along the way. Peppered with maps to follow the travellers as they journey the story is fast paced, energetic, and bursting with adventure and intrigue. In short this book is totally unputdownable.
Whilst some may sneer at the idea of a classic being rewritten in this way, I am all for a book that introduces readers to the wonders of classic literature and Harrison’s wonderfully written debut has brought a classic to life in a new and exciting way. An absolute must for all those who seek adventure! I myself am now off to revisit the original – Thank you Nat Harrison!
Tracey Corner
The Lions’ Run
Sara Pennypacker, illus. Jon Klassen, pub. Hodder & Stoughton
I must be honest here and say that despite it being on my ‘to be read’ list, I have never read Sara Pennypacker’s highly acclaimed Pax, nor any of her other works and so I came to The Lions’ Run with no preconceived ideas of what to expect from her writing.
The Lions’ Run is set in France in the Spring of 1944 during the country’s fourth year of Nazi occupation. Centred around a young 14-year-old orphan named Lucas DuBois who lives at the Abbey School and works as a delivery boy for the local grocer. Lucas is often picked on by the other boys at the Abbey, and they call him Petit Éclair (soft pastry). When Lucas manages to save a litter of kittens which the other boys are about to drown, he hides them in a barn where he meets Alice, a young girl who is hiding her own secret – her powerful mare Bia, who would be taken by the Germans if they knew about her. Alongside this Lucas finds out that the Maternity home he delivers groceries to is a Lebensborn, a home for the young women and girls who were made pregnant from German soldiers. (The Lebensborn was a system in which the Nazis attempted to expand the Aryan race. The babies which were born were placed into the homes of Nazi-friendly families in Germany.)
As Lucas learns more from those around him the angrier he grows and tired of bullies of all kinds, he asks to join the resistance, becoming involved in increasingly risky situations. Sara Pennypacker has managed to carefully combine historical facts of World War II with fiction, and this story offers a different perspective as the events focus on the French citizens of the Chantilly/ Lamorlaye region. It is written with great sensitivity and would be especially appropriate for classroom or parent/child discussions with those of 11+.
This is not a long book. It chapters are short and the story flows seamlessly from one to another. The plot is easy to follow, and the characters are wonderfully believable. As a child Lucas cannot expect to stop the Nazi regime or save the world but through his actions, we see how he is not as powerless as he at first feels and we learn that even smallest of actions can have an impact on those around us. In a world where there is so much turmoil, where things can feel out of our control, this book is a heartwarming and powerful reminder that even small efforts can make a huge difference.
Tracey Corner
Magpie Girl
Rowan Foxwood, pub. Usborne
Who is Magpie Girl? That was my first question on receiving this book. I wondered if perhaps I was about to meet a new superhero and I soon realised that she is much more than that, this story is much more involved and that I was hooked!
Lavender Wild, the Magpie Girl, is part girl, part bird. She grows feathers, can talk to birds and is really good at finding lost things – just as magpies are renowned for doing. But she lives in a tiny village where life isn’t very exciting and she yearns for freedom, to explore the world. When the chance arrives it comes in the form of an adventure, one that will take her, along with Kit, her ex-friend, whose father has gone missing on a deadly mountain. Not only are Lavender and Kit on a mission to find Kit’s father they are challenged to rebuild their friendship, face the trials of earthquakes, dangers from demons and witches. Lavender may be the Magpie Girl but she is also the only one who can save them all from the Firebird…
A wonderfully imagined story, a fantastic world created for Lavender and Kit to navigate and some truly gripping moments. This story has all the right elements, combined with excellent writing. There is mythology, fairytale, wanderlust and friendships and it all blends together for an exciting and original story.
Louise Ellis-Barrett
Monster Down Deep
Amy Fellner Dominy, pub. Pushkin
Cassie is a cautious and dedicated beachcomber, venturing out with her well-stocked backpack and beloved metal detector called Sylvia (a Hunter Pro series, proudly offering waterproof detection to 22 inches). The salt air and cawing birds lift Cassie’s mood, and she takes her pursuit seriously - mapping areas of the beach, tracking the tides and wind direction. Each day brings its own fizz of excitement, a ‘maybe’ for the finds yet to emerge. But now the possibilities are larger than ever: an invaluable diamond necklace, washed overboard a famous boat and left adrift along the coast…
She is convinced it will end up close by. The tide maps are in her favour and she has narrowed the search, closing in on the jetty. But her beach is blighted by a new arrival - Mystery Thief. TJ is annoyingly sprightly and limber on the rocks, seemingly unafraid and quite certain of his own impending success. Maddening. So, when the underside of the jetty reveals a startling find of a much fishier sort, Cassie is desperate to keep it from TJ. But chance is against her, and this unusual fish is now their very own shared secret.
Blue is a perplexing creature, a strange species who seems smart: can he understand what they say to him? He is stuck and the pair are keen to help him and know more. Cassie wrestles with her new alliance with TJ, but she cannot work alone: she can no longer go in the water, get closer to Blue.
He is excited and eager, wacky and fun, but also accepting and unjudgmental. Grinning and agreeing, they find a strange alignment, both alike in wanting to take responsibility and find the necklace for the betterment of their families. But Blue could also bring them great acclaim: if he is an unknown species of fish, a link in our knowledge of evolution, he would be even more valuable than the diamonds. The aquarium where Cassie’s father works could secure its new investors, and TJ’s family could cope with the arrival of their new baby. But is it going to be easy, saving Blue from the sea?
Cassie’s story contains chapters written from Blue’s perspective, his own whirling emotions proving fraught and compelling. Human and inhuman voices weave well together, and Cassie’s individuality stays strong alongside her insecurity. The discovery she hopes for could create an entirely unexpected pathway…
Jemima Breeds
Murder at the Ivy Hotel
​Emily Hourican, illus. Paola Escobar, pub. Scholastic
If you were to set the scene for a murder, to look back over some classic murder mysteries, you’d quickly discover that hotels make excellent settings. There are many rooms to choose from, there are staff and visitors who come and go alongside plenty of potential murder weapons and reasons for murder. The Ivy Hotel welcomes you but comes with a warning…
The Ivy Hotel, Dublin, Ireland, is home to 12-year-old Meredith and 10-year-old Macy. They love their home, it is an old and beautiful building, a hotel long-established and with an excellent reputation. On top of that the close-knit staff feel like family. Mum is the hotel’s General Manager, they have their own apartment, tucked away from guests and the perks are wonderful – treats from the restaurant, spying on events and even getting to know some of their long-term residents. What’s not to love? Especially when they also discover there are secret stairs and corridors only staff can use. I don’t know about you but this is all giving me the tingles, from excitement and trepidation… It really does sound the perfect setting for a crime, for a murder, to take place.
Mum might be General Manager but there are new owners and they have plans including cuts, firing staff and more. Is that why there is a murder? Is it one of the disgruntled staff, one of the long-term residents who don’t like the idea of change or is something more sinister going on and can the girls get to the bottom of it before more murders take place?
With all the classic feels of a crime novel this is a wonderful cosy but dangerous detective story for children. There is suspense, some brilliant sleuthing and exciting discoveries. I was hooked, I think you will be too but will you be able to work out whodunnit?
Louise Ellis-Barrett
Nadia Islam, on the Record
Adiba Jaigirdar, pub. Hachette Children’s Group
This is a story about Nadia a young Muslim girl aged 8 who is planning to become a journalist. Ramadan approaches and she is hoping to share this with her best friend Yasmin, a budding artist, as they both attempt to fast for the first time. As the end of the summer term creeps closer their teacher announces that fourth and fifth graders are responsible for the school newspaper. They will be looking for writers, editors and artists as well as an editor in chief. After the summer holiday the school will review the work submitted by anyone keen to qualify for one of these posts.
The girls’ plans are dashed when Nadia is told that her family are going to visit relatives in Bangladesh for the summer holiday. Initially spirits nosedive but quickly recover when Nadia realises her journalist aunt will also be there to report on the effects of climate change on Bangladesh and its people. A perfect opportunity for an aspiring journalist. Add to this the challenge of juggling her first fasting experience, accompanied by the mischievous plans of her cousins, and life becomes complicated. Nevertheless, Nadia learns all about the problems of living in Bangladesh, and the true reason why people fast for Ramadan. But most importantly she learns that all people, even young people can be instrumental in creating change.
Aimed at to 9-12 year olds, this story provides valuable insight into the why’s and wherefores’ of Ramadan against a background of family warmth and stability. They regularly communicate with each other, share ideas, meals and entertainment. They support each other with their projects and are there for each other. The narrative can be read simply as a story at home perhaps, or at school where all the topics can be deconstructed. Themes about competitiveness, playing fair, being taken seriously, sharing and pooling skills, friendship, and determination are there to be aired, along with religious faiths, activism and impartial charity. A treasure trove of ideas to be deliberated on.
Elizabeth Negus
Quill and the Last Generation
C.M.Lewis, illus. Marina Vidal, pub. Macmillan
The first thing to strike me about this book was the spectacular cover art, by Khadijah Khatib which foretells of the spellbinding story inside and, fortunately, the story itself does not disappoint!
Set in a world where it is forever winter, where no children have been born for twelve years, Quill, a shy twelve-year-old boy is the youngest of the last generation. He knows nothing of being a hero and even his most modest attempts at bravery are thwarted by his over-protective adoptive father. But nothing is quite as it seems. When Quill encounters Deryn, a mysterious shapeshifter sent from the Underworld to find him, he finds himself at the heart of a battle to bring light and hope back to two worlds. It seems Quill is the only one who can stop the end of the world and so, with the love and encouragement of his adoptive parents, he sets sail on a quest to the Underworld to face challenges he feels little prepared for.
In this carefully crafted tale of love, hope, adventure and friendship, in which the stakes are incredibly high, our unlikely but relatable hero, Quill, must find the courage inside himself to fulfil his destiny. In a brilliant blend of an apocalyptic world with Welsh Mythology, award winning writer Caryl (C.M.) Lewis has created a wonderful coming of age tale, bursting with mythical creatures from fierce dragons to horses conjured from water, which will keep you turning page after page.
I adore stories in which two worlds collide, and this one is especially poignant as Lewis brings a cyclical nature to the tale showing how the two depend on one another. Both heart-breaking and heart-warming this tale which deals beautifully with the themes of death and loss was spellbinding from start to finish and I’m delighted that this is the first of a tribology.
Perfect for readers 9+ Quill and the Last Generation is a must for fans of Percy Jackson, would be a brilliant classroom read, not to mention the perfect addition to a school library!
Tracey Corner
The Secrets of Wild Hill: Lottie's Dream
Olivia Tuffin, pub. Nosy Crow
What a delight to meet young Lottie and her charming pony Patch in this Secrets of Wild Hill story. Lottie lives for her pony, and her wonderful grandmother Annie, who both live at Wild Hall. When she is at Wild Hall, in the countryside, Lottie feels totally at home with her gloriously characterful grandmother and also with the pony. She spends as much time as she can with Patch before and after school. But the stables are rather run down, and the future of Wild Hall begins to look rocky.
The only person Lottie can really talk to is Felix, the shy, quiet boy from the extremely swanky stables next door, which are not to be spoken of under any circumstances at Wild Hall. However, Felix shares Lottie's passion for riding and understands her desperation. But can she really trust him, knowing he's the grandson of her family's worst enemy? Can the two of them, their friendship, their love of horses and their hopes be enough to put an end to an age-old feud and allow everyone to be happy?
This story is a real page-turner and extremely entertaining. I completely fell in love with Patch and there are clearly more adventures to come for Lottie in the future. If you love horses and love a good read, this is the perfect combination.
Carol Farley
Tree Thing
Piers Torday, illus. Matthew Taylor Wilson, pub. Quercus
“Once, in a faraway land, a green thing grew out of the ground. … This creature was neither tree nor human, but somewhere in between. They were a Tree … Thing”
With leaves for hair, knots for eyes, a trunk for a body and branches for arms, the Tree Thing grows so tall that they could see the whole world, where nothing else grows. Slowly, life begins as wood rots, mushrooms grow and animals forage. Then the Rider came …
An acorn survives and finds a new home in another valley where nothing grows. Marlo, aged twelve, buries the seed and magically next morning, it has grown into a Tree … Thing, and everything in the valley begins growing again. Then the Rider came …
But this time the story can change. Our hero, Marlo, looks after Tree Thing and won’t give in, protecting Tree Thing from the mysterious Rider, whose evil intent seems to be wanting to be the King of a world, lifeless and dead. Then the Rider came back …
Tree Thing is a wonderful fable, so eloquently written, poetic at times in the metre of the text and beautifully illustrated with the monochrome drawings of Matthew Taylor Wilson. Like all fables, there is a strong moral message, an environmental message, about the importance of looking after our planet. There is also a deeper message about how everything in nature changes, part of a continuous cycle of life, growth, decay and new growth. We are reminded that this circle continues but is never the same and never has been, throughout the natural history of the Earth. Above all, Tree Thing is a message of hope, that this time maybe we can change the way the story ends.
Tree Thing is a masterpiece, a joy to read no matter your age.
Simon Barrett
