Ever since Chris said he'd like me to aim JACK at middle-grade readers, I've been rediscovering how much I love books for that age range. Walking through that section of B&N last night, I was struck by how many middle-grade books dominated my memories of early reading. They were the first books I truly read on my own, picked out for myself at the library, spent money on when I began earning allowance.
I LOVE THEM!
And there are some cool contemporary additions to the shelves. Maniac Magee? The Lightning Thief? The City of Ember?
Yes, please!
So: a reading challenge. To familiarize myself with the current market, rediscover old favorites, and immerse my brain in the challenges of being 10 again, I'm embarking on Middle-Grade Madness, an exploration of fiction for kids aged 9-12 (roughly grades 3-6).
Titles will include Newbery honorees and commercial blockbusters, recommendations from my friends' kids and my local librarian, works of Texas authors and Firebrand clients.
I'll list titles in the right sidebar, with links to GoodReads or Amazon, so you can check them out, too.
Happy reading!
5 ate pie:
It seems that the middle-grade reading I remember most fondly fell into two genres: fantasy and teen angst. I don't necessarly have any desire to re-read my teen-angsty stuff, but as for fantasy, I know you have on your list the Golden Compass series but do you have the Summer Tree series by Guy Gavriel Kay? If not, you should. I recently re-read these and they were still entertaining, though in a different way than before.
Excellent, I'll add Kay's books. Thanks!
What...no Sweet Valley High?! Or The Babysitters Club?! Geeesh...
-K
I just started Patricia Wrede's dragon series, and it's so much fun! I think it's called The Enchanted Forest Chronicles. The first book is Dealing with Dragons. I'm now on the second, Searching for Dragons. It's so much fun! Anyway, if you want recommendations, just let me know. I could go on for days.
K - 'Cept now it's "The Au Pairs" and they look like something my mom would never have let me read :)
C - I'll pick your brain!
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