Connecting in a Middle Grade World
“Thank you for all of the good and positive things you put out into the world.” - Susan
A day can’t start much better than that! And what a GRAND daily goal for all of us. Thanks for that inspiration, Susan, and for being the kind of Grandma we are all striving to be. The question below, and our answers, will also inspire how we can all work together here. Your Grandchild may not be into middle grade fantasy, myth and mysteries, but we are here to help us all find answers that enrich our love and connection for all kinds of kids and all kinds of busy Grandparents. Jump in when you can, and pass on newsletters and links on to others. You are all important in this community - we are all Women of Experience! Here’s how it can work for starters, and you can add more in the comments…
Hello Karen,
I am interested in books you would recommend for middle school readers. My granddaughter, Emily, is 11 and entering sixth grade. She loves going to libraries and bookstores. Reading is her passion. Last week she brought eight books with her on her family vacation. The genres she enjoys most are fantasy, myth and mysteries. Do you know of any particularly good children's bookstores in the country? Or do you know of any particularly good children’s librarians in the Twin Cities? I’m looking for good writing and positive role models.
Thank you for any advice. Best regards, Susan
Wow! Big questions! Important questions to support this amazing connection between Grandmother and Granddaughter. I am still working on the bookstore question, as I research venues for my book-themed cards. Of course, we have two of the best in the country right here in the Twin Cities, with the Wild Rumpus and Red Balloon bookshops. Following newsletters, Facebook and Instagram accounts of great bookstores are ways to keep in the loop of of new releases from wherever you are. DO NOT think that a random Facebook article, supposedly from a teacher “choosing ten books that will get your child to love reading” is an actual person, it is an ad by a publisher to get you to buy their books.
Becky Rapport (Dr. Rebecca Rapport) retired Children’s Literature Professor, University of Minnesota, and former editor of New Books for Young Readers, dove into the book titles. She still has her bookshelves well stocked as she discovers and encourages the interests of grandson, Damien.
Here is a list of books with my recommendations for each category. Please let Susan know that I have not been reading too many middle school books of any kind in the last 6 or 8 years, but since her admirable granddaughter is an avid reader, she may have discovered more recent books like Riordan's Percy Jackson series or Teri Temple for mythology. I also read far more fantasies than mysteries or books of myths. In no particular order, these are books (by authors who have written many others) I think she'd like to try if she hasn't already read them:
Fantasy Books
Kate DiCamillo, THE MAGICIAN'S ELEPHANT
Gail Levine, ELLA ENCHANTED
Mary Rogers, FREAKY FRIDAY
Terry Pratchett, THE WEE FREE MEN
Lois Lowry, THE WILLOUGHBYS
Ingrid Law, SAVVY
Ursula Le Guin, THE WIZARD OF EARTHSEA
Shannon Hale, PRINCESS ACADEMY
Lloyd Alexander, PRYDAIN series
Katherine Applegate, THE ONE AND ONLY IVAN
Neil Gaiman, THE GRAVEYARD BOOK; CORALINE
Donna Napoli, BOUND; BREATH
Kathi Appelt, KEEPER; THE UNDERNEATH
Kelly Barnhill, THE GIRL WHO DRANK THE MOON
Mythology
Jeanne and William Steig, A GIFT FROM ZEUS
D'Aulaire's BOOK OF Greek Myths
Neil Gaiman, NORSE MYTHOLOGY
Lise Lunge Larsen, THE ADVENTURES OF THOR; THE TROLL WITH NO HEART IN HIS BODY
Paul Yee, TALES FROM GOLD MOUNTAIN
Mysteries
Ellen Raskin, THE WESTING GAME
Virginia Hamilton, THE MYSTERY OF DREAR HOUSE
Blue Balliett, CHASING VERMEER
Hope these titles bring more to mind for you. At least the 11-year-old reader should have enough here for another vacation or two! Love, Becky
I also asked Kim Faurot, the amazing librarian at the Stillwater Library who appears with regular storyhours on YouTube for your kids and grandkids. Her thoughtful answer -
If they’re Harry Potter readers, I wonder if she’d enjoy the Septimus Heap series. The Blue Balliett books CHASING VERMEER and others are good mysteries. Also of course for mysteries, THE MYSTERIOUS BENEDICT SOCIETY by Trenton Lee Stewart (first one is the best, and the prequel is very good too, in my opinion). There’s the mystery series Enola Holmes by Nancy Springer, though they’re listed as grades 6 - 8; also the Theodosia books by R.L. LaFevers if they don’t mind curses and the like; also Sammy Keyes (by Wendelin Van Draanen). The Chris Grabenstein books about Mr. Lemoncello are fun for readers, which she obviously is, and Greenglass House and sequels by Kate Milford. The Book Scavenger series by Jennifer Chambliss Bertman is great. I haven’t gotten into the endless Warriors (cats) series myself, but many of my library kids love them. Of course the old standbys that you read and re-read and think about for the rest of your life - A WRINKLE IN TIME, A WIND IN THE DOOR, and so forth. Then if you read the L’Engle you’d want to read WHEN YOU REACH ME by Rebecca Stead, of course . . . . I assume the child has already been to Narnia and back . . . .
It would be awesome for the grandma to read these herself and match to her granddaughter’s interests—then they can talk about them and have the shared vocabulary of the story experience too!
My friend, Heather Skye, who is currently at Riverview Library in Saint Paul is an AWESOME readers’ advisory person (and the whole children’s librarian package). She is one of the people who I turn to if I need book recommendations. - Kim
In between these scholarly answers, we are arranging coffee and lunch dates and sending fun videos and pictures of our Grands, sharing encouragement and wonder at this next generation, and still trying to do good work. Some days I am working hard to avoid vacuuming or mowing the lawn. We are lucky to be playing a part in it all. And glad you are here with us. Be sure to check in now and then, and ask for help. HERE is a post about kindling a grand passion with volunteer work - perfect for middle and upper grade Grands.