Great Middle Grade Reads discussion

Hi everyone! I am a mom of a new middle grader. She is an advanced reader. So it is hard finding books that challenge her, but contain appropriate content for her age. She's 8.

A friend passed on a copy of this ARC (so exciting!) and it was just wonderful. I'm not a huge scifi person. But I got totally sucked into it and loved every bit. My daughter did as well. You can see my review on the page. Just thought I'd pass on the info to all of you for anyone who likes scifi adventure stories. You may want to keep it on your radar. I don't know if I get to keep the arc. If I do and you are interested, I'd be happy to send it to you. 😉 I still have it.

Also, I am always up for suggestions for my daughter. I am trying to keep her away from fairies and princesses, etc. as she's definitely had her fill and is ready for stronger characters (especially great female role models)

Thanks!

Hi Michelle
Alan Bradley is great, with his strong female lead Flavia. Terrific writing, very enjoyable. The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie: https://www.abebooks.co.uk/products/i...
There are several, so a good series to find.
Hope that helps

I've marked it as to-read. Thanks!

You might like to browse around our Author's Corner.

We don't allow members who are authors to spam sections saying "my book's just what you're looking for", but several of us do write with the younger advanced reader in mind.

That's all I'm saying...

I'm sorry. I am confused. I am not an author.

Michelle wrote: "I'm sorry. I am confused. I am not an author."

I think what Jemima means is that there are some authors here in the group that write the kind of book that you may be looking for but because of the group rules they can't say to you to read their book. Instead she is suggesting that you check out the Author's corner where they are allowed to promote their books.

Oh. Thanks for that explanation. That makes more sense. I thought she was suggesting I was an author and that I was spamming because I mentioned a book I just read. I took it personally. But your explanation helps. Thanks.

Julie wrote: "Michelle wrote: "I'm sorry. I am confused. I am not an author."

I think what Jemima means is that there are some authors here in the group that write the kind of book that you may be looking for b..."

Thanks, Julie!

Michelle wrote: "Oh. Thanks for that explanation. That makes more sense. I thought she was suggesting I was an author and that I was spamming because I mentioned a book I just read. I took it personally. But your e..."

Hi Michelle, no, I'm generally pretty clear with spammers ;)
Julie got it right. Always difficult for the Mods who think someone might like their book. I can recommend Rebecca's and Steve's, but that's still a little close to being spammy. It's a hard call, sometimes!

Thanks, Jemima! I will go onto the author's area later and see what is lurking in there. 😉

Alison wrote: "Hi Michelle
Alan Bradley is great, with his strong female lead Flavia. Terrific writing, very enjoyable. The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie: https://www.abebooks.co.uk/products/i...
..."

I don't think I'd recommend these for an 8-year-old. I've argued before that they aren't kids' books at all (our librarians apparently don't think so--they are shelved with adult mysteries). There's nothing inappropriate for a 12 -year-old or so, though. (Note--I love the books).

Alison wrote: "Hi Michelle
Alan Bradley is great, with his strong female lead Flavia. Terrific writing, very enjoyable.
Rebecca wrote: "...There's nothing inappropriate for a 12 -year-old or so, though. (Note--I love the books..."

Are we allowed to use Bradley's books in the A to Z and series challenges?

M.J. wrote: "Are we allowed to use Bradley's books in the A to Z and series challenges? "

This came up last year. I said they aren't middle grade, and others disagreed. I see that a non-trivial number of GR readers have shelved them as YA. So I checked a half a dozen library systems around the US, and all of them catalog the books as Adult Fiction (or adult mystery). So I say nay.

ETA: I hunted around, and read all the Q&As on the author's page, and found someone asked that question. His answer: He wrote them for adults, but they have found readers from 8 to 83 (or some such).

Rebecca wrote: "M.J. wrote: "Are we allowed to use Bradley's books in the A to Z and series challenges? "

This came up last year. I said they aren't middle grade, and others disagreed. I see that a non-trivial nu..."

Ok, as you wish. It's an interesting debate though, isn't it?

M.J. wrote: "It's an interesting debate though, isn't it?
"

Yes! And it seems that even the author isn't sure!

I'm a bit confused why we're talking about Alan Bradley when the thread is about Daniel Coldstar (but then I don't know either of them).

Then again, I'm easily confused.

Jemima wrote: "I'm a bit confused why we're talking about Alan Bradley when the thread is about Daniel Coldstar (but then I don't know either of them).

Then again, I'm easily confused."

:D I think the OP asked for recommendations, and from there...