Great Middle Grade Reads discussion

We've reached the turning of another calendar page. Looking back over April, what middle grade titles counted as your favorites. Take a few minutes to report in & recommend the good stuff to our group!

My reading time last month was curtailed by deadlines, but I did come across a good'un. Denis Ever After by Tony Abbott is a tension-inducing tale in which the ghost of a boy who died when he was seven is drawn to his twin brother's side in order to help solve his own murder.



This month should be a whole lot busier (bookwise) for me. It's that time of year. We're hosting #BookADayMay over on our middle grade blog. #MGCarousel

The best book I read this April (although I started in March) is a classic of Swedish children’s literature published in two volumes in 1906/1907 by Selma Lagerlöf The Wonderful Adventures of Nils (although I read the German edition). Lovely story I wish that I had encountered as a child and indeed a total delight for me, and in my opinion perfect for parents to read with or to their children (but perhaps not exciting enough if you want constant action).

I read again The Unicorn Quest and Secret in the Stone by Kamilla Benko to refresh my memory before reading the final book of the trilogy, Fire in the Star. Fantastic fantasy series.
I also reread a couple of favorites, Running Out of Time by Margaret Peterson Haddix and Lucie Babbidge's House by Sylvia Cassidy.
I recommend all of the above.

I read Kiki's Delivery Service by Eiko Kadono which was fantastic. I loved the characters and themes. The story was quite magical and the perfect read for me.
I also read The Only, the final book in the Endling series by Katherine Applegate. I loved the entire series. The Only had a great, emotional ending to the series that was both filled with grief and hope for the future.

I read the 40th Anniversary edition of Goodnight Mister Tom which I hadnt read before and thought it lived up to all the praose heped upon it.

I also reread The Shadow of Atlantis, the start of a brilliant series involving history, adventure, and timetravel. (I've read about 12 so far, with 16 out)

The best books I read were Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire and Real Friends