Great Middle Grade Reads discussion

Oh, gosh, May already? Well, the call for nominations for our Book of the Month is here, anyway.

Following on from last month's ideas... May's theme will be:

Junior Sleuths

Those of you who nominated sleuthing/mysteries for the gardens theme, please add them again here, as it's only really possible to do nominations in one thread.

Also, make sure they are Middle Grade books - suitable for MG readers, as some authors do cosy mysteries with junior crime fighters that aren't suitable for MG readers.

Also - please check your library listings, as I can only check my UK ones. Don't nominate it if it is not available in your library. If you can't check your library but it's available for a very low price (below $5) online, then that should be okay.

If it's been a BOTM in the last three years, it's ineligible. You can check the list here: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

Nominations close mid-month (about the 14th) or earlier if we have 'lots' of nominations, as I'll sieve it down to around five. Then you'll vote on it till around 24th of the month.

Get nominating!

The Case of the Missing Marquess by Nancy Springer, book #1 in the Enola Holmes series.

The Strangers by Margaret Peterson Haddix

The Mystery of the Clockwork Sparrow by Katherine Woodfine

Once again, MG Aggie Morton Mystery Queen series (starts with The Body Under the Piano) or Myrtle Hardcastle series (starts with Premeditated Myrtle). Enjoy!

I'm doing some nominating this month. :)

A Girl Called Justice by Elly Griffiths. Elly is one of the top UK crime writers, and started her Justice Jones MG series just before Covid hit us. You can probably listen to her read it on her Facebook page (I listened along through lockdown). There are three or four in the series now.

Jolly Foul Play by Robin Stevens. I have a feeling I've nominated this series in the past. I started with this one. Maybe I'll nominate the first, Murder Most Unladylike, instead.

Jemima wrote: "I'm doing some nominating this month. :)

A Girl Called Justice by Elly Griffiths. Elly is one of the top UK crime writers, and started her Justice Jones MG series just before Covid..."

Murder Most Unladylike was published in the US under the title Murder Is Bad Manners as a Wells and Wong Mystery

I'll add Framed! by James Ponti.

I'm going to nominate also the Murder Most Unladylike

T.J. This is a post for nominations for our May BOTM.
If you want to post about your blog, please put it in the Author's Corner area, as it is also promoting your own book.
Thanks.

The Gilded Girl by Alyssa Colman

We have nine nominations, so I'll have to sift the selection. As it's quiet (holiday weekend with you too?) I'll put the poll up later and give you longer to get back and vote on it. :)

Okay, the poll is UP! Great choices everyone.

Place your vote here:
https://www.goodreads.com/poll/show/2...

About half of these are in my library, I hope they're all in yours.

Poll ends at midnight (evening) on 23rd April.

One of the Roman Mysteries?

Bill wrote: "One of the Roman Mysteries?"

Sorry, Bill, I've put the poll up now, so hop over and vote. I put a new BOTM nomination thread up around the first of each month, and close it mid-month to get the voting done in time for people to find a copy of the 'winner' before the next month starts - or at least before it ends lol!

And the book for May is…

Murder Most Unladylike by Robin Stevens

It's the first in the Wells and Wong series. Harley pointed out you may find it under the title Murder Is Bad Manners in the US.

Start hunting for your copy now!

Jemima wrote: "And the book for May is…

Murder Most Unladylike by Robin Stevens

It's the first in the Wells and Wong series. Harley pointed out you may find it under the title [..."

Yehey! I'm glad it won in the poll. I already have a copy of this.

Patricia wrote: "It's the first in the Wells and Wong series. Harley pointed out you may find it un..."

And I have reserved it from the library :)

Jemima wrote: "Patricia wrote: "It's the first in the Wells and Wong series. Harley pointed out you may find it un..."

And I have reserved it from the library :)"

I already buy this book from the bookstore and it's only cost $3.12

Can I ask what is the next theme will be? Maybe about feminism or school, or family?

I haven’t thought of a theme yet. They generally come to me roughly ten seconds before I write the post!
The Wells and Wong series is set in a school.

Murder Most Unladylike is a great choice.